FIRST PRESBYTERIAN PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS
Infant Program
Our Infant program is a warm, loving, and inviting atmosphere where little ones from 6 weeks to one years old grow, play, and learn with our qualified infant care workers.
We pride ourselves on providing our infants with a stimulating environment with not only basic child care, but an attention to social, emotional, and developmental needs of a growing child.
We offer songs, appropriate developmental toys, and books on a daily basis as well as time outside, which may include a lovely stroll around the church grounds, as appropriate.
We currently offer two All Day Infant (M-F) classes, organized by age with a younger and older Infant program. Each class has a maximum of seven students.
Ones Program
Our Ones program is lively and fun as these little ones learn to maneuver in their growing world. Social and emotional milestones are considered as they learn to interact with one another and learn fun new songs, games, and interactive play.
Language and communication goals are addressed each day as the children learn to try new words, respond to simple requests, and name familiar objects.
Cognitive function develops more as the children explore, manipulate objects, and problem solve.
Movement and physical development continue as our ones are encouraged to stand alone, take more steps, and explore inside and outside the classroom.
We currently offer a Half Day Ones program, where you may select two days a week (Tu/ Th), three days a week (Mon/ Wed/ Fri), or five days (Mon- Fri). We also offer two All Day Ones (M-F) classes. Each of these programs has a maximum of eight students.
Twos Program
Our Twos are busy friends who are beginning to include each other in play. Our teachers are qualified professionals who teach and encourage more independent behaviors. Twos say simple sentences of 2-4 words, follow simple directions, and like to repeat what we say. Our teachers assist with learning shapes, colors, rhymes and simple games. Many will begin to kick and throw a ball, potty train, and even draw shapes and lines! It’s an exciting year full of growth!
We currently offer a Half Day Twos program (Mon- Fri). We also offer two All Day Twos (M-F) program. Each of these programs has a maximum of ten students.
Threes Program
Our Threes teachers have an exciting year with these friends. They are speaking clearly in 2-3 sentences, communicating with friends easily, and are fine-tuning their social skills. Our qualified teachers continue to work on the growth in language with directional words as well as knowing their full name and age.
Cognitive growth continues to be amazing! They are understanding concepts of print, “reading” books by looking at pictures, and in beginning stages of writing. Our staff works with literature to enrich the classroom curriculum and foster the love of reading. Thematic units help the children make connections and have fun.
They will build, climb, jump, run, color, and play!
We currently offer a Half Day Threes (M-F) class, and an All Day Threes (M-F) class. Our threes are eligible to participate in Lunch Bunch (12:00pm-2:00pm) and our carpool lines! In our five-day Threes programs (M-F), Half Day and All Day students are blended from the 9:00am-12:00pm hours in order to encourage socialization. Our Threes programs have a maximum of fourteen students.
Fours Program
Our Fours class is a year full of wonder. Their world has expanded beyond the ones, twos, and threes to include more than they could ever imagine. Our teachers encourage independence, creativity, and cooperation. The students will work on whole group skills from colors, to numbers, to letter recognition and letter sound. In addition, they will begin centers to independently practice the skills taught to them. Students will begin to write and recognize capital and lowercase letters as they progress through the year. Literature continues to remain at the core of lessons with thematic activities based on the books read. Simple math skills are also addressed from numbers and number sense, to base 10, to measurement.
Movement and physical development continue to be integrated through music, outdoor play, and games.
We currently offer one Half Day Fours (M-F) class and one All Day Fours (M-F) class. Our fours are eligible to participate in our Lunch Bunch (12:00pm-2:00pm) programs and our carpool lines. In our Fours programs (M-F), Half Day and All Day students are blended from the 9:00am-12:00pm hours in order to encourage socialization. At 12:00pm, Half Day students that plan to eat lunch at school transition to the Lunch Bunch classroom. At 12:00pm, All Day students transition to their lunch/nap classroom. Our Fours programs have a maximum of fifteen students.
Kindergarten Program
Our Kindergarten program continues with a literature based curriculum. A program intent on a literature and print-rich environment encourages strong readers and writers. Our Starfall curriculum addresses phonemic awareness and reading readiness. With exercises addressing whole group, small group, and individuals, Starfall helps students with letter recognition, letter sound, high-frequency words, and beginning reading strategies.
Our Math Curriculum Investigations is designed to “help all children understand fundamental ideas of numbers and operations, geometry, data, measurement, and early algebra” (from www.investigations.terc.edu website). Manipulatives and practice are key and present daily.
In addition, our Kindergarten program follows the Virginia Standards of Learning.
Science and Social Studies come alive as our teacher integrates the lessons through literature, reinforcing reading and writing skills.
Our kindergarteners have the opportunity to participate in several off-campus field trips throughout the school year!
The Kindergarten year is a year full of fun learning, social and emotional growth, confidence, and independence!
We currently offer one Kindergarten (M-F) class, with the option to sign up for All Day care!