General Info
Facilities
| CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (4.6) |
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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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Parents' Comments
Parent #1
My son started preschool in mid-September. Since then, I have learned that being part of a cooperative preschool means that I, as a parent, am very aware of what goes on in the class room and of the other parents.
Parent #2
An excellent community experience. The program is healthy, the care for our child is top notch and the program is excellent (with a small adult:child ratio). The co-oping and volunteer responsibilities are a big commitment but our family gets back two times what we put in. And, best testimonial of all: our son absolutely loves going to school.
Parent #3
There is a true sense of community at AUCP which benefits children and parents alike. Parents get to see how their children interact with their classmates & develop a network of parents who they can trust to help with their children, answer questions, etc. The staff is incredible and positive and do an amazing job teaching our children through play. AUCP appreciates that all children are different and meets them where they are developmentally.
Parent #4
AUCP is an amazing school. The amount of respect for the children, parents and teachers cannot be matched! There is such a strong focus on providing a positive, nurturing and supportive community for everyone.
Parent #5
+ Child oriented, parent education and involvement, well-qualified teachers, strong community.
-cooping requirements -- not for parents unable/unwilling to commit the time to being an active part of their child's preschool experience.
Parent #6
The survey does not indicate which is level 5 and which is level 1. Unable to complete, but I would give it a 5.
Parent #7
Strengths: Nice community, excellent parental involvment, strong Board of parents
Weaknesses: Uneven teaching, too much classroom work by parents, director without an educational background in early childhood
Parent #8
Amazing community: almost all of the teachers have kids in teh school and are incredibly gifted in the classroom. They bring incredible creativity and love to the kids. The parents are also fantastic. With our co-oping schedule, you are in the classroom a couple of times per month, which enables you to see what your kids are doing and hearing, get to know your children's friends, connect and learn from your teachers, and learn some great parenting ideas from both the teacher and your co-co-oper. It's a bigger time investment than a dropoff program, but incredibly rewarding.
Fantastic philosophy: affirmative commands make for a more positive environment (e.g., instead of "don't run" we say "use walking feet, please" or instead of "don't slide down on your tummy" we say "is that the safest choice? maybe sliding on your bottom is safter"). For discipline, we focus on vocalizing what is wrong and working through challenges instead of time outs and punitive punishments.
AND the kids eat lunch as part of the school day, which makes for a fantastic afternoon!
The only disadvantage is the time investment in both committee work and classroom time. But again, that's what makes this place so special: an incredible network of highly committed parents.
Parent #9
The school's philosophy is wonderful and the teachers are experienced, creative, and compassionate.
Parent #10
AUCP is a close-knit community that feels more like a family than a school. This can feel intimidating to new families, but most people quickly feel at home there.
Parent #11
AUCP is a phenomenal community and offers a wonderful experience for both parents and children that is often overlooked because people have a hard time even considering carving out enough time to coop. But the time invested is paid back ten fold. You learn so much about your child, yourself and gain valuable exposure to tools teachers use with children to help them help themselves. Rather than saying â??NOâ?? or trying to redirect all the time.
Parent #12
Fabulous community and environment for learning about being a new parent. Very warm and nurturing teachers and classes. Lots of opportunity in the classrooms to learn about conflict resolution. Big emphasis on self help skills, independence and building self-esteem.
Parent #13
AUCP is a wonderful, caring community for children and parents.
Parent #14
Exceptional teachers who provide safe environment for children to learn and develop socially. Strong, supportive community. Very cooperative nature of the school lends to a sharing and caring environment.
Parent #15
AUCP is a wonderful, caring place for children and parents alike to grow and learn!
Parent #16
Great play based school. Lots of parental involvement (too much at times)
Parent #17
Strengths are the tight-knit child and parent community; child-centered approach to education; and the opportunities to be involved in your child's education. The weakness is that if you are not prepared to devote a lot of time and energy in the school the demand on your time can feel overwhelming.
Parent #18
It is a wonderful, caring, learning environment for children and the concept of a co-operative is wonderful to get to know the other parents and children that your child interacts with on a daily baisis
Parent #19
A great way to be involved in your child's preschool development and get a hands on experience in the classroom. Parent's learn a lot. Teachers are great. Kids get a very one on one feeling with the teachers and co-opers. The discipline is gentle and nuturing. The children get some great experiences - field trips, in class activities, etc. Science class, spanish, music, pre-k class.
Parent #20
AUCP feels like a real community. As a parent, you really get to know the teachers, other children and parents in the same class. Parents are given excellent advice for dealing with children, and are required to complete 8 hours of continuing education. Most work at the preschool is done by volunteers, which can sometimes lead to gaps if the job is not done adequately.
School Philosophy & Day in the Life
School Philosophy and Mission
"Self-confidence and independence. Our goal is a sense of individual worth for each child. A child who has a positive self-image finds it easy to develop good relationships with others.
Physical and muscular development and coordination. Emphasis is placed on development of both large and small muscle control.
Social development. Our classrooms offer places where a child can regularly interact with other children, thereby learning to get along and share in a group situation.
Practical living. \"Practical Life\" is the recognition of and reaction to everyday responsibilities (e.g., cleaning up at the end of an activity).
Cognitive Development. Our purpose is to instill in each child the excitement of discovery and the incentive to explore. "
Excerpted from the preschool's website
Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School
"In a nutshell, a typical class day at AUCP is from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and includes:
Free Choice Period. Children choose materials with which to work (1 hour).
Snack. Provided by co-oping parents.
Circle Time. Teacher-directed story time, music, show & tell, share time, general group discussion, talks or demonstrations by parent or community worker, and oral instruction time for upcoming classroom activities (5-20 minutes, depending on group receptivity).
Interest Center/Activity. Adult-directed. Children participate in as many as three teacher-planned activities such as arts and crafts projects, games, specific large or small motor skill practice, or specially chosen manipulatives.
Playground. (25-40 minutes)
Lunch. Each child brings his/her own.
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Excerpted from the preschool's website
Quality of Teaching
Teachers Are:
| OVERALL RATING: (4.6) |
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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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| Strikes the proper balance between active and quiet play for children |
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Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
Teacher is a "he" not "she."
Parent #2
In our 6 years at the school we have never had a bad experience!!
Parent #3
Teachers provide daily reports, monthly newsletters, and formal conferences.
Parent #4
Every day I learn something from this teacher about how to be a better parent and encourage growth and confidence in our child.
Parent #5
Teachers are all warm and nurturing and very professional. All of the teachers have backgrounds in Early Childhood Education.
Parent #6
The teacher could not keep all children in her sight, and there were frequent outbursts by one child.
The teacher never got a sense of my child and ignored complaints by parents about other, difficult behavior by children.
Parent #7
Both teachers are incredibly patient, loving, gentle, exciting and happy to be at AUCP. They genuinely listen to each child and help him or her work through any problem they may be having with another "friend" in class. They also provide exciting activities for the kids which allow them to explore, create & learn. They are both educated teaching professionals with experience in child development & it shows.
Home School Connection
Home-School Connection
| OVERALL RATING (4.2) |
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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 and Parents' Comments
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
I feel very connected to my children's teachers and feel that we can communicate any concerns or triumphs with each other daily.
Parent #2
Parents are very knowledgeable about what happens in the classroom because they coop once or twice a month. We know the teachers, the curriculum, and our child's friends. Separation issues are handled well, with extra parents in the classroom as the year begins. There are also summer playdates and a September meet-and-greet session just for kids.
Parent #3
suggested specific books and techniques regarding seperation. after 2 classes, my daughter was running to the classroom. (her first day was spent being held by the teacher and other adults in the classroom. The teacher was responsive to us and worked with us in improving the "seperation" a fabulous transition and exceeded my expectation
Parent #4
Our preschool is play-based & thus doesn't have specific developmental goals. That being said, we do get feedback on the progress our children are making. We also do have goals of teaching our children how to be independent, how to get along with others, solve conflicts, be creative, etc. We also have conferences where we get written info on our child's progress, as well as updates from the teacher throughout the year. We also work in the classrooms so we can see how our child interacts and where he or she might need guidance.
Parent #5
The school also worked with parents before school started to help PARENTS with the separation anxiety!
Parent Community
| COHESIVENESS RATING (4.8) |
Parents:
Modes of Communication Between School and Home
Discipline, Health and Safety
Discipline
| OVERALL RATING (4.8) |
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| 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
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Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
The playground is the best I have ever seen. It is actually the reason some parents select this preschool.
Parent #2
In this pre school every child is unique and is treated with a lot of love, respect and attention.
Parent #3
AUCP is a warm, inviting school. The classrooms are colorful, lively, and inviting. My children love exploring and creating there. They have all been very healthy and rarely sick. Everything is very clean and this is taken to higher level than what my other friends report about their schools. The children all learn to wash their hands before and after eating in additon to when they use the potty or blow their nose. They learn to sneeze into their arms and are in general very good about being hygenic!
Parent #4
AUCP's facilities are carefully maintained by the parents in the program. Each is required to take part in B&G work parties. Safety and cleanliness is of paramount concern. There are very few accidents because the children are watched so closely. Even the youngest children learn to wash their hands regularly!
Parent #5
best playground in arlington
Parent #6
As part of the co-oping day, we have responsibility for cleaning the materials and furniture, as well as keeping eyes peeled for sick kids. I have confidence my kids are well protected.
Parent #7
Because many of the teachers are not professional early childhood educators, I became concerned for my child's emotional and physical safety. For example, there was a very disturbed child in my child's class, and that child regularly hit other children and adults. I did not think the teacher's response was appropriate and the school did not respond immediately to requests for help.
Parent #8
Our school helps meet all children who have special needs including allergies
Parent #9
AUCP rents space from the Unitarian Church which has a lovely building. They are very responsive in fixing things that break within the building. The playground is truly the best preschool playground I have seen anywhere!!
Health
| OVERALL RATING (4.9) |
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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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Safety
| OVERALL RATING (4.9) |
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| Screen and identify all visitors
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| Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others |
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