Classroom participation is your opportunity to observe what your children do in school. You will be delighted to discover what pleasure they take in sharing their first school experiences. They make the transition more smoothly because you are an active part of their school.
This page describes responsibilities and guidelines for co-oping in the classroom. In addition, information about our Easy Dollars program is provided.
Because Valley Drive Cooperative Preschool is a parent-run preschool, we constantly are evolving as the needs of our families change. Do you have any suggestions? E-mail us and let us know your thoughts!
More Information for Parents
A portion of this website is password protected to safeguard our privacy. Visit the Members page to access the master calendar, co-op schedules, Parent Handbook, "Valley Views" newsletter, documents and forms, photo gallery, and Board of Directors information. Parents are given a password following registration. If you have not received a password, or if you have forgotten your password, please contact the Membership Chairperson.
Co-Op Responsibilities
Valley Drive is a parent-run, cooperative preschool, and classroom participation is our opportunity to observe what our children do in school. Families are required to participate ("co-op") in their child's class as an assistant to the teacher on a regularly scheduled basis. Parents also must serve on an active committee, attend two general membership meetings per year, provide snack on days they co-op, as well as participate in one Clean-Up Night per year and the June Clean-Up.
Complete co-op responsibilities are described in the Parent Handbook (available on the Members page).
Snack
You are responsible for preparing the snack for your child's class on the days you co-op. In classes where two parents co-op, the participation schedule designates which parent is responsible for the snack. Specific guidelines relating to snacks are contained in the VDPS-approved Snack List (download the Snack List HERE). Please only bring items from this list. You MAY NOT bring in any other items.
Snack Policy
Valley Drive is a peanut and tree nut free school. Please follow the Valley Drive approved snack list all times — before, during and after school. This is the only way to ensure that our children who have a life-threatening allergies are not accidentally exposed.
Clean-Up
Parents are required to participate in housekeeping activities twice per year.
- Clean-Up Night. Each family is required to participate in one Clean-Up Night per year. Generally, Clean-Up Night is the first Monday of each month from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. If you cannot participate on the day you chose, you must find a replacement. It is most helpful if the parent who participates has completed co-op training.
- Clean-Up Week. Each family is required to attend one work session during Clean-Up Week in June.
If you have any questions about Clean-Up Night or Clean-Up Week, e-mail the Participation Chair.
Download Transportation Safety Tips HERE.
- On the days you participate (co-op), please arrive at school promptly at 8:45 a.m. Go directly to your child's classroom and let the teacher know that you are ready to begin work. If your class meets outside on the playground first, meet your child's teacher there. Please remember to sign in on the Co-Op Sign-In Sheet.
- Co-oping parents should allow at least 15 minutes after school for cleanup work to be done. In addition, for reasons of safety and adequate supervision, we ask that co-op parents stay until all the other children in your child's class have been picked up.
- Please do not bring other children from your family to school on your participation (co-op) day (unless they are enrolled in another class, of course).
- You are responsible for participating (co-oping) in the classroom on the day your name appears in the Co-Op Schedule, which is distributed each month. If you or your child is ill, of course, please stay home. However, it is your responsibility to arrange for a substitute for yourself. Class will not be held if the co-oping parent for that day does not attend, nor can any parent leave his/her child until the co-oper has arrived. You may call on any parent in the school to substitute, but it is best to ask another parent in your child's class to "trade days," in which case you'll then take that parent's next co-op day.
- Please mark all changes to the Co-Op Schedule on the master schedule.
If you have any questions or concerns about co-oping, please refer to the "Parent Responsibilities" section of the Parent Handbook (available on the Members page), or e-mail the Participation Chair.
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