What’s a Co-op?
A cooperative preschool is a nonprofit business owned and run by the parents or guardians of the preschool students. The preschool requires a commitment by parents/guardians to help in the classroom and provide other support to ensure that the school operates smoothly. Ms. Erika is the heart and soul of our classroom. Working closely with Ms. Erika, we all work together to make the school a supportive and challenging place for our children to grow.
When you join a cooperative preschool, you really join a community and become an active participant in your child's education. As parents, we learn from Ms. Erika how to be an advocate for our children and to teach our children to use play to continue learning for the rest of their lives. Parents play an active role in the schools upkeep and management based on their abilities. Parents also help in the classroom - working alongside Ms. Erika. Parent involvement means tuition costs are significantly lower than a traditional preschool. Interacting with a community and receiving modeling by an experienced teacher gives parents opportunities to learn alongside their child.
What is a parent helper?
Each day two parent helpers assist the teacher. They are required to be available for the children, provide snack food, and clean and tidy the classroom after each session.
What about snack time?
We presently use family style snack. The parent helper brings in the snack and it is passed among the children at snack time. The preschool takes food allergies and diet limitations very seriously and strictly monitors what food comes into the classroom. If your child has allergies, it will be noted for all, so snacks do not contain any possible allergens.
What is the preschool’s philosophy on discipline?
All children are different and learn to be part of the group at their own pace. Daily interaction with others provides many opportunities to teach conflict resolution. Children are encouraged to talk through conflict or move to a different activity. The teacher uses role play, books, and songs to teach respect for others, ways to handle feelings and impulses, and positive ways to interact with peers. Our teacher works with children and their parents to find strategies of encouraging positive behavior when the child’s actions are excessively disruptive or harmful to others. Physical discipline is strictly prohibited at Irvington Co-Op Preschool.
Must a child be toilet-trained?
No. Parents work with the teacher to develop a plan and assist children with accidents. However, you must come to the preschool to change your child’s diapers.
Irvington Preschool 2710 NE 14th Ave, Portland, OR 97212 Phone: 971-284-5670 Email: irvingtonpreschool@gmail.com
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Irvington Cooperative Preschool does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, the appointment to and termination from its Board of Directors, hiring and firing of staff or contractors, selection of volunteers, selection of vendors, and providing of services.
