How old must my child be to attend the Sharon Coop School?

Your child must be 2.9 years years old by September 1st (or July 1st for a summer start date) to be eligible for our program.

Can you describe a typical day?

*Classrooms are combined from 7:30 - 8:30 am and again from 4:30 -5:30 pm.

Can I pick my child up before 4:30 or 5:30?

Yes, the schedule is designed to be flexible and meet the individual needs of the families. Typically families pick up anytime between 3:30 - 5:30.

Can I drop my child off after 9 am?

No. We require that you drop your child off before 9 am except in case of appointments or unforeseen circumstances that cause a delay (in which case, please call us). Late arrivals are disruptive and can make transitions hard for young children.

Do I provide lunch?

Yes. Please provide a lunch and two snacks -for the morning and afternoon. We do not frigerate or heat up lunches. More guidance around lunches will be provided to new families during our family orienations.

Are peanuts/nuts allowed?

No. We also do not allow strawberries or strawberry flavored food into the building due to a staff member's life threatening allery to strawberries.

What if my child does not sleep during rest time?

EEC requires all full day childcare centers to create the conditions for napping. This means that for the first 30 minutes all children are required to stay on their mats quietly and without any distractions. It gives themselves and others a chance to fall asleep. After 30 minutes, children who are not napping will be given quiet activities to keep them occupied until rest-time is over. Rest-time lasts approximately 90 minutes. Please note: many children who do not nap at home, will nap at school!

Is mask wearing mandatory?

We are a mask friendly/mask optional/mask flexible program for students, staff and families. Click here for more information about our COVID policies

How will I know what my child is doing all day?

Each classroom posts a daily blog with photos that will give you great insight into your child's day. Additionally, examples of students work, posted in the around hallways, classrooms and on documentation boards serve to make learning visible, spark discussion, extend ideas and further learning.

What if I need to communicate something to my child's teacher?

If you have a quick question or simple information to convey, just speak to your child's teachers at drop off or pick up. If you have a more complicated matter to discuss, please let the Site Coordinator or Executive Director know and we will arrange a time when you can speak to your child's teacher without distractions.

How do I reach my child' s teachers during school hours?

There are a few ways to communicate with your child's teachers during the school day. You can send a message through our Parentsquare messaging & communications platform or you can call the school and ask to speak to your child's teacher directly. If your child's teacher is available to speak on the phone, your call will be transferred to the classroom. If your teacher is not available, your call will be received by the Site Coordinator or Executive Director. During school hours, someone will pick up the phone. After school hours, you can leave a message on our Voice Mail.

Do Parentsquare messages go through after school hours?

If you send your child's teachers a Parentsquare message after school hours, they will read it the following school day. If it is urgent or time sensitive, please send your Parentsquare message to the Site Coordinator or Executive Director.

Who are the teachers?

All of our preschool educators have BA or M.Ed.'s in education or a related filed, are certified by the Department of Early Education and Care as Lead Teachers and have years of experience teaching young children. They are certified in First Aid and CPR and complete 20 or more professional development hours in early education and child development.

Is the school affiliated with the First Congregational Church?

No. While the school was once part of the First Congregational Church and governed by their board, today we are an independent, non-denominational program that leases space from the church. We still consider the church to be an important community partner and we collaborate on certain initiatives, such as their semi-annual food drives.