Steilacoom Parent Cooperative Preschool

Welcome to STEILACOOM PARENT COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL, where parents are an important part of their child's preschool experience. A special feature is parent participation where the parent has the opportunity to work in the classroom, and observe the growth and development of the children.

What is Special about Steilacoom Preschool?

At Steilacoom preschool we have well balanced curriculum of free play and structure. Miss Laurel's love of children and her skill in working with them is evident in each session of school.

We have an excellent support system thru Clover Park Technical College. With their help our board members are well informed and up-to-date with the laws and good practices for co-operative preschools. Which in turn makes for a organized and smooth running preschool.

Available Classes

• 3 year olds: Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:00am - 11:15am
• 4 year olds: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays 9:00 - 11:30

Children are placed in class according to their age on August 31.

Classes begin in the middle of September and run until Memorial Day Weekend. Parental involvement is what makes the co-op run smoothly. Depending on class size, parents can expect to help in the classroom approximately 2 to 3 times a month, plus help with some of the other things that make Steilacoom Co-op Preschool Great.

What are the tuition fees?

The monthly tuition for the school year is determined by the membership and is due by the 1st of each month.  Tuition is prorated over a nine month period, so an equal amount is due monthly.

What is the registration fee?

A registration fee is due upon enrollment in the preschool. This money covers insurance for your child as well as a Clover Park Technical College tuition fee. Families enrolling after February 1st will pay a reduced enrollment fee.

How often do parents have to work in the classroom and what are the responsibilities?

How often a parent is required to work depends upon enrollment. A good rule of thumb is to expect to work in the classroom at least 3 to 4 times per month. Parent helpers are responsible for setting up and cleaning up the classroom each day. During school parent helpers are assigned to a specific learning center in the classroom. Parent #1 provides snack and is stationed at the Science Table. Parent #2 is stationed at the Art Project Table. Parent #3 is stationed in the Books, Blocks and Games area. All working parents are there to guide children in the various learning centers.

What additional obligations do parents have?

In addition to assisting the teacher in the classroom parents are also required to attend eight monthly parent meetings, work on committees or serve as officers on the executive board.

What is the teacher's teaching philosophy?

The focus is on learning through play. The students are provided with "hands-on" learning allowing them to touch, hear, smell, taste and see things for themselves. Risk-taking (that is, risking separation from mom and dad, getting messy, talking in front of the class, using one's imagination) is nurtured. It is this risk-taking that leads a child to become secure in his or her ability to learn something new and different. Children are encouraged to do and think for themselves. They are provided with lots of opportunities to sharpen the skills (listening, following directions, sorting, matching, counting, cutting, painting, drawing, story time, list making, etc.) that will help get them ready for learning reading, writing and arithmetic.

About the teachers at Steilacoom Preschool

Laurel McGiffin (Ms. Laurel) has been the teacher at Steilacoom Preschool since 1988. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education and before coming to Steilacoom worked with children through the Metropolitan Parks Department of Tacoma.

Laurel believes children learn best in an environment that allows them to touch, smell, taste, hear & see things themselves. Not only must the learning be multi-sensory and hands-on; it must include some risk taking. It is risk taking to play with messy paints, try on dress up clothes or talk to someone new at school. The child who is allowed to take risks becomes secure in his or her own ability to learn something new and different, i.e. letters, numbers, and writing.

Our classroom is set up to encourage new and “risky” learning. Learning centers provide opportunities for art, science, math, reading, and social interaction with large blocks of time to accomplish all the things children’s minds and bodies are ready to learn.

For more information or to register call:
253-589-5739

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