Our History
The Key West Preschool Co-op is a not-for-profit organization owned and operated by over 35 ever-changing families who have chosen this unique way to educate their children. In 1988, a special group of parents started this school; they wanted to provide their families with a preschool environment where they and their children could laugh, learn, and grow together during these formative years.
We, as parents, have been teaching our children from the moment that they were born. The Co-op provides us with the opportunity to be an integral part of our children's first classroom experiences. We want our children to look forward to school as a place to make friends and learn about the world, to develop caring relationships and the ability to make choices and decisions. Our children learn and enjoy art, music and science as well as develop math and reading readiness skills using a center and theme based educational plan and through the process of self-discovery.
We begin with children who are as young as one year old in our "Parent and Me" program and continue with a program for Two's, Three's, and a VPK/Pre-K class. Each class is small, has its own teacher, and working parent professionals (you). Additionally, VPK has an aide with 11 or more students. Upon completion of our program, our children are beautifully prepared for kindergarted in either the public or the private sector.
FAQ's
- What is a co-op? A co-op, or cooperative, preschool relies on parental participation. A co-op combines the talents of dedicated parents and staff in order to provide a high quality educational experience for your child. As a parent you will work with the teacher in your child's class (on a rotating basis) and you will also become active by serving on volunteer committees and attending monthly membership meetings.
- Why should I choose a co-op for my child? In choosing a co-op, you are saying that you want to be involved in your child's education. While working in the classroom, you will have the opportunity to get to know your child as a student. In this way, you will develop a new appreciation of your child as a separate person, creating a deeper understanding of his/her development outside of the home. Second, by taking an active role in your child's education, you are making the statement that education is important to your family and while it is primarily your child's responsibility, your family is supportive in his/her efforts.
- How long does the program run? Classes begin in September and end in May, one to five days per week depending on the program your child is participating in.
- What are my responsibilities as the classroom parent? During each class, there is a teacher and a parent helper (and in VPK, a teacher's aide). As the parent helper, you will help the students complete their crafts and activities as directed by the teacher, participate in a variety of classroom activities, and help restore tidiness to the classroom by wiping the tables and sweeping the floor at the end of class.
- What do I do with my younger children when I am scheduled to be in the classroom? When you are scheduled to be in the classroom with your child, you can leave his/her younger siblings in our on-site nursery where they will be cared for in a comfortable environment by another KWPC parent.
