August 21, 2023 Vol. 53, No.6 |
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Appealing to Working Families | Volunteer Opportunity | WildMed Fundraising Update
Member Profile: Hunters Woods Cooperative Preschool | Welcome, New Member!
PCPI Board Training | 2024 Annual Meeting Reminder
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It seems like just yesterday school was ending for the year, and here we are preparing to return--with some schools already in session! As a student, there is so much anticipation around a new school year. For our younger learners, this can mean a first time away from caregivers and siblings, experiencing new spaces to play and meeting friends to join, and an introduction to colors and shapes, letters and numbers.
If you're new to co-op, you've chosen the best place to get a front row seat as your child engages with their world a little more independently. The growth and learning aren't limited to them though. Through formal parent education programs as well as time in the classroom alongside teachers and returning families, you will be amazed at how much your perspective about early education and play-based learning is impacted by your time at co-op. Perhaps the best part? The lifelong relationships you'll have the opportunity to develop with others within your school community!
We recently posed a couple of questions on Facebook: What do you love most about cooperative preschools? What made you choose this type of early learning community? If you didn't see it, take a moment to read some of the inspiring responses, and we'd love for you to add your own!
Wishing you the best for the 2023-2024 school year!
Cooperatively yours,
Melissa Ranck
Editor, Cooperatively Speaking
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As summer comes to a close and schools reopen, we reflect on our favorite memories of the break. We're curious to know: how did you most enjoy your time?
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What was your favorite activity of the summer?
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A trip to an amusement park
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Hiding from the heat with a good book
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Attending a county or state fair
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Checking out local playgrounds
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Virtual Forum Recap:
Appealing to Working Families
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Last month's newsletter included a summary of the information shared at the recent PCPI virtual forum, "Using Social Media to Boost Enrollment." We rounded out the discussion by talking through ideas of how to keep co-op appealing to the increasing number of working families in our communities. We wanted to share that information with you as well and hope you'll find the information useful! |
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What are some ways to account for an increasing number of working families?
- Consider how you might increase your options to increase enrollment, such as extending your hours or offering aftercare
- Consider what it would look like to make classroom participation optional
- Offer a non-co-op or partial co-op option for a limited number of spots per class
- Allow for a buy-out, where one family might pay for someone else within the school or class to cover their shifts
- Allow others outside of the family to co-op (nannies, au pairs, etc.)
What about the sense of community that is a hallmark of co-op preschool?
- Account for a possible divide between co-opers and non co-opers by being upfront in communication that you are all working together toward a common goal
- Requirements remain such as attendance at parent education events and holding a position at the school, providing other opportunities to connect
- Whether you allow for reduced co-op duties or not, build community via text threads, planned outings, play dates, etc.
- Remember that the sense of community is impacted year to year by returning families--remind them of the important role they play in fostering a sense of welcome!
How can we approach the ongoing challenge of filling co-op shifts?
- Utilize a software like SignUpGenius and allow families to choose shifts that work for them
- Assign a parent the role of creating a schedule for 2-3 months at a time, factoring in things like date conflicts and birthday celebrations
- Instead of expecting families to trade shifts at the last minute, consider scheduling an emergency back-up for the day who is on-call to jump in
- Remember that fostering a sense of community can help make it easier when you need to find coverage unexpectedly
Thank you to all who contributed to the discussion!
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PCPI needs your help!
We're hoping to rebuild and modernize our website, moving it from Squarespace version 7 to 7.1. As part of the update, we want to improve search capability, redesign the school directory, and improve the online store.
This would be a great job for a tech savvy teen who needs volunteer hours! If interested, please reach out to PCPI President Dianne Rose for more information.
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Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! |
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We were BLOWN AWAY by the interest we received in offering a virtual CPR + First Aid certification opportunity through Wild Med. PCPI received an amazing $2027.30, which should fund our Cooperative Spirit Grant for an additional two years! Thank you to all who registered and look for another opportunity to get signed up coming next summer. |
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Member Profile:
Hunters Woods Cooperative Preschool
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As promised, it's time to highlight the first of our host schools from the 2023 Annual Meeting--Hunters Woods Cooperative Preschool, located in Reston, Virginia. Hunters Woods has long been a friend to PCPI, featured in 2016 shortly after the school's long-time director retired and again in 2021 as a bit of a case study on how schools were adjusting to the pandemic. We're glad for another chance to catch up with Hunters Woods!
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What is new or different around Hunters Woods Cooperative Preschool these days?
Hunters Woods was actually the first school profiled in Cooperatively Speaking! At the time, their long-time director and mentor, Lois Male, had just retired and has since moved to a senior living community just outside of Reston. She still checks in regularly, which is just another picture of the lasting relationships we build within co-ops. Since the second article featuring Hunters Woods early in the pandemic, they have given up mask wearing and tweaked the program a bit where improvements were needed, but the biggest change is that Hunters Woods families and staff have become fully invested in outdoor preschool, with no plans to ever go back inside!
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What are one or two events your school holds that are a highlight each year?
The freedom that comes from re-invention has meant that Hunters Woods has tried lots of new things and kept very few traditions. Some of the highlights from the past year were a community cookie exchange fundraiser held in one parent's home, an evening family gathering at the campfire ring in a nearby nature center to celebrate the winter solstice, and a Woodland Fairy Festival as a community event and fundraiser in the spring. Whether these will be repeated this coming year and adopted as new traditions is yet to be seen--it all depends on what members want to take on!
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What is special about Hunters Woods Cooperative Preschool?
Hunters Woods is special because it is always like family even as it grows and changes along with the community. For Dianne Rose, head teacher, the school is part favorite grandparent (long-lasting, proven and comfortable) and part new baby cousin (fresh and exciting, a little unknown).
We agree that co-op feels like family! A huge thanks to PCPI President and Hunters Woods teacher Dianne Rose for sharing your school with us this month, and thanks again for hosting us last spring!
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Is there something special about your school community that you just can't help but share? Interested in being highlighted in Cooperatively Speaking? Reach out and tell us more!
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We want to offer a warm welcome to our newest member. We're glad you're here and we look forward to getting to know you better!
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Thinking about becoming a member of PCPI? Join now to take advantage of a number of valuable benefits including eligibility for grants and awards coming this winter and spring.
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Coming Soon: PCPI Board Training |
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One goal that arose from our time together at the Annual Meeting was the creation of a training for those leading cooperative boards across the US and Canada--and it's almost here! We've been working hard to develop a virtual training that will provide your board members with the important basics of board participation at a co-op. More information coming soon! |
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Who: PCPI Members
What: A training including topics like duties as a board member, best practices for governance, financial responsibility, and more
Where: Virtual training
When: Coming this October
Why: Because PCPI is here for you!
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This training is FREE for PCPI members.
If you are a staff member or caregiver at a member school, this means you!
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The date has been set for PCPI's next Annual Meeting, and we'd love to see you there! Please save the date for April 18-21 and plan to join us in Indianapolis, Indiana. More details to come!
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A PCPI Members Google Group has been created to give us another avenue to share ideas and information. This has replaced the Yahoo Group which is no longer active.
Joining is easy!
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Click the button below to send an email to PCPINews@preschools.coop.
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Use the subject line: Add to Google Group.
- Include your first and last name, your school and/or council name, and the email address you'd like to have added. (If there are multiple people in your school who should be added to the group, you are welcome to include all of their information in one email.)
Group members will receive a daily digest of messages exchanged. Message threads will be grouped by topic for easy searching later. Spread the word!
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Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact PCPI to learn more!
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