Reviews

“I graduated from Westminster and came back to teach here. The school’s values never left me — and they won’t leave my students.”

“We absolutely love this school. The teachers are exceptional and truly made my kids’ experience enriching, yet fun and enjoyable!”

“We love the ongoing piano lessons with Ms. Kelli and we were extremely impressed with the creativity and ingenuity that the teachers showed last week with the distance learning classes. Mrs. Guerra’s STAR flash cards, the flower art class and Mrs. Bowab’s science class on ramps were all a terrific kick off. From circle time to French- you guys are just knocking it out of the park. [My child] looks forward to every session.”

“We owe a debt of gratitude to you and your fabulous counselors and crew. Each day when he comes home, Zack tells us about the fun times he has had with his new friends at camp!

“Thank you and all the Griffin Academy and Westminster staff for your resilience during this time, we are very grateful!”

“My girls love Camp Griffin! Camp Griffin has a huge variety of camps for all ages that change every week. They get to do all kinds of sports, activities, and field trips with their friends, teachers and coaches from Westminster. They also get an opportunity to make new friends. It is the perfect camp to keep the kids busy in the summer while still having fun!”

“From my nine years here at Westminster, I have been taught to be an independent learner. My teachers, from a young age, encouraged me to trust myself and to make mistakes. Westminster has not only provided me with independent skills and confidence, but also great memories.”

“We absolutely love this school. The teachers are exceptional and truly made my kids’ experience enriching, yet fun and enjoyable!”

“Our three-year old had the most amazing experience this year at Westminster / Griffin Academy. From the administrators to the teachers, everyone was so welcoming to our son and our family. This place is such an awesome place in the heart of Annandale, and younger kids like ours got to experience the entirety of the school from joining the older kids in reading and drama to field trips every single month to places around the DC area.”

“The Griffin Academy is an absolute treasure – a welcoming, warm, and fun school with amazing teachers and staff. It is our second year at the school, and we could not be happier – our child looks forward to school each day, has made great friends, and is developing a love for learning.”

“The small class sizes really allow the teachers to focus on each child as an individual, and this, I believe, is what allowed our son to flourish. In the two years that we were a part of this wonderful academy, I can truly say that he was surrounded by a team of educators who were meant to be in the teaching profession. It was a blessing that The Griffin Academy came into our lives.”

“From our first visit to get to know the school, we have been incredibly happy with Westminster School. The teachers show real interest in bringing out the best in each student and we’ve seen considerable growth in both our kids who attend. They communicate with parents and the staff provides excellent support across the board. We’ve seen huge jumps in how our kids study, prepare, and organize themselves for success. We’re very happy that we found Westminster!”

“The small class sizes really allow the teachers to focus on each child as an individual, and this, I believe, is what allowed our son to flourish. In the two years that we were a part of this wonderful academy, I can truly say that he was surrounded by a team of educators who were meant to be in the teaching profession. It was a blessing that The Griffin Academy came into our lives.”

“Our five year old daughter has enjoyed two summers at Camp Griffin, and is already asking about the first day of camp next year!  Not only do the campers go on field trips weekly (and sometimes multiple times a week!), they go on educational field trips. Our daughter loves traveling into DC to visit art and history museums, Baltimore for science museums, farmers markets for the freshest and healthiest snacks, and of course, parks for extra physical activity and picnics with her friends. As a bonus, the campers go to the pool each Friday, which is not only a blast, but it has boosted our daughter’s confidence in the pool, she has improved her swimming skills, and she no longer requires floaties in the water.  Each week Camp Griffin teaches the children something new and exciting, and our daughter can’t wait to share with us all that she has learned at the end of each camp day. We love knowing that not only is our daughter having the time of her life, learning new skills, creating memories, and is safe with the wonderful teachers that she loves as her own family.”

“The Griffin Academy is an absolute treasure – a welcoming, warm, and fun school with amazing teachers and staff. It is our second year at the school, and we could not be happier – our child looks forward to school each day, has made great friends, and is developing a love for learning.”

“When searching for schools for my daughter, I wanted a place that would and could offer quality curriculum experiences that were strong, challenging, diverse, and prioritized the depth of learning that I knew she needed. I was looking for an intimate setting that offered big school in a small school atmosphere – Westminster School does that. Additionally, having my daughter exposed to and experience the classical education that Westminster offers is what continues to give her a range of knowledge that strengthens her love of learning, challenges her intellect, and supports her social-emotional well-being. From the administrators, to the dedicated teachers and caring support staff, each area of the Westminster experience is exactly what my daughter needs. We are also surrounded by loving and dedicated families who complete the school community. Thank you, Westminster for making a difference for my child and our family.”

“The faculty and staff at Westminster School, more so than at any other school I have worked for, believe in educating and forming the entire person: mind, body, and spirit. The administrators and teachers work closely with each other and with the parents to raise our students to be kind, inclusive, thoughtful, and grateful. While I love being able to focus solely on teaching math in the Upper School, I also appreciate the team-centered approach. My fellow Upper School teachers are constantly discussing how best to solve problems and serve each individual student. My peers inspire me to plan my lessons creatively, to work collaboratively, and to hold high expectations of our students. I am grateful to have found Westminster School and it will forever hold a spot in my heart.”

“Walking through those doors, I knew this place was different. There’s an aura here you simply don’t find elsewhere.”

“Our three-year old had the most amazing experience this year at Westminster / Griffin Academy. From the administrators to the teachers, everyone was so welcoming to our son and our family. This place is such an awesome place in the heart of Annandale, and younger kids like ours got to experience the entirety of the school from joining the older kids in reading and drama to field trips every single month to places around the DC area.”

“. . . successfully created a warm, caring, and supportive community where students are able to comfortably learn and achieve their full potential. . . I leave knowing that my education has given me the tools and the confidence to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.”

“. . . built up my confidence and taught me how to dream. But most importantly . . . showed me how to love and appreciate beautiful and excellent things.”

“I really love working here at Westminster School. It is a perfect match for me. I believe in the values of hard work, discipline, and manners. We teach the students to be responsible and carry themselves in a respectful and courteous way. We also teach them to care and be attentive to details. It is a wonderful school and we offer so much more than just an advanced curriculum. I can be myself and I have full support from my colleagues and supervisors. My personality involves a lot of fun, movement, and interaction with the students. Our diverse community
makes our classes very rich with different experiences and we emphasize sharing with each other.”

“I enrolled my children at Westminster because at their public school they were over-stimulated, often taught by screens, and rarely required to put forth their best effort. The traditional expectations and challenging curriculum at Westminster have made my children feel empowered as active and independent participants in their own education. The curriculum is robust and appropriately challenging in math and writing – both areas where our public school was weak. There are plentiful and meaningful field trips – one for each subject, each year. The orchestra and drama programs have noticeably increased my children’s poise and confidence. A traditional academic environment means that students are guaranteed peaceful spaces, small classes, predictable structure, and clear feedback – all of which reinforce a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Accountability and responsibility are emphasized and expected. We have found it to be a refreshing and elevated approach to education.”

“Westminster didn’t just teach our son — it shaped him. The faculty know each child by name, by strength, by dream.”

“My daughter has the time of her life at Camp Griffin. We just spent our second summer there where she got to go on fun day trip adventures, participate in specialty camps on site and have a pool day every Friday with her camp friends. Camp Griffin provides a safe but fun activity-full day where my child comes home happy and tired, excited to wake up for the next day at camp. What more could a parent ask for?”

“I learned things about myself that I might never have known . . . Being a student at Westminster has opened up a world of possibilities. Having the confidence to pursue my dreams is invaluable.”

“Westminster School has been a beloved second home to me – a happy place to learn and grow where there’s always something exciting to look forward to. In the cozy and comfortable setting of these halls, I have learned and tried interesting things such as dram, ballroom dancing, and sports that I may not have otherwise tried. The school has given me confidence and helped me build character, personality, and strong work ethic that will always be a part of me.”

“The Westminster experience has affected who I am today for it has helped me to become the best version of myself. It has also given me the love of theater and lots of confidence for public speaking.”