Classes and Teachers

Using educational themes allows our teaching staff to convey subject matter in a concrete and creative manner to make your child’s experience in school fun, interesting and growth providing. By scaffolding exploration and providing a variety of experiences, children become life-long thinkers and learners. Frequent newsletters and monthly lesson plans are distributed by classroom teachers to help you monitor your child’s progress and joy of learning.

A developmentally appropriate, hands-on program enables teachers to incorporate language experiences daily, allowing children to grow their vocabulary naturally. A balanced schedule is achieved through focused, quiet activities such as circle/meeting time, table activities, and story time. Quiet activities are then followed by opportunities for exploration during art projects, water and sand table activities, block play, music and movement, science center activities, and dramatic play. Playground time is a priority and our time outdoors fosters small and gross motor skill development, appreciation of nature, and further social development.

Our Classes are created based on age. Placement in each class is done in collaboration with the director, teaching staff and parents of applicants as needed and based on the anticipated year in which the child enters Kindergarten.

Washington Street Preschool normally has four classes accommodating children from the age of 2 and a half to 5 years old with a maximum of 50 students across all classes. Due to the pandemic, the preschool adjusted enrollment to follow health and safety protocols recommended by the Alexandria Health Department and the CDC. For the 2022-2023 school year, Washington Street Preschool will continue to offer three classes as we acclimate to the ever-changing post-pandemic environment. Class offerings for the 2022-2023 school year include:

• The Tuesday/Thursday Bumblebees Class which is comprised of children who are 2 years and 6 months old to 3 years of age. Children must be at least 2 years and 6 months old by September 30, 2022.
• The Monday/Wednesday/Friday Bumblebees Class is comprised of children who are 3 years old to 3 years and 9 months of age.  Children must be at least 3 years old by September 30, 2022.
• The Monday-Friday Frogs Class and the Monday-Friday Owls Class will continue to be combined this coming year. Therefore, the age range will be larger. Children must be at least 3 years and 10 months by September 30, 2022, and no older than five.  This class offers a wonderful opportunity for children to learn from each other, and have differentiated learning in smaller, age-based small groups. This model was wonderfully successful during the 2021-2022 school year.