| Crestwood Co-op Culture | Parent Workdays | |
| Board of Directors | Weekend Workdays | |
| General Membership Meetings | Birthday Party Policy | |
| National Co-op Council | A sample of our newsletter |
Crestwood Co-op Culture
Crestwood Hills is a parent-owned school, dependent upon
active parent participation. Our membership is composed of families
with differences in backgrounds, income, careers and
ethnic origin. This is what unites us: we are families who are concerned
about our children's first exposure to education and are willing to
participate on many levels.
Parent participation, in concert with
the Crestwood philosophy, allows the child to make a gradual transition
from home to school in the context of an extended family experience.
It also enables parents to observe, learn and grow with their children.
Parents are obligated to
help in the operation and maintenance of our school. This includes assisting
the teachers during school hours two times a month, doing four weekend
workdays per family annually, participating in membership meetings and
supporting our fundraising events. Parents also have the opportunity
to serve as board members.
Board
of Directors
The Board of Directors is the administrative
body of the school and is responsible for its business affairs. The board
holds monthly meetings which are open to all co-op members. Each spring
the board members are elected to a one year term by the parent body. Responsibilities
of the board are wide ranging and include but are not limited to establishing
an annual operating budget, approving expenditures, appointing a negotiating
committee to recommend salaries for both union and non-union employees,
and carrying out sufficient fundraising activities to fulfill the needs
of the school. The board is comprised of the following positions: president,
vice-president, treasurer(s), secretary, membership, scrip, scheduling,
weekend workday, purchasing, communications, web, education, class liaison
and co-op council chairs.
Parent Workdays
One of the most rewarding obligations for members of our co-op is participating in "workdays" in their child's class. On "workdays" parents are responsible for assisting the teachers in the classroom. Typically, this may include setting up activities under the teachers' direction, monitoring play areas, providing a healthy snack for the class, reading to the group, and participating in general clean up. Children delight in being the "working child" on the day their parent works in the classroom.
Weekend Workdays
Weekend workdays are held every month, on alternating Saturdays and Sundays, in the morning. In addition to keeping our school maintained, these workdays provide a wonderful opportunity to meet other co-op families. Workdays consist of tasks required to maintain the school and may include repairs, painting, special cleaning tasks, and brush or hiking trail trimming.
Each family is required to work 4 weekend workdays per year, 2 in the fall (Sept. - Jan.) and 2 in the spring (Feb. - July). There are a variety of additional options for meeting this requirement. General Membership Meetings
There are two mandatory general membership meetings per year. The first one takes place in September, shortly after school starts, and is a potluck dinner at a members' home. This is a great time to meet other co-op members and to learn what the year has in store for you and your child. The second meeting is held in the spring. Birthday Party Policy
It is our expectation that in keeping with the Crestwood Hills Cooperative Nursery School philosophy and spirit of cooperation and inclusion, the following guidelines be adhered to: While we recognize that some families may choose to have a small party for their child, if more than half of the children from one class are invited to a birthday party, then all of the class should be invited. Party invitations may be distributed at school only if the entire class is being invited. National Co-op Council
Visit the National Co-op Council to learn more about cooperative schools.
