Kindergarten Overview

Applications are being accepted for Kindergarten.
Please contact Mrs. Nancy Schuler, Admissions Director
at 703-256-3620 or admissions@westminsterschool.com

Westminster School offers a challenging Kindergarten curriculum in a nurturing environment which promotes kindness, respect, and love of learning. The Kindergarten program includes:

Full-Day Program

The school day is from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Kindergarten students enjoy a lively variety of academic and enrichment activities each day. The daily schedule also includes Quiet Time, allowing our youngest students a peaceful rest or nap during the day.

Small Classes (two homeroom classes of 16 students each)

Kindergarten students have the security of their own homeroom teacher and classroom. However, since each kindergarten homeroom teacher is a curriculum specialist, the students also benefit from instruction from both teachers. An aide is provided to maintain a ratio of 1:8 – 1:10 in each classroom.

School Uniform

All students wear an attractive school uniform, which includes a variety of pieces which can be mixed and matched, plus a blazer and tie for special events, assemblies, and field trips.

Accelerated Academics

High-quality, in-depth curriculums are in place for all subjects, including language arts, math, science, social studies, and French. With Westminster’s learning-friendly environment and teacher specialists, Kindergarteners are exposed to a greater breadth and depth of knowledge, and progress at a faster pace than their peers in public and private schools.

Phonics-Based Reading Program

Westminster’s highly effective reading program provides Kindergarteners with strong linguistic and “decoding” skills, allowing them to read at an impressive level before the end of the academic year. Even for those children who are already reading, Westminster’s program strengthens understanding of the structure of language, ensuring their continued progress as they encounter more difficult material.

Advanced Math and Science

The mathematics curriculum anchors abstract concepts to the “real world” via sight, hearing, speech, and touch. The program stresses thinking skills, problem solving strategies, mental arithmetic, estimation, measurement, time, and money concepts. Children learn to solve math equations using manipulatives, rods, number lines, and memory. The science curriculum introduces students to the processes of observation and systematic analysis of the natural world. Through discussion, class work, and many hands-on activities, the students are guided to discover, explore, question, and reflect on different aspects of their everyday surroundings.

Music and Art Classes (two times a week)

Kindergarten music classes provide a pleasurable environment in which students learn the basic elements of music literacy. The students enjoy activities that emphasize listening, rhythm, percussion, choral speech, and group singing. All kindergarten students perform in music programs twice yearly.

In Westminster’s large, naturally lit art studio, kindergarten students are guided through a variety of projects which introduce basic art processes, skills, and media. Projects are based on the child’s current life experiences or imaginative play life, and often relate to topics under study in the academic classroom. Throughout the year, each student produces a portfolio of work, and all students have a work included in the school-wide Annual Art Contest.

French Class (three times a week)

In Kindergarten, students are introduced to the French language and culture through regular interaction with a French-speaking teacher who visits their classroom. Through the use of simple conversation, songs, games, and holiday-related activities, children begin to acquire a basic vocabulary and correct pronunciation, and experience language learning as enjoyable.

Daily P.E. and Recess

In addition to daily, outdoor play breaks, Kindergarten students enjoy daily P.E. classes in the gym or on the athletic field. Organized activities and games develop general fitness and conditioning, coordination, movement and dance skills, manipulative activities, and game skills. Classes also emphasize age-appropriate health awareness as well as social skills.

Class Play

As part of Westminster’s Drama Program, the Kindergarten students present a play near the end of the school year. Each child has a speaking part, and most productions include group singing. Participation in this important class project develops self-confidence and poise, group cooperation, and provides an opportunity to be recognized and celebrated by the entire school community.

Several Field Trips

Organized and chaperoned by their homeroom and/or enrichment teachers, Kindergarten students enjoy a number of field trips throughout the year. Field trips are chosen to highlight aspects of the academic program, as well as French, music, and art classes, and may include outdoor venues, museums, historic sites, performances, etc. All field trips are by Westminster School bus.

After-School Help

Included in the tuition, Kindergarten teachers are available for after-school help sessions for students who could benefit from extra instruction or individual attention. These one-on-one or small group sessions nurture academic understanding and confidence as well as appropriate developmental and social/emotional growth.