FAQ
We are happy to speak with you regarding any questions you may have. If you don’t see what you are looking for here, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly.
Click on a category below to see the questions and answers!
Enrollment
What age groups do you serve?
Open Arms Christian Academy is open to children of any race, color, or creed from the ages of 6-weeks through 5th grade. We offer full-day programs, half-day programs, after-school programs, and summer camp programs.
Do you have tours of your school?
Yes! Click Here to book a tour.
How do I get on your waitlist?
To add your child’s name to our wait list, email our Enrollment Coordinator. The email address is enrollment@openarms-ccdc.org. After doing so, you will need to submit a completed registration form and $50 non-refundable wait list fee.
What does my child need to enroll?
To enroll your child, email our Enrollment Coordinator at enrollment@openarms-ccdc.org, schedule a tour, or call us at 703-729-9144.
Upon receiving acceptance, you will receive and submit a completed enrollment folder containing a $150 non-refundable registration fee, medical form, doctor’s physical, copy of immunization records, and an original birth certificate.
Do we have to be a member of Our Savior’s Way for our child to attend your school?
You do not need to be a member of Our Savior’s Way Lutheran Church for your children to attend Open Arms. Our Savior’s Way Lutheran Church members receive a discount on registration fees for re-enrollment.
Do you provide bus service?
We provide bus service for LCPS Kindergarten – 5th grade students at select elementary schools.
Tuition
What are your rates?
Our rates vary by program. For more information, send an email to enrollment@openarms-ccdc.org.
What is the timeline for tuition and fees payments?
All programs are billed weekly on Monday and payment is due by noon on Friday. If payment has not been made according to the payment schedule, late fees are assessed accordingly.
A charge of $35.00 will be applied for all returned checks.
Can I pay my tuition online or through an automatic draft?
Yes, we offer a FREE electronic funds transfer payment plan. Payments are made through the FAMLY app. All invoices and statements can be accessed through the app.
Do you offer discounts?
Yes, we offer a sibling discount, a LCPS Educator discount and an Active Military discount.
Attendance
What are your hours of operation?
The center operates from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, year round, except for the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Presidents Day (February), Good Friday, Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Independence Day (July 4th), Labor Day (first Monday in September), Indigenous Peoples Day (October), Thanksgiving Day and the Friday following, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
What is your inclement weather policy?
All programs follow the federal government’s weather-related delayed opening or closing recommendations. Open Arms reserves the right to close or alter scheduled hours in cases of severe local weather conditions or emergency situations.
What is the sign-in policy?
All students are checked into and out of the FAMLY app daily by parents and their teachers. Access to the building can only be obtained/granted by our team via the Avigilon Alta Open app.
Who is allowed to pick up my child?
If another adult, over 18 years of age, will be picking up your child an Authoriza-tion for Pick Up form must be completed and given to the reception desk. This form can be found at the main reception desk, or you can enter them into the FAMLY app. or click here. Should you require an unexpected pick up, phone permission will be verified and accepted. Proper identification is required at the time of pick up.
What if I am late picking my child up?
If you are going to be late, please call the center and let us know when to expect you. If you are going to be late, please call the center and inform us of your ex-pected arrival time. A late fee of $20.00 will be charged for any portion of a 15-minute increment after the scheduled time. For example, if you are 1–15 minutes late, the fee is $20.00; if you are 16–30 minutes late, the fee is $40.00, and so on.
Chronic lateness will be addressed on an individual basis and may result in dismissal from the center.
Illness
What should I do if my child is sick?
Sick children should remain at home. Please do not bring your child to the center if he/she is showing any signs or symptoms of illness. Some potential signs and symptoms are:
• Temperature of 100.4 degrees within last 24-hour period
• Unusual spots or rashes on the skin or in the mouth
• Continuous mucus from the nose accompanied by upper respiratory symptoms
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Unusual behavior
• Child is lethargic
• More crying than normal
• General discomfort
If we send your child home, he/she must remain out of the center for at least 24 hours. This means that a child may NOT return to Open Arms the day after being sent home.
Any communicable disease that your child may contract may require a doctor’s note with a clearance to return to school. Examples are Hand, Foot, and Mouth, RSV, Flu, Strep, Pink Eye or any other highly contagious illness. It is important that children are symptom free before returning to school so the illness will not spread.
Medicine
What if my child requires medication?
If your child is to receive any medication (prescription or over the counter), while at Open Arms, the correct forms must be filled out and accompany the medication. Medication is not provided by Open Arms. All medicine needs to be in the original container with the child’s name clearly written on it and dosage to be given.
• Short Term Medicine: For medications to be given for 10 days or less, Section A of the Medication Authorization Form needs to be filled out and signed by the parent and by an Open Arms Administrator. This form does not need authorization from your child’s doctor. Exceptions include Nebulizers and Epinephrine au-to-injectors. Those require Section B to be completed and signed by a doctor (even if medication is to be given 10 days or less). If the medication says “Ask a Doctor” for dosage and the child is in that age group, Section B needs to be completed and signed by a doctor.
• Long Term Medicine: For medication that is needed for 11 days or more, Section A and Section B of the Medication Authorization Form needs to be filled out and signed by the parent, physician, and Open Arms Administrator.
• Epinephrine Injectors (i.e. EpiPen/AuviQ): Sections A and B of the Medication Authorization Form need to be filled out and signed by the parent, physician, and Open Arms Administrator. An allergy action plan and FARE form also need to be completed.
• Sunscreen, diaper cream, lotion, lip balm, and insect repellant require a topical form to be filled out.
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE MEDICATIONS IN YOUR CHILD’S CUB-BY/BACKPACK. Please check in all medications at the front reception desk. If you need to bring your child’s medication home each day, it will be at the front desk for you to pick up.
Meals
What if my child has a food allergy?
Open Arms is a peanut-safe center, meaning that any products containing peanuts or made in a facility that processes peanuts may not be brought to the center. If your child has another type of food allergy, an Allergy Alert Form must be on file and appropriate food will be served. With a doctor’s note, children are allowed to bring their own, clearly labeled, food to the center.
Do you offer lunch/snacks?
Open Arms provides morning and afternoon snacks, as well as lunch (if applicable to your child’s program) to all children in programs Infants 2 and above. A vegetarian or gluten free lunch plan is available on request. Parents who wish to enroll in this plan should contact the Enrollment Coordinator. All meals and snacks meet the nutritional standards as set forth by the Child Care Food Program of the USDA. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) guidelines are followed to pro-mote optimal growth and development.
For all children in the Infant 1 program, parents provide breast milk, formula, cereal, and/or baby food. All items must contain your infant’s name and date. In addition, we ask that parents provide a feeding schedule, indicating the type of food, amount, and time to be fed. When your child is able to consume school food, we ask that you provide your child their first exposure before checking the food off on their Infant Feeding Form.
Can my child bring a snack from home?
Children should not bring food into Open Arms. Adequate meals and snacks are provided. Food exceptions are not made for individual children except in the case of allergies or a written note from a physician regarding dietary and health restrictions. Please feel free to discuss any specific concerns with your child’s teacher.
Curriculum and Programs
Is Open Arms accredited?
Our school is accredited through the National Lutheran Schools Accreditation and is recognized by the Virginia Council for Private Education.
What qualifications do teachers hold?
Open Arms strives to not only meet the Virginia Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers, but ensure that our teachers are professionally trained and experi-enced in working with children in an early childhood/educational setting. Many of our teachers have or are currently obtaining an Associates or Bachelors degree in Psychology or Early Childhood/Elementary Education. In addition, teachers are required to continue their annual professional development by attending trainings throughout the year.
Do you teach religion as part of your curriculum?
Yes, religious education is part of our curriculum. Children learn Bible stories in their classrooms, pray before meals, sing Chapel songs, and participate in weekly Chapel as part of our mission to provide a loving, Christ-centered, Bible-based child care, preschool, and after school program.
Does Open Arms have specialty teachers?
Yes, Open Arms has a Curriculum Extension program that offers physical education, and Chapel each week. Our physical education teacher leads gross motor activities daily in our “Big Room.” All children in programs Infant 2 and above attend weekly Chapel led by our Director of Christian Education.
Do you offer any summer programs?
Our full-day programs continue with their regular schedule during the summer. We offer a summer camp for our school-age children. For more information please visit our Summer Camp page.
Daily Schedule
How can I keep up with what’s going on with my child at school?
Parent boards are located outside your child’s classroom for classroom specific in-formation such as yearly calendar, classroom schedule menu and documentation of learning. Each of our programs utilize the FAMLY app to communicate lesson plans, newsletters, child specific daily activities, photos , and observations.
How do you handle discipline?
Open Arms implements positive guidance strategies in all of their programs. Children are not expected to immediately understand or fully comply with all expectations; rather children are to be gently taught, reminded, and when necessary, redirected. An emphasis is placed on what the child is doing correctly, while diminishing negative behaviors. Our staff use Bucket Fillers for positive guidance and Second Step for emotional support.
Do the children take naps?
Open Arms follows the Virginia Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers and therefore provides rest times for all Infant 2-Pre-Kindergarten programs. Children in the Infant 1 program follow an individualized program consistent with home.
Do you help with toilet training?
When your child enters beginning preschool, we will partner with you to begin the potty-training process. Please provide several changes of clothes, socks, and another pair of shoes. Your child must be fully potty trained before moving on to intermediate preschool.
Parents and Volunteers
Do you have an open door policy for parents?
Visits to Open Arms by parents are always welcome. However, we do ask that if you wish to visit your child’s classroom, that you first make arrangements with your child’s teacher. We do this to try and minimize disruption in your child’s day, since some children have little concept of time and think that when they see you, it is time to go home. A parent’s departure after a short visit can be very unsettling to a small child.
How can I help as a parent?
Open Arms has an open door policy which provides many ways for family members to be involved in their child’s education such as reading a story to the class, helping prepare crafts in the evening, or even helping to run a center. In addition, you may volunteer to be the “Room Parent” and coordinate classroom holiday parties and Teacher Appreciation week. We strongly encourage participation for our restaurant spirit nights and special events (Fall Fest and Spring Fest), and buying books at our Scholastic Book Fair.
