HISTORY OF OUR SCHOOL
Before 1970, Dixon residents had to drive to Davis or Vacaville if they wanted their children to attend Nursery
School. At that time a group of Dixon parents, led by Mrs. Mary Kozitza decided to start their own parent participation
nursery school. Mrs. Kozitza became the first president of the school with the other founding parents being Diane
Schroeder, Kathy Schroeder, Denise Caldwell, Lucy Gnos, Donna Simes, Marianne Halloran and Mary Ellen Jones.
The school was named Dixon Parent Co-operative Nursery School and was located at the Rotary Youth Building at the
Dixon May Fair grounds for the first two years. The first day of school was September 10, 1970. There was a Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday class from 9-11am. Tuition, then, was $8.00 per month. Parents were required to work in
the classroom one morning per week and attend one evening meeting per month. Mrs. Marlene Hanson was the first
teacher and director. She is still teaching at Tremont Elementary School in Dixon (Mrs. Leveque).
After two years at the May Fair grounds, the tiny school moved to the United Methodist Church in Dixon. A new
teacher, Mrs. Edie Schwartz, was hired and stayed for many years. She is now a professor at Sacramento State University.
The school eventually found a more permanent location at the Dixon Community Church thanks to the efforts of Pastor
Henry McFadden and the Board of Directors. At this time, the school was renamed the Dixon Community Nursery School.
During the past 25 years the school has settled in to enjoy its three large rooms, usually with full classes of
24-26 students in 2-day and 3-day morning sessions. Teachers during this period include: Linda Schmidt, 1979-1980,
Cheri Cornelius, 1980-1983, Penni Davis, 1983-1985, Samantha Gross, 1985-1989, Nina Marshall, 1989-1990, and Pam
Griffey, 1990 to present. Assitant teachers have included Kathy Schroeder, Leslie Null, Sharon Chatfield, Marcia
Goudie, Gina Williams, Sandra Stroud and Dottie Skinner. It was sometime during these years that the school was
renamed the Dixon Cooperative Nursery School.
The curriculum has always been a developmentally appropriate, non-academic approach with lots of hands-on cooking,
art, tactile, science and social opportunities. There is a textbook-perfect outdoor area (built by the fathers
of the class of 1974) with rolling hills to climb and dig in (volcanoes during our Dinosaur Days!), a tunnel, playhouse,
sandbox, bridge to cross and several climbing structures to explore. A large field, alternately planted with corn,
tomatoes, sugar beets or winter wheat, providing ample opportunities to watch tractors and other farm vehicles
at work, borders the outdoor area.
For 19 years one of our major fundraisers was the Halloween Carnival, complete with games and treats for the community's
youngsters. There were also huge rummage sales, frequent bake sales and a dance at the fairground in the early
years. We still enjoy working on the annual Breakfast With Santa fundraiser, a tradition since 1988. The volunteer
Santas work very hard and the kids love every minute of it! Most recently, we have enjoyed the profitable, reliable
and painless fundraiser, SCRIP.
A nine member Board of Directors runs the self-supporting school, with the school only receiving a small monetary
amount from the Parent Education portion of the Adult Education Department at Dixon High School. All the salaries,
rent, snacks, maintenance and curriculum expenses are paid for through fundraisers and tuition.
We are trying to grow and change with the community to keep up with its needs. In October, 1997, we began a trial
extended day program 2 days a week until 2pm (Lunch Bunch). In the Fall of 1999, a toddler program started under
the direction of Dottie Skinner which quickly filled its 12 available student positions. It has proved a wonderfully
popular stepping-stone towards preschool participation!
This year, in January, we began planning for our 30th Anniversary celebration! On Saturday, September 16th, 2000,
a group of alumni parents will present the entire past and present community of Dixon Cooperative Nursery School
families with a delightful day of fun times and reminiscing. Past teachers, founding mothers and families of deceased
children who once attended the school will be especially honored. We look forward to many more years of serving
our community in whatever way we can.
April 5th, 2000
P. Griffey