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A cooperative preschool. A loving and supportive community.
Come Play With Us
-Dr. Becky Bailey, Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline
- Dr. Becky Bailey
Friends of Mine is the oldest, continually running cooperative preschool in the Asheville area. As a parent cooperative, Friends of Mine is owned, operated, administered, and maintained by the parents on a non-profit basis. Parents serve as educational assistants in the classroom, participate in fundraising, serve as Board members, and participate in parent/teacher meetings.
A parent cooperative forms a triangular relationship where the children, the parents, and the teacher all learn from one another.
Each family is responsible for working one day a week so, every day we have 1 teacher, an assistant teacher and 1 or 2 parent assistants in the classroom.
Who We Are...
We believe children learn best through play. At FOM, kids learn through "hands on, minds on" activities. They participate in center time free play, morning circle routines including group songs, theater, yoga, group pretend, dance parties, art, journal time, and lots of outside play.
We believe in the precepts of Conscious Discipline. The skills and methods outlined in the book, Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline by Becky Bailey are about "loving guidance", connection, AND modeling calming down before addressing behaviors. Each family receives a copy of the book and support in learning the methods.
What We Believe...
My name is Kristie Karlof, and I have been delighted to be working and playing with children much of my life. Post-college, I dove into the field of autism, and I worked with children of all levels on the spectrum. At that time, I also became trained as a Kripalu Yoga Teacher and began part time farming. Just before I became a mom, I received my Masters in Psychology. And now, I have a 5 and a 7 year old who inspire and challenge me every day. I am thrilled to be bringing all that I have learned to the children and families at Friends of Mine Preschool.
Our Teacher...
We are a school, but more accurately, we are a community. We seek to create a safe, inclusive space where children can explore and learn from one another. We sing, move, create, practice yoga, garden, and use our imaginations together. As much as the children are finding their way and developing greater social-emotional awareness, parents are coming together to support them and also one another. This is a strong community that goes beyond the classroom.
Community...
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We thrive on working together with each other to operate our school. Each family is required to assist in the classroom one day a week, as well as, do a "job" outside of the school day. We have potlucks and events throughout the year. We come together to support each other and the children.
Community
The 2024-25 monthly fee rate is:
3 Day = $375
4 Day = $440
Please note that there is a $200 non-refundable enrollment fee and additional fees may apply for field trips and extracurricular programs. Monthly fee rates tend to change from year to year.
Cost
FOM Preschool admits children from 2.5 to 5 years old. Selection of our children and families is based on our commitment to balance each class by age, gender, and cultural diversity, and to foster a community of families who are enthusiastic about being involved in a cooperative preschool.
Admissions
- wren cook
- jordan barker
- Anna Pizzo
- Julia Haverstock
And it's fun too! Everyone plays and makes art and learns so much.
