Guidepost Montessori at West Alex
Guidepost Montessori develops a fundamental love of learning and equips each child with the knowledge, confidence, and tools needed to reach their highest potential as they grow into independent adults.
Phone: 571-206-1687
Email: westalex@guidepostmontessori.com
Programs For:
Toddler (16 months to 3 years)
Children's House (3 years to 6 years)
Elementary (6 years to 12 years)
Spanish Immersion Offered
Guidepost Montessori in West Alex is one of the most trusted Montessori schools in Alexandria, Virginia. Indoors, rooms are spacious, bright, and light-filled, creating a warm and calm space for children to work. Our school is a growing community conveniently located between King Street and Walter Reed Drive in the new West Alex Shopping Plaza.
Explore Our Programs
What are the Montessori equivalent names for preschool and kindergarten? The preschool years correspond to our Toddler program, and the kindergarten years correspond to our Children's House program. Click each image below to read a program overview and discover what your child will learn when they join our school.
A Montessori Summer
Don’t put a pause on learning this summer! Combine the magic of Montessori with the fun of summer camp programming with our 'A Montessori Summer' program. This new summer program will support independence and a love of learning with a consistent Montessori environment.
Designed to help prevent learning loss as your child engages with academic content during the morning work cycle, the program also includes fun afternoon camp activities that cover a range of topics, from circuitry to game design. For those new to Montessori, this is an excellent option to spend a week or two experiencing the Montessori difference.
Montessori Mornings
In the mornings, the children will work with their guide to complete a full Montessori work cycle, featuring:
- Individual and small-group lessons in math, writing, science, history, and art.
- Child-led research projects that spark their curiosity and fuel their love of learning
- A prepared environment of enriching hands-on materials for every subject, fascinating books, and dedicated space to move, create, and collaborate.
- Support in building critical work skills like time management, growth mindset, and organization.
- A tight-knit, mixed-age community where collaboration, mentorship, and inspiration are the norm.
Camp Afternoons
In the afternoons, the children will deepen their learning within an engaging camp experience, featuring:
- Exploration of diverse topics such as art, music, circuitry, and building design.
- Weekly themes which spark curiosity and enable deep learning, solidified by a final, fun project at the end of the week.
- A focus on joyful learning through hands-on activities, crafts, individual and group projects, outdoor games, songs, and field trips.
The Details
- Dates: Runs as weekly sessions from June 19 - August 11
- Pricing: $475/week
- Camp Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am - 3:00pm (optional extended day from 7:00am - 6:00pm available)
- Address: Guidepost Montessori at West Alex, 3475 N Beauregard St, Alexandria, VA 22311
- Phone: (571) 206-1687
Weekly programs that spark exploration, curiosity and fun
While the morning work cycle will focus on, the afternoons each week is designed around a specific theme for students to discover and investigate. Students will take part in creative projects, singing and playing, outdoor games, field trips and more, all wrapped up in that week’s theme.
June 19-23: Drawing and Design
Kids will love learning all about the basics of art and getting their hands dirty with Drawing and Design. Portrait drawing, tessellations, 3D drawing, and parabolic art (look it up) are just some of the projects kids will work on during this week’s theme. There is lots of meaning to unpack from math and patterns in parabolic art, to the origins of portrait drawing and how it has evolved in modern times (hint: selfies).
June 26-30: Spectacular Structures
From birdhouses to bridges to forts, campers will observe, explore, and create spectacular structures and learn about the origins of building throughout history, from the first human shelters to structures that meet other societal needs like bridges or water dams.
July 2-7: Mythology
Explore the mythology of ancient cultures and how these myths represent early beliefs about the world. Students will learn ancient myths through read aloud, playing games, and engaging in other activities that help them explore this fascinating world of Gods and Monsters.
July 10-14: Fantastic Fibers
Tote bags, tie-dye, dream catchers, and braided bracelets…what do these all have in common? They are all made of one common element, fibre! During Fantastic Fibres students will work on fibre-inspired creations while learning about their use in different cultures, for example Kumihimo, the traditional Japanese technique for making braids and cords.
July 17-21: Theatre and Improvisation
Act out a play in this week of performance! Children will explore the role of actors and learn to read a script and explore the ancient roots of theater. Children will also play improvisation games and learn the art of thinking on your feet!
July 24-28: Need for Speed
Get ready to test the boundaries of DIY inventions with Need for Speed! Using simple materials, campers will set all sorts of creations in motion – from rubber band racers, catapults, tornado bottles to pool noodle boats. And of course, they’ll get to end each day putting them to the test in a race!
July 31-August 4: Taking Flight
Similar to Need for Speed, this week is all about building contraptions, you guessed it, that fly high! Taking Flight will keep kids busy building balloon rockets, dragonfly copters, boomerangs, paper airplanes and simple kites – and tie back into a broader theme of innovators that defy what is “known”. What could be more fun?
August 7-11: Music Makers
The name says it all…Music Makers is a week filled with music, movement, and maestros! Students will build and play their own instrument inventions, learn about music theory, and interact with music through writing, dance, and drawing, ultimately ending the week by performing a live show for their friends.
Changing the world, one student at a time
We are a school where children find the joy in learning — and thus make it possible for them to continue learning for the rest of their lives.
To think mathematically.
To solve problems.
To create things.
To encounter great literature that inspires their character development.
To build themselves as capable, efficacious beings.
To place themselves in history and in society.
To spark meaningful friendships and deep personal values that last a lifetime.
Our goal at Guidepost Montessori is to serve each individual child, to help them realize their limitless potential, and the opportunities they will have to create real and lasting change throughout their lifetime.
Hear from our West Alex Families
Enrolling our daughter at Guidepost has been THE BEST decision we have made. We were nervous because she is so young and due to COVID, hadn't been around many other children or have any experience in a school environment but the administrators and guides at Guidepost were welcoming, patient, helpful and kind. After only 3 weeks, our daughter LOVES school and can't wait to go each morning. And we see her developing new skills in front of our eyes. We could not be happier with our experience at Guidepost!
"Guidepost has been a perfect fit"
Guidepost has been a perfect fit for our pre-schooler! The staff at Guidepost are truly amazing. The guides are compassionate, understanding, and informative. I love the app they use to provide daily updates about what my little one is learning. Since enrolling at Guidepost, my daughter's independence has increased, she's learned skills to more effectively express her emotions when she's upset, and she has learned so many things! Each day on our drive home she tells me about her daily artwork, the fun playground, and the new lessons she learned. Aside from the education component, the community is phenomenal. The school has hosted multiple virtual events, including pumpkin painting and hot cocoa in October and a book fair!
"The best decision we have made"
Enrolling our daughter at Guidepost has been THE BEST decision we have made. We were nervous because she is so young and due to COVID, hadn't been around many other children or had any experience in a school environment but the administrators and guides at Guidepost were welcoming, patient, helpful and kind. After only 3 weeks, our daughter LOVES school and can't wait to go each morning. And we see her developing new skills in front of our eyes. We could not be happier with our experience at Guidepost!
Meet our School Team
Mary Akatu-Speakman
Jade Lomax
Yesly Galdamez
Stay connected to your child's learning
Thanks to our app Transparent Classroom, you get a window into your child’s experience of school daily.
Your child’s Lead Guide will share what your child is learning and what their real-time assessments are - this way you can very closely follow your child’s development throughout the day, months, and years you stay within the Guidepost network. If you transfer from one of our locations to the next, your child’s progress and continuity will be tracked in the app and readily accessible. Read more about Transparent Classroom here.
In this app you will see important notes and milestones such as:
- Daily toileting, eating (bottle feeding for infants), and sleeping habits
- Curriculum introduction, progress, and completion
- End of day summary of all activities
- Notes such as bringing in more diapers or a new set of clothes
- Reminders for upcoming classroom events like birthdays, holidays, or special occasions
Interested in becoming a room parent? Let your child's Lead guide know!
Start your journey with us
Look Inside Our Classrooms
Interactive Tour
Language Immersion Options
Children under the age of six absorb language effortlessly, which is why we are pleased to offer bilingual environments. In our Spanish Immersion program, children learn both Spanish and English literacy skills, however, the prevailing language spoken throughout the day is Spanish. The overall emphasis on Spanish rapidly increases fluency, as children feel naturally compelled to communicate with their Spanish-speaking guides. Learn more about our Spanish Immersion program here.
Montessori for Military
We are committed to bridging financial assistance, community, and continuity of education to our nation’s heroes and their families. When duty calls, we firmly believe that your child’s education should not be a sacrifice.
We can offer a seamless transfer process from one location to another, replacing disruption with stability. To date, more than 30+ of our campuses based in the U.S. are located within 30 miles of military installations and have joined Child Care Aware of America’s fee-assistance program, bridging early childhood tuition assistance to eligible families off-base.
Learn more about Montessori for Military here.
What sets us apart from traditional schools
As the largest network of Montessori schools in the U.S., Guidepost Montessori is recognized for its outstanding academic standards, its steadfast commitment to Montessori education, and its deep respect for the potential in every child. At Guidepost, it is our mission to empower and equip your child with the knowledge, confidence and agency needed to reach their highest potential.
Education for life
Our education provides the freedom and guidance needed to construct a sense of self and purpose through joyful, meaningful work. We support your child in all areas of their development – social, emotional, physical, academic, and beyond.
Deeply individualized learning
Lessons are carefully structured and designed to appeal to each student's level of development and needs. Our proprietary curriculum gives students increasing responsibility over their learning as they grow.
Dedicated teachers supported by industry experts
Our programming has been designed by leading education experts, and is implemented by passionate, qualified teachers. All of our Lead Guides are required to be AMI, AMS, or PMI Montessori certified and receive ongoing training and professional development.
Carefully prepared environment
At the heart of our school is our belief that children thrive when given freedom and responsibility in environments prepared for them. Guidepost Montessori classrooms are light, airy, calming, aesthetically beautiful spaces. Each material is carefully chosen and carefully displayed — to inspire and entice your child to explore.
Year-round programming
We think the education of our students is stronger when we can serve the whole family, which is why we are committed to very few closures throughout the school year, and offer extended day options for families.
Continuity and mobility
Our schools offer a continuing Montessori education for children as young as 10 weeks through to 18 years old. With a growing network of 100+ schools across the U.S., China and Europe - combined with our virtual and homeschool options - we can support continuity and consistency in your child's education to meet your family's changing needs.
Giving your child the keys to life
Guidepost Montessori offers a unique and holistic approach to education for children of all ages with over 120 brick & mortar schools, virtual and homeschool, and Spanish and Mandarin language immersion options.
Our curriculum fosters independence, creativity, and a love of learning. Book a school tour today and take the first step in giving your child the gift of a Montessori education.
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