Westminster does not use one single curriculum for all subjects or all grades.  Through the collaboration of teachers and administration, curriculum in each subject is evaluated.  We tailor our various curricula to meet the academic needs of our students in each grade.

MATH
PreK & Kindergarten:  Saxon Math, story book math and manipulatives
K-5th grades:  A Beka Math, Mountain Math, and timed drills

Math programs emphasize problem solving, critical thinking skills, and concept   development.

LANGUAGE ARTS
PreK & TK:  Saxon
Kindergarten:  Open Court and McGraw Hill
1st - 5th grades:  Open Court Reading and Writing, novel studies
3rd - 5th grades:  Harcourt Brace Language
PreK - 5th grades:  age-appropriate emphasis on writing, grammar skills, and vocabulary

Our phonics-based program introduces students to quality literature and effective    language arts knowledge and skills.  We supplement with novel studies, writing and grammar texts.

SPELLING
1st grade:  Open Court
2nd-5th grades:  Steck-Vaughn
D'Nealian handwriting style

Our spelling program is designed to prepare students to spell correctly and proofread words they will need throughout a lifetime of writing.

SOCIAL STUDIES
PreK & Kindergarten:  American holidays and community studies
1st-5th grades:  Harcourt
2nd-5th grades:  God's World magazine

Our social studies series encourages students to learn about their world while reinforcing skills in reading, math, and language.  Citizenship, geography, history, cultures, map skills, and government are some areas covered.  Johnny Appleseed Day, the Augusta Tours, Southwest Day, and Johnny Tremain Day are highly-acclaimed annual events in our program.

SCIENCE
Silver Burdett and Ginn, Harcourt Brace
Inquiry-based science program utilizing grade appropriate science kits.
Hands-on units based on National Science standards.
Animal studies in 3rd grade
Invention Convention in 4th grade

The science program teaches physical, earth, life, and health sciences.  We use science texts, videos, computer resources, and field trips.  There is a major emphasis on scientific inquiry, including process skills and the scientific method.

BIBLE
Scripture memory program in all grades; Christian Schools
International chronological study of key Old and New Testament stories in all grades; weekly chapels in all grades

Our careful integration of faith and learning springs from prayer and a study of God's Word during daily Bible classes and Friday chapel.

COCURRICULAR
All grades have Physical Education, Library/Media, Art, and Music (Kodaly based, with Orff and Suzuki), computer skills in 2nd-5th grades

PREKINDERGARTEN
Westminster Day School begins its academic offerings with half-day prekindergarten classes.  These classes are available for children who are 4 years of 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 5 years old by September 1 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 a.m. - 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 p.m.  This program offers enrichment in the areas of science and social studies.  Students are admitted in Kinder Cubs if they demonstrate a developmental readiness for a longer day.  The program is optional.

FIRST THROUGH FIFTH GRADES
Our Day School academic program is rich with hands-on experiences that provide a solid foundation in basic content areas.  The language arts reading series is a strong phonics-based program that introduces our students to quality literature and effective language arts knowledge and skills. It is supplemented with novel studies, writing and grammar texts, 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 effective and time-tested ways to master math facts. 

The 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 students also enjoy a number of enriching field trips.  The careful integration of faith and learning springs from prayer and study of God's Word during daily Bible classes and a weekly chapel (link to day school chapel section). The admission process includes standardized tests administered by the school.  Students applying for first grade must be six years old by September 1 of the school year.

For a snapshot of grade-by-grade curriculum, please click here.