Parent Responsibilities
Established in August 2000, FMCP is York County’s only state licensed parent cooperative preschool. FMCP differs from other preschools in the county in that it is run by and for our preschool families. Each family shares in the operation of the school; from parent cooperative, to maintenance through coordinated parent workdays, to assisting teachers in the classroom. Our teachers and parents work together to foster a positive, safe, nurturing, and fun learning environment for all children creating a strong sense of community flourishing throughout the cooperative.
Philosophy
At FMCP, we believe that children’s learning is fostered best in a positive environment that is taught with creative curriculum standards, child centered, and developmentally appropriate. Children are valued as individuals and treated with respect and understanding of their varied learning styles and developmental levels. Parents are respected as their child’s first teacher and considered valuable cooperative partners to the teacher in fostering their children’s development. We honor the young child’s need for warmth, movement, choice, security, and joyfulness, and intentionally design environments and interactions that nurture the development of the whole child.
Responsibility
The very nature of a cooperative preschool implies that parents will be responsible contributing participants in the operation of the school. There are many ways to contribute to the life of the school and earn volunteer credits that relate to an individual’s interests and skills. Parents receive credits, as they choose what works best for their family. We understand that some credits are just as simple as providing supplies for a cooking project or for providing invaluable input and solutions for school-wide objectives brought to our PTO. 4 credits (not hours) each month are required; unfulfilled credits are billed monthly at the rate of $10 per credit.
Co-op Parent Participation in the Classroom
Parent participation in the classroom is essential to the success of FMCP. We utilize our parent volunteers as extra eyes and hands in the classroom as assistants to the teachers as well as share any interests or talents with the children. $6 per hour is then credited towards your child’s tuition for any co-op parent who has a regular schedule to help in one of our many classrooms. These parents go through the same hiring process as the teachers and must pass a nationwide criminal background check as well as have specific child development training.