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February 2007: Pre-kindergarteners at the Watchung Cooperative Preschool delivered a cargo of post-holiday cheer this week to children at a regional pediatric hospital.

The 4- and 5-year-olds at the Upper Montclair school used the proceeds of a bake sale to buy toys on a wish list for children on the pediatric ward of St. Joseph Hospital in Paterson.

Teachers Pat Martin and Christi Porter helped the children organize and run the sale, which took place shortly before winter break. With the $104 raised, the children were able to buy every item on their target list of toys, said Porter.

“I was very touched by the children’s overall enthusiasm toward the entire project,” Porter said, adding that some of the students were donating toys of their own in addition to the ones purchased through the bake sale. “It is extremely rewarding to hear that many of the things we are doing in school are carrying over to home.”

Located at the corner of Mount Hebron and Valley roads in Upper Montclair, Watchung Cooperative is a nonsectarian school offering classes for children aged 2 1/2 - 5.

Accreditation milestone celebrated at Watchung Cooperative Preschool

Monday, November 29, 2004: Staff and parents at the Watchung Cooperative Preschool are celebrating key recognition from a national organization of early childhood professionals.

The school has achieved accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s leading organization of early childhood educators. Staffers received congratulations at a recent NAEYC conference in East Brunswick.

“This is tremendously gratifying for us and for the school,” said director Mona Bucceri. “The NAEYC accreditation is a great honor. We’ve been part of the Montclair community for more than 35 years, and it’s wonderful to have this national vote of confidence in our program.”

At the NAEYC conference, Watchung Cooperative staffers heard presentations on language development, music and reading development, preschool inclusion and positive behavior management. Attending from the school were Bucceri and teachers Susan Cilento, Pat Martin, Christi Porter and Marva Banfield. Staffers wore special badges signifying their school’s newly accredited status.

To earn NAEYC accreditation, a school conducts a self-study to determine how well it meets the standards. The school is then observed by independent, professional validators and reviewed by a national panel.

“The NAEYC accreditation was a major goal for our school, and the staff was extremely dedicated to making it happen,” said Catherine Angus, president of the Watchung Cooperative Preschool board of directors. “We have always had great pride in the quality of our programs, which now have been recognized nationally by the NAEYC.”

The school plans to host an open house early next year to mark the accreditation and familiarize members of the community with its programs for children aged 2 1/2 through PreK.

Watchung Cooperative Preschool was founded as part of an early childhood education program at the Watchung Congregational Church. In the 1970s, the preschool became nonsectarian and relocated to its current home in the Montclair Heights Reformed Church at Mount Hebron and Valley roads. For information, call 973-783-4535 or visit www.watchung-coop.org.

Press Release: Church, Preschool Join Hands on Food Drive

November, 2004: A vanload of much-needed foodstuffs was the result when members of the Montclair Heights Reformed Church recently collaborated with families at Watchung Cooperative Preschool to collect food donations for the holiday season.

The boxes of nonperishable food were targeted for the Bessie Green Community of the North Reformed Church in Newark, a sister congregation of Montclair Heights Reformed.

The drive took place over the course of a week at Montclair Heights Reformed, located at 71 Mount Hebron Road. The church has also been the home of Watchung Cooperative Preschool for nearly three decades.

Press Release: Tour Of Iris Gardens

The Watchung Co-Op Pre-K class toured the Presby Iris Gardens. (July 2001)

Watchung Co-op Pre-K students enjoyed the Presby Iris Gardens in full bloom, received a guided tour, and spent some time sketching the flowers.

The Watchung Co-op offers classes for children ages 2½ through Pre-K. As a cooperative, parents take an active part in their child's first school experience by assisting in the classroom and with other aspects of the school.

For more information about the Watchung Co-op call 783-4535 or visit www.watchungco-op.org.

Press Release: Class of 2000 Reunion

A group of Watchung Co-Op Class of 2000 alumni, siblings and teachers gathered for a reunion. (July 2001)

Alumni, siblings, and teachers gathered recently at the Montclair home of Laura, Stephen, Melanie and Robin Goffman for a Watchung Co-op Pre-K Class of 2000 Reunion. Those in attendence included: Devon DeFlora, Robin Goffman, Elizabeth Manolis, Caroline Deehan, Kate Shaw, Annie Hurley, Cole Futterman, Connor Kennedy, Pre-K teacher Susan Cilento, Nick Manolis, and Director Mona Bucceri.

The Watchung Co-op offers classes for children ages 2½ through Pre-K. As a cooperative, parents take an active part in their child's first school experience by assisting in the classroom and with other aspects of the school.

For more information about the Watchung Co-op call 783-4535 or visit www.watchungco-op.org.

Press Release: 1967 Class Reunion

A committee of parents is researching the Watchung Co-Op's history and seeking graduates of its inaugural class of 1967-68. (January 2001)

June 1968: the inaugural class of the Watchung Cooperative Preschool: Alice Velez, Meg Roosma, Staci Iannuzelli, Susie Voight, Janis Joseph, Liz Down, Lindsay Evans, Robbie Wright, Scott Leard, Johnny Romann, Robbie Skinner, Jimmy Van Dyk, Billy Munro, Danny Cobleigh, Dennis Lamb, J.R. Connell, Eddie Kemper, John O’Hara, Beth MacGregor and Chris Wells.

A committee of parents is researching the school’s history and is seeking graduates of the Watchung Co-op (originally called the Watchung Church Cooperative Nursery School) or parents of graduates. Those interested in sharing memories of the school are invited to call 783-4535.

The committee is also looking for photographs from various school years; originals will be scanned and quickly returned. The completed history will be available on the Watchung Co-op’s website, scheduled for completion this summer.

In September 1967 the school began as the Watchung Church Cooperative Nursery School, located within that church at 143 Watchung Avenue. After a fire at the church and sale of the property, in 1975 the school was relocated to its present location at the corner of Valley Road and Mt. Hebron Road, leasing space from the Montclair Heights Reformed Church. The school was renamed the Watchung Cooperative Preschool and ceased to have a religious affiliation.

The Watchung Cooperative Preschool continues to offer classes for ages 2½ through Pre-K. As a cooperative, parents take an active part in their child's first school experience by assisting in the classroom.

For more information on current classes at the Watchung Co-op or to share information on the school’s history, call 783-4535.

Press Release: 25 Years at Montclair Heights Reformed Church

Watchung Co-Op Preschool and Montclair Heights Reformed Church began their 25th year together.

Upper Montclair, NJ: It was the first day of school, for the 25th time, at 71 Mount Hebron Road. On Monday, the Watchung Co-op Preschool began a new school year in its home at the Montclair Heights Reformed Church. Although not religiously-affiliated with the church, the families and students of the preschool have come to know the church's sunny classroom space and meticulously maintained grounds as their home over the last quarter-century. The school was started 34 years ago in a Watchung Avenue location and moved to the church in 1975.

The Watchung Cooperative Preschool offers classes for ages 2½ through Pre-K. As a cooperative, parents take an active part in their child's first school experience by assisting in the classroom. Some openings remain for this year's classes - including morning sessions.

For more information on the Watchung Cooperative Preschool, call 783-4535 or visit www.watchungco-op.org.

Sunday services at Montclair Heights Reformed Church are at 10:30am. Sunday school begins at 10:30am for grades K-5, and at 9:15am for 6th grade. Youth group meets on 1st and 3rd Sundays at 6:30pm. Weekly Adult Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 7:30pm. The pastor is the Reverend Beverly B. Sullivant. The church telephone number is 746-2656 and the email address is mtcchurch@aol.com.

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