Parental involvement is at the heart of the Co-op's success. When you enroll a child in the Co-op, you contractually agree to do the following:

1. Assist in the Classroom
From nursery through fourth grade, the shifts are usually from 9:00 AM to 12:15 PM or from noon to 3:15 PM. Scheduling and frequency vary depending on the classroom, but average out to one shift every other week. In the Upper School, assists are less frequent. Most typically, parents contribute five half-days during the course of the year. Upper School assists usually do not entail direct involvement in the classroom.

2. Choose a School Job
Families choose from a variety of jobs that range from very demanding to very modest. One parent may fulfill the job obligation, or both may split it. The Co-op works to find the right match for each family, taking into account available time, interests, and talents.

3. Help at "Art In The Park"
One adult from each family works at the Co-op's annual, one-day arts and crafts fair held in the spring. This is one of the Co-op's major fund-raising events. Parents sign up for a specific job or area of involvement in advance.

4. Attend the Three General Membership Meetings
All parents of MCS students are de facto members of the General Membership, which assists in the school’s governance and operation. The Membership makes major decisions for the school, including electing the Executive Board that manages school affairs on a daily basis. (The General Membership does not make decisions regarding the school’s curriculum and educational functions. Such decisions are the responsibility of the school’s director, teachers, and other professional staff.) The General Membership meets three times each year, in the evening. One parent per family must attend each of these meetings.

Families may choose to waive any or all of the first three obligations by paying specified “buy-out” fees that add to the cost of their child’s tuition. Please contact the admissions office for more specifics about buy-out fees.