April 28, 2006

Dear Home School Parents:

Thank you for your interest in McWane Science Center’s Home School Laboratories.  We had great sessions last year and are looking forward to having your child enrolled in our new year of labs.  Please read the following rules and regulations and the attached curriculum.

Content:

McWane Science Center Labs are designed to supplement what you are teaching at home.  Students will be able to use equipment and take part in experiments that are not easily executed in the home classroom.  Our labs fall within the standards of the Alabama Course of Study as well as the National Science Standards.

Registration:

Registration begins May 3, 2006 for Fall 2006.  Registration for the laboratories will be taken on a first come first served basis.  This year, you may choose to register for both the Fall 2006 and the Spring 2007 semesters, as long as you register by August 25, 2006.  To register for the laboratories, please contact McWane Science Center’s Reservations Department at 205-714-8414.  The deadline for registration for Fall 2006 or the Fall 2006/Spring 2007 combination is August 25, 2006. 

McWane Science Center will be hosting a required orientation for parents of home school students enrolled in our labs.  The orientation date for those enrolled in the Fall 2006 semester is Tuesday, August 29 from 3:00pm – 4:30pm.  Please contact Rachel Pace at 205-714-8359 or rpace@mcwane.org by August 25 to confirm your attendance.

Home school lab enrollment fees include the entry fee for our annual Home School Science Fair on May 15, 2007.  The science fair will be open to all home school students in grades 1^st – 12^th.

Sessions:

Please see attached curriculum for home school sessions.  For children in grades PK – 6^th please choose the session with dates that best fit your schedule.  You must sign up for the entire semester and your child may attend only the session for which he/she is registered.

Rules and Regulations:

In order for your child to fully benefit from lab sessions, you must arrive at least five minutes before class time.  McWane Science Center educators will pick up students on time and begin classes.  Late arrivals miss important class instruction and reduce usable lab time for everyone.  Anyone arriving late without prior arrangement will risk not being admitted to class.

Attending Class with Your Child:

We respect the commitment you have made to take an active part in your child’s learning.  We want all parents to have the opportunity to participate or observe in class.  Due to classroom size restrictions, we must limit the number of adults to two in the classroom.  If you would like to attend a class with your child (maximum labs you can attend are two), please call me at 205-714-8359 to reserve your spot in the classroom.  If a parent would like to visit the museum during the time your child is in a lab you must show a membership card or pay admission to enter the museum unless it is your designated day to observe the class.

We welcome parental involvement and appreciate your concern for the quality of your child’s education, so if you plan to attend the classes with your child, please make other arrangements for your children of any age not enrolled in the class you attend.

We want all students to feel safe and comfortable in a fun learning environment.  Parents will be notified immediately of any disruptive behavior.  Parents may also be asked to attend labs with their child.  If disruptive behavior continues, McWane Center reserves the right to ask the student not to return to the class; no refund will be given for the remaining classes.

McWane Science Center will not hold individual enrollment home school labs if Birmingham City Public Schools are closed due to weather conditions.  Otherwise, classes will proceed at the normal time.  Make-up days will be determined as needed.

If you have any questions or concerns at any time, please feel free to contact us.  We welcome suggestions and comments and appreciate parent feedback.

Sincerely,

Rachel Pace   

Director of  Science Education and School Relations

205-714-8359

rpace@mcwane.org