Catonsville Cooperative Preschool

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Catonsville Co-op in the News

When the region shut down in March 2020, the Catonsville Cooperative Preschool kept connecting with students and their families thanks to Ms. Karen's Virtual Circle Times.

Hairston, Kim. (2020, April 03). Catonsville preschool teacher maintains virtual contact with students. The Baltimore Sun.

What Makes Our Co-op Unique

Cooperative preschools are special because they allow parents to be actively involved in their child's first school experience. Parents are able to participate in their child's classroom monthly, become friends with the other parents who are interacting with their children, know exactly what their child is learning in the classroom, and have a say in everything that happens in the classroom and school. What makes our co-op unique is we have been teaching children through play for over 70 years. Which means we have generations of families returning to the Catonsville Cooperative Preschool to ensure that their children are able to have the same fantastic childhood Co-op experience.

Some of our favorite experiences include:

Our Creative Play area is full of manipulatives, costumes, physical challenges, and games that change every month according to the theme
Children can use real tools to make their own creations at our Workbench center
Each day children can make an art project based on the theme that day
The children help us plant our School Garden; then they observe the growth, pick the lettuce, and enjoy eating a salad they helped to grow
Parents become part of the larger Co-op Community through participation at school, our potluck, and social events
Throughout the year, classes attend field trips to the zoo, farm, Maryland Science Center, and more! Our PreKindergarten class even attends a live arts performance
We bring the world into our school with visitors like a yoga instructor and the dentist
In our PreKindergarten program, the class celebrates Kindness Fridays by reading books about kindness and learning about other cultures throughout the world
You! You get to take an active role in your child’s preschool education. Parents are encouraged to come in and lead a small lesson in their area of expertise – we’ve had a physical trainer, musicians, and even a pirate visit our class!

Upcoming Events

Apr 15, 2023

Housekeeping
May 18, 2023

Board Meeting
May 20, 2023

Closing of the Closet
May 23, 2023

Final General Meeting and Potluck

What Parents Are Saying

We LOVED our time at the Catonsville Co-op! Coming to the co-op gave me wonderful memories of the brief precious time during my daughter's first school experience. I wasn't quite ready to send her off and completely let go, and the co-op program offered the perfect solution. I loved every day that I was able to work in the classroom and participate with my daughter. Wonderful, wonderful experience!

Jessica R.

The dedication and personal attention provided from the teachers and parent helpers created a safe nurturing environment that helped our child become comfortable in a classroom setting. The curriculum was fantastic and included play and advocated creativity. We truly loved the Catonsville Co-op and hope other families get to enjoy this opportunity.

The Dunham Family

"I attended the Catonsville Cooperative for Kindergarten back in 1962. My daughter was able to walk in my footsteps and what that shows me is that it's hard to improve on perfection."

Dave A.

The Catonsville Co-op enabled my child to gently transition to a group educational setting, and establish neighborhood friendships that last to this day.

Siri S.

Catonsville Co-op was an amazing first school experience for both of my daughters. Creative play themes varied from post office to photography booth. Volunteering in the classroom was always fun. We made life long friends during our time there.

Ginger A.

We were brand new to Catonsville when our daughter began preschool at the co-op, and loved instantly being welcomed into a community of families who loved learning through experiential activities and play. The co-op was a great foundation for the creativity and learning our daughter continues to do to this day

Laura J.

The Catonsville Co-op is much more than a preschool! It's a community where we could all share those amazing first few years of school, making great friends along the way. My oldest is still in a Girl Scout troop with her friends she made in the co-op 3's class. I will always cherish the memories we made there together!

Karen S.

The Catonsville Coop was a fantastic experience for my family. Both of my children went through the program (the 2’s, 3’s and 4’s) and they have maintained these friendships to this very day (now ages 10 and 8). Not only did they make lasting friendships, but so did I! Being an involved parent in the school bonds you to the other parents that are working towards the same goal (creating an educational and nurturing environment for your child’s first school experience). I also believe the school is a great way to transition from home to Kindergarten – working in the classroom a few times a month can provide your child an extra sense of security as they explore new classmates and ideas! We still look through our preschool yearbooks and talk about our memories. I highly recommend it for anyone that wants to share in their child’s first school experience!

Beth P.

My daughter went to Catonsville Co-op for pre-school and prekindergarten a few years back. It was a wonderful experience. She got an early start socializing with other children to prepare her for school situations, and she learned a great deal while she was there. I feel that enrolling her there, instead of a regular daycare, has given her a head start academically. The school is very nice and the staff is wonderful. I highly recommend it to any parent that is looking for a great early start school for their child.

Candace C.

One of the things I liked best about the coop was the community that was formed since we worked together. Because of that, we knew all of the kids and parents and what the school day was like. It was a special time.

Andrea R.