training_doc.doc
Welcome to
At The Boyd School, we embrace a Montessori philosophy of education and create a warm, welcoming and secure place for children to challenge themselves and excel. In this environment, children develop their intellectual, social and physical abilities and talents to their fullest. We welcome family involvement, helping parents better understand the learning style and temperament of their child-and work together to maximize childrens strengths.
Our programs serve children from infancy through middle school age, and cater to a wide variety of families' schedules. The Boyd School is fully accredited by the American Montessori Society and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement.
The Montessori Approach
Over a century ago, Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori discovered children learn best in secure, child-centered environments specifically designed and organized to meet their needs. At The Boyd School, we embrace that philosophy. From our youngest students to our oldest, our consistent, nurturing environment encourages independent thinking, self-awareness and risk-taking. And the deep mutual respect that develops among students and teachers builds confidence and self-esteem. Our students don't just learn-they learn how to learn.
The Boyd School's Montessori approach takes full advantage of children's unusual sensitivity and mental powers for absorbing and learning from their environment. At the same time, it encourages self-discipline, self-knowledge, independence and an organized approach to problem solving and academic skills. CLICK HERE for more information on the Montessori philosophy.
Where Learning Comes to Life
The Boyd School classrooms are the heart of our inviting community. In these distinctly child-centered environments, students constantly create, question and grow. Our classrooms are designed to stimulate integrated, hands-on learning and develop each student's potential. At every age, children initiate projects and activities, collaborate with classmates and take full advantage of the many learning materials and lessons offered to them. Support, encouragement and a deep understanding about the way children learn. These are the hallmarks of The Boyd School environment, whether your child is just starting his or her educational journey or is graduating from our middle school.
Learning How to Learn
Kinesthetic, auditory and visual methods are integrated into the challenging curriculum, and children understand abstract concepts through the introduction and use of ingenious manipulative learning tools. In the life of a child, we believe self-motivation is the only valid impulse to learn. Within our walls, children find learning a life-long process, a journey of discovery-not merely a matter of completing assisgnments.
A Proven Education for Life
Academic excellence and the belief that learning is lifelong process lie at the heart of Montessori education. From the youngest age, our students learn to thik and act independently and conduct organized problem solving. Our students continually increase their self-knowledge, grow stronger in self-discipline, and gain a true love and enthusiasm for learning. When they matriculate from our school, they go out into the world with highly developed cognitive, physcial, and social skills. These foundational skills serve them well in all of their pursuits-enabling them to secure a happy, healthy, and successful future.
Choosing a school for your child is a difficult process and one only reached after careful consideration. In many cases, this is your child's first introduction to formal education. Although our website provides a great deal of insight into our learning environments, student experiences, and school vision; it cannot replace visiting one of our campuses and a classroom observation.
CLICK NAVIGATION ARROWS BELOW FOR MORE
Accredited
The Boyd School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools - AdvancED, the American Montessori Society, and recognized by the Virginia Council of Private Education. The Boyd School is one of two schools in the entire Commonwealth of Virginia to achieve this prestigious honor.
What is accreditation?
Accreditation is a set of rigorous protocols and research-based processes for evaluation an instituion's effectiveness and to distinguish schools adhering to a set of educational standards as well as a school's ability to effectively drive student performance and strive for continous educational improvement.
Membership and accreditation are not the same.
Academic Standards and Assessment
The Boyd School utilizes a number of tools to assess a student's success. Our student assessment program is designed to provide the student and parent with comprehensive information on personal, social and academic development. The Boyd School multi-assessment approach utilizes:
Observations by teachers and staff of behaviors that indicate the students personal/social/academic development.
Demonstration through oral and written tools the mastery of knowledge and skills with specific instructional materials
Student work portfolio--actual work and pictures of student working in the class
Evidence of work habits at school
Periodic results of NWEA diagnostic language and math (kindergarten, elementary and middle school) assessments
In class performance of work
Please join us on Saturday, January 28 from 10am - 2pm for The Boyd School's admissions open house. Personal tours of our custom-designed campuses will be given along with the opportunity to learn about our proven approach to education and our curriculum. Boyd parents and teachers will be available to answer any questions you may have about our school and share with you their Boyd experience.
* Snow Date - February 4
"I have been a Boyd School mom for over 5 years now and I just cannot say enough positive things about our familys experience! The Boyd School goes far beyond the basic ABCs and 123s of a typical school: they have transformed my two shy toddlers into intellectually curious, well developed and independent young boys who have a thirst for learning!"
~ Monica Rose Marburg, The Boyd School Parent
The basic concept in the Montessori philosophy is that each individual is a uniquely endowed individual living a whole life in a whole world. Dr. Montessori recognized that the only valid impulse to learning is the self motivation of the child. Children move themselves toward learning. The teacher prepares the environment, programs the activity, functions as the reference person and "exemplar" and offers the child stimulation, but it is the child who learns, who is motivated through work itself (not solely by the teacher's personality) to persist in his chosen task.
"The Montessori learning method establishes a collaborative environment...as well as self-directed learning and discovery."
~ Steve Denning, FORBES August 2011
The Boyd School curriculum is organized as an inclined spiral plane of integrated studies rather than a traditional model in which the curriculum is compartmentalized into separate subjects, with given topics considered only once at a given grade level. It is an integrated thematic approach that ties the separate disciplines of the curriculum together into studies of the physical universe, the work of nature, and the human experience. Literature, the arts, history, social issues, civics, economics, science and the study of technology all complement one another in our curriculum. The physical environment is carefully prepared, orderly, precise and attractive. It invites learning without being over-stimulating and allows the children to experience success that becomes truly meaningful to each child in the core areas of practical life, sensorial, math, and language.
Children learn and develop more in their first five years than at any other time in their lifetime.
Schools have existed historically to teach children to observe, to think, and to judge. Montessori introduces children to the joy of learning at an early age and provides a framework in which intellectual and social discipline go hand in hand. Teaching and learning are seen as inseparable, as are self, family, neighborhood, and the global community. Learning about oneself is part of learning about others. Learning and growing are what happens when people work and play together. Learning is not about winning and competing. If the Montessori child is free to learn, it is because he acquires from his exposure, to both physical and mental order, an "inner discipline." Patterns of concentration, persistence, and thoroughness, established in early childhood, produce a confident and competent learner in later years.
Montessori education is a preparation for life, not a search for intellectual skills. The children have one intuitive aim in their self-development; they want to develop their inner resources and ability to cope with a strange and complex world. The child who accomplishes this, moves into harmony with this world and becomes a whole person. Montessori as an educational approach is not designed simply to teach children basic skills and information. Children need to learn to trust their own ability to think and solve problems independently. Montessori encourages students to do their own research, analyze what they found, and come to their own conclusions. The goal is to lead students to think for themselves and become actively engaged in the learning process
Dr. Montessori developed what she called the "prepared environment"- an environment in which consistency and dependability are the norm. Children learn through active engagement with personally meaningful, multi sensory materials. Involvement, autonomy, and risk taking are encouraged in the classroom activities and experiences.
Each classroom at The Boyd School is carefully designed to maximize the learning and development of children. The classroom layout is purposefully considered with the child in mind and organized to stimulate integrated, hands-on learning. Open floor plans with ample natural light provide children with the opportunity to discover and the freedom to explore, learn at their own pace and pursue varied interests. Each classroom contains finely crafted, research derived, developmentally appropriate learning materials which are prepared by our highly trained teachers to guide children to achieve maximize their potential.
After years of research, Dr. Montessori concluded there are four distinct Planes of Developmen t:
Within these stages, the development is intense at the start, consolidates, and then tapers into the next stage. The first and third planes are periods of intense creation, while the second and fourth planes are the calm period of consolidation. Dr. Montessori found that although young children passed through universal stages of development; they entered and exited 'sensitive periods' at different times. These blocks of time last only until a necessary need is fulfilled and then passes. The mixed age grouping in the learning environments at The Boyd School reflect the observed planes. Our students are encouraged to work at an individual pace and work with others who are at a similar level of academic development regardless of age. Additionally, older children are encouraged to share their knowledge with their classmates and serve as mentors or role models for the younger members of their class.
The Boyd School takes great pride in our teachers and our staff. Our teachers are carefully selected and vetted to provide our students with the best possible guidance and instruction while giving each child individual attention.
Each lead teacher is personally interviewed by the founder and president of The Boyd School as well as the campus director. Lead teachers must have a degree or foreign equivalency in addition to Montessori credentials.
The Boyd School requires that all staff maintain current CPR and First Aid certifications in addition to completing criminal background checks by the Virginia State Police and through the FBI database.
The Boyd School provides continued education classes and requires all staff to complete coursework & professional development each year. Teachers are encouraged and supported to seek new and innovative teaching methods.
The nurturing, collective, and supportive environment at The Boyd School provides our teachers and staff with sense of family and security. This fosters a healthy learning environment for our students and leads to staff longetivity.
Current Employment Opportunities
The Boyd School always welcomes energic, dependable and nurturing people interested in becoming a part of the Boyd family. Please visit the careers page for additional information.
The greatest sign of
success for a teacher...
is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist."
~ Maria Montessori
Alumni
Congratulations to Boyd alumnist Ryan Plummer on acceptance and full scholarship to Georgetown University!
Since The Boyd School's beginnings in the basement of a church in 1994, the school has grown to seven locations throughout Northern Virginia. Over the years, many wonderful and amazing students have attended the school. The knowledge and educational foundation built at The Boyd School has provided a stepping stone for many future endeavors. Our alumni have gone on to numerous prestigious public & private high schools and universities.
Partial List of Private High Schools
Bullis (MD)
Edmund Burke School (DC)
Flint Hill
Paul VI
Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (MD)
Wakefield
Partial List of Public High Schools
Battlefield
Chantilly
Culpeper
Fairfax
Herndon
Liberty
Oakton
Robinson
South Lakes
Westfield
Are you alumni? Email Us.
We started our oldest daughter at The Boyd School
Broadlands Campus the Fall of 2006 in their Toddler program.
Six years and four kids later we can say it was by far the
"best" decision we have ever made. We currently have our oldest daughter in Lower Elementary 2nd grade, our oldest son in Primary, youngest daughter in Toddler and our youngest son although only 6 months already itching to go and start his experience at The Boyd School. We cannot imagine what our lives would be like without this amazing Montessori school right in our backyard. As parents we could not dream of a more enriching, challenging, self motivating and loving environment. The number one thing when my husband and I hear someone is having a baby is, " have you thought about a Montessori education for them down the road?, you will not be disappointed!" I know our children are being given the tools to achieve anything in life with this type of education. The Boyd School will be a part of our family for years to come! Thank you for all that you do!
~ Stephen Kopeck and Shannon O'Connor, The Boyd School Parents
Serving infants to adolescence the seven Northern Virginia campuses of The Boyd School boast a wealth of outstanding offerings. Throughout our school, superior Montessori curriculum and programs are carried out by caring, credentialed and highly qualified staff in conveniently located, first-rate facilities.
Unlike many nationally franchised child care or early learning centers, The Boyd School is family owned and operated by trained educators.
Click below to find for additional information on each campus.
The Aldie Campus is the most recent addition to The Boyd School family opening in 2009 on the site of the former Arcola Elementary. Conveniently located minutes from South Riding, the custom renovated facility boasts a wealth of outstanding offerings. Each classroom features numerous 10 foot windows allowing for ample natural light and opens to a walled courtyard for outdoor exploration. The meticulously prepared classroom environments contain quality Montessori materials and encourage independent learning.
The expansive campus features an orchard, nature learning center, outdoor basketball court, multiple playgrounds, in addition to soccer field and track. The state of the art biometric entry system provides parents with an extra sense of safety and waste reducing automatic faucets lessen our impact on the environment.
The toddler (18 months - 3 years) program at the Aldie campus provides young children with the opportunity to explore their surroundings in a safe, nurturing environment. Kinesthetic, auditory, and visual methods are integrated into the carefully prepared learning environment. Children are introduced to manipulative learning tools to develop both fine and gross motor skills. The open floor space, with easy-to-reach shelves encourages freedom of movement and provides the ideal setting for a child's natural curiousity. Our caring and respectful staff at the Aldie campus are trained to respond to the physical and psychological needs of young children.
The Early Childhood program at the Aldie Campus of The Boyd School offers children a unique opportunity to learn and grow. The accredited Montessori program guided by credentialed teachers promotes academic discipline through an individualized curriculum. We embrace our diverse student population and encourage parents to share their heritage.
Rich, Integrated Curriculum
Children work with specifically designed materials to develop skills and are guided at their own individual pace. The class size at the Aldie / Stone Ridge campus is well below the Loudoun County average allowing for additional individual attention.
The Early Childhood program is enriched with an arts program by the Greater Reston Arts Center as well as additional instruction in foreign language, physical education, and music. The expansive outdoor education center lends itself to learning about our natural world and how to be good stewards of our planet.
The accredited Kindergarten program at Aldie provides children with a full academic school day (8:30a - 3:00p). Students work in the mixed-aged Montessori classroom in the morning and are guided towards educational outcomes. The individualized curriculum allows for children to advance at their own pace while developing a strong sense of independent learning techniques.
Because the children are in a mixed-aged environment in the morning, Kindergarten students develop a sense of added pride from beinging the oldest children in their classroom and often take on a roll of mentor to younger children.
The afternoon of the Kindergarten program consists of the children working in a small group setting (typically less than 8 children). This environment provides our Kindergarten student the unique opportunity to explore more in-depth concepts and develop small group skills. The expansive outdoor environment provides children with a unique opportunity to not only read and learn about their environment and nature but to experience the world beyond their classroom first hand.
Kindergarten students at the Aldie campus take numerous field trips to take advantage of the rich opportunities of the DC Metropolitan area. Each year the Kindergarten students attend a number of age appropriate musical performances by the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and guided tours at the National Gallery of Art.
24328 Goshen Rd.
Aldie, Va 20105
703.542.5522
aldiedirector_theboydschool.com
