Home School Co-op Finds A Weekly Home

At The Newtown Congregational Church

By Eliza Hallabeck

A home school co-op has been calling the Newtown Congregational Church its home on Tuesdays since January. Now different classes, including a cooking class to feed the nearly 60-member group, are held throughout the building each week.

Co-founder of the co-op and New Milford resident Carol Hackett said the program offers a great opportunity to teach classes that include public participation, like speeches and presentations.

“It’s a great program,” said Ms Hackett, “and it is a social outlet for the kids.”

The co-op holds classes in three sessions each year. Prior to January it had been meeting in Washington Depot. Families in the co-op are from different areas around the state.

From 10 to 3 on Tuesdays the group takes over the building while students from kindergarten through grade 12 take classes. On Tuesday, March 9, students taking a class on immigration with Francesca Morrisey were discussing the concept of the American Dream, while across the hall younger students looked for word combinations in an activity similar to Boggle.

Just down the hall, Ms Hackett oversaw the environmental science class, which was discussing different projects the group could do as community projects.

Maureen Marcucci, president of Great Ways To Home Educate, the group that sponsors the co-op, taught a class on Great Battles in History on Tuesday.

“There are more of these co-ops growing,” said Ms Marcucci, “and I know the students just love it.”

Students in the home school co-op can take classes during the sessions to work toward high school credits, according to Ms Marcucci, and some students, including her own, come back to teach courses.

“It is a good place for the students to be,” said Ms Marcucci.

Leslie Hanna and Francesca Morrisey are assuming the leadership of the co-op, as Ms Hackett and fellow co-founder Jody Nager relinquish their duties. Ms Hanna was also the one who brought the co-op to Newtown Congregational Church.

Ms Hanna said bringing the group to the church seemed like a logical thing to do. As a member of the church, Ms Hanna knew the space was available. She approached Steve Bennett, a member of the Board of Trustees for the Newtown Congregational Church, and the two worked out the plan to bring the co-op to the space each Tuesday.

“We’re glad to have them as tenants,” said Mr Bennett, “and we hope it is a long relationship.”

The co-op is not the first educational environment to use the building as its home. The Newtown Congregational Preschool also uses the bottom floor of the building for its classes. Mr Bennett said the co-op is ideal for the space.

“It’s been a very positive relationship for us,” Mr Bennett said.

Just before lunch, a 13 and up class of students entered the kitchen to meet home school instructor and parent Joan Velush. Penne was already prepared, but the students had other assignments to prepare before the co-op could have lunch.

Ms Velush said the professional kitchen was her dream, and the students each follow professional guidelines for preparing food.

On the menu for the day was Cincinnati chili with a cracker salad, minestrone, garden salad, a chicken penne bake, and kids pasta with butter.

The group is responsible for serving everyone, and, after taking the course, Ms Velush said she fills out recommendations for jobs if asked by her former students.

“I think everyone does really well. Some people have more of a cooking capacity,” said Ms Velush. Adding later, “Like any hands-on thing, they just really like doing things that they can do themselves.”

Other than the roughly 60 students in the home school co-op, Ms Velush said, the class is responsible for also feeding the nearly 30 instructors.

Student A.J. O’Brien said his favorite part of the lunch prep course was dicing onions.

While student Michaela Morrissey stirred that afternoon’s chili, she said her favorite part of the course was preparing chicken sandwiches.

“I liked pulling the chickens apart,” said Michaela. “It was fun.”

Video of the lunch prep class is available at www.newtownbee.com.

If interested in learning more about the co-op contact Leslie Hanna at 203-426-8784. For more information on the Great Ways To Home Educate group, contact Maureen Marcucci at gwhepresident@gmail.com.