Yorktown Community Nursery School has kept the same philosophy since its founding

The moment Alexandra Bucci stepped into a classroom at Yorktown Community Nursery School, she said she knew it was where her children would begin their educational journeys.

“When I walked in I felt like I was in nursery school again,” Bucci, serving as president of the board of directors, said. “This is what I’ve been looking for for my children.”

Founded in 1948, YCNS is the oldest registered cooperative nursery in New York State. The school was started by 40 parents and continues to be owned and operated by the families of enrolled students. Certified teachers staff the classrooms, while parents assist with tasks such as maintaining the building and repairing equipment. YCNS was nominated by Assemblyman Matt Slater and recognized this month by the Historic Business Preservation Registry, administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which honors businesses and organizations operating for at least 50 years that have contributed to their communities.

Courtney LaCalamito felt she had found the right place for her children. When director Maribeth Fay sat on the floor with her daughter, LaCalamito knew the school was truly about community.

“It wasn’t about me,” LaCalamito, who serves as treasurer on the board of directors, said. “It was about my daughter. She sat down and wanted to make sure she made my child comfortable.”

For parents like LaCalamito and Elizabeth Sorensen, the school had a sense of familiarity, but what set it apart from other schools was its strong sense of community.

“I also toured a couple of other schools just to see what was out there, but I always sort of had this in the back of my mind,” Sorensen, who works on fundraising for the board, said. “I knew it was such a loving, supportive community for the kids.”

She added that her children have “thrived here” and that it “felt like family already.”

Because parents are so involved in their children’s learning, they also develop a strong sense of community among themselves. Co-Treasurer and parent Zulima Muñoz learned of the school through a family friend, and she too became hooked when she experienced the atmosphere herself.

“We are part of the class,” Muñoz said. “You get to see your child with their friends, the teachers and what they do—that was a big deal for me.”

She noted the balance of being able to observe and be part of her child’s development while the children are also able to explore and engage in a whole new way.

Maggie Tappana, who is the publicity manager for the school, came to YCNS from the West Coast looking for a play-based program.

“The reputation was so strong, and I knew the other families that were already here,” she said.

Being in the classroom to witness the school’s philosophy in action means everything to Tappana. Like many parents, she is grateful for the sense of community, which builds a sense of trust.

“If somebody's kid has a hard time, or something happens, the lines of communication are just wider,” she said, noting that many children begin to recognize parents and grandparents they see both inside the classroom and around town.

“It’s just so wholesome,” Bucci said. “You don’t see that everywhere.”

Fay, who has led the school since 2005, said that while students grow and parents cycle through, the core philosophy has remained unchanged since the school’s founding.

“One of the great things about the school is everybody who's in it kind of does what they can to improve the school, make it better, and you all end up leading a part of yourself.”

She never anticipated her own journey would lead her to years at the helm, but she said it’s just such a special place. “It really did shape me as a person,” she said.

“I love the children. I love to see their smiling faces. I love their imagination,” she continued. “I get to watch them grow—many start in our two-year-old class and leave in our four-year-old class. I always tell the parents, it's a joy for me and a privilege to teach the children...I always get more out of it than I give.”