Who are we?
Rocky Hill Cooperative Nursery School has been a place for children and
their parents to imagine, explore and create for more than half a century.
In 1959, a group of local parents established Rocky Hill Cooperative Nursery
School. Located in the historic borough of Rocky Hill, the school is a fully
certified, non-profit and non-sectarian community for Rocky Hill,
Montgomery, Princeton, South Brunswick and the surrounding areas.
The primary goal of our preschool is for every child to have a positive
attitude toward learning. Our teachers seek to achieve this by providing fun
and exciting hands-on experiences in a safe and nurturing environment. A
happy first school experience is our main priority, as it so often helps to
shape a child's attitude toward school.
What is a Cooperative Nursery School?
A Cooperative or parent participation nursery
school promotes continuity between the
child’s home and preschool. Children, parents
and teachers work in concert together to
create a warm and extended community for
growing and learning.
Parents who are actively involved with their
children's learning are rewarded with children
who love to learn. Parents enrich the
program by lending their special talents and
abilities while finding their own lives enriched
by connections they make with other families
and the staff at the school.
What are my responsibilities as a parent?
Families who come to RHCNS love the flexibility
and cooperation found here!
The best part, most agree, is being a “helpingparent”. On these special days, we participate in
the classroom as a teacher’s helper, getting to
know our children’s classmates and teachers and
seeing our children first-hand in the classroom
setting. Our children are thrilled to be “helping
child” that day. They are proud to bring their
parent, the snack, and a show-and-tell to school!
We offer an “opt-out” option for an additional fee
where you will not help in the classroom, but your
child still gets to have his or her own special days!
Parents help in the classroom approximately four to five times a year.
Schedules accommodate parents’ needs.
In addition to your helping days,
you will be scheduled to drop-off
snack and assist in cleaning the
classroom at the end of the day
on our small group days. Again,
we offer an “opt-out” option for
an additional fee where you will
not have to assist with cleaning
the classroom at the end of the
day, but your child will still bring
in their favorite snack.
There are two mandatory
meetings and two mandatory
clean-up days per year.
A governing board of parent volunteers consisting of President, Vice
President, Secretary, Treasurer and Registrar manages RHCNS.
The operations of the school are separated into committees, to which each
family is assigned. Examples of some of the committees families can choose
include:
Fundraising
Yearbook
Website
Advertising/Open House
Class Schedules
We love the multiage classroom!
Our schedule allows the students to experience being in a large, mixed age
group AND a small group setting with more individualized attention.
All classes are held from 9:30 to 12:30.
The ‘3-Day’ (must be three before December 31) attend on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday. Friday is a ‘Just 3-Day’ day!
The ‘Pre-Ks’ attend on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are ‘Just Pre-K’ days!
All children must be toilet-trained before beginning class at RHCNS.
Field Trips
Exploring the world around us is an important and fun aspect of learning and
development. Children discover their natural and social surroundings and
learn to become a part of their community.
Terhune Orchards
Rocky Hill Post Office
Visits to our “Grandfriends” at Stonebridge at Montgomery Assisted Living!
Intergenerational activities allow seniors and preschoolers to interact and
have fun! Whether it’s bowling, singing, or making a craft, smiles cross the
generations!
Other field trips:
 Norz Hill Farm
 Buttinger Nature Center at the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed
 Walking trip to Mary Jacobs Library
 Princeton Airport
Special Programs
Music Together
We are excited about our enrollment in the Music Together Preschool
Program. Miss Alex is a registered Music Together teacher and teaches Music
Together to our children once a week.
Sign Language
The children learn sign language through stories, songs and various
activities. We sign everyday!
Curriculum and Themes
Our day incorporates a balance of different experiences: self-initiated and
guided; group and individual; active and quiet; fine and gross motor.
Additionally, we focus on preparing
children to be socially, emotionally and
intellectually ready for elementary
school. Our teachers are continuously
evaluating and enhancing curriculum to
ensure that the graduates of RHCNS are
well prepared for kindergarten.
From Little Miss Muffet to Monet, from
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Van Gogh’s
Starry Night, children experience a wide
range of topics and experiences. The Itsy
Bitsy Spider leads to discussions about arachnids, and how they differ from
insects. Listening to Jazz, learning about musicians, leads to learning
“What a Wonderful World” in sign language.
Themes are used to introduce a variety of objectives and skills. Did you
know Monet painted many pictures of water lilies and a Japanese Bridge?
Can you walk over our “bridge” balancing a “water lily” on your head? Yes,
even Monet can inspire gross motor skills!
Each theme gives us a
chance to learn many
skills, math, letters,
reasoning, thinking, fine
and gross motor. All this
while having fun, getting
elbow deep in shaving
cream or planting in dirt!
Teacher Bio's
Mrs. Gerianne Linden is the Director and Head Teacher. After receiving her
BA in Early Childhood Education from Rowan University, she spent the next
13 years teaching Kindergarten through fifth grade working with children
with language delays and learning disabilities. She is certified in Early
Childhood Education, Elementary Education and a Teacher of the
Handicapped. Many summers were spent teaching her first love, preschool.
Mrs. Linden has been both a full time working mom and a stay at home
mom, and understands the challenges and positives of each! She first came
to RHCNS as a “helping mom” in 1995. When her youngest son graduated
to kindergarten in 2000, she began teaching a three-year-old afternoon
class. A former volunteer at the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed
Association, she brings her love of nature into the classroom.
Mrs. Vinu Gopalakrishnan or “Mrs. G” to the kids (Assistant Teacher) has her
Masters in Commerce. She moved to the USA 15 years ago from India. She
lived in Minnesota for 4 years and also spent a year in Australia. When she
returned to the US she lived in Connecticut where she was introduced to a
Cooperative school for her son. He loved it and so did she and she started
substitute teaching at his school from 2001-2003.
She is the mom to 2 kids, ages 12 and 7 years old. Her daughter attended
preschool at Rocky Hill Cooperative Nursery School from 2007-2009 and
Mrs. G worked as a substitute. She is now an Assistant Teacher with the
school.
Mrs. Lisa Stock (Assistant Teacher) has a Bachelor’s degree in Art and
Anthropology from Hartwick College. She moved to NJ from Colorado in
2000. In addition to her cross country traveling, Mrs. Stock has traveled
abroad to Ireland, Africa and France.
She is married and has 2 children, a son who is 13 years old and a daughter
who is 8 years old. Both attended Rocky Hill Cooperative Nursery School.
This is her first year as an assistant teacher at RHCNS and is very excited
about it. She loves crafts and children's literature and wants to share both
with the students!
Montgomery Avenue
P.O. Box K
Rocky Hill, NJ 08553
APPLICATION FORM
Name of child:
_____________________________________________________________
(Last)
Sex: Male
(First)
or
(Middle)
Female
Date of Birth: ___________
Please indicate class preference:
_____ 3-Day (must be 3 by December 31) M, W, F (9:30am-12:30pm)
_____ Pre-K (must be 4 by December 31) M, T, W, Th (9:30am-12:30 pm)
Our Pre-K program is designed for children entering kindergarten the following
year.
Father’s name: _______________________________________________
Mother’s name: _______________________________________________
Home address: _______________________________________________
Home phone:
______________________________________________
Email address:
______________________________________________
Cell phone:
______________________________________________
Do you have any other children?
____________________________________________________________
Name
Birthdate
Sex
Name
Birthdate
Sex
Have any of your other children previously attended Rocky Hill Co-op?
Yes________ No______ If yes, which year(s)? ______________________
How did you hear about Rocky Hill Co-op?
_____________________________________________________________
Why did you choose Rocky Hill Co-op?
_____________________________________________________________
Parent Signature:____________________________________________________
Date:_________________________________________________________
This application form, accompanied by a NON-REFUNDABLE registration fee
of $75.00, should be mailed or given to the registrar listed below. Please
make checks payable to ROCKY HILL COOPERATIVE NURSERY SCHOOL.
Randi Kydonieus
Registrar
57 Cambridge Road
Kendall Park, NJ 08824
Montgomery Avenue
P.O. Box K
Rocky Hill, NJ 08553
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
1.
Rocky Hill Cooperative Nursery School is entirely run by parents.
Traditionally, this cooperation has included 4-5 days per school year in
which either parent of an enrolled student attends class, assists the
teacher with a variety of duties, and brings the snack for the day. This
responsibility is called "being a helping parent." Parents will have the
opportunity to opt out of this responsibility for a fee.
2.
All parents, even those who choose to opt out of helping duties, will be
required to participate in the cooperative nature of the school by being
on 2 committees, occasionally volunteering to drive and chaperone on
field trips when possible, and providing snack on helping days. Those
opting out will still be responsible for bringing snack on the days that
ordinarily would have been their helping days.
3.
All children MUST be toilet trained by the time they start school in
September.
4.
Parents may NOT bring other children, older or younger, when they
are the helping parent. Other children also may not attend field trips.
5.
Helping parents MUST be a parent or legal guardian, NOT another
relative or friend.
6.
The school's by-laws state that parents who withdraw their child from
school, for reasons other than health, are responsible for tuition until a
replacement is found for that child.
7.
Classroom visits may be arranged by contacting the registrar, Randi
Kydonieus at 732-297-3724 or 2yutes@gmail.com.
2013-2014 Tuition Schedule
Registration:
Registration Fee: $75 per child (due with enrollment)
Tuition Schedule for 3-Day Class
Total Tuition: $3,200
Activity Fee**: $100 per child (due July 1st)
April 15th: $500 non-refundable deposit
July 1st: $1167 includes $100 activity fee
Sept 1st: $1067
Dec 1st: $566
Tuition Schedule for Pre-K Class
Total Tuition: $4,230
Activity Fee**: $100 per child (due July 1st)
April 15th: $500 non-refundable deposit
July 1st: $1510 includes $100 activity fee
Sept 1st: $1410
Dec 1st: $910
** The Activity Fee will include all field trips, Music Together classroom
supplies and Class t-shirt for field trips.
The opt-out fees for the 3-Day and Pre-K classes will be $350, payable with
the first semester’s tuition payment combined as one check.