The cooperative model creates a learning environment that inspires adults and children to discover, create, learn, and grow together.
Our philosophy is based on the belief that parents play an integral role in their child’s educational experience. This direct involvement promotes confidence, increases a child’s self-esteem, encourages a love of learning, and nurtures a positive attitude regarding a child’s first educational experience.
As a cooperative preschool we are a non-profit education program owned and operated by parent members, administered by a parent board of directors and licensed by the state of Michigan. Our program is implemented by highly qualified teachers and assist parents.
Curriculum
Research shows that play helps children develop critical cognitive skills, including creativity, flexibility, resiliency, critical problem solving, and social skills just to name a few. Through play, children have experiences that introduce, connect and prepare them for the larger world socially, emotionally and physically.
Play prepares children for life.
When you visit our program you will see children:
- connecting through “circle time”
- playing, observing, imitating, exploring, and using all five senses
- enjoying the process of creating art while developing fine motor skills, the precursor to reading and writing
- developing gross motor skills through activities such as jumping games, climbing courses and dancing, singing and creative movement
- experiencing literacy and math skills embedded in their play
- actively involved in preparing and sharing healthy snacks
- exploring the outdoors each and everyday
Offerings
We offer classes for 3, 4 and young 5 year olds. Classes are small with an excellent adult to child ratio that averages 1 adult per four children. Purposefully, classes are held in short morning or afternoon sessions. Developmentally, 3, 4, and 5 year olds learn best when actively engaged for a shorter amount of time.
We also offer an amazing enrichment program that connects our students to the community through weekly experiences that allow our young learners to try activities such as gymnastics, ice skating, Tae-Kwan-do, snowshoeing, dance, nature hikes, visits to local farms and much more. Community exploration is carried out within the comfort of a small class, guided by a caring teacher. This unique program is geared towards older preschoolers.