Finally, A home for Homeschoolers in New York City!!!
As The ROC enters into its 5th year of existence, (Whoo hoo, Yay!) We are proud to be a part of something built and sustained entirely through community building within the New York City homeschooling community.  In January of this year, a small group of homeschooling families were able to acquire a commercial space through a tightly coordinated cooperative effort.  In other words, we threw all of our resources into one pot and secured the first space in New York City that is completely dedicated to homeschoolers -- 24 hours a day/7days a week.  It's nearly 1300 square feet, with a full kitchen and lots of storage!  Located in the East Village, convenient to parks, libraries, NYU, Cooper Union, and public transportation - the 6 to Astor Place, the L subway or M8 bus to 1st Avenue.

In response to what families say they want, we develop and offer structured (as well as structurally unstructured) classes, activities and programs.  However, The ROC is not a corporation, and it makes no profits.  Until this past year, teachers were always paid at their requested rates whenever possible, and space fees were collected, however, all organizing, coordinating, (including postings, fielding questions, registration, class descriptions, scheduling, paying bills, website creation & maintenance, etc) has been handled entirely on a volunteer basis.  And, now with our amazing, fully ours, space dedicated solely to homeschoolers, we've even seen an increase in volunteerism from teachers as their way of contributing, to help make rent.

At this point, there is a small core group of committed and dedicated families who see such value in its existence that they have been willing to put their ideas, energy, effort, sweat and money towards it.  The idea was always for the core group to grow sustainability, and work on a cycle of diverse and shared responsibility.  It's so beautiful experiencing the cooperative idea being sustained by this core group of dedicated families, and it's even greater, truly awe inspiring seeing our kids getting involved - an awesome example of this is how one of our ten year old musicians regularly plays in parks and playgrounds helping to raise money for The ROC's rent.

We have found that the people who love the place and love what it provides in their lives are the families who consider themselves a vital part of something, rather than those who look at it as a consumer commodity.  Unlike a school, The ROC has is no funding, unlike a church The ROC has no endowment supporting it, unlike a major corporation, The ROC can not afford to offer free programs, nor is there a customer service department on call to accommodate every whim.  However, The ROC can provide something even better as each individual family has an opportunity to make it what they want it to be.  How many other places provide homeschooling families with opportunities like that?

       

There are many ways to support The ROC:
A home for Homeschoolers in New York City!!! 
If you'd like to see The ROC remain a Home for Homeschoolers, get involved!  And. believe it or not, any little bit helps, especially if it is a lot of people putting in a little.  It can be as simple as sending a supportive comment, to donating an old printer you have outgrown (working please) (we'll even pick it up), or donating anything from our wishlist (see below), or coming by to help clean, sign up for some classes, or simply sending a monetary donation - no amount is too small (and it's easy - via PayPal to TheROC93@gmail.com).   And, there are a myriad of other ways to get involved - the most supportive things people have done have been things they have created for themselves to contribute.  Individuals have custom made curtains, and room dividers, others have created and organized activities and classes, some have volunteered to teach classes, one family sponsored our memberships into things like a community garden, and families have spearheaded fundraisers, etc!   It's an awesome feeling of cooperativity permeating the space, and so awesome to see brought to life the vision for a Home for Homeschoolers...Supporting Strong Connections... Nurturing Solid Development... Strengthening Steady Community.

The ROC, New York City’s new Home for Homeschoolers came to exist through the co-ordinated and cooperative efforts of a few ROC families.  Keeping and maintaining our new Home for Homeschoolers will take the cooperative efforts of our larger homeschool community as well. 
You can join us in this effort by:

• Signing up for classes, activities and events, or 
• Joining a committee  - help clean up, make repairs, or help catalog in the library, etc.
• Teaching a class, or leading an activity, or 
• Renting the space for your own use, or
• Contributing something from our WISH LIST:   cleaning services, bean bag chairs, folding tables, folding chairs, paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags, storage bins (all sizes!), pots, pans, color all-in-one printer, art paper, art supplies, contact paper, sos pads, cleaning supplies, new mop, new broom, dvd player, cassette player, cd player, vcr, food processor, kitchen supplies (knives for chopping, spatulas, whisks, oven mits, cutting boards, etc.), foam flooring, window gates, paint, bookshelves/cases, tools...
• Creating your own special way to contribute, or 
• Also, remembering monetary donations are always welcome! 
• And/or becoming a member, and enjoying amazing benefits and privileges: 

Contributing Members:

$500 for the year (about $45 per month) entitles member(s) to:

-10 days of Freeschool ROC per year

-2 classroom space hours per month

-Small storage compartment for year

 

Supporting Members:

$1000 for the year (about $85 per month)
entitles member(s) to:

-20 days of Freeschool ROC per year

-5 classroom space hours per month

-medium storage compartment for year

 

Sponsoring Members:

$5000 (about $400 per month) for the year entitles member(s) to:

-vote in major decisions

-a slot in every class offered (provided student meets class requirements and prerequisites)

-20 classroom space hours (schedule permitting)

-Large storage compartment per year

 

Teaching Memberships:

Designed on an individual basis

Space Rental:

Parties, meetings, conferences, conventions, events, luncheons, rehearsals, playdates, tutoring sessions, photo/film shoots, etc., etc., etc!

Approximately 70 one hour slots available each week (M-F),
plus more on weekends:

At $40 per hour (negotiable)

 

 

 

The ROC: Resource and Opportunity Center for Homeschoolers
Supporting strong connections...  Nurturing solid development...  Strengthening steady community...

For several years The ROC has served as a meeting place for New York City's homeschoolers.  We have hosted NYCHEA Events, and have provided the community with a wealth of learning opportunities
and fun activities such as classes in Physics, Algebra, Drawing, Sewing, Knitting, Art History,
Physical and Environmental Science, Chemistry, African Dance, Ballet, Hip Hop Dance, Mandarin,
American Sign Language, Spanish, Magic as well as MET, CMOM, Hall of Science museum outreach programs.

In our own space we will continue offering such amazing learning opportunities, AND now everyone is so inspired and excited, activities and playgroups are being organized through parents being inspired to come together to design, create and implement them, and kids are excited about forming student run teams and clubs - Reading/Book Clubs.  Some students have expressed interests in creating Book Clubs and Robotics Teams that will meet at The ROC.  Our resident Robotics instructor, Teacher Tom, has been ranked #1 in Manhattan! 

Homeschooling in New York City is truly awesome, and our community is richly filled with wonderful experts in a variety of diverse fields, many whom are eager to share their skills and knowledge with our children and families.  Homeschooling ROC'S!!!