Westminster School

Northern Virginia Private School

Admission
- Admission
- Westminster School seeks families who are looking for an outstanding educational program and an all-around experience that will help their child grow in character, confidence, and enthusiasm for learning and for life.
Academics & Specials
- ACADEMICS & SPECIALS
  - The Westminster Educational Approach
    
    Lower School, Grades K-2
    
    Middle School, Grades 3-5
    
    Upper School, Grades 6-8
- Westminster’s academic program is based on the belief that children between the ages of five and fourteen are naturally dominated by curiosity and enthusiasm for life, and want nothing so much as to understand the world around them, discover how they fit into it, and show what they can do.
About Us
- ABOUT US
  - Meet the Head of School
  - Mission & Philosophy
    
    Classical Education
    
    School Traditions
    
    School Community
    
    History of Westminster
- Westminster School is dedicated to providing a superior elementary and middle-school education whose fundamental goals for each child are a disciplined and well-informed mind, strength of character, dedication to learning, generosity of spirit, and joy in the possibilities of life. The school community represents a diverse body of learners who are engaged in a rigorous academic program, enriched by the arts, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
Preschool
Contact Us

Curriculum Highlights - Griffin Academy

Language Arts

Language development in listening and expressive language
Pre-reading and reading skills through a phonics-based program (SRA Imagine It)
Alphabet recognition/sound correlation
Matching of letters and words
Visual discrimination and memory
Word recognition
Auditory discrimination and memory
Pre-writing and development of fine motor skills (tracing, puzzles, story writing)

Mathematics

Sorting, matching, and counting objects
Grouping into sets
Recognition and sequencing of numbers
Recognition of shapes
Beginning addition and subtraction skills using math manipulatives

Social Studies

Self
Family
Study of holidays and historical events during the calendar year
Community helpers
Simple map skills activities

Science

Caring for the environment and all living things
Gathering and examining materials from nature
Simple experiments
Activities to improve observation and memory skills
Plants
Animals
Physical science
Human body
Environment

Physical Education

Large muscle development and control
Small muscle development and control
Balance, coordination, hand-eye coordination, spatial skills
Good health habits: hygiene, diet, safety

Visual Arts

Weekly art class
Self-expression
Exploration of various media and materials
Introduction to specific artists and styles

Performing Arts

Listening to music
Stopping and starting on musical cue
Moving/singing to a steady beat
Performance opportunities

Modern/Classical Languages

Weekly French class
Numbers, colors, greetings, simple expressions
Introduction to French culture

Library

Classroom library
Daily read-alouds
Independent library time
Westminster School’s library (story time, introductory library instruction)
Book fair

Field Trips / Special Events

On average, two field trips or special events each month, e.g.:

Local plays/puppet shows
Discovery museums
Farm visit/pumpkin patch
Attend K-6th grade drama productions in Gryphon Theater
In-house programs, such as visiting community members (e.g., veterinarian, dentist, police officer)
Special events, such as Halloween Parade, Thanksgiving Feast, Winter Holiday Party, Fun-in-the-Sun, etc.