Our School
Learn more about our school!
Narrows has a play-based philosophy, as play is how young children learn best. Children go on to kindergarten self-reliant and having learned incredibly valuable skills of cooperation, self-regulation, creative thinking and problem solving.
Our classroom is bright, colorful, and cozy, with plenty of free play time of a child’s choosing - large motor play, imaginative play, puzzles and games, art and other fine motor activities. Themes change monthly and children are exposed to early literacy and math concepts as a natural part of the school day.
We have a large outdoor play area on-site, and children play outside nearly every day. And children have the opportunity to make trips outside the classroom as well – from visits to the nearby Curran Apple Orchard, to theater performances and science trips.
Narrows Co-op gives parents a chance to celebrate those fleeting first few years with their children and build a great foundation of respect and cooperation. Many parents find that this experience allows them to develop friendships for themselves and their children that can last far beyond the preschool years.
Our Mission
We feel strongly about an individualized, child-centered program involving play to learn.
Discovering how to play with others is a first step among many steps--and it's harder than most people think! Once your child is exposed to play with peers on a routine basis they learn more than just playground manners.
Narrows believes in:
*Respect for the individual child;
*the ability to think and play creatively;
*the ability to grow and develop inner controls;
*the ability to discover and use individualized resources.
What is a co-op preschool?
Narrows Cooperative Preschool is part of the preschool network overseen by Bates Technical College. A co-op lets parents participate in their child’s education. You volunteer in the classroom with other parents and caregivers—this means a high adult to child ratio and lots of helping hands and individual attention for each child.
Co-op preschools have affordable tuition and a very high quality program. We use approved practices within the guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Parents receive lots of support and information from early childhood professionals at Bates Technical College and in the community. Our classes are visited monthly by our Bates Early Education Specialist, who is also available to answer parent questions and provide guidance, and hosts quarterly Parent Share sessions during class time and other parent education opportunities. This is covered by a small quarterly fee paid to Bates in addition to tuition.
In fact, when you register at Narrows, you register as a family—you select one caregiver in your family to be enrolled as a student at Bates. That person earns continuing education credits by working in the classroom and attending Parent Ed opportunities.
Parent Board
In addition to the teachers and support from Bates, Narrows is run by a volunteer board of member parents. This board keeps the school running and makes it possible to have low tuition. You can participate in shaping the school!