PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

Classes Offered     (back to the top)

Fairfax Presbyterian Preschool offers six classes to meet the needs of different age groups. All children MUST BE TOILET TRAINED by the start of the school year. Please read below for more information about our classes offered in the 2008-2009 school year.

2008-2009 School Year

Age Group
Week Days
Annual  Tuition ('08-'09)
Number of Children per Class
Parent Participation Days
Two-Day Young 3s (should be 3 years old by 02/28/09)
M,T

$1,278
(or $142/mo)
10 maximum
8-9 per year
(about 1x/mo)
Two-Day 3s (should be 3 years old by 12/31/08)
M,T
$1,278
(or $142)
10 maximum
8-9 per year
(about 1x/mo)
Three-Day 3s (should by 3 years old by 09/30/08)
W,Th,F
$1,800
(or $200/mo)
10 maximum
11-12 per year
(about 1-2x/mo)

Young 4s (should be
4 years old by 12/31/08)
W,Th,F
$1,800
(or $200/mo)
10 maximum
11-12 per year (about 1-2x/mo)
Four-Day 4s (should be 4 years old by 09/30/08)
T,W,Th,F
$2,223
(or $247/mo)
12 maximum
12-13 per year (about 1-2x/mo)
Pre-K (should be 5 years old by 03/01/09)*
M,T,W,Th,F
$2,457
(or $273/mo)
12 maximum
14-15 per year
(1-2x/mo)
*Children in the Pre-Kindergarten class may not be older than 51/2 years old by September 1st.
The Preschool reserves the right to place a child in a class that differs from the one designated by the child's birthday when we feel that such placement is in the best interest of the child.
Special Programs     (back to the top)

Music and Movement. A combined Music and Movement program is offered to all children at least once each week during the regular school day. This class is taught by our Special Programs Teacher, who incorporates creative music and simple pieces of equipment combined with body movements that are developmentally appropriate. In this class, the children move their bodies in safe, fun, and creative ways.

Kindercorner. Our Pre-Kindergarten and Four-Day classes meet with the Preschool Director once a week for enrichment activities. During this time, the children participate in a variety of school readiness activities such as phonemic awareness, pre-reading skills, storytelling, dramatic play, listening and following directions, and comprehension skills.

Lunch Bunch. Lunch Bunch is offered once a week usually beginning in late September. This is an optional activity for children in the Three-Day, Four-Day, and Pre-Kindergarten classes. For a fee payable directly to your child's teacher, your child may bring a lunch with drink and stay in his/her classroom with his/her teacher until Lunch Bunch dismissal begins at 1:00 p.m. Activities vary according to the teacher, but may include free play time or extra playground time. In the event of a two-hour inclement weather delay, Lunch Bunch will not be offered. There is no curb service for Lunch Bunch.

Chapel. All classes have the opportunity to meet once each month with Pastor Henry Brinton of Fairfax Presbyterian Church. Chapel sessions include singing and an object lesson based on the "Fruit of the Spirit" from Galatians 5:22-23 of the Holy Bible. The general nature of the lessons resonates with a wide range of people regardless of their specific faith or beliefs. One "fruit" is discussed each month: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Parents are invited to participate in Chapel with their child.

Special Events. Field trips to nearby special events as well as our own Back-to-School Picnic, Fire Truck Day, Pow Wow, Pajama Day, Hat Day, Color Days, Parent Appreciation and Family Sing-Along, and other programs throughout the school year add exciting variety to our curriculum.

After School Classes. The Preschool periodically offers after school classes taught by non-Preschool instructors. After school classes are considered fundraising activities. The classes, which are specifically designed for preschool-age children, have included such possibilities as soccer and karate. Parents are expected to remain on-site while their child participates in an after school class.

Helpful Services     (back to the top)

Nursery. A Nursery is provided, several days each week, for younger siblings of enrolled children when a parent is participating in the classroom. There is a $10 per morning per child fee for the use of this service. All families who use the Nursery are expected to work in the Nursery on a rotational basis during the school year, and will receive a $15 tuition credit for each morning worked in the Nursery. Snacks and a drink are provided. Our Nursery is a two-room suite stocked with cribs, activity tables, toys, books, and movies. Parents should provide diapers, wipes, a change of clothing, and bottles for infants. If you are a Parent Helper and have a nursing infant, arrangements can be made for you to nurse your child.

Curb Service. Curb Service is a privilege provided for parents in the morning and at dismissal. Drivers remain with their vehicles at all times. Children remain seated until a staff member opens the door of the vehicle, and children unload from the curbside only. Many parents find Curb Service a convenience on inclement weather days or when a younger sibling is asleep in a car seat. This is an optional service that parents can sign up to use any time during the school year.

Director's Coffee and Parent Education Opportunities. Once a month during Preschool hours or in the evening, the Director hosts a coffee with light refreshments. This is an informal opportunity for parents and the Director to get to know each other better, and for parents to participate in a facilitated learning program designed just for them. Past meetings have included such topics as developmental vision, teaching stranger danger, kindergarten readiness, and discussion of specific parenting books.

School Hours & Calendar     (back to the top)
All classes meet from 9:10 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.. Class instruction begins at 9:15 a.m. and dismissal begins at 12 noon. School days vary depending on the class. The Preschool office is open 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Of course, if parent meetings with staff are necessary and these times do not meet the parents' schedule, special arrangements can be made. We follow the Fairfax County Public Schools' calendar whenever possible, including winter and spring breaks. Our school year begins on a gradual basis to allow the children to get acclimated to their new classroom, teacher, and classmates. After an orientation followed by an abbreviated first week of school, all classes meet for the regular morning period. Preschool ends for the school year on the Friday prior to Memorial Day.
Tuition & Fees    (back to the top)
Annual tuition for the 2008-2009 school year:
Young Two-Day 3s $1,278 (equivalent to nine payments of $142/month)
Two-Day 3s $1,278 (equivalent to nine payments of $142/month)
Three-Day 3s $1,800 (equivalent to nine payments of $200/month)
Young 4s $1,800 (equivalent to nine payments of $200/month)
Four-Day 4s $2,223 (equivalent to nine payments of $247/month)
Pre-Kindergarten $2,457 (equivalent to nine payments of $273/month)

For 2008-2009, there is a non-refundable registration fee of $90 plus the last month's tuition due at the time of registration. In addition, there is a $5 fee per Child Protective Services form plus a $16 fee per Virginia State Police criminal history check (i.e., $21 per Parent Helper to cover both background checks). We do not have a materials fee. The balance of tuition is paid in full at the beginning of the school year, quarterly, semi-annually, or in monthly increments beginning September 1st. If a family selects the monthly payment plan, tuition is paid September through April. Monthly tuition is due no later than the 15th day of the current month to cover the current month's tuition.

NEW PAYMENT OPTION- COMING SOON! The Preschool expects to offer an online tuition payment option via credit card or debit card. Check back for more information!

Tuition Credits. FPP offers families the opportunity to earn credits toward their tuition payments. The Preschool office will notify you of any tuition credits that you may have earned for serving as a Nursery Worker, Substitute Teacher, Paid Parent Helper, or for any other reason. These tuition credits are as follows:

Nursery Worker

$15.00.  This is received when you are the parent working in the nursery.
Substitute Teacher

$30.00.  This is received when you are the lead teacher for a preschool classroom.
Paid Parent Helper

$20.00.  This is received when you volunteer to act as the Parent Helper in one of the preschool classrooms.

Tuition Assistance. Tuition assistance is available through Fairfax Presbyterian Church. An Application for Scholarship (pdf) must be completed and submitted to the Preschool Director, who will present it for approval by the Preschool Committee (pdf). This is a confidential process.

Parent Participation Buy-Out Option. FPP has a Buy-Out Option available for families.  The Buy-Out Option is limited to one student per class.  A Buy-Out means that a family does not serve as a parent helper in the classroom; this role is filled by the Preschool's roving Teaching Assistant or other adult. If a family chooses the Buy-Out Option, the family pays an additional tuition fee to the Preschool. The 2008-2009 Buy-Out fees are as follows:

Young Two-Day 3s

$405 (equivalent to an additional $45/month)
or total annual tuition of $1,683
Two-Day 3s $405 (equivalent to an additional $45/month)
or total annual tuition of $1,683
Three-Day 3s $495 (equivalent to an additional $55/month)
or total annual tuition of $2,295
Young 4s $495 (equivalent to an additional $55/month)
or total annual tuition of $2,295
Four-Day 4s $585 (equivalent to an additional $65/month)
or total annual tuition of $2,808
Pre-Kindergarten $675 (equivalent to an additional $75/month)
or total annual tuition of $3,132
Admissions     (back to the top)

Application Process. Enrollment is open to any child, provided the Preschool can meet the needs of the child and the child is toilet trained. The Preschool does not discriminate based on race, religion, sex, or national origin. For the 2008-2009 school year, the child must be at least 3 years old by February 28, 2009 and not older than 5 years and 6 months of age on September 1, 2008.

Application and registration begins on a scheduled day on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. If there is space available for your child in the class, you will need to complete a Registration Application, pay the $90 non-refundable registration fee, pay the last month of tuition, and present an original birth certificate for your child, which needs to be seen by staff and recorded. (FPP does not keep original birth certificates.) This secures a place for your child in a particular class. If the class is full, we will place your child's name on a waiting list for that class and notify you if and when a place opens up for your child. If/when notified that a space has become available for your child, at that time we will need the Registration Application, $90 non-refundable registration fee, and last month's tuition, and our staff will need to see and record your child's original birth certificate.

Once registration has been accepted, you will receive an information packet containing additional forms to complete and return prior to the first day of school. In late summer, you will receive information concerning the opening of school in September and a reminder of tuition payment due, if your annual tuition has not already been paid in full. A couple of days before school opens, your child will receive a welcome note from his or her teacher.

Current Openings. Please call 703-273-4333 or email fppdirector@fairfaxpresby.com for specific information about which classes have openings right now. We do not accept new students in the current school year from February 1st onward of each year.

Registration for 2008-2009. Please review our Application Process and you are welcome to request a tour. Registration for the 2008-2009 school year has already started and is on-going until all spaces are filled or until January 31, 2009. Registration for the 2009-2010 school year will take place in January and February 2009 in three phases:

  • beginning January 2008, members of Fairfax Presbyterian Church, exact date TBA;
  • beginning January/February 2008, families who currently have, or have had, children enrolled, exact date TBA; and
  • beginning February 2008, the community at large, i.e. "open registration", exact date TBA.

Applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. A sign up sheet will be posted at the entrance doors to the Preschool on the morning of the start of open registration. Open registration will begin promptly at the time advertised. You must be present at the time your name is called from the sign up sheet or you forfeit your turn. Registration remains open until all slots are filled. Some classes fill more quickly than others; each year is different.

Registration is a detailed administrative process which is mostly handled by one person and it can take up to two hours to register everyone present. You may want to make alternate care arrangements for your young child that morning. If you must bring your child to registration, please bring snacks and activities for your child and note that the room may be noisy and crowded, especially during the first hour. We will gladly make available some toys from our Nursery on request; however, child care service is not possible due to staff/facility use by Preschool, which is in session at the same time.

Registration Forms. On the day of registration, please bring your completed Registration Application, registration fee, last month's tuition payment, and your child's original birth certificate (which will be returned to you). Please also be prepared to complete and submit background check forms (Child Protective Services and Virginia State Police), bring your current driver's license or other photo identification, and payment. Do NOT sign the background check forms in advance; you must sign the forms in the presence of a notary public, which we will have available at no cost to you on registration day. You will need to complete and return the remaining forms prior to the start of the school year; they will be mailed to you.

Open House Dates. Prospective families are invited to attend our annual Open House in January 2009 (exact date TBA). This is a wonderful way to get to know our Preschool, because you will have an opportunity to talk with staff and parents, visit classes, and tour our facilities. Your child is welcome to attend with you! We will have some Nursery toys and snacks available during the presentation time. Child care is not offered. You will need to keep your child with you at all times. Please call 703-273-4333 if you plan to attend so that we are sure to have enough materials available for everyone.

Schedule a Tour. The Preschool Director gives tours by request. Program information can also be mailed to prospective families by request. Please contact the Director at 703-273-4333 for more information. Preschool office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Download Forms     (back to the top)
All registration and enrollment forms are in PDF and require Adobe Acrobat Reader. (Download Adobe Acrobat Reader free.)
     

 

 

Click to email us at fppdirector@fairfaxpresby.com