Toddlers Class
The toddler years are filled with many exciting milestones, as toddlers learn to walk, to talk, and to actively explore and interpret the world around them. Our Toddlers Class provides a warm, nurturing, stimulating, and safe environment for them to grow and learn during this time.
Our Toddlers Class is for children who will be 1 year old by August 31st. The class is taught by Teacher Monica and meets once a week or twice a week depending on preference. For the once a week option, you can sign-up for Tuesday mornings or Friday mornings. For the twice a week option, you can sign-up for Monday & Tuesday mornings or Monday & Friday mornings. For this age group, caregivers attend class with the children for either the once a week or twice a week options.
Class Schedule
Our Tuesday Toddlers Class meets on Tuesdays from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Our Friday Toddlers Class meets on Fridays from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. The optional Monday Class add-on meets on Mondays from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.
The schedule is…
- Large motor play in the outdoor play areas;
- Circle time featuring songs, stories, puppets, flannel board activities, musical instruments, and dance;
- Snack time;
- Free play at the various centers in the classroom – including art, sensory, home, block, fine motor manipulative, and more;
- Closing circle time to say goodbye.
Classrooms
Teachers
Teacher Monica
Monica Harris has been teaching for over 25 years. She first began by teaching folks how to sing, and then she later fell in love with teaching cooperative preschool! Circle time is her specialty. She is very tuned-in with each and every student and allows for class flexibility based on each student’s abilities and energies. Kids love her Huggy-Boo!
Teacher Beth – Tuesday Class Parent Educator
Beth Goss is a full-time faculty member at North Seattle College and has been teaching parent education classes in the co-op preschool system since 2002. Beth’s philosophy of parenting is relationship-based, and her goal is to empower parents to stay in connection with their children while weathering the ups and downs of raising a family.
Teacher Erin – Friday Class Parent Educator
Erin B. Bernau, MSW, LICSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with more than twenty years of experience working with children and families. She works as a psychotherapist and parent coach in private practice and as a parent educator through North Seattle College’s cooperative preschools.
What to expect
Cooperative preschool is about involvement. Children attend class each week with their parent, grandparent, or other caregiver to engage in a fun, learning experience.
As the caregiver in class, you get the unique opportunity to play an integral role in your child’s first educational experience. You can expect to work together with other caregivers and the teachers to create a safe, dynamic environment for the children to explore. Basic co-op duties include periodically providing snack for the class, helping with classroom cleanup, participating in school events, and holding a Board, committee, or class position for the year.
As the caregiver in class, you can expect to…
- Learn more about child development;
- Explore your own goals for your family;
- Deepen your bond with your child;
- Strengthen your communication and parenting skills.
Parent Education
NorthLeaf is part of the North Seattle College Cooperative Preschool Program. Their mission is to provide high-quality, affordable preschool education for children and education and support for parents. All of our classes have a dedicated Parent Educator who works with the class every week. The Parent Educator incorporates current research with the personal concerns and diverse experiences of our community in her lessons and discussions. Over the course of the school year, you can expect topics such as Early Child Development, Nutrition, Sleep Challenges, Temperament, Guidance, Adjusting to Parenthood, and more.
Parent education in our Toddlers Class takes place at two different times. The first is through in-class discussion groups. During free play time the caregivers split into two groups: half of the caregivers meet with their Parent Educator to discuss parenting issues and concerns, while the other half work at the various free play centers with the children. The rotating schedule means you can expect to receive parent education every other week in class.
The second is through a required monthly evening parent meeting. At these meetings, you can expect to dive even deeper into parenting and child development issues, as well as cover business items related to the co-op. These meetings provide an opportunity to ask questions and discuss a variety of topics relevant to the class and your child’s development.
Co-op Community
You can also expect to meet other families with children going through similar milestones, joys, and challenges as yours. One of the many benefits families experience while participating in our co-op is long-term family friendships. It’s true when they say it takes a village, and a village is just what our preschool provides.
Tuition, FEES, and Fundraising
You are expected to pay monthly tuition to the preschool for your child, as well as quarterly tuition (three times per year) to North Seattle College for your parent education portion of the class. If you choose to park a vehicle on campus, there is a quarterly (three times per year) parking permit fee. There is also a non-refundable registration fee. Finally, every family has a goal of raising at least one month’s tuition through fundraising over the course of the school year. See our Admissions page for specific tuition and fee amounts.
If costs are prohibitive for your family, you can apply for a scholarship through our Parent Advisory Committee. See Scholarship Information.
Interested in joining our Class?
Come in for a Tour
An in-person tour during class hours provides an opportunity for you to meet our teachers, see our classroom, and watch us in action. The tour will help you determine if our preschool will be a good fit for your child. We love our school, and we want you to know that you will, too.
We are located on the North Seattle College campus in the Instruction Building, rooms 1407 (find us on Google maps). The street address is 9600 College Way N. Parking on campus is by paid permit, but we have free load zone spaces for drop off, pick up, and tours. Street parking is also available just off campus. The North Seattle College website has a clickable map of the campus, an outline of transportation options, and the most up to date permit prices.
submit an application
After touring our preschool and confirming it’s a good fit, we encourage you to apply online. Applications will be processed according to the schedule set by the North Seattle College Cooperative Preschool Program. See our Admissions page for specific dates.
Your non-refundable registration fee is due within 48 hours of admission notification to accept a spot in our class.