The Griffin Academy of Westminster School Opens in the Fall of 2010 Now Enrolling three- and four-year-olds for Fall, 2010…Contact admissions for details. While the preschool is a new venture for Westminster School, the kindergarten - 8th grade program has been in operation for many years. The school opened in 1962 with a kindergarten and 1st grade. It quickly grew to offer K-8. Westminster School is located at 3819 Gallows Road in Annandale, VA. The Griffin Academy of Westminster School will serve three- and four-year olds. The curriculum is designed to prepare the children for entry to Westminster School’s full-day, accelerated kindergarten class. The program takes into account children’s developmental readiness in all areas. Children will be evaluated regularly so that teachers may adjust the child’s activities according to his/her developmental level.                 Visitors from previous Preschool Open Houses   The overall goal of the Griffin Academy is to provide a nurturing learning environment for preschool-aged children. There will be a routine to the day which will include exploration of various topics, including academics, as well as social learning. Children will be encouraged to use proper manners, learn to respect themselves and others, and to work and play together harmoniously. The academic program for the three-year-old classes will introduce children to letters and their sounds, numbers, science through nature, social studies through community, music, art, French, drama and free-play. The children will experience indoor and outdoor play, structured and non-structured time, quiet and active times during the day. The academic program for the four-year-old classes will help to prepare the children for kindergarten. Older four-year-olds (those who are five by December 31), will be placed in the junior kindergarten class, which will be more academic than the younger fours’ class. Both classes will be exposed to a phonics-based pre-reading/reading program which will prepare them for the joys of reading. Story-time will be part of the daily routine when the children will be exposed to classic children’s literature, nursery rhymes, and poetry.