LEP is a 'cooperative' preschool.  What does that mean?

co·op·er·a·tive

adjective

involving mutual assistance in working toward a common goal.

"every member has clearly defined tasks in a cooperative enterprise"

synonyms: collaborative, collective, common, joint, shared, mutual

Cooperation Matters

Little Explorers Preschool is a parent-school cooperative, where parents actively contribute to our educational program through their commitment, talent, and skills.  The cooperative aspect of LEP is designed to enrich the preschool experience for parents, teachers, and children by laying a groundwork of parental involvement in each child’s budding educational career and by ensuring the smooth operation of a high quality program.  Through consistent involvement in their child’s education, parents can learn a great deal about their child and how to better meet their child’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs.

Parents are required to participate in the classroom as a parent volunteer a certain number of times per semester depending on their child’s class.  All parent volunteers will be required to complete a background check.  We also allow other family members and persons involved in the child’s life, such as grandparents, nannies, etc., to volunteer in place of a parent as long as they have also completed a background check.  

We always encourage parents and families to participate in preschool-related fundraisers, performances, and activities. We even require that an adult from each family volunteers for one preschool committee during the year, which involves helping organize one of our annual fundraisers or helping plan and put on graduation.   

Finally, we encourage parents to share their unique insights, skills, and talents in the classroom to help broaden our students’ exposure to the world-at-large.  If you have traveled extensively, consider bringing in your pictures and stories.  If you are a yoga instructor, photographer, musician, farmer, police officer, or baker, consider sharing what you do with our students.  If you speak another language or enjoy reading aloud, come help us learn!  And, if you’re interested in serving on our Board of Directors, we’d love to hear from you when you enroll your child.