Port Townsend Cooperative Playschool

Port Townsend Cooperative Playschool

A parent-run cooperative preschool affiliated with Peninsula College's Family Life Education Program.

Program Philosophy

Children love being together! What's more, they benefit from the mental, emotional, and physical stimulation they get from being part of a group. The goal of Port Townsend Cooperative Playschool is to provide a nurturing and safe environment where each child is free to explore and interact with others. Our cooperative helps kids:

Our cooperative offers parents a chance to get support, insight, and understanding from sharing the joys and challenges of parenthood with other parents.

Class Times

Children & parents attend class one day a week from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
During the first hour, all playschool parents stay with the children. During the second hour, the "snack parent" and the assigned helpers stay with the teacher and children while the other parents attend a group discussion led by a Parenting Education Instructor from Peninsula College. Please call the Membership Coordinator for information.

Age Groupings

9 months to 4 years.

Fees

Registration: $50.00 per year; non-refundable
Tuition: $150 per quarter
Scholarships are available; contact membership coordinator for more information.

Activities

We have a beautiful playroom that includes a play kitchen and a little library. Many parents have poured hours of love, energy, and hard work into creating and maintaining a space that is cheerful and stimulating, yet flexible enough to allow different children to pursue different activities at the same time.
Activities include:

• Music
• Art
• Social Interactions
• Dramatic Play
• Large and Small Motor Activities

Teachers

Teacher Shanell was born and raised in Pennsylvania. She went to college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and has a dual degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education, with an emphasis on Reading and Educational Psychology. She has one young child.

Shanell has been in the community since 2020, when she moved from Germany to be closer to family. Before becoming the teacher at PTCP, she was working with the Community Boat Project and Bayside Housing, building Tiny Homes and infrastructure to mitigate our area’s housing crisis. While living in Germany, Shanell also taught in a mixed age 1st grade classroom with a focus on technology and cultural integration. 

Shanell enjoys making her classroom an enriching space where adults and children can bond over mutual experiences. She makes it her goal to provide age and developmentally appropriate activities, with a particular interest on STEAM learning, confidence building, and positive social interactions. She values the impact that messy play and creation have on development and encourages creative interpretations of new scenarios. Shanell is always happy to meet and support new families and looks forward to class each week.

Parent Involvement

The Playschool/Preschool is a cooperative. The benefits of this is lower cost, higher adult-to-child ratio, enhancement of the parent-child relationship, and Parenting Education through the Peninsula College.

All Playschool Parents contribute a portion of their talents, time, and energy to keep the school functioning effectively. The Board runs the Co-op business, and all the parents participate in decision making, fund-raising, and planning events. Parent responsibilities include, but are not limited to: