Frequently Asked Questions
1) Does my child have to be toilet trained?
Children in the 2 ½ year old class do not need to be toilet trained. 3 year old and pre-K students should be toilet trained to attend school.
2) Do you provide snacks?
Yes, we offer school safe crackers, cereal, pretzels and other similar nut-free options each morning. A fresh seasonal fruit option is also available. Any food allergies are identified at enrollment and discussed with your child’s teacher at the beginning of the year.
3) Does VPC Preschool include lunch?
2.5 year old and 3 year old classes dismiss at 12 noon and do not eat lunch at school.
PreK students bring lunch from home and eat with their classmates on Tuesday and Thursday. PreK students also may elect to have an optional Wednesday Lunch Bunch 12-1.
We are a nut free campus. Please check the labels of the products you send in to be sure they are nut free and not processed in a facility that also processes nuts.
5) What Specials classes (additional programming) will my child attend and how often?
Students enjoy Chapel and Music & Movement weekly for all classes.
6) Do the students go on field trips?
All preschool students enjoy in-house field trips and special assemblies: community helpers (Vienna Police Department and Vienna Fire Department), musicians, science experts, animal friends (Petting Zoo), community dentist (puppet show) and storytellers. Off site field trip for PreK students.
7) What is your discipline philosophy?
We follow the tenets of Becky Bailey, Ph.D. and her Conscious Discipline philosophy and Katharine Kersey and Marie Masterson’s 101 Principles for Positive Guidance with Young Children.
8) What are the opportunities for parent involvement?
We routinely host special events throughout the year including Fall Donuts for Grown Ups, Halloween parade and room festivities, Christmas Chapel sneak peek, parent education seminars, February Muffin and Mingle and May Family Picnic. Volunteer opportunities also include being a room parent, a guest readers, special guest in your child’s classroom or offering to do a grown-up show and share.
9) How do you handle the beginning of school and separation anxiety?
We invite families to attend our start-of-school August Meet and Greet during which parent and child will visit the classroom with the teacher and assistant teacher. Once school starts, we encourage parents to provide a loving, confident and uplifting goodbye to their child. Our experience has taught us that parental confidence will translate to success for the child in having a happy and productive time at school.
10) Does VPC Preschool offer financial aid?
Yes, contact the preschool office (703) 255-1419 for additional information or a scholarship application.
11) What hours are you in session?
Preschool hours are 9-12 Monday-Thursday for 2.5 year old students and 3 year old students. PreK students are in session 9-1 on Tuesday/Thursday and 9-12 Monday/Wednesday. Additional programming options include: PreK students can also sign up for Wednesday Lunch Bunch (12-1) and add + Friday (9-12) to their M-Th schedule.
12) How will I communicate with my child’s teacher?
VPC Preschool utilizes Brightwheel. Brightwheel is a communication and program management app. The messages feature within Brightwheel allows families to share absences, late arrival and any dismissal pickup changes. Teachers share weekly electronic classroom newsletters and also timely communications within BW Messages with families.
13) How do you handle children with allergies?
Any allergies/health conditions are reviewed with families at enrollment and at the beginning of the year. If a child has an EpiPen, their enrolling paperwork will include a MAT Form. MAT paperwork is completed & signed by your child’s current health practitioner.
14) Do you give medication at school?
We do not give any medications except EpiPens at school.
15) What training/education does your staff have?
Preschool staff maintain degrees in education or closely related field and also experience in early childhood settings. All staff are up to date in EpiPen administration (PMAT), First Aid, CPR, Ministry-Safe and ongoing professional development trainings.