How does a co-op Nursery and Preschool work?
Schools vary by specific method and setup, but the premise is generally the same. Trained teachers and parents work in partnership to ensure the school has a successful year. Each parent is a full participating member of the co-op through their participation in variety of school responsibilities. At Lansing, the daily education and core operation of the school is performed by our experienced RECE teachers and school director. Parental involvement ranges from optional in-class Nursery duty days to a choice of Executive and sub-committee work supporting the running of the school. Why even choose a co-operative? As a parent at a co-operative nursery and preschool, you:
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Nursery duty days In-class Nursery duty days may include help running a craft activity, shopping for/preparing/serving snacks, helping to clean up, general supervision and assisting the teachers in class. Nursery duty days are optional and qualify for a monthly fee discount. The number of Duty days per month also varies by program day-enrolment:
While duty days are typically performed by a parent, we do understand that many parents work full-time and as such, duty days may be performed by another family member, such as a grandparent, or caregiver. Note: It is mandatory for duty day participants to have a current First Aid and CPR certification and clear police check before entering the classroom. School Board and Sub-Committees Lansing is governed by a school board, usually made up of volunteer parents. The board is responsible for setting program fees, hiring staff and other administrative duties like maintaining the school budget. The school board meets once a month, with some work being performed outside of monthly meetings (e.g. a specific project or forecasting the budget). Outside of the school board, parents can assist on various sub-committees, such as Building Maintenance, Program Registration, Special Events (e.g. School Holiday Party) or Fundraising. |
Participating in the duty days allowed me to feel connected to the school and to really get a feel for how the program was run. It also gave me a glimpse into my daughter's day-to-day learning, which is something that I especially cherish now that she is in SK. |