1. COOPTHE
SCOOP2010A N A N N U A L N E W S L E T T E R O F
NOCHILD LEFT INSIDEA P a r e n t ’s P e r s p e c t i v e
By: Veronica Kelly-Cash, Mommy to Aimee Cash (2)
Inman Park Cooperative Preschool 760 Edgewood Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30307 404-827-9796
You hear the words, No Child Left Inside, and it paints a vivid picture of how
far we’ve strayed from the memories of our youth. For me, I was instantly
transported back to endless adventures running barefoot outdoors. Fantasies
of becoming best friends with Huck Finn as I climbed trees, explored mud pits,
and captured any living thing that would surrender to my hands – tadpoles,
baby frogs, guppies, turtles, etc. I loved the outdoors and wanted to make sure
that I exposed our daughter to that same experience. Except…(1) we live in a
city,(2) we don’t have a lake in our backyard… or the Florida Everglades across the
street, and (3) this is 2010, not the 1970s when there were less things to worry
about. I was embarrassed to admit that I had become a product of my
environment… afraid of the adventure for fear that our daughter might get hurt.
Then I discovered IPCP and heard the magic words… No Child Left Inside. It was as
if they knew the words to rekindle that adventurous little girl spirit.
Turning Concept into Reality…
The minute I heard what a typical day would entail, I couldn’t wait for my daughter
to have the experiences that they talked about. But then… there was my first
parent-teacher day where I got to see everything in action and I became the parent
that just couldn’t stop themselves. I was worried that our daughter was running too
fast in the Wee OC and would trip over something. I was worried about her climbing
onto the play structure for fear of her falling. The worst was when it was raining and
I thought the kids should come inside but, they donned their raincoats and rain
boots and went out in the rain. Next thing I knew, I became“that”parent herding
the kids away from the giant mud puddle. But then, one decided to jump in… and
then another. And the giggles that ensued reminded me of some of the most
memorable times from my youth. For a second, I stopped and thought… these kids
are experiencing sheer bliss. But then… my daughter ambled nearby and I relapsed
into thinking…“oh no, she’s going to be a mess.”Sure enough… splash, she was
covered in mud. She let out a squeal of laughter. I just stepped back and was
thankful for the experience because I knew that if it weren’t for IPCP, my daughter
would become another statistic of a child protected from their natural
environment.
The good news is that I’ve relaxed a bit and reconnected with the adventure girl
from my youth. I let our daughter run to her heart’s content… and allow her to
climb things knowing that if she falls, she’ll brush herself off and move onto the
next adventure. I have purchased an extra set of rain boots to keep at home…
and take her outside to explore every chance that we get. Her new favorite
thing to do is to help point out waterfalls along our hikes.“Look Mommy,
there’s another one!”Thankfully, I have a good washing machine to help
me overcome my anxiety over the perils of youth.
IPCP children love being outdoors!

2. 2 | C O O P S C O O P 2 0 1 0
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
Greetings IPCP Families!
What an amazing year! As you
all know, I came to IPCP with years
of experience but none in the
cooperative world. I appreciate
your confidence in me and the staff,
trusting that we would provide an
exceptional year of learning to your
children. I feel confident that this
mission was realized – but not
without your help, support, and,
often times, guidance!
Your inspired commitment to IPCP
has made it possible for the
program to bring about outcomes
far beyond those initially
envisioned by Jill, the teachers,
and I. The impact of your
involvement is tremendous.
There is no way to measure the
precise value of friendships forged,
confidence gained, or laughter shared between the staff, the parents, and the children; but
one thing is certain – your enthusiasm and engagement are sure to remain fresh for years to
come in the minds of the children and staff. Your gift of time is priceless!
It has been my pleasure and privilege to watch your children grow – in mind, body, and
spirit. We have lived, loved, laughed, learned, and enriched our lives together this year.
Watching your children’s personalities unfold day-by-day and marveling at this
miracle of development and learning has been an honor. You have all touched my
life in such positive and rewarding ways, and I thank you for this very special
opportunity.
The entire staff joins me in thanking you for an extraordinary year and
wishing you a fun-filled summer!
Warmly, Denise
Denise Price (right) with her much appreciated, partners in crime-
Laura Archer and Jill Canelli

3. C O O P S C O O P 2 0 1 0 | 3
The journey started as we first entered IPCP.
When we started looking into preschools for our daughter, Jessica, back in
2003 my husband and I were not able to find what we were looking for – until
we toured IPCP. With a European background this little community preschool
seemed to be the best fit for our German-American family. It had an enriching
and creative curriculum, lots of outdoor playtime, and a healthy approach to
nutrition. We truly believed in and supported IPCP's gentle approach in
preparing the kids for Kindergarten in a very playful and casual way. Jessica
learned her letters, days of the week, color, and shapes. However, we still
wondered if she was ready to start Kindergarten with other kids who had
attended a Pre-K program. Would a big school with over 300 kids be
overwhelming for her coming from such a small preschool environment? The
usual doubts and fears for parents, especially for our first “little one”. After 3
wonderful years at IPCP, Jessica graduated and started Kindergarten at
Imagine Wesley International Academy for the 2007-2008 school year. And
you know what? She did just fine. It was us, the parents, who were struggling!
Dropping off at carpool without walking her in? Not knowing what she was
going to do all day? Not knowing all of her teachers?
We had to come to terms with the fact that it is a big adjustment for the entire
family coming from a cooperative school. We found comfort talking to other
IPCP families with children who started Kindergarten at other schools. We
remember approaching her teachers at her new school ready to help organize
and pitch in like we used to at IPCP. We had to learn that this was not always
welcomed or simply feasible. The big school has its own administration, no
more parent committees. All this put IPCP into a different light; PT days and
committee work seemed to be more enjoyable and to be cherished. We
realized that it was us, the parents, that missed the school and the sense of
community more so than Jessica. IPCP had nurtured her and gave her the
confidence to handle the new school, better than us, her parents.
Over the course of the year, Jessica flourished in the new environment, never
looking back. She has fond memories of IPCP and yet she was confident and
proud to be moving on to bigger things. The hard part was on us, slowly
letting go of the comfort of IPCP. Our daughter was growing up so fast. Not
every child will progress smoothly. The kindergarten classroom is more
structured, disciplined, and less protective. Parents must allow their children
to grow and leave the nest – and IPCP is a warm, loving and nurturing nest.
Over the next few years our little boy Niklas continued in his sister's footsteps and
even began at IPCP at an earlier age. He struggled at first at the preschool and
had some separation issues at the beginning, but soon the loving environment
won him over. He made friends and became best buds with one of his classmates.
The two were tighter than brothers. As the years at IPCP grew so did Niklas. His
outgoing nature began to come through. We are now at the end of a long, fun
road at IPCP. Niklas will be moving on to kindergarten next year but our love
affair with and support for IPCP will never end. The childhood memories of our
two precious kids will forever have the IPCP stamp on them.
As all parents we have
fear and concerns about
our children moving on
to newer things, but we
know that the
foundation that IPCP
has laid for them will
keep them strong to
challenge any obstacles
that come their way.
We will miss the love
and commitment that
IPCP brings out in its
community. As all
parents who have
children graduate from
IPCP know, all schools
that follow have some
very big shoes to fill. To
those parents who have
children leaving IPCP
for the first time, be
patient with the new
school and have
confidence that your
child has that IPCP
strength inside.
Thanks IPCP for 6 beautiful and loving years!
KINDERGARTENTr a n s i t i o n i n g
By: Heide Dittrich-Harris and Marc Harris parents of Jessica (8) and Niklas (4)
IPCP TO
Niklas (right) with Friend, Aidan
WE ARE PROUD OF OUR GRADUATES!
Sebastiaan Marder
Xen Renai
Elena D'Agostino
Leigh Howland
Bella Pelot
Lily Mae Barcik
Eva Lee
Niklas Harris
Aidan Kephart
Luca Horn-Morawa
Conner Kuhl-Franklin

4. 4 | C O O P S C O O P 2 0 1 0
SOLD!
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE,
R e s p e c t f o r I P C P ’s A n n u a l A u c t i o n
By: David Camacho, Daddy to Miles Camacho
Fellow IPCPers: Clay , Sarah and Steve are
enjoying themselves at IPCP’s Annual Auction.
Last year as new parents to IPCP, our family quickly learned the importance of the
Annual Auction. Like all parents, we knew we would be required to participate in
committee’s leading up to the event as well as be required to work the event itself.
Unfazed, we also donated items to be auctioned off. It was obvious the auction
was a big deal. Still, in our minds, the scope and scale were modest. After all, this
was a pre-school…or so we believed.
Fast forward to the big day…
As luck would have it, my wife and I found it necessary to split up our volunteer
hours for the auction. She would hit the first part of the day while I would work the
latter part of the day. Soon after arriving for her shift my wife would text the
following: Wow. Just three letters; yet, they implied so much more.
Upon her return I could see the look in her eyes, this was no yard sale. She did her
best to convey the true grandeur of the event, but my simple mind was still
dismissive. Besides, I would be arriving for the last hurrah, I was certain I would be
serenaded by the sound of crickets.
I was casual in my departure for my shift. My only concern was being able to find
the address. As I approached, my concerns were very unnecessary. The street was
PACKED and parking was at a premium. I simply followed the crowd. When I
entered the auction space itself; shock and awe. There was a buzz in the room,
people were engaged and the cadence of the auctioneer hovered over all like a
world class yodeler.
My paradigm crashed, I was in the midst of some sort of military exercise. I
imagine the feeling would be similar at Nasa for a shuttle launch or on the floor of
the NYSE. I encountered all this at the tail end of the auction; apparently I had
missed the crowds earlier in the day.
My job that evening was to“bag”the items that were purchased for the attendees.
Yes, there were physical items like watches, framed photos, jewelry etc. However,
there was an abundance of gift certificates and vouchers for everything from steak
dinners to court side Atlanta Hawk games. Had you told me that dozens of people
were purchasing hundreds of dollars worth of items I would have been skeptical.
Imagine my poor mind when I was gathering up thousands of dollars worth of
items for these persons. It was an eye opening experience.
As a seasoned veteran, I will approach this year’s auction with a greater level of
respect. This is no ordinary pre-school event; this is the real deal. This is IPCP.

5. C O O P S C O O P 2 0 1 0 | 5
STAFFBy: Personnel Chair, Cindy Parish-Letteer
TEACHERSAND
Let’s hear it for our Teachers and Staff!
continued on pages 6 and 7
Who’s the one person your child talks about every single school day? Maybe it’s a best friend or a stuffed unicorn. Maybe it’s a sibling or the neighbor’s
dog. In my house, we talk about all of the above, but one thing I know for sure is that I’ll hear something about Miss Amber, Miss Kiah and Mr. Steven
every day we have school.
As I labored last July and August over resumes and interview times, hoping to find the perfect combination of teachers for our school, I found myself in
awe of the instincts and knowledge that I observed in Jill and Denise. And, wow, did those instincts prove right. And, thank goodness too, because I
dreamed that the person your child talks about every day would be as inspiring as the one mine talks about. And, as fleeting as dreams can sometimes
be – it seems that this time, it really did come true.
Because our teachers and staff are the ones who spend every day with our children, I thought it would be through their words that we’d get to hear
some of them telling stories of how their school year has gone and what IPCP has meant to them. And, as with all good storytellers, we learn as much
about the teller as the story’s subject itself.
So, enjoy the stories, remember to tell your child’s teacher and our office staff what they have meant to you this year, and, happy reading. It seems our
teachers appreciate our children as much as our children appreciate them.
The one’s class called Miss Wendy this year’s first teacher and learned to love
school and be more confident every day under Wendy’s gentle guidance.
While Miss Wendy recuperates from some health issues, it’s Miss Alicia’s
smiling face that our littlest ones see every day.
Ms. Alicia says about her class and her experience at IPCP:
“One thing that always puts a smile on my face is when the children let loose and
dance. Once the Tadpoles see the Crickets and Ladybugs dancing with Ms. Ebony and
Ms. Kisha, they drop whatever toy has their utmost attention, walk towards the gate and
wiggle their hips, grinning from ear to ear.”
“I love IPCP for many reasons, but I especially love the connectivity and openness between the
teachers and parents. It is always exciting to talk with the parents about their child’s progress as well as
the silly moments that happened during the school day and aftercare hours. I am always open to suggestions
and really appreciate how much the parents care about their child’s progress, both socially and developmentally.”
Ms. Alicia
Ms. Kisha,
& Ms. Ebony
Our Waddell Building
The One’s Class
The 2 & 3 Year Old Classes
Kisha tells a sweet memory and why she appreciates the co-op.
“One of the many funny moments in my class is the excitement of when my children one day discovered that we would all be 3 together! Many of them have
turned 3 or will be soon and I am 33. Whenever we talk about special days I am reminded of this with giggles. “
“I know that IPCP is right for me because of the continuous passion that the parents display, their willingness to be involved no matter how messy, and the
ongoing opportunity to be the best me I can me.”
Ebony reflects on a special day and the writes some priceless quotes some of the children in her class.
“As a teacher I think we witness nothing short of a miracle daily. The simple nuances of observing a child hold the scissors with out assistance or go to the
potty on their own or describe to you in detail their feelings about something is always amazing and never gets old. Recently, however I have felt a real
connection with each of my students and it was very evident to me during the Chattahoochee Nature Center visit. It was amazing that the children sat for over
an hour and during that time they were not only very interested in discussion but that they felt very secure and safe by just being near me and were very
reassured by just my presence. It was very intimate.”
“[One day] in the sand box [a friend] and I where pretending to cook and [he] said, ‘would you like some coffee?’ I said, ‘sure’. [He] picks a ketchup bottle and
says ‘now how about some wine....cheers!’
“During lunch [a friend] asked for help opening his lunch container and I said ‘sure’. The friend told me ‘it's not rocket science you know!’”

6. 6 | C O O P S C O O P 2 0 1 0
Sarah tells us 2 beautiful anecdotes from her observations in the classroom:
“I wanted to share a scene I observed on the playground that illustrates how far the
children have come with their problem solving skills. Four boys all headed to the same bike
when we went outside to play. This bike is the most popular, and sometimes causes
problems, as you can well imagine. This particular time, I decided stay back and see how the
boys would handle the situation on their own. I watched as they agreed upon and created a
list of who would go first, second, third and fourth. They also determined that each child would
get a certain number of laps around the track before they would give the bike to the next child on
the list. This plan was executed brilliantly and without any trouble. It was cooperation at its finest!”
“I wanted to share an exchange between two friends that I felt deeply moved by. One friend politely
asked another if he could have a turn reading a book when the first friend was finished (This alone made
me smile, but it gets better!) The friend reading the book said, “How about we read it together?” They agreed
to do this and spent the next 10 minutes sitting side by side, looking through the book and enjoying the act of doing
it together. This is why I love doing what I’m doing. The growth I have seen in your beautiful children over the last few months has been
energizing and inspiring. Thanks for letting me be their teacher!”
Olu talks about a couple of priceless moments from the school year:
“Their honesty cracks me up on a daily basis, but one moment that sticks out is when a friend looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and then told me that my
hair looked ‘crazy’. And I can admit that it did look a little crazy that day :-) So when he saw me next he said, ‘your hair looks pretty today...MUCH better than last
time’. Lol!”
“I had a special moment that reminded me why I love what I do. I read ‘Room on the Broom’ by Julia Donaldson (which they absolutely LOVE) and after it was over,
one student suggested that we make our own broom, and then every student contributed an idea as to how we could construct this broom. So once we got out to
the OC, they found a stick, gathered some hay (wet hay, mind you), and I taped the hay to the stick. They thought of it on their own, figured out a way to make it on
their own, and had a ball playing with it and pretending to be the witch riding on the broom. It was great! I was so proud of them!”
Amber recounts 2 times when the OC’s influence on our children is quite clear:
“Following a reading of “Growing Vegetable Soup” by Lois Ehlert I asked: ‘Why do we pull weeds from our garden?’
Answers: ‘Because they do not share the dirt with the other plants.’, ‘Not all weeds are bad they need a new home... maybe we could grow a weed garden!’, and
‘They grow, so we don’t want to hurt them.’”
“Bird Nest Building - two children and myself were raking leaves into a circle to create a birds nest. Meanwhile another child was finding items to tie to the sides. A few
other children were collecting sticks and things to ‘feed the birds that might come to our new nest. Some others decided to just sit inside the nest and enjoy the
comforting surroundings that were being created. This was a child-led community building project that taught respect for the environment and was a great use our
imaginative spirits!”
Joy wrote about her favorite thing about her class, a favorite quote, and about the school year’s meaning for her:
“I love the sense of belonging the children have at our school. The Seedlings come in each day bursting with things to share...whether it be a toy, a story, or just
some exciting news! As a teacher, one of the best feelings I can have is knowing that the children feel safe, loved, and free to be themselves! One day this year a
little boy sat in my lap and said to me, ‘Ms. Joy....remember when I was shy of you? Well...I'm not shy of you anymore!’ Priceless!”
“What the school year has meant to me - I am thrilled to be a part of a mixed-age cooperative school again. I love that IPCP is a place that focuses on the whole
child...helping children develop strong personal voices and a true excitement for learning. I enjoy the children's enthusiasm and wonder each day and I am so
happy to be apart of their first school experience.”
Our Edgewood Building
Ms. Sarah, Ms. Olu, Ms. Amber and
M
s.
Joy
Steven tells what IPCP means to him:
“IPCP means to me an education and upbringing that is based on diversity, tolerance, love, environmentally friendly choices, healthy choices and a staff that loves
each student as though their own. That is IPCP to me!”
Kiah talks about the children and the school:
“I have really enjoyed watching the children develop, especially with their conflict resolution skills. It's very gratifying to watch them solve a problem or an argument
with their friends on their own. It makes them feel accomplished and proud of themselves to work things out together and I share in that accomplishment with them.”
“One of the best parts of working at IPCP is the relationships I have formed with not only the children but also their families. I feel as though I have made a lot of
meaningful connections and friendships that will stay with me for a lifetime.”
Shani, tells a story that shows what great problem-solving skills the 2’s class showed recently.
“A group of children were playing on a mat in the Wee OC. Miss Kisha reminded them to be aware of their surroundings because they were close to the stone wall.
One child said, ‘Why don’t we move the mat? She politely asked the other children to get of the mat., and together they moved it to a safer place.” I was amazed at
the skills they have at this age!
Our Beloved Aftercare Staff

7. C O O P S C O O P 2 0 1 0 | 7
Clockwise from top: Ms. Joy studying nature with student,
Luca; Ms. Sarah and Ms. Olu having fun in the OC; and Ms.
Kisha exploring colors with her Toddler 2 class
Jill, our Curriculum Specialist tells 2 stories about an OC experience, and also about how she knows IPCP is right for her:
“A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time with classes from Edgewood as we prepared the OC garden for spring, A few students noticed
that there were already plants growing in the ground around the Cold Frame. We got a closer look at a particular plant and the students asked if it had a
name, as they touched its leaves. We all took turns describing what we saw and talked about how scientists sometimes give plants a name by the way
leaves feel or look or by the color of the plant. I asked, ‘If you were a scientist what would you call this plant?’ One of the students responded by saying, ‘I
would call it a NOSE plant!’. I asked him to describe why he chose this name. He said, ‘Because some of the leaves are yellow and green.... and mucous is
yellow and it comes from your nose!’ It continues to amaze and inspire me how observant and knowledgeable children are about their environment and
themselves -- and the connections that can come from exploring these observations! It is a wonderful example of the many ways that children grow as they
play and explore ... and that learning is so much more about the process, than about any one answer or product.”
“I respect and appreciate Inman Park Cooperative Preschool's long history and ongoing commitment to eco-sustainability and green living. The IPCP
community continues to collaborate and find and explore ways to create a healthy environment for the students and staff to the birds, bugs and squirrels
that live around our school. From compost bins, no-pesticide gardens to low flow toilets and a green cleaning company - it is evident all around us. This
ideal, paired with seeing a thriving Outdoor Classroom (and hearing that 15 years ago it was just a vacant lot), was when I knew that IPCP was a good
professional fit for me ... as I share a commitment as an educator and a citizen to ensuring a healthy-green future for all.”
Laura, our administrative assistant and all-around go-to person sums up her 10 years in and around IPCP so succinctly:
“I’ve been a part of the Co-op in some form or another since 2000 - and I've worn a lot of hats throughout the years. The thing that keeps me coming back
is simply that I love the sense of community that IPCP has to offer. To have a group of individuals who are all working towards a common goal of creating
the best possible experience for children? Well, I just love it. It's that simple.”
Jill Canelli and Laura Archer

8. 8 | C O O P S C O O P 2 0 1 0
COMMITTEE UPDATES
ADMISSIONS
BUILDINGS&GROUNDS
On the Admissions committee, we get the unique opportunity to meet all
the families as they begin their journey at IPCP. For many parents, this is
their first experience in a cooperative community. Parent teacher days, B&
G Saturdays, committee work, annual auction – it can all be a bit daunting
to a new family entering IPCP. But this year 43 new families took on the
cooperative challenge, all the while being encouraged by 33 veteran
families to BYOB and after a few laughs and drinks, convincing them to
volunteer for class-parent and join the board. Many first year families
didn’t know what they were getting into. Or did they?
We tell families at the interview what joining a cooperative would be like –
indentured servitude in exchange for an idyllic education for your child,
disguised as a nature-based, play driven, creative curriculum.
Families agree to spend countless hours“Swifting”floors, cutting up
pounds of (organic) fruit and (organic) vegetables into choke-friendly
chunks, meeting on weekends, especially ones in late November to
complete the overly ambitious class project in time for auction, only to
then pitch in cash with other parents to buy it and donate the project back
to the school.
We are up front about the kids spending as much time as possible
outdoors. Yes, that was before we knew about this year’s monsoon
season, but we still sent those kids outdoors into puddles and then dried
them off and then sent them home in another child’s organic cotton
underwear because you forgot to put an extra pair in their cubby.
We are very candid that at IPCP children don’t do worksheets, but that they
do sing a good morning song at the beginning of each school day. It is not
our fault that you now clap, clap, clap your hands and wave, wave, wave
hello to all the people you meet and refer to complete strangers as“friends.”
We forewarn families that whenever more than five adults get into a room
together talking about the well-being of their children there are bound to
be different and strong opinions, Yet you still gather in masses with
homemade potluck dishes for Back to School Night (mandatory),
Hallo-Green Party (not mandatory but the only party with a keg), Auction
(mandatory), Annual Business Meeting (mandatory), Art Night / New
Family picnic (not mandatory, but may prove to be the picnic-party of the
year with the anticipated parent talent participation. Don’t have a talent?
Just make another batch of gluten free, sugar free, nut free cookies to
share.)
Yes, there are times that we may forget that we signed up for this
communal, education experience, not only willingly, but eagerly. If you
need a reminder why you chose IPCP over a simple“stop and drop”
preschool, look no further than at our own guiding principles which
includes this statement:
“We believe that teaching a reverence and respect to one another,
communities and ecosystems cannot be more powerfully taught that in a
living-outdoor classroom.”
Not only is this one of IPCP’s guiding principles, it is the main reason
families join and why 96% of our families are enthusiastically returning
next year to do it all over again.
BY MARNIE JACHMAN This year on the Buildings & Grounds Committee, we have taken on
the challenge of maintaining and improving our two new-ish
facilities. As we have settled into our buildings, we have
commenced to make them our own. Most substantially, we added
lofts to both of our buildings. A process that commenced before
school and with the help of members of our own community
finished up by October. The lofts represent the best of the
cooperative spirit in that our community came together on
Workdays, extra Workdays and nights to complete a task that will
remain substantial, strong, and integral to the way of life in our little
preschool. These loft spaces have created new worlds to our
children: meeting places, apartments, restaurants, kitchens, caves,
and quiet reading spots. The legacy of the lofts begins now.
We have been tailoring our evolving habitat on all levels - from
exciting, creative spaces such as a chalkboard wall niche to the
mundane, utilitarian tasks of functioning toilets and rain resistant
window walls. As the glorified janitors of the school, we are helping
the teachers and community shape the feel of our school, one task
at a time.
In these endeavors, we seek to remain true to our vision as a school
and provide the platform for our children to“grow up green”.
BY TIFFANY BARCIK & PATRICK JOHNSON
Just mix dirt, water, sticks, leaves and A LOT of fun!

9. C O O P S C O O P 2 0 1 0 | 9
COMMITTEE UPDATES
COMMUNICATIONS,PR&IT
It is no small feat to ensure the school is kept up to date of all
the happenings within our school. From design to PR, and
internet needs, our committee is kept busy throughout the
year. By its nature, the Communications Committee has the
privilege of working with almost all of IPCP’s committees, staff
members and parents in order to get all things relevant to
IPCP out to both our school and our neighboring
communities. In fact, chances are if you have read something
from IPCP or have attended an IPCP event, a communications
committee member has had his/her hand in it. Whether it be
publicizing Auction, Dinner Nights, Theater Night, Summer
Camp or just ensuring that parents are kept in the loop of
current and upcoming goings on through our weekly Coop
Scoop and Annual publication, our committee is committed to
all things IPCP.
Although we didn’t get a chance to revamp our website this
year as we had hoped, we are very proud of the fact that all of
the information found on our website it totally updated. This
took a lot of coordination with the other committees and a lot
of editing and organization of ideas and photos and we are
therefore very appreciative of everyone’s help with this
endeavor!
Along with keeping our online school directory and website
updated, this year our committee was also responsible for
creating the Parent Teacher Calendar and moderating our
Yahoo Groups emails. We are also very proud of these and will
continue to help with these very important communication
tools within our school.
Thank you to all of our amazingly talented and committed
members this past year: Betsy Helgager Hughes & George
Hughes who pioneered a comprehensive PR initiative with our
internal as well as external communications; Dawn and David
Camacho for their amazing commitment to getting our Coop
Scoop out EVERY week; Ellie and Sean Cantkier for their ability
to update our website whenever the need arises- which is
usually often; Damali Lockett for her amazing design help;
Veronica and J.B. Cash for their PR expertise; Marc Harris and
Heide Dittrich-Harris who were always so happy to help in any
way, Angellique and Isaiah Marder for their website photos and
the managing of our Annual Coop Scoop for the second year;
Joe and Reshma Copp also for their website photos, as well as
IT help; Angela Taglia and Matt Silliman for helping with the
auction banner; Sophia and Konstantinos Delialis for their
enthusiasm; Ebony Sowell and Shakeesha Jeffries for their
willingness; and Dan and Denise Gonzalez- my hubby and I.
BY DENISE GONZALEZ
PARENTINVOLVEMENT&EDUCATION
What a year this has been for the Parent Involvement and Education
Committee (PIEC)! Much has happened starting with Back-to-School
Night, the first get-together for the entire IPCP community, including
parents, teachers, faculty, and staff. All parents, new and veteran,
were educated on the ins and outs of our co-op. This was a great
opportunity to get us all back on the same page about who we are
and what we believe in and want for the children at IPCP
.
Thanks to Denise Price and Jill Canneli who spent countless hours
giving careful thought to the desires, philosophy, beliefs, and values
of the IPCP community, the curriculum in every classroom has been
amazingly successful and thoroughly enjoyable for the children.
Weekly newsletters from teachers for parents has helped keep
parents aware and involved in what the children do every day.
Learning in the Outdoor Classrooms have taken on a life of its own
with children observing the life in (worms), on (ants) and above
(birds) the ground. The children have developed such a powerful care
and respect for the outdoors and living things. This care and respect
for living things extends to people, too. This spring, the faculty and
staff has taken another small step toward understanding issues of
equity and diversity by engaging in monthly sessions designed to
challenge participants to develop as critical and reflective
practitioners who are intentional in the way that they guide and
respond to students at IPCP.
ParentTeacher days have been a wonderful opportunity for every
parent to be directly involved in their child’s education. Although
having a new sign-up calendar brought on a few glitches at the
beginning of the year, BOD members banded together to help figure
out solutions that helped to get everything running smoothly. Parent
teachers were responsible for bringing in snacks and had had fun
thinking of fun, nutritious and delicious snacks for the kids. Aside from
participating in the education of their children, the delight and pride
each child had when their parent spent the day with them was hard to
measure.This is such a valuable part of IPCP.
The PIEC has also organized some events to help parents meet and
get to know each other better. November brought on the Auction
Café which fed many hungry participants and also quenched the thirst
of all. In February, parents got together to enjoy a cup of coffee and
doughnuts. April was a busy month for the committee, beginning
with the much loved Charis Book Fair which brought several
wonderful books that offer parents and children opportunities to talk
about different perspectives, cultures, ideas, and values in this big, big,
world. Parents enjoyed browsing and talking about the books in the
Outdoor Classroom while placing their orders. April is known for the
annual Inman Park Festival.The committee plans to decorate a float
for the parade which will have a beach theme with bubbles and all.
Throughout the year, the PIEC coordinated the delivery of meals to
families whenever a new baby arrived and in other times of need.
The meals were much appreciated and helped keep the community
connected to each other. All kinds of creative, yummy meals were
delivered throughout the year and many beautiful and hopefully
soon-to-be IPCP attendees were welcomed into the world this year.
What a pleasure to have nourished the families during that
wonderful time.
BY RHINA WILLIAMS

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The 2009 Auction, celebrating its 25th
Anniversary, continued with
its“Growing Up Green”theme once again as we raised funds to
support the school’s environmental efforts. This year, despite the
rain, more than 300 guests attended the auction and bid on 477
items, which helped us raise over $47,000 to further our goal of
fostering environmental and social awareness and conservation for
our school.
We are so grateful to all our Auction sponsors who contributed
$3,700: Air Tran Airways, Catherine's Auto Repair & Service, Intown
Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, P.C. (Deneta Sells, MD), Cooper
Brown Real Estate, Inman Park Kids Dental Spot, JavaVino, Small
Business Services, TCIS (The Complete Insurance Company), X3
SPORTS, Darwin Studios, Bob and Claire D’Agostino and Victor
Polizos, MD. We love to support the businesses who support us and
thank them for all that they do!
As always, it’s a co-operative effort to put on the Auction. Every
committee is responsible for some portion of the event. From set up
and PR to the Café, coordinating babysitting and retails sales to
selling raffle tickets, it’s all hands on deck. We are thankful to each of
the committee chair and member for their assistance with the
Auction. The IPCP Auction could never be the success that it is
year-after-year without everyone rolling up their sleeves and
jumping right in.
The class projects this year were exceptionally creative and
well-built. Ms. Amber’s reclaimed and hand-painted rain barrels
were oh-so-cute. Ms. Wendy’s multi-purpose activity tables and
sand boxes were a big hit and the Waddell Children reaped the
rewards when the class purchased one to donate to the Wee OC!
Ms. Kisha’s toy chests filled with environmentally friendly green toys
tied right into the Auction theme. Ms. Sarah’s‘My Favorite Things’
photography project was truly a beautiful work of art. Ms. Ebony’s
spin art‘Budding Artists’tree art project showed just how
wonderfully creative our little ones are. Ms Olu's xylophone will be
a treasure for years to come and Ms. Joy’s artisan bookcases
showcased parents' individual talents.
For the second year in a row, Gracyn’s parents, Jesse and Whitney
FUNDRAISING+PLANNING&DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE UPDATES
Chamberlin of Our Labor of Love, donated their time and services to
photograph our children in action. Their exceptional photos truly captured
the children’s expressions and will be treasured for years to come.
Another successful Fundraising Committee initiative was IPCP Dine Outs
where local restaurants donated a portion of sales to IPCP. We, in turn,
flocked to the restaurant to support the restaurant and the school –
everyone needs to eat, right? We started the year off with a bang at a
child-friendly dine out at Grant Park’s Six Feet Under, followed by Miso and
The Mercantile. For some holiday fun, Swoozie’s Midtown location
graciously donated a percentage of all IPCP sales. We were so excited to be
able to establish this new and fun fundraiser!
Not a new fundraiser, but just as fun is Theatre Night. A tradition many
years old, Theatre Night is hosted each year by Horizon Theatre in Little Five
Points. Many thanks and a big standing ovation to Lisa and Jeff Adler (IPCP
Alum and Horizon Theatre owners) for graciously donating Theatre Night
tickets to the school. The evening began with a delicious spread of hors
d'oeuvres from local restaurants while we mixed and mingled with friends
in the beautiful home of Mark & Mary Sage. We then moved to the Horizon
Theater where we embarked on a musical journey at "Black Pearl Sings." It
was an amazing musical with beautiful singing and a really fun time for all.
One final initiative for the Planning and Development portion of the
committee this year, was laying the groundwork for the new Strategic
Planning Committee. We were fortunate to secure the assistance of Sam
Collier, a former IPCP parent, Facilitator and Strategic Planning Consultant.
We look forward to working together with the Board of Directors and IPCP
community on this important initiative.
The 2009-10 school year has been a great year and we are very proud of the
accomplishments and money raised by the committee and school.
BY STUART DOUGHERTY & ANNA COAN
An Outdoor Artist in our Wee OC.
Friends taking a moment to cloud watch in
Edgewood’s playground area.

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COMMITTEE UPDATES
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
The Outdoor Classroom Committee oversees the care, maintenance and
development of IPCP’s outdoor learning spaces. The Edgewood campus, for
our older students, has learning areas outside every classroom door, as well
as daily access to the Outdoor Classroom – IPCP’s 8,000-square-foot crown
jewel and certified National Wildlife Habitat.
Purchased in 1995, Preschool parents over the years have turned this vacant
lot into an urban paradise. With its fruit trees, berry bushes, grape arbor,
herb and vegetable beds, wildlife-attracting plants, Stump Circle, and
Willow House, IPCP’s Outdoor Classroom is more than just a playground —
it’s a place where children see, hear, smell, touch, and even taste nature, all
while developing a lifelong love of the outdoors.
Adjacent to our new Waddell facility, the Toddler Garden offers a natural
play space created specifically for one- and two-year-olds. Here, IPCP
families find that, with the patient guidance of our teachers, even the very
young can learn to be stewards of the natural world.
I have served on the Outdoor Classroom (OC) Committee for four of the six
years my daughters have attended IPCP – the past year-and-a-half as a
Committee chairperson. Buildings and Grounds workdays are my favorite
way to participate at IPCP. I love problem solving with enthusiastic, creative
and fun people to get the tasks of the day checked off. IPCP parents are
dedicated to improving the school for their kids and it shows. After a hard
morning of work, we parents share a sense of ownership, pride in the skills
we used or learned, and satisfaction in seeing our creative mark left on the
school for future generations to enjoy.
With help from a wonderful team of families, the OC Committee has made
great strides in 2009/2010. This year, the OC Committee led fall and spring
planting days; hosted the“HalloGreen”Party; managed the“Retail Section”
of our annual Auction (we’re currently composting that event’s waste in our
bins); held plant and tee-shirt sales; and hosted Grandparents and Special
Friends Day, Art Night, and the Inman Park Caterpillar Ball.
But perhaps the most exciting accomplishment that the OC Committee was
able to complete this year was the first phase of development of theWaddell
Toddler Garden.Thanks to a generous grant from the Serrato Foundation, we
were able to develop a three-phase plan to enhance theWaddell garden for
our youngest learners. In this first phase we were able to transform our
simple play yard into a toddler-scale space for outdoor exploration. Now, the
garden features an apple tree, blueberry bushes, evergreen shrubs with
fragrant blooms, herbs, a building stage, a tiny climbing mountain, storage
and meeting areas, and a verdant lawn.We are thrilled with the progress we
have seen and look forward to securing funding for phases two and three. In
the future we plan to add to theWaddell garden a wooden play barn/storage
structure; a rain barrel; surfacing for our“trike track”; a climbing structure;
raised planting beds; a shade structure for the sand box; a willow house; as
well as more perennial plants.
Coming up in the“Big OC”we will plant our spring and summer crops and
install a large musical structure. We have further plans to create a lean-to
structure in the Big OC for storage and dramatic play/kitchen and more
fabulous costumes for young explorers.
Studies show that being in an outdoor learning environment teaches
children about the world around them in a way that strengthens their
learning in the more traditional classroom setting. Further, research shows
that children as young as three who garden one half-hour per week
maintain good nutritional habits. At IPCP I have observed my daughters
identify (and nibble) rosemary, handle roly-poly bugs, mix mud stews, and
munch fistfuls of arugula. These are the cherished memories that led us to
enroll for our seventh year. I want my children to love nature as much as I
learned to as a young person. If you are interested in reading more about
the importance of outdoor learning, read Last Child in the Woods, by
Richard Louv, Algonquin Books.
"Healing the broken bond between our young and
nature is in our self-interest, not only because
aesthetics or justice demand it, but also because our
mental, physical, and spiritual health depend upon it."
Richard Louv
BY KRISTEN HAMPTON

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2009-2010 In A Snapshot
Thank You for all the Happy Memories!
Inman Park Cooperative Preschool 760 Edgewood Avenue, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30307 404-827-9796
COOPTHE
SCOOP2010Editor:
Dan Gonzalez
Design and Production:
Denise Gonzalez
Contributing Writers:
Veronica Kelly-Cash, Denise Price, Dave and Emily Howland, Marc Harris and
Heide Dittrich-Harris, David Camacho, Cindy Parish-Letteer, Marnie
Jachman, Tiffany Barcik, Denise Gonzalez, Rhina Williams, Anna Coan, Stuart
Dougherty and Kristen Hampton
The Coop Scoop is a once-yearly newsletter containing articles and updates
of interest to the IPCP community. If you have articles that may be
appropraite for next year’s Coop Scoop (including Alumni Updates), please
address them to:
Communications Committee
Attn: Coop Scoop
Inman Park Cooperative Preschool
760 Edgewood Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30307