All About Us
About the School
GPCP promotes the social-emotional development of children in a context that supports
individual physical and cognitive growth. The preschool provides a first classroom
experience where learning about working in a group is just as important as learning
about the seasons. The teachers plan activities that encourage children to explore their
world and expand their knowledge. Perhaps no other period of time in a child's
development is more important in the formation of mental processes and personality
development than the preschool years.
The Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool began in 1943 as a
wartime community service project for the benefit of working
mothers. Working in pairs, the mothers taught the classes. Since
1955 professional teachers have been employed. After the war,
the school moved to the Baptist Church Parish House as a regular
nursery school. It remained there until 1951 when it moved to its
present location in the Baptist Church Education Building. GPCP
is not affiliated with any church or religious organization.
parents whose children are enrolled in the school. A volunteer board of parents is
elected each year to handle the administration of the school. The parents approve all
major policy changes. Under the guidance of qualified teachers, the parents also assist
in the classroom and participate in the children's educational program. The efforts of
parents and their direct involvement during the school day make GPCP a unique
educational endeavor.
Our focus is on providing children with the opportunity to adjust to new learning
experiences, routines, instructors, and social interactions. We strive to expose children
to learning experiences that will develop their curiosity, love of learning, security, self-
concept, and sense of belonging to a world that is interesting to them and interested in
them.
Each class period includes a time for “free play” in which children are given the
opportunity to pursue and develop individual interests at their own pace. Large and small
motor activities, creative play, art, and general readiness skills are some of the activities
available. In addition to the free play period, the day includes teacher-directed group
activities, nutritious snacks, directed physical activities, and teacher-initiated art,
crafts, and music.
“The activities are fun and interesting. There are always new
things to try and games to play. Our son especially likes the
sand table, puppets, play-dough table and musical instruments.
[His teacher] helps them with crafts and cutting, coloring, and
drawing on their own. When the children have new ideas,
sheencourages them to try it.” – Lew and Jane, past parents
Classroom activities are planned and carried out by the teachers according to the
children’s needs. Weekly themes provide an engaging method through which new skills
and concepts are introduced. Teachers are available for consultation with parents upon
request and report on each child’s progress during both the first and second semesters
during formal conferences.
The Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool program also provides parents with greater
insight into child behavior and development through actual classroom participation,
educational programs for parents, and shared experiences with other preschool parents.
Goals and Objectives
Programs: 4/5-Year Old Class
3-Year Old Class
2-Year Old Mommmy/Daddy and Me
School Calendar Learning Centers
Sample Themes Outdoor Play Area
Teachers
Parents and students consistently rave about our caring, experienced teachers. They are
highly trained professionals with degrees in education who continually seek out
additional training. Our teachers attend the Ohio National Association for the Education
of Young Children conference in Columbus each year.
Miss Joan enjoys hands on activities in the classroom, including cooking, art, and music. She loves reading; some of her favorite children's authors are Jim Arnosky, author of many nature books, Stan and Jan Berenstain, authors of the Berenstain Bears, Frank Asch, author of the Little Bear books, and Leo Leoni, author of books such as "Fish is Fish," and "A Color of My Own."
Claire Kreider (Mrs. Kreider) teaches
the two year old
Mommy/Daddy and Me class. She holds a Bachelors in
Education from Ohio University, and is certified as a
teacher in the state of Ohio. Mrs. Kreider has taught since the 1960's,
teaching Preschool, Kindergarden, First Grade, and Remedial Reading. Mrs.
Kreider taught at GPCP in the 70's, when her daughter was young, and also
taught in Newark City Schools for twenty-three years. She has lived in
Granville for almost five decades, raising her three children here. Now
she is a grandmother to three grandaughters and two grandsons, and recently
became a great-grandmother!
Facilities
Our school is located in downtown Granville,
Ohio and is attended by students from all over
Licking County and eastern Franklin County
including Granville, Newark, Heath,
Alexandria, Pataskala, Thornville, and
Blacklick. We are the only co-op preschool in
our area. Although our classes are held in the
Education Building of a local church, we are
not affiliated with any religious organization.
To arrange a visit, please contact the enrollment
coordinator.
Our spacious classroom is divided into several learning centers that include a sand
table, work tables, block corner, library/reading corner, housekeeping, painting
easels, science exploration table, workbench, water play, sensory table and group
activities. There is also a fully enclosed outdoor play area.
