TCS is a cooperative preschool. All families contribute to the school in each of the following key ways:

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Volunteering at school for 2 Classroom Helper Days per semester

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Classroom Helper Days provide parents and other caregivers with the wonderful opportunity to be part of their child’s school day, help them in their activities, and meet their friends. In this role, caregivers assist in the classroom as well as help prepare and clean up a nutritious snack. These volunteer days give parents the chance to observe, learn, and grow alongside their child, as well as contribute to our dynamic and close-knit learning community. This opportunity is not limited to parents, however—anyone with a close relationship to your child can volunteer for a Classroom Helper Day! Explore the Classroom Participation Training Packet to learn more.

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Maintaining our school as part of 2 Work Parties per year

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Each TCS family participates in two school-wide work parties. The first kicks off the school year by readying our school premises and equipment; the second helps prepare campus for summer by cleaning up classrooms and play yards and safely storing furniture and materials. Projects can include yard work, painting, cleaning, and general upkeep—no skill is required. 

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Dedicating at least 5 volunteer hours per semester, based on skill set

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At TCS, all families are valued and we take extra care in maintaining an inclusive community to meet all families’ life/work balance. All members have the opportunity to decide how their interests, skills, and availability best fit the needs of our school. Cooperative members are required to complete ONE of the following:

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• Task-based volunteering: Complete a minimum of 5 hours volunteer work per semester through a variety of tasks (such as chicken care, snack prep, event photography, plumbing, front office assistance, reshelving library books, etc.) based on your choice, interests, and availability

• Joining the Board of Directors: Manage the operations of the school and lead new initiatives to advance TCS's purpose and mission

• Serving as a Classroom Representative: Build community within individual classes and TCS membership through coordination of play groups, parent networking, and promotion of school-wide events. Class reps also serve as a liaison between the board and families

• Volunteering as Website Coordinator: Support our school community in maintaining our website, as well as developing advertising and marketing tools for recruitment

• Volunteering as Social Media Manager: Help share our mission and philosophy with our past, present, and future community via our social media platforms

• Sharing a special talent: Do you have a gift or skill to share with the TCS community that supports the educational experience or functionality of our school? Let us know how we can incorporate your talents as part of your cooperative commitment!

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Participating in 2 major fundraisers: Fall Festival and Annual Auction

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All families are required to support our nonprofit school through the planning, preparation, and execution of our yearly fundraisers. ​Families can help by donating items, supporting accounting, marketing events to the wider Tucson community, setting up or cleaning up, and more.

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Attending 2 parent education sessions, plus new family orientation

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All families must attend the "Creating a Culture of Connection" session at Curriculum Night, and all new families must also attend new family orientation. Our whole-family education approach meets our inclusion goals of creating a community that supports all families. It also cultivates valuable skills and knowledge of child development to be applied in the classroom and at home. Sessions are held both in-person and online, to enable access for all.