Preschools in the DMV Area
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DMV KidsOutAndAbout Preschool Newsletter |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Are you planning to have your children attend preschool this year? Or are you thinking about whether it's the best option for your family? Do you have a friend who is thinking about preschool for her kids? If any of these is true, this special annual edition of our newsletter is for YOU! We provide not only options for where to start your search in our area, but also some tips for what to
think about and what to look for as you start the process.
KidsOutAndAbout has a large list of local preschools that have posted to our site; this list is provided in the LISTS/Preschools & Childcare list linked from the menu on every page of
KidsOutAndAbout. In this newsletter, first, we have some featured preschools with descriptions of their programs. Next, we provide a list of links to some additional schools. And last, we provide tips for helping you evaluate preschools when you visit, to see if they are right for you.
Remember: SAVE THIS NEWSLETTER and forward it along! If you or one of your friends is in the market for a preschool, it's a handy
reference.
—Debra Ross, publisher |
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. |
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Lowell School is a progressive co-ed pre-K through 8th-grade school in Washington, DC. We equip children to think critically, engage purposefully, and live authentically by holding true to our values of respect for children, social justice and equity,
partnership with families, purposeful academic engagement, and social-emotional competency.
Lowell’s Pre-Primary School celebrates children as learners, nurtures their natural curiosity, and supports their social-emotional growth, all in preparation for Kindergarten. Our hands-on project-based program embraces an emergent curriculum and a play-based, child-centered approach. Teachers listen to students’ interests and guide lessons to engage them in learning while achieving developmental milestones. Each day is designed to encourage students
to be active participants in their learning.
Please visit our website for more information.
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Knollwood Preschool has been celebrating children and families since 1980! We are committed to offering a high quality preschool experience in a Christian setting. We believe children are gifts from God, each one being unique and special in their gifts and
talents. We are a play-based preschool that is a ministry of Knollwood Community Church. Come visit us to see our amazing Discovery Center and Playgarden first hand! You’ll also experience the love and care our staff members share with our students and their families. Knollwood is truly a special place and we’d love to welcome you into the Knollwood family.
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Arlington Unitarian Cooperative Preschool (AUCP) is a vibrant and welcoming child-centered, cooperative preschool with the mission of developing and encouraging social, intellectual, and physical development in the children entrusted to our care. We
celebrate the individuality that is vital to your child's development, and we recognize the critical role that both educators and primary caregivers play in that development
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PK- 1st grade Private School in Alexandria, VA. We were founded in 1959 to provide a Christian education for young children and as an outreach to their families. The school is an extension of the educational ministry of Bethany Lutheran Church, a Missouri
Synod congregation. The school includes children of the congregation, other congregations, and children whose families have no church affiliation. Bethany Lutheran is truly a diverse group of learners and our goal is to meet each student's individual needs!
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Harrison Street Academy is the first academic S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) based preschool in Leesburg! We offer full and half day options for children ages 2.5 -5. Before and after school care is also available. We incorporate
a proven curriculum throughout various play, technology, music, and science sessions. Our techniques encourage curiosity and exploration in children. Our modern yet cozy facility serves as the right environment to deliver a fun learning experience!
The pairing of Abeka curriculum with S.T.E.A.M. learning is a beautiful combination. We have found that a well balanced schedule and program prepares our children to be able to move through the ups and downs of life with tools for success. We are also proud to offer Brightwheel, a tool that significantly helps teachers & administrators manage their classrooms, observe & track the children,…
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At Little Folks School, children learn through active exploration and interaction with teachers, other children, and materials in a carefully prepared environment. Small class sizes and low teacher-student ratios allow for individualized instruction
focusing on each child’s strengths, needs, and interests. We focus on educating the whole child, including physical, social-emotional, and pre-academic skills. Little Folks School serves children, ages eighteen months to five years old.
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Takoma Children's School (TCS) is a progressive year-round preschool serving 2 to 5 year-old children and their families with part-time through full-day options. Our school's outstanding teachers and staff provide a nurturing, safe, and fun-filled
environment that fosters creativity and a love of learning through play and exploration. We value each child's unique needs and contributions, as we foster social, emotional, physical, and thinking skills that children will need and use throughout their lives. Our TCS family is committed to celebrating and reflecting the diversity of our community.
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We are a progressive school for children in grades PreK - 8 that sparks joy in learning, encouraging curiosity, exploration, creativity, and play. We connect the classroom to the larger world with an unparalleled Field Education Program, draw strength from
our diverse community, and value social, emotional, and academic growth equally. We build a strong foundation for a child's next school, and for living a life of purpose and value. Capitol Hill Day School graduates are confident, caring young people with the skills to navigate their community, their learning, and ultimately, their lives.
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Aidan Montessori School is a co-ed, independent private school for children ages 18 months through grade 6. Founded in 1961, Aidan is the only school in DC that holds accreditation from the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS) and is
recognized by the Association Montessori International (AMI-USA). Aidan follows the highest standards of the innovative and proven Montessori pedagogy that prepares children for successful and fulfilling lives. Everything at Aidan revolves around how children learn best. Here, students have the ideal opportunities, environment, and community to realize their potential so they can grow into independent thinkers, confident learners, effective collaborators, and responsible citizens.
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At Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School, we provide an extraordinary early childhood education in a diverse community that values every individual. Beauvoir's program encourages creative, courageous learners and builds an enduring foundation
for a lifelong spirit of inquiry and joy in learning. Serving children ages 3 months - 3rd grade our programs ensure Beauvoir graduates are known for solving problems creatively, collaborating thoughtfully, imagining that anything is possible, and persevering to achieve their hopes and dreams.
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Gesher Jewish Day School is a pre-K through Grade 8 school building the vibrant future of our community, and our world, one child at a time. Gesher is a joyful, Jewish, learning community that seeks to help students live meaningful lives. In partnership
with committed parents, we provide an environment for growth and an education anchored in Jewish values that enables our students to be engaged in healthy relationships, creative work, ethical leadership, and service to their community.
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We are a culturally diverse Montessori School for children ages 18 months through 6 years of age. Our school is a year-round school with beforecare, school day, and aftercare. We offer English Programs as well as French Immersion Programs.
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Rochambeau, the French International School, is an independent and coeducational day school, Beginning in preschool (age 2) through 12th grade, we offer our students a rigorous curriculum in French and English leading to either the French Baccalauréat and
its bilingual or trilingual international options (BFI) or the International Baccalaureate (IB). We are the only school accredited by the French Ministry of Education in the Washington DC area.
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St. Agnes School (PreK - 8th grade) is a Catholic community centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ and strengthened by the partnership between parents, who are the primary educators of our students, and our dedicated teaching staff.
We believe in the mission to educate our students so that they become loving Christians, inspired learners, outstanding achievers, natural communicators, and strong servants of God.
At Saint Agnes Catholic School, we believe that in guiding the students’ spiritual, academic, and emotional areas, we will prepare them to embrace life’s challenges and strive for personal excellence in the example of Jesus Christ.
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What kind of preschool best suits your child?
Those nice parenting articles always tell you to make sure you choose a preschool that best suits your child's personality--but then rarely provide any specifics on what will give you those clues. Children vary widely in their responses to different situations. Think
about where your child falls on the following dimensions, and think about your own personal preferences for what a preschool experience should be like for your child. Then, when you visit preschools, ask the administrators (and observe yourself) about how well the school's philosophy matches your children's needs. - Playing and learning: Do these seem like separate times at the preschool, or are play and learning time integrated?
- The setting: Is your goal to get your child used
to a school setting, or is it important that the setting feel more like home?
- Specific learning goals: Do you have academic milestones or religious needs that you would like met? Think about this before you set out, and refine your thoughts as you visit more schools.
- Introverts and extroverts: If your child falls on one end of introvert-extrovert scale, it's important to realize this and see what would be expected of them at each preschool (especially important for the
introverts).
- Active play: Does the school provide resources for physically active play that match your child's needs?
- Rest: Kids have different rhythms and requirements for rest. Think about what your child's specific needs are to ensure that they will be accommodated.
- Structure: Some kids do better with lots of structure, while other families feel that they already have enough structure and prefer that a preschool ensure lots of time for unstructured play and
interaction.
- Discipline: What happens when kids misbehave at school? Does the school's philosophy match yours?
- Safety: Safety is a big concern. Think carefully about your standards for keeping kids safe, and observe how the school meets your expectations.
If your child attends (or attended) a great preschool that is not currently on our big preschool list (the easiest way to find out is to search in the big search bar on the top of every KidsOutAndAbout page), please
email me back and we'll contact them immediately to see if they'd like to be on this list! |
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