About Us

What is OVCHE?

Ohio Valley Christian Home Educators (OVCHE) is a support group dedicated to encouraging families who strive to educate their children in a manner pleasing to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
 

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”   - Proverbs 22:6

“And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart: and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”  - Deuteronomy 6:6

OVCHE members consist of home-educating parents who join together to share their talents, resources, and time in order to enhance and enrich the educational experiences of their children. Members also provide advice, encouragement, and inspiration for fellow homeschooling families.

 

What does the OVCHE membership provide its members? 

Our members regularly organize field trips, group outings (e.g., symphony, hiking, or the zoo), playdates, teen/tween nights, and specialty classes (e.g., art, music). Each month, we post opportunities on our member calendar, featuring a wide range of activities, including the Sport of the Month (e.g., bowling, ice skating, climbing), chess, craft and gym classes, Mom’s Night Out events, and more. In addition, we have annual events including a Back-to-(home) School picnic, Fall Harvest events, Christmas Party, and Spring Talent Show. All of these events are only accessible from the “Members-only” side of our website. Some events are open to extended family (e.g., Talent Shows) or guests (e.g., Symphony) as space allows, but preference is always given to OVCHE members!

Our Co-op meets once a week (Thursdays) for 10-week fall and winter sessions. Each week, families meet for several hour-long class options for ages preschool to high school. Membership in OVCHE does not guarantee membership within the co-op, as there are space limitations and a waitlist is often in place. Preference is usually given to families with older students. If you are primarily interested in OVCHE membership for the Co-op, please make this clear during the Membership Interview (see below).

 

How do I join OVCHE?

Those interested in membership should submit an application online (Note: submitting an application neither commits you to nor guarantees membership). Once the application is submitted and received, you will then be contacted by the Membership Committee to discuss your homeschooling journey, what you hope to gain from OVCHE, and to answer any questions you may have about our organization. Upon satisfactory completion of the membership interview and payment of dues, membership will be approved.

You do not have to be a Christian or fully agree with our Statement of Faith to join OVCHE. However, you do have to live in accordance with our Statement of Belief Regarding Marriage, Family, and Human Sexuality, abide by our Policies, Procedures, and Expected Conduct, act respectfully towards those of the Christian faith and not undermine their beliefs, and abstain from promoting events or content in our group that would be in disagreement with or offense to conservative Christian values.

To join OVCHE, Request Membership

1. Submit all required information 

2. Submit a check for $35 made payable to "OVCHE" to our treasurer: 

OVCHE

P.O. Box 561

St. Clairsville OH 43950

Once the information and your fee have been obtained and approved by our board, you will receive an email granting you access to log in to our OVCHE "Members only" portion of our website. 

Members will then need to renew their membership annually, pay the annual dues by the August mandatory annual membership meeting, as well as update their profile within the member portal. Please note that if members do not complete their yearly membership requirements and payment is not received on time, their account will be deactivated, removing access to our calendar and other members-only events. 

 

Who runs OVCHE?

OVCHE is volunteer-led and welcomes ideas and suggestions from ALL of its member families! Member involvement is essential to sustaining our organization. Anyone can organize an event and submit it to the online Calendar (though all events must be approved by the Events Committee). Such events can include field trips, outings, specialty classes, guest speakers, teen events, group tickets, or any other activity that would be beneficial to our members. Classes and outings can be led by the OVCHE member or by an outside expert or organization, as long as the content is appropriate for the target audience.

We also have an appointed Board of Directors that makes policy decisions, manages finances, and offers dispute resolution when necessary. Our committees (Membership, Events, Technology, Finance, and Co-op) help manage regular operations (e.g., website maintenance, payments, and membership applications) and organize large-group special events (e.g., Co-op, Holiday Parties, and Talent Shows). Long-term, active members who agree with our Statement of Faith are encouraged to be actively involved and participate in a committee.

 

Who do I contact if I still have questions?

Visit our website at OVCHE.org, or better yet, speak with an OVCHE member! You can also feel free to email us at [email protected], attend our annual business meeting in August, or join us for our Homeschool Workshop Day in May.