Core Values

Relational •  Developmental •  Innovative •  Constructivist

We value a relational approach to learning and teaching. We believe that children grow best physically, socially, ethically, and intellectually within networks of trusted peers, families, and teachers. We nurture, support, and sustain authentic, reciprocal relationships among individuals, groups, and communities. We create learning experiences that help children understand themselves and their place in the world. We make explicit the interconnectedness of ideas, of disciplines, and of areas of study. We emphasize compassion, empathy, and respect as essential in shaping the civic leaders of tomorrow who will be the future stewards of our urban and natural environments.

We value a developmental perspective. We track and support the path and progress of each individual through appropriate developmental stages. Current research influences our practice as we design curriculum, differentiate instruction, and nurture the potential of each learner.

We value an innovative stance. We live in a conceptual age with fast-paced change and growing complexities. Teaching and learning must therefore be a dynamic and responsive process. Our programs reflect the best of long-held practices and current educational research. We are open to new and diverse perspectives and incorporate emerging technologies as tools for expressing ideas, exploring issues, and communicating understandings. We enhance our students’ capacities for creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration so they are empowered to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

We value a constructivist approach to learning and teaching. We believe that children naturally make meaning of their lives by actively constructing their own understanding and knowledge of the world. Our curriculum and teaching methods are designed to provide context and experiences that will expand, develop, and challenge a student’s thinking, understanding, and knowledge. Children are encouraged to ask questions, to explore and assess what they know, and to reflect on how new learning connects to their own lives. We believe that learning can be joyful, exciting, and, at times, confusing. We embrace the discoveries intrinsic to the learning process.