A Parent University School
(A Letter From Our Founder)

Dear Parents,

One of our parents asked me if Reston Day School is a Montessori program? No, we are not, strictly speaking, a Montessori school although there are strong similarities between our philosophy of early education and that of Maria Montessori.

For example, Maria Montessori advocated multi-age classrooms and that "teachers" be more like "guides" or "directors of activities" than traditional "teachers" for the students. She emphasized the absolute importance of the environment or what we call the "context" of learning, something that most public schools and some private schools ignore completely.

We train our staff in the critical importance of the quality of their everyday interactions with the students. Our teachers are trained to "create learning opportunities in a context of unconditional love, support and respect for the students." We think all children are natural learners and one of our most important jobs is to maintain and encourage their natural enthusiasm for learning.

In addition to creating an extraordinary learning environment, we think it is our job to offer the possibility of academic excellence for each of our students. First we focus on old-fashioned skills development: Reading, Writing, Math, History, Language Skills, Spanish (our second language), Music and Drama, Physical Education (The Fitness Club), and participation in at least one team sport and one individual sport.

In addition to our academic curriculum, we have expanded what private schools used to call an "Enrichment" program into our Curriculum for Living. We consider this a "quality of life" curriculum and something that is as necessary as academic achievement in leading a happy and productive life. This program includes "Power Skills" from Parent University. (Examples of Power Skills are: Teamwork, Acknowledgement, Perseverance, Integrity, Listening, Respect and Trust.)

And, Reston Day School, like our children's centers, is a "Home of Parent University School" which means:

* First, we are committed to creating unlimited learning possibilities in a context of unconditional love, support and respect for our students. We encourage and support our students' natural love of learning by paying particular attention to the context in which educational opportunities are presented. We think the environment of a "school" makes the difference between maintaining and growing a students natural love of learning or discouraging it.

* Second, we look for and hire "great" teachers not just "qualified" teachers, there is a difference.

* Third, we have a strong college prep curriculum. We recognize the value of advanced academic preparation and training. Because we recognize the importance of human relationship skills to the quality of ones life (relationship to oneself and to others) we also have a strong "Power Skills" curriculum from Parent University to help prepare our students to succeed personally and professionally in everyday life. Some examples of Power Skills are Teamwork, Perseverance, Listening, Gratitude, Reframing, Integrity, Acknowledgement etc.

Please call if you have any questions about our extraordinary private elementary school, Reston Day School. Don't wait too long, we are going to be advertising our school widely beginning in late March!

Yours Truly,

Philip Adams
President
Reston Day School
Parent University

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