Now Enrolling for the
2024/2025 School Year
A Safe & Caring Environment…
St. Stephen’s Preschool offers a safe, caring environment for children during their first significant experiences away from their family. Our program, founded more than 50 years ago, offers:
- Sessions for children 1.5 to 5 years of age from September through May, plus 2 weeks of camp in June.
- 2, 3, and 5 day options from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm or 10:00 am-2:00 pm
- Various after school enrichment programs, which include but are not limited to soccer, drama, & foreign languages, are offered on a rotating basis.
- A well-balanced social and academic foundation that prepares children for success in elementary school and beyond.
- Two lead teachers in classes provide a strong, skills-based curriculum in literacy, math and science.
- A low student-to-teacher ratio that greatly benefits the structured play centers offered in each large classroom.
- Resource specialists to help students with their motor, social, speech and language skills.
- Speech and language screening, vision screening, and early childhood skills screening.
- Daily Music & Movement classes to improve gross motor abilities and promote good fitness.
- A wooded campus with nature trails, three age-level playgrounds and a large, grassy ball field. St. Stephen’s is conveniently located on Braddock Road in Burke, Va., a few miles from the main campus of George Mason University.
For information, call the preschool office at 703-978-9024.
From the director:
Since 1969 St. Stephen’s UMC Preschool has endeavored to meet the needs of the community. At St. Stephen’s we are committed to providing a safe, warm, and engaging environment that values the uniqueness of every child. Although the dynamic in each classroom varies to reflect the ages of children, the children’s interests, and the teacher’s style, a basic philosophy remains constant throughout our program. At St. Stephen’s, we aspire to meet and exceed the developmental needs of all children in our care. Every effort is made to ensure that each child has the opportunity to develop to their full potential in every developmental domain. We utilize scaffolding and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all learning styles and varied developmental levels. We also utilize a variety of play- based curriculums and child guided approaches to create a learning environment that is engaging, stimulating, and fun. At St. Stephen’s we are committed to setting children up for success and with a love of learning.
Thank you for choosing St. Stephen’s UMC Preschool. We look forward to experiencing much fun, laughter, and learning with you and your children.
Veronica Mayes, M.ED
Director
Our Rates
All programs require a non-refundable registration/activity fee of $160. There is a 15% discount for two or more children.
2024-2025 enrollment is now open.
4-5 Year-Olds: Programs and Rates
Must be four by Sept. 30
| Days | Time | Monthly Tuition | Openings? |
| 3 Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday | 10:00-2:00 | $440.00 | Yes |
| Brainy Bunch | 2:00-3:00 | $125.00 | Yes |
| 5 Days: Monday to Friday | 9:00-1:00 | $650.00 | Yes |
| Brainy Bunch Extended Program: Monday, Wednesday, Friday Brainy Bunch M-F (pre-K only) |
1:00-3:00
|
$230.00 $385.00 |
Yes Yes |
Young 4 Year-Olds: Programs and Rates
Must be four by Dec. 31
| Days | Time | Monthly Tuition | Openings? |
|
2 Days, Tuesday & Thursday 3 Days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday Brainy Bunch: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
|
9:00-1:00 9:00-1:00 1:00-3:00 |
$320.00 $440.00 $230.00 |
Yes Yes Yes |
3 Year-Olds: Programs and Rates
Must be three by Sept. 30
| Days | Time | Monthly Tuition | Openings? |
| 2 Days: Tuesday & Thursday | 9:00-1:00 | $320.00 | Yes |
|
3 Days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday Brainy Bunch (must be 3 and fully potty trained |
9:00- 1:00 1:00-3:00 |
$440.00 $230.00 |
Yes Yes |
Young 3 Year-Olds: Programs and Rates
Must be three by Dec. 31
| Days | Time | Monthly Tuition | Openings? |
| 2 Days: Tuesday & Thursday | 9:00-1:00 | $320.00 | Yes |
| 3 Days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 9:00- 1:00 | $440.00 | Yes |
2 Year-Olds: Programs and Rates
Must be two by Sept. 30.
| Days | Time | Monthly Tuition | Openings? |
| 2 Days: Tuesday & Thursday | 9:00-1:00 | $320.00 | Yes |
| 3 Days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 9:00-1:00 | $440.00 | Yes |
Young 2 Year-Olds: Programs and Rates
Must be two by December 31
| Days | Time | Monthly Tuition | Openings? |
| 2 Days: Tuesday & Thursday | 9:00-1:00 | $320.00 | Yes |
| 3 Days: Monday, Wednesday & Friday | 9:00-1:00 | $440.00 | Yes |
Updated February 13, 2024
Typical Schedule
A typical day at St. Stephen’s preschool includes a mix of social and academic activities, structured center play, and enrichment. For example, we offer music and movement every day, not just once a week or monthly.
Greeting
Circle — theme and seasonal ideas
Learning Centers
Centers may be teacher-directed or self-initiated and include:
- Science table
- Home living
- Blocks, large building toys
- Small muscle manipulatives
- Texture tables—water, sand, rice, beans
- Woodworking
- Art (creative process and directed)
Enrichment Program
Examples of enrichment activities include our “Rainbow Room,” Spanish, Social Skills, Brainy Bunch, Fall Festival, Dinosaur Museum, Air & Space Camp, Holiday Tea, Winter Wonderland, Construction Site, “Our Town” Post Office/Stop & Shop/Flower Shop/Candy Shop/Bakery, Multi-cultural restaurants, Buddy Night, and Spring Fling.
Music — songs, signing, rhythm instruments
Creative Movement — large muscle development, martial arts, yoga
Outdoor Learning — Seasonal celebrations with nature hikes for Halloween, Turkey Trail, Nursery Rhyme/Fairytale Hunt, Signs of Spring, Bunny Hop, and Peter Rabbit’s vegetable/herb/butterfly gardens. We also talk about being caregivers of God’s gifts in our wildlife habitat, registered with the National Wildlife Federation.
Snack — cooking experiences (allergy monitored)
Story Time — Puppets/Drama/Fingerplays, Feltboard games
Outdoor & Indoor Large Muscle Playtime
- Large privately fenced playground divided into 3 age level abilities
- Sports grassed area-soccer, volleyball, kick or T-ball
- Tricycle riding, sports stations, obstacle courses, climbing and game rooms
Curriculum & Staff
Our curriculum is designed to . . .
- Provide a routine to give children security and teach organizational skills.
- Use fun color, shape, size, letter sound and number activities to prepare for reading, writing, math and science.
- Guide positive verbal and physical social interaction which teaches problem solving with peers.
- Use a minimum of help techniques in open-ended activities to provide a child’s maximum independence and creativity.
- Use PLAY encouraging children to explore, expand abilities, follow directions, sequence steps and develop age appropriate skills.
- Encourage use and coordination of the whole body and all the senses.
- Help children care for all living things and to contribute to school, work and the community.
Our Staff
We hire highly qualified and experienced teachers who love to work with children. Every classroom is staffed by two lead teachers. Each staff member is required to participate in continuing education, staff enrichment and in-services. Each staff member is CPR- and First-Aid certified.
Registered With or Inspected By:
- Fairfax County Health and Fire Departments
- Virginia Department of Education
St. Stephens Preschool admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.