Cupertino, CA
Cupertino Co-op Nursery School

Director's Comments

Question to director: Do you have any additional thoughts on what parents should consider when looking at your school? Is there any advice that you would like to provide to prospective parents?


CCNS is a true community. We have a wonderful family event committee that provides activities that promote our sense of community. Each year we have a Fall Festival, Wine and Cheese Social, Winter Festival, Spring Carnival, AM & PM Campouts at our school, Parent's Night Out, Spring Dinner Party, and Scrap Booking Nights. Friendships are made that continue long after our families leave our CCNS community. The love of the school is apparent as we have many families returning with their own children. Our school is much more than a school, it is our home!

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
PROS: Excellent school if your child has food allergies; the staff and working parents are very attuned to it and strictly enforce a "no-nut" policy. The variety of activities offered (e.g. field trips, arts & crafts, etc.) are great.

CONS: Teaching staff is mixed. Some teachers genuinely enjoy intereacting with all the children while others play "favorites". Children in the "non-favorite" group are subject to disparate disciplinary measures, harsh tone & demeanor by the teacher (and sometimes working parents) and limited interaction with the teacher. Heavier emphasis should be placed on teaching children how to interact better with each other (e.g. truly caring about each other and respecting differences), rather than letting them "fend for themselves".

Parent #2
This is a wonderful school where children are well loved, nurtured and respected. There is a strong sense of community and cooperation amongst the parents and teachers. Everyone there is very dedicated to the children and the school itself. The only drawback is that the school requires a great deal of work from the parents: work one day each week in the classroom, attend two evening meetings a month, hold a committee job with a minimum of 10 hours of work, perform two janitorial weekends per year, perform 2 special project hours, plan the curriculum with other parents in May, and complete a memory book of your child's year the school. Also, the parent's actual work day can be labor intensive, busy and demanding.

Parent #3
On a day when I was exasperated with my child, the director spent time with me listening to the problem, the incident and offering suggestions and resources to help me deal with the issue.

Parent #4
This school develops both parent and children social and academic involvement. CCNS bring a sense of community to parents to help each other and share ideas.

Parent #5
The strengths are the excellent teachers and director as well as the parents.

Parent #6
I think that a lot of parents can be afraid to attend a co-op preschool because of the work. And it is a lot of work, but it is worth every moment that I've had to invest in the school. My oldest children, who are 12 and 14 also attended CCNS and some of my best friends are parents I met back then. I bonded with them on our workday years ago and we are still connected. I am also a better parent because of all of the parent meetings I've 'had' to attend. I have heard over 50 speakers over the years from everything from nutrition, positive discipline, sleep issues, fathering, effects of media in our children's lives, and about 45 more. These meetings have changed our lives. My children will grow up a little happier, and my husband and I are a lot saner because of these meetings. This school has changed our lives for the best. There are few things I can look back on and feel as good about as I do CCNS. It has been wonderful!!

Parent #7
CCNS is a huge time commitment that pays off tremendously. The children learn to be caring, empathetic, well-mannered members of a community. Parents treat ALL children as if they were there own. We have a close-knit community that is reliable, responsible and loving.

Montessori? Waldorf? Play-based?

What school type is right for your child? Is one model better than another? What does the research say?

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