About us
The Waxhaw/Weddington Home Educators Are Teaching support group, usually referred to as WWHEAT, was formed in 1993 to serve homeschooling families in the Union County, North Carolina area. Our purpose is to provide information and encouragement for those families who choose to educate their children at home, through our monthly meetings (known as Ladies’ Night Out, or LNO), our mentoring program, and our web site. Our hope is that members will form close relationships and provide the day-to-day support to one another that helps make the challenging task of homeschooling a little easier.
As a group WWHEAT operates from an explicitly Christian worldview. We invoke God’s blessings on our gatherings, and speakers may briefly share any personal encouragement they’ve received from Him that they believe would benefit others. While we are united by the fact that we all homeschool, we recognize there are a variety of reasons for this decision and that choices in other areas of our lives might be quite different. We do not desire to offend those of divergent beliefs, but wish to make it clear that the group does come from a particular perspective.
Core beliefs
We believe that parents have a constitutional right and a God-given responsibility to provide the best possible education for each of their children.
For parents who have been called to home education, this responsibility is made easier with the support of other homeschooling parents.
Even though WWHEAT sometimes offers opportunities which may separate the family, we believe it is better to keep the family together whenever possible.
Responsibilities should be shared among all members. No one person or group of individuals should be overburdened.
We encourage participation in the political process to safeguard our right to homeschool.
Leadership
WWHEAT is guided by a board of advisors. Currently new board members are appointed by the existing board. The board annually delegates responsibilities and tasks among the members using the preferences indicated by the results of our membership questionnaire. We encourage written suggestions submitted to the board and will reach every decision unanimously.
Benefits
As a member of WWHEAT you will have access a directory which includes contact information for each member as well as information on curricula they are using or have used, in order to facilitate your curricula research. The directory is meant for WWHEAT members only. It is not to be used for solicitations, promotions, sales, or any use that does not concern WWHEAT.
As a ministry to our members, meals are provided for families when there is a birth, hospitalization of an immediate family member, or death of an immediate family member.
As a WWHEAT member you will be able to participate in activities sponsored by CHEA (Charlotte Home Educators Association), which is made up of all the Charlotte-area support groups. CHEA aims to promote better communication, support, fellowship, and unity among the area’s support groups. CHEA also publishes a quarterly newsletter, which contains articles of interest to Charlotte-area homeschoolers, which is available to WWHEAT members in the members-only portion of the web site. Information about the bulk of activities for the school year is published in August.
Membership
WWHEAT membership is open to anyone who homeschools at least one child in the family. Dues are assessed in order to cover the cost of maintaining the web site, new books for the library, and other items pertaining to WWHEAT and its membership. Current membership dues are $20 each year. Membership dues and any donations are not tax-deductible.
WWHEAT will be successful in its mission to the extent that our members are willing to contribute their time, talents, and enthusiasm. There are a number of jobs that help our group run smoothly and all of our members are encouraged to contribute to the group in some way.
How to join
Click here for an application. Once your application has been received you will be sent an email providing instructions for accessing the members-only area of the web site.
We look forward to getting to know you and hope to see you at the next Ladies’ Night Out!