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About Us
Curriculum
Valley Drive's philosophy is child-centered and play-based. We emphasize learning as a child-centered process. The teachers create an environment for children to learn through active exploration and interaction with adults, other children, and an array of materials.
While we recognize the crucial importance of skills such as reading and math as the children approach elementary school, play is the primary vehicle for preschool growth. It is our conviction that skills are nurtured best by a preschool emphasis on healthy emotional orientation toward school, and providing constructive play opportunities for students to develop those skills that will help them to be successful in elementary school.
In addition, Valley Drive places special emphasis on exploring both music and the natural world, and every class sets aside a portion of their week for music and science.
Cooperative Model
In 1958 the Valley Drive Cooperative Day School was founded by a group of parents who wanted to provide good preschool education for their children. A professional teacher was hired while the mothers assisted in the classroom and were responsible for the organization and maintenance of the school. Over 50 years later, the cooperative model still remains in practice. Our program is organized, administered, and operated by parents and teachers. Under the direction of the teachers, parents attend and work as co-teachers in their child’s class. This gives parents the unique opportunity to observe how their child is developing and to learn ways to facilitate this process. We also feel that children benefit from parent participation in their early social and educational experiences.
In addition, parents are relied upon to conduct the business of the preschool. The Valley Drive Board of Directors is elected annually and handles all administrative matters, such as the hiring of the professional staff; establishment of the school’s budget; and fundraising. The jobs performed by the parent volunteers enable the school to run smoothly, yet help to reduce the overhead expenses, thereby lowering tuition costs.
Valley Drive is licensed by the State of Virginia and is proud to be an active member of the Virginia Cooperative Preschool Council (VCPC) http://www.geocities.com/vcpc1/. This organization strives to assist its member schools in achieving higher standards, teacher and pupil placement, special officer training, parent education and orientation, and dissemination of information. A voting delegate represents each school at the Council. The Council's financial support is derived from yearly dues assessed each member school.
Goals for Our School
Membership in a cooperative preschool is a family experience. We share aims, benefits, and responsibilities. For our children, it is an opportunity to:
Membership in a cooperative preschool is a family experience. We share aims, benefits, and responsibilities. For our children, it is an opportunity to:
- Be themselves and develop at their own rate;
- Express themselves freely and constructively through art media and play;
- Learn to be tolerant, creative, cooperative, and imaginative;
- Learn to be independent and able to solve their own problems and do things for themselves;
- Enjoy a preschool experience which will simplify adjustment to elementary and other school situations;
- Establish close relationships with adults other than those in their families;
- Learn limits of behavior regarding safety, health, and respect for the rights of others;
- Build feelings of self-confidence and security and an acceptance of reality;
- Extend and enrich their understanding of the world;
- Increase their ability to handle their emotions.