Immaculate Heart Homeschool Co-op is a Catholic organization that provides support to homeschooling families in the Rockford and Belvidere area by working to strengthen our Catholic faith, offering educational classes in various subjects, and providing social opportunities. By coming together as a group, we are better able to meet the needs of our children by utilizing all parents’ unique talents and capabilities.
As a Catholic organization, IHHC always will include prayer and religion in its classes. Any subject can be used as a means of fostering the true Faith in our members. We have access to a Blessed Sacrament chapel on the campus. We require our members to sign a statement of faith.
As an educational organization, IHHC focuses on special subjects. We are fortunate to have on-campus access to a garden, a kitchen, a gym fully-stocked with equipment, a science lab, and a specialized music room. We currently offer classes in religion, music, art, physical education, science, and drama. For the 2023-2024 school year, we intend to offer sewing. Other possibilities for new classes include Spanish, Latin, and Band.
As a social organization, IHHC provides opportunities for like-minded families to enjoy activities together, make new friendships, and encourage each other in our vocations as parents. True socialization does not mean merely associating with many people, but associating with those who will be a wholesome influence.
IHHC currently meets every Tuesday morning, from 9 AM until 12:30 PM. We take breaks at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Classes proceed through May.
The start date for the 2023-2024 school year is September 19, 2023.
We are fortunate to be able to meet at the St. James Center (formerly St. James School), 320 Logan Avenue, in Belvidere. It is across the street from St. James Catholic Church.
IHHC began as a group of friends who all had children of the same ages. All five families had decided to homeschool. With the 2020 – 2021 school year approaching, we agreed it would be fun to form a co-op to assist each other in homeschooling our children. After that we were encouraged to expand our little group by allowing access to other families who might wish to join. Now we look forward to growing and developing our co-op and meeting new families.