Frequently Asked Questions
 Where is Children & Company located?
Children and Company is located at 5355 Phelps Luck Drive in the Phelps Luck Community Center in Columbia, Maryland. Our telephone number is 410-992-4644. Messages left on our telephone are checked regularly. Our Mailing Address is P.O. Box 1364 Columbia, MD 21044
How does the application process work?
The membership process typically begins in the fall when applications for the following school year become available. For more information, please see the Membership page.
What is the "priority waiting list"?
Families who are interested in membership may choose to add their names to the priority waiting list by paying a $20 non-refundable fee. Families on the priority waiting list are the first to be offered available spaces remaining in our classes once current students, siblings, and eligible school alumni have registered. Once our classes have reached full enrollment, prospective members can choose to join our regular waiting list and will be notified if space becomes available. There is no fee involved with the regular waiting list.
Can I stop by and visit the school before applying for membership?
We offer classroom tours and observations only by appointmnt when there are openings in the school or places available on the waiting list. Families interested in membership are encouraged to begin exploring our school by attending one of the open house events scheduled in December and February. Please see the Membership page for more information.
Does my son/daughter need to be potty trained to attend?
Children do not need to be potty trained to attend. Diaper changes or toileting assistance are handled only by the Teachers
How many children are in each class?
The 2-year-old class has a maximum of 12 students. The 3-year-old class has a maximum of 16 students. The four-year-old class has a maximum of 17 students. All classes are led by a team of 2 teachers and the teachers have daily assistance from a co-op member.
What is a typical day at school like?
Each class begins with a free play period when children choose their own activities, using the resources of our classroom including a variety of toys, books, puzzles, manipulative play objects such as playdough, art supplies, and educational games. Each day also includes a circle time, teacher-planned crafts and activities, snack, and outdoor time on the playground when weather permits.
Do you serve snacks? What are the policies for responding to food allergies?
Snack is served in each class every school day. Families have a rotating responsibility for bringing snack supplies on the days they are scheduled to co-op. Children & Company has procedures in place for protecting children with food allergies and other dietary concerns. Each year, an approved snack list is developed based on the needs of the students and the snacks brought to school must conform to this list.
Which school calendar do you follow?
We follow the Howard County Public School Calendar with a few exceptions. Our school year starts one week later than Howard County schools and our school year ends during the first week of June.
How will I learn about my child's progress in school?
Teachers distribute progress reports for each child twice per year. After the progress reports are distributed, the teachers meet with each family during regular school hours on special conference days.
How is the curriculum developed and who plans the daily activities?
Our dynamic and highly qualified teachers develop the curriculum and plan classroom activities. Having essentially accepted the school's philosophy by joining, the members give the teachers the sole right and responsibility to run the classroom on a day-to-day basis. We encourage active discussion of the school's philosophy and activities and comments or suggestions can be brought to the attention of the teachers, or the chair appointed for each class.
What if my child has problems adjusting to separation from me?
For children first coming to preschool, we try to gradually let the child become familiar with the people and the room. Leaving should proceed at a pace that the child, Teachers, and parent are all comfortable with--this will be different for each child. Before your child comes to school, familiarize him/her with where the school is (drive by a few times on your way somewhere else), who s/he will meet, who will take your child to school and back, how long s/he will stay, and some of the things that are there (blocks, toys, climbing equipment, sandbox, etc.).
Prior to the first day of school, each new parent and child in the two-year-old class will attend for a short visit so the child can become acquainted with the Teachers and the classroom. The two-year-old class will then be divided in half, and each half will attend an abbreviated session for their "first day" of class. The following session will be the first time the children are all together. At this class, children who are ready to be left may stay by themselves.
What are co-op and setup duties?
Parents in each class have a rotating responsibility for acting as the co-op and setup person. On your scheduled day, you must arrive early enough (at least 30 minutes before morning classes and 10 minutes before afternoon classes) to ensure that the classroom is prepared, paints mixed, art projects set up, etc. The co-op person stays for the entire class and is responsible for bringing the snack. The co-op person will spend the majority of his/her time in the classroom playing with the children and assisting the teachers with class activities. The setup person assists the co-op person with the preparation of the classroom and also returns early to the classroom to help clean or pack up classroom furniture and supplies. The process of packing up the classroom on Fridays and in the afternoon classes can require that a parent stay up to 15 minutes beyond the end of class.
Can older or younger siblings attend the school ocassionally? Can I bring my older/younger child on days when I am the setup or co-op person?
When you are the co-oping parent, you may not bring other children to the classroom unless they are younger than 6 months of age. We have found that this is in the best interest of all parties. As the co-oping parent you will be freer to address the needs of the classroom if you do not have to attend to your other child(ren). We encourage you to coordinate babysitting with other members. When you are the setup parent, you may bring other children, but you must be able to perform the duties of setting up and packing up the classroom.
Do the children go on fieldtrips? Are there special enrichment activities?
Yes, the 3- and 4-year-old classes participate in monthly field trips and enrichment activities. More information is available on the Field Trips page.
What kind of job will I be assigned?
We have a variety of co-op jobs and try to match jobs to our members' skills and preferences. You can view the list of co-op jobs and details about job requirements. |
