OPEN HOUSE DIRECTORY
ACCELERATOR SCHOOL
Ricky Duggal
15700 River Road
Germantown, MD 20874
Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

732-731-9598 acceleratorschool.com
Ricky.Duggal@acceleratorschool.com The ACCELERATOR School (6th - 12th grade) is
proud to provide an exciting learning platform
where student athletes can be successful. As a
family of educators, we aim to provide individual
development platforms for our students to
become the best version of themselves.

AIDAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL
2700 27th Street, NW, Washington, DC
202-387-2700 aidanschool.org
admissions@aidanschool.org 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
After School & Enrichment Activities
9:15-11:00 AM
Aidan Montessori School is a co-ed, independent
private school for children ages 18 months through
grade 6 located in Woodley Park, DC. Founded in
1961, Aidan prepares children to learn confidently,
think independently, and succeed wherever they go.

Open Houses: October 1, November 5,
December 3; Virtual on November 17
BASIS INDEPENDENT MCLEAN
mclean.basisindependent.com mcLean_admissions@
basisIndepedent.com 703-854-1253
8000 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, VA
Grades: Preschool (age 2) - Grade 12 • Year
Founded: 2016 • Coed • Enrollment: 470 • Student-
Teacher Ratio 8:1 • Entrance Exam • Foreign
Languages: Mandarin, Latin, Spanish, and
French beginning in PK1 • Tuition Range: $25,500
- $30,000 • AP Classes • Enrichment Activities •
Sports • Transportation • Extended Day • Summer
Program Students, age 2-grade 12, receive a well-
rounded, liberal arts curriculum with a STEM focus.

THE BETHESDA MONTESSORI SCHOOL
bethesdamontessori.com admissions@bethesdamontessori.com
301-986-1260 7611 Clarendon Road, Bethesda, MD
Ages: 3-6
Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

BMS, established in 1983, is located in the heart
of Bethesda, offering two years of preschool and
a Kindergarten year. Open 8 a.m.-6 p.m., AMI
trained teachers, art, French & computer offered,
and after school activities.

BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL
brooksfieldschool.org sarah@brooksfieldschool.org
703-356-5437 1830 Kirby Road, McLean, VA
Ages Served: 3-10
Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

Mindfulness, nutrition, Spanish, dance, music &
art, outdoor adventure program, extracurricular
activities and summer camp.

CHESTERBROOK ACADEMY
chesterbrookacademy.com 866-267-5685
26 locations throughout the DMV
Chesterbrook Academy preschools combine
learning experiences and structured play in a fun,
safe and nurturing environment - offering far more
than just child care. Preschool is the first introduc-
tion to a lifetime of learning, a journey that should
start off on the right foot. We help children dis-
cover, explore and learn to their fullest potential.

CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL
congressionalschool.org gherbst@congressionalschool.org
703-533-1064 3229 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, VA
Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

A co-ed independent day school for infants to
eighth graders in Falls Church, VA. Congressional
School prepares young learners for future
success, inspiring them to question, collaborate,
create, and lead.

FEYNMAN SCHOOL
feynmanschool.org admissions@feynmanschool.org
301-770-4211 11810 Falls Road, Potomac, MD
Grades: Preschool-Grade 8
Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

The area’s leader in educating academically-
gifted children, Feynman School features
extraordinary programs in science, math,
language arts, theater and music designed to
maximize your child’s potential.

GLENBROOK COOPERATIVE
NURSERY SCHOOL
glenbrookschool.org membership@glenbrookschool.org
301-365-3190; 10010 Fernwood Road
Bethesda, MD
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

At Glenbrook, we nurture our children in
the early, formative years so they can define
themselves as individuals. We strive for this
through spontaneous play in a controlled
and time structured environment. We believe
that children can feel secure only when they
understand and trust a set of limits. Their
imagination, curiosity, and interests need time to
wander, expand, and develop within these limits.

Cooperative nursery schools are administered
and maintained by the parents, allowing
everyone to grow and learn together. The
special nature of Glenbrook is the close working
relationship between parents and teachers.

Our approach builds a sense of community and
togetherness for parents and children.

HOLLY BROOK MONTESSORI SCHOOL
preschoolmontessori.com info@hollybrookmontessori.com
703-573-7800 2455 Gallows Road, Dunn Loring, VA
Tours available by appointment
Children learn in an intimate and unpretentious
atmosphere, where they respect themselves
and others and care for the environment around
26 Washington FAMILY SEPTEMBER 2021
them. We offer a complete educational and
social environment and utilize the discoveries
and methods of Dr. Montessori to help the child
develop more fully the potential within him. The
school provides a program specially suited to the
needs of the child and offers individual attention
to his whole development.

HUNTER MILL MONTESSORI SCHOOL
preschoolmontessori.com info@huntermillmontessori.com
703-938-7755 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, VA 22124
Tours available by appointment
Hunter Mill Montessori School provides an
intimate and nurturing environment for two years,
nine months to six years old year olds to develop
their independence through the Montessori
experience. We offer a complete educational and
social environment and utilize the discoveries
and methods of Dr. Montessori to help the child
develop more fully the potential within him. The
school provides a program specially suited to the
needs of the child and offers individual attention to
his whole development.

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CEDAR LANE
preschoolmontessori.com info@cedarlanemontessori.com
703-560-4379 3035 Cedar Lane, Fairfax, VA
Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

Montessori School of Cedar Lane has been
providing over 40 years of Montessori tradition
to Northern Virginia. We offer a complete
educational and social environment and utilize
the discoveries and methods of Dr. Montessori
to help the child develop more fully the potential
within him.

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF MCLEAN
mcleanmontessori.org 703-790-1049
1711 Kirby Road, McLean, VA
Ages: 2-12
Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

Preschool and elementary classes. Spanish,
French, science, drama, music, P.E., computer,
art, summer school, transportation available.

NYSMITH SCHOOL FOR THE GIFTED
nysmith.com ebalberde@nysmith.com
703-713-3332 13625 EDS Drive, Herndon, VA
Ages Served: 3 yrs.-8th Grade
Hours: 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

The award winning Nysmith School for the Gifted
is committed to making school fun. We nurture
your student’s love of learning and help your
child learn to their potential. Our 1:9 ratio allows
us to differentiate the academic program up to 4
grade levels above grade.

ONENESS-FAMILY HIGH SCHOOL
Andrew Kutt
9411 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, MD
240-426-2614 onenessfamily.org/
admissions@onenessfamily.org 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Serving students from 2
years through grade 12
Virtual Tours for Lower School on Tuesdays
and Fridays at 9:30 AM, and for High School
on Wednesdays at 11:00 AM
For 30 years, Oneness-Family School’s award
winning Montessori program has served
families of students 2 years thru grade 12.

OFS features highly trained, supportive
teachers and a diverse, engaged parent
community. We create a collaborative
learning environment where everyone feels
successful. We foster students who are
prepared to lead and succeed in a changing,
challenging world by balancing college
prep academics with a focus on well-
being and shared values such as empathy,
inclusion and equity. This September 2021,
Oneness-Family School will launch its new
high school Results Leadership and Global
Studies program.

PINECREST SCHOOL
pinecrestschool.org admissions@pinecrestschool.org
703-354-3446 Ages: 3-12
7209 Quiet Cove, Alexandria, VA
Hours: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Please email for more information!
Pinecrest School is a fully accredited
progressive school offering small class
sizes, hands on curriculum, individualized
approach, and a focus on a balance of
academics and social and emotional well
being. Offers preschool-6th, summer camp and
before/after care.

RESTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Ages: 3-9
restonmontessori.com office@restonmontessori.com
703-481-2922 1928 Isaac Newton Square W
Reston, VA 20190
Categories: Extended Day, Arts, Field Trips.

SPRING BILINGUAL
MONTESSORI ACADEMY
spring-bilingual.org 301-962-7262
3514 Plyers Mill Road, Kensington, MD
Ages: 2-6; Hours: 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

Montessori preschool with Foreign
Language programs.

WESTMINSTER SCHOOL
westminsterschool.com admissions@westminsterschool.com
703-256-3620 Preschool (3 and 4-year-olds) - Grade 8
3819 Gallows Road, Annandale, VA
Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

Westminster School provides a unique
Preschool-Middle School education based on
a classical curriculum; accelerated academics
enhanced by the arts; and an emphasis on
personal responsibility and good character.

Students enjoy small classes taught by
teachers who specialize in their field. n



HEALTHY FAMILY
Should Your Child
Go Gluten-Free?
Two local dietitians explain why gluten-free diets
can cause more harm than good
F or children with celiac disease, cutting
out gluten — a protein found in wheat,
rye and barley — can prevent digestive
issues and dramatically improve quality of
life. In recent years, though, the gluten-free
diet has become a popular (albeit unproven)
remedy for health conditions ranging from
eczema to autism spectrum disorder.

Such experimentation is usually safe for
adults. But placing your child on a gluten-free
diet for reasons other than a wheat allergy or
a gluten-related medical condition can actually
cause more harm than good.

FCAFOTODIGITAL/E+ Kids need calories
Often, restricting the types of foods that
children are allowed to eat inadvertently
reduces their daily calorie intake. According
to the USDA, school-age kids require
anywhere between 1,200 and 2,600 calories
per day, depending on factors such as sex and
activity level.

“Grains provide good energy while children
are still growing and their brains are still
developing,” says Brittany Shapiro, a registered
dietitian and owner of Capital Pediatric
Nutrition in Washington, D.C. She specializes
in the treatment of food allergies, picky eating
and weight management.

Children who do not consume enough
calories each day may fail to meet developmental
milestones. They may be thinner and shorter
than expected for their age. In severe cases,
undernutrition in childhood can limit adult
height and brain growth.

“We should really reconsider making any
kind of changes that are going to negatively
affect growth — both weight and height — in
the pediatric population,” Shapiro says.

Grains are important
The USDA also recommends that school-
age children consume between four and
nine ounces of grains per day. At least half of
BY CEOLI JACOBY
consume enough of these nutrients, especially
since some of the most popular sources of
unrefined grains — like whole-wheat bread or
bran flakes — contain gluten.

“There is definitely a risk of vitamin
deficiency in simply eliminating this category
of important foods,” says Nancy Tringali Piho,
a registered dietician nutritionist at Good
Food Nutrition Group in D.C., of the gluten-
free diet.

Dietary fiber, which aids in digestion and
prevents constipation, is another component
of grains. Adults on gluten-free diets can easily
meet the recommended daily amount by
consuming high-fiber foods like beans, peas
and raspberries. However, this goal can be a
challenge for gluten-free children, who are
notoriously averse to fruits and vegetables.

“If we have a child that thrives and survives
on pasta, bread and cereal, and we have to
go gluten free, we’re going to have to work
really hard to find alternatives — and a lot
of children will reject those alternatives,”
says Shapiro.

The best way to ensure that a child’s
nutritional needs are met is to offer a variety of
foods — including wheat, rye, spelt, barley and
other gluten-containing products.

“As dietitians, we would emphasize that
there is no reason to put a child who does
not have celiac disease or a diagnosed gluten
intolerance on a gluten-free diet,” says Tringali
Piho. “This is not something that parents
should simply play around with as a test.”
The only circumstance in which parents
should take steps to remove gluten from their
child’s diet is under the supervision of the
these should be whole, or unrefined, grains. child’s medical team, which might include
Grains provide essential nutrients, including a primary care physician, an allergist or
B vitamins, that help the body release energy, a gastroenterologist.

“If their medical team thought that it was
iron that carries oxygen in the blood and
minerals such as magnesium and selenium, warranted to trial, then a dietitian should help
guide the family on how to effectively carry out
both of which promote bone health.

Children on gluten-free diets may struggle to that kind of a diet,” says Shapiro. n
WashingtonFAMILY.com 27