About The School

• Admissions
• Mission Statement and Philosophy
• Our Educational Approach
• School Facility
• Meet the Headmaster
• School Community
• Educational Curriculum
• Kindergarten Overview
• Drama
• Music & Orchestra
• Physical Education & Athletics
• Academic Achievements
• Accomplishments
• After-School Care Program
• Summer Program
• Bus Service
• Development
• Alumni Resources
• Parent Resources

More Information

Admissions

• Open House Schedule and Admissions Calendar
• Tuition and Financial Aid
• Application for Admission
• Tuition and Fee Schedule 2008/2009
• Kindergarten and 1st Grade Recommendation Form
• Grades 2-8 General Recommendation Form
• Grades 6-8 Math Recommendation Form
• Grades 6-8 English Recommendation Form

Our Educational Approach

• Parents Give Westminster School in Virginia Top Grades!

Educational Curriculum

• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science
• History/Classical Studies
• Languages
• Art
• Enrichment
• Geography

Bus Service

• School Bus Fees 2008/2009

Parent Resources

• 2008 - 2009 School Supplies

Essays about Private Schools in Virginia

• Why Should You Pay to send your child to a Private K-8 School in Virginia?
• Does It Really Matter Where My Child Attends Elementary School?

History/Classical Studies

At the heart of the Westminster History Program is the belief that a clear and thorough understanding of the past is the best foundation for the future. Study of the triumphs and tragedies of history, its parade of heroes, villains, and countless obscure participants, awakens the student to the possibilities and pitfalls of human civilization and the realization of his/her own role in its continuance. Inspired by the achievements and sobered by the failures of the past, each student of history is invited to personal commitment and responsibility.

No true understanding of American society and the significance of the individual within it is possible without knowledge of its cultural origins in the ancient and subsequent civilizations of the Western world. For that reason, the main thrust of the History Program is a six-year survey of Western Civilization, which begins in the 3rd grade with the study of ancient Egypt and other early “cradle of civilization” cultures, and progresses through the grades with studies of ancient Greece (4^th grade), Rome (5^th), the Middle Ages (6^th), the Italian Renaissance, Tudor England and the Age of Discovery (7^th), and American history (8^th). In-depth examination is made of these great civilizations in terms of historical events and personages, daily life, and contributions to social philosophy, government, learning, art and architecture, mythology, and literature.

In order to prepare young students for the formal study of history, the kindergarten/1st grade program begins with Social Studies. The curriculum is based on the understanding that children expand in awareness from self outward through family, school, community, nation, and world. The goal is to help the student understand his/her role in society and develop positive social attitudes, laying the foundation for good citizenship. The transitional 2nd grade program surveys American History through the westward expansion, using a story-telling approach which emphasizes the positive aspects of diversity and the admirable roles modeled by the nation’s heroes.

The formal study of history helps students develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing skills, and provides the opportunity for reflection and philosophical development. Independent research activities encourage self-direction and time management as well as creativity. Through the skills development and content mastery of the Westminster History Program, the graduate emerges with a solid foundation of historical knowledge, an informed sense of his/her role in the progress of civilization, and the tools needed for effective, responsible participation.

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