RCPC Preschool FAQ
The Classroom Environment
Academic vs. Learn through Play
Our program allows each child to remain an active learner by providing hands-on learning, exploration, problem-solving and reflection. We encourage both an “academic” and “learn through play” environment where children can grow and learn together. We strongly believe that age-appropriate activities need to coincide with these two philosophies.
Learning materials and teaching styles are responsive to the age and individual socialization skills, while acknowledging that academic instruction is necessary to adequately prepare students for the leap into kindergarten.
Classroom Ratios
Below are the average classroom ratios.
Classroom Type RCPCP Classrooms State Requirements
PMO 3 to 1 4 to 1
2 Year Old 5 to 1 10 to 1
3 Year Old 5 to 1 10 to 1
4 Year Old/Pre-K 7 to 1 10 to 1
Supplemental Classroom Opportunities
The preschool offers chapel, library, music and Spanish class. The “supplementals” are designed to enhance and provide new experiences for each child.
Potty Training
Children in our 3's, young 4's and Pre-K classes are required to be potty trained by the first day of school.
Me Book
Unique to the preschool the Me Book is a developmental portfolio made for each student. Me Books are started the first year of enrollment and follow the child throughout the course of their time enrolled at the preschool. This book is a wonderful keepsake that provides a great communication tool for parents as a child graduates and prepares to enter kindergarten.
A Typical Classroom Day
9:00 – 9:20 Arrive to School/Free Choice
9:20 – 9:30 Circle Time (daily theme, letter of the day, helpers, weather, etc.)
9:30 – 9:45 ABC’s & 123’s (writing, phonics, rhyming, counting, patterns, measuring)
9:45 – 10:15 Playground or Indoor Gym
10:20 – 10:40 Craft (draw, paint, cut, glue, fold, think creatively, follow instructions)
10:40 – 11:00 Activity Centers (story, songs, colors, shapes, letters, numbers, puzzles)
11:00 – 11:15 Snack
11:15 – 11:35 Supplemental (Chapel, Library, Music, Spanish class)
11:35 – 11:45 Closing Classroom Time/Special Topics
11:45 – 11:55 Clean & Prepare to Leave
12:00/noon Head home or participate in extended day opportunities
Extended Day Opportunities
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Early Risers provides before school care starting at 8:30 a.m. for supervised play and social time. Available Monday – Friday and the cost is $6 per day per child.
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Lunch Bunch allows your child(ren) to bring a packed lunch on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday for an extra hour of socialization with friends. Cost is $12 per day per child.
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The preschool offers an on-site Melody Makers music education program. This innovative and dynamic introduction to music is available to students ages 2 – 5 on Wednesdays from 12:15 – 1:00 p.m.
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Each fall and spring the preschool offers a premier intro-to-soccer program called Soccer Shots. It meets directly following school one afternoon a week.
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The preschool offers Bricks for Kidz which uses LEGO® Bricks that kids love, to deliver hands-on lessons correlated to cross-disciplinary curriculum objectives. Bricks is offered for students ages 3 and older.
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Creative Movement will introduce your student to the basic concepts of rhythm and movement using creative games that expand their individual creativity. Creative movement is offered for students ages 3 (fully potty trained) and older from 12:15 - 1:00 p.m.
Summer Camps
For one week of each month during the summer, we offer three themed summer camps available to children from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Special Events
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Ice Cream Social: Held 1-2 weeks after school begins allowing parents, staff, and students the opportunity to meet one another.
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RCPC Fall Festival: A fun evening held the Sunday before Halloween. Enjoy dinner, children’s activities and a Trunk-or-Treat. All proceeds benefit RCPC Preschool.
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Fire Safety Week: Every October, we observe fire safety month. Roanoke City Firefighters come in and give a demonstration on fire safety. We get an up close look at the fire truck.
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Grandin Village Holiday Parade: We participate in the Grandin Road Children’s Holiday Parade the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Students dress in costumes made at school. Families join to walk with their student at this fun parade.
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Thanksgiving Feast: The Tuesday before Thanksgiving each class hosts a "feast" of delicious foods.
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Christmas Program: The Christmas program is performed on the last day of school before winter break with a cookie celebration time directly following the program.
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Doughnuts with a Grown-up: Each year, we celebrate our grown-ups with coffee, doughnuts and juice.
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Children’s Ministry Sunday: This special service in the spring celebrates all children at RCPC. The youth of the church lead this family-friendly service and our preschool students are invited to sing. A celebration reception immediately follows the service.
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Muffins in the Morning: Each year, we celebrate our gown-ups with coffee, muffins and juice.
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End of Year Park Day: Students and their parents are invited to Fishburn Park for a casual morning of play.
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Graduation: Our Pre-K students experience a huge graduation celebration at RCPC Preschool the day after the last day of school.
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Field Trips: Pre-K students go on one field trip a month, on average. These outings are a great way to build the foundations of learning. Field trips enhance and elaborate the academic instruction taking place in the classroom. Parents are required to attend some, but not all, but are always encouraged to chaperone when available.
General Information
Safety
Staff members are CPR and first aid certified annually. The playground meets all safety regulations for children ages 2 – 12 and the mulch levels are inspected every three months. Parents and visitors must check-in at the front desk and be escorted by a preschool staff member before entering the school during school hours.
Snack Time
Each day students will have a small snack that they pack from home.
Cleanliness
Classrooms are swept and cleaned daily with a disinfectant. The tables wiped prior to snack time to provide a clean eating area. A more thorough cleaning of cubbies, handrails, toys and such is performed weekly.
Inclement Weather
The preschool follows Roanoke City school inclement weather schedule. If they are closed, we are closed. If they are two hours delayed, we are open from 10:15 - 12:15 p.m. (no Early Risers). If they are one hour delayed, we are one hour delayed.
Preschool Calendar
The preschool opens after Labor Day and closes the week before Memorial Day. Visit the preschool calendar.
Parent Volunteers
Parents are a valuable part of the preschool. We foster an “open door” policy and welcome parents to visit and observe. We encourage parents to volunteer their help and various talents to enhance the preschool’s programs (i.e. guest speakers, chaperone field trips). There are also other ways to volunteer such as helping set-up for special events and/or bringing in extra school supplies.
Preschool Handbook
For more information about our school and policies, feel free to click here to review our parent handbook.
Visit our preschool and learn even more.
Call us at 343-5541 ext. 109 or email preschool@rcpres.org to schedule a tour.