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Our philosophy is based on a complete acceptance of each child and on the practice of positive discipline. We aim to achieve child empowerment and self-esteem. We follow each child's cognitive, motor and emotional development through these formative years. We make sure that each child has an enriching first-school experience that leaves him or her well prepared and eager to meet life’s further adventures.
Our Preschool
Novato Parents Nursery School (NPNS) is a parent cooperative pre-school. It provides a unique environment for those parents wishing to share and participate in their child’s first school experience. Our school provides an atmosphere of mutual trust and cooperation between parents, children and teachers. This ensures that children are warmly supported in expressing their needs and in finding ways to fulfill them. Our school is a safe, nurturing, stimulating and challenging environment for our children to learn, discover, wonder, express themselves in many ways and succeed.
Our nursery school program begins at 9:00 am and ends at 12:00pm. We offer a 2-Day program on Tuesday/Thursday; a 3-Day program Monday/Wednesday/Friday; and a 5-Day program. Students must be 2½ by December 1 to enter the school. Enrollment in each program is limited to 24 children with a child to parent ratio of 5:1. We also are offer an "infant room". This is available for those of you with infants under 2 years old who wish to participate as a working parent. Certain parents will work in the Infant Room instead of the classroom throughout the day. Once the younger sibling is over 2 years old, you may enroll him/her in the school so that he/she may attend on your workday. The infant room is available 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
The pre-school program includes easel painting, collage, play dough sculpture, chalk, markers, water/rice play, manipulatives, block building, art projects, developmentally appropriate group times, science experiments and much more on a rotating basis. Throughout the year, we study such things as the five senses, self-concept, ocean life, bugs, dinosaurs and fossils. Outside play includes a log cabin, play structure with slides and climbing, and many fun-filled planned activities. Indoor dress-up materials provide gross motor skill activities, role-play and make believe. There are puzzles, games and other manipulatives, a library, musical instruments and songs at circle time. Blocks, cooking projects and fieldtrips into the community are all an integral part of the group experience.
Pre-kindergarten activities for age appropriate children are worked on through small groups and one on one time throughout the child’s day. This will include pre-reading, pre-writing and pre-math activities designed specifically for our children between 4 and 5 years old, as well as music, movement and art. Join us for fun and learning.
Our school has been serving Marin families since 1968 and is a member of The California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools (www.ccppns.org). This is consistent with our goal to provide a warm and positive environment where both parents and children may experience the joy of learning.
Our Curriculum
With parents' ideas and children's feedback, teachers plan an exciting child-centered curriculum that reflects children's needs and interests. Stressing the importance of hands-on experience, we explore age- and developmentally appropriate, open-ended projects. We cover various subjects ranging from transportation to magnets, from dinosaurs to crystals, and from farm animals to volcanoes and more. Field trips are planned on an average of once a month and the locations vary. Some of our exciting destinations have included farms, fire stations, libraries, and garden centers. Our program provides an anti-bias curriculum by including various cultures' and ethnic groups' customs, songs, and celebrations throughout the year.
Daily Schedule
Our preschool starts at 9:00 am and ends at 12:00 pm, with the option of extended-care programs until 3:00 pm or 5:00 pm. This schedule allows time for creative and imaginative play, gathering time, outdoor play, language time, nutritious snacks, movement, music, child-directed as well as teacher-directed art activities, and more. Detailed schedule
School Year
School is in session from approximately September 1 through June 15. We adhere to the calendar of the Novato Unified School District. .
Parent Participation
Each parent is scheduled to work in the classroom as an aide one time per week or one day every other week. Limited and non-participating memberships are also available. Each family is responsible for participating in maintenance days, which are scheduled one per semester. Co-op membership activities include committee work, a classroom job, maintenance and electing and assisting the executive board.
- Workdays:
Each family is required to have one person work in the classroom one day every week or one day every other week. If your child attends three days a week or more, we recommend that you work one day every week. The "No Classroom Work" and "Non Participating" positions are available on a limited basis.
Meetings: At least one member from each family is required to attend the monthly general membership meeting.
General Maintenance: All families are required to assist with maintaining and improving the school. There are two "maintenance days" held during the school year which is equal to four hours of work.
Job Participation: Each family will be given a job assignment such as garden, hospitality, or field trips. The job will be given to you and your family based on the forms filled out in the membership packet. Each job position is automatically part of a larger school committee. Through these jobs and committees, the school is able to run the administrative, financial, classroom and physical aspects of operation. It's a great way to be involved in the school and help things run efficiently.
Fund Raising: Each family is required to participate in fundraising efforts and sign up for eScrip. Escrip is the equivalent of a gift certificate and the school receives a percentage of your purchases.
Extended Care Programs
- Lunch Bunch
"Lunch Bunch" is a program where enrolled preschool children bring their lunch boxes, stay in school and participate in fun activities. Lunch Bunch gives the children an opportunity to eat lunch with their friends from school and our teachers. During this time, the children experience group art, games and songs. The hours are 12:00 to 3:00 pm, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Detailed schedule.Toddler Time
This is a program offered through NPNS for children 18 months to 2½ years old. It is a mommy/daddy and me program that offers a less structured version of the preschool program. Toddler Time gives each child the necessary environment to develop social skills, strengthen their ability to take directions, and improve motor skills. Our goal is to help parents learn how to help their children by using imagination, caring, exploration, and sharing. Our qualified teacher will help each parent and child discover all the wonders of becoming part of a group experience.Toddler Time is also an excellent way to transition your child into our preschool. Most children from Toddler Time go on to attend our preschool program and are automatically given priority for enrollment over children on our waiting list. Not only is this program an enriching experience for you and your child, the bonds that are formed among the children during this time will carry over into their preschool years and beyond, making each transition into new environments less stressful and more rewarding for your child.
Please call or email for current schedule. Detailed Schedule