Frequently Asked Questions

1. How often will I need to co-op in the classroom?
On average, there is about one co-op per month in the 2 Day Monkeys. Pandas, 3 Day Monkeys, and 3 Day Tigers have about 2 co-ops per month. 4 Day Lions have 2, sometimes 3, co-ops per month.

2. What is the adult/child ratio in the classroom?
There are always 3 adults - one teacher and two co-opers in a class. The ratio is 1 adult to 3.33 children in the Panda (2 year old) class and 1 adult to 5 children in the Monkeys, Tigers and Lions classes (3 and 4 year olds).

3. My preschool-aged child has a younger sibling. What can I do for child-care on my co-op days?
Aspen Hill Cooperative Nursery School offers a Parent-Helper Program (PHP) or nursery staffed by CPR-trained childcare providers.

4. What does a typical day look like?
When the children first arrive, they are given the opportunity for free play in the classroom with activities such as playdough, books, blocks, cars, house corner/dress-up, puzzles, and other games and toys. The teacher will supervise a guided project at one table that all students must participate in sometime during the morning. Everyone helps with clean-up and then goes to circle time. Snacks are provided at the tables and the day ends with outdoor play, weather permitting. One day per week, each class attends Mini-Movers, which is taught by a separate teacher and focuses on large-muscle movement, music and games.

5. Do I supply my own child's snacks?
No. Each family will sign up to bring snacks for the entire class on a rotating basis during the school year.

6. What are my duties as a co-oper?
Your job is to help the teacher with tasks as requested. This may include preparation and clean-up of art projects, escorting children to the bathroom, assembling snacks, replenishing classroom supplies, and interacting with the students. The teachers prefer to manage discipline themselves as necessary, as it provides consistency in behavior expectations. You will also need to assist with daily cleaning in the bathrooms and classrooms.

7. Do you have extended hours?
Not as part of our regular curriculum. Children attend school from 9:30-12:00 on the days for which they are registered. Three- and four-year-olds have the opportunity to stay at school for Lunch Bunch a few times a month from October through May. Children bring their own lunches and remain in the school for an additional 1 1/2 hours. Themes may include cooking, Spanish, art, and literature. The fee for Lunch Bunch is $10.

8. Can I opt out of co-oping or have someone else co-op for me?
Every child in every class must have a co-oping adult. You are welcome to have someone else close to your child co-op for you as long as it is someone who can do it consistently. We have moms, dads, aunts, grandmas, and nannys who co-op. So while you cannot opt out of co-oping, you may find another person to co-op for you if you work or are unavailable during school hours.

9. What if I can't come on my scheduled co-oping day?
Co-oping schedules are put in family mailboxes and posted on class bulletin boards at least one month in advance. This gives you time to adjust your schedule if you are not available on a day that was assigned to you. You can also request days for co-oping in advance. Co-opers are responsible for asking another person to swap days or to find a substitute. You can also pay a substitute co-oper $20 to cover your day if you are unable to switch with someone. There is a short list of people who are paid substitutes available in our school directory. There is a $40 fine if you do not show up to co-op on your scheduled day.

10. Does my child have to be toilet-trained?
Children are not required to be toilet-trained. You may request that your child be taken to the bathroom at a given time to assist with toilet training. Children not fully trained must wear disposable diapers or training pants.

11. What supplies does my child need to bring?
The only items your child needs is an extra change of clothing to be left in the classroom for the appropriate season. Hats, gloves, coats, boots, etc. should be worn if necessary for the weather. Our students go outside everyday, weather permitting, so they need to be prepared for the weather conditions. All school supplies are provided by the school and included in your tuition. Some children enjoy bringing a backpack, but it is not required.

12. What is play-based learning?
Play-based learning a way to describe how children make sense of their world. Play encourages young children to be creative problem solvers and to develop their own ideas, understanding and language. Using play-based learning, children also develop a deeper understanding of the social and physical conditions that define their world and the language and symbols that are used to describe it.

13. Do I have to co-op in other classrooms?

No. You will only co-op in your child's classroom. If you have more than one child in our school, you will co-op in both classrooms the same number of times as the other parents. This means if you have multiple students in the school, you will find that your name is on the schedule a lot!