Nursery and Preschool Classes

Nursery

Our nursery has no cost, and is staffed by parents of children 2 and under and parent volunteers. Parents of nursery aged children will be given a schedule at the beginning of the school year. 

Activities like watching veggie tales, sing along songs and snack, play times and nap times are offered.   Please pick your baby up before lunch as no nursery is offered between 12:00 and 12:40pm.

There is a nursery area in the Preschool room as well as upstairs.  The PreK nursery area is designed for students who would like to try out preschool but might not be quite mature enough to join just yet. This is also a private area for nursing moms if they choose to use it. 

Nursery Guidelines 

**It isn't required that you place your baby in the nursery, however, we do ask that families serve in the nursery during the time that they are assigned so that it is available all day to everyone.  

**If your baby is younger than 6 weeks old, please plan to keep them with you or speak with the Nursery Coordinator directly about signing up for nursery.  Parents whose babies are younger than 6 weeks will not be on the nursery schedule until their baby is at least 6 weeks old.

**There is always a walkie talkie in the nursery, please call the desk if you need help.

**When your baby comes to the nursery please place a name tag to their back or pant leg, their bag, and to you.

**Please pack a diaper bag with a sippy cup, a ziplock baggie of cheerios (or similar snack) labeled with your child's name, a change of clothes, a bib (if needed) and diaper changing supplies. 

**If your baby wears cloth diapers you will be asked to come to the nursery to change them. 

**If your baby has an allergy please make sure that is listed on your emergency forms.

**Please leave shoes and strollers outside of the nursery.  Please do not allow children 3-13 in the nursery unless they are helping as part of a class.

 **Sickness, car trouble, or a rough morning can mean that someone isn't able to come to co-op that day. If that happens, please let the nursery coordinator and the security coordinator know asap so that we can find a mom to help cover.  

 **If your child has had a fever in the previous 24 hours or is currently vomiting, has diarrhea, or a croupy/persistent cough please do not bring them to the nursery. Wash hands frequently and use ‘Green Works’ disinfectant spray on toys at the beginning and end of the day to help prevent germs spreading.

 ** If you are scheduled to work in the nursery, please be in the nursery for the entire time you are scheduled.  Sometimes families run late, had to go out to the car for a minute, went to check on a sibling.... they may not be there right at the class change (or even 15 minutes later) so don't assume that no one is coming and leave.

 **If you need to swap the hour that you are in the nursery, please let the nursery coordinator know beforehand.

 **We are a baby friendly co-op, we love that there are so many little ones, babies are welcome anywhere as long as they are not crying and disrupting/distracting a class.  We are also very friendly to breast feeding - there is a private area in the nursery with rocking chairs, couches in an upstairs lounge, or couches in the entry hall which are comfy places where you won't be bothered (the entry hall does get noisy/busy sometimes)

Preschool

Preschool Classes –  

Our preschool classes are designed for children who will be 3 when their preschool class starts, but are not yet ready for kindergarten. Class sizes and activities will depend upon the number children in this age range and their parent's participation. Children who are 2 1/2 are often permitted to move into Preschool second semester if they can listen carefully, follow directions, share and are not a disturbance to the class.  See Directors if you have any questions.

Morning Warm Up- Betsy Wright – 9:00 - 9:55am

Each month, we pick a theme to sing about, read about, and craft about. We have free-play at the beginning of each morning which helps ease the kids into an inviting environment before we gather around to sing a song and read a story. There are crafts afterward if the children want to participate in creating something or they are free to go back to playing if they wish.   

Games and Puzzles - Hannah Veeck– 10:00 - 10:55am

Time to wake up those little minds, work on fine motor movements and practice following directions with some beginner level games and puzzles.  We will set up 2-3 different areas each focusing on a different level of development.  One area will be a guided game, one area will be a self led designing  area with legos, snap blocks, bristle builders or mosaics and a third area with large puzzles.  This hour will be designed to engage all ages and levels. 

Cost: $10 per semester  Supplies: Each Semester we ask that parents donate a snack to share with the class


Letters and Numbers - Mindy Larson - 11:00 - 11:55am

Preschool classes are always changing and flowing to the ages and temperament of the kids so we will ready a variety of activities to introduce children to letters and numbers.  Class will start with circle time reading books, singing songs or introducing the days concepts followed by an activity to reinforce the concept followed by free play. 

Cost: $10  per semester

Supplies: Look on donation sheet in the classroom to see what is needed for the semesters activities

Story and CraftTina Jones -   12:45 pm - 1:40 pm

Join us each week for a fun story and accompanying craft to introduce kids to many different mediums of art.  Throughout the year we will color, cut and paste, paint, sculpt, weave and build to bring stories to life.

Cost: $10   per semester

Supplies: Each Semester we ask that parents donate a snack to share with the class

Little Science Explorers-Mindy Larson- 1:45 – 2:40pm

In this fun and exciting class we will explore science through hands on experiments.  Be ready for fun as we will sometimes be working with color, water, bubbles, dirt, outdoors and more!

Cost: $10 per semester

Supplies: Look on donation sheet in the classroom to see what is needed for the semesters activities

Free Play- No Teacher - 2:45pm -3:40pm

This is a time of free play, just be sure to clean up the toys before you leave.  Parents supervise this hour so there is no teacher or fee. 

The following supplies will be provided:  Worksheets and craft supplies for the year, musical supplies, active play supplies (mats, balls)  non toxic (Crayola) crayons, chubby pencils, erasers, glue sticks, and safety scissors.