Winwood Children's Center, Fairfax

Thank you for your interest in Winwood Children’s Center. We are located at Lee Jackson Memorial Highway. Our center has been part of the community since Sept. 1998.

My name is Katy Thiltgen and I am the Director of the center. I am originally from Pennsylvania where I attended Kutztown University and obtained my Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education with a concentration in Early Childhoods. I started with the company in Aug. 2004 as a teacher, an Assistant Director, and since January 2009 the Director. Jenn LeVay is our assistant director. She has been in the Early Childhood Education field since 2003 and loves everything about it. She has been at Winwood Fairfax since August 2020 and has been a part of the Winwood family since 2017. She has her bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Management as well as an Associates in the same field. Always ready with a smile and a warm greeting, she brings excitement to our school daily. We have over 30 amazing, dedicated teachers with over 110 years of experience with Winwood! The majority of our teachers are CPR and First Aid certified and many have their CDA, Associates, Bachelors, or Master degrees.

At Winwood Children’s Center, Fairfax, we believe children learn best through play, so we have developed a unique curriculum to ensure they are smiling and every discovery-filled day.

We use the Ascend Curriculum that allows each child to learn at their own pace. This curriculum offers a balance of structure & flexibility and enables our teachers to individualize instruction to accommodate the interests and learning styles of each student. Even our youngest students benefit from Ascend. Our school is NECPA accredited and we have designed our preschool’s curriculum to strengthen and broaden the emerging intellects of our students. In addition to our daily Language Arts, Art, Science, and Math small group projects, we offer a STARs program that highlights weekly lessons in music, sign language, Spanish, and art and a monthly exercise program. The children experience our state-of-the-art computer lab including a SMARTboard on a daily basis. Children in the Preschool III program through Kindergarten also have the opportunity to participate in ballet and soccer. Please note that due to COVID-19 restrictions, the extracurricular activities have been temporarily suspended. We strive to have great parent-teacher communication to keep you involved with your child’s day. In the infant, infant 2, toddler, and two year old classrooms you receive a daily sheet about your child’s day. You will find bi-weekly progress reports in the preschool classrooms. All of our classrooms send home a monthly newsletter and twice a year a developmental assessment of your child. In addition, our Open Door Policy and web camera keeps you connected at a moment notice.

Infant Daycare (ages 6 weeks to 1 year): In this infant daycare program, our child care staff provide stimulating, fun learning exercises to help your little one develop a strong foundation for his or her mental, emotional, and social upbringing. Toddler Childcare (ages 1 to 2): Our caring teachers provide an abundance of art, joyous music, and exploratory adventures in supervised, secure environments in this childcare program. Early Learners (ages 2 to 3): In this early childhood education program, teachers guide and nurture children with activities that focus on the basics of education and the development of positive life habits. Preschool (ages 3 to 4): At Winwood Children’s Center, Fairfax, we make the most of this stage of development by incorporating activities that stimulate the physical as well as the socio-emotional and cognitive capabilities of students. Junior Kindergarten (ages 4 to 5): This kindergarten program prepares your child with lessons in independent learning, and mastering gross and fine motor skills. School Age Program (ages 5 to 12): Our specialized staff is here to ensure that your child is occupied in the company of friends when you have to work. Summer Camp Programs (ages 5 to 12): At Winwood Children’s Center, Fairfax, our bright, cheerful staff lead kids on engaging educational adventures that stimulate their learning and keep their bodies in great shape throughout the summer months. We also offer before and after school care for Greenbriar East, Greenbriar West, Waples Mill, and Navy. We also provide care for teacher work days, snow days, Spring Break, Winter Break, and summer camp. On behalf of all our wonderful teachers, I invite you to stop by and visit our school. We would enjoy meeting you and your family and introduction you to ours.