Good Beginnings School achieved its fully accreditation status with the National Private School Accreditation Alliance in early January 2001. We offer a structured, traditionally academic learning program facilitated by seasoned, college degreed teachers in a warm, caring and energetic environment. Zaner-Bloser, SRA math and reading series, Plaid Phonics, Scholastic's readers, science, and geography programs provide our core curriculum for our pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. For our two preschool groups we utilize a teacher-designed curriculum and program based on age and skill comprised of the Prentice-Hall Center for Applied Research Preschool Curriculum, Warren Publishing House Theme-A-Saurus, Newbridge Educational Publishing beginning math series, The Education Center, Teacher Created Materials, Inc. for letter sounds, vowel and consonant introduction and Bob Books for reading.
In addition to our academic programs, we offer art, music, dance, and physical fitness. Students four years old and older also participate in field trips that are uniquely appropriate and qualitatively diverse.
We welcome all students and families who desire a sound learning environment and who share our core values in education.
Ages
Good Beginnings School accepts children between the ages of two and a half and twelve years. All children who qualify by age must also be completely potty trained. Children who qualify by age for kindergarten in Virginia county public schools will be considered for our private full day kindergarten after consultation between parents and teacher, transcript review, if available, kindergarten readiness assessment, and student interview with the teacher.
Class Size
Our small class size enables personalized learning experience. There are two preschool classes with sixteen seats each maintaining a ratio of 1:8-1:10, two pre-kindergarten classes with twelve to sixteen seats each maintaining a ratio of 1:8-1:12, one kindergarten class with sixteen seats maintaining a ratio of 1:8-1:16 and two elementary before and after school classes with twenty students per class maintaining a ratio of 1:20. All of our classrooms are sized with the capacity to hold twenty students.
Philosophy
Our philosophy is to provide developmentally appropriate and strong academic programs to positively challenge the social, emotional, intellectual and physical needs for each child. We recognize and appreciate that all children are unique learners. We believe in a strong partnership between parents, children and staff, appreciating that parents are the most significant adults in a child's life.
Reading, math readiness and science activities are designed to stimulate creativity and encourage reasoning and problem solving. Large and small learning groups are used to foster skill development through songs, games, language development as well as fine and gross motor activities. A description of curricula utilized is provided in our general information.
Hours
Monday-Friday
7:00 am - 6:30 pm
Instructional Program
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Extended Care
3:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Facilities
-About two acres of wooded campus
-Bathroom and sinks in each classroom
-Two well-equipped playgrounds for different age groups
-Large indoor multi-purpose room
-Private Swimming Pool
-Special classes:
Please click here for a map, or click here for step by step driving directions from any location.
School Programs
Preschool
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Ages 2-4 yrs.
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A preschool child's early years are vital, formative and sensitive. Therefore, we foster curiosity and gently encourage memory and reasoning skills through our developmental and age appropriate curriculum:
-Music and movement, rhymes, and games to teach numbers, colors, letters, and sounds.
-Reading & Math readiness activities
-Science and sensory exploration
-Creative arts, Dramatic play
-Develop self-help skills
Kindergarten
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Of School Eligibility
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The accelerated Kindergarten curriculum includes the following core subjects: language arts, math, reading, science and social studies.
The Kindergarten uses the Modern Curriculum Press Phonics to develop phonics, vocabulary, word patterns and sorts, spelling, penmanship, reading and writing skills.
Our reading program accommodates emergent through fluent readers by using a combination of SRA basal readers and leveled trade chapter books in small literature groups. Students are taught to read using a strong phonetic foundation and sight words. Students are taught vocabulary development, reading expression, spelling, language structure and comprehension through reading. Assessment is ongoing throughout the year.
The Houghton Mifflin textbook is used to teach first grade math skills. Children develop a strong understanding of number concepts 1-100, addition and subtraction strategies, time, money, fractions, spatial sense and patterns, place value to 100, number patterns, graphing and data, and numeration.
The McGraw-Hill textbook is used to teach Science. It encompasses Life Science through thematic units. The children learn animals and plants are living things, the sky, seasons and weather, caring for Earth’s resources, and sink and float.
Our Social Studies curriculum follows the Fairfax County’s Kindergarten and First Grade’s SOL’s (Standards of Learning) for Social Studies. The children are introduced to the community, geography, American History and world culture.
The arts are incorporated across the curriculum throughout the school year in each thematic unit. Photography is implemented into the curriculum and incorporated through art projects and performance props. The Kindergarten uses many different mediums to help the children express themselves in art. Children also learn through music and song. Music and dance are taught to correspond to the curriculum. Children express themselves in monthly performances or plays.
The Kindergarten uses a Character Curriculum and introduces four different values a month and builds upon the values as the year progresses. The values are taught through literature, themes and role playing, teaching values for life. The children are taught and given opportunities to practice good character in all areas of the school and at home. The children quickly learn that Character Counts in Kindergarten.
Field trips and monthly special events and days are used to enhance the curriculum and the themes of study.
A Kindergarten portfolio is ongoing throughout the school year to reflect the growth and academic assessment of each child.
Before/After School
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Grades 1-6
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The needs of school age children are unique and diverse. We offer a fun and safe experience that promotes exploration and social development. Our teachers combine interaction with independent activities such as listening stations, library, home living, computer games, and most importantly a designated area for homework with supervised access to the Internet.
-Homework assistance with Internet
-Arts & crafts, science, cooking projects
-Sports and physical activities
-Field Trips
-Open on public school teacher workdays.
Directions
From Reston Parkway take Sunrise Valley towards Wiehle Avenue. Pass Soapstone Drive. Good Beginnings School is past Reston Dental Arts on the right. 11501 Sunrise Valley Drive.