What is expected of a Co-op Parent?
Puyallup
South Cooperative Nursery School is a parent cooperative preschool run
by the families, for the families. For parents who want to participate
in their child’s early education, it offers an excellent choice.
Cooperative preschools have a 50-year history in Washington State. The
Tacoma-Pierce County cooperative preschools have been affiliated with
Bates Technical College for more than 30 years. Under the guidance of
Bates Technical College Home and Family Life Department, cooperatives
have developed into small, non-profit corporations controlled by each
school’s families.
To successfully operate our school,
each family involved must make a commitment to participate in the
school’s activities and operations. This commitment involves:
- Attending a Parent Training Session
- Classroom Participation
- Holding a Committee or Board Position
- Participating in Parent Education Activities
- Actively Supporting School Fundraisers
- Attending One School Clean-up Session
Attending a Parent Training Session
A Parent Training session will be held before the start of school to fully familiarize you with the classroom routine. This training is required for all who will be working in the classroom: moms, dads, grandparents, day-care providers, etc.
If there is any possibility of someone working in the classroom during
the school year, they must attend one parent training session.
Classroom Participation
The
co-op philosophy recognizes parents as the most important teachers
their children will ever have. To incorporate this philosophy, parents
work a few days each month in the classroom assisting the teacher in all
activity areas of the school, cleaning up the day’s activities, and
providing a nutritious snack on a rotating basis. Classroom
participation will vary month to month depending on which class your
child is in, how often it meets, and the number of children in the
class.
Holding a Committee or Board Position
The
co-op is run by the families, who serve as officers on the school board
and members of committees. There are numerous committee and board
positions available to suit a variety of interests. These positions
help the school run smoothly and involve everyone.
Participation in Parent Education Activities
The
co-op is the best place in town to learn right along with your child
under the guidance of early childhood professionals. When you enroll
your child at Puyallup South, you enroll yourself in the Bates Technical
College Home and Family Life program. Over the school year, you will
earn at least 8 parent education credits by attending parent education
meetings or participation in other approved activities. Most meetings
feature a speaker addressing a carefully chosen educational topic. Time
and topics and a list of alternate activities approved for credit are
included in this handbook.
Actively Supporting School Fundraisers
The
co-op offers low tuition and a very high-quality program—all possible
only with classroom participation and full member support of
fundraising. Our small, non-profit corporation is self-supporting.
Registration and tuition fees do not meet the total cost of operation.
Fundraisers are necessary, not only to provide new equipment and keep
tuition low, but also more importantly, to pay the monthly bills such as
teacher’s salaries, supplies, rent, etc.
Attending One School Clean-up Session
The
co-op provides a healthy, safe environment to which we all contribute
by participation in one work party during the year. At orientation,
each family will leave a check for $100 and sign up for a cleaning month. The check will remain un-cashed unless your cleaning duties are not completed by the deadline. After you have fulfilled your cleaning duty, you will receive your $100 school clean-up deposit back.
If you fail to complete your duties, your deposit will be cashed.
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