Questions
The things parents ask us.
Answered plainly. If we can't answer one yet, we say when we will.
Part 1 of 6
Getting started
Hours, ages, cost, and where things stand.
Are you open yet?
Not yet. Our license application is with the Maryland State Department of Education, and there's no date yet. Joining the list is free and doesn't hold a place.
What are your hours?
6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, all year. We close for major holidays; the list goes up with the prices.
Why a Christian program that runs a full day?
Most Christian preschools here close after lunch and all summer. Working parents need more. We're open 6:30 to 6:00, all year.
What will it cost, and what gets added on top?
Prices go on this website the day we're licensed: tuition, fees, what's included, and the next increase. What you see is what you pay.
What ages do you take?
Two to five, plus before- and after-school care for older brothers and sisters. No infants at our first center.
Do you offer part-time?
Full-time comes first. Part-time depends on the rooms and the license. If you need it, say so on the form. We're counting.
Part 2 of 6
The people
Who's in the room, and who isn't.
How long have the teachers been here?
We haven't hired yet. To keep teachers, we give them the same room all year, fair base pay and paid training. Ask us again a year after we open.
How many adults are in the room?
At least Maryland's minimum at every hour: one adult to six twos, one to ten threes and fours. During reading and math circles, a third adult joins the room.
How do you know who's allowed to pick up my child?
The door stays locked and you have your own code. Your child leaves only with adults on your list, and anyone we don't know shows photo ID.
Who else is in the building during the day?
Only staff, children and adults on pickup lists. Visitors sign in and are walked through. Everyone who works here is fingerprinted before day one.
Will there be cameras?
Yes, recording in every room and the yard, reviewed by the director. No live feed, but you get a photo every day and can drop in any morning.
Part 3 of 6
The day
What your child does and learns, and how you'll know.
What will my child actually do all day?
Mostly play, with a teacher in it. Twice a day, small groups of five sit with a teacher for letters, then numbers. Plus stories, Bible time, music, lunch, a nap and the yard.
Is it teaching, or is it just play?
Both. Letters and numbers are taught in groups of five, so every child gets a turn. The rest of the room plays at stations built around the same letter or number.
Will my child learn to read here?
We teach children to love reading before kindergarten. Some read before five; most don't, and both are normal. We don't promise a reader. We promise the daily work, and a progress report three times a year.
What if my child is ahead, or behind?
Each child moves up when ready, not by age. A child who needs more time gets more time in the circle, not less.
How will I know how my child is doing?
A photo on your phone and a paper in the backpack every day. A word from the teacher at pickup. A progress report three times a year, and two sit-downs with the teacher.
Is there homework?
A five-minute game card on Tuesdays and Thursdays, to do together and bring back for a sticker.
Is there screen time?
No. No television, no tablets, no videos. Books, blocks, paint, the yard and people.
How much time do they spend outside?
Morning and afternoon, every day the weather allows. Drizzle and cold don't keep us in. Ice, lightning and heat advisories do.
Do you provide meals and snacks?
Snacks, yes. Whether we serve lunch or you pack it is still being decided. We'll say here and on the price page.
What if my child doesn't nap?
Then they rest. Nobody is made to sleep, and a child who stays awake gets a book and a quiet corner.
Does my child need to be potty trained?
No. Twos can start in diapers or pull-ups, and we work on it with you, on your child's timeline. Nobody is sent home for accidents.
How do you help my child settle in?
Short days first, then longer ones. Quick, warm goodbyes. A chair by the door for you, as long as you need it. And a call from the teacher by mid-morning with an honest update.
Part 4 of 6
If something comes up
Bites, fevers, concerns and snow.
What do you do when a child bites or hits?
A teacher steps in, helps both children put it right, and both families hear the same day. If it keeps happening, we make a plan with you. Nobody here hits, yells or shames.
Could my child be asked to leave?
Not without a plan first. If behavior is a problem, we write a plan with you and give it a real chance to work.
What if I have a concern?
Tell any teacher or the director. Calls are returned the same day, and you get a written answer within a week saying what we changed.
Will you tell me if my child gets hurt?
Always, the same day. Every bump, scrape or bite comes with a written note at pickup. Anything more gets a phone call right away.
When do you send a child home sick?
A fever of 100.4 or more, vomiting or diarrhea. They come back after 24 hours without a fever. A runny nose isn't a reason to call you.
What happens if I'm running late?
Call us. Your child waits with a teacher they know, and nobody is shamed. The late fee is on the price page, the same for everyone.
What happens on a snow day?
A school snow day isn't our snow day. We open unless roads are unsafe, and text every family by 5:30 a.m. either way.
Part 5 of 6
Faith
What Christian means here on an ordinary morning.
What does Christian mean here, day to day?
Bible stories morning and afternoon, prayer before lunch, Bible songs, and a verse learned by heart. No one denomination, and nothing political. Our name comes from John 3:16.
What if we're not a churchgoing family?
You're welcome. Nobody asks what you believe. But your child will hear Bible stories every day, so it's best to know that now.
Part 6 of 6
Us
Visiting, checking our record, and who we are.
Can I see the place before I decide?
Yes, once we're licensed, and at a busy hour if you like. You'll see a reading circle running and the papers by the door.
Why can't I find you on checkccmd.org?
A center that hasn't opened has no inspection record yet. Once we're licensed, we'll link our page there.
Who is behind this?
Parents raising their children in Frederick County, building the place we wanted for them. Names and faces go up when we open.
I lead a church. Why would we want this?
Your building sits empty on weekdays. We'd rent it on terms that carry no risk for the church, and pack everything away before Sunday. Our page for church leaders has the details and a two-minute form.
Still wondering
Ask us the one that is not here.
Write it in the box on the form. A person reads every one, and good questions end up here.