Pre-K

5 mornings a week

Regular co-op Monday/Wednesday/Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

&

Tuesday/Thursday drop off 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

For children who are age 4 and older by September 1, (TK-age)

Children need to be immersed in a program designed to foster exploration and learning, with ample time to engage in a variety of activities that are of interest. For this age, it includes crafts, sand play, sensory play, science experiments, dramatic play, cooking, gardening, and group story time.

Pre-K families are enrolled in the 3-day core class, and parents work in the classroom once a week on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday mornings to supervise play, socialization, and problem-solving. After class, parents attend a parent-ed meeting twice a month from 12 to 1 pm while their children attend a supervised lunch bunch.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, besides getting more days and time for free play, Pre-Kers participate in small-group activities led by Pre-K Teacher Lisa, where they engage in playful, hands-on math and literacy activities designed to prepare them for kindergarten and beyond.

For more about our school’s play-based curriculum, click here. For more on why play-based learning works, click here.

the co-op commitment

• Work in the classroom once a week

• Participate in parent-ed discussion groups twice a month on your workday

• Fulfill at least 14 hours on a school job

• Provide snacks for the class and parents per the rotating schedule

• Help with maintaining the building and grounds by attending one 2-hour deep clean & beautification shift

• Attend the parent orientation and 1-3 parenting webinars noted on the calendar

• Participate in fundraising activities

Transitional Kindergarten or Pre-K?‍ ‍

The choice is yours.

If you are trying to decide between TK & Pre-K, our sister cooperative preschool, Cupertino Co-op Nursery School, has posted a very informative piece on this subject; you can read it here.

For comparison and context, SPNS offers Pre-K children …

• spacious play areas specifically designed to encourage social interaction and play

• a mixed-age community of children where Pre-K children can practice their leadership skills

• open-ended environments allow Pre-K children to explore, focus, and pursue their learning interests

• a wide assortment of equipment for 4 and 5-year-olds that engages the entire body, while allowing for mastery of skils

• a daily schedule that allows for flexible transitions so that children can adjust at their own pace

• introductory and developmentally appropriate science experiences that allow every 4 and 5-year-old to ask their questions and explore at their leisure

• a curated Pre-K curriculum that includes teacher-led small group learning designed to practice pre-math and science concepts, activities to enhance hand-eye coordination, print awareness, phonics awareness, and cooperative work in small groups

• led by qualified and experienced teachers trained in early childhood development and education

• the teacher-to-child ratio is 1:10, while the adult-to-child ratio is 1:5

Early childhood educator Tom Hobson describes essential knowledge preschoolers need before starting kindergarten. click here.

Finally, this link provides a Google search page with more articles that can help you consider factors when choosing the right program for your child and family.