Homeschool Co-operative Shines in Empress
By Joan Janzen
EMPRESS - Shine On Homeschool Co-operative opened its doors in Empress, Alberta at the beginning of the 2025/26 school year. Sarah Kroph, an Alberta Certified teacher and mom, was excited to share the journey which birthed this new venture.
These children participate in the newly formed Shine On Homeschool Co-operative at Empress, Alberta. Since the school year began they’ve enjoyed four field trips, including a tour of a local Hutterite colony. Photo by Sarah Knopf
Students from grades 1–6 meet together four days a week with an open house policy in effect. The children learn together, focussing on building a strong foundation by ensuring they master the basics utilizing a Christian-based curriculum for core subjects. The kids also learn life skills like growing gardens, cooking and carpentry, and enjoy venturing out on field trips within the surrounding area.
Sarah, her husband and young family moved north of Empress six years ago. Before that time she was a teacher in the public system. “I loved my job!” Sarah said. “However once I started to have kids, I felt it was better for my family to be a stay-at-home mom.” She also continued to sub throughout the years.
The decision to homeschool began when her daughter wasn’t doing well at school. “She was reluctant to go and it seemed to be a fight every morning to get her there,” she explained. “This is when we decided to homeschool last year and it changed our lives.”
Her daughter’s reading level and math went up to Grade 2 levels in a single year. “We got to work in the mornings and were done by noon or 1:00 each day. We got our cheerful, bubbly, creative girl back!” Sarah reported.
She was surprised when another mom asked if Sarah would consider teaching her kids as well, which led to the idea of starting a homeschool co-operative. “The same mom walked into the old United Church building at Empress and said ‘I think I found us a spot’. That’s when it really took off,” she recalled.
The community support was overwhelming. They received donations of shelving, art supplies and an impressive library. When they opened their doors, they welcomed students from a wide area including the communities of Eatonia, Leader, Empress, Oyen, Acadia Valley, Buffalo, Bindloss, Sibbald and Brooks.
Because of the distances, some students attend one or two days a week, while completing their work at home during the remainder of the week. “There were a ton of families who just couldn’t drive to be part of the day-to-day activities,” Sarah explained. As a result, they get together for field trips twice a month, which allows more homeschool families to have social interaction with other kids.
“There are twelve families participating, and when we are all together it’s nearly thirty kids,” she said. Reminiscent of days gone by, each day begins with the singing of ‘O Canada’ and reciting the ‘Lord’s Prayer’. “We work until our work is done, not based on a time frame,” she explained.
Lessons in the morning are more structured, while afternoons include activities like a cooking class, community activities, crafts, Christmas concert practice and field trips. So far they have been on four field trips including a local Hutterite colony, an airport and a hike in the coulees looking at medicine wheels and buffalo jumps.
“This has been one of the greatest experiences of my life!” Sarah said. “As a society we need to do more for our children. I am just trying to do my part.”