Duvall Cooperative Preschool

We are a welcoming community of parents, teachers and children acquiring early childhood and parenting skills in a nurturing, play-based environment.

Our philosophy is that play is a child’s way of learning. Children learn by playing, doing, watching, and feeling; by being free to experiment and try out materials and equipment without adult ideas and standards imposed on them.

For preschool children, the process of learning is much more important than the product. Good equipment that is carefully supervised and a well-planned program stimulate this learning process. Only limited formal instruction is necessary or desirable at this age. DCP gives children an opportunity to use and experiment with equipment and materials that individual families may not have at home. With help and encouragement when necessary, the children grow in their abilities and skills to use various materials and equipment. Each success brings the satisfaction and accomplishment necessary for them to feel good about themselves.

Preschool is a beginning step in learning to live with and become part of a group. With understanding and careful guidance on the part of adults, children gradually become aware of the rights and feelings of others as well as a growing consciousness of their own rights. This is how children grow socially.

DCP offers a unique opportunity for children to know and work with adults other than their parents, as well as for the adults to know and understand other children. Children feel and learn from the good spirit that develops from people working together, sharing responsibilities and experiences. As you and your child share together in these opportunities, there comes a sense of belonging. From this sense of belonging comes the real joy of working together toward a common goal: that of becoming a more competent parent with a happy and secure child.

In short, for parents, a cooperative preschool gives you the opportunity to:

• Participate in your child’s learning experiences.
• Learn about the developmental stages appropriate to your child’s age.
• Brainstorm solutions for current parenting issues with the teacher and other parents.

For your child, it’s an opportunity to:

• Choose from a rich variety of daily activities including art, woodworking, cooking projects, imaginative play, music, outdoor play, science, circle and story times.
• Participate in monthly field trips, dad’s nights, and an overnight camp out.
• Experiment with materials and equipment without adult ideas and standards being imposed on them.
• Work together, sharing responsibilities and experiences as part of a group.
• Know and work with adults other than their parents.

The Duvall Cooperative Preschool is affiliated with Lake Washington Technical College, which conducts parent cooperative classes that provide an active learning environment for both parents and children. DCP admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

Duvall Cooperative Preschool admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic or other school administered programs.

About our teachers

Our Fours/Pre-K teacher, Ms. Christine Anderson:

 

Ms. Christine, a resident of Duvall, joins DCP with eight years of professional teaching experience and over 15 years of volunteer experience in education programs of various ages and stages.

Before becoming a full-time parent, Christine spent two years as a preschool teacher in Kirkland, creating and teaching theme-based curriculum for pre-K students. Prior to that, she subbed at Lake Washington, Northshore, Riverview and Issaquah school districts teaching grades K – 12 in subjects such as Special Education, Music, Spanish and Art. Christine also taught at the Shyne School in Woodinville for a year in the 4s class.
Christine holds a B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in English.

Our Twos teacher, Ms. Tara Orman

Ms. Tara, a resident of Duvall, joins DCP with five and a half years of professional teaching experience in early childhood special education and a year as a Special Education Director at an Arts Academy in Mesa, Arizona.

She’s taught a variety of young students with special needs within a classroom of typically developing peers who served as “role models” in typical language, motor, social, and adaptive skills development. In the Sumner school district, Tara led the Child Find team and supported the school districts students with special needs that attended the local Head Start and ECEAP programs.

Tara holds a Master’s in Special Education with a concentration in infants and young children and a B.A. in Elementary and Special Education.

And last but not least, our newest addition this year (2009), Ms Kelly Richards, who will be our Threes teacher!

Teacher Kelly Richards joins DCP with 8 years of Special Education and Preschool teaching experience and 13 years of volunteer service in public and private schools. She has a passion for helping preschool children develop a love of school and learning and looks forward to teaching the 3 year old class this year.

Kelly has a BAE from Pacific Lutheran University with a major in Special Education. Her professional experience includes teaching Middle School Special Education with the Shoreline School District and being a Preschool Teacher in Kenmore. She has volunteered as a coop-parent, Girl Scout leader, room parent, soccer and track coach, talent show coordinator, traffic safety officer, and many other capacities in school and community. Kelly is currently a high school track and cross country coach.

Kelly has two children, Anna (13), Paul (9) and a 2 year old goldendoodle puppy named Freddy. Her husband Dan is a Realtor in the greater Bothell area. The family enjoys many outdoor activities together including hiking, running and sports of all kinds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Cooperative Preschool?
We are a program with parent participation. Parents work with the teacher to create a high adult-child ratio and provide a great learning environment for each child. Parents as well as children learn and grow together under the same teacher, who is a qualified professional who will provide early childhood education as well as parent education.

Who runs the school?
The Cooperative Preschool is run by a Board of Trustees elected by all the parents in the preschool. Elections are held every year. The Board of Trustees for the 2009-2010 school year are:

• President: Susan Bhavsar
• Vice-President: Suzanne Siko
• Secretary: Jennifer Tai
• Treasurer: Karen Vowels
• Registrar: Julie Gunn
• 2s Parent Leader: Brianna Grant
• 3s Parent Leader: Jennifer Stott
• 4ths Parent Leader: Shannon Knowles

What is your affiliation with Lake Washington Technical College?
The college provides help in terms of interviewing and hiring the right teachers, who are professionals in parent and child education, since parents are also enrolled as students at the co-op and receive credits from the college at the end of the school year. The college also allows the preschool to be insured under its umbrella coverage which lowers part of the cost of running the preschool, which is why the fees are very competitive compared to a non-cooperative preschool.

What is the philosophy of the school and who designs the curriculum?
Duvall Cooperative Preschool is a developmentally appropriate, play-based preschool. This means that we believe kids of this age learn best by hands on experiencing their world not by forced memorization and seatwork.

We provide a wide range of activities that are developmentally correct for these ages (art projects, science experiments, gross motor and small motor toys and activities).  Our teachers derive the entire curriculum used during circle time and keep in mind the developmental needs and abilities of the children they are teaching.

When does the school year commence?
School usually commences middle of September each year.

Which school district calendar will DCP follow?
We will be following the Riverview School District calendar for holidays and emergencies.

What happens if I cannot work on my designated work day?
It is your responsibility to look for a substitute (either another parent in your class or your spouse/caregiver who is pre-registered with the school). You will need to inform your Parent Leader of your absence and who your sub is, at least 12 hours prior to your work day, with the exception of medical/family emergencies.

What’s your policy on newborn-bearing parents?
The school allows working parents of newborns to bring their baby along as long as she or he is in a sling or carry-on and at all times during his/her work day until the newborn is 12 weeks of age.

What about maternity leave?
The parent also gets up to six weeks maternity leave where she will not need to look for a substitute for the days she is working. In the case of low enrollment, members on maternity leave will have to help arrange for a suitable substitute so that safe parent child rations may be maintained. (Standing Rules
Article VII, Section B) After returning, you may bring your newborn to Preschool in a front
pack until they are 12 weeks of age.