1. Use our website as an introduction to Kinhaven before visiting or applying to insure that Kinhaven School is a good match for your family.
2. Visit our school; you will find the schedule of Prospective Parent Information Sessions on our website. Contact the Kinhaven School office at (703) 525-4636 or by email to register for a tour. The number of participants per tour is limited, so please book your tour in advance. It is also recommended that you not bring your child(ren) on the tour, if possible, due to space limitations.
3. Complete and return an application for the wait list along a check of $50.00 for the waitlist fee.
4. In approximately two weeks you will receive a confirmation from our Wait List Coordinator.
IS KINHAVEN A PRESCHOOL OR A DAYCARE CENTER?
We are a half-day preschool that offers both morning and afternoon programs. There is appropriate, planned curriculum for each age group. Kinhaven’s philosophy is to learn through play. Each day consists of:
Class Meetings - Provide the framework for the day as children and teachers greet one another- often in song, discuss the topic of the day, and choose a primary area of work for the morning. The class often meets briefly at the end of the day to reflect upon the day’s experiences and share music and movement activities and stories.
Work Time - Encompasses a protracted period of play, including individual and small group play devised by children as well as thematically relevant experiences designed by the teachers for small groups of students.
Meals - Children and teachers share a morning snack. Later in the day, children sit and socialize with their classmates while eating lunches brought from home if enrolled in the Lunch Bunch program.
Outdoor Time - Each class will spend at least 30 minutes per day in a neighborhood playground, weather permitting. Utilizing local resources, nearly every classroom experience can be conducted outdoors, Playground play, group games, connections to nature, painting, building, gardening, and bubbles are among the limitless possibilities. In case of inclement weather, gross motor activities will be conducted in the first floor Parish Hall. Maury Park, located behind the Arlington Arts Center at the corner of Monroe and 8th St is our primary outdoor play space. Children and teachers will walk to and from Maury Park. Occasional visits to Oakland and Quincy Parks may be held without notice.
Support Teachers - Kinhaven’s Support Teacher visits each classroom each day during work time to provide valuable support to the teaching team and children by decreasing the student-teacher ratio through small group activities and enrichment experiences.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MEMBER OF KINHAVEN SCHOOL?
Kinhaven School is a parent-governed organization. Families are involved in all aspects of school life both to be a part of their child’s educational experience and to fulfill their member obligation to the school. Kinhaven parents participate in a JOBS system whereby each family is required to have task or JOB responsibilities. There are a variety of duties, both big and small done inside or outside of school that aids the Kinhaven community and helps to make our school a special place.
WAITLIST:
IS IT WORTH IT TO BE ON THE WAIT LIST?
YES. Even if a class is filled for September, you never know what will happen! We live in an area where parents find themselves being transferred or reassigned. While we are saddened when any children have to leave our school, it opens up an opportunity for those on our wait list. We advise you to put your child on the wait list. Our current students were on the wait list at some point – so it does work.
HOW LONG IS THE WAIT LIST?
We do keep the wait list at a manageable number, and update it throughout the year as current families accept or decline open spots.
WHAT NUMBER AM I ON THE WAIT LIST?
The number on the wait list is irrelevant unless you know the circumstances of every family that precedes you. An example: being #15 on a wait list for an appropriate age group. When an opening occurs, our Membership Coordinator will contact those on the wait list in numerical order. Our past experiences have shown that dozen(s) may have found placement in another school, moved out of the area, or will decline the spot as their child is not ready for school. So, you may be number 15, 23 or 46 and be offered a spot. We cannot guarantee this would occur in your situation, but if you do not get on the wait list, we can guarantee you will not have the opportunity to be offered a place at Kinhaven School.
HOW WILL I KNOW IF I RECEIVED A SPOT IN THE SCHOOL?
The Membership Director will contact you if a spot opens up and you are next on the list.
REGISTRATION:
WHEN DOES REGISTRATION FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR BEGIN?
Internal registration, for currently enrolled families, occurs mid-late January. Classrooms spots not filled by internal registration will be offered to those on our wait list. Families are placed on our wait list according to the date of receipt of application and fees.
External registration (from the wait list) then begins in early February. The Membership Coordinator will use our wait list to fill any open spots in various classrooms. If you do not receive a call at the end of February or the beginning of March, you will remain on the wait list for the following school term.
WHEN DO I NEED TO GIVE MY ANSWER WHETHER OR NOT I WILL ACCEPT A SPOT?
If you receive an offer during a current school year, you will have 3 days to respond to the Kinhaven Office. Since this is such a short turn around response time, we suggest you take a tour soon after you submit a wait list application. Tour times/dates are noted on our website, www.kinhaven.com
If you are offered a spot during our annual external registration process, you will receive an offer and detailed instructions from the Membership Coordinator at that time. If at any time you do not want your child’s name to stay on our waitlist, please give the Kinhaven Office a call or e-mail us. This will help us keep the waitlist current and up to date.