Little Lambs Village Preschool is an outreach ministry of Church of the Word, Anglican.
Our goal is to assist parents in providing a warm, caring, Christian environment that facilitates a developmentally appropriate teaching-learning experience to help children develop in all aspect: social-emotional, cognitive, physical, and spiritual. We follow the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) concept of developmental appropriateness as having two dimensions: 1) age appropriateness and 2) individual appropriateness. We use child development knowledge about a specific age group and knowledge of the individual child in the classroom to plan an appropriate learning environment.
Social /Emotional Development: To develop a positive self concept; develop a positive attitude toward life & learning; demonstrate positive behavior; develop a sense of responsibility; develop an awareness of manners; develop empathy toward others
Cognitive Development: To develop verbal skills; acquire beginning reading & writing skills; acquire problem-solving skills; develop beginning math skills; learn listening skills; learn to follow simple directions.
Physical Development: To enhance gross & fine motor skills; use all senses in learning.
Spiritual Nurture: We enhance our program to include spiritual nurture. As a ministry of the Church, we promote a holistic approach to child development, not ignoring the spiritual being of a person. Our aim is for the child to develop an awareness of God and to know Him in a personal way.
Programs and Tuition We offer four different classes:
| 2day/wk class for three year olds | Tue/Thu | a.m. or p.m. | $147/month |
| 3day/wk Transition Class (older 3’s) | Tue/Thu/Fri | a.m. (only) | $201/month |
| 3 day/wk class for four year olds | Mon/Wed/Fri | a.m. or p.m. | $201/month |
| 5 day/wk Pre –K (older4’s & 5’s) | Mon - Fri | a.m. or p.m. | $266/month |
Class Times
AM classes: 9–11:45 a.m.
PM classes: 12:10–3:00 p.m.
Requirements for Admission
Children must be three or four by Sept. 30. Must be potty trained and have independent toileting skills. Child’s original birth certificate is needed for validation. A physical form is required from a doctor showing a recent check-up and attesting to the child’s good general health.
Registration
Registration is held in January and February for the following school year. A tour of the facilities may be arranged with the director.
Scheduling a tour between February and mid-May is likely to be your best opportunity.
For mail-in registration or for your convenience, please download the 2008-2009 Registration Form (click here). You may send your registration form and fee by mail. We can only officially consider a registration application when we have received the registration fee. Please make your check payable to Little Lambs and write the child’s name on the memo line at the bottom left of the check.
Registration Fees (to accompany registration application forms)
$120 new and former families
$100 current families
$60 Church of the Word families
Registration Dates
| January 15th - 31st | Church of the Word families or current preschool families |
| February 1st – 8th | Former preschool families |
| February 11th | Mail in registration for new preschool families. Forms may not be postmarked prior to February 11th. Or you may also opt to use our drop box by the front door entrance. |
We may accept registration during the school year. For further information, call the office at 703-754-9673 or email the preschool director at Preschool.ChurchOfTheWord@verizon.net.
Notification of Acceptance
By March, we will let you know by mail or by phone if your child is officially accepted to the preschool for the Fall. We will send you the enrollment packet as soon as your registration is confirmed. If there is any change in your preschool plans, please let us know immediately so that we can make the space available to the next child on our waiting list. If a space is granted to your child and you withdraw registration, the registration fee cannot be refunded.
Location
The church is on Route 29, next to McDonald’s in Gainesville. The building is blue with a white wrap-around porch. From I66: Take Route 29 South, exit 43. Pass the McDonald’s on the left; go about 50 yards further to the next left turn lane. Turn left crossing 29 into the flea market. Make an immediate left onto the access road that parallels Route 29. The church faces Rt. 29. The office is through the double doors in the front of the building
Curriculum
We implement the Creative Curriculum approach to early childhood education. “The Creative Curriculum is rooted in educational philosophy and theory as well as practice. It relies heavily on Erik Erickson’s stages of socio-emotional development, Jean Piaget’s theory of how children think and learn, and on principle of physical development” (Creative Curriculum, 3rd edition, p. 5)
Curriculum Components:
Fine Motor Development – use and development of small muscles coordination are critical for writing and drawing skills. “Developing physical skills lays the foundation for cognitive abilities in reading, writing & math” (Creative Curriculum 3rd edition, p. 9)
Our thematically based teaching plan provides opportunities for hands on creative learning experiences in a well organized environment. Daily Class routine is a balance between: Structured, teacher-led activities (circle times and main activity – one on one mentoring); and non-structured play activities (active and quiet times; large group and small group; playing alone and with others)
Learning Centers are interest areas that include: blocks; house corner; table toys; art; sand and water; library; music and movement; computers; outdoors
Academic Content includes the basics: Alphabets – letters and sounds, colors, shapes; Science – weather and seasons, human body, plants, animals; Math – patterning, sorting, graphing; Language Development
Spiritual Nurture includes: Bible stories and Bible songs; Character development; Chapel time; Preschool Sundays
Progress Reports
We send home progress reports after the first and second 12 weeks of classes consecutively. A few weeks before the end of the school year at the parent-teacher conference time, we hand out a copy of all the assessment sheets and forms to the parents.
Parental connections
Open House; monthly newsletter and curricular calendars sent home; Parent-teacher conferences; Parents involvement in classroom duties and field trips; Homework – bridging or bringing classroom experience at home
Staff
Our lead teachers have either college degree or equivalent training & years of experience in early childhood education. Teachers and Aides are Pediatric First Aid and CPR certified. All staff is screened yearly by a physician.
Student/Teacher Ratio
16 children to 2 teachers
School Calendar
Our school year runs from September through May. We follow the Prince William County school calendar for holidays and snow days.
2007-2008 SCHOOL CALENDAR
| September 4, 5 | OPEN HOUSE |
| September 6, 7 | First Days of School |
| October 4, 5 | Back to School Night |
| October 8, 9 | Picture Day |
| October 17, 18 | Field Trips (Cox Farm) |
| October 21 | Preschool Sunday |
| November 5,6 | No School |
| November 12 | Holiday - Veteran’s Day Holiday |
| November 21 | No Afternoon classes, PWC schools early release |
| November 22-23 | Thanksgiving Break |
| November 26, 27 | First Progress Report sent home |
| December 14 (11am) | Christmas Program for 3day & PreK am classes |
| December 14 (2 pm) | Christmas Program for 3day & PreK pm classes |
| December 18 (11am) | Christmas Program for 2day classes (am & pm) |
| December 22 | Winter Break Begins |
| January 2 | School Starts Again (Wed) |
| January 15-31 | 2008-2009 In-house registration (Church of the Word & Current Families) |
| January 21 | Holiday – Martin Luther King |
| January 22 | No Afternoon classes (PWC Schools half day) |
| January 28 | No classes (PWC closed)s |
| January 30-31 | Peter McCory Specials |
| February 1 | 2008-2009 Preshool open registration starts |
| February 18 | Holiday – President’s Day |
| February 28-29 | House of Bounce Field Trips |
| March 17-21 | Spring Break |
| April 21 | No School – Conference Day at Little Lambs |
| April 27 | Preschool Sunday |
| April 30 | Cows & Corn Field Trip |
| May 15 (11am) | End of Yr Program for 2day 3’s am/pm |
| May 15 (2 pm) | End of Yr Program for 2/3 day transition classes |
| May 19 (11 am) | End of Yr Program for 4’s & PreK am classes |
| May 19 (2 pm) | End of Yr Program for 4’s & PreK pm classes |
| May 20 | Last Day of Sch – 2day 3’s & transition am/pm |
| May 21 | Last Day of Sch -3day & PreK classes am/pm |
Maintainer: Ted McMichael
Send Comments or Questions to:
Administrator.ChurchOfTheWord@verizon.net