Homeschoolers in Las Vegas Opening Community Support Center

NN&V Exclusive

(Lori Piotrowski) – You’re not happy with the public school system. You decide to homeschool. It goes well, for a while. But the kids are antsy. You (and they) both want to get out of the house. Now you can, and keep their education on track through RISE.

Several years ago, four home-schooling mothers pooled their talents and resources to begin RISE, Renaissance in Student Education, to provide a facility and resources which support educational choice. RISE was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and has been operating out of the organizers’ kitchens, living rooms, and dens.

Now, the RISE Resource Center, Inc. (RISE) has announced the opening of its own facility on the property of Advent United Methodist Church at 3460 North Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130.

Elissa Wahl, president of RISE, said, “We look forward to helping families throughout the Las Vegas valley discover and use the many options available in education today.”

The RISE facility has five classrooms, a kitchen, playground, grass and concrete play areas, a covered outdoor area, and a large parking lot.

RISE is not a faith-based organization, but the cooperation between the two organizations allows RISE to have a location, grow, and reach out to the home-schooling community in five ways:

1. Provide individualized family mentoring to inform parents about all of the educational options available to parents in the Las Vegas valley, which include public school, private schools, charter schools, and homeschooling. Should they choose to homeschool, they are invited to attend a series of introductory homeschool classes to mentor them as they start this new journey.
2. Provide classes to supplement the education of all students. Parents and members of the community are invited to offer classes for children of any age in any topic of interest or specialization. Class enrollment may be limited or open to the entire community depending on the desire of the teacher.
3. Offer homeschool groups a place to meet together outside of their homes and have protection from the weather.
4. Provide space for workshops, seminars, and classes that will benefit select groups of people or the community as a whole.
5. Reach out to and support the community through various events and activities that will either be held at RISE or publicized through RISE.

RISE is open on an as-needed basis, but as more classes, activities, and events are added to the schedule, they anticipate being open full time Monday through Friday, with evening and Saturday times available upon request.

As RISE grows, Wahl said that they will expand into a larger facility “in which we will offer a curriculum and manipulative library, a gymnasium/multipurpose room, more classrooms, and extended hours that will allow us to serve more people.”

To stay informed of the classes, activities, resources, and events, parents are encouraged to sign up for a free newsletter. In addition, the RISE Web site, www.riseresourcecenter.org,will be updated on a regular basis with information, events, and activities, all maintained on an interactive calendar.

Classes and activities are already being scheduled, and Wahl is encouraging those who would like to rent space, host a class, or other activities that falls within their mission and guidelines to contact them 702-515-1605.