HOLIDAY CALENDAR 2021 /2022

CLOSED THE FOLLOWING DAYS

• Monday, September 6- Labor Day
• Monday, October 11- Columbus Day/Indigenous People
• Thursday, Friday, November 25, 26- Thanksgiving
• Thursday, Friday, December 24, 27 – Christmas
• Friday, December 31- New Year’s Eve
• Monday, January 17- Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
• Monday, February 21- President’s Day
• Friday, April 15 – Good Friday
• Monday, May 30- Memorial Day
• Monday, June 20-Juneteenth
• Monday, July 4- Independence Day
• Monday, August 29- September 2- Teacher Work week
• Monday, September 5 – Labor Day

Have any questions about the events on the calendar or would like to know more? Feel free to contact us for more information.

It is the school’s mission to continue the legacy set forth by its founders and continue to provide affordable child-care to all members of the community, including low-income families. Families in need are encouraged to apply for tuition assistance through the Child Care Assistance Program provided by the Fairfax County Office for Children. Forms to apply can be picked up at the Fairfax County Office for Children.

For more information or a tour of St. Joseph’s Preschool contact us.

St. Joseph’s has an open door policy for parents whose children attend our preschool. Parent visits are encouraged; however, if a child is having a difficult time separating from his or her parent and a parental visit is stressful for the child, staff may advise that the parent not visit for the remainder of the day. Of course, this is just a recommendation.

Parents are also encouraged to call during the day to give staff any additional necessary information or to see how their child is doing.

For more information or a tour of St. Joseph’s Preschool contact us.

The Center is open year-round, Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

The daily schedule may vary depending on weather, field trips, special activities or guest instructors.

A typical day at St. Joseph’s is as follows:

Morning Arrival: As children are arriving between 6:45 – 8:30 am they make simple choices in the room until all of their friends arrive.

AM Snack: Children have a snack together in their classroom (we work on manners, social conversation, and communication skills often during meals).

Greeting: The children sit together for Circle Time to do activities that their teacher has planned (say hello to each other, sing songs, talk about the events of that day/schedule, share a story, etc).

Choice Time/Learning Centers: The children make choices to work with specific materials in the room and/or work in small groups.

Gross Motor: We go outside to the playground for movement and exercise (weather permitting) for at least a half-hour in the morning and afternoon. If the weather is not cooperating then we move and exercise to music.

Lunch: Children eat lunch together in their classroom and practice serving themselves.

Rest: Rest time is from 12:30 – 2:30 pm for all classes. During this time children who do not rest are given quiet activities to do on their cot.

PM Snack: Children have a snack together in their classroom where they continue to work on manners, social conversation, and communication skills.

Studio: Each student has the opportunity to visit the studio at least once a week where he/she is offered open-ended materials to engage in creative exploration.

Music and Movement: We sing and dance together to explore rhythms, socialization, and to simply have fun.

Afternoon Circle Time: Specific activity for the children to target certain skills or content and review what they learned that day. This is also a time where students share stories and participate in show and tell.

Closing: The children gather with their class to end the day with small activities, reflection on the day, sing songs, dance, and/or read stories.

Related Services: We have a religion class that students attend every week which is taught by our religious and resource teacher. The class consists of stories and songs with further discussion around Holidays. There are opt-out options for those interested. We also work with different vendors who come in and run special activities with the children which include soccer, music & movement, and a computer class.

For more information or a tour of St. Joseph’s Preschool contact us.

Prior to attendance at the school, parents must turn in all fees. Theses fees include:

• Enrollment Fee – $125
• Registration Fee – $100
• Annual Material Fee – $175

In addition, all enrollment forms must be completed, signed and dated prior to the student’s first day of school. These forms include:

• Child Registration Form (requires proof of identity)
• Health Packet

After enrollment, parents will be provided with additional forms about what to bring to school, an event calendar, a school closing schedule and other additional forms.

Families are welcome and encouraged to schedule play dates at St. Joseph’s prior to their child’s first day of school to assist with their transition into the environment. For more information about play dates please contact us.

St. Joseph’s offers a safe and secure learning environment that is fully licensed to provide daycare services in Fairfax County. There are separate areas for dramatic play, literacy, building blocks, analytical skills, art, and fine and gross motor skills. Religion is also offered. St. Joseph’s boasts a large fenced-in playground with areas of play for all age groups. The center is located on Falls Church’s popular W&OD bike trail.

As early childhood educators, we know that children who are in a safe, supportive and child friendly environment learn better and show more interest in learning. That said, children also need structure and predictability. To this end, each classroom has it’s own weekly lesson plan based on knowledge of child development and assessment of individual needs and interests. Although activities vary day by day, the basic classroom schedule remains consistent. This allows parents and children to have a general idea of what is going to happen during the day.

Here at St. Joseph’s we have a Hands-On Creative curriculum with many influences from the Reggio Emilia approach. Reggio Emilia is child-directed and keeps children’s interests in mind while planning lessons. This approach, along with our Creative curriculum, allows children to be more involved with their learning and have the activities be more child directed. We respect and are constantly amazed at what children are capable of doing. The following areas of focus are addressed in our daily lessons:

• Gross motor skills
• Fine motor skills
• Social development
• Emotional development
• Religious development
• Analytical skills

For more information or a tour of St. Joseph’s Preschool contact us.

St. Joseph’s preschool focuses on each child, helping meet their needs in the most developmentally appropriate environment possible.

The environment both inside and outside is equipped with materials young children require to grow not only academically but physically, intellectually, and emotionally. The staff at St. Joseph’s preschool have established a truly child-centered learning experience based on the belief that “hands-on learning and experience is the best way to teach.”

• Tuition Assistance: It is the school’s mission to continue the legacy set forth by its founders and continue to provide affordable child care.
• Parent Visits: St. Joseph’s has an open-door policy for parents whose children are at the school. Parent visits are encouraged.
• Enrollment: Before enrollment, parents will be given a list of what a child needs to bring to school with them daily.
• Curriculum: St. Joseph’s offers a safe and secure learning environment that is fully licensed to provide daycare services in the City of Falls Church.