Co-op Parent Participation

Frequently Asked Questions about Parent Participation

(with thanks to Lakehill Co-op Preschool for allowing us borrowing rights)

Why do we have 'sharing days'?

Sharing days offer an opportunity to be in the classroom with your child, and to watch him or her grow and learn things along the way. Your job as parents in the classroom is to assist the ECE as an extra set of eyes and hands--eyes for overcoming conflicts, and hands for helping with what needs to be done. Parents are supervisory assistants who enrich the program in many ways. As well, the Provincial Child Care Facilities Licensing Board dictates child-adult ratios and requires one teacher and one parent for classes with 10 children or less, and two parents, one teacher for classes with 11 or more children. If a sharing parent is unable to attend another parent is requested to step in or the class may have to be cancelled.

Why do we fundraise?

The fees each family pays do not cover all the operating expense for our co-operative preschool. Each spring, the executive presents the budget, which the general membership votes in. Based on that information we will know how much of a shortfall there will be. Fundraising covers this shortfall.

Why do we have 'jobs' to do?

We, the parents, run the school and are responsible for its day-to-day operation. Each family must take on one of the many jobs (from paint and playdough to secretary) to keep the school running smoothly. If you have any problems (i.e. the job doesn’t fit) you need to let the executive member in charge of your job know so that he or she can help.

Why do we have to go to the orientation night?

The ECE will discuss developmental stages of preschoolers, the value of learning through play and how an age-appropriate program facilitates the intellectual, physical, social and emotional growth of your child. The value of each area of the classroom, open-ended art activities, equipment and balancing of the program will also be addressed. These components are also required for the licensing of our preschool, and they must be completed before you can have the opportunity to be in class with your child.

What exactly do I have to have completed to do the helper days and why?

You must have completed our 10-hour orientation program. This can include an observation of a class in session to decide if our learning through play philosophy interests your family. The program may also include attending the May meeting: This is your first taste of Parent Education and an opportunity to get together with other parents. The business meeting follows the speaker and you will have a chance to ask any questions then. Our orientation night, usually held the first Wednesday of September, includes a presentation by our ECE on the developmental stages of a preschooler and the value of learning through play. The ECE will go through the daily routine, including pointing out where things are in the preschool, special events, snacks, discipline, and tips to help you become an effective assistant in the class.

All these meetings are for the caregivers only. Please find care for your child on these evenings, with the exception of nursing babies.

Can I bring siblings to my duty day?

No, it is important that on your helper day you focus on the tasks at hand. It is also important to your child that he or she has some special time with you, and another child would distract from that. In addition, our insurance only covers children enrolled in the preschool.

Why are we required to go to the monthly general meetings?

In addition to the orientation night, you are required to participate, as a further condition of the Provincial Child Care Facilities Licensing Board regarding parent assistants, in a monthly parent education component. This takes place at our monthly general meeting.

What do I do if I can't make my helper day?

If every once in a while something comes up and you cannot do your duty day, just switch with another parent in your class. Record the change on the master calendar posted on the bulletin board above the children’s cubbies. One parent in each class is designated as an "emergency parent" in the event that a parent has a last-minute emergency and can’t do their sharing day. In such cases, the parent is required to contact the class scheduler and the emergency parent to let them know about the situation as soon as possible.

What if I can't do the duty days because I work?

This is a parent participation preschool, however that does not mean that our philosophy does not fit your ideals. It is possible to ask another member of your family or a close friend who is willing to do the 10 hours of orientation to do your helper days for you; they must also attend the general meetings, or you may choose to come to stay connected. A maximum of two families in each class may use a proxy parent for their participation day only. This pertains to working parents and the proxy is limited to another parent in the preschool. A recommended charge is $20 more a month in fees and the parent doing the participation will pay $20 less a month in fees; or the two involved families may agree to their own financial arrangements. Even if a family has a proxy arrangement, the family must have a job within the preschool.

Another possibility is to talk to your employer about the possibility of taking one half-day off approximately every 2 weeks, so you can come to the preschool and do the days yourself. The class scheduler will make every effort to accommodate your work schedule.