Pre-Kindergarten

Westminster Day School begins its academic offerings with half-day Pre-Kindergarten classes.  These classes are available for children who are four years old by May 1 prior to the start of school and developmentally ready for our program.  Reading readiness, development of gross and fine motor skills, understanding the meaning of numbers, patterns, shapes, sorting, and graphing are all parts of the curriculum.  A daily Bible time introduces key Bible characters and Scripture passages.  The students also attend physical education, art, music, and library classes.  Admission to this program is determined through the Gesell Developmental Inventory administered at the school.

Kindergarten

Our kindergarten language arts program incorporates a strong emphasis on reading readiness, phonics, D'Nealian handwriting, creative writing, and literature.  The mathematics program emphasizes the use of manipulative materials to introduce and reinforce concepts.  Skills develop in sorting, classifying, patterning, comparing, measuring, graphing, estimating, adding, and subtracting. Bible classes provide a daily opportunity to explore key people and passages from the Bible. In addition to regular academic curriculum, students have the opportunity to attend classes in physical education, music, art, and library each week. 

To enter our kindergarten program, students must be five years old by September 1st of the school year and must score satisfactorily on the Gesell Developmental Inventory, which is administered at the school. 

The standard kindergarten program is a half-day class, 8 am - noon.  Parents who desire a longer school day for their kindergarten child can enroll them in our optional Kinder Cubs program from noon until 2:00 p.m.  This program offers enrichment in the areas of science and social studies. Students are admitted to Kinder Cubs if they demonstrate a developmental readiness for a longer day. The program is optional.

1st through 5th Grades

Our Day School academic program is rich with hands-on experiences that provide a solid foundation in basic content areas.  The Open Court Language Arts reading series is a strong, phonics-based program that introduces our students to quality literature and effective language arts knowledge and skills.  This program is supplemented with novel studies, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich writing and grammar textx, and a spelling program designed to prepare students to correctly spell and proofread words they will need throughout a lifetime of writing. 

The mathematics programs emphasize problem solving, critical thinking skills, and concept development. Especially in the lower grades, manipulatives and children's literature are used to reinforce math concepts.  All grades use innovative and entertaining ways to master math facts.

Beginning in 4th grade, our students study science using the "Windows on Science" series. This curriculum combines an audio-video presentation and hands-on team experiments to study physical, earth, life, and health sciences. Some favorite science-oriented yearly events include the Lunchbox Derby and the Invention Convention.

The Harcourt social studies series encourages students to learn about their world while reinforcing skills in reading, math, and language. Southwest Day and Culture Day are highly acclaimed annual events in our social studies program.

Westminster students attend art, music, library, and physical education classes each week.  The classes also enjoy a number of enriching field trips. The careful integration of faith and learning springs from prayer and a study of God's Word during daily Bible classes and a Friday chapel. 

The admission process includes standardized tests administered by the school.  Students applying for 1st grade must be six years old by September 1st of the school year.