The Woods Academy is an independent Catholic school, offering boys and girls from pre-school through Grade 8 a challenging and supportive educational experience. Our comprehensive program encourages all students to achieve their full intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social, physical and creative potential.

The Woods Academy is committed to providing a learning environment and school community that promotes personal integrity, respect for the uniqueness of each individual, a spirit of equality, and a commitment to service. By developing self-reliant critical thinkers, The Woods Academy prepares its students for academically demanding secondary schools, a life-long love of learning, and the opportunities and challenges presented by our global society.

(Approved by the Board of Trustees 11/09/2005)

The Woods Academy is committed to developing the minds, spirits and bodies of students in a safe, caring community that honors each student as a child of God.

Inclusive Catholic. The teachings and traditions of Catholicism and the values of the Judeo-Christian tradition provide the context in which each student can pursue his or her full potential. We warmly welcome students of all faiths and encourage them to share their religious history and traditions with each other. We strive to offer opportunities for all school community members of various ethnic heritages, cultures, races, faith traditions and economic backgrounds to interact with and learn from one another.

Academic Excellence. Students learn habits of the mind including the ability to think critically, creatively and analytically through participation in our academically rigorous program. The Montessori approach to early education lays the foundation for our lower and upper school academic programs which develop intellectual discipline and a life-long love of learning.

Strong Values. Students learn habits of character including faith, morality, independence, responsibility, loyalty, self-confidence, leadership, compassion, personal integrity and respect for others through the high expectations and examples of our dedicated teachers, administration and staff and through participation in school and community service activities.

Personal Health. Students develop physically, gain self-confidence, and learn healthy habits through our physical education classes and healthy competition through our interscholastic sports program.

Comprehensive and Creative. Our comprehensive program acknowledges the unique gifts of each student and nurtures and challenges them in a spirit of self-discovery and personal growth. Enriched experiences in the arts provide our students with the opportunity to explore their creativity in a risk-free environment.

Co-educational and Safe. Students learn best in a safe and caring environment. At The Woods, faculty, administration and staff are committed to each child’s development in a setting free from harassment, bullying and prejudice. Our co-educational environment enables boys and girls to develop a strong base for positive life-long relationships with their own and the opposite gender.

Caring Community. The hallmark of The Woods is a genuine sense of community. Our small class size and close-knit environment is optimal for the personal and educational growth of students. Faculty, administration and staff know the students well and challenge them to realize their full potential. Parents and families know and help each other and volunteer invaluable time to school activities.

Woods faculty, administration and staff strive to lay a firm foundation in academic excellence, strong values and physical health that will guide and support Woods graduates throughout their lives.

(Approved by the Board of Trustees 11/09/2005)

At The Woods, students are active agents in their education; learning through exploration and deduction is at the core of our program. We believe that it is most important that our students develop foundational skills that will garner rich rewards throughout life. These include basic academic skills in mathematics, reading, writing and the study of a foreign language. They also include thinking skills such as problem solving, critical thinking and creativity. Most important, our students learn the value of leading a moral, purposeful life through experiences in our curricular and co-curricular programs.

 

Intellectual

Students think critically, creatively, and analytically.

• Students are effective at problem solving and reasoning.
• Students are articulate communicators in oral and written language.
• Students are able to evaluate the validity of evidence and defend a point of view.
• Students practice good study skills, metacognitive skills and time management skills.
• Students are able to use a variety of resources effectively, including information technology.
• Students are able to make connections between disciplines and fields of study.
• Students will reflect on their academic progress.
• Students will be prepared for the challenges of any rigorous secondary school program.

Social-Emotional

• Students practice good leadership skills such as vision, confidence, tolerance, ingenuity, sensitivity, and loyalty.
• Through their participation in community life, students demonstrate the qualities of a good citizen, including awareness of social and environmental needs and a commitment to community service.
• Students express a caring, kind, respectful, and friendly demeanor.
• Students interact with understanding and tolerance to people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
• Students possess good problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Students possess appropriate interpersonal communication skills.
• Students demonstrate well-developed sense of self in their relationship with others and their personal decision-making.
• Students function independently in a variety of situations and are self-reliant.
• Students are self-motivated, life-long learners.
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Spiritual

• Students are morally grounded in Judeo-Christian values.
• Students demonstrate respect for all God’s creations.
• Students feel connected to a spiritual community and continue on a spiritual path.
• Students continue to reflect on who they are, what they value, and what they hope for.
• students have knowledge of Catholic Theology and the teachings of both the Old and New Testament of Scripture.

Physical

• Students pursue life-long activities that promote good physical fitness.
• Students continue to practice a healthy lifestyle, including exercise, good eating habits, and stress management techniques.
• Students demonstrate an understanding of good hygiene and self-care skills.
• Students feel successful in their physical pursuits.

The Woods Academy Curriculum will:

• Reflect The Woods Mission Statement and focus all areas of study on the Student Outcomes.

• Provide challenging, active learning experiences that are connected and relevant to students’ lives.

• Enable students to make connections across disciplines and see the world in an interconnected way.

• Support writing and technology integration across academic disciplines.

• Facilitate the application of skills and knowledge to higher order thinking, critical thinking and creative problem solving.

• Provide opportunity for older students to be positive models for younger students.

• Support smooth transitions between grades and on to high school and lay the foundation for success in a rigorous high school program.

• Employ a variety of assessment techniques that are authentic and promote self-assessment (including reflection and metacognition) as well as traditional tests and quizzes.

• Reflect the diversity of our society and the global community.

• Establish a safe climate of respect within the school in which everyone can feel safe to learn and take risks.

Assessment is an essential tool for learning. It is used to give a complete, accurate, and fair picture of student learning and knowledge. Assessment aids learning best when:

• It occurs frequently and is varied to reflect the many ways students demonstrate their growth as learners,
• Students are active and responsible partners in their learning and assessment process,
• Self-reflection is an integral component of the assessment process,
• Standards and criteria are articulated among teachers and known by students,
• The parents and community are informed about and understand assessment procedures, and
• Reporting to students and parents align with curriculum, instruction and the school's mission.

 

The Woods Academy is a non-profit, independent school governed by its Board of Trustees.  The Board, which includes the Head of School and parent and faculty representatives, is responsible for setting school policy, overseeing finances and making decisions that shape the long-term goals of the school. 

In grades 1-8 there are typically 14-16 students with one teacher in each class section. Montessori classrooms contain approximately 28-30 students ages 3 to 6 and three teachers.

The ratio is 8:1.

Uniforms are required for students in grades 1-8. The Woods believes that neat, attractive uniform attire supports a good learning environment and simulates pride in school and self.

Research clearly points to the benefits of starting language study early. Our Montessori full day students go to French or Spanish class for four days per week. Students in grades 1-8 take French or Spanish for five days per week.

The Woods is a Catholic school dedicated to enriching the spiritual lives of all students. Beginning in first grade all students participate in religion classes that teach the foundations of Catholic theology as well as the traditions and faiths of other religions. We celebrate the heritage of students of other faith and teach the value of inclusiveness. Our Catholic orientation illuminates our mission and prepares students to lead purpose-filled lives, serve others, and respect the humanity of all people. The bedrock of our program is the belief that humanity’s highest good is serving others. Community service projects are woven through the entire curriculum.

We have two counselors at The Woods. One works with students in grades Montessori through  3, the other with students in grades 4-8. Counselors work with students in small groups, one-on-one and in classroom settings on a variety of topics including friendships and relationships, conflict resolution and interpersonal communication.

Head of School

Mrs. Mary Worch, who joined The Woods in 1995, has extensive teaching and administrative experience in public, parochial and independent schools in the Washington, DC area.  After earning her B.A. in Elementary Education and her M.A. in Administration and Supervision from Trinity College, she has served as an adjunct professor at Trinity.  Mrs. Worch has served on an advisory board to the Archdiocese of Washington and has chaired and been a member of evaluating teams for the Middle State Association of Schools and Colleges and the Association of Independent Maryland Schools.

As Head of School, Mrs. Worch is the institution’s Chief Executive Officer. She is responsible for budget, and financial planning, overall administration, Board of Trustee relations, parent relations, oversight of admissions and development, and relations with the wider community.

Associate Head of School

Mr. John DeMarchi joined The Woods in 2001.  He has worked in independent and international schools including Hong Kong International School and Cincinnati Country Day School.  Most recently he was a founder at Concordia International School Shanghai where he established the Middle School program and helped develop the technology, admissions, and marketing programs.  He is a graduate of Kenyon College and John Carroll University. 

At the Woods, Mr. DeMarchi is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school, the academic program, student life, supervision of faculty and teachers, communication, the web site, AIMS/Middle States accreditation, faculty searches, student discipline. He works with the Board of Trustees on the Academic, Strategic Planning and Buildings and Grounds Committees.