About
Mouse Factory is a Cooperative Preschool. A cooperative preschool is a growing and changing organization. Every year is unique because the membership is different. We depend on parental participation, especially from new members. This means that parents assume responsibility for school administration, participate as aides to the teacher in the classroom on a rotating basis, perform routine maintenance, and participate in crucial fundraising activities. Active participation and cooperation of every parent is essential to the vitality of the school.
WHO ARE WE?
As a cooperative preschool, Mouse Factory consists of children and their parents, or guardians, who are actively involved in their child’s education. We believe the family has the most significant influence on the child’s growth and development. Parents are the child’s most important teachers. And we believe a cooperative preschool is the best way to provide a very important continuity between home and school. Each child’s parent(s) (mother, father, grandparent etc. are all welcome!) have an opportunity to participate in the classroom. This is essential to the maintenance of a healthy environment in which each child can develop socially, physically, emotionally, and intellectually.
We view the child as a whole person and acknowledge the importance of his or her total development. Only in a warm and caring environment will each child develop to his or her maximum potential. One of the most effective means of developing this potential is in play. Through play, a child may explore, examine, and develop an understanding of the world. Play is life to a child. We believe learning is an ongoing process in which the preschool provides a rich, stimulating environment. Our program encourages and enhances this process and is designed to provide multiple opportunities to challenge each child to grow. We intend that each child’s experience will:
Increase social skills
Increase self-worth
Increase the range of experiences
Increase the ability to communicate and to listen
Develop physical skills
Develop a positive attitude towards school
Encourage creativity
Everything your child does at school is the curriculum! This may include building with blocks alongside another child, learning to use a stapler or scissors, developing a deeper understanding of spatial relationship through puzzle work, or measuring and pouring at our sensory table. We offer a basic curriculum of social, verbal, conceptual and symbolic skill building. Our curriculum is discovered anew each year by the new group of learners. They are not expected to fit into a box, but have the box transform to fit them as individuals. Classroom materials, activities and focus change and grow as we do!
Social learning is both a major task and a major asset of our program. An open classroom setting and intermingling of 3-5 year olds offers us a natural laboratory in human interaction. Children learn to be aware, respectful of others and their needs.
Our preschool provides a developmental approach to learning. Children will have opportunities for and be exposed to activities in movement, science, language arts development, art, shapes, colors, numbers, music, and drama. Some of our materials/activities available include: , easel painting, dress-ups, kitchen set, train set, wooden blocks, storybooks, puzzles, and our sensory table (which may be full of sand, rice, water, soil, pasta, beans, leaves, etc.)
Mouse Factory parents can find many ways to be involved in the school. They often share their profession or a hobby with the class. They may have access to free or discounted materials that could be useful to the school. We encourage new fundraising ideas; grant writing opportunities, a proactive thinking for the betterment of the school.
A TYPICAL SCHOOL DAY
Children Arrive
Once you sign your child in, they will wash their hands and find their name tag at the table so that they can practice writing their name. After, they are allowed to play at the carpet with puzzles until all of our friends arrive.
Center Play
Each day the children will be given 1 hour to spend time in 1 or more centers. These centers are Discovery (math, science and sensory), Dramatic (dress-up, kitchen and dollhouse), Blocks (wooden and cardboard blocks as well as our train set), Literacy (our quiet corner with books, puzzles and our letter of the week bucket), Art (easel, drawing and crafting).
Clean-Up
We like to give a 5 minute announcement when a big transition time is to occur. Some children benefit from knowing it is time to wrap up their play. After the bell has rung, all of us participate in cleaning up. If children don’t naturally know what to do or do not find a job, the teacher and assistants will help them find an appropriate job.
Carpet Time
At the carpet children will have time to practice sitting and listening as we discuss the Month, Day and Year as well as what the weather is like. We will also work on letter recognition while singing our Name song.
Snack Time
The children line up to wash their hands then find their names at the tables and sit. They often help set things up, getting great satisfaction from assisting. During snack they pour their own milk or water, serve themselves and clean up afterward.
Gross Motor Play
We are ready for some large motor activity; we like to go outdoors in all types of weather. We sometimes ride trikes, play a variety of skill building games, or play on the play structure.
Carpet Time
We will come back together at the carpet for a story, question of the day, talk about important letters, numbers and shapes and then engage in some movement time.
Project or Free Play
A simple project, craft, experiment or sensory play will take place at the tables. Any child that does not want to participate can play at carpet with trains or at the dollhouse.
Lunch
The children line up to wash their hands then find their names at the tables and sit. They often help set things up, getting great satisfaction from assisting. During lunch they pour their own milk or water, serve themselves and clean up afterward.
Goodbye Carpet
Before finishing the day, we will come together one last time for either a story or song, Zoophonic letters, and announce our bucket fillers for the day.
Release
We finish our day outside and will release to parents from there. *In inclement weather, children will be released from the classroom.
FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES
Board of Directors and Co-Op Jobs
Every family in the cooperative is crucial to the overall success of the endeavor. There is no administrative staff, janitor, or cafeteria staff. Every aspect of the cooperative is coordinated by the families involved. The board consists of co-op parents and is responsible for the overall management of the cooperative and all of its functions. Several additional roles are also required to ensure the effective operation of the cooperative. Each family will choose a role to contribute to the overall success of the school year. Additionally; parent participation in fundraising activities is expected to ensure the cooperative achieves its budgetary goals.
In The Classroom
Parents are expected to co-op in the classroom 1- 2 times per month for 2-day per week students, 2 times per month for 3-day per week students, and 2-3 times per month for 4-day per week students. Monthly blank calendars will be posted outside the classroom and it is the parent’s responsibility to sign up for their shifts. Parents are also responsible for trading or finding substitutes if they are unable to co-op when scheduled. Mouse Factory cannot operate without parent assistants in attendance every day due to insurance requirements. There is a $15.00 fee for a missed scheduled co-oping shift. (See Tuition and Fees)
Co-Op Jobs
“Co-oping,” or serving as a teacher assistant in the classroom, is an opportunity for parents to observe and nurture their children in their first schooling experience. By being in the school regularly, parents can learn useful parenting techniques, increase knowledge about their own child, and connect with other caring parents. From the child’s point of view, it is a special experience to have a parent on hand. With a positive start, chances are that the child will continue to enjoy school throughout his or her academic career.
TOILET TRAINING
Complete toilet training of your child at the start of their school attendance is the best possible scenario, but we understand that all children are on their own developmental time tables, and that accidents happen.Each child must have a complete change of clothing at school. This may also be used in the instance that the child gets too wet on the playground during outdoor play. Please be sure to replace spare clothing as it is used.