Allentown
Cooperative Christian
Preschool
23 Church Street ~ Allentown, NJ 08501
(609) 259 0885
Director: Robin Bruins
Established 1980 ~ Licensed by DYFS
Sponsored by the Allentown United Methodist Church
Sponsored by the Allentown United Methodist Church
Your Subtitle text
About Us
A love of teaching and a desire to promote a love for learning brought a dozen friends together to create the Allentown Cooperative Nursery School in 1980. Six years later the school was modified to meet state requirements and became the Allentown Cooperative Christian Preschool. “Our Board felt that the name change reflected the nature of our school. We have always taught within a framework built on Christian principles, encouraging children and their families to demonstrate loving commitment to each other and their environment,” explained Director Robin Bruins.
“My first teaching position was as a high school teacher of vocational agriculture which uses a hands-on approach. Parents were a vital part of our program, so the transition to preschool was an easy one.” Robin recalled. “Children of all ages learn best when lessons are meaningful to them. That’s why our classrooms are filled with materials that stimulate exploration and discussion,” described the Director of this cooperative preschool. As a teacher for thirty-two years, Robin has also been an enthusiastic student, studying educational methods from across the globe. The Waldorf’s view of educating the whole child, the Montessori goal of finding meaningful, practical work, and the Reggio-Emilia principle that teachers and children are partners in the educational process are all part of this preschool. Students are exposed to a wide variety of activities from cooking to skiing, sign language and scientific experiments. Quiet puzzle time is sandwiched between free play and writing activities. Parents are an integral part of this process, taking turns in the classroom on a rotating basis, approximately once a month.
“My first experience at this preschool was as a parent in 1981. Now, as the Director/Head Teacher, it is my privilege to be a part of each family’s educational journey with their child,” Robin commented.
“My first teaching position was as a high school teacher of vocational agriculture which uses a hands-on approach. Parents were a vital part of our program, so the transition to preschool was an easy one.” Robin recalled. “Children of all ages learn best when lessons are meaningful to them. That’s why our classrooms are filled with materials that stimulate exploration and discussion,” described the Director of this cooperative preschool. As a teacher for thirty-two years, Robin has also been an enthusiastic student, studying educational methods from across the globe. The Waldorf’s view of educating the whole child, the Montessori goal of finding meaningful, practical work, and the Reggio-Emilia principle that teachers and children are partners in the educational process are all part of this preschool. Students are exposed to a wide variety of activities from cooking to skiing, sign language and scientific experiments. Quiet puzzle time is sandwiched between free play and writing activities. Parents are an integral part of this process, taking turns in the classroom on a rotating basis, approximately once a month.
“My first experience at this preschool was as a parent in 1981. Now, as the Director/Head Teacher, it is my privilege to be a part of each family’s educational journey with their child,” Robin commented.
Robin "Mrs. B" Bruins
Director, Allentown Preschool
Current Research
“The earlier in a child’s educational process parent involvement begins, the more powerful the effects.” (Cotton,K., Wilkelund,K., Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory School Improvement Research Series In Parent Involvement in Education.)
“Parental involvement is an extremely fundamental predictor of academic achievement,” William Jeynes. Mr. Jeynes spoke at the White House Summit on the Education of Inner City Children in Washington DC in 2008.
“The earlier in a child’s educational process parent involvement begins, the more powerful the effects.” (Cotton,K., Wilkelund,K., Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory School Improvement Research Series In Parent Involvement in Education.)
“Parental involvement is an extremely fundamental predictor of academic achievement,” William Jeynes. Mr. Jeynes spoke at the White House Summit on the Education of Inner City Children in Washington DC in 2008.
Hours:
- Our 2 year old Program and Mommy & Me runs
from 9:00 am until 11 am on Tuesday and Thursday - Our 3 & 4's year old Program runs
from 9:00 am until 11:30 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday - Enrichment for 3, 4 & Kindergarten-ers runs
from 11:30-2:00pm on Wednesday. This is a non-coop program and students bring lunch.
Copyright . Allentown Cooperative Christian Preschool. All rights reserved.
