Mundelein Coop Preschool

FAQ

Mundelein Cooperative Preschool FAQ’S

Searching for a good preschool can be a time-consuming task. We offer this list of commonly asked questions to help guide your search:

How long has the preschool been in business? MCP was founded in 1948 as Rosa Kahn Nursery School. The school was founded by a group of forward thinking parents who wanted quality preschool education for their children.

Is the school licensed? Yes, we are licensed by the Department of Children and Family services Of Illinois. We follow the National Association of Young Children’s guidelines for the education of young children.

What is the school's licensed capacity? We are licensed for 20 children in each class. As a one room schoolhouse, we have two separate groups. The MWF classes are for 4-5 years olds, and the T-TR groups are for 3-4 years olds. We offer multiage grouping in the T-Th PM class. Children from the MWF class have the option of attending 1-2 day additional days.

What is the adult child ratio? We are pleased to offer ratios that exceed state standards. In a class of 20 children, there would be 4 adults, two qualified teachers, and two parent assistants.

Do children have to be potty trained? Yes

Can I bring my child in for a pre-enrollment visit? Yes, visits are welcomed and encouraged.

What are the hours of operation? The morning classes are from 9:00-11:30 am. The PM session is from 12:30-3:00 pm. We follow District 79 Fremont school schedule.

What exactly constitutes a “parent cooperative”? Our parents are very involved with the school. Parents have the option of helping in the classroom as parent aides, and serve on committees. The Board of Directors is comprised of parents, and oversee the financial and operational functions of the school.

What if I can’t help in the class because of job or other conflicts? We offer parents the option of not parent aiding. Parents are still required to bring a healthy snack and water to share with the group, but staying to help is entirely optional. This is a great choice for parents that work or have younger children in the home.

Are parents welcome to visit and interact with staff? Yes! We pride ourselves on strong parent communication and support. Parents are informed at pick up of any developments during the school day and we regularly email or phone parents to discuss development. We offer formal parent-teacher conferences twice during the year, and have a monthly newsletter detailing all school activities. We also provide regular email communication of upcoming events.

Do you have field trips? Yes we have 3 trips a year. We schedule trips that are reflective of the curriculum in the class. For example, we go to an Apple Orchard in the fall to compliment our lessons on the growth cycle of an apple tree.

What are the teacher’s credentials and training? We have two head teachers with Bachelors in Education. One in Elementary Education, the other Early Childhood Education. They attend yearly conferences and seminars for continuing education, and constantly are researching the best practices in the early childhood field. Please see the teacher bio section of this site for more information about our dedicated staff. All staff is CPR/First Aide trained.

What is the school’s educational philosophy? Is it developmentally based or have an academic focus? We believe children learn through play, we provide a rich, developmental curriculum, using themes as a basis of study. Children have their own internal timing and pacing to their development. All areas are considered; their physical, social, emotional, speech and cognitive development. Children interact with our materials and activities set out each day, and are able to pursue interests independently. Skills and concepts needed for Kindergarten are presented in a holistic way, rather than teaching skills in isolation. We believe our children go off to Kindergarten with a genuine love of learning, and a skill set that more than prepares them for their future. Oh, and they have fun! The staff and parents work together during this very special time in a child’s life.

What about safety? What measures do you take to keep children safe?
Our doors are locked at all times except for arrival and pick-up. Each door is equipped with a chime that rings a different tune for each door, so staff is immediately aware if a door is opened. Parents that aide in the class go under the same background checks as the teachers in the class. Children are signed out at the end of the class, and regular inspections of equipment and materials are conducted.

What about snacks? We are a peanut free school. We have a specific list of snacks that we know to be peanut free at this time, parents bring snack for the group on their parent aide day, and water to drink. We have a list of specialty snacks for birthday celebrations. Parents receive a schedule of aide days two months at a time.

Which is better, AM or PM? It really is a matter of personal preference. Generally the AM is a larger class, whereas PM is usually smaller. PM is nice for parents with smaller children, so naps coincide with class times. Also with optional parent aiding, getting a sitter or help with siblings is not needed. Some children are best in the morning, others in the afternoon.

Additional questions to ask yourself: No matter where you send your child, there are considerations that you should observe in your pre-enrollment visit.
1. Do the staff and children seen happy and engaged?
2. Are the interactions between the teachers and children friendly, caring and respectful?
3. Is the school clean and a pleasant setting? Are the bathrooms designed with small children in mind?
4. How does the atmosphere of the school make you feel? Will you feel at ease leaving your child in this setting?