Westminster School

Northern Virginia Private School

  • Admission
    • Admission

      • How to Apply
      • Visit Campus
      • Admissions Calendar
      • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Transportation & Extended Care
      • HS and College Attendance
      • FAQs
      • Meet the Director

    • 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
      • After-School Program
      • Arts
      • Athletics
      • STEAM Program & Makerspace
      • Westminster School Library And Resources

    • 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
      • School Community
        • Our Staff
        • Board of Trustees
        • Alumni
      • Employment
      • Campus Tour
      • Blog

    • 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
  • Camp Programs
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  • Blackbaud

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.
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CONTACT US DIRECTIONS
Westminster School
3819 Gallows Rd,
Annandale, VA 22003
703 -256 -3620

Copyright © 2023 Westminster School

Westminster School
  • Admissions
    • How to Apply
    • Visit Campus
    • Admissions Calendar
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Transportation & Extended Care
    • HS and College Attendance
    • FAQs
    • Meet the Director
  • Academics & Specials
    • The Westminster Educational Approach
      • Lower School, Grades K-2
      • Middle School, Grades 3-5
      • Upper School, Grades 6-8
    • After-School Program
    • Arts
    • Athletics
    • STEAM Program & Makerspace
    • Westminster School Library And Resources
  • About Us
    • Meet the Head of School
    • Mission & Philosophy
      • Classical Education
      • School Traditions
      • School Community
      • History of Westminster
    • School Community
      • Our Staff
      • Board of Trustees
      • Alumni
    • Employment
    • Campus Tour
    • Blog
  • Preschool
  • Contact Us