frequently asked questions

My child will not be 2, 3,or 4 by August 31, can I still enroll him/her in the class?
Can I stay in the class every day?
How will I know when I need to stay in the classroom?
What will I do on the days I am in the classroom?
When are the parent education meetings? What are they for?
Does my child need to be potty trained?
Can I bring my other children into class on the days I am a parent-teacher?
I have no daycare for my other child. Is there a babysitting program provided by the preschool?
Fundraising: Do I have to participate in the fundraisers? Why do we need fundraisers?
Can I visit the school?
Can we meet the teacher before we enroll?
What are the class sizes?
What do I have to pay before classes start?
How do I enroll my child?
What is the parent membership position requirement?

My child will not be 2, 3,or 4 by August 31, can I still enroll him/her in the class?

We can enroll younger children in the classes if they are developmentally able to participate in the class. The “extended” cut-off is October 15. We ask that you make a point to come to the summer playdates at Lions Park so that our teacher may meet your child and see her interact with other children.

Please be aware that the North Kitsap school district policy is that children must be 5 years of age by August 31st. Students can test for early entrance if born between 9/1 to 10/20. They will test pre-K skills for a 5 ½ year old level (academic/gross & fine motor/social skills), and usually only 2 out of 20 tested make it in.

Can I stay in the class every day?

Parents are always welcome to stay in class!

How will I know when I need to stay in the classroom?

A ‘working schedule’ will be created each month. It is managed by your class representative (a board member). You simply sign up to stay on the days that work for you.

What will I do on the days I am in the classroom?

The parent-teacher roles are divided into 3 jobs; Snack Parent, Art Parent, and Playroom Parent. The ‘working schedule’ has each job listed so you know in advance what you are expected to do that day. The Snack parent is expected to bring a small nutritious snack to share with the class.

When are the parent education meetings? What are they for?

We hold Parent Ed. Meetings 2 or 3 times each month (depending on school enrollment) in the evenings from 6:30-9pm. You are required to attend one of these meetings.

Our Parent Education meetings give us a chance to make sure that all our parents are on the same page when they work in the classroom. They also provide us with a great opportunity to learn about the other families in our co-op, find community resources for families, and talk about ways to overcome our parenting challenges. Our teacher has materials and book suggestions developed by Olympic College to help out.

Does my child need to be potty trained?

No. This is a challenging parenting issue for many of us. We do not require that your child be potty trained before enrolling in the preschool. We do have a policy that each child wash his/her hands in the restroom every day before coming into the classroom. In past years this has helped parents with the training process.

Can I bring my other children into class on the days I am a parent-teacher?

Siblings are not allowed in the classroom during class time unless it is a special visit, pre-approved by the teacher. If you have other children at home you will need to make arrangements for childcare on your working days.

I have no daycare for my other child. Is there a babysitting program provided by the preschool?

No. In the past some parents have coordinated ‘babysitting days’! There are quite a few families in our co-op with similar situations. Here are some of ways that families have handled daycare:

Some ask a friend, grandma, or dad, some ‘trade kids’ with another parent, some use an outside drop in daycare.

Fundraising: Do I have to participate in the fundraisers? Why do we need fundraisers?

No. If you do not want to participate in a fundraiser you may ‘buyout’ by paying $100 to the preschool.

We rarely cover our yearly expenditures with the income from registration and tuition. We try to keep our fees as low as possible, and so we have to supplement our income with fundraising. When we make more than we need to meet our budget for the year, we look at our need for facilities improvements (like new playground equipment or new curricula) and then try to put some away in savings for a rainy day fund.

Can I visit the school?

We have 2 open houses before the school year begins. After school begins, give us a call and we’d be happy to discuss with you about visiting a class in session with your child.

Can we meet the teacher before we enroll?

Yes! Our teacher, Sue Mangold, comes to the open houses at the preschool and the summer playdates at Lions Park. She is always happy to answer any specific questions you have.

What are the class sizes?

The Wiggleworms (2-3 year old) have a maximum enrollment of 12 students. The Bumblebees have a maximum enrollment of 14 students. Dragonfly classes have a maximum enrollment of 16.

What do I have to pay before classes start?

At the beginning of the year we collect the enrollment fee, September’s tuition and the last month’s tuition, and the quarterly tuition to Olympic College.

How do I enroll my child?

Complete a registration form and pay the $40 registration fee. You may register online, or bring your info and check to a summer playdate at Lions Park and give them to the registrar, or mail them to our P.O. Box:

Poulsbo Cooperative Preschool
P.O. Box 1853
Poulsbo, WA 98370

What is the parent membership position requirement?

We require all of our members to take on a co-op management position. Our parents own this school. We benefit by lowered fees and greater involvement in the school. The volunteer positions range from board membership positions like Treasurer or Registrar to committee memberships like fundraising committee or curriculum committee or individual positions such as playdough maker or classroom deep cleaner. Board positions for the next year are mostly filled before summer, but all remaining positions are kept open until Parent Orientation night so that everyone gets a fair chance to sign up for a position they would enjoy.