One of the things often said about what makes LCP special is the sense of community surrounding the school, which goes beyond running into people at pick up and drop off, or the usual school events. It extends into a network of people you can have fun with and who you can count on when you need them. We think this happens because of the extra expectations of parents in a co-op—working weekly in your child’s classroom, being responsible for a school job or serving on the board or a committee, helping out with the annual auction. This is extra work, but it creates the ties that bind us, allowing people to get to know each other and each other’s kids on a deeper, more conected level.

What attracts families to LCP are the great teachers, exciting program and cheerful space, but ask people why they stay, and they’ll tell you it’s the friendships and sense of community they’ve never quite experienced before. Because so many families come from the area neighborhoods, they are your neighbors and the school is an introduction for your whole family to get to know well people who live so close to you but who you might not otherwise meet.

Each family is expected to work in their child’s classroom on average once a week. The class chair creates a monthly schedule according to family preferences and assigns them a rotating job— art room, snack/kitchen, or 2 “floater” positions to help monitor the main room – and the teacher provides a job description. If a parent can’t make their shift, they are responsible for calling other families in the class to find someone to trade with—almost always easily done. The benefits of working in your child’s class are significant: you can share your child’s experiences and learn about what they have fun doing at school; you can develop a relationship with your child’s teacher and get ready ideas on everything from new activities to try at home or help with difficult behaviors; you get to see the range of “normal” among your child’s peers; and you get to know the children your child plays with and make friends with their parents who you work alongside with in the classroom.

Each year, families are assigned a school job based on their talents and interests and the schools’ needs. See here for the current list of jobs. The only paid employees at the school are the teachers—everything else gets done because of parents rolling up their sleeves and pitching in to run and improve the school. It’s a great way to give back to the community, to really see your importance in an organization, and to see a need and fill it. New families are usually given jobs that are fairly straightforward—the longer a family is at LCP, the more we encourage them to take on greater roles, such as chairing a committee or joining the board. We think these jobs are really more fun.

Each month, there is a 2 hour evening meeting held at the home of one of the class families (rotating each month.) The school’s parent educator presents information and resources on a topic chosen in advance by the class, and parents have a chance to share their experiences or seek individual advice on the topic. The teacher updates parents on what’s going on in the classroom, new themes being introduced, and any changes or suggestions she has for the classroom. The class chair passes on information from the board meeting and any news regarding the school. The class meetings are something parents say they look forward to—a chance to visit a new friend’s home, enjoy a dessert with grownups, reflect on their child’s development, seek advice from experts, and hear about the news of the school.

Lakewood commits 10% of its annual budget to offering full and partial scholarships to ensure that our school is a place that any interested family can join. How we do this is through our annual fundraising event – our spring auction – and through scrip programs at PCC and eScrip.

The auction is greatly anticipated by parents each year, a chance to get dressed up, get someone to watch the kids, and go out and have some fun with friends. Each family is asked to procure items worth $200, or contribute $200, to make sure we have a great silent and live auction. (See here for more on auction, and for painless procurement!) Each family is also asked to purchase 2 tickets to the event, regardless of whether they can attend. The auction has been a tremendous success, all due to work of LCP families.

But it’s not all work!

Lakewood is also known for its fun school socials and get-togethers, legendary summer play dates, parent’s nights out and alumni play dates.

Every August, we start the school year off with a back-to-school potluck picnic at the upper picnic grounds at Seward Park. The kids eat and run, happy to see old friends, happy to meet new ones. Parents enjoy the chance to meet each other and get questions answered before school starts. Rain or shine, it is always a great time.

The social events committee organizes a Harvest party/Halloween party in late October at the Lakewood Community Club across the street from the playground. All families and older and younger siblings are invited. Kids can come in costume, bob for apples, play the fishing prize game, eat pizza and have fun in a safe and festive environment.

Also held at the Lakewood Community Club, this party is a great cure for winter doldrums. All families and siblings are invited come and make their own sundae and play with friends.

The highlight of the year, this party is held the last Saturday before school lets out. Half potluck/half hosted, traditionally held at a Lakewood family’s home, its an amazing afternoon/evening of seeing old friends, making plans for summer, saying goodbye to kindergarden-ready kids and marveling at the growth and confidence and joy of the kids as they run around and play in packs.

No one is really ready to say goodbye for a whole summer, so the school sends out a calendar of summer playdates at local beaches and parks. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, there is a pre-arranged place to meet up with friends. Come a few times, come every time, there is always someone else there who’s ready to play, and a parent to enjoy a laugh with. Often our teachers and their kids come too. The kid’s social and emotional development continues through the summer as they negotiate shovels and come together to build dams or secret hiding places. And summer is not quite so long for Mom and Dad:)

As the summer winds down, each class is invited to a class playdate at the Lakewood playground. The teachers are there, new and returning families come, and it’s a great way to ease into the idea of school a few weeks away.

By the time the kids make their way from Bumblebee to Cricket to Dragonfly, deep friendships have been formed. But as they head off for kindergarden, most kids will be lucky if they go to school with another friend from Lakewood. Parents are also reluctant to part ways with friends who we’ve spend time with almost every day for 3 years. The LCP alum monthly playdates have been a great way to reconnect—the kids love seeing each other and playing old and new games, and the parents have a great time catching up and sharing stories of new schools and new lives.

A big part of LCP’s mission is about having fun, and between work and play, kids and families at LCP have a lot of fun!