OVCNS Parents have been saying the same thing since 1955:
The more you put into your experience, the more you will get out of it. Enjoy your time here!

Parent Cooperative Philosophy
What makes OVCNS different from other schools?
Respect for the role of parents is a hallmark of our preschool. OVCNS is organized on the principle that strong family relationships grow when there is an opportunity for parents to participate in the school experience. Parents participate and families are supported in the following ways:

Parents work in the classroom. All parents work in the classroom between 2 and 4 times per month as assists to the teachers. In the Toddler program, an adult caregiver always attends with the child. This participation offers a unique opportunity for the parents to deepen the parent-child relationship, while learning about their preschooler's individual development and gaining skills and techniques for guiding young children.

A Gentle Separation. Unlike most traditional preschools, OVCNS offers children a gentle separation process. Families learn to separate with the support and guidance of the teachers and other families. The growth and learning that occur in a preschool happen more easily when children are not worried about saying good-bye. The non-separation, Toddler Program helps make the preschool a familiar place with familiar faces, which also eases the separation and transition into preschool.

A Parent-Governed School. Outside the classroom, parents play a critical role in running the school. Each year, the parents elect from the parent-body, a Board of Directors to run the school and assist the Director and teachers in their work with our children. All parents help govern and maintain the school by serving on committees, attending and voting at monthly Parent Meetings, participating in fundraising, and attending parent education.

A Community of Families. Families make valuable contributions by sharing their cultural traditions (songs, traditions, recipes), and their interest in science, nature, music, publishing, editing or the visual arts. These contributions greatly enhance our curriculum, and ensure the continued success of our school. Socially, OVCNS is a supportive environment for parents to meet other parents. These relationships often continue long after the children finish preschool.

Parent Education is an integral part of our program, and in a sense all of our activities constitute parent education: working in the classroom, observing the teachers, observing other parents, and observing children. By working in the classroom, parents learn so much about child development and their own child - an opportunity not available in a traditional preschool setting. OVCNS also offers free formal Parent Education programs several times a month, led by our Director, teachers, and Child Development Specialists. The programs are essential to creating a supportive and respectful educational community for our children and families.