Prince William County Public Schools

Each preschool classroom has a teacher and teacher assistant.

Teachers are licensed through the state of Virginia and teacher assistants are required to have some college and/or early childhood education coursework. Teaching teams receive ongoing training throughout the school year and support from our team of Education, Social-Emotional, Health, and Nutrition Specialists.

Children learn when they participate in learning experiences that help their cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development. The HighScope curriculum used is specifically designed for children to develop these skills.

If you look around a classroom you will see children playing in small groups, large groups, or one-on-one with another child or the teacher. This is how they learn to think, speak, and use their bodies. Children play in activities such as art, drama, block building, matching, sorting, writing, and reading. 

Examples of materials and activities which help develop skills are:

• Puzzles, matching and memory games, shapes, and colors build Cognitive (Thinking) Skills.
• Storybooks, picture cards, talking with friends, and dramatic play build Language Skills.
• Tricycles, playground, dance and exercise build Gross Motor (Large Muscle) Skills.
• Lego's, scissors, crayons, beads, puzzles, play dough, and drawing build Fine Motor Skills.
• Personal hygiene, family-style meals, practice with fasteners (zippers, snaps, buttons, and shoe laces) build Self-Help Skills
• Group games, classroom centers (blocks, dress-up, sand/water table) build Social Skills

Learn more about preschool curriculums: 

• HighScope
• Conscious Discipline
• Second Step

Children’s skills are evaluated by observing them during learning activities. Children are assessed on an ongoing basis and children are formally assessed three times a year in math, science, physical development, approaches to learning, social/emotional development, and literacy. Information about these assessments is shared at parent/teacher conferences.

In addition, prior to kindergarten, students who have reported a language other than English in the Home Language Survey when registering, are assessed to determine their English proficiency level.

Using the curriculum, teachers develop daily lesson plans that provide a variety of hands-on experiences. Lesson plans are posted weekly in each classroom. A typical daily classroom routine (for full day classes) would be: 

Morning

• 5-10 mins Arrival/Greeting
• 5-10 mins Brain Smart Start
• 15-20 mins Breakfast
• 5-10 mins Toothbrushing
• 10-15 mins Large Group Instruction
• 10-15 mins Small Group Instruction
• 30 min Outside Play

Afternoon

• 60 min Worktime
• 20-30 min Lunch
• 60 min Rest
• 10-15 min Literacy Circle
• 30 min Worktime #2

Dismissal

Children should attend school every day unless they are sick. When absent children have a hard time learning and adjusting to school routines. When frequently absent, children develop a pattern of poor attendance that is hard to break. Help your child succeed in preschool by building the habit of good attendance! 

Ways to Build Positive Attendance:

• Talk to your child about the fun and exciting things they will do at school.
• Before school starts, make a countdown to the first day of class.
• Make sure your child is present at the initial teacher home visit.
• Set a regular bed time and morning routine.
• Lay out clothing the night before.
• Remind your child they will come home afterwards (sometimes the fear of where they will go after school creates anxiety for preschoolers).
• Develop a back-up plan for getting your child to school (or after school) if something happens.
• Schedule appointments and travel when school is not in session.
• If your child is anxious about going to school, talk with the teacher for advice and tips to help.

Parent Responsibility:

• Notifying the school office and Family Service Worker before 9 am if your child will be absent.
• Sending a note to school stating the reason for absence.
• When children are absent for 3 or more days with no reason, and families are not responding, a home visit is conducted to ensure children are safe and determine reasons for absence.

Doctor's Notes are Required When:

• Children are absent 3 or more days in a row due to illness, 
• Children had surgery or were hospitalized,
• Children have contagious illnesses, or
• When children have frequent absences due to illness (10 or more days during the school year).

Poor Attendance:

• Missing 10% of school (one or two absences per month)
• 10 or more unexcused absences during the school year
• Frequent tardiness or early release (more than once per week)
• Children may be dropped when they have poor attendance or frequent tardies
• After 15 consecutive absences, children are automatically withdrawn

Read more about PWCS Attendance Policies. 

Parents are encouraged to volunteer in the preschool classroom. Review the Volunteer Handbook and Volunteer Training video for more information on preschool volunteer practices and policies. Reach out to the Family Service Worker or teacher with questions or to schedule a time to volunteer in the preschool class. 

Listing of frequently requested community resources within the Prince William County area: 

• Community Resource Guide (English) PDF
• Community Resource Guide (Spanish) PDF

Families can also visit 211.org or call 211 for community resource information. 

Each family is assigned a Family Service Worker (FSW) who serves as a link between the family, the school, and the community. The FSW is an advocate and resource to ensure children have access to necessary services.

FSWs are responsible for:

• Completing applications with interested families
• Assisting parents in the enrollment process
• Reviewing documents to keep records up to date
• Monitoring student attendance
• Providing needed community referrals

FSWs conduct home visits or conferences with each family. During visits, families have the opportunity to review family strengths and needs in a confidential manner, discuss family goals, and ask for community referrals (such as for food, clothing, medical care, or adult education). 

The Preschool Program is governed by a Policy Council made up of parent representatives, community members, and an appointed school board member. The Council makes decisions about how the program will operate and receives monthly reports on program operations. 

Policy Council meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 1 - 2 pm at the Preschool Office. Members have the option to meet virtually or in-person. 

Each preschool classroom elects a parent representative to serve on the Council for the current school year. Representatives share their perspective and insight into the community and early childhood education. 

Please contact the Preschool Office for more information (703-791-8708). 

When children are sick, parents should call the school and ask that the teachers be notified of the child's illness. Children should come to school every day unless they had the the following within the last 24 hours:

• Fever (100º or more taken by mouth)
• Diarrhea (2 loose stools in a row)
• Vomiting
• Nose mucous changing from clear to green

If children had a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, they will need to be symptom-free without medication for 24 full hours before returning to school.

Learn more on the When to Keep Students Home webpage.

Children may not start school without a current physical exam (including TB test, Lead test, and hemoglobin)

• Physical Exam Form - English (PDF)
  • Physical Exam Form - Spanish (PDF)

Children are also required to visit the dentist every six months.

• Dental Form (PDF)

If children have a medical condition or food allergy, additional medical forms are required before starting school.

• Allergy Action Plan (PDF)
• Asthma Action Plan (PDF)
• Medication Form (PDF) - English
  • Autorización Para Administración Médica (PDF) - Español
• Seizure Action Plan (PDF)

If children require medical follow up (failed vision/hearing test, additional screenings, dental follow up) or if families need assistance with medical requirements, parents should contact the Family Service Worker or Health Specialist.

Children eat meals in the classroom "family style." Foods are served in large serving bowls and children, with the direction of teachers, learn how to set the table, serve themselves, and clean up. All children are encouraged to eat the foods offered, but are never forced to eat.

Breakfast & Lunch

• Children are offered meals at school (breakfast and lunch), free of charge to those who qualify.
• Parents should complete the online Free-Reduced Meal Application prior to starting school.
• Families who do not qualify for free or reduced meals should use the My School Bucks app to pay for meals. 

Packed Meals:

• Parents may pack meals (breakfast and lunch) for their children. Preschool does not have snack time. 
• Packed meals should contain healthy foods (candy, snack cakes, and soda are not permitted). 
• Students may bring a water bottle to refill at school when thirsty.
• Foods and beverages may not be brought into the classroom to share with others (this includes for holidays and birthdays). 

The Preschool Program has three Social-Emotional Health Specialists whose role is to support staff and families with information on social-emotional health and access to mental health services. They observe children's social-emotional development in the classroom and use Conscious Discipline interventions to help children manage their behaviors and emotions. Parents and teachers are provided with suggestions on helping children identify emotions, build positive relationships, and develop healthy coping skills.

The Social-Emotional Health Specialists host parenting classes to help parents learn the Conscious Discipline techniques taught in the classroom. They also provide one-on-one support if families request it through home visits, virtual meetings, or phone conferences.

Morning:

Children must be at the assigned bus stop with an adult before the scheduled bus pick-up time. The bus cannot wait at the stop if no one is present. If children miss the bus, parents are responsible for transporting children to school. 

Afternoon: 

Children are dropped off at the assigned bus stop when there is an authorized person (12 years or older) present. Bus drivers or attendants check ID to ensure children are only released to approved persons. If no approved person is present, or the person present does not have a valid ID: 

• Children are returned to their base elementary school
• Parents are notified by transportation dispatch and must pick up their child within 45 mins
• The Department of Social Services is notified if children are not picked up within 45 mins
• Continued return of students to school will result in children loosing their bus privileges. In these instances, parents are responsible for transporting children to/from school. 

Children who do not receive bus transportation include those who live within one mile of the school and those who live outside of the school attendance area. These children must be walked or transported to school by an adult each day. Walkers and car riders must follow these rules: 

• Children must be accompanied by an adult to/from school
• Children are only released to the preschool teacher or teacher assistant and are not to be dropped off as part of the school's "kiss and ride" line. 
• Children must arrive and be picked up on time. Teachers cannot care for children before or after school. 
• Children who arrive late must be brought into the school office and signed in before being walked to the preschool classroom. 

Children are only released by the bus driver to those 12 years or older, listed on the child's Bus Authorization form. Parents complete the Bus Authorization form as part of their Online Registration process. These forms may be updated by contacting the Family Service Worker or teacher. 

To ensure the safety of children: 

• Drivers must view a valid photo ID every day
• Parents must keep contact information up to date
• Changes to the Bus Authorization form must be made 24 hours in advance to allow time for the bus, school, and office to update information. 

Parents are asked to explain the bus rules to their children. If children do not follow the bus rules parents are notified. If the behavior continues, children will loose their bus privileges and parents will be responsible for transporting children to/from school. 

• Remain seated at all times
• Keep hands and feet to self
• Do not use foul language
• Listen to the bus driver's or attendant's directions
• No food, toys, or electronics on the bus