JOIN AQUIDNECK ISLAND KIDS GROUP LEADER JAMIE MEEKS FOR A MONTHLY SUMMER MEET & GREET
JULY 24th, 2024 from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Attention homeschool community of Rhode Island! You are invited come join Jamie Meeks & Marial Leisge for a summer meet & greet at the New Portsmouth Community Playground, where parents and children can learn more about our first-ever full-time homeschool co-op starting in September 2024 for grades K-4. This monthly playgroup will be the perfect opportunity to meet fellow homeschool families (or homeschool curious families), exchange ideas and expectations, and begin building a supportive community together. Come and enjoy a fun-filled morning of connection and collaboration as we embark on this exciting homeschool journey here on Aquidneck Island. For more information, please e-mail Jamie Meeks at jamie@oceanstatekids.com.
AQUIDNECK ISLAND KIDS CO-OP OVERVIEW
AGE: 5 - 9 Years Old
LOCATION: Glen Farm & Norman Bird Sanctuary & Various Other Aquidneck Island Locations
PROGRAMS:
FALL + HOLIDAY: Sept. 10th - Dec. 17th, 2024
WINTER + SPRING: Jan. 7th - April 22nd, 2025
SPRING + SUMMER: May 6th - Aug. 19th, 2025
DAY & TIME: Tuesday from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
GROUP LEADER: Jamie Meeks
GROUP SIZE: 15 - 30 students
MEMBERSHIP DONATION COSTS: We aim to keep all programs around $10 per week, per family. Program Membership Donations are $125 PER FAMILY. You have the choice to register for all three, or only registered for your desired seasonal programs below.
Co-op Overview:
Aquidneck Island Kids is a nature focused homeschool co-op for grades K-4 (or approximately 5-9 years old). This program will utilize the “Exploring Nature with Children” curriculum to provide a framework in which children can explore the natural world around them. Kids learn best when they have the freedom to pursue their interests in a supportive environment and OSK believes that nature is the best classroom. By nurturing creativity & curiosity in the great outdoors, we are igniting their desire to understand the world around them and raising all-around awesome humans. Parent participation is required & it’s our goal to provide parents the opportunity to be your child’s best teacher and strongest advocate for their learning. Aquidneck Island Kids has three seasonal programs. Families can register for all three, or pick and choose which ones best fits their year.
What Makes Our Co-op Unique:
• WE GATHER SMALL: OSK prefers to keep our co-ops small to maintain sustained focus and productivity, avoid overstimulation for younger children, and preserve the peacefulness of the morning. This program is limited to 15-30 families.
• YOU PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE: This is not a drop off program. OSK is passionate about outdoor learning, nature play, creativity and allowing parents to grow alongside their children. Parent participation is required & it’s our goal to provide parents the opportunity to be your child’s best teacher and strongest advocate for their learning. As parents, you play a pivotal role in cultivating a love for learning.
• LEARN IN NATURE: Kids learn best when they have the freedom to pursue their interests in a supportive environment and OSK believes that nature is the best classroom. By nurturing creativity & curiosity in the great outdoors, we are igniting their desire to understand the world around them and raising all-around awesome humans.
• MILD STRUCTURE: Even though we provide a weekly curriculum with daily activities, we do our best to resist the urge to over-schedule with structured activities. Each child is different and learns at their own pace. If your child prefers just to play, they are still developing problem-solving skills, creativity, and resilience.
• REILDS STANDARDS: As parents, we all share the same fear regarding meeting our child’s developmental needs. When creating our curriculum, OSK follows the RIELDS Standards (Rhode Island Early Learning Development Standards). These early learning standards articulate shared expectations for what young children should know and be able to do. Ocean State Kids is introducing RIELDS to empower parents with the confidence and resources needed to meet their children's needs in home-based learning, nature exploration, and our outdoor programs. You can learn more here.
• FUELING THE FUN: To ensure our kids are meeting their dietary needs, families are asked to participate in a snack rotation, where each parent is responsible for bringing snacks for at least two of the days. This is not required, however, most parents enjoy the gift of giving. There is a section in the registration for allergy & dietary restrictions to eliminate any potential problems.
• CAPTURE THE MOMENT: As a growing organization we photograph & capture video for our programs & learning activities. We want to provide visuals not only for marketing purposes, but to offer online visual examples of our activities for families to learn at home. We understand that not all families want their children exposed in the public domain, and we will certainly respect your privacy. Please inform us directly of your preferences. All images are shared on a Google Drive to access and keep for themselves.
