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Program & Schedule

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Agudas Achim Preschool is a 10-month program that runs September through June. The core preschool program is 9 a.m, to 1 p.m.

Three optional elements may be added to create a full day. They are:

  • Boker Tov (early drop off): 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
  • Afternoon Enrichment program: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Erev Tov (extended care; not available on Fridays) 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Core Program

All children registered for Agudas Achim Preschool participate in the core preschool program, or Gan Yeladim, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Depending on the child’s age and parent preference, children attend preschool two to five days per week.

The curriculum blends secular and Conservative Jewish education, focusing on Jewish holidays, traditions, values, rituals and songs while emphasizing developmentally appropriate themes and skills.

Morning activities include circle time, art, snack (provided by the school) indoor and outdoor play, free play in the classroom; and lunch (brought from home). Playtime gives children the opportunity to develop both gross and fine motor skills through activities such as running, climbing, dancing, crafts and puzzles.

Each week children participate in music and Hebrew classes as well as storytelling, welcoming the Shabbat, and marking the beginning of the week with Havdalah.

Emphasis is placed on creativity through self-guided and teacher directed activities. The school cultivates social, emotional, physical and cognitive growth, recognizing that each child develops at his or her own rate.

Schedule

Agudas Achim Preschool offers classes for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds with different options for each age group.

2-Year-Old Class

  • 2 days: Tuesday, Thursday
  • 3 days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
  • 5 days: Monday through Friday

3-Year-Old Class

  • 4 days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
  • 5 days: Monday through Friday

4-Year-Old Class

  • 5 days only: Monday through Friday

Optional Extras

Gan Haveirim/Afternoon Program

Agudas Achim Preschool offers an afternoon program with an enrichment component each day from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Children may be enrolled in any or all of the afternoons, provided that the child has attended the Core Morning Program on that day.

Children who stay for Gan Haveirim participate in a mixed age group of 2- to 4-year-olds for all activities. Children who stay for the enrichment program nap or have rest time (for children who do not nap) followed by bathroom and/or diaper-changing time and then snack (provided by the school). Then the children participate in an enrichment activity that varies by the day of the week and may change from year to year.

Current enrichment programs include Color Me Healthy (cooking, nutrition education, and physical activites), yoga, book buddies, Spanish, and story hour.

Boker Tov/Early Drop Off and Erev Tov/Extended Day

Boker Tov/Early Drop-off: Parents may drop off their children anytime between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m., Monday – Friday. This is supervised free time in the Social Hall. The supervisor brings the children to the classroom wing at 9 a.m.

Erev Tov/Extended Day begins at 4 p.m. and runs until 5:30 p.m. All children must be picked up by 5:30 p.m., but may be picked up anytime before then; Monday – Thursday. (The Extended Day program is not available on Friday afternoons because of the start of Shabbat. Children must be picked up by 4 p.m. on Fridays.)

These drop-in programs are charged in half-hour increments to a pre-purchased voucher. Vouchers contain 20 half-hour increments.

For details, contact the preschool director, Sue F. Keitelman, at (703) 998-6072, preschool@agudasachim-va.org.