Winton Road Nursery School (WRNS) is a semi-cooperative program where parents get to know each other as they contribute time and talent to making their child’s school a great experience for everyone. With the exception of our Young Nursery Program (2-3 year olds), parents do not teach in the classroom, but serve on various committees or hold board/chair positions vital to the successful functioning of the school. Here are some frequently asked questions that may assist you in understanding what this obligation entails:

How many committees/positions do I have to hold? Parents hold two committee positions OR one board/chairperson position.

I only have a child in the Young Nursery program; do I also serve on a committee? No, the time you spend in the classroom fulfills your obligation; however, you are required to attend the mandatory Social Workday prior to the start of school.

I have (or will have) more than one child enrolled at WRNS. Do I need to hold more positions? If you have more than one child enrolled in the Big Nursery School, you only need to hold two committee positions or one board/chair position. If you have a child in the Young Nursery AND the Big Nursery School, then you will need to hold only one committee position in addition to the time you spend in the Young Nursery classroom.

What is the time commitment for committee work/board positions? Depending on the committee, most parents find that they are committing 5-10 hours during the entire school year. Board positions can require anywhere from 10-40 hours for the entire school year.

I work part/full-time. What are my options? Most committees hold their meetings and events during nights and weekends in order to accommodate different schedules. There are also several tasks associated with each committee that can be completed on the parent’s schedule.

My schedule is just too busy to accommodate any committee work. Can I still attend WRNS? Yes. For parents that cannot find ways to fulfill their committee requirements, we offer a buy-out* option where you pay a one-time fee and are then excused from all committee work for the year. A half buy out option is available as well, (where you serve on one committee and pay ½ the fee). Participation in the buy-out does not excuse a family from the mandatory social workday held prior to the start of school.

Besides the committee/board positions, what else are parents responsible for in a semi-cooperative school? Parents at WRNS provide a healthy snack for the entire class on a rotating basis (including Young Nursery). Parents with children enrolled in the morning nursery program (3-5 year olds) will find that they are assigned approximately 4-5 times per year. Parents with children enrolled in the afternoon will find the frequency increased as the class is smaller (approx. 8-12 times). In addition to snack, each family is asked to make play dough once a year for their respective classrooms.

What are the committees/board positions?

Board positions:

Co-chairs, Assistant Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Admissions Registrar, Tour Registrar, Scholarship Chairperson, Fundraising Chairperson, Publicity Chairperson, and Parent Representative Chairperson.

Committee positions:

Newsletter Editor-Compiles and organizes information for the monthly newsletter.

Cleaning Committee- This committee provides members who thoroughly clean the four nursery school rooms, once a month, during the school year

Publicity Committee-Responsible for all press releases regarding enrollment and other WRNS activities.  Staffs annual open houses.

Fundraising Committee- Plans and staffs events to raise money for the WRNS scholarship fund.

Babysitting Committee- Provides babysitting at the school while parents attend Orientation or parent/teacher conferences.

Substitutes Committee-In case of a teacher or assistant teacher absence, assists in the classroom for at least one hour to help the class run smoothly.

Supplies/Equipment Committee-Takes care of light maintenance and repair of school property.   Coordinates the annual Social Workday prior to school commencing.

Parent Representatives-Acts as a liaison between parents and the board/teachers to communicate information.   Promotes a sense of community within the classroom.

Website-Maintains and updates the WRNS website and email distribution list.

Church Liaison- Acts as a contact person for WRNS in regards to questions or issues raised with/by the Unitarian Church.

Copying- Makes copies of the newsletter and other school documents as needed.

Scholastic-Coordinates the quarterly Scholastic Book catalog distribution.