Saint Christopher’s Preschool began in September 1961 as a Mother’s Day Out program to provide a ministry to mothers of young children. Since that time the school has grown into a developmental program, which serves 75 children each school day. SCP is a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools.

Purpose

SCP promotes a positive and loving atmosphere that provides experiences for children to grow socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually. The school focuses on promoting the children’s independence and self-confidence while teaching them the joys of learning.

Philosophy

Early childhood is an important stage of development. Children grow and learn in developmental stages. The rate of development varies according to the individual child. In order to help the children develop to their fullest potential, we offer a variety of activities that alternate between active/quiet and child/teacher directed.

Administration

Organization

St. Christopher’s Preschool is a Christian preschool that is non-profit and operates under the auspices of the St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church. A Board of Governors administers the school. The Director who is responsible to the Board of Governors heads the school staff.

Preschool Board of Governors

The Preschool Board of Governors consists of seven members, appointed for three-year terms. The Rector, the Preschool Director, and the Vestry Liaison serve as ex officio members of the Board. All have a voice and vote. At least one board member will be a parent of a current or recent preschool student.

Saint Christopher’s Parent Association

The SCP Parent Association supports the school by providing enrichment activities for parents and children and in planning, implementing, and executing fundraising events.

Curriculum

Learning is organized around weekly themes. Concepts and skills are integrated into the thematic unit.

Activities in the classroom alternate between active/quiet and child/teacher directed. The activities incorporate the following: circle time discussions, fingerplays, music, cooking, art, and large and fine motor. Many of the activities used promote readiness skills needed in math and language arts.

Developmentally appropriate methods are used to teach math, writing, and the alphabet along with many other skills that will prepare our four-year-olds for kindergarten. Phonics is incorporated in all of our four-year-old classes and with more emphasis in our five-day four-year-old class.

Centers

Centers provide a way for children to be actively involved in learning and making choices. A variety of activities are offered on a rotating basis.

Block Work

Children learn by what they can see, touch, and do. Many types of building blocks are found in the classrooms - wooden, plastic, cardboard bricks, and block boards all contribute to mathematical concepts such as shapes, different sizes, and counting.

Library

Our student library emphasizes our dedication to the development of literacy areas—speaking, listening, and storytelling. The privilege of checking out books and returning them on a weekly basis fosters the love of reading, and teaches responsibility in borrowing and caring for books.

Story Land

Once a week the children attend a special story time in the library. Extension activities such as flannel board illustrations, dramatization, songs, fingerplays, story props etc. that coordinate with the story are enjoyed by the children and promotes a love of reading.

Art Program

Teachers encourage children to develop their creativity by exploring different art mediums. There are free art times as well as teacher-directed seasonal arts and craft projects.

Children’s Chapel

Chapel services are held once a month with Mother Susan, the rector of St. Christopher’s. The children sing and hear a story by Mother Susan with the aid of her puppet, Ollie the Ostrich. Our very talented music teacher, Ruth Erbe, directs the children with music

Music Program

Music is included in the weekly schedule and a music teacher meets with students each Tuesday and Wednesday. The children participate in a special Christmas Chapel and an end-of-the-year music program.

Physical Development

Physical development is included through using large muscles during a daily recess time held on our beautiful, large, wooded playground or during inclement weather in our “big room” with equipment to encourage large motor development. Parachute play, games, and rhythmic activities throughout the curriculum also encourage large muscle development, coordination, and social skills.

Field Trips and On-Site Fun

The three and four-year-old students will attend one or two off-site field trips. Our entire student body gets to enjoy our numerous special presentations at school, such as puppets, reading events, storytelling, and other special programs.

Daily Schedule

Each classroom teacher develops a daily schedule based on the following activities. The schedule is followed consistently to provide security and consistency to the children. On Orientation night the teacher will give you the specific schedule for your child’s class. Following is a sample schedule:

9:30 – 9:45 Greetings/Free Choice Centers
9:50 – 10:05 Circle Time Weather, Calendar, Social Studies
10:10 – 10:30 Music (2 days)/Cooking/Science
10:35 – 11:00 Snack Socializing, Manners, Nutrition
11:05 – 11:30 Playground/ Big Room Large Muscle, Cooperative Play
11:35 – 11:55 Concepts/Storytime Colors, Shapes, Numbers, Letters
12:00 – 12:25 Library/Art Reading/Creativity, Imagination

Ratio:

2 ½ year olds:
- 1 teacher and 1 teaching assistant per 10 students
3 and 4 year olds:
- 1 teacher and 1 teaching assistant per 10 or 14 students

Our Staff

All teachers have experience working with young children and have previous experience in early childhood education and/or a college degree. Over three fourths of our staff have college degrees.

Tour Our School

Tours of the school are given Monday through Friday during school hours or may be arranged at other times by calling the preschool office and making an appointment.

The School Year Calendar

School begins one week from the Labor Day holiday and ends the Thursday preceding the Memorial Day weekend. We follow a modified Fairfax County School Calendar meaning that will be closed days when Fairfax County Schools are closed. The Director reserves the right to close school in the event of catastrophic emergencies. Examples may be no electricity or no water.

2008 -- 2009 Calendar

Parent (ONLY) Orientation 7:00 p.m.	SEPTEMBER 4
Open House (Parents & Children) 2 ½ and 3 yr. – 9:30–10:30 4 yr. old classes – 10:30-11:30	SEPTEMBER 5
School Begins 9:30 a.m.-12:00	SEPTEMBER 8
School Day Lengthens to 12:30 p.m.	SEPTEMBER 22
Columbus Day Holiday	OCTOBER 13
Student/Teacher Holidays	NOVEMBER 3 & 4
Thanksgiving Holiday	NOVEMBER 27 & 28
Christmas Vacation	DECEMBER 19 –- JANUARY 2
M.L. King’s Birthday Holiday	JANUARY 19
Student/Teacher Holidays	JANUARY 26 & 27
Washington’s Birthday Holiday	FEBRUARY 16
Easter Vacation	APRIL 6-10
Student/Teacher Holiday	APRIL 3
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL	MAY 22

Parent Orientation Night

Parent Orientation Night is held Thursday night after the Labor Day holiday at 7:00 p.m. in the school auditorium. The Director will go over school policies and procedures, and introduce the faculty. Afterward, you will meet your child’s teacher who will discuss classroom goals and procedures.

Open House for Parents and Children

Open House for your child will be the Friday morning after Parent Orientation Night. Teachers will be in the classrooms to meet their students. We suggest that you visit for a half-hour during the following time allotted for your child’s class:

Schedule for Friday Open House:

9:30 - 10:30 AM All 2½-year-old and 3-year-old classes
10:30 - 11:30 AM All 4-year-old and Pre-K classes

September School Hours

The hours for the first two weeks of school are from 9:30 – 12:00. These hours are used to help your child transition to a new experience and daily schedule. We want every child to feel safe and comfortable. Beginning the third week of school, the hours will be from 9:30-12:30.

Snack

Snack time is used to nourish the children mid-morning and provides the opportunity for socializing and learning manners by teacher modeling and positive reinforcement. A prayer of thankfulness is offered before snack. Parents provide snack for the class on a rotating basis. Some snack ideas are crackers, such as goldfish, saltines, oyster, Ritz, graham, or animal cookies, or fruit, vegetables, or cheese. Please make sure none of the snacks contain peanut or nut products. Please, no peanut butter, foods with a high sugar content, candy, or chips. Water is served with the snack. If you opt to provide a fruit juice for the class, please no juice containing sugar, or high fructose syrup. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Inclement Weather Policy

The Preschool also observes the same inclement weather schedule as Fairfax County Schools.

School Hours

9:30 AM – 12:30 PM

REGISTRATION

Open registration begins in February preceding the new school year, which begins each September.

Enrollment Criteria

2.5 by September 30, 2008, Diapers acceptable
Age 3 by September 30, 2008. Must be potty trained.
Age 4 by September 30, 2008 Must be potty trained.

Enrollment Procedures

Each of the following must be completed before the child begins school.

Submit a registration application with a $45.00 registration fee (non-refundable) for each child.
Submit a copy of your child’s birth certificate or passport for proof of age and identity. *
Pay activity, insurance, and the first month’s tuition. *
Return signed copy of your tuition contract

Children registered for the school year before August 15 must have (*) items submitted by August 15 to hold the space.

Registration Fees

FEES

Registration NON-REFUNDABLE with application		$45
*Activity Fee, per school year	3 or 4-YEAR-OLD STUDENT	$80
*Activity Fee, per school year	2 1/2-YEAR-OLD STUDENT	$55
	* For Special programs, field trips, T-Shirts, etc.
Accident Insurance: per school year	(VA LAW)	$15

TUITION PER MONTH

2.5 YEAR-OLDS
.	TWO DAY PROGRAM -	$140	(MON-WED)
	THREE DAY PROGRAM	$175	(MON-WED)
3 YEAR-OLDS
,	THREE DAY PROGRAM	$175	(MON/TUE/THUR
.	FOUR DAY PROGRAM -	$210
.	FIVE DAY PROGRAM -	$250	(MON - FRI
4 YEAR-OLDS
.	THREE DAY PROGRAM	$175	(MON/WED/FRI)
.	FOUR DAY PROGRAM	$210
.	FIVE DAY PROGRAM	$25-	(MON - FRI)

A 20% discount is applied to the lesser tuition rate when two or more children from the same family are enrolled. However, the full registration, activity, and insurance fees are required for each child.

Tuition assistance applications are available in the preschool office.

Contents

Ratio:

2008 -- 2009 Calendar

JANUARY 26 & 27

FEES