Lafayette Park Preschool UMC
since 1977
a family centered co-operative preschool centered on
developing a love of learning in every child
Lafayette Park Preschool UMC
since 1977
a family centered co-operative preschool centered on developing a love of learning in every child
About Our School
We are a small school, founded in 1976 by a group of stay-at-home moms wanting to get their young children a taste of school. Mrs. Edna, the founding mother taught here for 35 years, building the school from this small start. Over the years, it grew with the need of neighborhood children. Ms. Amanda began teaching here in 2008 when a second class was added to accommodate more families, and took over as director/teacher in 2014 adding a second teacher’s aid when the school needs. While in a church basement we are not a religious school, but an out-reach program of the United Methodist Church.
The school has been a co-operative program since its beginning. For parents like you, this means you become an integral part of your child’s education right from the start. The children get the best of both worlds. They gain independence outside of your home & what may be his/her first time away from paremts, but then also when you spend the day with us, they love being the leader and sharing their experience with you.
Your child gets to know that you care and value the time they have in the classroom. The child gets to experience what being in school is like, without the pressure of spending all day away from home. We work on school skills, social play, and exercise; together, we will work on doing what is best for each child. Being a co-op also gives you time to get to know the teacher, ask questions about child development, and get insight on child behavior with other adults. Due to our small size families really get to know one another and many become lifelong friends.
Becoming part of our co-op means becoming part of our preschool family and community.
Just as the church we are a program of, all families of all diverse makeups are welcome!
A Spanish lesson in the Pre-K classroom
A guest musician in the 2-year-old class
About Parent Cooperative Preschools
A parent cooperative preschool is organized by a group of families with similar philosophies who hire a trained teacher to provide their children with a quality preschool experience. The preschool is administered and maintained by the parents on a non-profit, non-sectarian basis. The parents assist the professional teachers in the classroom on a rotating basis and participate in the educational program of all the children. Each family shares in the business operation of the school, thus making it truly a cooperative venture. Parents, preschool children and their teachers all go to school together and learn together.
Parents gain insight into child behavior by observing other children. They observe how other parents and the professional teachers handle various situations and gain greater understanding and enjoyment of their own children through active participation in their education. They have the opportunity to share their experiences and expertise with others while working together in a cooperative setting. Through serving on the Board, parents learn about administration, running meetings and other skills useful to them in other areas and states of their lives. They also learn useful ideas for helping their children at home and in the world around them.
Children participate in a supervised play and learning experience with children of their own age. Equipment, materials and physical facilities are scaled to child size. An opportunity is provided to interact with adults other than their own parents. The children are able to find security and a feeling of belonging in a world which is nonthreatening and interested in them. Learning to respect and accept the rights and differences of others is emphasized. Children have hands-on experiences in creative arts, music, science, literature, and language geared to their needs and developmental level.
Learn more at Parent Cooperative Preschools International
Every family type is welcome.
Families are required to volunteer in the classroom on an as needed basis which works out to about once per month. Parent volunteers spend the day with the class of children and help the teacher guide learning and play. Caregivers are responsible for bringing the day’s snack to share. Volunteers can be any adult member from the child’s care circle, but must pass a back ground check to be in the classroom. We have a mix of stay-at-home parents, full time working parents, nannies, grandparents, etc that are a regular part of our volunteers. Children love to share their world with the people that love them most, and Lafayette Park Preschool has enjoyed generations of parents and children within its walls.
Preschool Director
Amanda Jones Rammacher
Contact Information
- Msamandalpp@gmail.com
- 314-771-9214
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2300 Lafayette Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63104