Anyone who would like to see the Co-op classes in action can arrange a visit by Contacting the co-op. Visits typically include a small tour and sitting in on “circle time” with the Co-op teacher.

Unfortunately, we are not able to arrange visits during the summer; however we would be happy to send you photos of the school and talk with you about the experience. You can also come to one of our summer playdates to meet some of our families. Refer to our Calendar (on Community) to find our scheduled summer playdates.

Additionally, interested families can come to our Open House, where they can see the classrooms and meet with the teachers and current parents to find out about how the school works. The Open House is generally scheduled on a Saturday morning in January. As we get closer to January, refer to our Calendar to see when our Open House is scheduled.

In the 2’s program, a sibling may occasionally or in an emergency attend or visit during classroom time. It is not encouraged on a regular basis, as this program is set up as one-on-one time with your child. Infants attending must be in a carrier. Please notify the teacher in advance.

The 3’s and Prekindergarten do not allow siblings to attend classes. If you have children who are not in the class, and you are working in the classroom, you may schedule with the Babysitting Coordinator to have your other children in the on-site babysitting room with the babysitter during the class. We only have certain days available for babysitting so you will need to contact the Babysitting Coordinator ahead of time. For the 3-year old program, babysitting is offered on certain days from 9 am – 12 pm and the fee is $20 per child. For the Prekindergarten program, babysitting is offered on certain days from 9 am – 12:45 pm and the fee is $25 per child. The fee is to be paid directly to the babysitter unless you have made other arrangements with the babysitter.

Your child does not need to be potty trained to join our class. The 2’s class is set-up as a full parent participation class, so you will be solely responsible for your child’s toileting needs. If you are working in the 3’s or Prekindergarten classroom, you will be responsible for your own child’s toileting needs. When you are not working in the classroom, the only adult with authorization to assist your child with toilet training is the classroom teacher.

Adjusting to a school is difficult for a lot of children. If you need to remain with your child in the classroom for the first week and possibly the second week we can make a plan to work with you and your child to make the separation easier. However if the parent is able to just tell their child that they are leaving and will be back, the child usually adjust within a few minutes. Don’t worry, we have had this situation in the past and we can help your child adjust.

Drop off: Unfortunately, you may not drop your child off early. This time is set up for the teacher to prepare the classroom before the beginning of the school day.  You may need to drop off your child late at times and that is fine. However, if the group is already in Opening Circle, please be considerate of the students and teacher and come in and join the group quietly.

Pick up: You may pick your child up early anytime needed; however there will be no reduction in tuition for those days. Unfortunately, late pick up is not usually possible. If you have a conflict, please plan ahead. During emergencies please call the Co-op to inform the teacher or call/text the teacher directly.  

No. Any caregiver, such as a grandparent, relative over the age of 18 years old, or babysitter can attend the 2’s program or work in the 3’s and Prekindergarten classroom, if they have completed and submitted the necessary paperwork mandated by MSDE and Office of Child Care, including fingerprinting and completing a full background check. Catonsville Cooperative Preschool provides these forms.

The Co-op recognizes the potentially serious and possibly life-threatening consequences for children with allergies. The Preschool does not claim to be, nor can it be deemed to be, free of all food and non-food items that may lead to a severe allergic or anaphylactic reaction. However, the Preschool will make every reasonable effort to reduce the risk to children with severe allergies or anaphylaxis in accordance with this policy. There is a policy that NO PEANUT OR TREE NUT PRODUCTS BE BROUGHT TO OR USED AT THE PRESCHOOL AT ANYTIME. There is a list for adults working in the classroom to review that includes the known allergies of individual children in the class.

Parents of students with allergies may bring in a separate snack for their child on days that the snack may have a food that their child is not able to eat. For further questions please contact us.  For more information, please refer to the Allergy Policy in the “Blue Book.”