Welcome to Mount Olivet Preschool! MOPS is an award-winning preschool for ages 18 months-5 years. We look forward to welcoming your family into an inclusive, loving community. We have a new phone number! Please call us at 571-562-0803.
Welcome to Mount Olivet Preschool. Our play-based philosophy allows us to provide children in the community with stimulating experiences consistent with the best principles of early childhood education.
Within a safe, loving Christian environment, we strive to prepare all children for the next step in their preschool or elementary school experience. Our low teacher/child ratios and experienced staff work provide them with the skills they need to live happily and cooperatively in the larger world outside the home. We work to ensure a close partnership with parents at all times.
Mount Olivet Weekday Preschool is a religious exempt child day center that is operated under the auspices of Mount Olivet United Methodist Church pursuant to Section 22.1-289.031 of the Code of Virginia. The Preschool and its staff are fully insured by Mount Olivet United Methodist Church.
Ages: 18 months - 5 years
School Day: 9:15 AM - 1:15 PM; Extended hours to 3:30pm
First Day of School: September 1, 2026
Last Day of School: June 11, 2027
*Children are placed as of their age using September 30th as a guide.
Toddlers and 2s | Children 18 months - 2.5 Years
2-, 3- and 5-day options. Mornings only
Threes class
3- or 5-days. Optional afternoons to 3:30PM
Fours classes
3- and 5-days. Optional afternoons to 3:30PM
Gift of Time 5 years +
5-days Optional afternoons to 3:30PM
Every teacher hired meets Virginia’s education and experience requirements for early childcare educators. Each year, MOPS teachers and staff acquire at least 16 hours of early childcare training through classroom or online instruction.
Each classroom has a Lead Teacher, guiding curriculum and daily activities, as well as Assistant Teachers as needed to maintain appropriate student-teacher ratios. MOPS strives to surpass Virginia’s required child: teacher ratios:
The Preschool Director, who oversees faculty, preschool operations, enrollment, and special events throughout the school year. The Assistant Director manages the day-to-day activities, student attendance, and student records. The Preschool Director is supported by a Preschool Committee, which includes the Mount Olivet UMC Director of Children’s and Family Ministries, the Parents Group Board president, parent representatives, and two MOPS teachers.
Our Learning Style
Mount Olivet Weekday Preschool offers children a progression of knowledge and skills at an age-appropriate level in the following areas:
Physical well-being and fine and gross motor development Children participate in outdoor free play on our playground (weather permitting) or indoor play in the Fellowship Hall. Children have an opportunity to use a wide range of manipulatives and practice self-help and fine motor skills.
Social and emotional development Children interact with peers through Individual and group social situations including story time, sharing, small group play, one-on-one meaningful work with classroom teachers, and cooperative play with classmates.
Art and music appreciation Children are introduced to different visual art media, provided opportunities to create and express themselves (even if getting messy is part of the process!), and encouraged to display their projects. Children are exposed to different kinds of music through listening, singing songs, and using rhythm instruments. Classes participate twice monthly in a music and movement class.
Cognitive development This includes concept development, symbolic thought, memory, categorization, reasoning, and problem-solving. Age-appropriate math and science skills are introduced. Classrooms are set up to stimulate and facilitate pretend play that is so important to a child’s cognitive, social, and language development.
Language development Faculty support and model effective communication, both talking and listening, and through the teaching of age-appropriate literacy skills in reading and writing. In a print-rich environment, children participate in making up stories, rhyming and other kinds of word play, and games and activities that require listening to and following directions.
Spiritual development We encourage children to develop a sense of love, hope, and trust in God through daily prayers at mealtime, occasional age-appropriate Bible-based stories and songs. All children attend a 15-minute chapel service in the Sanctuary twice a month.
Enrichment Classes offering a variety of learning experiences taught by teachers from outside the program specialized in these areas. Examples include: Science Wonders and Music and Movement. The Fours and Fives have additional opportunities for field trips, including walks to Woodlawn Park. Parents are encouraged to join their children on these trips, space permitting.
Daily Schedules vary by age and by class. Teachers post class schedules in the classroom and also provide monthly lesson plans. All classes spend at least 60 minutes daily playing outdoors on the playground or indoors in the Fellowship Hall. Children bring snack lunch from home and eat it in the classroom.
Registration for the 2026-2027 School Year opens in December! A complete registration includes the application form, the registration fee and a copy of your child's birth certificate.
Registration Fees:
$150 for new students
$25 waitlist only (applied to registration fee)
The 2026-2027 MOPS School Year has annual tuition, based on the 43-week school year following Arlington Public School year. Therefore, no adjustments are made for vacation, holidays, school closings, days missed or shortened days. Annual tuition is divided into a non-fundable Down Payment (applied to the October 2026 payment) due upon accepting the offer plus ten equal payments from August through May, due on the tenth of each month. Detailed procedures are in the Financial Agreement Form, also due upon accepting the offer.
Pricing below reflects projected tuition prices. Tuition pricing will be finalized in December.
Two Day Toddlers/Twos
Annual Tuition: $6,760
10-Payment Plan: $676
Down Payment: $400
Three Day Toddlers/Twos
Annual Tuition: $8,100
10-Payment Plan: $810
Down Payment: $400
Five Day Toddlers/Twos
Annual Tuition: $13,200
10-Payment Plan: $1,320
Down Payment: $400
Three/Five Day 3s
Annual Tuition: $6800; $8950
10-Payment Plan: $680; $895
Down Payment: $400
Three/Five Day 4s
Annual Tuition: $7,400/$9360
10-Payment Plan: $740/$936
Down Payment: $400
Gift of Time (Five day 5s+)
Annual Tuition: $9,800
10-Payment Plan: $980
Down Payment: $400
Afternoons 1:15pm-3:30pm (3yrs plus as of September 30, 2026)
Annual Tuition: $4000
10-Payment Plan: $400
Down Payment: $400
Partial tuition scholarships are available based on need; please contact Alexis Joyce | Preschool Director | ajoyce@mtolivet-umc.org
Our Preschool has a very active Parents’ Group that works closely with the Preschool Director. This is a great way for parents to support the preschool. Opportunities include fundraising, outreach activities, educational seminars, social events, room parenting, and substitute teaching.
Join us this summer for Explorations in Learning. This 6-week session is designed for current MOPS and incoming students ages 3-5 and MOPS Alumni who completed kindergarten in 2026.
Summer session runs Monday through Friday June 22, to July 31, 2026 from 9am to 1pm. Extended hours available until 3:30pm. School will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026 for the holiday. Please reach out to the preschool office for more information.
Ready to join a group? Just want to visit? Here you can browse all groups currently related to this ministry area. Select a group to learn more and get in touch with it's leader.
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(571) 447-3619contactus@mtolivet-umc.org1500 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22207Traditional Worship on Sundays at 9:15 AMThe Way on Sundays at 11:15 AM
