about
history | programs: little fishes & years two and three | teacher | cooperative responsibilities
Slippery Fish is a cooperative pre-preschool, run by parents and guided by a teacher, that serves children aged approximately 12 months to 3 1/2 years. For our Littlest Fishes, aged 12 to 18 months, we offer a chance to begin to socialize with other children, to explore independent play with and without a parent, and to encounter new activities and challenges in art, movement, and music. For our Years Two and Threes who are too young for most San Francisco preschools, we facilitate the deepening of social relationships, further acculturation to classroom cooperation, longer days full of joyful, enriching activities, and more independence due to a lower work commitment for the parent. All our fishes are free to experiment and follow their natural curiosity within our flexible, play-based structure.
Founded by four Potrero Hill families, Slippery Fish evolved from an Axis baby group in 2005 into a babysitting exchange playgroup in September of 2006. A First Five grant facilitated the move to a larger donated play space in Axis Cafe and inspired the group to formalize their structure so they could expand and share this resource with other neighbors in January of 2008. In May of 2009, Slippery Fish moved into its current home inside the Recess Urban Recreation space.
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Year One of our program, "Little Fishes," runs for four hours a week--3:15-5:15 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays--in our play space at Recess. This introduction year is totally parent-based--while our teacher may provide direction and guidance, she does not "teach" this session. Parents supervise one day per week and leave their child the other day with other parents; the parent:child ratio is 1:2. Siblings may accompany a parent who is supervising that day. While we hope your child will spend at least one year in our program (and that Little Fishes will become Year Twos and Year Threes!), we understand that life changes do happen. Please provide 30 days notice should your child need to leave the program for any reason.
Dues are $50/month but paid quarterly (at $150/quarter) in September, December, March, and June.
3:10 p.m.: Working parents arrive and set up
3:15 p.m.: Departing parents arrive with children. Free play and the "hello" song. Non-working parents depart.
3:45 p.m.: Story Time
4:15 p.m.: Snack
4:45 p.m.: Featured Activity (art, movement, dance)
5:10 p.m.: Bye-Bye song
5:15 p.m.: Hand off to non-working parents
The group meets Mondays in the Slippery Fish classroom and Wednesdays in the larger Recess play space (Recess is closed to the public on Wednesdays).
Our teacher provides curricular and operational guidance and is an important presence in the classroom; however, significant parent participation is required. Snack, supervisory, and other duties are rotated and each parent performs a co-op job. Parents work one in four days and the adult:child ratio is 1:3. Fishes may enroll two, three, or four days a week; operating hours are 9-12 M-F. Siblings may accompany a parent who is supervising that day. While we hope your child will spend at least one year in our program, we understand that life changes do happen. Please provide 30 days notice should your child need to leave the program for any reason.
Dues are $170/month for two days, $255/month for three days, $340/month for four days, but are paid quarterly ($510, $765 and $1020, respectively) in September, December, March, and June. Unless special exemption is requested, fishes must attend at least two days and no more than four days. We strongly encourage all fishes to enroll on Wednesdays.
8:55: Working parents arrive and set up in the large Recess play space (closed to the public till 9:30)
9:00: Departing parents arrive with children. Free play and the "hello" song. Non-working parents depart.
9:30: Song transition to classroom; free play
10:00: Snack
10:30: Story Time
11:15: Featured Activity in the Art or Movement Room
11:45: Songs or Parachute, Clean up, Bye-Bye Song
12:00: Hand off to non-working parents
The group meets Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in the Slippery Fish classroom and Wednesdays in the larger Recess playspace (Recess is closed to the public on Wednesdays).
Slippery Fish teacher Nicki McGrath has been working with children of all ages for the last fifteen years in San Francisco and upstate New York. She comes to Slippery Fish from Rocky Mountain Cooperative Preschool. Nicki sees teaching children as a great match for her talent and energy and draws from her experience in the arts to design creative projects as well as activities that keep children jumping, dancing, moving and learning about their capabilities. Nicki loves the idea of a cooperative program and feels it is beneficial in creating a large family-like environment for both parents and children. She looks forward to learning and growing with Slippery Fish.
Cooperatives require significant participation from parents. Parents work one in two days (for Little Fishes) or one in four days (for Years Two and Three), provide snack, activities, or stories as scheduled, perform a co-op job, attend general and parent education meetings, and support other parents by subbing or assisting with special projects.
é2009 Slippery Fish San Francisco