Prairie Flower uses a cooperative education model that integrates parents into the program, giving shared responsibility along with the teachers and the board of directors. This includes parents whose children are enrolled in either our preschool or after-school programs.
Parents are involved in different aspects of operating and sustaining the preschool. Together we will build a village – one in which our children are surrounded by caring adults, the sharing of traditions and the protection and celebration of childhood.
Benefits:
What's Involved?
If you enroll a child in Prairie Flower’s preschool or after-school program (for any number of days), in addition to paying tuition, you'll be expected to contribute five hours per semester supporting Prairie Flower in some capacity. Support could come from parents, or their designee (e.g. a child's teenage sibling, grandparent, a close friend or godparent).
Here are some ways you can fulfill your co-op commitment:
1). Serve on a co-op committee. Prairie Flower organizes parent committees around a range of work areas that are important to keeping our center running smoothly. These committees currently include:
One parent in a household can sign up for a committee, or if you wish, other adults in your household can sign up for a different committee that best suits their interests or talents.
Serving on a committee involves some minimal time commitments, such as attending monthly committee meetings (if held) and delegating and performing tasks associated with the committee’s responsibilities.
2). Sign up to help with other tasks. We have a range of needs and opportunities for volunteers to contribute their time an talents. Here are several ways you can volunteer to help out:
The above list isn't an exhaustive list. Other volunteer support needs may pop up during the year. We'll let you know about these, and some of the opportunities listed above, by email or Brightwheel.
3). Join the board of directors. In lieu of the above volunteer options, you may instead elect to sign up for a two-year term on the board. Serving on the board of directors is a unique opportunity to make your voice heard and help steer the direction of Prairie Flower.
In this role, you’ll join other individuals who are passionate about Prairie Flower’s mission. As a board member, you’ll be an active participant in governing our non-profit early childhood center and ensuring we uphold our mission and vision.
Responsibilities include attending monthly board meetings, reading and responding to email discussions on board matters and serving on one or more committees, either as lead of one or more committees listed above or on the board-only human resources or finance committees.
See prairieflowercc.org/board-of-directors.html for more information. While board service is a higher commitment level than the other volunteer options, it allows you to deeply shape and support Prairie Flower in carrying out our mission.
Letting Us Know Your Choice(s)
At parent orientation in August, we'll give you a form to mark which of the support options you choose to participate in for fulfilling your five hours of service per the cooperative commitment.
Other Talents or Skills? Let Us Know!
We welcome other special talents you may have as well. For instance, perhaps you’ll come help with the garden in the spring, lead a children’s yoga session in the classroom, play flute at Winter Faire or offer some other skill or service. Let us know your talents and interests!
OR
Opt Out of the Co-Op Model. We understand that life with young children can be hectic, or you might have other things going on in your life that make it hard to commit additional time to Prairie Flower. In lieu of volunteering, you may instead pay a monthly fee to opt out of the co-op model.
If you select this option, we will add an extra $50 per month to your tuition. These funds will help us offset the loss of additional person-power by helping us pay for extra help or needs typically filled by volunteers.
Parents are involved in different aspects of operating and sustaining the preschool. Together we will build a village – one in which our children are surrounded by caring adults, the sharing of traditions and the protection and celebration of childhood.
Benefits:
- Contribute your ideas, voice and talents to the program
- Form strong, lasting relationships with other highly active parents
- Support the operation of our small center – many hands make light work
- Streamline communication and follow-through. Tasks can be completed faster if it’s clear who’s responsible.
What's Involved?
If you enroll a child in Prairie Flower’s preschool or after-school program (for any number of days), in addition to paying tuition, you'll be expected to contribute five hours per semester supporting Prairie Flower in some capacity. Support could come from parents, or their designee (e.g. a child's teenage sibling, grandparent, a close friend or godparent).
Here are some ways you can fulfill your co-op commitment:
1). Serve on a co-op committee. Prairie Flower organizes parent committees around a range of work areas that are important to keeping our center running smoothly. These committees currently include:
- Playscape – Offer feedback on things like materials, design elements, deciding among product options and acquiring materials or items for the outdoor playscape; building things or finding and supervising volunteers or contractors to do the work; applying for grants.
- Fundraising – Organize fundraising events, get Prairie Flower signed up as the donation recipient with local organizations, put together fundraising appeals for sending out to our communication channels, apply for grants, etc.
- Publicity – Make and post flyers around Ames & surrounding communities, update social media, consult with board representatives on website updates, send email newsletters, maintain an updated mailing list, etc.
- Classroom Upkeep & Beautification – Help with basic repairs of classroom items, help organize and manage storage in the classrooms, acquire or assemble things for the classroom, etc.. Eventually, help with maintenance of Prairie Flower’s outdoor playscape.
One parent in a household can sign up for a committee, or if you wish, other adults in your household can sign up for a different committee that best suits their interests or talents.
Serving on a committee involves some minimal time commitments, such as attending monthly committee meetings (if held) and delegating and performing tasks associated with the committee’s responsibilities.
2). Sign up to help with other tasks. We have a range of needs and opportunities for volunteers to contribute their time an talents. Here are several ways you can volunteer to help out:
- Volunteering in the classroom to help with seasonal crafts or special classroom events such as birthday celebrations
- Weekly grocery shopping
- Cooking or baking for a festival
- Staffing an activity table at a festival, or doing setup or cleanup
- Staffing a Prairie Flower booth at a community event (e.g. the farmers market, Summer Camp Fair, etc.)
- Making crafts for sale at a festival (e.g. Winter Faire)
- Working at a fundraiser (e.g. Rummage Rampage shifts)
- Doing laundry
- Deep-cleaning the classroom
- Sewing (mat sheets, doll clothes, napkins, etc.)
- Crafting birthday supplies (pockets, crowns)
The above list isn't an exhaustive list. Other volunteer support needs may pop up during the year. We'll let you know about these, and some of the opportunities listed above, by email or Brightwheel.
3). Join the board of directors. In lieu of the above volunteer options, you may instead elect to sign up for a two-year term on the board. Serving on the board of directors is a unique opportunity to make your voice heard and help steer the direction of Prairie Flower.
In this role, you’ll join other individuals who are passionate about Prairie Flower’s mission. As a board member, you’ll be an active participant in governing our non-profit early childhood center and ensuring we uphold our mission and vision.
Responsibilities include attending monthly board meetings, reading and responding to email discussions on board matters and serving on one or more committees, either as lead of one or more committees listed above or on the board-only human resources or finance committees.
See prairieflowercc.org/board-of-directors.html for more information. While board service is a higher commitment level than the other volunteer options, it allows you to deeply shape and support Prairie Flower in carrying out our mission.
Letting Us Know Your Choice(s)
At parent orientation in August, we'll give you a form to mark which of the support options you choose to participate in for fulfilling your five hours of service per the cooperative commitment.
Other Talents or Skills? Let Us Know!
We welcome other special talents you may have as well. For instance, perhaps you’ll come help with the garden in the spring, lead a children’s yoga session in the classroom, play flute at Winter Faire or offer some other skill or service. Let us know your talents and interests!
OR
Opt Out of the Co-Op Model. We understand that life with young children can be hectic, or you might have other things going on in your life that make it hard to commit additional time to Prairie Flower. In lieu of volunteering, you may instead pay a monthly fee to opt out of the co-op model.
If you select this option, we will add an extra $50 per month to your tuition. These funds will help us offset the loss of additional person-power by helping us pay for extra help or needs typically filled by volunteers.
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Our location:
1517 Northwestern Ave, Ames, IA 50010 Along CyRide Green #2 route (16th & Northwestern stop) We're on the second floor inside Bethesda Lutheran Church. Enter via "Faith & Life" entrance. |