Our PhilosophyChester Co-Op’s foundational belief is that a child’s family is the most important component in that child’s success in education and as a future member of society. We recognize that children are three dimensional and need a variety of different stimuli since all people learn differently. The school’s goal is to help build a bridge between home and outside factors for all of its students.
The Reggio Emilia teaching style plays an important role in our cooperative styled school. Our aim is to make parents, teachers and children equal shareholders in the learning process. We welcome all family members to be active participants in their child’s education. There is no better way to install the love of learning into a child than to have them witness the excitement that parents and loved ones show in their educational success. Our school is strongly focused on the notion that children need to be given choices. By offering the child a minimal amount of choices, the child is able to keep their individuality while working within the boundaries of the classroom. Our emphasis on choices results in the understanding that natural consequences are the best way for a child to learn and grow. We strive to help foster success by building on self-expression, communication, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills. By combining both the Reggio Emilia technique and Creative curriculum strategy, our school offers strategies for building positive and successful relationships. HistoryChester Co-op Preschool was founded in 1948 by Irene (Pat) Bannister to meet the needs of a community without a kindergarten. When a kindergarten was established in the public school, she was persuaded to continue a program for pre-school aged children. The school was incorporated as a parent cooperative in 1962. The school possessed few material resources and much of the equipment was either donated or handmade. Since that time the school has evolved through the process of full enrollment and successful fundraisers, into a school with excellent equipment and more adequate supplies. Chester Co-op Playschool officially changed its name to Chester Co-op Preschool, Inc. in 2003. After 23 years at the old address of 9319 Mayfield Rd., our school moved to downtown Chesterland, Ohio located at 12772 Chillicothe Rd. in May 2006.
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