ABOUT AQUINAS

Aquinas Montessori is an established private school of 55 years. The campus is located in a suburban setting near Mount Vernon, VA on a large parcel of land where children play and garden. The school has fully equipped Montessori classrooms, a library, a playground, a small soccer field, a garden and a heated swimming pool which children enjoy from mid-April till mid-October as weather allows. Swimming lessons are offered on regular basis.
Aquinas Montessori school is AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) “Associated” for ages 3 to 6+ and “Recognized” for ages 6 to 12. We are committed to providing an environment where children learn freedom and responsibility, choice and structure, creativity and discipline, and the skills necessary to combine individual interests with group cooperation.
Aquinas Montessori is a non-sectarian school and we admit all children regardless of race, creed, color or origin.

Ages 3 to 6
There are three primary classes for children from 3 to 6 at the Aquinas Montessori School. The primary curriculum is a fully comprehensive three year program where the child learns to compare, classify and clarify the world around them. Materials and curriculum center around Practical Life, Sensorial Explorations, Language, Math, Geography, History, Biology, Science, Art, Music, Drama, and Dance.

Ages 6 to 9 and 9 to 12
The elementary level consists of three classes which continue the development of the child, two classes for children ages 6 to 9 (Lower Elementary level), and one class for children ages 9 to 12 (Upper Elementary level). The curriculums at these levels are expanded as widely as possible to enkindle interest in every area of Culture, Mathematics, Geometry, Language, History, Geography, Botany, Zoology, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, Art, Music, Crafts, Drama, and Physical Education.

The work at each age group represents a continuous program so the parents should be committed to allowing their children to complete each three-year cycle.

Arrivals and Dismissals
Morning arrival begins at 8:30 AM. Children in the half-day primary class are dismissed at noon. Children in the full-day primary and elementary classes remain for lunch and an afternoon session until 3:00 PM. After-school care is available until 6:00 PM for children of all ages.

Our teachers
Our principal Montessori teachers hold AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) diplomas in addition to their undergraduate or graduate degrees, and have completed required studies enabling them to understand the needs of children of this age, and to present competently the programmed, self-correcting materials which Montessori designed. They are able to effectively respond to the learning patterns and needs of each child, and help the child grow in confidence, independence and knowledge.
Every classroom is supervised by two adults, one teacher and one assistant.

Other languages
A language teacher presents Spanish to the primary children who are in the sensitive period for developing language skills. The elementary children with this background learn to converse, read, and write in Spanish. Latin is introduced during the third year in the lower elementary class and continues through the upper elementary level.

Hours
The campus is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM until 6:00 PM.
School morning arrival begins at 8:30 AM. Children in the half-day primary class are dismissed at noon. Children in the full-day primary class and elementary classes remain for lunch and an afternoon session until 3:00 PM.
AfterCare is available until 6:00 PM for children of all ages.
For information about closings and delays please visit our Closings and Delays page.
The school year is approximately 9 months, from September to June, following, more or less, the calendar for Fairfax County Public Schools.

Heated swimming pool
Our heated swimming pool is open from mid-April till mid-October, as weather allows.

Summer Camp
The Montessori Summer Day Camp is operating on our grounds this summer and we accept kids ages from 3 to 9. A typical day includes experience in a Montessori classroom, where the child manipulates a great variety of developmental materials. There are nature and art activities, stories, songs, and games. The Aquinas heated pool ranges in depth from two and a half to five feet. This non-threatening size offers beginning and novice swimmers an opportunity for great success in a safe environment. Even the youngest swimmers feel comfortable in the shallow end and make remarkable progress in just a few weeks.

Join our big happy family!