The Family Cooperative

We are collecting loose parts! 🥄

As we refresh our outdoor learning spaces, we’re looking for gently used kitchen items such as pots, pans, spoons, pitchers, bowls, ladles, and containers that can be transformed into loose parts for play ☀️

Join our collaborative community of educators 🌿✨ TFC is hiring passionate early childhood teachers who value creativity, curiosity, and outdoor exploration for the 2026-2027 school year. Come grow with us!

Learn more about our open teaching positions: https://www.thefamilycooperative.org/employment.html

2 days left until…. TFC Fun Day!! Come out this Sunday from 9-12pm at 183 Grove Street, on the turf!

We have so many fun things planned!
✅ activity center
✅ Live music featuring
✅Bake sale
✅Raffles & Silent Auction
✅ Espresso drinks (cold and hot), cold brew, and hot chocolate from
✅ Food from
✅Bounce House & more!

Open to the public! We hope to see you all there!

Huge thank you to our sponsors:

We have officially launched our annual fundraising campaign with a goal of $15,000 by Fun Day on May 17! This year, we’re supporting the everyday magic that makes TFC so special—materials, outdoor exploration, documentation, safe spaces, and the teachers who fill each day with joy and learning.

Every gift matters, and sharing our campaign with family, friends, neighbors, and local businesses makes a huge impact. As a cooperative, TFC thrives because of all of us. Thank you for helping us reach our goal and celebrate together on May 17! 💛

Give to TFC: https://givebutter.com/c/help_support_TFC_2026

Each spring, the Shady Hill School has Flex Week—a time for students to step beyond the classroom and dive into meaningful community and learning experiences.

For the third year in a row, a group of 5th graders spent their Flex Week at TFC! 💛

This group of 5th graders have been diving into a yearlong study of ancient and modern China, Mellisha Culpepper, a longtime community member, former TFC parent, and Shady Hill teacher, shared with us…

“Our time at TFC is actually reflective of our 5th grade in that older children should set good examples and be models for younger children. In Confucianism, the idea of Filial Piety (respect for one's elders above all else) teaches that older siblings must be models for their younger siblings and younger siblings must obey their older siblings. Obviously, our time at TFC is a spin on this concept but there is a clear connection.”

Our children loved their time with the Shady Hill 5th graders and created memories and connections that will last a lifetime. Thank you to Mellisha for continuing to bring her students to TFC—and to the SHS 5th graders for such a joyful, meaningful week! ✨

Save the date! 📅‼️

TFC Fun Day will be on Sunday May 17th from 9-12pm at 183 Grove Street (BB&N Athletic Campus)

Join the TFC community in outdoor fun for the whole family! All proceeds will support our non-profit, early education school! All are welcome! Free admission! Outdoor event!

Thank you for hosting us for our March professional development day! The Great Exchange Devens 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Documentation at TFC ✨📷
What is documentation?�In the Reggio Emilia approach, documentation is the intentional practice of making learning visible—through photos, transcripts of children’s words, artwork, and educator reflections.

Who is it for?�It is for everyone: children, educators, and families. For children, it honors their ideas and invites them to revisit and reflect. For educators, it’s a tool for listening, studying, and planning meaningful next steps. For families, it offers a window into the rich, thoughtful experiences happening each day.

Why do we do it?�Because learning is a process worth noticing. Documentation helps us slow down, recognize the depth of children’s thinking, and celebrate the journey—not just the outcome. It keeps curiosity at the center and relationships at the heart.

LearningThroughPlay ChildLedLearning Pedagogy TeachingAndLearning CuriosityDriven

Our preschool children decorated lanterns as part of our Lunar New Year celebrations last month . 🏮 A beautiful blend of tradition, creativity, and joy as we welcome a year of good fortune and new beginnings. 🧧💫

Help TFC win $15,000!!!
Voting is NOW OPEN for Watertown Savings Bank’s Annual Customer Choice Awards. Top vote-getter will be awarded $15,000!

It takes less than 30 seconds to place your vote! Simply click this link 🔗 : https://www.watertownsavings.com/community/customer-choice-awards

Enter your name, email, and write “The Family Cooperative” in the line for local non-profit.

Note: you do not have to be a WSB customer to vote but if you are a customer your vote will count twice. 🎉

Last year TFC was amongst the winners and we would love to get an even bigger prize this year! The more votes we get, the bigger chance we have to winning $15,000! Voting is open until April 5th. PLEASE SHARE!