Late June Preschool Update

Although the halls are quiet now, work continues at the preschool in anticipation of an exciting 2010-11 school year.

You have received a number of forms that will be due to the school by August 1 (preferably) or no later than your child’s orientation day in September. Both new and returning families need to fill out and return these forms. If you are enrolling multiple children, please fill out forms for each child.

• Data form
• Permission form
• Emergency form/pick up authorization
• Physical form (for new students only)

The first scheduled tuition payment is due August 1. If you will be on vacation at that time, please make arrangements for your August payment before you leave. The school’s financial policy is attached. We encourage you to consider on line payments. You will be receiving a copy of your payments to date later in the month.

Office hours during the summer are generally 9-12 for any questions that you may have. Please do not hesitate to call 703-323-5581. The office will be closed June 30-July7.

Dates of importance for August and September are on the website, www.lordoflifepreschool.org.

We look forward to a wonderful year together.

May

Openings

Openings still remain in the TTH 9-1 class. Your recommendation to neighbors and friends is our best advertisement.

Next School Year

Returning families will receive a packet before the end of school that will contain a number of forms that will be due to the school on Orientation Day.

The first scheduled tuition payment is due August 1. If you will be on vacation at that time, please make arrangements for your August payment before you leave.

Summer Camp

A few openings remain for our eight day summer camp in June. Registration forms are available in the office.

Race for the Cure

Lord of Life Preschool is fielding a team for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to be held in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 5. Our team captain is again staff member Kareen Lawson. If you would like to run or walk with us, you can register at www.nationalraceforthecure.org/. We are Team Lord of Life. Donation forms are available at the office.

Special Thank You

Thank you to all who contributed to our Box Tops for Education. The latest check received was for $91. Much appreciation to Debbie Davis for counting and mailing. Please keep helping to fill up the Box Tops jar. Our next submission will be at the end of May.

Original Art Works was again a great success. We only “lost” a bit of money from a few magnets that were not returned or not paid for. The over $600 made has gone toward new housekeeping furniture in Room 6 and towards a new digital camera for the school.

Parking Lot Safety

Your children’s safety is our major concern. Please keep your child in their car seat while driving in the parking lot and while waiting in the Kiss and Ride line.

Because of the recent safety concerns we are reevaluating whether to continue Kiss and Ride for next year.

No School May 31. The last days of school are May 3 and 4th.

April

School will take place Monday April 12. The following classes will have this as a "make up day": MWF 9-1, MWF 9-12, 5 day and WF. The MTTH class (Cohen/Sanders) will not meet on April 12. The WF class (Rozsa/Gramsch) will meet on April 12.

“Summer” Camp

Keep preschool fun going for a bit longer. Consider being a part of our two week summer camp. Space is limited to 48 students (4 classes) and only 10 openings remain. Stop by the office for a registration form.

Registration

Thank you, thank you. Many of the new families are coming to Lord of Life Preschool based on your recommendations. Our families are our best advertisement. Openings remain in our TTH 9-1 class and MWF 9-1 classes. Please help spread the word.

Race for the Cure

To honor our friends, preschool family members, and former and current staff and board members who have fought breast cancer, Lord of Life Preschool is again fielding a team for the Susan Komen Race for the Cure to be held in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 5. Our team captain is again staff member Kareen Lawson. If you would like to run or walk with us on June 5, you can register at www.nationalraceforthecure.org/. We are Team Lord of Life. The team would welcome your pledges. Most welcome are your prayers for the team and prayers for a cure for this disease.

Kindergarten

Please remember if your child is kindergarten eligible, now is the time to let your base school know if your child will or will not be attending. The schools are beginning to schedule their orientation days for new families. This is an opportunity not to be missed. It is a wonderful part of the transition part for you and your child to Kindergarten.

Here are the information days we know about:

Laurel Ridge - April 5 2p.m.
Oakview - May 3  1 p.m.
Bonnie Brae - April 26 1:30
Kings Park - April 30 by appointment

Kindergarten Transition Meeting

Join us on Wednesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. in the church Fellowship Hall for a discussion on transitioning to Kindergarten. Whether Kindergarten is on the horizon for this fall or in a couple of years, this is an excellent opportunity to gather ideas on how to make the transition from preschool to kindergarten smoother. To help up plan better, please return the RSVP slip from the form passed out before Spring Break or let just let the office know verbally.

Safety Reminder

Your child becomes your responsibility when your child leaves his room to get his school bag. For safety reasons we can only release your child to an adult. Children will not be released to minor siblings or other children. If your child has forgotten something or needs to use the restroom, an adult must accompany them into the building. Please use the Room 1 rest room if you need to come in after dismissal.

When you leave the building, please hold your child’s hand when walking to your car. Sight and sound supervision is key to keeping the children safe. Banging on classroom or church office windows disturbs classes that are still in session and church members. Be advised that play on the hill at the side/front of the school building is dangerous due to the presence of a large drain at the bottom of the hill. The church volunteers who maintain the flower beds and trees are very proud of their work. We ask that you remind the children not to climb the trees on the grounds and to use their eyes, not their hands when exploring leaves and flowers.

March

Snow Policy

The preschool advisory board met and discussed the snow policy for the preschool. Each class has missed a full week of classes. Some of the classes have missed two additional days (MWF, 5 day and WF classes). The policy adopted by the preschool is below.

Lord of Life Preschool does not provide monetary refunds or credit for days lost due to inclement weather. Should FCPS add school days that fall within our established calendar the preschool will add the same school days (if the preschool has missed days) but will retain the right to determine which classes will attend those make up days based upon the number of class days missed.

School will take place Monday April 12. The following classes will have this as a "make up day": MWF 9-1, MWF 9-12, 5 day and WF. The MTTH class (Cohen/Sanders) will not meet on April 12. The WF class (Rozsa/Gramsch) will meet on April 12.

The advisory board also reaffirmed the existing policy that refunds and credit are not given for Lunch Bunch Days if the school is closed for weather.

If you have questions or concerns please contact Susan Hansell-Davis or Jenn Dunne, preschool advisory board co-chairs.

“Summer” Camp

Keep preschool fun going for a bit longer. Consider being a part of our two week summer camp. Space is limited to 48 students and only 10 openings remain.

Original Art Works Packet Going Home

Original Works is the preschool’s spring fundraiser. Money raised will be used to purchase a new digital camera and light table accessories. Please remember that the Preview Magnet is not free. You are welcome to purchase the magnet, however if you do not wish to purchase the magnet then please bring it back to school.

Checks are to be made out to Lord of Life Preschool and orders at due on March 19.

Registration

Many of the new families are coming to Lord of Life Preschool based on your recommendations. Our families are our best advertisement. Openings remain in our TTH 9-1 class and MWF 9-1 classes.

Race for the Cure

Lord of Life Preschool is fielding a team for the Susan Komen Race for the Cure to be held in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 6. Our team captain is again staff member Kareen Lawson. If you would like to run or walk with us, you can register at www.nationalraceforthecure.org/. We are Team Lord of Life. 

February

Registration

Registration begins in the morning. Wow. No need to line up early. When you come in at 9, just come to room 1. Have your registration form filled out and your check attached and put it in the tub corresponding to your first choice for class next year. Please do not put the form in your child's bag or hand them to staff at Kiss and Ride. 

I suggest that you add a second choice to your form. Generally it works out that everyone gets the placement they wish. If your first choice fills, we will place you in your second choice and wait list you for your first choice. People move, things change. There are no guarantees but the odds are you will get the placement you wish.

Awesome Authors

Interested in Awesome Authors for next year? There will be a sign up sheet in Room 1. This extender class meets Thursday from 12:30-2:30. Children must be 4 by September 30 to enroll in this class.

Shoeboxes for the Troops

We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for this community service project. 89 boxes were collected and I believe that is a record. We will let you know later where the boxes were shipped.

Hat Day

All school hat day is February 9 and 10th. I made an error on the calendar.

Boxtops4 Education

We collect these all year round and submit them to the company twice a year. Our next submission date is at the end of February so please bring them in and put them in the jar by the office. We generally earn over $200 a year with this easy fundraising effort. New manipulative equipment for the classrooms is being purchased with this and other fundraising earnings.

Bad Weather

If there is no FCPS, we are closed. If FCPS open late, we open at 10 and dismiss at the regular time.

January

The staff at Lord of Life Preschool hopes you had a wonderful Christmas Holiday. Welcome to 2010.

Winter is upon us in full force. Most of the classes still go outside daily. Please dress your child for the weather. Please label your child's coat-we have many identical ones. Also mittens are so much easier for children to get on than are gloves. Helping to put 120 fingers into the right spots takes up much precious outdoor time.

Please remember that if FCPS has a delay then Lord of Life Preschool begins at 10 and ends at the regular time.

January is a busy month. Chapel with Pastor Darcy Percy will be on the 12th and the 13th. Those are also our pajama days. Your children can come dressed in their pj's. Please remember to send them in or with outdoor shoes-we still plan to go outside.

Conferences are being scheduled by the teachers. If you are trading child care with another family, you may use the playground or the "big room" while waiting if it is not in use by a class.

Our annual Shoeboxes for the Troops project has begun. An earlier email talked about this project and suggested items were listed. We will continue to accept these boxes until January 28. If you need a box, some are located on the self outside of the office.

Also located on that shelf is the preschool family lending library. Numerous parenting books are located on that shelf and may be signed out. New titles will be added during the spring.

Our next BoxTops 4 Education will be at the end of February. If you have any collected, please bring them in by February 24. Debbie Davis (Jones MWF) is the parent volunteer who counts and sends them in.

Our fundraising money this year has been spent on new manipulative toys and new flannel board stories and activities. Also two classes now have new white board easels. Thank you all for your support.

Many of our little friends received new lunch boxes for Christmas. Please remember to put your child's name on the lunch box and also remember to date the box daily. Also remember that drinks do not have to be sent for the 9-1 classes or for Lunch Bunch. Water will be available for the children.

Thank you for remembering that the classes in Room 5, 6 and 7 are to have peanut free lunches and snacks and for remembering that Thursday Lunch Bunch is always to be peanut free.

We have no school on January 18, January 29 and on February 1.

2010-11 In House Registration Procedure for February 2

Registration for currently enrolled families begins on Tuesday, February 2 at 9 a.m.

We are making every effort to ensure that the registration process is fair. We ask that you take note of the following procedures. If you have questions, please speak to Debi DeLoose.

• Fill out the registration form located on line at www.lordoflifepreschool.com.

• Attach the $120 registration fee to the form. The registration fee applies to returning students as well as to new students. It is per child, not per family.

Forms submitted without the fee will not be processed and will be returned to families.

• Bring the form and fee to Room 1. We ask that all forms be brought in by a family member or someone designated by the family to bring in the form. Please do not mail or turn in forms to the office prior to February 2. In addition, please do not put your form and money in your child's bag as their bags are checked late in the morning. Since the safety of your children is our utmost concern, all staff members at Kiss and Ride or in the building are focused on their arrival and are not authorized to take registration forms.

• Place the form and fee in the tub that corresponds to your first class choice. Board members will be present to assist you with this process.

• Notification of class placement will be sent out by February 8.

Registration Procedure after February 2

Those families registering after February 2 may bring the registration form and fee to the office.

December

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Our last class will be Friday, December 18. School will resume Monday, January 4. Remember there is no school on January 18 and 29.
2010-11

As difficult as it is to believe, registration for the September 2010-May 2011 School Year will begin in February. January conference time will offer you an opportunity to explore ideas for next school year with your child's teachers. More information will be available on the website after the Christmas Break.
A FEW REMINDERS

• Please remember to label your child's coat. Many coats look alike and the children are not yet used to their winter coats.
• As the seasons change, please check to make sure that the extra clothes in your child's bag are winter wear.
• The children do go out when it is cold. Please send hats and mittens. Mittens are preferred since they are easy for the children to put on themselves.

Safety Reminders

• Keep your child in his car seat until a staff member comes to your car door.
• For safety reasons we can only release your child to an adult. If your child has forgotten something or needs to use the restroom, please have an adult accompany them into the building. We encourage you to use the restroom off Room 1.
• Teachers and church staff members are sometimes in meetings or conferences and so we ask that the children not bang on the preschool or church windows.

Special Thank You's

Thank you to all who contributed to our BoxTops for Education. The latest submission was over $100. Much appreciation to Debbie Davis for counting and mailing. Please keep helping to fill up the BoxTops jar. Funds raised from BoxTops, Chicken Out (almost $300), and the Scholasitc Book Fair will help to pay for equipment for the classrooms. We will let you know what has been purchased in January. Hugs to you all for your support of our program.

November

November and December are busy times around the preschool. Information on Santa Breakfast has gone home. A Scholastic Book fair will be held at the end of the month to assist with your Christmas shopping needs. More information will be available after November 15.

Many of the classes are planning field trips to local Tiny Tots concerts. Those classes going will be posting information on time, place and driver needs. If you transport children other than your own on field trips the office will need to see your current driver's license and auto insurance card. If you are chaperoning a field trip, please make care arrangements for your younger children. If you plan to drive only your child, please let your teacher know as soon as possible.

The preschool would like to expand its substitute list. If you are interested, please drop by the office. A tb test or screening is required as well as a criminal records check. The preschool takes care of the records check. Think about coming and having some fun with us.

Christmas is approaching and choosing appropriate gifts for your preschool can be daunting. Here are few things to keep in mind when choosing a toy for your child:

Play Value
Does the toy promote good healthy fun, teach a new skill, foster creativity, and keep your child interested?

Quality
Is the toy durable, safe, and free of small parts?
Are there younger children in the house for whom the toy may pose a choking danger?

Appropriateness
Is the toy age/ability appropriate and easy to use?

Characteristics of children ages 3-5
Children ages 3-5 love to pretend. Toys that foster this include (for boys or girls): housekeeping furniture; dishes; dress-ups; hammer and benches.

These children love to build. Blocks of all kinds make wonderful gifts. These include wooden unit blocks, cardboard blocks; plastic or wooden large blocks; and of course Legos (Duplo size is safest with this age.)

Self expression and creativity is very important to preschoolers. They enjoy paper, crayons, water colors, modeling materials; chalk boards; glue and glitter.

Children ages 3-5 are always on the move. Trikes (pads and helmets), balls, swings and slides are all popular.

And of course don't forget the most important gift you can give your child, your time and attention.

End of the First Week

Happy and joyful sounds are echoing through the preschool. Only a few tears have been heard from some of the students new to the school and those should quickly disappear. Thank you all for sharing your delightful children with us.

Payment: Thank you to all who are using the online payment options. It makes inputting the payments so much simpler. If paying electronically, please make sure your end date is April 1, 2010. Tuition is due in 9 installments. The first was due August 1, 2009 and the last is due April 1, 2010. The only exception to this is for families who registered after August 1. Other arrangements have been made for those families.

Safety: is our first concern and so we wish to share some reminders from the family policy manual that you either received electronically or in hard copy. Also, it is available on the preschool website.

DROP OFF REMINDERS

Please park only in front of the building, not in any of the parking spaces on the Kiss and Ride side of the preschool. If walking your child into the building please do not enter the preschool via the church entrance/sanctuary or via the Kiss and Ride Door. If you use the playground before school, please enter the Kiss and Ride line for drop off.

Kiss and Ride Reminders

As the staff member approaches your car, put the engine in park, turn off your engine and do not start the car until your child and the staff member have returned safely to the sidewalk.
Keep your child in his car seat until a staff member comes to your car door.
If you have information to pass on to the classroom teacher, please park and come in or give a call to the office.

Pick up Reminders

Your child becomes your responsibility when your child leaves his room to get his school bag. For safety reasons we can only release your child to an adult. Children will not be released to minor siblings or other children. If your child has forgotten something or needs to use the restroom, please have an adult accompany them into the building.

We encourage families to use our playground after school hours ONLY. During school hours only students under teacher supervision will be allowed inside the play area.

September

We are busy preparing the preschool for the 2009-10 school year. We are looking forward to seeing all of you in September.

A few openings remain in the Thursday, 12:30-2:30 Awesome Author's Class. To be eligible your child must be eligible for Kindergarten in the fall of 2010. Let the office know if you are interested.

Important reminder: The first scheduled tuition payment is due August 1. If you will be on vacation at that time, please make arrangements for your August payment before you leave. We encourage you to use the online payment option. Information on this is located on the website.

August playground play dates
We encourage you and your child to visit the preschool playground for an informal, optional play date with other members of your class (staff will not be there). There are no rain dates. Play date time begins at 10.

August 17 - MWF classes
August 18 - TTH & WF classes
August 19 - 5 day & MTTH

September Orientation: Getting to Know the Preschool

• Classroom teachers will be in contact with the date and time of their individual classroom "meet and greet."
• Parents/guardians (no children please) are invited to join the director on September 9 at 7 p.m. at the preschool for dessert and discussion.
• Class orientation days give the families a chance to meet the Preschool Board while the children have a short time in their classrooms for fun.
  
  September 10; 9-10 TTH and MTTH classes
  September 11; 9-10 WF, MWF, 5 day, classes

MWF, 5 day, and MTTH classes begin on Monday, September 14.
TTH classes begin on Tuesday, September 15.

Recruiters Needed

Our preschool families have always proved to be our best recruiters. A few openings remain in our TTH 9-12 and TTH 9-1 classes.

If a family you refer to the preschool enrolls, you will receive a $25 credit to your tuition account. The family enrolling must mention your name at the time of enrollment.

This special recruitment offer ends on August 31, 2009.

Office Hours

Summer office hours are generally Monday-Friday 9-12.

The office will be closed August 3-7 and August 11-14.

Your emails or phone calls will be answered as soon as possible the week of August 17.