Parents

A vital partnership

Parents are a crucial part of the equation at Beverley Hills Church Preschool.

One parent is scheduled to co-op in each class daily. This parent helps prepare the classroom, brings the snack, facilitates a workgroup and cleans at the end of the day. This not only enhances the classroom experience, but also gives parents the chance to see their sons and daughters interact with their classmates while getting to know the other children for themselves.

Our school is governed by a parent Board of Directors, elected by the school membership. Parents also play a role in maintaining school facilities, raising money for supplies and programs, and serving on committees that determine the present and future course of the preschool. We find that this kind of parental involvement not only gives families a larger stake in the education of their young, it builds a tight-knit community.

As a cooperative, BHCP provides advantages for parents as well as children, but it does require certain obligations for those advantages to be realized. BHCP parents offer their time, talents and experience – the real foundations for a successful cooperative preschool. Family commitments include:

• CO-OPING in your child’s class on a regularly scheduled basis, as described above. Frequency of participation depends on the size of the class and the number of days per week it meets. Parents or guardians only may co-op.
• MAINTENANCE DUTY, which may range from general cleaning to a specific project to help maintain the school property. Each family is expected to provide a total of six hours each year.
• ATTENDANCE at general membership and class meetings.
• COMMITTEE AND/OR BOARD SERVICE to help the school function, raise money or provide an enriching experience for our children. In addition, each classroom has the responsibility for one “special program” during the year, such as the annual Stone Soup Chapel. Expect your time commitment to be about 20 hours, more for committee chairs.
• FUNDRAISING to provide much-needed financial support for the school. All parents participate in some aspect of fundraising activities, such as selling gift wrap or assisting with a silent auction. In addition, the school collects money for its Annual Fund, to which parents are asked to contribute.
• ORIENTATION and training session, held the Saturday prior to the start of school, for all parents new to BHCP or returning after an absence.