CCPPNS 2025

In early March, I had the pleasure to attend the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools (CCPPNS) convention.  Teachers, directors, and parents from cooperative preschools around the state gather in one location for 2 days of community and learning.  I have been to science conferences large and small, education conferences, and museum work conferences, and I absolutely love the CCPPNS convention.  Our work is often very busy and it is hard to make time to socialize and talk with our colleagues, so having two days set apart for intentional self-development, learning, and building community is a huge treat.  We often find small groups of folks sitting to talk, going out for a meal, or crafting together.  The community is incredibly welcoming and kind.  It is invigorating to be among like-minded educators all eager to learn and discuss with each other.

This year we were able to celebrate three families who have given extraordinary service to the school.  The awards team wrote individual poems for each honoree, and they are recognized in front of their peers with an award and sash.  We were also able to support 7 parents to attend with a scholarship to cover their registration fee.  For me, this year, some of the most valuable things I learned from convention were in conversation with the parents who attended, to hear their interests, points of question, cognitive dissonance, and what they wanted to know more about.

We also had the pleasure of attending the progressive dinner, where we got to visit the Mountain School, an outdoor forest cooperative, and Building Blocks Preschool.  These visits always generate ideas, thoughts, and things to bring back to our own school.  I love the experience of attending these conventions, having the conversations, and learning with and from my colleagues.  It is refreshing to be with other teachers and parents from around the state and learning alongside them.  I am grateful to FPNS for supporting our attendance with money so we can attend, and for closing the school for a day so we can attend.  I recognize that this is an inconvenience for our families, and we really appreciate it.  

CCPPNS convention will be in Garden Grove, CA in 2027 and in the East Bay in 2028!  I hope to continue to offer scholarships for registration fees for our parents to attend.  Want to be part of it?  Come join us!