Open Gate Offers a Flexible Approach to Parent/Caregiver Participation in the Classroom
Parent/caregiver participation in the classroom is a huge part of what makes Open Gate tick. Through it, we grow as parents/caregivers, develop community, support one another, and build a school that nurtures us all.
As a participating parent/caregiver, we take turns working in different areas of the school like the game room, the art room, the yard, etc. In the classroom, we observe our own children and their peers, develop skills and strategies we can take home with us, and have a terrific time making fun messes and exploring our world.
Options for Participation Rate
Many parents elect to participate in their child’s classroom one day each week, and our tuition rates are based on that participation level. We recognize that doesn’t work best for every family, so we’ve got other options! For parents that need or prefer something less frequent, Open Gate also offers part-time participation for parent or caregiver with the following monthly tuition adjustments:
- Working in classroom 3 times per month: +$40 tuition increase
- Working in classroom 2 times per month: +$80 tuition increase
- Working in classroom 1 times per month: +$120 tuition increase
Parent Education
Open Gate parents/caregivers attend one parenting education session each month, generally immediately following their in-class “work” shift. Your child’s teacher leads your parent education, and together with your classmates you’ll learn about child development, parenting strategies, and educational approaches, looking to the children in the class to provide real-world examples and help you learn. Plus, you’ll laugh a lot, get support for the challenges of parenting young children, and make friends for life! Learn more.
Service to the School
Open Gate is parent-powered! We each have a job for the year that lets us contribute to building and sustaining our supportive community. Jobs, organized into teams, range from animal caretaker to purchaser to treasurer — there’s something for everyone. We also:
- Participate in our annual All School Cleaning.
- Perform a maintenance task such as sterilizing toys or repairing costumes (one a year, flexible schedule)
- Contribute an hour of service at both the Auction and Holiday Fundraising events.
Fundraising Commitment
We ask each family to contribute at least $250 each year to Open Gate through fundraising. But don’t worry, you won’t be selling wrapping paper to your friends! We have a variety of fun activities that build community while we fundraise.