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FAQ
How do you enroll in the preschool?Our registration is held for the upcoming school year towards the beginning of February. We have several different registrations, including in-house church members, in-house non-church members, church members who are new to the preschool, siblings of in-house students, alumni, and public. Public registration is done by lottery, so one person's chances of getting in are just as good as another's. Once your child is enrolled in our preschool, he/she is guaranteed a spot until graduation. After public registration, all openings are filled on a first come/first serve basis. What are the student:teacher ratios?Our student to teacher ratio is as follows: What are your teacher requirements?Our first requirement is for our staff to be mature Christians who follow the Lord in leading your children. Our three, four, and five year old lead teachers are required to have a four year college degree or the equivalent. Many of our leads have degrees in education. Even though our teacher assistants are not required to have college degrees, many of them do. All staff receive background checks on a regular basis.
What do you teach?Our emphasis is on children's overall development, self regulation, problem solving, social competence and cognitive skills. Early childhood specialists have found that the knowledge obtained through play is phenomenal. Each classroom day consists of both play and instructional time. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, "Child initiated, teacher supported play that incorporates math and language skills is an essential component of what is developmentally appropriate for preschoolers." Our priority is also their spiritual development through classroom experiences, chapel, and music. Upon graduating from Salem, our students are very well prepared for kindergarten. Many area elementary schools, both public and private, tell us they are excited when they get students from Salem because they know these children are definitely ready for kindergarten.
Do you allow parental participation?Our Open Door Policy always welcomes parents, but please remember that your child needs to adjust to preschool and a new class in order to become independent. You may observe through the glass door at any time and observe in the classroom at a time that will not be disruptive to the children. There will be opportunities throughout the year where parents are invited to participate in classroom activities. We have a very active Preschool Parent Association (PPA) that does fundraisers and sponsors teacher appreciation events. Evey classroom has one or two PPA representatives.Do you have a carpool for students?Because our teachers wish to get to know parents on a personal level and to allow parents to meet each other, we do not have a carpool drop off or pick up. Parents bring their children to the classroom in the mornings and pick them up there at dismissal. Does my child have to be potty trained?Children enrolled in the threes, fours, or transition classes must be potty trained and able to take care of their own bathroom needs. This means they must wear underwear to school and not diapers or pull-ups. Teachers can only assist students by handing them toilet paper or wet wipes.What is your ESL (English as a Second Language) policy?An ESL student by definition is a child who does not understand or speak English, has not been exposed to English, or needs to learn English. Any student who is currently enrolled in the preschool will automatically receive placement for the next year without having to participate in an interview. Please understand that our intentions are not to exclude non-English speaking children, but simply to make sure all our students are safe and successful. To accomplish this we feel they need to understand specific English words regularly used in the classrooms; therefore, a simply interview will be conducted during the summer for ESL students who are new to the preschool.
What is your inclement weather policy?If the Wake County School System closes school, the preschool will also close. If Wake County delays opening by either one or two hours, the preschool will open at 10:00 am and dismiss at 12:30 pm. If Wake County announces they will dismiss early due to approaching bad weather, we ask you to come for your child immediately because many of our staff will need to leave in order to pick up their own children. Please listen to the radio, TV, or check on line at www.wcpss.net for Wake County Public School decisions and announcements.Do you operate on a particular school calendar?With a few exceptions, we follow the Wake County Public School's traditional calendar.
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