VICPA preschools are parent-operated on a cooperative basis. Your responsibilities
to the preschool include:
- assisting in the classroom on a pre-arranged rotational basis
- attending orientation sessions with other parents and ECE
- attending monthly meetings of preschool membership for parent education
session, preschool business and social
- criminal record check
- participating in fundraising.
- sharing the tasks of the preschool such as setting up or putting away,
or holding an executive position.
What will be expected of you as a co-op preschool member?
Countryside preschool requires certain things that must be done by all parent helpers. Some of these are provincial licensing requirements, some VICPA requirements, and others resolutions of the parents at Countryside. Put together, these requirements are as follows: 1. Complete at least 10 hours of orientation prior to starting parent helper days. This can include the observation (2-3 hr.); New Parent Night in May (2-3 hr.); the June general meeting (2-3 hr.); the Practical Workshop (shadowing an experienced parent helper – 2-3 hr.; see below); watching a video, or reading a parenting book.
2. Meet health requirements, through:
- a doctor's note certifying the health status of the parent helper;
- completed medical information for parent helpers and your child, including your child's immunization record, and
- Provide a copy of his/her birth certificate.
3. Assist the teacher in the class (parent helper days) approximately once every three weeks, from one half hour before to one half hour after the preschool session. 4. Participate in two of the three clean-ups, held at winter and spring breaks and at the end of the year. 5. Attend all monthly meetings, held on the second Wednesday evening of each month beginning at 7:00 p.m. 6. Be willing to take on a job within the preschool (e.g., President, Vice-President, Enrolment chair, Orientation chair, Equipment Chair, Secretary, Field Trip and Social Coordinator, Treasurer, Class Rep, Fundraiser, Parent Education Chair). 7. Pay monthly tuition fees ($105 for three days/week, with an optional extra $20 for working parents). We do require a month’s notice or a month's fees when withdrawing from the program. (Financial assistance might be available through the Ministry of Children and Families. For information contact 655-5629 and ask about the "child care subsidy.") 8. Participate in fundraising for the preschool. 9. Realize you own your preschool--you get out what you put in. 10. All parent helpers at Countryside are asked to provide a criminal record check. This can be done free of charge through your local police detachment. 11. Enjoy yourself and this special time with your child ! The Practical Workshop Parents who plan to do parent helper days must observe at the preschool in order to complete the first 3 hours of the 10 required for orientation (which is the qualification needed to assist the ECE in the classroom). 1. Arrive at 8:45 AM (the children arrive at 9:15). The preschool activity day is generally as follows: - free play, including puzzles, arts and crafts, and interacting with the other children, then clean-up;
- circle time with the ECE--stories, music, games, conversation; - snack; - outdoor play or indoor play, depending on the weather. For snack time we offer a shared healthy snack program for very reasonable fees. During the initial parent observation the ECE will meet with parents during children's snack time.