Friends of Mine

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A cooperative preschool. A loving and supportive community.

Come Play With Us

Treat a child as though they already are the person they are capable of becoming.

-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 current 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. 


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

Friends of Mine Cooperative Preschool has been one of the best experiences for my family! Both of my children thrived because their social and emotional learning was the priority in this small, supportive, play-based community. As a parent of young children, I loved seeing them grow alongside their friends, and I made lasting friendships of my own. 

- jordan barker

FOM is the community that our family was seeking for a long time and each week I feel like I learn as much, working with other parents and children, as my child does.

- Anna Pizzo

I don’t think I would have made it through 2020 without Friends of Mine. It’s a true community where you get to know the kids and parents. There’s a great mix of free play and creative projects, with a constant flow of new songs, toys and celebrations.”

- Julia Haverstock

Friends of Mine preschool embodies everything about community. It's hard work and the payoff is invaluable. There's no way to measure or place monetary value on the relationships built here. Kiddos and parents alike thrive and experience support here. To see my children have the experience of being seen and loved by so many folks has been incredible.
And it's fun too! Everyone plays and makes art and learns so much. 

FAQ

what is a cooperative preschool?

what is a cooperative preschool?

a cooperative preschool is an early childhood education program that is operated by the families enrolled, in collaboration with the teacher and assistant teacher. at our co-op, parents play an active role in their child's learning experience, assisting in the classroom with direct care of the children on a rotating basis. this model fosters a strong sense of community, allowing families to build relationships and share responsibilities.

what responsibilities do parents have?

what responsibilities do parents have?

parents work in the classroom on a two weeks on/one week off schedule, assisting the teacher and assistant teacher directly with the children and the flow of the school day. they also have an assigned job outside of the school day. some of the possible jobs are: launderer, maintenance, craft supporter, and event coordinator. in addition to this, families volunteer to either host a pot luck once a season, or help coordinate a classroom holiday celebration. some parents serve on the board of the school as the board chair, treasurer, and enrollment coordinator/secretary.

what is play based learning?

what is play based learning?

play-based learning is an approach to early childhood education that uses play as the primary way for children to explore, experiment, and understand the world around them, through hands-on activities like building, storytelling, and imaginative play, children develop cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills in a natural and engaging way. This method fosters creativity, problem-solving, and a love for learning by allowing children to follow their interests and make meaningful connections through play.

what is conscious discipline?

what is conscious discipline?

Conscious discipline is an approach to social-emotional development that emphasizes connection, positive communitcation, and uses modeling and guidance instead of punishment. by creating a safe and supportive environment, conscious discipline fosters empathy and cooperation, empowering children to acknowledge, process, and regulate their emotions.

how does your preschool prepare my child for kindergarten?

how does your preschool prepare my child for kindergarten?

we believe preschool is a time for play. our preschool has periods of unstructured time allowing them to dive deeply into play and all of the benefits of child-led, open-minded exploration in a group. in addition, in our program, children have the opportunity to practice sitting and listening in daily circle time, transitioning as a group, exploring self-expression and developing fine motor skills in art projects, taking responsibility for their own belongings, and taking care of their own personal needs. we incorporate elements of mindfulness and conscious discipline into the day to support their social-emotional learning.

child-led, open-ended play prepares children for kindergarten by supporting their social-emotional skills, critical thinking, and a love of learning and exploration. as children navigate play, they learn how to take turns, ask for space, and communicate their needs and wants. their self-awareness improves as they develop self-regulation and impulse control. as children initiate play, they solve problems and make decisions, which empowers them to become confident and motivated learners. as children navigate different play situations, they develop cognitive flexibility, and it inspires further language development. with strong social-emotional skills, critical thinking, and communication skills, children will be ready for the more structured learning of kindergarten.

what ages do you enroll and what is the class size?

what ages do you enroll and what is the class size?

we enroll ages 2.5 to 5 years old. there is one class, which has a maximum of 12 children per day and a maximum of 13 families enrolled in the school.

what are your hours?

what are your hours?

monday - thursday  8:45am -12:45pm

what is the daily routine?

what is the daily routine?

drop off occurs from 8:45-9:00am. we have snack, circle time, indoor free play time, outdoor free play time, and lunch daily. pick up is at 12:45pm. activities consist of: art projects, movement, music, building, imaginative play, sensory bin, reading books, storytelling, and more.

does this educational model support a family of two parents who work full time?

does this educational model support a family of two parents who work full time?

our school operates best with families who have flexibility. because each family has unique needs and changes that occur with the ebb and flow of life, parents often fill in as needed throughout the year and can be asked to substitute on short notice.

i am interested in enrolling. what next?

i am interested in enrolling. what next?

email our enrollment coordinator at enrollment4fom@gmail.com to arrange a school visit.

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1 Edwin Place
Asheville, NC 28801

Friends of Mine Preschool

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