Whatcom Family Co-Op Preschool is a local nonprofit. Our curriculum is developmentally appropriate to support young children’s learning. Based on seasonal themes where children actively explore our different learning centers. We value learning through play; active involvement with their environment helps children learn to make sense of the world around them. Our role is to create a community within our classroom that invites children to observe, to be active, to make choices, and to experiment.

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Whatcom Family Co-Op is one of four cooperative preschools under the larger umbrella of Whatcom Community College. The parents serve as administrators and staff of the school. Our teacher plans the curriculum and guide the parents working in the classroom. A facilitator is provided by Whatcom Community College who offers support for families, trains new board members, and leads the parent education program.

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Responsibilities of Co-Op Parents:

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Each family will participate in the following: volunteering in the classroom, maintain a parent job, participate in monthly Parent Education meetings, and participate in fundraising efforts.

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Volunteering in the classroom allows us to run the classroom smoothly and keep costs low. We must maintain a 1:5 ratio of adults to students in the classroom and if this is not fulfilled, we are unable to have class. We all work together to make sure that this doesn’t happen! Typical classes size for our multiage class are 15 students, our teacher, one teacher assistant, and a parent helper.  Our schedulers ensure that the classroom shifts are organized and fulfilled, and that any holes that would interrupt school are communicated to the board and addressed. Each family must complete a volunteer application through the Bellingham School District to be active in the classroom, and these are valid for two school years upon completion. We also offer new parent orientation to answer questions about classroom protocol and work.

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If you or your child’s other immediate caregivers are unable to participate in the classroom, you may have another loved one represent your family. This gives flexibility to working families. We have had grandparents, family friends, and nannies or childcare workers in the classroom before to represent families. We understand that life is busy and that we ask a time commitment, but we do take this role as a cooperative seriously and offer accommodations to make it work for you!

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We would ideally like parents to have jobs that they feel competent and secure in. If you have ideas about what job you’d like to do, ask! As a board, we also ask for help and are often able to fulfill jobs with our own need for support.

We could not be a cooperative school without the families’ participation, and your interest and commitment fulfills a need in all of our children’s education.

The monthly Parent Education meetings are part of our affiliation with Whatcom Community College. Click here to find out more about this.

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Families should also expect to participate in fundraisers throughout the year. Fundraisers differ each year but families should aim to raise about $200 per student they have enrolled. We do also offer the option for families to make a one time tax deductible donation instead, equal to their family's fundraising goal.