Our Pre-K classrooms have 15-19 students. State-approved curricula are used to help children grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Students gain developmental skills in language, math, science, civics, creative arts, and motor skills through exciting activities, exploration, and inquiry.
Each Pre-K classroom has a teacher and a 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. Creative Curriculum 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 that help develop skills are:
Learn more about Pre-K curriculum:
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, before 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
Afternoon
Dismissal
Parents are an important part of the Pre-K program. Research shows that parent engagement in education is closely related to positive student behavior, higher academic achievement, and enhanced social skills. Involvement in a child's education begins with:
Families are also encouraged to be involved by volunteering at school, assisting on field trips, and serving on the Pre-K policy council.
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!
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 Pre-K 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:
Families can also visit 211Virginia or call 211 for community resource information.
Each school is assigned a Family Service Worker who serves as a link between the family, the school, and the community. The Family Service Worker is an advocate and resource to ensure children have access to necessary services.
Family Service Workers are responsible for:
Family Service Workers 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 Pre-K 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 third Thursday of each month from 1-2 p.m. at the Preschool Programs office. Members have the option to meet virtually or in person.
Each Pre-K 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 at 703-791-8708.
The Pre-K health team works to ensure all children have the necessary health and dental care. They review student medical files and offer community referrals to any family in need of medical care.
The Pre-K nutrition team works with the PWCS Food and Nutrition Department to ensure meals provided in the Pre-K classroom are healthy (low in sugar, salt, and fat) and nut and pork-free. They also create special menus when children have food allergies or religious preferences.
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:
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)
Children are also required to visit the dentist every six months.
If children have a medical condition or food allergy, additional medical forms are required before starting school.
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.
The Pre-K 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.
The PWCS Transportation Department provides bus service for the Pre-K program. Transportation is offered to children who reside within the school attendance area, excluding those within walking distance (one-mile radius of the school).
Children are assigned approved community bus stops for morning pick up and afternoon drop off. Parents should allow 10 minutes before and after the assigned times to account for traffic conditions and delays.
Bus information is found in ParentVUE.
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 them to school.
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 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 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:
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 lose their bus privileges and parents will be responsible for transporting children to/from school.