philosophy & our teachers IMAGINATION IS THE DIVINE BODY IN EVERY MAN. - WILLIAM BLAKE
a cooperative preschool?
our philosophy
our teachers
Rose City Cooperative Preschool is located in Northeast Portland, Oregon, in the Rose City Park neighborhood. We are located in, but not affiliated with, Rose City Park Methodist Church, where we enjoy a wonderfully bright classroom and spacious basement play area with two jungle gyms and year-round bike-riding.
We operate on the cooperative model. All parents help in the classroom about once per month and also volunteer for a job outside the classroom
Parents are assigned specific tasks while they are in the classroom. This allows the teacher to be free to interact with the children, encourage their natural interests and help with any conflicts that arise.
Participating in the classroom is designed to help parents learn and continue to develop their parenting skills. Parents can observe their own children as well as other children and see how they interact with various materials presented. Parents are also able to watch the teacher as she works with children who have different needs and observe the teacher as she helps children resolve conflicts.
Our philosophy is premised on respect and love for each child as an individual, considering each as a unique personality bringing individual skills and experiences into the classroom. We believe that three- and four-year-olds grow and learn best through creative play in an atmosphere that inspires each child to explore a wide range of activities. Children can choose the pace at which they explore and the tools with which they will learn their areas of interest. Children are encouraged to try new skill-building activities and to expand their interests in a framework comfortably conducive to discovery.
We believe preschool is a first independent experience for children, where each child begins to discover who he/she is. Because children are easily impressed by others' reactions to them, we strive to instill a sense of respect for self and others. Allowing them to think independently within the context of the class gives children the chance to learn to respect others in play situations. We create settings, through play and activities, where children can learn to build close and wholesome friendships. It is one of our ultimate goals to guide and respond to children in ways that build confidence, self-esteem and respect for each child in our school.
Teacher, Teresa, has worked with us since 1992. She received her college degree in Elementary Education and has taught lots of children in different settings and of all ages. She particularly loves teaching young children in their first school experience and has enjoyed the opportunity to journey with families through their preschool years.
Teresa is fascinated by how young children are naturally driven to learn. She loves their absolute joy of discovery. She loves their purity; they have no masks hiding any of that. She sees early childhood as one of those amazing times in life when everything is new and fresh, learning is so exciting and life is one new discovery after another. As teacher, Teresa gets to see their interest and open them to new possibilities.
She loves presenting young children with materials and, at times, demonstrating how to use those materials. Then she loves to see what they create and observe how they work out their problems.
After a noisy day at preschool, Teresa likes to take walks with her dog, Zoey. She loves to dig in her garden, creating her own outdoor magic, and she enjoys making fused glass in her basement studio. Her garden and her glass allow her to play with materials in the same way children play. She is fortunate to have a husband who supports her in these endeavors. They have two young adult children and she is very proud and happy to see the wonderful people her children have grown to be.
Teacher, Laurie, is a certified elementary education teacher who has taught in the public schools in Portland, Beaverton, and Bloomington, Indiana, and was a teacher trainer in South Africa. Laurie's appreciation for the value of co-ops began as a parent when her two daughters attended a local co-op preschool; she later served as the lunch bunch teacher at the same school. Laurie has great respect for the way the cooperative model fosters community and collaboration, which allows for children to develop at their own pace and have deeper understanding of the world.
Laurie is passionate about education and understands how pre-school is a critical phase in children's social and emotional development. She is committed to building a creative, interactive, inquisitive environment for learning and play.
Laurie lives in NE Portland with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys bicycling, gardening, hiking, art, and crafts.
Both teachers organize the daily activities for their class and collaborate on the overall classroom
layout that best suits both the
three-year olds and the four-year olds.
more info & children's rights EVERY FLOWER'S GOT A RIGHT TO BE BLOOMIN" - MICHAEL FRANTI
fundraising / special events
children's rights
enrollment
Our children's rights are very important to each of us.
1. Children have the right to feel whatever they feel.
2. Within limits, children have a right to express their feelings, opinions and desires.
3. Children have the right to say "NO" and refuse to be touched in abusive or inappropiate ways.
4. Children have the right to request help.
5. Children have the right to make mistakes and to be responsible for them.
6. Children have the right to be respected as people with feelings, thoughts and beliefs of their own.
7. Children have the right to have their physical and emotional needs met.
Fundraising is an integral part of our co-op system. Each family is required to participate in our fundraisers throughout the year, as well as the activities involved in running a smooth fundraiser. Otherwise families will be subjected to paying fines, established by the board.
Basement rummage sale
The basement sale requires $100 donation of useable household items for resale, as well as fulfilling one shift in the set-up, sale, or clean-up for the sale. Families without goods for resale can opt to buyout at $100. This buy-out option must be paid prior to the basement sale. A late fee of $25 will be applied if buy-out option is not communicated to the Treasurer or Ways and Means chair and paid in full prior to the event.
Spring plant sale
The plant sale requires that each family sell $300 worth of plants. A family can choose a buyout option of paying $120 to the preschool in lieu of selling plants. Buyout payments are due in the same date as plant orders. A late fee may be charged for delinquent buyout payments. In addition, all families (whether selecting the buy-out option or not) are required to participate in the filling of orders and distribution of plants.
On occasion, the preschool will hold additional fundraisers. It is understood that all families will participate as needed.
Special events
Pumpkin Carving Party
Children decorate pumpkins they have picked out on their field trip to a pumpkin patch. Parents supervise carving and decorating. This is a snack/dessert potluck. This event is designed to give the parent who is least able to parent help a chance to attend a school activity with their child (usually one adult per child and no siblings) and is held just before Halloween.
Winter Festival
This is a potluck dinner for the entire family held in December. Entertainment is usually provided after the dinner. This is a fun event for getting to know other preschool families.
Special Person Tea
This event is held during class time close to Valentines Day. The children create an invitation to give to a special person (this is usually an adult that is a parent, grandparent, friend, etc.). The children help prepare a special snack for their guest and sing a song. After snack they open their valentines from each other with their special person.
Spring Fling
This event is a potluck dinner for the family followed by the main event a play written and performed by each class and is held in the spring, near the end of the school year.
Expectations for special events
• It is important that all parents help with set-up for these events. The special events coordinator may put up sign-up sheets prior to the events.
• Following each event, all parents are expected to help with clean-up (i.e., putting away tables, chairs, decorations, etc.).
There are two classes as Rose City Cooperative Preschool.
• The Stars class shall consist of a number to be determined by the board on an annual basis, each child having his or her third birthday on or before September 1st of the school year. (Our current tuition for this class is $98.)
• The Rainbow class shall consist of a number to be determined by the board on an annual basis, each child having his or her fourth birthday on or before September 1st of the school year. (Our current tuition for this class is $135.)
For more membership information and to download an application please go to "contact us" section.
Registration
Applications will begin to be accepted on September 1st of the year prior to enrollment.
As applications are received, families are placed on a wait list according to the order in which they apply.
Registration for returning students and siblings of RCCP alumni will
begin approximately the first working day of February. An application and non- refundable fee is due at this time to secure a spot on the following years roster.
Registration for new students will begin approximately the first working day of March.
Open house is held in February. Parents of prospective families and returning alumni are required to attend to be eligible for fall enrollment.
Acceptance into RCCP will be based on the following criteria:
• Alumni status
• Date of application received for placement on RCCPs waiting list
• Attendance at the open house in February
• Classroom balance based on gender
RCCP_Handbook_August2011[1]-1.pdf
My Text
Click the PDF to
download a copy
of our Parent Handbook
