Pre-k Program
Pre-K Program
This year, Ludlow-Taylor has two classes of three-year-olds and one class of four-year-olds. There are 16 children in each of the 2 three-year-old classes and 20 in the four-year-old classroom. Parents interested in enrolling their children in our Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 classes should see the DCPS web site for information about the annual application and lottery process.
Morning Care
School begins at 8:45 AM, and children can be dropped off as early as 8:00 AM. Children in the Pre-K3 or Pre-K4 program are dropped off directly in their classroom for morning care. The teacher’s aide cares for them until the teacher arrives at 8:45 AM. Students in the Kindergarten through 5th grade classes are dropped off in the auditorium and remain there until their teacher walks them to their classroom at the start of school.
Breakfast
From 8:00-8:45 in the morning, free breakfast is available for each student. Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 students eat their breakfast in their classrooms.
Potty Training
Children entering the program are expected to be potty-trained, but teachers understand that accidents can sometimes happen. Each classroom for the three-year-olds has its own bathroom. Each Pre-K class has a teacher’s aide who assists the teacher in taking care of the accidents that inevitably happen. Much like in a daycare program, each child keeps an extra set of clothes at school for when accidents occur. The four-year-olds use the bathroom outside — but very near — their classroom. A teacher’s aide walks them to the bathroom and assists as necessary but also works with children to increase their independence in the bathroom.
Recess
Ludlow-Taylor has beautiful, brand-new playground equipment. There is a separate outdoor play area for the younger children to ensure that they can play safely. Students have recess twice during the school day, weather permitting, and again during After Care. Ludlow-Taylor is continuing to renovate our schoolyard to create new green spaces, shaded spaces, and gardens. Our plan creates a new environment that will both encourage students to enjoy the outdoors and allow teachers to better integrate the school’s large outdoor space with educational curriculum.
Lunch
Many children bring their lunches. There are no refrigerators in our classrooms so parents need to pack accordingly. Three- and four-year-olds eat their lunches in their classroom.
Nap time
Three- and four- year-olds nap just after lunch around 12:30 for about an hour. After nap-time, there is a short period of unstructured play time, allowing those children who are still sleeping to extend their nap a bit.
Dismissal
Dismissal is at 3:15 PM. In the early weeks of the school year, some flexibility is allowed for young children as they acclimate to the full school day (8:45-3:15). Three- and four-year-olds remain in their classrooms until parents pick them up unless the parent does not arrive by 3:30. In that case, the child will join the other children at snack time in the auditorium until their parent arrives.
Aftercare
Most students at Ludlow-Taylor are enrolled in After Care. Ludlow-Taylor has a DCPS-sponsored After Care program ably run by Ms. Rachelle Etienne-Robinson. All children who participate in After Care are walked to the auditorium at 3:15 PM. Snack is provided to all children who attend aftercare, and then the three- and four-year olds are walked back to their classrooms. After Care activities are age-appropriate. Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 teachers use some of the time to build on the day’s lessons (in lieu of homework) while the remaining time is devoted to outdoor play when weather permits, arts and crafts projects, reading, and other indoor activities.
Ambassador Parents
The following parents have offered to help the parents of prospective students transition into our school. If you have a question, feel free to contact one of them. Nadine Henderson, Anthony Allard, Erica Beffert, Rachel Klein and Tyessen T. Smith
Can Parents Observe?
We are proud of our Pre-K program, and parents of prospective students are strongly encouraged to observe it. Parents may observe any time they wish. Parents interested in observing should contact one of the ambassador parents or the teacher so that the school will be aware of their arrival. Upon arrival, please sign in at the security desk.