Weekday Preschool

WEEKDAY PRESCHOOL
2007-2008

The Weekday Preschool, established in 1960 by the Commission on Education of the Annandale United Methodist Church, is a non-profit and non-discriminatory program governed by the Weekday Child Development Committee.

PRINCIPLES and OBJECTIVES
Our primary objective is to assist each child in developing into happy, healthy, self-confident individuals. We are committed to creating communities for children and families that are safe and nurturing, enhance positive growth, development, and self-esteem, provide developmentally appropriate, stimulating, and creative curriculum, and respect and accept people of all cultures, religions, abilities, genders, ages, family structures, and sexual orientation. Our program builds a strong foundation for later academic education by encouraging self-motivated learning.

ACCEDITATION
The Weekday Preschool is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, a division of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). NAEYC accreditation is the mark of a high quality program and indicates that the program is continually striving to provide the best educational opportunities for your child.

CURRICULUM
The curriculum adheres to the theory that children learn best through play. The daily curriculum offers a variety of hands-on learning activities and provides experiences for social interaction, inquiry and skill development. The children are provided with a wide range of developmentally appropriate experiences - including music, science, language enrichment, art, cooking, and computers.

STAFF
Staff members are chosen on the basis of education and their understanding and love of children. Teachers have college degrees or hold early childhood certification. Attendance at workshops and in-service sessions is required to ensure continued staff development. Using appropriate methods, teachers assess and inform parents of children's progress and/or goals for developmental progress. Parent-teacher conferences are held twice a year. Hiring practices are non-discriminatory.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
A music teacher meets weekly with all classes. A science resource teacher meets regularly with four year olds. Classes of fours attend a children's chapel time twice a month; three and four day three year olds attend once a month beginning in January. Throughout the year, a doctor, dentist, firefighters and other community professionals visit the classrooms. For learning and enjoyment, older children make field trips to the nature center and other nearby places of interest.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT:
Parents are welcome visitors in the classroom at all times - to observe, read a story, prepare a snack, or otherwise volunteer. Educational programs for parents, planned by parents, are held during the year. Newsletters from the Preschool director and individual classroom teachers are sent home monthly. Parents are involved in a yearly evaluation of the effectiveness of the preschool in meeting the needs children and parents.

FACILITY:
Classrooms are safe, clean, and arranged to accommodate children individually, in small groups and in a large group. Rooms contain block-building and dramatic play areas, library corners, listening centers, discovery areas, water/sensory play tables, and spaces for creative arts and manipulatives. Age-appropriate equipment is available outdoors on three newly renovated playgrounds. A "rainy day room" allows indoor gross motor activities.

HEALTH AND SAFETY:
The preschool is inspected regularly by the Fairfax County Health Department. Completed health forms for students are required upon enrollment. Children must be daytime toilet trained to attend Weekday Preschool. A few spaces are reserved in the oldest MDO/Early Learning Program class for enrolled preschoolers who are not toilet trained in time for the start of school. Please inform the office if you are not having toileting success by August 1st. A snack is provided daily. Children may prepare their own snacks as a classroom cooking activity.

TRANSPORTATION:
Parents are responsible for transporting children to and from school. The Weekday Preschool furnishes class lists to facilitate forming carpools. No bus or van service is available.

Classroom assignments are on a space available basis. The Weekday Preschool may on occasion need to make adjustment to class configurations.

The Weekday Preschool Open House Dates are:

Tuesday, January 15 at 9:30am
Wednesday, January 30 at 9:30am
Thursday February 7 at 9:30am
Thursday, February 21 at 9:30am

PRESCHOOL HOURS:
9:00 - 11:45 a.m.

CLASSES FOR 3 YEAR OLDS:
Two mornings (M T or Th,F)
Three mornings (MTW, WThF, or MWF)
Four mornings (M-Th)

Child must be 3 years old by Sept. 30, 2006 and toilet trained.
Maximum Class Size is14 children with a lead teacher and an assistant teacher.

CLASSES FOR 4 YEAR OLDS:
Three mornings (M-W)
Four mornings (T-F)
Five mornings (M-F)

Child must be 4 years old by Sept. 30, 2006.
Maximum class size is 18 children with a lead teacher and an assistant teacher.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
The Weekday Preschool follows the decision of Fairfax County Public Schools regarding school closures due to inclement weather. More detail is delineated in the Parent Handbook.

MONTHLY PAYMENT:
2 day classes $166.00
3 day classes $250.00
4 day classes $323.00
5 day classes $375.00

Discounts: 15% discount for second or additional child.

REGISTRATION DATES:
February 22-Feb 28 for AUMC.

March 1 at 3:00 p.m.. - deadline for applications for families who are currently enrolled in the Weekday Preschool or the Early Learning Program (Mother's Day Out).

March 8 at 3:00 p.m.. - deadline for community applications.

Applications may be mailed in or dropped off in the Preschool Office.

REGISTRATION FEE:
The non-refundable registration fee is $85.00 per family.

OFFICE STAFF:
Director: Maribeth Day
Business Manager: Mary Harris

Telephone: 703-256-1100

e-mail: wps@annandale-umc.org