James River Cobblestones James River Cobblestones James River Cobblestones Untitled Header Image James River Cobblestones
 
Membership for the Fall 2024 semester is now closed.
Check back in November for Spring 2025 openings.
Homeschooling - You can do it!
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Welcome

Cobblestones is a unique blend of traditional and non-traditional learning methods offered to enhance and enrich your homeschool journey; just as cobblestones along a well worn path are all different, so are our children and their learning styles. As we strive to "come alongside" you on your homeschooling path, we want to be your homeschool helper no matter how you choose to "do school" - whether you choose "unschooling", "outschooling", or "inschooling"; as long as your goals are to teach your children to love the Lord God with all their heart and soul and strength, we encourage you to join us and our Cobblestones Community.

We are currently offering classes on Mondays and Thursdays in Powhatan. Our classes meet from September – May each year, except for the extracurricular classes, which will have dates listed. There are thirty-one weeks in our school calendar.

Our classes feature weekly lesson plans with coordinating weekly homework. All the planning is done for you! Classes offer the benefits and flexibility of multi-age classroom style learning. Our classes are designed to enhance each participating student's home school experience - not replace it. Students are taught in small group settings, with lots of hands-on learning and individual attention from caring teachers. Students are responsible for completing their work assignments at home, with parental help as needed. Please note that our instructors do not have specific training for teaching students with learning disabilities or certifications for administering medical care.

About our Director and our Philosophy

Thoughts from Cheryl Hair, Director of Academics

When we began homeschooling (many years ago), there were not that many options out there. Our first two years were with textbooks that we ordered online from home school companies. It didn't take us long to see that this wasn't working for our family. A friend from church introduced my friend and I to the Charlotte Mason approach of learning. She graciously invited us to her farmhouse, where she spent the day encouraging, explaining, and letting us pore over her home library - with hot tea of course. It was a day that changed our home school journey. Our children fed chickens and gathered eggs, and were read wonderful stories by her daughters, as we soaked up all we could.  I purchased a copy of "A Charlotte Mason Companion" (it is still one of my favorite books and though quite used still sitting on my library shelf), and we were off to a new way of learning - a lifetime of learning and memories!!

We began using real, living books for history, science and literature, learned through play (not just in kindergarten), and school was no longer the struggle that it had been - my kids enjoyed it, and loved our new way of learning. For those families who have struggling learners, the Charlotte Mason approach is such a gentle way to learn. Our days became days of reading great stories and literature - on the sofa, in front of the fire, at the park, lots of hands-on activities, art, music, and our afternoons were free for outdoor play, a quiet time each afternoon (for all of us), and which ended with us all of us gathering at the kitchen table for tea, while I read our latest literature book. We had nature walks, kept Nature Notebooks, and had lots of narration, great discussions, copywork, and as they got older, we incorporated Notebooking into our studies.

My desire is to help those in the home school community to instill that love of learning into their children, and to understand that each family is unique, and we don't have to fit into that box like everyone else. We should not compare ourselves or our children to others. We offer classes that use great books/literature, and lots of hands-on activities, making learning fun - especially during the elementary years. We provide classes that have children of multiple ages - just like learning at home. At Cobblestones we do not desire to take the place of your homeschool, but to implement your childs studies and learning.

FAQ's

Where do classes meet?

Powhatan Christian Fellowship
3308 Pleasants Road
Powhatan, VA 23139

 

What qualifications do your instructors hold?

Our instructors come from a wide variety of backgrounds with numerous talents. They share a love for Christ and a commitment to teach Biblical principles in all subject areas. Most are either currently homeschooling or have adult children who were homeschooled.   Look for information about indivdual qualifications on the Class Instructors page. All adults who work directly with students have passed a background check. Please note that our instructors do not have specific training for teaching students with learning disabilities or certifications for administering medical care.

When are you in session?

Our fall session begins in September. Full courses will run September – May (3-week break in December & 1- week spring break). We may also offer additional fall and spring extracurricular classes. Class duration will be as noted on Cobblestones schedule. Class dates will be listed on the website calendar - please note holidays and/or teacher days.

How much does it cost to be a member?

There is a one time *non-refundable membership fee of $50 per FAMILY per year, payable online to the James River Home School Foundation (JRHSF). Online payment is required with this application.  In addition there is a required student registration fee of $30 per student for the first 3 students. There is no additional registration fee for 4 or more students. Registration usually begins in March and ends in September.

*Membership fees are non-refundable UNLESS:

  • the class you enrolled in is cancelled
  • you are denied membership for any reason

 

 

What do classes cost?

Class prices vary and are paid directly to the teachers and can be found under Class Descriptions. You can then click the class you're interested in to see all the class details.

How do I enroll and register for a class or classes with Cobblestones?

To enroll in any Cobblestone class(es) you must first request membership in our Cobblestones Community. Class registration can only take place after your membership to this group has been approved and family membership and student registration fees are paid. Once you are logged into the secure site as a member you can sign-up for classes.

Family Membership Fees: $50.00
Student Registration Fees: $30 (for first 3 students -  no additional fees for 4 or more students)

Once you are a member, simply go to the Class Registration tab, click on the class(es) you are interested in and you will be able to register any of your children from the drop down class menu. It's that easy! Remember, class sizes are limited, but there is a waiting list you can add your name to. Also, if additional classes are added you will be notified.  

Membership fees are non-refundable UNLESS:

  • the class you enrolled in is cancelled
  • you are denied membership for any reason

 

Membership and Class Registration

So....How do I become a member and register for classes?

If you have checked out the list of classes offered (you can click the class to see all the class details, including the cost); then you can check out our Instructors here. If you are sure you want to enroll in one or more classes, you need to join our Cobblestones Community.   Family Membership Applications are currently closed.  

Membership in this site is private for families currently attending or registering for Cobblestones classes. There is a one time *non-refundable membership fee of $50.00 per FAMILY per year, payable online to the James River Home School Foundation (JRHSF). Online payment is required with this application.  In addition there is a required student registration fee of $30 per student for the first 3 students. There is no additional registration fee for 4 or more students.

As this is a closed community, class registration can only take place after your membership to this group has been approved and membership fees are paid. Once you are logged into the secure site as a member you can sign-up for classes. All membership and student registration fees must be received prior signing up to a classs.

Membership fees are non-refundable UNLESS:

  • the class you enrolled in is cancelled
  • you are denied membership for any reason 

Parents must be in compliance with the homeschool laws for the State of Virginia.

Please see our "FAQs" about membership, class registration, and other related questions. You can also contact our Academy Director at [email protected].

Thanks for your interest in James River Cobblestones.

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