Overview

Welcome to Mount Olivet Preschool! MOPS is an award-winning preschool for ages 18 months-5 years. We look forward to welcoming your family into an inclusive, loving community.

Our play-based philosophy allows us to provide children in the community with stimulating experiences consistent with the best principles of early childhood education.

Within a safe, loving Christian environment, we strive to prepare all children for the next step in their preschool or elementary school experience. Our low teacher/child ratios and experienced staff work provide them with the skills they need to live happily and cooperatively in the larger world outside the home. We work to ensure a close partnership with parents at all times.

Mount Olivet Weekday Preschool offers children a progression of knowledge and skills at an age-appropriate level in the following areas:

Physical well-being and fine and gross motor development Children participate in outdoor free play on our playground (weather permitting) or indoor play in the Fellowship Hall. Children have an opportunity to use a wide range of manipulatives and practice self-help and fine motor skills.

Social and emotional development Children interact with peers through Individual and group social situations including story time, sharing, small group play, one-on-one meaningful work with classroom teachers, and cooperative play with classmates.

Art and music appreciation Children are introduced to different visual art media, provided opportunities to create and express themselves (even if getting messy is part of the process!), and encouraged to display their projects. Children are exposed to different kinds of music through listening, singing songs, and using rhythm instruments. Classes participate twice monthly in a music and movement class.

Cognitive development This includes concept development, symbolic thought, memory, categorization, reasoning, and problem-solving. Age-appropriate math and science skills are introduced. Classrooms are set up to stimulate and facilitate pretend play that is so important to a child's cognitive, social, and language development.

Language development Faculty support and model effective communication, both talking and listening, and through the teaching of age-appropriate literacy skills in reading and writing. In a print-rich environment, children participate in making up stories, rhyming and other kinds of word play, and games and activities that require listening to and following directions.

Spiritual development We encourage children to develop a sense of love, hope, and trust in God through daily prayers at mealtime, occasional age-appropriate Bible-based stories and songs. All children attend a 15-minute chapel service in the Sanctuary twice a month.

Enrichment Classes offering a variety of learning experiences taught by teachers from outside the program specialized in these areas. Examples include: Science Wonders and Music and Movement. The Fours and Fives have additional opportunities for field trips, including walks to Woodlawn Park. Parents are encouraged to join their children on these trips, space permitting.

Daily Schedules vary by age and by class. Teachers post class schedules in the classroom and also provide monthly lesson plans. All classes spend at least 60 minutes daily playing outdoors on the playground or indoors in the Fellowship Hall.

Additional Information

Mount Olivet Weekday Preschool is a religious exempt child day center that is operated under the auspices of Mount Olivet United Methodist Church pursuant to Section 22.1-289.031 of the Code of Virginia. The Preschool footprint is approximately 20,000 square feet and enrollment capacity is 110 children daily. Children are assigned to classes by age, and there are currently 6 classroom spaces in use. In addition, the Preschool has access to two playgrounds and a large gross motor room on site. Mount Olivet does not serve food other than the occasional prepackaged snack or water from a disposable cup. All staff are required to obtain a physical annually, and they fully insured by Mount Olivet United Methodist Church.

A complete registration includes the application form, the registration fee and a copy of your child's birth certificate.

Children bring snack lunch from home and eat it in the classroom.

Health Forms ASTHMA ACTION PLAN FORM EPIPEN EMERGENCY PLAN FORM