Preschools

My son has been attending St. John’s Preschool for about a month now and he loves it.

Registration time has come and gone so I do not know if there are any openings, but here are the details:

— 3 yrs (by 9/30) morning (8:45-11:30) or afternoon (12:15-3:00) 2 days/week (T/Th)
— 4 yrs (by 9/30) morning (8:45-11:30) or afternoon (12:15-3:00) 3 days/week (MWF)Once again, my mantra in sharing this preschool information is to remind folks to double check everything with the school!

Here’s what I love. Most importantly, the staff is kind and loving. Also key in my book is that parents are welcome and appreciated in the classroom (even with siblings in tow). Plus my son can now call his grandparents and godparents to show off his “Hail Mary” skills… (he calls it the “full of grace” prayer).

We had a wonderful visit to Mother Earth Playschool a few weeks ago.

As with previous preschool research posts please check the school’s actual website to confirm details, but here are the basics:
Mother Earth Playschool is a small home-based. mixed age (2-5) playschool that includes yoga instruction. You can choose from a 2 day (T/Th, $175/ month) or 3 day (MWF, $250/ month) mixed age morning (9am-12pm) program.

The director/ teacher Jennifer Stow is wonderful - she is kind and loving and really does a great job of gently encouraging kids to stay engaged in group activities which included songs, stories, yoga, painting, and even playing with shaving cream (and that’s just on the day we visited!). Her space is open and comfortable - there’s a tree painted in the bathroom, a doll area, tables with small toys and even a rice table. My kids and I spent an hour participating in her program and have been playing yoga class and flying like butterflies almost every day since.

The location (right on Route 7 business just a few miles west of route 9) and is easily accessible from Leesburg and Purcellville, not far from the Natural Mercantile Organic Grocery store.

The Ashburn MOMS club is hosting a preschool forum next weekend. Check out this Leesburg today article for more info.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2008

I know I am not the only one in town looking into preschools for next year, so thought I’d share my research. By next year I hope to have a more sophisticated tool for sharing this info, but for now… I hope you find my notes helpful!

Douglass Community Center Liscensed Preschool

WARNING: This info is not comprehensive and I can’t guarantee complete accuracy. Contact the preschool to confirm all info and avoid confusion!

Visits

There is not a scheduled open house, but you can schedule a visit to the school by calling the center. They prefer that you come without your children to avoid disrupting classes.

Enrollment

To sign up new students you need to fill out a simple form (one per family) between 2/11/08 and 2/22/08. You can fill out the form in person, but you may find it online (not posted yet). You will be entered into a lottery for available spaces. A drawing will be held on 3/3/08 to determine who gets in.

Existing students have a separate lottery prior to this process. Anyone trying to enroll after 2/22 will be entered on a wait list.

If you are chosen in the lottery you need to pay a nonrefundable $45 registration fee hold your spot. More detailed registration paperwork is completed during the summer, at least a month before classes begin (you would need to commit by 08/2008). Monthly tuition is usually due the 15th of the month prior. There is a $15 fee for late payment.

Programs

When I asked if the programs are play-based I was told that they do lots of learning here… letters, numbers, holidays,social skills, etc. This is a small preschool with only one class per age group. Each class has about 15 spaces and is lead by a head teacher and an assistant. They follow a curriculum and have clear goals laid out in their parent handbook.

Programs by Age
Age cutoff is 9/30/08.
2.5/3 yr olds, 2 day, T/ Th, 9:30-11:30, $100/ month*
3/3.5 yr olds, 3 day, MWF, 9-11:30, $155/ month*
3.5/4 yr olds, 3 day, MWF 12:30-3:00, $155/ month*
4 yr olds, 3 day, T/Th/F, 12:15-2:45, $155/ month*
4.5/5 yr old enrichment, 5 day, M-F, 8:45-11:15, $260/ month*

* All fees are for 2007-08. They will change for 2008-09. Some scholarships are available.

Reviews

The word on the street (at least in my circles) is that this is great preschool. The folks I know or have heard from by email seem to be very happy with their programs.

I have visited the school. During my visit I met with the receptionist who was very helpful and the director who was enthusiastic and professional.

If anyone gets differing info please let me know so I can update and correct!