Preschool
Christ Lutheran Preschool is a small nonprofit preschool. As an extension of the Christ Lutheran Church we seek to provide an atmosphere of Christian love and understanding. These pages are intended to answer your questions regarding philosophy, procedures and policies. Please keep this handbook for future reference.
Goals and Philosophy
Our emphasis is on social development. We feel the total development of the preschooler is far more important than the acquisition of factual knowledge. The childs social development and self-concept are most important at this point. Basic to this development is consideration and love for others... lessons which cannot be learned with rigid rules and regulations, but require a relaxed and loving atmosphere.The following list of basic goals have been derived from the philsophy stated above. During each child's time with us, we hope that he/she will learn to do the following:
- learn to interact with others
- learn to share in work and play
- learn to assume responsibility for one's actions
- learn to take pride in achievements and, by the same token, acknowledge mistakes
- learn to express ideas and feelings
- learn to make choices
- learn to compromise and contribute within their group
- learn to finish started projects
- Freeplay and group sharing
- stories, puppets, and drama
- Alphabet
- Numbers and counting
- Arts and crafts
- Music
- Fine and gross motor development
- Outdoor play
- Field trips
- Midmorning snack
- Bible-based weekly chapel
- Family activities
PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS
TWO-YEAR-OLD CLASS:
This class is a play-group-type program for toddlers who will be two years old by September 30.THREE-YEAR-OLD CLASS:
Three-year-olds have a choice of attending two days a week or three days a week. To be in the three year old class, a child must be three years old by September 30 and must be toilet trained (no diapers or pull-ups).FOUR-YEAR-OLD CLASS:
The four-year-olds have a choice of attending three days a week or four days a week. Children must be four years old by September 30th to register for a four-year-old class. Children must be toilet trained.SCHOOL SCHEDULE
The two-year-old classes meet twice a week -- one class meets on Tuesday and Thursday and the other meets on Wednesday and Friday, from 9:15 am to 11:45 am. All other preschool classes meet from 9:00 am to 11:45 am. There are two classes for three-year-olds – Tuesday/Thursday mornings, and Monday/Wednesday/ Friday mornings. We recommend that young threes enroll in the Tuesday/Thursday program. There are two classes for four-year-olds – Monday/Wednesday/Friday mornings and Tuesday/ Wednesday/Thursday/Friday mornings. We recommend that the young fours enroll in the Monday/ Wednesday/Friday class. School is in session from September through May. The preschool follows the same general schedule for holidays as the Fairfax County public schools unless a specific exception is scheduled by the director and a notice is given to the parents.ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
No child should arrive before 9:00 a.m. Parents should make sure the teacher is present before leaving. Children should be picked up promptly at 11 :45 am. The children become quite concerned when their rides are late. At 11:50 a.m. the children will be taken to Lunch Bunch and Lunch Bunch prices will be charged. If at any time your child will be picked up by someone other than yourself, the teacher must be notified upon arrival at school.SNOW DAYS
Classes will not be held when Fairfax County public schools are closed. When county schools open one (1) hour late, the preschool will also open one (1) hour late. When county schools open two (2) hours late, the preschool will be held from 11:00 am to 12:45 pm. Days missed due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control will not be made up.WITHDRAWALS AND ABSENCES
A child may be withdrawn from the preschool with a fourteen (14) day written notice. In the event a fourteen day notice is not given, one-half month's tuition will be charged from the date on which the notice is given. If a child is kept home temporarily because of illness, family vacation, or other reasons, the tuition charge will continue. If the school is closed temporarily as a health precaution, because of weather, or for any other reasons beyond the control of the school, the tuition will continue to be charged.CONFERENCES
For children in the three-year-old and four-year old classes, conferences will be scheduled twice each year to discuss each child's development. Additional conferences may be requested at any time by either the teacher or the parent.BIRTH CERTIFICATE
As required by Virginia law, '...the person enrolling a child [must] present proof of the child's identity and age.' Proof may include a certified copy of the child's birth certificate, notification of birth (hospital, physician or midwife record), [or] baptismal record.HEALTH
Each child is required to have a signed statement (blue health form) from a physician, stating he/she is in good health, able to participate in regular school activities, and that immunizations are up to date. A child may not begin class until the immunization record is on file. If your child has specific allergies, please inform the teacher or indicate this on the health form. Please cooperate by keeping your child home in the following instances:- The first day of a cold or questionable health (cough, runny nose, sneezing).
- When he/she has a fever.
- During the known incubation of a contagious disease.
- Until your doctor recommends resuming school
- Until he/she is well enough to participate in both indoor and outdoor activities.
- An undiagnosed rash that has not been treated by a physician
CLOTHING
Clothing should be durable, casual and washable. Please see that your child is dressed so that he/she feels free to join in all activities. It is suggested that tennis shoes or rubber sole shoes be worn. Take-off clothing should be clearly labeled. The child should have proper attire for outdoor play. If it snows, send boots, then we can all go out and enjoy the snow. A shoe box with extra underpants, slacks, socks and a shirt should be left at school for emergencies. You may wish to check the size and appropriateness from time to time.FOOD
Please do not send food to school with your child. A snack is provided mid- morning for all. If you wish to send a special holiday or birthday treat, please notify the teacher in advance.FIELD TRIPS
We try to plan a field trip each month. Although we usually leave the school for these trips, there are occasions when the field trip is brought to the school. In either case, volunteers are needed to chaperon these field trips. Parents are expected to help in at least two (2) field trips during the year. By law, all children under the age of six must be in a car seat or booster seat. A car seat should be left at the school the morning of the field trip so we can use it for the drive to and from the activity. Children will not be permitted to go on the field trip if a car seat is not available for his/her use. We request that younger siblings do not accompany you when you chaperon because we need your undivided attention with the preschoolers during the field trip. We do not schedule field trips for the two-year-olds.
PARENT PARTICIPATION PROGRAM
- Since Christ Lutheran Preschool is a parent participation preschool, we ask parents to help in their child's classroom on a rotating basis. Parents sign up to volunteer, then a schedule will be provided reminding parents of the days on which their assistance is required.
- Although we are a parent participation preschool, the director may approve limited exceptions to this participation policy. In such cases, an additional $25.00 per month will be charged. This is used to hire a substitute for the non-participating parent.
- If a parent has signed up and cannot help on the scheduled day, IT IS THE PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND A REPLACEMENT by trading with another parent listed on the class roster. A copy of the class roster, including telephone numbers, will be provided to each family. If a parent does not help as scheduled and fails to find a replacement, that parent will be charged $30.00.
- In order for the parent assistant to give full attention to the needs of the students, we request that other children in the family be left with a friend or babysitter.
- The day that a parent is to help in the classroom, we expect the parent to be in attendance and to participate in all activities the entire morning.
- The parent who plans to do most of the participating in the classroom is required by law to obtain proof of a negative PPD test (TB test) within the last three years. The PPD test may be obtained at the County Health Center located at 3750 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, or from your family physician. PPD results must be given to the classroom teacher by September 30. After that time, a parent may not participate as a classroom helper until the results are on file. If a parent is scheduled to help after September 30 and the results are not on file, the parent will not be able to help, and $25.00 will be charged each time the parent is unable to be in the classroom.
- Parents are responsible for providing the snack and drink in the classroom. The teachers will discuss the snack schedule used in the individual classroom. Some classes request parents provide snack on the day they help in the classroom, while others schedule snacks by the week.
- We recommend a nutritious snack rather than sweets. Please be aware that some foods sold in grocery stores labeled snack may not be suitable as a healthy food for preschool. Some suggestions include fresh fruits or vegetables, cheese, muffins, saltine crackers, granola bars, graham crackers and peanut butter crackers. We encourage milk, water, or fruit juice for the drink. Please avoid sugary drinks such as Kool-Aid or Hi-C type beverages. If a parent would like to prepare something special for a birthday or other occasion, that can easily be arranged. Because there is a snack break, we request that you do not send additional food to school with your child.
TUITION AND REGISTRATION FEES
A registration fee of $100.00 is paid at the time of enrollment. September tuition is due by June 1st. The registration fee and September tuition fee will insure the child's placement in the class and are not refundable. Tuition is due no later than the fifth (5th) of each month, October through May. An additional fee of $10.00 will accrue monthly for each month that a payment is late. A $25.00 fee will be charged for checks returned due to non-sufficient funds. The preschool reserves the right to terminate a child’s enrollment if tuition payment is delinquent. There is a $25.00 charge for any month in which the parents are not able to meet the participation requirement. (This is used to hire a substitute for the nonparticipating parents.) There will be a $30.00 charge for a parent who has volunteered on a specific day to help and does not help that day or find a substitute to take his or her place.Monthly Tuition Fees:
| 2-year-olds | $175.00 |
| 3-year-olds (2 days) | $175.00 |
| 3-year-olds (3 days) | $225.00 |
| 4-year-olds (3 days) | $225.00 |
| 4-year-olds (4 days) | $275.00 |
Checks should be made payable to:
CHRIST LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL
Checks may be mailed to:
Christ Lutheran Preschool
3810 Meredith Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
Checks (in envelopes) may be placed in the PRESCHOOL mailbox which is located in the upstairs hallway at the beginning of each month. Payments should never be sent to school with a child or handed to the teachers.
Application packages are available here