CURRICULUM BASICS
Our Preschool was established in 1991 as a ministry of the Washington Street United Methodist Church for children two through five years of age.
In line with our mission statement, our developmental program encourages each child to grow socially, emotionally, cognitively, physically and spiritually at his/her own pace. A developmentally appropriate, hands-on program enables teachers to incorporate language experiences daily, allowing children to expand their vocabulary naturally. Our experiences and qualified teachers have a passion for early childhood education and plan each day thoughtfully in order to achieve a balance of teacher-led and child-led activities and lessons. This balanced schedule is achieved through using focused and structured activities such as circle time, story time and discussions, and table work followed by opportunities for exploration during projects, arts and crafts activities, center activities, and more. Learning through play, especially through dramatic play, is encouraged as children develop higher level thinking, strengthen language and social skills, cultiviate empathy, and make sense of their world.
Incorporating weekly theme units of study to our daily class schedule, allows teachers to incorporate language, math, and science concepts to a variety of interesting and educational topics and themes. Typical themes include "Planting & Growing", "Our Five Senses", "Health & Safety". Theme units are outlined in our Themes and Events Calendar distributed at the beginning of each preschool term. Monthly newsletters and lesson plans are distributed by classroom teachers to help you become familiar with daily activities and your child's progress.
In order to introduce our students to a variety of experiences, our three year olds and pre-kindergartners take regular chaperoned walking field trips to the Barrett Branch Library on Queen Street. Other walking field trips in Old Town include a visit to the Trice Alley Fire Station and our local Post Office. Several times throughout the school year, visitors such as musicians, story tellers, and puppeteers are invited to the preschool to enrich the curriculum.
Early exposure to a new language is another opportunity our students have at Washington Street Preschool. Each class level receives Spanish language instruction from our talented language instructor twice a month. Students also participate in music, singing and playing instruments, not just daily in their classrooms, also with a qualified music instructor twice a month.
Washington Street Preschool was founded to give young children every opportunity to develop socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually to their fullest potential. To support spiritual growth, the Preschool holds a Children’s Chapel Service each month led by the WSUM Church’s Pastor, Associate Pastor, or Director of Christian Education. Each fifteen minute monthly Chapel Service consists of age-appropriate stories, songs, and prayer. Additionally our Preschool participates in a variety of outreach and minsitry programs, such as Thanksgiving food collections, Christmas giving programs, and more. Events such as our annual “Thanksgiving Feast”, Christmas Program, and Year End Celebration round out the Preschool experience.
ADMINISTRATION / STAFF
Washington Street Preschool is governed by a Preschool Board which consists of the WSUMC Associate Pastor, WSUMC members, the Director of the Preschool, and teacher and parent representatives.
In order to attend to each student’s individual abilities, very low student-teacher ratios are maintained. In the 2’s Classes, two teachers are scheduled for every nine students. The 3’s Classes maintain two teachers for every fourteen students. Washington Street Preschool offers two Pre-Kindergarten classes for four and five year old children with eleven students in each class and one primary teacher. The Pre-K classes also share a second teacher to enhance individual student-teacher interaction.
Our teaching staff is chosen based upon their educational experiences in the field of early childhood education as well as their nurturing personalities, enthusiasm, and love of teaching young children.
LOCATION / FACILITY HIGHLIGHTS
Washington Street Preschool is located in the center of historic Old Town Alexandria. The school’s gated entrance is at 112 South Columbus Street between Prince and King Streets. There is a designated Kiss and Ride used for student arrival and departure. To visit during school hours, please pass through the gate, walk through the playground area, and enter through the preschool back door to the Administrative Office.
During the Summer of 2005, extensive renovations were made to all of the classrooms and office spaces. Classrooms are bright and spacious and are a reflection of our philosophy and developmental approach to early childhood education. The rooms are fully equipped with the latest and best age appropriate educational equipment and supplies. The Administrative Offices are home to a comprehensive Teacher Resource Center with early childhood curriculum planning materials and reading materials organized by thematic units.
The Preschool has a large, secure outdoor playground as well as indoor space for physical activity including a sizeable fleet of trikes, wagons, “cars”, climbing equipment, and basketball hoops for those rainy days.
AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
Washington Street Preschool offers an After School Enrichment Program, during which children have an opportunity to interact with peers over lunch, brought from home, and participate in science, or music and movement, or visual art activities within mixed age groups. The program is offered in 4-6 week sessions, October through May from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday or Thursday afternoons. Our After School Enrichment Program, also known as "Lunch Bunch," is open for registration to students in our Three's and Pre-K classes. There will be 2 sessions, in the Fall semester, and 3 sessions in the Spring semester. We will offer one session of Science Lunch Bunch (6 weeks) and one session of Music and Movement Lunch Bunch (6 weeks) offered once during each semester on alternate Wednesdays and Thursdays. Washington Street Preschool will also offer a Visual Arts Lunch Bunch (4 weeks) in April. More program information, including tuition, as well as registration for our Fall Lunch Bunch Programs will be available in September.
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JUNE SUN & FUN CAMP
Washington Street Preschool offers a “June Sun & Fun” program for two weeks each June. This popular extention of the Preschool program requires a separate registration. Detailed information about our summer camp session is distributed in the Spring. In order to attend, children must be three years of age by May 31st of the current school year and toilet trained.
2009 WEEKLY SUMMER CAMP TUITION: $130.00 (includes supply fee)
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Washington Street Preschool has an “open door policy”. Parents are welcome to visit at any time! Parent involvement fosters a greater sense of community for all in our Preschool.
WSUMCP has an active Parents’ Committee that meets throughout the school year to provide fellowship and plan fundraising events and other special activities. The Parents’ Committee strives to promote and sustain an effective working partnership with the school staff for the benefit of the children and the well being of the Preschool community.
Additionally, parents are invited to volunteer in a variety of ways within the Preschool. Parents may assist teachers by chaperoning field trips, organizing classroom parties, providing snacks for special events, obtaining theme related library books, and serving as substitute teachers.
REGISTRATION
Washington Street United Methodist Church Preschool accepts families of all racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. As a church sponsored program, Christian traditions are emphasized. However, our program also celebrates other cultural and religious traditions. By sharing customs, ideas, traditions, and meanings we help promote understanding and acceptance.
Enrollment is determined by an annual lottery held each February. Families already in our program must re-enroll their children each year. Currently enrolled children and their siblings are given priority in our program for the next school term as long as they abide by all enrollment policies. Preference is also given to WSUMC affiliated families.
Registration applications will be accepted beginning December 1 for the upcoming school year and held on file until the February placement lottery. A $65.00 non-refundable application fee must accompany each application for enrollment. A copy of our enrollment policies, general information, and applications will be posted on December 1. An Open House is scheduled annually in January during which classrooms are open to prospective parents and applications may be placed. School tours are scheduled by appointment throughout the school year.
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