Summary
Contact Info
Southwest Cooperative Preschool
3152 Clyde Park Ave SW
Wyoming
, MI
49509
swcp.shutterfly.com/
Tel:
(616) 538-6735
Director:
Elizabeth Zakem
General Approach to Learning
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Play-based with some structure |
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| Predominantly teacher-led instruction |
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Co-op |
Key Statistics
| Student/teacher ratio |
5:1 |
| School year |
9/9/2008 - 5/15/2009 |
| Summer Program |
-1/-1/-1 - -1/-1/-1 |
Kindergarten Placement
Parent Ratings
| Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents. |
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| Quality of teaching |
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| Development of social skills and work habits |
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| Home-school connection |
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| Parent community |
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| Discipline |
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| Facilities |
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| Health |
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| Safety |
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| Handling of separation |
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Survey Information
Number of parents surveyed:
1
Director survey: Yes
Savvy Source survey: Yes
General Info
Basic Stats
| Student/teacher ratio |
5:1
|
% of teachers with:
Transportation and Drop-off Policies
Transportation
Dropoff Procedure
Features of the Preschool
| Provide a third year |
Yes
|
| • Students that need an additional year prior to Kindergarten may repeat the 4 yr old program. |
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| Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program |
No
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| Affiliated with a religious institution |
No
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Facilities
| CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (4.3) |
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| Building, bathrooms, hallway |
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| Classroom equipment and furniture |
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| Outside play equipment |
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Facilities Include:
| Classrooms (with bathroom attached) |
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| Classrooms (with kitchenette attached) |
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| Music room |
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| Art room |
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| Library |
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Playground
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Parents' Comments
Parent #1
The teacher at this school has been teaching for 12 years. This school is a cooperative which means that the parents help to run the business side of the school as well as actively assist the teacher in the class room 1-2 times a month. It is a great way to met other parents of preschool aged children, as well as to see how your child learns in a class room setting before they begin elementary school. It is a great way for children to learn through play!
School Philosophy & Day in the Life
School Philosophy and Mission
At Southwest Cooperative Preschool we believe that young children learn through play. Materials and opportunities are provided for children to build, create, experiment, explore, socialize and imitate.
We believe the parent is an integral part of a young child's development, therefore, the parent's involvement in the preschool is an essential part of our program.
Our Goal is to give our children positive self-esteem, begin to broaden their world, and encourage their natural curiosity.
We also provide ourselves with positive self-esteem as parents and strengthen the family unit as we also begin to "let go" of our children.
Southwest Cooperative Preschool Inc. does not discriminate and admits students and members of any race, color, creed, ethnic origin, religion, gender, disability, or handicap. Southwest Cooperative Preschool, Inc. is a non-profit, member operated non-sectarian preschool.
Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School
Daily Schedule of Operations 4yr
Monday / Wednesday / Friday A.M.
9:30-9:45a ARRIVAL: teacher and parent helpers greet children as they arrive.
Children will find their nametags (adults will put on for them). Children may play until everyone arrives and teacher calls them to sit on their carpet squares. Discussion of the day's theme/activities, sharing time( show-n-tell).
9:45-10:40a DISCOVERY TIME: free exploration of the activities set up in both rooms. Toys, play equipment, art activities will focus around the theme for the week but won�??t be limited to that only. A variety of small and large motor skill activities will include a climber, ride-on wooden vehicles, puzzles, the housekeeping/dress-up area, building blocks, alphabet/math games, cash register, Legos, peg boards, dolls, barn, cars, science area, books, and more. Arts and craft activities will include encouragement to try new things. We will have play dough, bean/rice table, cutting, gluing, painting on easels, sponge painting, coloring, shaving cream, stencil tracing, workbench, and more.
10:40-10:45a CLEAN UP TIME: a special song is used to tell children to start putting away the toys.
10:45-10:55a CIRCLE TIME (Concept learning): a variety of concepts will be introduced such as alphabet and numbers 1-12 recognition, numbers/days/months/sequencing by use of a calendar, shapes/colors, matching & sorting, finger poems/songs, flannel board stories, etc.
10:55-11:10a SNACK TIME: we will begin to learn how follow directions by lining up to use
the restroom (if necessary) and wash hands before snack. Children will learn how to pour their own drink and develop social skills by asking for the snack appropriately.
11:10-11:30a MOVEMENT/GAMES/OUTDOOR TIME: we will learn new group games,
movement activities such as parachute, bean bags, songs/exercise/dance, or go outside and play with balls, teeter-totter, sand table, hula-hoops, climber, balance beam.
11:30-11:50a STORY TIME/LIBRARY DAY: we will end our day with a quiet activity such
as a story or film strip. Nametags will be removed by teacher or parent helpers. On Monday each week the children may choose one book from our pre-school library to take home and return the following week.
12pm DISMISSAL Children will sit at their tables until teacher calls their name to dismiss them to
their parent (or other designated adult).
Quality of Teaching
Teachers Are:
| OVERALL RATING: (5.0) |
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| Full of energy and seemingly happy in job |
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| Patient and affectionate with children |
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| Talks with children and listens carefully when they are talking with him/her |
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| Praises children for accomplishments and good behavior |
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| Provides feedback on what my child does during the day |
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| Shares insights on my child that are helpful and accurate |
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| Identifies my child’s strengths and weaknesses |
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| If necessary, provides additional support to my child during pickup and drop-off |
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| Resolves disputes quickly, calmly and fairly in a manner that allows children to learn from the dispute |
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| Notices children who are not on task and/or engaging with other children appropriately and quickly reengages them |
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| Manages the energy level of the children so that all children feel safe and able to learn |
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| Provides additional support to a child when s/he is clearly failing in her/his efforts |
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Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
The teacher does a great job running her class room. She makes sure that each and every child feels a part of the activity and if a child needs special attention then she makes an effort to provide it. The teacher provides opportunity for the children to learn about music and uses it to help with clean up time and in order to calm the children before they head home. There is also many opportunities to color, draw, paint, etc.
Home School Connection
Home-School Connection
| OVERALL RATING (4.8) |
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| Conducts an open house at start of school year |
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| Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year |
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| Conducts regular parent teacher conferences |
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| Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year |
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| Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year |
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| Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools |
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Director's Comments
Director/Teacher has parent teacher conferences 2x a year. Teacher is available after school to discuss concerns parents maybe having. Educational information and resources are sent home to assist the parent with how to teach and encourage educational growth with their child. Parenting education is also provided through speakers at parent meetings. Open houses are held 2-3 times per year in April, June and August. Parent meeting are held 4-5 times during the school year. Our school participate in a spring/summer parade for kids. This school is very parent/child involved.
Separation
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Abbreviated schedule at start of school year
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Extra staff dedicated to handle separation
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Parents in classrooms early on
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Pre-entry meetings with parents at school
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Small group sessions
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Director's and Parents' Comments
Director's Comments
The first day of school is a half an hour shorter than normal and is very informal with explaining where everything is and what the school rules are. Parents are encouraged to have someone the child knows with them for this first day of school. After this parents are welcome to be observers in the classroom (open door policy) although the school door is kept locked during school hours for safety. The teacher works with children and parents individually if further assistance with separation-anxiety is needed.
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
Parents are welcome to visit the school anytime that they so choose, but the building is locked during schools hours for the safety of the children.
Drop-in Policy
- During school parents are welcomed as the school has an open door policy
General Parent Education
Parent Community
| COHESIVENESS RATING (4.0) |
Parents:
Modes of Communication Between School and Home
Discipline, Health and Safety
Discipline
| OVERALL RATING (5.0) |
|
| Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children:
are handled extraordinarily well in a way that not only gives me confidence in the safety of my child but also reassures me that my child (and his/her peers) are learning the early skills needed to socialize effectively with one another
| |
Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
The outside equipment and bathrooms are not new but are in working order, clean and easy to access.
Health
| OVERALL RATING (5.0) |
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| Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable |
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| Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided
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| Toys and furniture are cleaned regularly |
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Food Allergies
Safety
| OVERALL RATING (5.0) |
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| Screen and identify all visitors
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| • Any adult participating in the school needs to have a criminal back ground check prior to working in the classroom. |
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| Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others |
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Ages, Schedule & Tuition
Ages, Class Size, Days & Tuition
| Ages |
Class Size |
Days |
Tuition |
From
3 years
to
4 years
|
15 |
|
$420/Year |
From
4 years
to
5 years
|
20 |
|
$580/Year |
Extended Care
Notes on Schedule and Extended Care
Notes
Private slots available for $570 for the 3 yr old class for whole year and Private slots available for $630 for the 4yr old class for the whole year.
Both classes can have up to 20 students but we like to keep out 3's class smaller for more one on one interaction.
Calendar Year
School Year
Summer Program
Application & Admissions
Director and Parents have not yet submitted this information to the Savvy Source.
