INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Cooperative Spirit is Alive and Well | Call for Nominations
Cooperatively Speaking
The Latest News From PCPI
March 15, 2021
Vol. 51, No.2
My Friends,

It appears that spring is approaching! Breathe deep and take in the daylight.

Cooperatively yours,

Dianne Rose, M.Ed.
Editor, Cooperatively Speaking
PCPInews@preschools.coop
2021 Cooperative Spirit Grants Awarded
PCPI created the Cooperative Spirit Grant program in 2017 to help schools implement plans to increase parent involvement and participation through a project designed to make their school a better place for their children and leave a legacy
for future classes. The projects provide an opportunity for bonding and a sense of community among the school’s members.

Three programs were awarded 2020 Cooperative Spirit Grants, and we are looking forward to seeing their finished projects!
Fence repairs to be completed at Kenilworth.
Kenilworth Community Preschool in Portland, OR received $700 to repair and refresh their play yard and create a safe, functional, outdoor classroom. The grant funded the purchase of bark chips and rocks, along with materials for repairing and sealing their fence and the construction of an outdoor hand washing station.
Alpha-Bet Cooperative Preschool in Manassas, VA received $500. The school was unable to open for indoor classes in the fall, and sought to convert their garden space into a functional outdoor classroom in order to hold classes outdoors in the spring. Between the efforts of their current members and volunteers from the local BSA troop, they expect to have 10-15 people participating in the project.
Project idea for Alpha-Bet outdoor garden space.
Garden area to be developed at Santa Clara.
Santa Clara Parents Nursery School in Santa Clara, CA received $250 for a plan to invite their parent community to come together in nature for a common cause. Bringing people together in nature increases a sense of belonging and community. Many of the school's families live in apartments with very little or no space for gardening or wandering in nature with their children, and this is a way for families with children to gather outside and explore plants, flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables
as well as pollinators and to put their hands in the dirt.
We'd love to hear how your school year is going! Drop a note to PCPInews@preschools.coop to let us know.
Two Katharine Whiteside Taylor Grants Awarded to Canadian Members
Congratulations to two preschools in British Columbia for winning the 2020 Katharine White Taylor grant to fund parent education programs in their schools:



The Katharine Whiteside Taylor Grant is named in honour of Dr. Katharine Whiteside Taylor, a founding member of PCPI. The grant, established in 1995, currently provides financial support to assist with continuing education programs for parents and their community associated with a Canadian non-profit, parent cooperative preschool or council.
Call for 2021 Award Nominations
Nominations Due: April 15
Our co-ops keep going because of the dedicated individuals that work hard to keep them relevant and vital to our unique communities. Each year PCPI takes time to honor those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service to the cooperative preschool movement. The past year has required more creativity, cooperation, and decisive leadership than ever before, so there are many out there who deserve formal recognition.

The PCPI Awards Committee is depending on you to nominate the people in your cooperative circle who deserve special recognition. Award categories include:
  • District Award recognizes parents, board members, teachers, directors and administrators for their effective leadership, cooperative spirit and dedicated commitment to the well-being of parent cooperative preschools at the school, local, district, council or regional level.

  • Continuing Service District Award includes the same criteria as above, with an additional five years of service after a District Award.

  • National Award honors activity that has had a favorable impact on parent cooperative preschools at more than the school, local, district, council or regional level. This may include, but not be limited to, serving on the PCPI board of directors, liaising with related national organizations, original research, writing or editorial work, legislative effort, or any important contribution to the parent cooperative preschool movement.

  • Susie Stone Outstanding Educator Award (new in 2021) recognizes teachers who demonstrate commitment and dedication to the philosophy of learning through play. Given in honor of Susie Stone, a vibrant and dynamic teacher of young children and advocate for the cooperative model, the award celebrates the importance of a strong connection between home and preschool, and the true value of hands-on play-based learning in early childhood.

  • Robin Garthright Bunster Award for Excellence in Teaching One award is given each year, selected from the nominees for District, Continuing Service District, National, and Susie Stone Outstanding Educator Awards. By recognizing excellence in teaching, the award embodies the spirit of Robin Garthright Bunster, a former teacher, member of the PCPI board and champion of learning through play. Nominee is a teacher of children and/or adults, and an advocate for learning through play. The award includes a $500 honorarium.

  • Certificate of Appreciation in acknowledgement of those individuals or entities who have made a singular contribution to the parent cooperative preschool movement, e.g., a generous gift of funds, goods or services, a landlord’s exceptional cooperation, a grandparent’s gift of time or skill, recognition of a preschool’s anniversary, or other special circumstances. Nominees need not be a member of PCPI.

  • Honorary Life Membership for an exceptional contribution to, or unique involvement in, the parent cooperative movement (beyond years of service).
The Robin Garthright Bunster Award for Teaching Excellence was created in honor of Robin Bunster, an outstanding teacher in Oregon and a board member of PCPI when she passed away from cancer. Her husband has funded this award in her memory and a $500 honorarium for the teacher's personal use is part of the award. Mr. Bunster recognized how much of their own time and resources co-op preschool teachers invest in their schools.

Detailed awards criteria and nomination forms can be found on the PCPI website. Nominations are due April 15 along with a $20 application fee. A $35 pin is also available to give to award recipients.

Questions should be sent to the PCPI Awards Committee at pcpi.awards@preschools.coop.
Be a Part of the Conversation!
A new PCPI Members Google Group has been created to give us another avenue to share ideas and information. This has replaced the Yahoo Group which is no longer active.

Joining is easy!
  1. Click the button below to send an email to PCPINews@preschools.coop.
  2. Use the subject line: Add to Google Group.
  3. Include your first and last name, your school and/or council name, and the email address you'd like to have added. (If there are multiple people in your school who should be added to the group, you are welcome to include all of their information in one email.)

Group members will receive a daily digest of messages exchanged. Message threads will be grouped by topic for easy searching later. Spread the word!