Responsibilities

What are my obligations or responsibilities at ICP?

Before I list out parental responsibilities, let me remind you that a co-op preschool is a community of families. A community where we contribute our own special talents and all help each other out for the benefit for all our children. A community where it's important to believe that the more you put into the community, the more you and especially your children get out of the community.

Your responsibilities include:

1. volunteering at school one day a week (per child enrolled, please ask about multiple children in the same class)
2. paying the requisite tuition by the first of each month
3. participating in school fundraising or donating the opt out fee (we are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization)
4. attending parent education one night a month (7 to 9pm at Carl Sandburg gymnasium)
5. serving on a committee or the board (about 2 to 3 hours work per month)
6. cleaning the school once a year (per child enrolled)

Do I have to go to the evening Parent Education meetings? What if I can't go?

It's important to remember that our cooperative preschool is not just for children - it is an education for parents (with college credit to prove it). Whether it is learning to teach small groups of preschoolers or learning the best practices for dealing with tantrums, everything parents learn at ICP enriches your whole family. Parent education classes are required by our Shoreline Community College certification and for your college credit. You must fulfill your parent education requirement for your children to remain in our preschool.

If you can't go to a specific parent education class for any reason, there are several alternatives. You can visit other parent education meetings within our sibling co-op preschools. You can ask your teacher for an alternative assignment which might be reading parenting books, attending other classes or some other option you can discuss with her.

What do I do if I go to clean the school and the door is locked?

Go to the main office at Carl Sandburg Elementary and ask for the key or for a custodian to let you into the preschool rooms.

Can I bring my children when I clean the school?

Due to our insurance policy, children are not allowed at the school during cleaning.

Siblings

Can I bring my older or younger children on my work day?

Our insurance and college affiliation does not allow us to have guests at preschool. This includes siblings and friends. The exception is a parent and child observing to enroll. Another exception is a newborn baby who must be registered ($10) to cover insurance and may attend up to five months of age in a front pack.

Can I bring my children to the evening Parent Education?

No. You'll need to book a babysitter on Parent Education nights so that adults can attend the required meetings. Only the enrolled parent is required to attend the class, but the classes will be of highest benefit to your child if both parents attend. There is an exception for nursing infants less than 5 months of age in your laps.

Visitors

If I have someone visiting from out of town, can I bring them to class for a day to observe?

We welcome visitation by a small number (one or two) of adult relatives, though we do request advance notice of the visit. Visiting family including preschool aged children can attend for a one day visit and we do request advance notification to avoid having too many guests in any school day.

Illness

When should I keep my child home due to illness?

Adults and children who are ill or have had a fever within 24 hours should not attend preschool. Anyone with diarrhea, any vomiting, major coughing or green nasal mucus should stay home.

What if I'm sick on my work day or my child is sick and I can't come?

You need to contact the pre-arranged substitute before 8 am on your workday for the morning classes. You may need to contact both substitutes and perhaps even your class coordinator for more information.

What if I'm sick or my child is sick and I am substitute A or substitute B and I get called to sub?

First call your teacher at the preschool to notify her that you will not be coming and that we will be one parent short. Then see your doctor or stay at home (at your own discretion). The school will deal with the adult shortage by closing a station, etc.

School Closures

When is the school closed for snow or extraordinary weather?

The preschool will be closed if the Lake Washington School District or Northshore School District is closed due to inclement weather. So listen to your radios or watch your TVs and pay attention for these two school districts (their websites will also announce current news about closures or delays). If either district is on a late or delayed schedule, we will not have morning classes and we will make a decision on afternoon classes by 10am. This decision will then be relayed to afternoon class members by phone via class coordinators.

If Carl Sandburg Elementary has the day off, why doesn't Inglemoor Cooperative Preschool?

While the preschool adheres to the Lake Washington School District closure rules in event of inclement weather, we have a separate schedule for planned days off. Carl Sandburg has its own schedule for Parent and Teacher days as well as Teacher In Service Days so we will have differences in schedules. Please see our Calendar section for planned days off.

Got a question we haven't listed here?

Please see our Handbook.

More questions? If you're interested in joining the school please ask our registrar. If you are currently a member of the Inglemoor Cooperative Preschool community, ask your class coordinator, any teacher or our webmaster.