The FMPS Preschool PTA is a child advocacy and parent support group for parents of children newborn to 6 who attend FMPS. All parents are invited to come to monthly meetings. Parents will be required to attend/ participate in two PTA meetings per year and open house night.
Co-op parents are required to: (a co-op parent is a parent who exchanges preschool for hours worked in the preschool classroom) Can parents working outside the home manage this time commitment? Absolutely. Many co-op members hold full- or part-time jobs outside the home. Many have more than one child in the co-op system. These parents get creative with their schedules and often share co-op duties with their partners, parents, siblings and close family friends. The whole community benefits. Parents work one day a week in the classroom. A rotating schedule is created and posted so each parent knows in advance when and where he/she will work that week: for example, staffing an activity station (sensory table, blocks, library, etc.), preparing a cooking project or cleaning the classroom. School manuals outline the “hows” of each job. Parents who can’t make their work day are expected to line up a substitute. ALL adults must go through the parent teacher admission procedure to work in a classroom! Each new year elects a leadership “Board” (Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, etc.) and divvies up a standing list of administrative jobs (class photographer, supply manager, teacher’s assistant, etc.). Incoming parents are trained by outgoing parents, the teacher and parent educator. Board members receive even more training at a special FMP Sponsored “Board Training” seminar. A tuition scholarship fund exists to ensure that the co-op program remains open to all families. Each co-op contributes to the fund, and most co-ops fundraise to meet their obligation. Most co-ops also conduct fundraising to support their own projects, such as purchasing new play equipment. Co-op members are expected to support co-op fundraising efforts. For children, co-op is a safe and nurturing place in which to explore, engage and have fun. A skilled preschool teacher designs the curriculum, using cooperative and creative play to enhance social, emotional and intellectual development. Class time is divided into carefully designed, age-appropriate learning periods such as: Circle Time, Free Play ,Small Group ,Outdoor Time During Free Play times children are free to move about the classroom, exploring and experimenting. “Stations” are supervised by parents, who work as assistant teachers to encourage and support the children in play areas such as sensory table, art center, play-kitchen, blocks and table top and cooking projects. At Circle Time, the teacher leads the class in singing songs, dancing, playing musical instruments and reading stories while Parent-led Small Group sessions provide more structured learning experiences. Pre-K and Fives children are introduced to Kindergarten-readiness activities such as the natural sciences, math, pre-reading and writing. Our mission at FMPS is to speak up on behalf of the needs of children, to help parents perform the difficult job of rearing and nurturing children and to encourage parent involvement in our school.
The PTA Parent’s Role
Being a parent representative requires an extra bit of time and commitment. In return, families at FMPS will reap a whole lot of rewards: a high-quality preschool, lower tuition rates, parenting support and lasting friendships.
Working in the Classroom-if you chose to be a coop parent (work for the school)
Taking on an Administrative Job
Fundraising
