Not only does Tillamook offer children a loving and supportive place to play and learn, it gives parents an opportunity to participate directly in their children’s education, to learn more parenting skills, and to create friendships with other families.

In the Classroom

Every school day, parents join their children for the beginning of class, doing “work-jobs” (such as puzzles, games, constructions) together for the first twenty minutes. About two or three times a month, each family has a parent working as a “parent-helper” within the classroom, so that daily there are three parents assisting in the class under the guidance of the teacher.

Spending so much time in the classroom, parents get to:

• See their children in a new environment, watching close-up as their child interacts with other children and adults
• Have fun with other children; the parent-helpers get to play with a whole classroom of imaginative and active little people
• Learn from and befriend other parents – as they work with other parents helping the children solve problems, resolve conflict and find solutions, parents learn new techniques for their own parenting and create bonds with other families.

All families benefit greatly from our wonderful teacher, Anette Horten, who is always an excellent model of patience, good humor and loving direction (and re-direction).

Out of the Classroom

Each family also has responsibilities to the school outside of the classroom. Since the preschool depends on parent participation, there are many varied tasks that need to be done. Each family is either on the Board (e.g., president, secretary, treasurer) or on a committee (e.g., newsletter, hospitality, maintenance)

These jobs are a great way to connect with the other families in the Tillamook community. You can work together planning a family dance, helping on the board or building a worm box.

Other responsibilities

There are other responsibilities such as participating in monthly meetings and the yearly work party. Our main fundraising is done through our Scrip purchases (read more about our Scrip program).

To learn more about the school’s expectations and requirements, please see our Parent Handbook.