Potomac Falls High School Early Childhood Education

Lil' Panthers Preschool

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The LCPS Early Childhood Education Learning Labs are hands-on learning experiences designed for children ages 3 to 4 and staffed by dedicated LCPS employees and early childhood education students. Learning Labs offer children a nurturing environment and unique school experience for each and every child's development.

For detailed information about the ECE courses, as well as other available courses, please refer to the LCPS Program of Studies

Thank you for your interest in our Lil’ Panthers Preschool.  We have been an active lab based preschool since 1997!  The opportunity to be a Lil’ Panther has been an integral part of our Early Childhood Program at Potomac Falls High School.  

Lil' Panthers Preschool is a LAB based learning preschool for high school students. High school students are trained to prepare a variety of lessons to complement a weekly theme; the children are exposed to story time, literacy & language, social skills, math, science, fine motor skills, and art activities. These creative learning experiences are designed to meet the children's developmental needs based on the Core Knowledge Curriculum. 

Age Group:  The 2025-2026 SY Early Childhood Education Learning Lab program serves students from ages 3 to 4 (born between Oct 1, 2020, to Sept 30, 2022).

The Early Childhood Education Learning Lab is open to families residing in Loudoun County. 

The enrollment process is through a centralized lottery system run by LCPS.

Students enrolled in the Lil' Panthers Preschool program must be toilet independent (does not require any restroom assistance) by the first day of school.

Teacher Name: Shirell Ashwell

Days and Times: Program times will be set in the spring of 2025.  Currently our program runs 2 days a week from 9:40 am-12:30 pm.

Program runs from Mid-October to Mid-May each year.

Fees: Fees are dependent on the number of days per week we offer preschool.  Number of days will be determined by Potomac Falls High School.  Preschool students will have to commit to the days offered.  

2 Days $450 

4 Days $825

Fees are subject to change based on the hours and days offered.

Registration: Please visit the LCPS Early Childhood Education (ECE) School-Led Learning Lab page : https://www.lcps.org/o/dtl/page/early-childhood-education-ece-school-led-learning-lab.

Registration questions please email Arnaz Dotivala

Email Arnaz.Dotivala@lcps.org


Contact Information

shirell.ashwell@lcps.org

Curriculum

Schools will use the Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence as the prescribed curriculum for the learning lab. This curriculum will be used to support Virginia's Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS). Virginia's Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS). Birth-Five Learning Guidelines articulate the skills and knowledge young children need to demonstrate by the end of preschool to succeed in kindergarten.

General Information

  • This class for high school students is called Early Childhood Education. High school students run an early learning center under the supervision of their teacher.

  • This is a learning experience for our high school students. The school is their "learning lab." We aim for a mutually beneficial relationship - the high school students are learning to care for and teach children while building relationships, and the preschool students are gaining age and developmentally appropriate instruction. The high school students are "in training." They are not trained professionals.

  • We follow a theme-based curriculum. The high school students plan the lessons and activities. Each lesson/activity stresses at least one of the Kindergarten Readiness Skills.

  • The school follows the LCPS calendar but starts in mid-October and ends in May. We are closed for snow days, student holidays, teacher workdays, and other special closings.

More Information

  • The Early Childhood Education Learning Lab is open to families residing in Loudoun County. 

  • The enrollment process is through a centralized lottery system.

Note:  This child day program is NOT a state-licensed child-care facility (nor is it a preschool). This is NOT an accredited preschool program. This child day program is operating as a program exempt from licensure with basic health and safety requirements but has no direct oversight by the Department.