Understanding a Parent Cooperative Preschool

Being part of a cooperative preschool includes becoming involved in the classroom, maintenance, and administrative activities of the school as well as the learning process of your child. These shared experiences truly foster a sense of community with the staff and other families at Saxon Hill School.

Parent Helping

Members "parent help" in their child's classroom on a rotating basis. This allows you to periodically participate in your child's school day and keep our student/adult ratio at approximately 5:1. Spending time in the classroom gives parents exposure to the expertise of the staff as they model teaching and communication skills, and the parents gain knowledge and confidence in their own parenting skills.

Committee Commitment

Saxon Hill has a variety of well established committees that share the administrative and fundraising duties of the school. Member service on a committee (or the School Board) is a requirement of the school. The current committees are: Barn Sale, Artisans' Auction, Building and Grounds, Cleaning, Publicity, Fundraising, Treasurer's Assistant, Health Officer, Assistant to Director of Education, Book Order/Scrounge, and Staff Technology Advisor. The type of work is diverse and timing of the work varies by committee. For example, some committees are a shorter term with a more intense focus on a single event, while other committees' work is spread more evenly through the year.

Cleaning

Every family is required to spend 3 to 4 hours cleaning the school on a weekend during the school year. Board members are exempt from this requirement.

Fundraising

Saxon Hill generates a significant portion of its necessary operating budget funds through fundraising. Members participate in a variety of fundraising activities throughout the year. This keeps our tuition competitive, while also allowing the school to offer tuition assistance and scholarships. Saxon Hill is in excellent financial health and has a demonstrated track record of consistently raising necessary funds.

While it is true that Saxon Hill requires more parent involvement than a traditional preschool, the reward is a a unique sense of community and a deep involvement in your child's first school experiences.