Crown Hill Cooperative Preschool (CHCP) is a supportive, educational space where parents work alongside teachers to shape our children’s first classroom experience. CHCP is a inclusive environment to learn social, emotional, and intellectual skills through cooperative and creative play.
Preschool workdays for caregivers is a time to be engaged with the kids. Adults help preschool teachers by supervising outdoor play, ensuring safety measures are followed, supporting class transitions to the next activity, and maintaining a supportive environment for exploration and play.
Monthly caregiver meetings led by a North Seattle College parent educator address child development stages, common parental challenges, and provide a supportive space to ask questions. Together, adults build self-confidence and parental competencies together, learning from educators as well as each other.
Crown Hill Cooperative Preschool is part of the North Seattle College (NSC) Cooperative Preschool program. There are over 40 North Seattle College Cooperative Preschool classes held at 11 convenient locations in North Seattle. Each school is an independent, non-profit entity run by skilled preschool teachers, children’s caregivers, and a professional educator from NSC.
For more information on North Seattle College Cooperative Preschool programs, please visit: northseattlecoops.org
Otters (12-24 months) meets one day per week with caregivers and children in attendance. This a great way to get out of the house with your little one and meet other parents in your neighborhood. Your child begins to socialize with their peers while you build your supportive community. Friendships made here last a lifetime. Otters is led by Teacher Naomi.
Orcas (24-36 months) meets two days per week: one drop-off day and one caregiver workday. Our outdoor play yard is a designed for kids of all energy levels. From the reading corner to our play structures, your Orca will have a vibrant and safe space to use those new motor skill and engage their interests. Outdoor play is followed by snack time, indoor activities, and concludes with Circle Time with Teacher Naomi.
Eagles (36+ months) meets three days per week: two drop-off days and one caregiver workday. This class follows the same structure as Orcas with longer class times. Led by Teacher Lauren, Eagles learn through play, build confidence in their skills, and gain social-emotional awareness of themselves and others. Pre-K extension adds an additional day of preschool with curriculum and activites designed to teach foundational knowledge as well as develop self-reliance and self-advocacy skills.
Teacher Naomi Sunderland (she/her) leads our Otters and Orcas classes. This year, she begins her lifelong dream of teaching preschool. Teacher Naomi has years of experience caring for children and a passion for early childhood development. Teacher Naomi lives in the Greenwood/Phinney Ridge neighborhood with her two daughters, dog, husband and parents who live in the MIL unit of their home. She is excited to learn and grow with you all.
“My favorite part of preschool is the gift of being one of the first teacher’s in a child’s life outside of their home. Providing a safe environment to help nurture growth as well as a love for learning and exploration is truly one of the greatest joys I can think of.”
Teacher Naomi
Teacher Lauren Jensen (she/her) leads the Eagles Class and Pre-K extension. She has wanted to be a teacher ever since she was in kindergarten. Her childhood ambition has flourished into a career in education and librarianship. Her years of experience teaching kindergarten, second grade, and Pre-K grades as a teacher-librarian ensures our Eagles and Pre-K will be well-prepared for life as a kindergartener. Teacher Lauren has three kids, four chickens, and a dog. She lives just down the hill in North Beach and is breast cancer survivor.
“My favorite part of preschool is introducing children to school in a loving and inclusive environment with a child- centered approach and a heart for curiosity in others and in the natural world.”
Teacher Lauren
Teacher Erin B. Bernau (she/her), MSW, LICSW, is a parent educator through North Seattle College’s cooperative preschools and supports our community at Crown Hill Co-op Preschool. Erin is a licensed clinical social worker with more than twenty years of experience working with children and families. In 2022, she received the Val Donato Award for Parent Education. In recent years, she worked as a parent educator at Seattle Central College’s Parent/Child Center and as a facilitator for Listening Mothers groups.
Erin is an active volunteer speaker for PEPS groups and has been a volunteer group facilitator for The Healing Center. She earned her B.A. from Yale University and her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Washington. Learn more about Erin’s private practice here: erinbernau.com
“My favorite thing about Crown Hill is the sense of community that our families find right in the middle of our busy city. I have seen caregivers and kids grow so close and support each other through life’s transitions and challenges. I love that our young students are learning that they are loved and appreciated by their larger community.”
Teacher Erin
We have 3 classes serving children from 12 months until they are ready to start Kindergarten.
As a Nature Explore-certified preschool, all of our classes emphasize a welcoming, structured outdoor environment that emphasizes child-led exploration. Weather permitting, all children spend time outside on a daily basis, and the amount of time outside increases as children get older. In all classes, the day starts with large motor play where children climb, slide, balance and jump their way to better physical health, coordination and strength in a fun and inviting outdoor setting.
After snack time or lunch, the children read books until everyone is finished eating. Then they have Discovery Time in the classroom. STEM and creative learning activities will be set up for the children. It is a time to explore a variety of areas that are adult-guided, child-centered activities. During this time the children will engage with the adults and other children in activities that are play-based with an emergent curriculum. These areas will include: art, fine motor, building, reading, imaginary play, playdough and science.
The preschool day concludes with Circle Time where the children and caregivers sing songs and listen to stories led by Teachers Naomi or Teacher Lauren.
Preschoolers making stepping stones.
The Otters class meets on Wednesdays from 9:00 am – 11:00 am.
Toddler class hosts up to 20 children ranging from 12 to 24 months old. Children are eligible if they’re 12 months old on or before August 31st.
Our preschool is a fun place for you and your toddler to learn and grow. From painting to pretending, taking turns to tower building, each child will have the opportunity to explore. There are many experiences for their minds to make new connections about the world around them.
Parents attend class with their children, making this a great opportunity to ease your child into a preschool environment at a young age and meet parents with children of similar ages.
Preschoolers harvesting carrots.
The Orcas class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 11:00 am.
This class hosts up to 20 children ranging from 24-35 months old. Children are eligible if they’re 24 months old on or before August 31st.
Our preschool is a fun place for you and your toddler to learn and grow. From painting to pretending, taking turns to tower building, each child will have the opportunity to explore many experiences as their minds make new connections about the world around them.
Parents attend one class a week with their child and drop off one day a week. Children attend both classes each week with the age-appropriate goal of separating from their parent.
Eagles playing in the gravel canoe.
The Eagles class meets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm
This class hosts up to 18 children starting at 36 months and continuing until the child is ready to start Kindergarten. Children are eligible if they’re 36 months old on or before August 31st.
Parents attend one class a week with their child, and drop off 2 days a week. Children attend three classes each week with the age-appropriate goal of separating from their parent. Board and parent education meetings are held one evening a month throughout the school year (children do not attend these meetings).
Teacher Lauren leading Pre-K art activity.
Eagles Pre-K meets from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm on Mondays, and is an optional extension for families preparing for Kindergarten.
At Crown Hill Explorers’ Pre-K program, we dive deep into our natural environment, integrating science, language, and play. Leveraging our extended hours, we’re committed to honing our students’ scientific prowess, and we’ve chosen an exceptional curriculum for this mission: MESS or Marvelous Explorations through Science and Stories. This comprehensive program is a brainchild of The Florida Museum of Natural History and the University of Florida.
MESS isn’t about memorizing facts. It’s about lighting a fire of curiosity, laying a robust foundation for knowledge, and cultivating budding scientific thinkers. At its heart, MESS believes:
We are thrilled to offer MESS to our CoOp families. It promises a harmonious fusion of a play-based curriculum with the robustness of a science and language structure that MESS brings to the table.
One time, non-refundable
$107/month for 10 installments
$57.42/quarter for three quarters
One time, non-refundable
Co Op should be affordable for all families; financial aid is available.
One time, non-refundable
$158/month for 10 installments
$57.42/quarter for three quarters
One time, non-refundable
Co Op should be affordable for all families; financial aid is available.
One time, non-refundable
$245/month, for 10 installments; $73/month additional for PreK extension.
$57.42/quarter for three quarters
One time, non-refundable
Co Op should be affordable for all families; financial aid is available.
Crown Hill Cooperative Preschool is located at 2400 NW 85th St. Seattle, WA, 98117. The Preschool rents space in Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church. The preschool a Nature Explore certified outdoor classroom and play area with access to a daylight basement during inclement weather.
The school year follows that of Seattle Public Schools and the regular school holidays shall be observed.
Being a part of a cooperative school requires a time & commitment from each family. In return, families reap the rewards of a high-quality preschool, lower tuition rates, parenting support and lasting friendships. Co-Op parents are asked to:
On their work day, parents are assigned a specific responsibility as teachers aides in order to guide the children’s activities. Typically, this involves working at a specific station, such as the sandbox, play house or sensory table, and helping to make sure that the activity is both engaging and safe for the children involved.
Co-op parents are automatically enrolled as students in NSC Parent Education Program and receive three college credits each quarter. The parent educator attends preschool every week and leads a monthly evening education session addressing relevant family and school topics. In the Toddler classes, parent educators also lead weekly discussion groups during classroom time. Half of the Toddler parents attend parent education each week.
“The mission of the NSC Parent Education program is to promote the development of knowledge and skills for strong and healthy families.”
Parents are involved in their child’s early education experience by participating once a week in the parent-operated cooperative preschool where their child is enrolled and at a monthly evening parent-only meeting & class taught by the parent educator — an NSC faculty member. The instructor also advises and supports the parents as they practice the skills they are learning while being assistant teachers in their child’s preschool. Please visit the NSCC website for more information on all our cooperative preschools: http://coops.northseattle.edu
If you are looking for more information about Crown Hill Preschool classes please use the forms below to contact us…
