Outdoor and online enrollment is open!
Contact us for info.
Register now for the 2020-2021 school year.
This year we are happy to announce an all outdoor curriculum for our in-person classes, as well as online story times and Zoom meetups. Safety is our biggest concern this year, and we are doing everything we can to help stop germs and follow the new Department of Health guidelines.
In light of Tacoma Public Schools opening this fall to 100% virtual classes, we are offering an in-person all outdoor class to provide socialization/play opportunities for kindergarten-age (5 – 6 years old) children. This will be two days a week for two hours each day. One day a week class will be held at the preschool playground, and one day a week we will meet at a nearby public park.
With the switch to an outdoor only format, it’s more important than ever that all preschoolers arrive with weather appropriate gear (boots/coats/etc.) for the day. If obtaining outdoor gear presents a financial hardship, please reach out to our treasurer Lisa Clearman (northorchardtreasurer@gmail.
Classes start the week of September 14th, 2020. For Enrollment or Membership Questions e-mail us at: northorchardmembership@gmail.com. You may also leave a message on our answering service by calling 253-620-4004. Our membership chairperson will return your call with in 1-2 business days. We look forward to meeting you!
A cooperative preschool is a parent/child participation program. Parents enroll in a parent education program at Bates Technical College, and enroll their child in the cooperative preschool of their choice. While parents are enrolled in the program, they earn college credit in a continuing education program. (You do not have to be a college student to enroll your child at NOD!)
Bates-trained cooperative preschool teachers plan an enriched, fun and challenging curriculum for the children. The parents’ job is to help conduct the non-profit business of the preschool and assist in the classroom on a rotational basis as part of the laboratory experience.
The city Reggio Emilia in Italy is recognized worldwide for its innovative approach to education. Its signature educational philosophy has become known as the Reggio Emilia Approach, one which many preschool programs around the world have adopted.
The Reggio Emilia philosophy is based upon the following set of principles:
Children must have some control over the direction of their learning;
Children must be able to learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, seeing, and hearing;
Children have a relationship with other children and with material items in the world that children must be allowed to explore and
Children must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves.
The Reggio Emilia approach to teaching young children puts the natural development of children as well as the close relationships that they share with their environment at the center of its philosophy. The foundation of the Reggio Emilia approach lies in its unique view of the child. In this approach, there is a belief that children have rights and should be given opportunities to develop their potential.
“Influenced by this belief, the child is beheld as beautiful, powerful,
competent, creative, curious, and full of potential and ambitious desires.”
The child is also viewed as being an active constructor of knowledge. Rather than being seen as the target of instruction, children are seen as having the active role of an apprentice. This role also extends to that of a researcher. Much of the instruction at Reggio Emilia schools takes place in the form of projects where they have opportunities to explore, observe, hypothesize, question, and discuss to clarify their understanding. Children are also viewed as social beings and a focus is made on the child in relation to other children, the family, the teachers, and the community rather than on each child in isolation.
2s/3s Tue/Thur 9:30am – 10:30am
3s/4s Mon/Wed/Fri 9:30am – 11am
Pre-K Tue/Wed/Thu 1pm – 3pm
Kindergarten Enrichment Mon/Fri 1pm – 3pm
Virtual mixed-age class 30 mins 2x/week (day/time TBD)
2s/3s – $35/month + Bates fees
3s/4s – $70/month + Bates fees
Pre-K – $90/month + Bates fees
Kindergarten Enrichment – $70/month + Bates fees
Virtual mixed-age class – $35/month + Bates fees
One time registration fee: $45
Current Quarterly Bates fees
$31.14 (for the 2s/3s)
$46.68 (for the 3s/4s, PreK and Kindergarten Enrichment)
For Enrollment or Membership Questions: northorchardmembership@gmail.com
Black lives matter everyday. As a preschool our hearts ache knowing families anywhere are grieving. We know that it is never too early to teach our children to be anti-racist. Tacoma is a diverse community and at NOD we strive to create a space inclusive to all children and families. NOD Co-op operates under the umbrella of Bates Technical College including their Non-Discrimination Policy. Everyone working in our classrooms and volunteering at our events is responsible for understanding and complying with this policy.
Bates College is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and providing an educational and work environment free from discrimination. The college prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status and other legally protected statuses in the recruitment and admission of its students, in the administration of its education policies and programs, or in the recruitment of its faculty and staff. Bates College adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity laws and regulations.
All Bates College faculty, staff, students, contractors, consultants, and volunteers are responsible for understanding and complying with the Non-Discrimination Policy.