Parent Involvement
Our school operates much like a family; we all have jobs to do and we work to make things better for all of us. That’s the essence of a cooperative preschool: cooperation.
While the school employs two professional teachers who develop the curriculum and oversee classroom instruction, we parents actually run the co-op. We have a Board of Directors, attend monthly Parent Education meetings, hold member jobs (like helping wash the art smocks or caring for the school pet), participate in our annual Children’s Rummage Sale, and rotate spending time in the classroom.
Oh Boy, what a find! We sampled several different preschools on the Island, and we found everything we wanted right here. Once I observed Teacher Ellen’s skill with preschoolers, all of my previous concerns about preschool were gone. Her many years of experience were immediately apparent. It is such a delight to see my daughter gleam from ear to ear each and every day. This program really builds the children’s confidence and is such a terrific way to prepare them for Kindergarten. We are so excited to have our daughter in another year of preschool at ICP, and to have our 1 year old enter as a “Penguin” this coming fall. I truly love the parent connections that I so easily formed in this nurturing environment.
Kathy V.
The time we spend in the classroom varies by class. Penguin and Sea Otter parents spend one day a week in the classroom, while Dolphin and Orca parents spend two or three times a month in class. Even in that limited time, it’s amazing to see how fast our kids grow and develop and how a dozen kids (and a dozen parents) come together to form a strong bond that lasts beyond the preschool years.
I never knew that this level of involvement in my child's education was available, especially in an area where nanny's and daycare are in much greater use. We really love the school!
Nikki L, Orca Parent
The #1 thing parents tell us in our semi-annual surveys about the program is that they benefit most from the opportunity to meet other parents with kids the same age, and to develop those parent-to-parent friendships.
Our preschool is a rich resource for parenting tips and information. From tidbits in our parent newsletter, to an in-class library with books and other resources available for checkout, to hosting an annual speaker who is an expert on child and parenting issues, Island Cooperative Preschool is dedicated to the development of us parents as well as that of our kids.
I love the experience both my son and I are having! We look forward to our school mornings!
Kristin F, Penguin Parent
Each month, we participate in a Parent Education session, which is led by an instructor trained in the latest parenting issues. We cover topics like stress management , sibling rivalry, developmental differences between boys and girls, positive discipline and more. And the best part is that when we’re in the classroom, we actually get to put our new knowledge to use and apply what we’ve learned. (As a side benefit, this program earns each parent two credits per quarter at Olympic College, as Parent Education is an actual course that’s entwined in our preschool experience.)
Our program for parents rivals that for our kids. Both are fun, educational and help us build strong relationships with our kids and with each other.
To download our official Parent Agreement, which outlines our commitments to the preschool, download pdf.
