WES is proud to host the 2023 Rainbow Families Conference! Click here to learn more.

  • Alumni
  • Parent Portal
  • Give
  • Visit Us
Skip to content
  • About
    • About WES
      • Fast Facts
      • Mission, Vision, & Portrait
      • Episcopal Identity
      • History
      • 2018-2023 Strategic Plan
      • WES Accreditation
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Leadership & Faculty
      • Welcome from the Head of School
      • Our Faculty
      • Parents Association
      • Governing Board
      • Community Partners
    • Careers
  • Admissions
    • Why WES
    • Admission Process
    • Schedule a Private Tour
    • Admission Calendar
    • Chat with a Current Parent
    • Tuition & Financial Assistance
    • High School & College
    • Admissions Blog
    • Our Admission Team
  • Academic Life
    • Early Childhood (Age 3- Gr. 1)
      • Early Childhood Welcome
      • Academics
      • Student Life
      • Kindness & Community
      • Arts
      • STEM & Innovation
      • School Schedule
      • Before & After School Program
      • Experiential Study Trips
    • Elementary (Gr. 2-5)
      • Elementary School Welcome
      • Academics
      • Student Life
      • Kindness & Community
      • Arts
      • STEM & Innovation
      • Athletics
      • School Schedule
      • Before- & After-School Program
      • Experiential Study Trips
    • Middle School (Gr. 6-8)
      • Middle School Welcome
      • Academics
      • Student Life
      • Kindness & Community
      • Arts
      • STEM & Innovation
      • Athletics
      • School Schedule
      • Experiential Study Trips
    • Summer Learning
  • Campus Life
    • COVID-19 Information and Response
    • School Calendar
    • Athletics
    • News & Events
    • Campus Highlights
    • School Uniforms
    • Photo Gallery
    • Video Gallery
    • Traditions at WES
  • Support
    • Annual Fund
    • Auction
    • Ways to Give
    • Give
    • Alumni
    • Volunteer
    • Grandparents & Special Friends Day
    • Sales
      • Used Uniforms
      • Musical
      • Book Fair
    • Meet the Development Office
  • Summer at WES
    • Summer at WES
      • Sleep Away Camp @ Camp Tall Timbers
      • Jr. Dragon Day Camp
      • Dragon Quest Camp
      • Choose Your Own Adventure Camp
      • Outdoor Adventures
      • DMV Excursions
      • Counselor in Training Program
    • Summer at WES Overview
    • Why Summer@WES?
    • Camps by Age Group
    • Summer@WES Policies
    • Sign Up for Camp
  • Contact
  • Dragon Login
  • Support

Student Life

Campus Life: Embracing Joy and Adventure in Education

WES students tend to run, not walk, through the front doors of the school, eager to begin each day.

Each student is greeted in a Morning Meeting, and eases into the day ahead, feeling part of the diverse and welcoming Washington Episcopal School community. The routine might be familiar, but every day is filled with adventures in learning, as students embrace academic rigor in an appropriately balanced and supportive environment. Our enriched after-school program offers exciting options such as chess, cooking, art, sports teams, study hall, STEM, and more.

Watch this video to see our students and faculty discuss all that WES has to offer!

Responsive Classroom

To heighten awareness of and commitment to moral and ethical living, specific activities are a part of the school’s ongoing program and throughout the day. The faculty use Responsive Classroom® techniques and philosophy for classroom management.

Responsive Classroom® reinforces the WES mission to create a supportive and positive community of academically excellent and joyful students. The program recognizes that academic success is best achieved in a socially successful environment. The core values of empathy, respect, and responsibility are emphasized, alongside social skills, self-regulation, and conflict resolution.

Recess, Snack, and Lunch

Recess serves as a necessary break from the rigors of concentrated learning in the classroom. This free time offers cognitive, social, emotional, and physical benefits that give WES’s students the necessary balance to develop a love for learning. All Early Childhood students have 2-3 daily recesses, a snack, and lunch to refresh and stay energized.

Lunchtime for Early Childhood is generally noon-12:45 p.m. each day. An optional Hot Lunch program is offered by the school with food provided by Vignola Catering. Families may sign up daily for the program, and fees are billed accordingly through Vignola’s website.

Early Childhood Dress Code

The school believes that an important aspect of creating a productive school environment is appropriate dress. Students in PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten have a relaxed dress code, but all clothing should have age-appropriate images and messages.

Beginning in Grade 1, students have a formal dress code which is comprised of Dress Uniform and Daily Wear. Dress uniform is worn on special occasions such as All-School Chapels, school picture day, school performances, certain study trips, etc. The Dress Code changes as students matriculate to Middle School.

PK3/PK4/Kindergarten Dress Code
Children wear play clothes that are neat, comfortable, and easily handled independently. Parents and guardians avoid costumes, overalls, sandals, flip-flops, dressy shoes, party dresses, or fancy clothing that might be damaged or cause tripping, and clothes the child cannot easily handle in the restroom.

Grades 1-5 – Dress Uniform

  • White collared button-up only, long- or short-sleeve
  • WES tie (required when the student chooses to wear pants)
  • Navy blazer (optional for students wearing WES plaid jumper)
  • WES plaid jumper
  • Tan chino pants 
  • Solid black or white sneakers may be worn

Grades 1-5 – Daily Wear

  • Polo shirt (white, light blue, navy)
  • Tan or navy skirt/skort or tan or navy chino pants/shorts
  • WES plaid or navy jumper
  • Any WES sweatshirt worn over a polo shirt

This chart may also be helpful.

Want to Know More?

  • Why WES?
  • Schedule a Tour
  • Apply Now
Quicklinks:
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Athletics Schedule
  • School Calendar
Login Area:
  • Parent Login
  • Faculty Login
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo

Address: 5600 Little Falls Parkway Bethesda, MD 20816 | Phone: 301-652-7878