Building Tomorrow's Value Today
Welcome to Falls Church Merrifield Preschool
At Falls Church Merrifield Preschool, we are dedicated to providing a classical education to children between the ages of 16 months and entry to Kindergarten. Our preschool is built on the philosophy of classical European education, offering a structured and enjoyable environment where children can build a solid foundation for starting Kindergarten in areas such as academics, character development, social development, and life skills.
Our Facilities and Staff
We take pride in our clean and pleasant facilities, equipped with the necessary amenities to ensure the children's comfort and safety. Our staff is composed of friendly and professional individuals who are committed to providing the best education and care to our students. Our small class sizes enable us to give individualized attention to each child, ensuring that they receive the best possible start in their educational journey.
Academic Development
At Falls Church Merrifield Preschool, we use high-quality, research-based curriculum materials to develop academic skills in literacy, math, science, and all core subjects. Our students graduate from our Pre-k class with a strong foundation in these areas, and they are often ahead of their peers entering Kindergarten. We have received feedback that our students score exceptionally well on entrance exams to some of the most prestigious private schools around.
Social-Emotional Development
Our school takes proactive steps to teach social-emotional skills such as sharing, kindness, inclusion, positive attitude, dealing with conflicts, empathy, and other such skills that help children have good character, be good citizens, and have successful relationships. Our school is very diverse, and we teach children to always have space in their heart for someone new.
Life Skills
We believe that teaching life skills is essential to a child's development. Therefore, we teach children life skills such as putting on school shoes when entering the classroom, dressing for outdoor play or nap, good hygiene, picking up toys after playing, and assisting staff to set tables and do other tasks. Our numerous structured activities throughout the day help children learn to get in place, stay quiet, and listen to the teacher in an orderly way, giving them a distinct advantage when they enter Kindergarten.
Multilingual Education
We are an English speaking school, but we incorporate strong multilingual education through our Russian and French curriculum. Children are able to absorb languages more easily and naturally when they are young, and we take full advantage of that. Most of our staff is bilingual to support our multilingual education.
Location and Hours
We are conveniently located right off of I-495, Rte 50, Gallows Rd, and Rte 29 in the heart of Merrifield, just steps from Mosaic District: 8111 Gatehouse Rd. Suite 120, Falls Church, VA 22042. We are open Monday to Friday, 7:15 AM to 6:00 PM. Our holiday schedule includes New Years Day, MLK's Birthday, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. If a holiday falls on a weekend, we will post beforehand the day it is to be observed.
Meals and Snacks
We serve healthy meals and snacks, including a continental breakfast, a professionally catered hot lunch, and an afternoon snack.
Our Philosophy
Falls Church Merrifield Preschool is founded and operated by Elena Miller. Elena has two degrees and eight years of College and University training in early childhood education and psychology in Russia and Ukraine. The standards, methodologies, and curriculum represent a synthesis of classical methodologies rooted in her education and experience. This synthesis includes principles borrowed from Vygotsky, Waldorf, and Montessori. The three pillars of our educational system are Academic development, Social-Emotional Development, and Life Skills.
In developing these three areas, our school provides a balance of structured activities and free play. The school day is designed to provide a healthy rhythm in the daily routine. Cooperation is accomplished using consistency, routine, redirection and positive reinforcement.
Testimonials
"My son just started preschool here and I cannot say enough great things about this place! Elena is really kind, helpful, communicative and you can tell that she just really cares about the school as a whole. The school is super clean, the space is big, bright and beautiful, the teachers are really nice and the list goes on. My son is happy and is really thriving here! I'm so thankful for all that Elena and the teachers do for the kids and families!" - Quynh Glasson
"Like many working parents, we wanted to provide both of our kids with an environment that was comfortable for them during the day and allowed for their growth and development at this early age. We toured a number of schools (including Montessori) but didn't feel great about our options until we visited FCMP, and in the past three years it has exceeded our expectations. We noticed fantastic progress within the first few months, and our son was more than prepared for kindergarten this year despite turning five a few weeks after the school year started. Elena and the teachers are phenomenal, and if you asked most of the other parents I'm sure they would agree. We and our kids are lucky to have them." - Chris Tomassian
Excellent Education and Care at Falls Church Merrifield Preschool
The reviews for Falls Church Merrifield Preschool are overwhelmingly positive, with all authors giving a 5-star rating. Parents praise the school for its excellent education and care, citing the dedicated and caring staff, individualized attention, and strong sense of community.
Teachers and Staff
The teachers and staff are described as wonderful, supportive, and caring. They provide great feedback and communication to parents, highlighting student strengths and providing individualized support. The director, Elena, is credited with setting high standards and being a kind and caring person.
Curriculum and Facilities
The curriculum is praised for its quality and diversity, covering subjects such as math, French, and Russian language. The facilities are described as clean and well-equipped, with a strong focus on safety and hygiene.
Community and Events
Parents appreciate the school's strong sense of community, with events such as fall celebrations and international weeks. The school also organizes meal trains for families in need, demonstrating its commitment to supporting its community.
COVID Policy
The school's COVID policy is praised for being strict and reasonable, with measures in place to ensure student and staff safety, such as mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing.
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