Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning, Burke

The purpose of our school is to provide a warm, nurturing center in which a child’s individuality is recognized and supported by a loving and caring staff. This care includes opportunities for physical, emotional, social and intellectual growth. We strive to help each child develop emotionally, educationally, physically and above all to enhance his or her own self-concept. Our school is staffed with trained, enthusiastic individuals who have been selected not only for their educational backgrounds and experiences, but also for their understanding of and dedication to young children. Staff training is an ongoing process. Our teachers participate in our Corporate Training Program, bi-monthly training sessions, professional workshops and college-level courses. All children, regardless of race, color, gender, national and ethnic background, religious beliefs, or differing abilities are equal and participate in our non-discriminatory environment. We are a state licensed Private Day School that meets and exceeds the regulations established by the Virginia Department of Social Services and the local fire and health departments. Infant & Toddler Program Our Infant & Toddler Program provides a loving atmosphere designed to meet each child’s individual needs. When a baby enrolls, he or she is assigned to a primary caregiver. This personal, nurturing process fosters a trusting relationship between the child and caregiver where the infant’s developmental needs set the day’s schedule. Our Toddler Program is designed for the child who wants to explore their world as they develop a sense of self. Soft play areas, indoor play equipment, and a variety of pull and push toys enable toddlers to discover and explore in a safe, fun, and exciting environment. Overview of Preschool Full day child care curriculum includes morning preschool classes for children two to four years of age. The children are assigned to a specific class according to their age and level of development. Class time is between 8:30 am and 12:00 noon. Each class enjoys outside play on our creative playgrounds. Naptime provides a soothing, restful period after a busy morning. The afternoon program provides the child with supervised activities in the areas of music, story time, games, creative play and art. Two-Year-Old Program Our two-year-old program is a beginning readiness program where children are first introduced to formal group learning experiences. Teachers create lesson plans that further the work of language recognition and vocabulary building in the young preschool child. They can name colors, shapes, and relative size and orientation of objects in the world. They recognize simple math and science concepts. Children learn to sit together in small groups in order to sing, create with art materials, sort and classify interesting objects, and listen to stories. Parents receive periodic assessment reports detailing their child’s progress through the major expected milestones of this period. Three-Year-Old Program Designed to develop a natural and life long excitement for learning, our three year old students learn how to build early writing and literacy skills, engage in concrete mathematical experiences and learn how to make friends. This is done as the children Listen to stories, retell events, and perform dramatic play with puppets and props. The teacher selects a weekly theme to develop these skills and sends home a copy of the lesson plan each week. We also offer creative, well-equipped classrooms, field trips and special events. Montessori Program Our Montessori program is designed to assist children develop their potential in a warm and nurturing environment. This educational practice embraces individualized instruction for mixed age groupings of students. Children will utilize the Montessori equipment and curriculum to develop important life skills. This program encourages children to explore their world through learning, to express themselves, think independently and play cooperatively. Four Year-Old Program The Four-Year-Old child is ready for the exploration of concepts in the areas of reading and math readiness, science and social studies, and continues improving his or her language and physical development skills. Field trips in the community are planned for this class and enhance the child’s enjoyment of the current weekly theme. Parent communication is facilitated through the teacher’s lesson plans, which are sent home each week. Five Year-Old Program The Five-Year-Old child is ready for the development of reading, math and handwriting skills that will prepare him or her for the more formal learning environment of elementary school. Our full day program uses a selection of readiness materials that present science, social studies, music, language, and physical development activities in a monthly thematic format. Field trips add to the child’s enjoyment and understanding of the curriculum. Parents are informed of the classroom activities through the teacher’s lesson plans, which are sent home weekly. Before & After School Program Our Before And After school program is designed for children ages five to twelve who attend elementary schools in the vicinity of our centers. A breakfast and afternoon snack are provided. Our program presents a variety of activities to meet the child’s needs: outdoor play, table games, cooking activities, quiet time, arts and crafts and a supervised homework period. Field trips may be scheduled on extended days. School Age Summer Camp The end of the year signals the beginning of our Summer Camp program. Presented in weekly thematic sessions, the children enjoy arts and crafts, music and movement, cooking, dramatic play, nature study, and field trips. Swimming is also offered during the camp. Sign Language At Northern Virginia Academy, we believe that from the moment babies are born, they start communicating with the world around them. For this reason, we have incorporated a sign language program for our Infant and Toddler programs at three of our four campuses, which are Landsdowne, Lorton, and Burke. The purpose of sign language program is to enable infants and toddlers as young as 6-8 months to communicate before they can speak. Parents will be given basic information about the signs being worked on and informed about their child’s progress and are encouraged to sign at home with their children. More Than Just a Day Care Much more than just basic child care services, we are focused on the educational development of the children. Whether your child is here for infant care or our kindergarten program, our well-trained and enthusiastic staff focus on preparing each child for the journey to elementary school and beyond, helping to build the skills needed for a successful life. With ongoing training for each teacher, we ensure that we meet the highest standards for both early childhood education and child care services.