What is PTC?
The Parent Teacher Co-op of Grand Rapids is an academic partnership between home schooling parents and teachers. It is our goal to offer tutored classes with a high standard of moral and academic excellence based on Biblical principles. In order to achieve this goal, challenging academic lessons along with Biblical applications in light of the Christian heritage of the subject are presented to the student each week. The student is required to complete work at home and keep an organized notebook of the work completed.
Our History
The Parent Teacher Co-op first held class in the fall of 2006. It was started to fill a need for a tutoring organization with high academic standards based on the word of God and a place to develop good friendships. The desire of the 6 couples who made up the first PTC board was to not only be able to give their own children a great education, a place to meet good friends, to come along side one another to help develop the Christian character of their own children but to also do the same for the community of home school families in West Michigan.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the Parent-Teacher Co-op is to unite like-minded Christian families who believe that it is their God-given responsibility and privilege to provide a Christian education for their children. We believe that this education involves every area of our lives and the Bible is our ultimate authority. The Parent-Teacher Co-op Statement of Purpose is to assist home school parents with specialized educational classes for their children. These classes are designed to enhance and support a home schooling approach to education.
MISSION STATEMENT
Coming alongside parents to raise up a generation of well-educated warriors for Christ.
Statement of Faith
We believe the Bible to be the inspired and infallible Word of God, and the supreme and final authority in faith and life.
We believe that there is only one holy, personal Creator God eternally existent in three persons – God the Father, God the Son who is Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit. Through Him all was made that was made according to His Work as it is recorded in Scripture.
We believe in the Fall of man through the disobedience of Adam rendering man totally unable to justify himself before God.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the express image of the invisible God. Jesus became man, yet was without sin, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus Christ died on the cross as a substitute sacrifice for sin and is bodily resurrected into Heaven where He is now as our interceding High Priest. Jesus will return again personally, visibly, and gloriously.
We believe in the Holy Spirit who testifies of Jesus, convicts us of sin, regenerates and indwells believers, and guides and empowers them to live a life that glorifies God.
We believe that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, totally apart from human merit and/or works, it is a free gift. The act of regeneration is a work of grace performed by the Holy Spirit and produces a new creature in Christ.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and lost. The eternal life in heaven of the saved and the everlasting punishment of those who are lost (unsaved).
We believe in the power of prayer.
We believe in the sanctity of life for the living and the unborn – each is a gift from God. Life begins at conception.
We believe God created mankind in his image, male and female. Therefore, we refrain from any and all attempts to physically change, alter, or disagree with our God given biological sex. We believe God created and ordered human sexuality to the permanent, and exclusive union of one man and one woman. Consequently, we resist all same-sex sexual attractions, acts, and conduct.
STUDENT GUIDELINES & PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Students who attend the Parent-Teacher Co-op must practice good Christian behaviors and habits. Students who have been expelled from any educational institution will not be allowed to join the Co-op for at least one year, and then only at the discretion of the PTC staff. As Christians, our goal should be to obey scripture and, whether in word or deed, to do all to the glory of God. Since the ultimate end of all Bible-centered education is to grow in wisdom and virtue, we require all students to exhibit the following minimal personal virtues:
Kindness, truthfulness, courtesy toward others and respect for all property rights, punctuality in attendance and work, respect for and obedience to those in authority, diligence in effort and attention, moral purity in word and deed including abstinence from drugs, alcohol & sexual activities in all areas of life.
- Students & parents who stay during the lunch break may bring their own sack lunches. No hot lunch will be provided.. Students may not leave the premises during lunch, unless under direct supervision of a parent on-site.Students may not be in the parking lot or in cars except for arrival or departure.
- Students should be picked up promptly after their classes are finished and should not be dropped off more than ten minutes before their first class. If the child is 10 yearsor younger, the parent must be with him/her in study hall. If a student is not in a class, they must be in the supervised area.
- Cell phones / Airpods are not allowedduring class.
- If weather conditions warrant canceling classes an email will be sent to all families by 7:00 am. It will also be announced on WOOD radio and TV, also WZZM under Banner of Christ Church. In case of tornado warning, students will be moved to a safe location. Parents are welcome to pick up their students, but it is not necessary.
DRESS CODE: We expect all students to dress modestly and appopriately to honor God and respect our church location. Boys dress like young men, girls like young ladies. Parents are responsible that their children follow the dress code and dress in good taste. We may send children home to change if dress code is violated.
Yes:
- Pants and jeans that are not torn
- Shorts with a 6 inch inseam (non athletic shorts)
- Tops with non-offensive words & pictures
- Leggins (must be paired with a shirt that reaches thigh (covering rear end)
- Females only- knee length skirts & dresses
No:
- Hats
- Exposed undergarmets
- Torn jeans
- Athletic pants, sweat pants
- Pajama pants
- Young ladies-Stapless shirts, shirts that expose cleavage, bare midriffs, sheer or see through material that exposes midriff or undergarmets.
- Young men-Tank top
- Young men should not wear make-up
All girls are to dress like young ladiesand boys are to dress as young men.
2) Beginning third week of classes, violations will be documented.
3) 3 documented violations will be considered direct disobedience towards authority and will result in a suspension.
“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” Philippians 4:5
Discipline
As an organized body, PTC desires to set forth clear expectations of behavior and correction in order to honor our Lord with our actions.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines discipline as: 1. Education; instruction; cultivation and improvement, comprehending instruction in arts, sciences, correct sentiments, morals and manners, and due subordination to authority. 2. Rule of government; method of regulating principles and practice; as the discipline prescribed for the church.
Intentionally disobeying a PTC authority figure.
This includes, but is not limited to, staff, tutors, charge moms, volunteer moms, and security.
Leaving school premises
Once on premise, students may not leave until their classes are done for the day or their parent is on-site.Students may not be in the parking lot or in cars except for arrival or departure.
Bullying
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.
Abuse, mistreatment, intimidation, or domination of another individual by verbal, physical, emotional, and/or social means will not be tolerated.
Inappropriate Language
Oxford Languages: “the use of language regarded as coarse, blasphemous, or otherwise unacceptable in polite or formal speech in order to express anger or other strong emotion.”
A student should not use inappropriate language in general conversation, with another student, a parent, tutor, or staff person.
Violence / Simulation of Violence
Any act of violence or simulation of violence that intends to frighten or harm others or oneself will not be tolerated.
This includes actually or pretending to harm others or oneself with any type of weapon or anything that can be used as a weapon.
Absolutely NO illegal weapons of any kind are allowed on PTC premise.
Cheating, Artificial Intelligence & Plagiarism
Cheating from the Oxford Dictionary: To steal or use someone’s answers in order to gain an unfair advantage on a test, quiz, or homework assignment.
Plagiarism from the Oxford Dictionary: This is literacy theft. Taking someone else’s words, work, and ideas and passing them off as your own without giving the original author credit.
If it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt that a student has cheated or plagiarized, the test, quiz, paper, or homework assignment will be returned with a zero (0).
Use of artificial intelligence for homework is not the student’s work and considered to be cheating. It will be treated as so.
Intentional Destruction of Property
To intentionally cause damage or disrepair to another person’s or Banner of Christ Church’s property is strictly prohibited.
If it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt a student has intentionally caused damage or disrepair to someone else’s property, parents will be notified and retribution will need to be made.
Stealing
Taking another person’s property, without the intention of returning it, is prohibited.
Smoking
No smoking of any kind, this includes but is not limited to vaping, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, drugs and chewing tobacco
Alcohol
No alcohol or intoxication of any kind will be allowed on Banner of Christ Church's property.
Drugs
No drugs, this includes any recreational, prescription (not used in the manner intended) or illegal substance.
Pornography/sexual abuse
The use of pornography or any questionable material at PTC will not be tolerated.
Any type of sexual abuse; physical, emotional, verbal or any other form, will not be tolerated
I understand that the following responsibilities are mine as a parent using the Parent-Teacher Co-op Tutoring program:
- I understand I have a God-given responsibility to provide for the education of my child.
- I understand I will oversee my child’s education and make myself available to further the process of my child’s education with the Parent-Teacher Co-op.
- I understand I will see that my child’s homework is completed each week prior to class. I will do this by asking to see the completed work and checking it.
- I understand that I am to be in the presence of my child when he takes a test at home and will sign each test indicating so.
- Iunderstand that correspondence will be emailed or sent home, and I am responsible to check it so I can be informed.
- I understand that in the contract with the teachers, they make themselves available by phone or e-mail for extra assistance. It is my responsibility to see that the contact is made before Wednesday of that week.
- I understand that it is my responsibility to make certain that my child is equipped properly for each class as defined by the tutor of that class. This includes buying all the required texts.
- I understand that when I enroll my child, I am entering into a legal contract to pay for the full year regardless of whether or not my child is in attendance.
- I understand that the monthly payment is due on the 1st of the month. If payment is not received by the 1st of the month, the child will not be permitted into class unless other arrangements have been made with the teacher.Pay for all classes that have not been dropped or changed by August 1st . Parents are responsible to pay for the full year of teaching after August 1st even if the child has been pulled from the class. The second semester classes must be dropped or changed by December 1st or parents will be expected to pay for the 2nd semester class.
- I understand that the Parent-Teacher Co-op is not an umbrella program, nor do they keep grades or issue a report card. All record keeping are parent’s responsibility.
- I understand that my child is subject to dismissal for the following reasons: a. Incomplete homework assignments. b. Continual display of disrespect for tutor or peers. c. Non-payment of fees as scheduled. d. Inappropriate dress, appearance, or behavior. e. Behavior including lifestyle in direct conflict with our Student Guidelines & Statement of Faith.
- I understand that I need to have my child dressed appropriately according to the dress code outlined. Otherwise, they will need to change or leave the premises and an infraction notice will be sent home.
- I understand that my child will be taught biblical principles according to the Statement of Faith.
- I agree that if I have a concern, I will go immediately to the tutor to discuss this and allow the tutor time to correct the situation.
- I agree to work at the Parent-Teacher Co-op at the assigned volunteer times and will find my own replacement if a certain time/date does not work. If I have not fulfilled my volunteer times by the end of the school year, I’m responsible to pay $50 per missed time.
- I am responsible for any broken or damage to property or building caused by my child.
- I will keep sick children home.
- I understand that my child will be called by their parent given name and only by prounoun of their biological sex and gender.
I agree to go over the rules and guidelines with my students. I understand and agree to the above responsibilities as a parent.
PTC is part of Home School Legal Defense. If you would also like to become part HSLDA you can have a discounted rate by filling in our group number, 210019, on the application form.
Please Note: The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has suggested that no more than three (3) core classes be taken outside the home.
Rev. 1/1/2026
