We’re streamlining our program!

Dear parents and DCP friends,

After two months of trying to get the word out there of our Toddler’s Group, we’ve received a lot of helpful feedback and as a result, the Board has decided to remain with our two existing programs, with a few changes - and some new program names!

For our 2008-2009 school year, DCP’s two successful preschool programs will be renamed “Sprouts” and “Saplings”.

SPROUTS will be similar to our existing two-day, two-hour preschool program for children ages 24 months and above. The only change will e that this will now be a multiage class, accepting children of up to 3.5 years old (approximately 42 months). As with the existing program, participating parents are required to work one day per week, and drop off the other day. Classes will be on Monday and Wednesday mornings, from 9.30am to 11.30am.

SAPLINGS will be similar to our existing multiage three-day, 2.5-hour pre-K program for children ages 3.5 to 5. Parents are required to work one day per week, and may drop their children off the other two days. Classes will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 12.30pm to 3pm.

For more information about fees, please visit our Classes and Fees page here.

Yours,
Jennifer Tan
VP

Dates to watch out for!

Spring has sprung (with a healthy dose of spring snow!), and we have lots going on at DCP.

Here are some important dates to mark on your calendar:

• Spring break: April 7 - 11 2008
• Parent ed on nutrition with dietician Camelle LeBlanc: Monday April 21 2008 7pm @ DCP. We will also be holding elections for the 08-09 board.
• (New) board meeting Sunday April 27 2008 1pm @ DCP.

Have a great break everyone!

DCP Open House - Family Fun Night!

Come celebrate St Patrick’s Day with us this March 17th (Monday) with crafts and fun starting at 6.30pm until 8pm! Bring your kids to visit our little preschool, talk to our teachers and member parents to learn more about our cooperative program.

Venue: Duvall Cooperative Preschool @ the Duvall Community Center, Stella Street (right next to the Firehouse).
Time: 6.3opm - 8pm
Date: Mar 17 2008 (Monday)

See you there!

Are you returning? New to DCP? Submit your registrations soon to secure a place!

Whether you’re returning for another year or brand new, be sure to submit your registrations as soon as possible to your parent leader or our registrar Meriaten Long (email: meriaten [at] gmail.com).

To register (applicable to new parents as well), you will need to complete THREE forms:

1. The 2008-2009 DCP registration form (to register your child as a student at the preschool)
2. The Lake Washington Technical College registration form (to register as a student at the college to claim college credits for parent ed and involvement)
3. The Parent Participation Agreement.

Along with these documents, please remember to attach a copy of your child’s most recent immunization records.

Printed registration kits will be available soon at our site at the Duvall Community Center on Stella Street (next to the firehouse) if you don’t have a ready printer.

Returning parents and alumni from other affiliated co-ops and toddler groups in the LWTC network do not need to pay until June 2008.

New students will need to submit their forms with a check or money order with the registration amount made to ‘DCP’.

You can mail all forms to:

Duvall Cooperative Preschool
PO Box 1311
Duvall, WA 98019

Thank you!

ps. Watch out for our Open House next month!

Quarterly scholarships available for parents

The DCP Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that quarterly scholarships are now available to all enrolled parents.

The scholarship is a 50% discount off monthly fees.

You can email a formal request addressed to the board stating down your reasons to your Parent Leader (or hand her a printed copy during class). Applications need to be submitted before the last board meeting of each quarter for the upcoming quarter. You can refer to your Parent Leader for the correct dates.

Scholarships are limited to one per class per quarter. 

A big THANK YOU to Lake Washington Toddler Group!

We would like to extend a very grateful THANK YOU to Lake Washington Toddler Group for their second recent donation to us. DCP is benefiting so much from your generosity and our parents thank you!

Hatching Readers Community Story Time (Kirkland)

Friday, Feb. 29th, 10am, Parkplace Books, Kirkland

Hear Ginger Guy share her picture books, including Perros! Perros! Dogs! Dogs!. Booklist says, “This delightful picture book is entertaining and educational at the same time.”

Win books, book art, and other book related treats!

Led by Erin Subcleff, Instructor of Lake Washington Technical College’s class: Child Lit: Choose, Read, and Reflect.

Sponsored by Lake Washington Council, International Reading Association

Why I Opted for Co-op, by Flor Gant

I am a working mom who would never have thought that co-op would work for me.

When I first learned that Duvall Co-operative Preschool was about to open in our community, I was somewhat intrigued and wanted to get to know more about it, so I went to their website.

I liked the idea of the nurturing, play-based environment where the children and their families work and grow together in the classroom and in our small community. I wanted to be involved in a small simple way in my daughter’s early education. I think that being in the classroom with her and the other kids–contributing to their education–is a very satisfying feeling. With the teacher and moms working together, these kids surely are better nurtured with love and guidance.

The co-op has provided all the kid’s moms with a way of building a good and lasting friendship and family support. I am thankful that the opening of DCP came at the right time when I was seriously looking for a preschool for my daughter.

Why I Opted for Co-op, by Meriaten Long

I was interested in the Co-op because it’s very close, very affordable and we get to befriend moms and kids in our Duvall community.

I also get to see how the classroom works and how my child functions at school firsthand on a weekly basis. I am delighted with our teacher and our preschool setup and the combined abilities of the other moms/teachers. I like the small school/small town feel that I get. It’s not overwhelming for me or my children and I like that.  This was my first introduction to co-op and I find it is very doable, especially when you have another friendly, reliable mom that you are able to child-swap with (if you find you have an extra little one at home waiting for his or her turn to go to preschool). I highly recommend it to everyone I meet!

Do your bit for DCP today!

Dear parents of DCP,

Can you believe that our little preschool is now close to half a year old? I can hardly believe it myself that this time last year, Duvall Cooperative Preschool was simply an idea, a few names scribbled on a piece of paper, a plan that had yet to take shape.

Today, we have some 20 families with us, a dedicated board, two absolutely fantastic teachers, our own blog, and a site (temporary as it is) that all of us have put in so much effort each week to turn into a place of learning and growth for our precious children.

Throughout our conception, we’ve had a LOT of help from our fellow co-ops, the college as well as the Foundation, and the reason we’re here today is because of all these generous donations.

So now, it’s our turn.

The board has agreed during our last meeting that because we’ve had so much to do this year (and much more to come – non-profit status application, taxes, site plans etc), we will keep our mandatory once-a-year fundraising event simple, in that each family will make a one-off donation of $25 to the school. You can make this donation in the form of a check (made out to “DCP”) anytime this month (ending Feb 29 2008) as this year’s contribution. You can pass the checks to your parent leaders or to Susan, our treasurer.

We have discussed the possibility of an additional optional (in that you can choose to contribute to it or not) fundraiser slated for April 2008 but no plans have been confirmed as yet. We may or may not have it depending on our resources.

DCP thanks you for your patience, dedication and generosity.

Yours,
Jennifer Tan
for the DCP Board of Trustees