User:Green Hedges School/sandbox



The Green Hedges School (GHS) is a co-educational, private day-school serving montessori pre-school ages 3–6 and preparatory grades 1-8, just outside of Washington, DC. Founded in 1942 by Frances and Kenton Kilmer, Green Hedges School serves approximately 190 students from preschool to grade eight. The school is accredited by Virginia Association of Independent Schools, and is affiliated with Independent Education and American Montessori Society.

Location
Green Hedges is located in the historic Windover Heights neighborhood one block northeast of the intersection of Maple Avenue (Route 123) and Nutley Street (Route 243) in Vienna, Virginia.

History
Green Hedges School was founded in 1942 by Frances Kilmer, daughter of Impressionist painter, Frederick Frieseke, and Kenton Kilmer, son of famous American poet Joyce Kilmer. The Kilmers sought to provide a positive learning environment free from prejudice, an enriched curriculum that included the best in all the arts, a global exposure to history, and a commitment to citizenship and character. Green Hedges began in the Kilmer’s Arlington home with ten students and one full-time teacher. Mrs. Kilmer taught classes and was involved in all aspects of the school while Mr. Kilmer frequently took time away from his job at the Library of Congress to read aloud to the students.

By 1955, the Kilmer family had grown to eight children and the School to sixty students. A property found in the historic neighborhood of Windover Heights in Vienna, Virginia proved an ideal solution. Both the Kilmer family and Green Hedges School moved from Arlington to Vienna that year, and the School expanded to eight grades.

After 25 years as the first Head of Green Hedges, Mrs. Kilmer announced plans to retire in June 1968. In March 1968, Green Hedges became an incorporated, nonprofit institution, named Green Hedges Inc.

The school has been under the leadership of six subsequent Heads of School: Charles A. Wright, Mrs. Kathleen Battaglia, Mr. George Schumacher, Mr. Scott Votey, Mr. Frederick W. Williams and Mr. Robert E. Gregg, III.

Montessori
Children ages three to six years old

Lower School
Includes Grade 1 through Grade 5

Middle School
Includes Grade 6 through Grade 8

Campus Facilities
The Kilmer House was established circa 1883 and has served as the administrative building since 2000. The Kilmer Hall is the main building on campus, built in 1985. The Grace Hecker Rice Arts Center opened in 2001 and serves as a center for music and art. The Wiechelt Stable completed renovation in October 2013 fulfilling the first phase of the Campus Master Plan. The school has plans to renovate and add an addition to Kilmer Hall as well.