Watchung Co-Op Finds A New Home In Montclair

For sale signs at the Watchung Cooperative Preschool building went up in September of 2013. A buyer was found in January and the school, its staff and students had to be out by July 31.

“There was no pushback,” said Maria Conte, President of the Watchung Cooperative Preschool. “There was no grounds for that. We were in that building for 43 years so it was very sad to go.”

The Watchung Co-Op opened in 1967 at the Watchung Community Church, hence the namesake. That building closed due to a fire and the Co-Op moved into Montclair Heights Reformed Church, located on the corner of Mt.Hebron and Valley Road. When the church closed down, the Co-Op remained in the building but knew their days were limited.

Before settling on a new location, the Co-Op looked for a number of new places to call home. When they saw First United Methodist Church of Montclair it was the only space felt the most like the old Co-Op, “it was a natural fit, it felt like our old space,” said Conte.

Gearing up for the move was “extremely difficult.” The goal was to find a location that could house a school and be friendly to young children, meaning that the environmental quality of the area had to be up to par. Before moving into their new location, the Co-Op had to test the quality of the soil, air and water in and around the building.

“The move was hard, it was a lot to do in a compressed period of time,” said Conte. “If we had a year there would have been a lot less stress, but we did what we had to do and the community really helped us out.”

The combined efforts of parents and volunteers, along with support from alumni and families helped out and made the process run as smoothly as it could have. A grant from the Montclair Foundation also made the move easier.

In spring of 2014, the Watchung Co-Op was awarded an $8,400 grant from the Montclair Foundation. Conte said the grant award came as a lifesaver and helped to offset the costs of the move.

“I don’t think we could have made it through without the grant,” said Conte. “It was amazing and we’re forever grateful to the Montclair Foundation.”

Growing and Learning at the Co-Op

The Watchung Co-Op fosters a very hands on environment. Part of their mission is to have parents involved in the educational and growth process of their children.

“It’s a precious gift to be in school with your child,” said Conte. “You’re with them playing and watching them learn.”

Parent’s are encouraged to come into the Co-Op at least once every four weeks. Because of this they are involved in all of the activities that go on at the school, parents learn with their children, go camping, celebrate holidays and travel together.

“We respect how children learn and grow at their own pace,” said Conte. “Having parents in the classroom aids that process.”

Since parent’s are consistently in the classroom with their children, it creates a space akin to a parent support network. Parents come together and find out what’s going on in town, who’s going to what YMCA classes and what places are good to eat at or shop around in town.

“The Co-Op is a great way for parents who are looking to belong to a community in Montclair, especially those that are new to town.” said Conte. “The Co-Op was a game changer for me and my social life as a new mom in town.”

Conte also said that the Co-Op is a great program for parents who have a hard time separating from their children.

“We don’t tell parents that they have to leave their screaming kid behind and go off to work,” said Conte. “We’ll never be like that.”

The co-op is still enrolling for this year, “you could really start tomorrow if you wanted,” said Conte. They are accepting preschool to kindergarten aged children, typically ages two and a half to five year olds.