Q&A

Q&A

Is this a religious group?

Yes. Watermark is, first and foremost, a group of parents who want to offer fun, engaging classes to our kids with Christ at the center. While most of our classes don’t focus on "Christian topics," our teachers are Christians, as is our leadership, and we approach all areas of the group with this in mind. While we do not require you to adhere to all tenants of our Statement of Faith, we do require that you read them and understand that these tenants determine the worldview through which Watermark and its classes operate. We ask that while attending Watermark classes and events, participants be respectful of this position in behavior, speech, dress and deeds. If you do not wish to participate in the religious aspect of this group, you may find one of the many other homeschool program's in the area meets your needs more adequately.

Please click here to read our Statement of Faith.

Where does Watermark meet?

Main Campus: Center Pointe Community Church, located at 9580 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando, FL 32825.

Oviedo Campus: CrossLife Church, located at 45 W Broadway St, Oviedo, FL 32765.

Joining Watermark

What is the Watermark application process? How do I start signing up for classes?

We’re excited that you are considering joining Watermark! If you’ve looked over our Q&A information, agree to our Statement of Faith, read our list of classes and feel that Watermark might be a good fit for you, we'd love to hear from you. To be considered for membership with Watermark, we ask that you fill out our online application; read, understand and agree to adhere to our Statement of Faith; read and agree to our Guidelines and Regulations, making sure your children understand and agree to them as well; and fill out Medical Information for each child who will be attending Watermark.

An interview with Watermark leadership is the last step in the application process and is an opportunity for us to meet and get to know one another better. You may have questions about Watermark, and we want to ensure we address those questions, that our values line up and that we are a good fit for one another.

You can e-mail us at info@BeWatermark.com to find out more information, or click HERE to start the process of joining or to see more details about the application process.

When can I sign up for classes?

Registration for new families opens at the end of March for new families. Exact dates can be found on our Sign Up page HERE. Once you have gone through the application process, including a family interview with Watermark's leadership, and been notified if you've been approved for membership, you can begin registering for classes. Registration closes in August.

I just found out about Watermark; can I join in the middle of the year?

We're so glad you found us! Unfortunately, registration is only open for a few months at the beginning of the year and closes in August. If you e-mail us, though, we'd love to put you on a wait list and notify you of our next Open House and when registration opens for the following year. In the meantime, we're happy to answer any questions you might have.

What ages are your classes designed for? How old does my child have to be to enroll in classes at Watermark?

We currently offer classes for preschool through 12th grade, as well as a nursery for babies 6 weeks and older. However, our nursery and preschool classes are reserved for families with children enrolled in one of our Kinder - High school classes. We do not accept nursery or Pre-K only registrations.

To enroll in kindergarten classes at Watermark, students must be 5 years old by August 1 of the year of enrollment. To participate in preschool classes, children must be 3 years old by August 1 of the year of enrollment and fully potty trained. Nursery enrollment is available for babies 6 weeks up to 3 years.

Though we know that homeschool offers fluidity in the way of grade levels, Watermark uses the following guidelines for placement in class grade levels:

Kindergarten - 5 years old by August 1
1^st -6 years old by August 1
2^nd – 7 years old by August 1
3^rd – 8 years old by August 1
4^th – 9 years old by August 1
5^th – 10 years old by August 1
6^th – 11 years old by August 1
7^th – 12 years old by August 1
8^th – 13 years old by August 1
High School – 14 years old by August 1

Though your student may be gifted in particular areas or subjects, families should adhere to these age guidelines when signing up for classes.

Can my baby or preschooler enroll in classes at Watermark?

If you have an older student who is enrolled in kindergarten to middle school classes at Watermark, we’d love to have your nursery or preschool age child join us! However, our nursery and preschool classes are reserved for families with children enrolled in one of our K-12th grade classes. We do not accept nursery or Pre-K only registrations.

We’re honored that you would inquire about classes at Watermark for the precious little members of your family, so if you don’t have older students enrolled in classes at Watermark, we would love for you to check back with us when your child is ready for kindergarten.

Cost and Payments

How much does it cost to participate in Watermark?

We do our best to keep participation costs as reasonable as possible. These are some of the costs that are associated with joining Watermark (More details follow.):

Interview fee for new families (non-refundable) - $10
Family registration fee (*non-refundable)
- Returning Families = $350
- New Families = $400
Family activities fee if not taking classes but doing Activities-Only option (non-refundable) = $159
Additional class and supply fees associated with each class you choose to take - varies
Any other activities throughout the year that you choose to participate in (field trips, purchasing a yearbook, Watermark t-shirt, etc.) - varies in cost. These are optional and may require additional cost/fees.

When new families fill out an application for Watermark and schedule an interview, there is a $10 non-refundable application fee that should be submitted no later than 48 hours before your interview time.

Once a family is accepted into Watermark, a Family Registration Fee is required before registering for classes. You will not be able to register for classes until your registration fee is submitted.

If you are unable to commit to classes but are interested in joining Watermark for things such as field trip, middle and high school outings, mom's events and other events such as our annual Wax Museum, etc., the Watermark Activity option ($159) may be a good fit for your family.

Watermark families sign up for each class they would like to participate in. Class and supply fees vary from class to class and range from about $200-$500 for the year, with some classes falling outside of that range. Class fees, in addition to contributing to the costs listed above, pay for teachers and class materials. Many classes have additional supply fees, or parents may be asked to supply certain books or materials for their student. Classes that require an additional materials fee and/or book purchase will state this in the class description list.

Click here to see our class lineup and fees for the upcoming school year.

How Does the Registration Fee work? What does it cover?

Once a family is accepted into Watermark, a Family Registration Fee is required before registering for classes.

This is a 1-time per family fee for the currently enrolling school year and allows you enrollment into the weekly in-person classes and all other special activities. If you are unable to enroll in classes due to classes being full prior to your enrollment, a refund of all but $159 of this fee will be issued upon written notification to info@bewatermark.com. The $159 is non-refundable to cover administrative and processing costs and allows family attendance to all activities other than weekly in-person classes. Please know a refund will only be issued if your family is unable to enroll in any classes at Watermark. Enrollment into any or all classes will constitute a binding agreement for the fees associated with the enrolled class and the registration fee will no longer be eligible for refund. Refunds will not be issued after August 1st of the currently enrolling year.

You will not be able to register for classes until your registration fee is submitted. The registration fee covers costs such as use of the building facilities, utilities, website maintenance, printing, supplies, special events and other costs associated with running the program.

When are class fees due? Do you offer payment plans?

Watermark offers two options for payments: you can either pay in full or make monthly payments.

If you choose to pay in full, all class fees are due by August 1. An initial deposit (indicated as Payment 1 for each class on your account) is due by April 30, holds your spot in the class. This deposit is due by April 30 (so if you register April 29, it's still due by April 30. If you register on May 15, you would pay that upon registering.). Class supply fees (indicated in the invoices as Upfront class fees) are also due at this time. You can choose to pay your entire fee when registering, or you can make it by August 1.

If you choose to make monthly payments, please note that a convenience fee of $10 per class, with a maximum of $100 per family, will be added to your total amount due for classes. This deposit is due by April 30 (so if you register April 29, it's still due by April 30. If you register on May 15, you would pay that upon registering.). Class supply fees (indicated in the invoices as Upfront class fees) are also due at this time. The remaining balance will then be divided into 8 roughly equal payments with payments due on the first of each month from July 1-March 1. The payment schedule and terms are detailed in the Payment section of our Guidelines and Handbook.

Can I get a refund on classes once I’ve registered?

Your class cost is non-refundable once you have taken a spot in our classes, so please carefully consider your decision before registering for a class.

As homeschoolers we enjoy a great deal of flexibility with our student's educational plan, and we understand that situations in life often change. However, please understand that Watermark, as well as each instructor, invests a great deal of time and resources into planning for each class. When you enroll in a class, you are making a financial commitment to Watermark, and that commitment is binding. Watermark relies on those commitments to budget and pay teachers’ salaries, purchase class materials, etc.; additionally, signing up for a class and then deciding not to enroll in it may prevent others who may truly want that class from being able to participate. Therefore, we ask that you make careful consideration of all your family’s and student’s commitments, classes elsewhere, sports, etc., as you sign up for classes.

Classes and Scheduling

When are classes held?

Main Campus: We offer classes every Monday from 9 AM to 3:30 PM. However, we do not require attendance for all five class hours. You have the flexibility to choose what hours work best for you. Join us for one, two, three or all six!

Oviedo Campus: We offer classes every Thursday from 9 AM to 12:40 PM. However, we do not require attendance for all three class hours. You have the flexibility to choose what hours work best for you.

We also invite you to bring a lunch and join with other Watermark families in the café area after 3^rd hour (from 11:50 AM-12:40 PM) for fellowship time. This is a great time to connect with other families and build relationships.

We meet for 25 weeks each year. There are 24 weeks of classes and one week dedicated to setting up and rehearsing for our year-end Program Showcase. The Fall Term runs from September to December, and the Spring Term runs from January to April.

For more specific dates, click here for the calendar.

What classes does Watermark offer?

Click here to see our list of classes for the current school year.

What if I can't stay all day or if I only want my child to take one class?

Watermark doesn't have a set number of hours that you are required to attend each week. This a-la-carte style program allows you to choose the classes you want to take — even if that means you only come for one hour of classes. Take only the classes that work for you and your schedule. For example, you could choose to enroll your child in one class during the first hour, work on your own homeschooling curriculum in the cafe area during the second hour, and enroll your child in another Watermark class during the third hour. Or you may decide to enroll one student in a class during first hour while you work one-on-one with another of your students, switch the child who takes a class and works with you during another hour, and enroll both of them during another class so you can relax! You choose the classes that work for you and your homeschooling schedule!

How long are your classes?

We offer five class periods with various choices in each slot. Classes run for approximately 50 minutes. Some classes, particularly for the upper grades, may last longer. There is a lunch break from 11:50-12:40 PM that offers a great time to connect with other families and students.

What size are your classes?

We intentionally keep most classes small, averaging about 10-12 students or less per class. The exceptions to this are classes with both more physical space and classes that are just plain more fun if there are larger groups (such as Musical Theater, PE, Dance etc.).

Safety

Are background checks required for teachers and parents?

Yes, all teachers have a background check, and the main parent/ guardian(s) of students attending Watermark must also have a background check. Because a parent or guardian is required to stay on campus during Watermark hours, we want to do all that we can to ensure the safety of each child and family who is on campus.

The Family Registration Fee covers background checks for TWO parents/guardians; those guardians should be the ones who will be most frequently staying on campus during Watermark hours. If there are more than two people (such as grandparents, neighbors, etc. who will be regularly attending) who will be staying on campus with your student on a consistent, regular basis, the cost for those background checks will be at the expense of the individual family.

Are there any other safety protocols in place?

Families are asked to sign in and out of Watermark each day so that we know how many people are in the building in case of an emergency. Watermark families enter in and exit the building through one set of doors so that we can keep an eye on who is entering and who may not belong. A person sitting at the Sign In Table throughout the day also helps us to be aware of who is entering the building.

Parents and teachers should not be alone with a student other than their own to safeguard both the child and the adult. If a child is alone in the bathroom, any adults who are not the parent of the child should wait until the child has exited the bathroom before entering. Adults who may find themselves unexpectedly alone in the bathroom with a child other than his or her own should finish in the bathroom and exit as quickly as possible.

Teaching

Do I have to teach? CAN I teach if I want to?

Watermark is not a traditional co-op in the sense that we do not require parents to teach, set up, tear down or clean bathrooms when the school day is done.

We want to honor the gifting that each of us possess and not put anyone into a teaching position if he or she is not comfortable with it or is unable to teach at this season of life. If you love teaching, though, and want to be a part of that element of our group, e-mail us, or head to the Teach section on our website for more information. We'd love to talk with you more about teaching opportunities (and teaching has some great perks!). Our classes have already been decided for this year, but let us know if this is an interest and we can talk to you about teaching with Watermark for the following school year.

Who will be teaching my child?

Watermark is unique because we provide teachers -- some of whom are moms, dads, aunts, uncles, etc. of students who attend Watermark -- who are passionate about a subject, as well as professionals who want to offer classes in their area of expertise. This means that tuition may be higher than other co-ops, but it also means that you do not have to prepare class material or be the main instructor.

When the class listings are posted, there will be bios of each teacher available so you can get a better idea of who will be teaching each class.

Each teacher also must have a background check before teaching with Watermark.

Parent and Family Expectations

Can I drop off my kids while they're in class?

Watermark is not a drop-off program. Though there is not a long list of requirements for parents to do on a weekly basis, we do require that a parent or guardian stay on campus at all times throughout the day.

What do I do while I'm waiting for my kids during class time?

Both Watermark campuses offer tables and chairs around the building, free Wi-Fi, and space to sit and relax. A parent or guardian is required to stay on campus at all times during classes, but feel free to lock yourself in the car for some peace and quiet (Just keep your cell phone ON and nearby and let us know at the Sign-In Table in case we need to reach you!), catch up on a book, pay bills, talk to other parents, do schoolwork with a child who isn't in class that hour or even catch a nap on a cozy couch. It's up to you!

Please note that our cafe and seating areas are designated as "quiet working spaces." While quiet conversation and working with other students are encouraged, please refrain from running, yelling and loudly playing in the building, and please respect the quiet spaces for those who use the time and space to work, including the church office staff with whom we share a space.

If I register my children to attend classes with Watermark, are there any requirements for me, the parent, associated with Watermark? What are my parental responsibilities?

Yes. Because the leadership of Watermark consists of only a few moms who are homeschooling just like you are, to help ensure that the load for hosting various events and running Watermark does not fall on a few shoulders and result in burnout, we humbly require that all families commit to at least one area of service each year.

When you commit to helping with some of the needs our homeschool community has, we would love to help connect you with an area that you are gifted in or passionate about, whether that’s helping to plan our closing program with a committee of other parents, volunteering as a substitute teacher, or serving in some other area.

As a Watermark parent we also ask that you:

Fill out the requested application and paperwork in a timely manner.
Submit your registration fee.
Pay your class fees on time.
Purchase any necessary books and materials in a timely manner and help your students bring them to class as needed.
Help your children get to classes on time dressed appropriately.
Stay on site during the time your child is in class.
Oversee your student’s classes to provide accountability to ensure that work is completed on time with integrity and that your student is fully prepared to participate in class.
Communicate with Watermark leadership and/or teachers about any special needs your student may have or when concerns arise about classes or Watermark in general.
Pick up nursery and preschool children in a timely manner after classes.
Supervise your children when they are not in class. Please remember that the church is a working environment and that students may not run in the halls or seating areas and must use quiet voices inside.
Have at least weekly access to e-mail and the internet to receive e-mail announcements and retrieve website information from Watermark and its instructors. This is the way we communicate; it is your responsibility to check it.
Attempt to handle all difficulties and conflicts with integrity and in a biblical manner, according to the guidelines of Matthew 18:15-17.
Review with your child and agree to abide by the policies set forth in Watermark guidelines at the beginning of each year. Your signature indicates you AND your student(s) commitment to this.

Are there any parent meetings that I need to attend?

Yes. All Watermark families are required to join us for our mandatory Meet the Teacher meeting. This year we'll be meeting on Monday, August 30, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Center Pointe Community Church. Our Oviedo Campus Meet the Teacher will be announced soon. There will be a chance to see the facilities where Watermark holds classes and to meet the teachers of the classes your child(ren) will be taking.

Before joining Watermark, our leadership will also meet with you individually so we can get to know each better, answer any questions you have and help you decide if Watermark is a good fit for you and your family.

My child requires special accommodations in the classroom, Can they still attend?

Watermark partners with local businesses & professionals, as well as parents who are well versed at their particular subject to teach our classes. However, not all of these teachers are equipped to handle the additional needs that some students may have. We require that each student be able to attend classes un-aided and be self-guided throughout the class. We ask that each student be attentive and non-disruptive during class so as not to distract other students. (We understand kids are kids, and sitting still for long periods can be tough, but constant disruptions may lead to disciplinary actions or removal from class) Each family wants the best quality experience for their student, so we ask our families to consider other students as much as you would consider your child in this regard.

Watermark does not have adequate staff or teachers who are trained in special education to handle the additional needs some students would require. As a non-profit homeschool organization, we are not required by law to follow Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), nor are we equipped to do so. Because of the nature of our classes, many children with unique abilities and learning differences find Watermark to be a safe space to learn and grow. While many are successful, this may not be the best environment for children with more complex needs. Students who require the presence of special aides, therapists and/or parent assistance in the classroom will not be able to successfully participate. If you have questions about accommodations for your child's specific situation, please reach out to info@bewatermark.com.

*Students enrolled at Watermark must be independent learners

*Students age 3 and up must be potty trained

Other Offerings

Will there be any performances during the year?

Funny you should ask – why yes, there are some performances during the year. At the end of the school year in April, there will be an evening performance that includes all Watermark classes. Your children will have a chance to show off on stage and/or display what they've learned in class! You can find the exact performance date on our Calendar tab. Performance based classes, such as Musical Theater, will participate in the End of the Year Showcase as well but may also have their own performance night.

We’re also excited to connect with a local nursing home to do a performance at the end of our fall term in early to mid-December, enabling our students to connect with people in the community and to serve them.

Does Watermark offer anything besides classes?

Watermark field trip opportunities, monthly middle and high school outings, moms' nights out, and sometimes nature study outings, as well as other things that sometimes pop up. Each year Watermark hosts a Wax Museum in which students dress up and portray an historical figure as well. There are also other opportunities that, while not officially Watermark events, are sometimes put together by Watermark parents.

Watermark also desires to see moms build community and connect with one another, so on Mondays we host a Mom Connect – a time for sharing, questions, praying and sometimes just hanging out – as well as various Mom events throughout the year. Several dads who stay on campus during Watermark sometimes opt to meet together as well. Homeschooling can be joyous but it can also be hard and lonely, so we’d love to connect with each other and walk this journey together.

Wow, those activities sound fun! Can I join them even if we don't take classes with Watermark?

Watermark Activities may be just what you're looking for for your family! This option allows you and your family to participate in the non-Monday/class options for Watermark, such as the Wax Museum, field trips and other outings. The Watermark Activity Registration Fee is $159 for the year. For more information, please email us.