FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
2008-2009
ST. ANDREW LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL is a program based on up-to-date developmentally
appropriate practices in early childhood education as evidenced in standards
established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC), Fairfax County Early Learning Guidelines and the Virginia Department
of Education. Children grow and learn
best in a play-based program with hand-on activities where they are encouraged
to explore and create. Pre-academics are
intertwined throughout the curriculum and presented in ways that are fun and
meaningful. We work to create a caring
community of learners where each child is valued and encouraged to value
others.
ST. ANDREW is a Christian preschool. How
is this represented in the program? We
are an outreach ministry of this church, and we recognize the importance of
this ministry to young families. The
children attend Sanctuary several times throughout each month with their
class. During Sanctuary Time, we present
a simple Bible story, sing Bible songs and pray; we experience God’s love in
age-appropriate ways. Grace is said
before our peanut-free snacks. We
celebrate holidays from a religious perspective. For example, the theme for December is the
story of the Nativity. We are mindful
that children will learn the most about God’s love by the way it is
demonstrated to them. We have families from
many denominations and different cultural and religious backgrounds. We are all God’s children.
What
age children does the program serve? We offer classes
for 3, 4 and 5 yr. olds. All children
must be toilet trained before entering the program. Children eligible for the 3-year-old program
must be 3 on or before September 30, 2008. Children eligible for the 4-year-old program
must be 4 on or before September 30, 2008.
Children for the Pre-K class need to be 5 yrs. of age on or before
January 31, 2009.
What qualifications or standards do we
seek in our staff and our program? The lead teacher is required to hold a degree in early
childhood or a related field of child development. We seek to employ those
persons who have an understanding of the developmental stages of children and
who demonstrate an ability to relate to children in a loving, positive
manner. A skilled teacher is flexible
and seeks to meet the needs of each child on an individual level, helping them
to be incorporated into the group. We work to stay current in the
field of early childhood education through continued professional
development. Our three year old classes
have two teachers and fourteen students.
Classes for our four and five year olds have two teachers and sixteen students.
All of our teachers and assistant
teachers pass criminal history and Central Registry checks from the
How do teachers promote peace in the
classrooms? Our policy is to be
pro-social. We work to demonstrate
appropriate ways to interact socially and to solve conflicts in a manner that
do not demean anyone. We model social skills to help children
resolve conflicts in a compassionate and respectful manner. We strive to help our children develop a
sense of trust and belonging, both with peers and adults.
How do I communicate with the
teacher? Do you like parents involved
in the program? Our teachers are
always available to communicate with you.
Many of our teachers
choose e-mail to communicate frequently with you. Our partnership with parents is very
important to us. Monthly, each classroom
teacher sends home a newsletter including the monthly classroom themes and
activities specific to the class. We
ask that each child bring a book bag of some type with them to school each day,
large enough to hold a letter-sized plastic envelope that will stay in your
child’s pack the entire year. We will
send home notes and important school information in this envelope, and ask that
you put your notes and tuition checks in the envelope for us to find. This ensures that we get the information you
send us and that you also get information from us. Of course, you can “touch
base” with the teacher at drop-off or pick-up. We have scheduled
conferences twice yearly and more
frequently if necessary. We are in a
partnership with you to provide a strong moral, social and educational
foundation for your child. We want to
keep our lines of communication open and flowing. We love parent volunteers! We encourage parent participation in our programs. Moms and dads help us cook, read stories,
share talents, play games and assist with field trips.
Are there any activities for families
involved in the Preschool? Each year,
early in the fall, we have Back-to-School Night where you can meet the teachers, members of the Preschool
Board, and other parents in your child’s classroom. Early in the school year, we have Get to Know You coffees for parents to
become acquainted and form friendships. Other
planned activities include our Christmas
programs, Mother’s Day Teas, Preschool Sunday and an end-of-the-year
activity for all our families.
Are there any field trips? The 4-year-olds generally plan three field trips a year, usually visiting places that
relate to the themes being explored in their classrooms. The 3-yr. olds generally plan two field
trips each year. All of our classes have
“pull in” programs, such as the Fire Safety Puppet Show, Under the Sea and Kindermusik
with creative movement and music activities.
How is “separation anxiety” handled, and
what is done to ease the transition to school? We realize that, for many of our young ones, the Preschool
experience will be the first substantial time away from home. This can be hard
for both the child and the parents. We have pre-visits a few days before
classes begin in the fall. During this time the child meets with the teacher
and one or more of his classmates. This provides a time to get acquainted with
the teacher on a more one-to-one basis. The parents remain nearby with the
assistant teacher, completing necessary forms and providing information that is
helpful in understanding their child. Also, to aid in the transition between
home and preschool, our first week of classes are shortened. Each class meets
for two hours the first week instead of the regular three-hour program. We also
offer, to all families new to our
program, a brochure published by the National Association for the Education of
Young Children (NAEYC). This offers information and advice for parents in
dealing with good-byes. If after the first few days, your child remains
troubled, please be assured our teachers have lots of experience with this and
know many ways to smooth the way. We will keep you informed about progress in
this area.
What is the schedule for a typical day
like at Preschool? Each classroom has
its own schedule, and this remains fairly consistent. Skilled teachers plan
well but stay flexible, seeking to include activities that keep children
interested and challenged. If an unplanned topic or event presents itself, the
teacher may add to or postpone previous plans in order to meet the needs and
interests of the children. An example of a class schedule:
9:00 Arrival
(children wait on the wall for everyone to arrive)
9:10 Discovery
(manipulatives, small motor activities, floor play)
9:30 Clean-up
(children learn order as they place items away)
9:35 Circle
(songs, finger plays, helper charts, movement activities)
9:45 Playground
(large motor development)
10:15 Bathroom and hand
washing before snack (children may use bathroom anytime)
10:25 Story Time
10:35 Snack (We provide a
peanut-free snack and a time to enjoy conversation with friends)
10:50 Library or Book Time
(children choose books to enjoy on their own or with friends)
11:00 Choice Time/Purposeful Play
(art activities, easel, media table, writing table, play dough, listening center, dramatic play, movement, block play) Children choose
their activities. They may move at will among the varied activities.
11:40 Clean-up
11:45 Closing Circle
(sharing/show & tell, songs, prayer)
11:55 Getting ready to go
home
How do I register my child? What is the cost to attend? Our Preschool
Information Night will be held January 14, 2008 at 7:30 pm. Application forms for Fall 2008 will be
available Jan. 2, 2008, at 9:00 am. in the church narthex. Instructions and deadlines to return forms
are included with the materials. We use both an “In-House” and a lottery
system. We work to keep the classes balanced with the number of boys and girls.
You will receive confirmation by mail, and your child’s place will be secured
when the registration fee and the May 2009 tuition is received. If our mailing indicates you are on our
waiting list, we will tell you your number on the list. There is no charge to
be on the waiting list. The registration
fee is $90. A one-time activity fee of
$45, due September 15, 2008, covers
field trip cost and pull-in programs for the year. Both of these fees are nonrefundable. Tuition for two-day-a-week classes is $175 a month. The tuition for
three-day-a-week classes is $215 a month.
Tuition for four-day-a-week classes is $285 a month.
We hope that this has helped answer some important questions about our program. Our staff would be happy to answer any further questions you may have. Please call 703-266-7744. We love to talk about our program!