As a parent at a cooperative pre-school, you actively participate in you child's educational experience. Members join a community of parents and teachers that works together in the best interests of Milldam Nursery School students.
We strive to make Milldam Nursery School accessible to all families. All families are asked to participate in our cooperative community in a variety of ways, as this support is critical to the success of Milldam Nursery School.
Responsibilities
Classroom Participation
Parents assist the teachers in their child's classroom on a rotating basis. This is a wonderful way to connect with children in the classroom environment and learn about their day-to-day at school, get to know our fantastic teachers and staff, meet other Milldam families, and support the school on an ongoing basis.
Work Days
Families are asked to participate in 2 "work days" per year. These volunteer days offer a variety of "jobs" to choose from and are critical to the maintenance of the school. Each work day is 3 hours or less.
Job or Committee Participation
Parents are asked to do a job or serve on a committee of their choosing. The committees are the backbone of Milldam's operations. Jobs are both large and small, and we’re sure to find something that works with everyone's availability, skills and interests.
All School Meetings
Milldam holds two annual meetings during the school year, in the Fall and Spring.
Outside the Classroom
Milldam is truly a strong community. We believe that a connected community is the best kind of community, so we provide many opportunities for both parents and children to grow their relationships beyond the classroom. A few examples of community activities sponsored by Milldam:
Summer Classroom Playdates: To ensure that students are not seeing entirely new faces on the first day of school, a Classroom Coordinator will schedule summer play dates in the weeks leading up the first day of school. Parents and students can get to know each other in a casual environment.
Teacher Summer Home Visit: To help student transition smoothly to their classroom, each teacher visits each student at their home the week before the first day of school. Teachers often bring a book they may read in the classroom, or another fun activity to help students get excited for the school year.
Classroom Potlucks: Each classroom hosts a Fall and a Spring potluck for parents. The casual setting allows parents to get to know each other beyond the context of classroom.
All School Parent Socials: Milldam hosts a Fall and a Spring All School Parent Social as means by which to connect the entire school. Of course, there are ample opportunities for parents to get to know the other parents in their children’s classrooms, but we also seek to provide unity among the entire school.
Children’s Seasonal or Holiday Parties: Parents in each classroom sometimes coordinate after school parties for the children to celebrate together outside the classroom.
End of Year Class Picnic
Parent Education
Each semester, we provide Milldam parents with an educational event that supports our core philosophies at Milldam. Parents are invited to hear from experts in their fields about a relevant topic. Recent events include:
Fall 2022 Parent Education Talk: "Developing Secure Attachments through Increased Attunement" with Susan Lerner, MSW, LICSW - Susan is a psychotherapist and parenting coach with offices in Cambridge and Acton. Her primary focus is to help parents of children of all ages who are struggling with the parent/child relationship, as well as helping parents handle behaviors, whether they are developmental or impacted by trauma or other stressors. Susan works to help families develop fulfilling relationships, using several evidenced-based therapies focusing on increasing or developing secure attachments through increased attunement.
Winter 2023 Parent Education Talk: "The Postpartum Season of Motherhood: A Maternal Mental Health Discussion" with Allison Flynn, PsyD - As a community of families with young children, stories in the media surrounding maternal mental health are likely on most of our minds. Shock, confusion, sadness and so many other questions and feelings are all common reactions. We wanted to give our members the chance to get together to discuss and learn more about this very important issue. Allison Flynn, PsyD is a clinical psychologist with a specialty in childhood development, family therapy and is a certified perinatal mental health specialist (as well as fellow Milldam parent).
Spring 2023 Parent Education Talk: "Pelvic Floor Health Workshop," with Dr. Kaitlyn Labberton, PT, DPT of ReclaimHER Physical Therapy - One third of women still have abdominal separation persisting after one-year postpartum. Nearly 30% of women still have urinary leakage 4 years postpartum, and almost 50% of women leak urine with gym exercise. After birth, 80% of women who have prolapse have no noticeable symptoms. There are ways to help resolve all of these issues! Dr. Kaitlyn Labberton is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and pelvic floor expert, specializing in preconception, prenatal and postpartum care.
