Preschool

Open enrollment Year Round

About Our School
Our Program
Staff
Registration Forms
FAQs
Non-discriminatory Policy

Welcome and Registration Information

Registrations are now being accepted for the 2024-2025 school year. We offer traditional half-day classes, from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for all children ages 2 1/2 - 5 years of age. We also offer a lunch bunch group and an extended care program through 3:15 p.m.

To find out more information about our classes as you consider which one will best meet your child's needs, click on one of the "Class Offerings & Rates" links below. Siblings receive a 10% discount.

We do enjoy sharing information about our program and appreciate the opportunity to answer any questions you may have. If you would like to discuss your child's placement, or if we can assist you in any way in the registration process, please feel free to call us at (703) 437-4511. And please look through this information to learn more about our school. You can also come for a tour to check out our beautiful school and playground.

ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

As a ministry of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church since 1981, our Christ-centered preschool has been blessed to open its doors to all God's children and their families. We warmly welcome and celebrate each child's uniqueness in their spiritual, social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development. Our experienced, caring teachers create inviting classroom centers to enhance your child's learning through a play and learn style. Our Christian curriculum incorporates age-appropriate kindergarten readiness activities with STEAM. Daily (weather permitting) outdoor cooperative games and free play promote gross motor skills, social development, cognitive development and well-being.

Take a Tour - Virtually

You can take a mini-tour by watching our Virtual Tour on our "About Us" page. The preschool portion starts at about 12 minutes into the video. Please see our Parent Handbook link below as it may be helpful as you consider our program.

Mission Statement

Good Shepherd Lutheran School focuses on the whole child to provide a safe, nurturing, Christ-centered education in which each child is celebrated individually and is encouraged by word and example.

Philosophy

Good Shepherd Lutheran School’s daily program provides children a rich educational experience in a loving, Christ-centered environment. We teach a play and learn thematic curriculum that gives children the opportunity to explore and learn about language, letters, numbers, science, art, nature, and music. We maintain age-appropriate expectations for children and we help them work out conflicts respectfully, showing each other the love that Jesus taught us.

History

Our half-day, Christ-centered preschool program was established in 1981 as a ministry of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

OUR PROGRAM

Children are warmly greeted at the classroom door by the teacher and assistant. The first part of the day includes open-ended free play where students explore theme-related activities in various centers around the room, including art, building toys, dramatic play, science or math investigation, manipulatives, puzzles, and games. All activities are intentionally chosen with specific learning goals in mind. Large group activities vary, depending on the age of the students, but all classes use this time to introduce key concepts, read stories, and interact with a calendar or a daily weather graph. Bible lessons are also discussed during circle time. Every class enjoys 30 minutes of outdoor play on the playground with bikes, cars, balls, shovels, slides, climbing equipment, and a sand box. Students take turns bringing snacks from home to share during our snack time. Each class also has some time set aside for sharing books. At the end of the day, teachers meet with the parents to briefly review the fun activities from their day and to provide any important reminders for families.

Chapel and Music

Our classes meet weekly in a chapel and music program. The classes begin in our Day Chapel with a prayer and an age-appropriate Bible lesson. The music program includes singing, playing instruments, and learning about music in a fun, interactive way.

Special Events

Annual family days are planned during the school year. We enjoy a Valentine’s Family Day in our classrooms in February, a fall trip to Frying Pan Farm Park in October, a Family Day Giving Thanks in November, a Christmas Program in December and a Family Day Picnic at a nearby park in May.

We also have the fire department come to visit with a puppet show and their trucks, a dental school visit, we watch caterpillars turn into butterflies and many other special events.

Staff

The staff at Good Shepherd Lutheran School is experienced, well trained, and have all required certifications. All teachers have college graduate degrees, participate in continuing education through the school year, and are committed Christians.

Kathy Otterbacher

Preschool Interim Director

Barbara Fay

Lead Teacher

Michelle Maher

Lead Teacher & Teacher Assistant

Kristi Nickerson

Extended Care Teacher

Judy Kurak

Teacher Assistant

REGISTRATION FORMS AND DOCUMENTS

Thank you for your interest in Good Shepherd Lutheran School. We are now accepting enrollments for the current school year (2023-2024) and for the upcoming school year (2024-2025), which begins in September. To enroll, please mail the following items to the preschool, ATTN: Preschool Interim Director Kathy Otterbacher:

Completed Application for Enrollment.
Class Offerings and Rates worksheet.
Registration fee, activity fee AND September tuition (check OR Zelle©). Click on the appropriate Class Offerings and Rates worksheet below.

Contact Interim Director Kathy Otterbacher for registration information. Email her at or call her at 703-437-4511.

Information for the 2024-2025 school year

2024-25 Class Offerings and Rates
2024-25 Application Form
Health Form
Consent and Emergency Contact Form
Parent Handbook

Information for the 2023-2024 school year

2023-24 Classes, Rates
2023-24 Application Form
Health Form
Consent and Emergency Contact Form
Parent Handbook

FAQs

Do you have entrance requirements?

Good Shepherd Lutheran Preschool is a Christ-centered organization that welcomes all children ages 2½ through 5.
Children must be at least 2½ years old and must be potty trained (independent toileting), or be able to handle a Pull-Up on their own in order to be eligible for enrollment, provided the school can meet the needs of the child
GSLS Preschool does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of our educational policies, athletic and other school-administered programs. All rights, privileges, programs, and activities are generally made available to students at our school. See our "Notice of Non-discriminatory Policy as to Students" on our home page.

How do I register my child(ren)?

GSLS Preschool currently offers open enrollment based upon class availability. Please contact Interim Director, Kathy Otterbacher at or 703-437-4511, to ask about class availability or to discuss the best placement for your child.

What are your rates?

Tuition varies by class. See the 2024-25 or 2023-24 Class Offerings and Rates link above.

My child has special needs. Can you accommodate him/her?

We welcome all children ages 2½ through 5 and celebrate the individual development of each child. However, we cannot guarantee that we can adequately serve children with certain special needs or physical impairments. We will be happy to discuss your child's needs. Please contact Interim Director, Kathy Otterbacher at or 703-437-4511.

Do we have to be members of Good Shepherd for our child(ren) to attend your school?

Students in our preschool include children of the congregation, children from other faith communities and children from families who have no faith community.
Our school’s purpose is to help preschool children and their families grow in their relationship with God and others through faith in Jesus Christ and to prepare them for a foundation for academic excellence. In response to the love of God through Christ, the school encourages them, by word and by example, to lead lives of praise to God and generous service toward others.

Do you provide after-school care? What are your hours of operation?

We offer a Christ-centered, half-day traditional preschool program, a lunch bunch group as well as an after-care program through 3:15 PM as part of the ministry of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
The school year at Good Shepherd Lutheran School loosely follows the Fairfax County Public School calendar for holidays and closely for weather-related closings and delays.

What is your inclement weather policy?

For the safety of our preschool families and staff, we rely on Fairfax County to determine the closing of schools during inclement weather, or for any other reason. When Fairfax County Public Schools close for weather, we also close. For complete information on our policy, see our Parent Handbook.

Notice of Non-discriminatory Policy as to Students

The Good Shepherd Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.