Children's International School, Alexandria

We provide a variety of extracurricular activities that include music, dance, language and literacy. A local librarian also frequently visits the schools to read popular childrens books. Since CIS staff members are multi-lingual, language classes are offered to the older toddler and pre-k groups at several of our locations. CIS broadens the learning experience whenever possible through appropriate field trips. Some field trips include: local museums, National Zoo, Pumpkin Patch and destinations in the community within walking distance. Children explore the local community by walking to local playgrounds, libraries, grocery stores, galleries, nurseries, pet stores, fire department, etc. Parents are notified in advance and encouraged to participate. Beatrice Tierney Founder/President, Childrens International School I founded Childrens International School, located at 4347 Arlington Blvd., in 1985. The goal of CIS was to provide young children from multicultural backgrounds a quality learning environment. CIS opened its second site in Alexandra, Virginia, in 1990. In 2001, CIS was awarded a contract to manage the Foreign Service Institute Child Care Center, initiated by Secretary of State Colin Powell. Our fourth operation, located at 1227 North Scott Street, Arlington, Virginia opened in 2004. As the owner of CIS and as part of our global outreach efforts, I have travel abroad providing teacher training and volunteering to help at risk children. I have had the opportunity to work in Romania, Russia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Czech Republic, Italy and China. Presently, CIS helps support the Arlington Academy of Hope (AAH), a non-profit organization that provides primary education to children in rural Uganda. AAH was founded by one of our former parents. While visiting Uganda, I was saddened by the high rate of childrens illnesses and for this reason, we helped to build two health clinics that currently operate in North Eastern Uganda. CIS also has adopted a sister school in Kampala, Uganda called the Canaan Nursery School. CIS is very fortunate to have great Directors, as well as wonderful teachers and assistants at all our sites. I am so proud of all my staff and the expertise, love and nurturing they offer to our children.