Westgate Child Center, Mclean

* For Our Parents * Events OUR CENTER: A non-profit daycare and before and after-school care center for children, 2.5 years to 12 years of age. Licensed by Fairfax County and The Commonwealth of Virginia, our Center offers a pre-school curriculum of learning through play as well as extended care for school-age children. OUR COMMITMENT: Since we opened in 1973, our center has been committed to providing high quality education. Through carefully planned play activities and thematic units of study, our programs focus on each child's social, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs in a stimulating yet warm and caring environment. OUR SUCCESS: Our center maintains an excellent child - teacher ratio of 5:1. We are proud of our low child-teacher ratio, which enables our trained and professional teachers to focus on the individual needs and talents of each child. Westgate Child Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, disability, or national/ethnic origin. We are non-sectarian, non-profit, private, independent, and nondiscriminatory. We believe in equal education, attention and care for all children without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or disability. OUR PARENTS: Parent involvement is encouraged and welcome. Preschool teachers prepare monthly lesson plans to keep parents informed of school activities, and to provide insight into what occurs during your child's day. In addition, parents receive weekly reports of their child's progress during the school week. Parent-teacher meetings to address specific student concerns can be arranged as needed. Back to school night, graduation, and regular holiday parties provide opportunities for parents, teachers, and children to socialize after the school day. Parents are welcome to join field trips, share a hobby or life skill, and participate in holiday events. OUR TEACHERS: The average tenure at Westgate is 10 years. Our culturally diverse staff brings experience and creates a loving and positive environment for the children in our care. Our focus is to meet the individual needs of each child. OUR CLASSROOMS: Pooh Land, Rainbow Room, and Little League are bright, clean, and organized into different areas of activity, with educational toys and materials at the reach of children. Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack are served each day. All classrooms have computers with age-appropriate educational programs that are part of the scheduled activities. Sunshine Room (ages 2.5 to 4 years): The curriculum includes age-appropriate vocabulary, math concepts, shapes, colors, and arts & crafts. These activities are planned around weekly themes. Each child proceeds at his/her own pace. Activities change every half hour, keeping in mind the attention span of the age group. Children enjoy library and circle times outdoor play in our spacious playground, reading sessions, music, and introduction to Spanish. Rainbow Room (Pre-Kindergarten for ages 4 and 5 years): The curriculum is age appropriate and planned around weekly themes. Activities change every half hour. Children are encouraged to do group projects, enjoy hands-on computer activities, music, reading, arts and crafts, vocabulary, math concepts and outdoor play. Children are encouraged to read and write at their own pace. The daily schedule provides for alternating periods of quiet and active play. Our teachers have many years of experience preparing children for entrance into Kindergarten. Little League (Before & After school care for ages 5 to 12 years): The program is designed to engage and challenge school-age children in a 'club - like' environment. The activities center around homework, arts & crafts, group sports and appropriate games and toys. WESTGATE'S ASSOCIATION WITH KENT GARDENS ELEMENTARY: Westgate has had an association with Kent Gardens for many years. Our before and after school program accomodates children attending Kent Gardens. All children can take the school bus from Westgate to Kent Gardens. The Kindergarten children attend the afternoon session at Kent Gardens. Upon the return from Kent Gardens at 3:15 pm. the Little League children have snack, outdoor play, participate in club activities and homework group. WESTGATE'S SUMMER PROGRAMS: Westgate's summer program is designed to provide children with a fun, relaxing, and safe summer--- full of water play, bike riding, visiting musicians & entertainers, and field trips to museums and parks. Below are sample summer program activities. These activities vary from year to year. Preschoolers: Upton Pool Days, Bike Days, Theater Arts, National Zoo, Burke Lake Train Ride School-age Children: Port Discovery, Cookout (parents invited), Upton Pool Days, Pirate Cruise, Outdoor Water Play, Bull Run