Community
Cypress School of San Francisco is a community of families and teachers from a broad range of cultures, nationalities, family structures, languages, and economic backgrounds.
We strive to be a community where each child and family is included, valued, and represented, and where each participant is actively invited to contribute ideas, opinions, questions, and values.
Parents are given an opportunity to closely observe and learn from and with their children with support and guidance from experienced teachers. Learning, teaching, and parenting are enriched and transformed as a result of this unique setting, partnership, and experiences. Within each classroom, there is also the volunteer-based role of a Room Parent which serves as the liaison between, and partner with, their child’s class, teachers, and school administration.
Parents can also make a difference in the broader Cypress School community by participating actively in the Parent Association (PA), which is committed to developing and strengthening the family-school partnership, and building a strong community to enhance the experience of all children. Additionally, the Parents’ Association is a valuable resource for all parents because they help coordinate activities that enrich the overall CHS environment and community.
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
We hold an image of the child, the teacher, and the parent as competent and active participants in learning and creating the culture of our school. Parents are invited to act as partners in the classroom, working alongside the teachers during the school year.
All Cypress School parents are members of the Parents’ Association, though each individual parent can make the choice to contribute additionally by joining the PA’s Executive Committee and leading a specific committee among the following:
C.I.V.I.C. - Citizenship, Identities, Values, Inclusion, Cultures
Teacher Appreciation
Celebration Events - Fall Festival, Spring Fling, Summer Picnic
Library + Books
Photography
Hospitality
Garden
Partnerships + Merchandise
Big Party
Room Parents
ANNUAL GIVING
Each year, we seek support from members of our community through our Annual Giving campaign. Success of this campaign is the foundation upon which we are able to remain a full-day, full-year program at the forefront of inquiry-based, anti-bias, and nature-focused early childhood education, and continue the CSSF magic for many years to come.
Protecting the future of Cypress School requires that we rely on income outside of tuition, mainly covered by the Annual Giving Campaign. Annual Giving funds contribute to the school’s operating budget, Community Fund (tuition assistance program), and reserves.
FUNDRAISING GOAL
Each year, we set a goal of 100% participation from our community. Since our opening 24 years ago, we have been committed to fulfilling our fundraising needs through just one ask of our families. All gifts of any size are meaningful and gratefully accepted. The participation of our community weaves us together in a common goal, a mission to make the magic real this year and every year.
If you would like to talk more about our development efforts, please contact Darcy or the Board Advancement Committee (Liz Faralli and Yvonne Lin).
ways to donate
Online – Online credit or debit card donations can be made here.
Checks – Checks should be payable to Cypress School of San Francisco and can be dropped off or mailed to: 387 Moraga Avenue, The Presidio, San Francisco, CA 94129.
Donor-Advised Fund – Grants directed from a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF).
Matching Gifts – Corporate matching gift programs are a great way to double or triple your gift. Check with your employer’s Human Resources Department to find out how to apply.
Gifts of Stock – Gifts of appreciated stock are a great way to give to Cypress School and receive significant tax benefits. If you wish to transfer stock or other securities, please contact the Business Office at 415-921-2328 or Sasha Chalak (schalak@cowhollowschool.org).
Wire Transfers – For details on how to wire funds to Cypress School please contact the Business Office at 415-921-2328 or Sasha Chalak (schalak@cowhollowschool.org).
For tax purposes, please note that direct donations are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, as no goods or services were exchanged for your donation. Tax ID # 94-3373115
Community In Action: Parent and Teacher Education Events
The Collaboratory is a resource for the interchange of ideas and innovation in early childhood education, where parents and educators observe, reflect, dialogue, document, and interpret children’s thinking and learning.