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Preschool Program
The Cooperative School’s distinctive brand of progressive education rests on two pillars—attracting creative, innovative, professionally trained educators, and welcoming and guiding engaged parents.
Our staff consists of a School Director/Head Teacher, who also leads the 3-4 and 4-5 year old classes, a lead teacher for the 2-3 year old class, and contracted teachers for music and movement. Our teachers hold higher degrees and are regularly engaged in enriching and improving their practices.
The Cooperative School is based on a parent-participatory model, which sustains and defines our community. We follow a curriculum and educational philosophy created by Lesley Romanoff and supported by parents and staff members called Through the Garden Gate. Its primary supports are the 4 Spaces for Learning. Parents work, or “co-op,” in their child’s classroom on a bi-weekly or weekly basis. Parents attend monthly membership meetings and periodic training sessions, and assume administrative roles essential to the School’s operation.
Our class schedule is as follows.
| Age | Schedule | Class Name | ||
| 2s/3s | Th, F | 9:00–11:30 | Bugs | Learn More |
| 3s/4s | M-W | 8:30–11:30 | Leaves | Learn More |
| 4s/5s | M-F | noon–3:00 | Tracks | Learn More |
Monthly tuition for the 2011-2012 school year is as follows:
| Bi-Weekly Co-oping | Weekly Co-oping | |
| 2s/3s (Bugs) | $ 179.00 | n/a |
| 3s/4s (Leaves) | $ 287.00 | $ 231.00 (limited options) |
| 4s/5s (Tracks) | $ 464.00 (limited options) | $ 374.00 |
The school year begins in September and ends in early June, and follows the Montgomery County Public Schools with respect to holidays and emergency school closures.
Tinkering Summer Camp at the Cooperative School
The Cooperative School’s summer day camps are open to the community and do not require co-oping.
We are thrilled to offer a second season of Tinkering at the Cooperative School for Summer of 2012.
This Summer features new hours (9 to 1:30) and an improved method of ensuring opportunities for enrollment across age ranges. Age ranges begin at 4-years old by September 1, 2011 to 10-years old.
During our Tink 2012 Sessions, we will be joining our friends at Springzaad in the Netherlands in building dens using real tools and real materials while working together in mixed-age groupings. Dens are also called forts, playhouses, tree houses, etc. Building dens is a pursuit of all children everywhere and this year these efforts will be celebrated internationally. Children will have the freedom to discover together and inspire each other. A new den will be built each session using materials the children gather and using plans they create themselves.
Why mixed-age groupings? Our experience has shown that a wide age range instills positive, cooperative, and unique experiences for all our campers, in addition to providing siblings the opportunity to attend camp together.
All camps run from 9-1:30. Age ranges begin at 4-years old by September 1, 2011 to 10-years old.
Session I, June 18—22 ($275) Registration closed
Session II, June 25—29 ($275) Registration closed
Session III, July 2—6 (No camp on 7/4) ($220) Registration closed
Session IV, July 9—13 ($275) Registration closed
Session V, July 16—20 ($275) Registration closed
Learn more about tinkering:
Tinkering School
Austin Tinkering School
Get Your Mess On
Learn more about children’s den building:
