What is Cedars Classical Co-Op?

• Parent/Volunteer-Led – We are a group of like-minded parents coming together to guide our children in a shared community setting. There is no tuition, no paid administration, no school of any kind, and no formal entity — just families sharing time, talent, and resources.

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• Not an Organization or Institution – Cedars does not process payments, issue transcripts, or operate as any kind of school. Each family remains fully responsible for their own children’s learning and records.

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• Core Days – We gather Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, for shared, in-person guidance time. All families agree to follow the same program and stay on the same pace so children are working in sync.

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• Participation Requirement – At least one parent from each family must actively serve in some role.

  • If you cannot be present personally, you must send a capable substitute/proxy (grandparent, tutor, nanny, babysitter, etc.) who can actively assist the whole group — not just your own children. This person must be prepared to do necessary prep work (reviewing materials, planning activities, etc.) and fully engage during the day.

  • All regular parent participants and all proxy participants are required to complete Safe environment training and comprehensive background check through our parish and Eparchy. This is mandatory for the safety of our children and the integrity of our community.

  • Parents and “proxy parents” interact with and support all children present, not only their own.

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• Flex Day (Optional) – Wednesdays, 10:30 AM–2:00 PM, offering shared activities such as art, physical games, and languages.

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• Shared Mission – A faith-filled, classical environment rooted in truth, goodness, and beauty — growing together as one community.

Need a Parent Proxy?

If you wish to join Cedars but cannot serve personally, you can arrange for a “parent proxy” to participate in your place. Proxies are hired and paid directly by you (Cedars does not hire or pay them). We recommend looking for Christian or Catholic-friendly candidates where possible, though this is not required.

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Important: All parent proxies must complete Safe environment training and comprehensive background check through our parish and Eparchy before their first day of service. This requirement applies to all adult participants in the co-op.

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Big Tip:

If you’ve registered with a charter school, check their approved vendor list for tutors, nannies, or guides. Many are pre-approved to receive charter funds for hourly payment. This means they can be paid directly through your charter, costing you zero out-of-pocket.

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Local, in-person options for finding a capable parent proxy in the Orange County, CA area:

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1. Catholic & Christian Community Boards – Post in parish bulletins, Catholic school alumni groups, or church social media pages (especially in the City of Orange, St. John Maron, and nearby parishes).

2. Care.com (Local Search) – care.com — Filter for “nannies,” “childcare,” or “private support” in Orange, CA, and specify the role involves group activity guidance.

3. Nextdoor (Neighborhood App) – nextdoor.com — Post in local groups to find qualified individuals in your immediate area.

4. Wyzant (Local Tutors) – wyzant.com — Search for in-person mentors in Orange County, filtering for “elementary” or “middle years” support.

5. Classical Conversations & Homeschool Community Networks – Attend local meetings or post in Facebook groups to find proxies familiar with classical methods.

6. Local College Job Boards – Chapman University, Santiago Canyon College, and Concordia University Irvine often have education or liberal arts students seeking part-time work.

7. Catholic Homeschool Facebook Groups – Search “Orange County Catholic Homeschoolers” or “Southern California Catholic Homeschoolers” for proxy candidates recommended by other families.