Academic Excellence
We provide a challenging academic program to all our students.
The Merritt Advantage
The Journey Unfolds
Merritt Academy’s Preschool program fosters children’s natural curiosity and enthusiasm through imaginative play, creative projects and academic activities that engage and stimulate children’s learning.
A variety of weekly activities led by specialists add to enriching daily classroom experiences.
Theme-based curricula capture your child’s imagination through introduction of a wide range of topics.
Our school is built upon three foundational pillars:
Merritt Academy is a place that recognizes the abilities of children and targets instruction to successfully grow and develop those talents.
Every aspect of our school is carefully curated to create the ideal conditions for academic and character success
- Expansive 7 Acre Campus with STEAM Lab, Maker Space & Creativity Lab/Art Studio
- Small class sizes with flexible Classroom Seating
- Student-led learning environment, emphasis on collaboration with Genius Hour
- Advanced curriculum, with Renowned Intergenerational Program
- Wide selection of Field trips and Hallmarks specifically designed to integrate with academic curriculum
- Individual assessment for reading and math placement with acceleration and Gifted program starting in Kindergarten
- Daily outdoor recess to promote creative/free play
Academics
Merritt Academy’s preschool theme-based curriculum captures student’s imagination to focus on core academics while specialty classes introduce experiments, collaboration and sense of wonder about how the world works.
Core Academics
Academic Highlights Include
- Letter, number, geometric shape and color recognition
- Core Academics in language arts, math, science, and social studies
- Phonics program
- Pre-reading/reading skills
- Pre-math skills to develop number sense (in preparation for Kindergarten)
- Science and nature exploration in class, on campus and in our Preschool STEAM lab
- Creative Arts and Dramatic Arts
- Design/engineer/construction
- Specialty Classes and Activities
Hallmarks
Hallmarks are carefully coordinated to enrich our preschool curriculum with a level of interactive learning that encourages excitement and participation. Students, teachers and parents regularly look forward to many of Merritt’s hallmarks as annual traditions. We are constantly discovering new ways to use our 7 acre campus as an extended classroom. This adds an unparalleled layer to the academic experience. Learn more about Hallmarks at Merritt Academy.
Values + Manners = Character
At Merritt Academy, we have embraced our responsibility to teach character to the next generation.
Our comprehensive character curriculum provides a challenging plan to grow strong, quality character in our students.
Our whole-school approach to character education includes
- Skills for Learning
- Empathy
- Emotion Management
- Problem Solving
These skills are taught, reinforced and role-modeled by classroom teachers, assistants and all other staff.
The goal is to teach children to treat each other with respect, kindness, and tolerance, to develop self-regulation skills, and to be able to problem-solve without escalation to violence.
This curriculum nicely supports the Merritt Academy Code of Courtesy and the character traits which are taught each month on a rotating basis.
Intergenerational Program
An important application of Merritt’s Character Education Curriculum is the schools renowned Intergenerational program.
All Merritt Academy students, infants – 8th graders, participate in the school’s Intergenerational Programs.
Our Project Pals Program is designed for children of different age groups to develop meaningful friendships. Every classroom is paired with another classroom of younger or older students to meet at least once a month and collaborate on academic projects. Students discover a deeper dimension to learning based on the interactions and ideas of their Project Pal.
With our neighbors at Sunrise Senior Living and the Virginian Retirement community, our Elementary school students participate in the Seniors and Students Together Intergenerational program. Students enjoy sharing classroom lessons and discussing diverse concepts and ideas with seniors.
During their visits, students and seniors participate in a wide variety of activities, including:
- Storytelling
- Sing-a-longs
- Arts and crafts
- Literary activities
- Community service projects
Communication
We recognize that parents are the subject matter experts on their children and we value their input and participation in the educational process.
The importance of clear lines of communication between school and home is heavily emphasized by:
- Weekly Merritt newsletter from the executive director
- Weekly school highlights email from the principal
- Weekly letter from the classroom teacher
- Formal parent teacher conferences twice a year
Daily Schedule
Each preschool day is different as so much exciting learning is going on in some many different ways.
An average day at Merritt Academy may look like:
| 8:30 AM | School Starts | |
| 9:00 AM | Circle Time:Students it in a circle, discuss plans for the day, and get ready for an exciting day of learning | |
| 9:30 AM | Learning Centers | |
| 11:30 PM | Lunch – Followed by a half hour of recess time outdoors. | |
| 12:30 PM | Nap Time | |
| 3:00 PM | Specialty Classes | |
| 4:00 | Story Time | |
| 4:30 | Play Centers | |
| 6:15 | Campus Closes |
Food Services
Merritt Academy provides daily lunch service and snacks meeting appropriate nutritional guidelines.
- School day begins at 6:45 a.m. with a continental breakfast snack for students arriving early.
- A hot lunch at midday and snacks are included as part of your child’s tuition.
- Early childhood students dine in the classroom. Our youngest elementary students also dine in the classroom while cafeteria dining service has been modified for other age groups.
- For infants under a year, parents provide prepared, labeled bottles and baby foods.
- Our monthly menu can be found on our Parent Portal.
“ Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education. ”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.