Mission/Philosophy

OUR MISSION

As a school we believe the foundation of the child’s entire learning experience is Christianity. We believe in providing a safe, creative environment that nurtures the whole child. We believe that an active partnership between family and school is essential. We believe that school’s ultimate responsibility is to provide experiences that promote lifelong learning.

TEACH A CHILD TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PATH AND WHEN HE IS OLDER HE WILL REMAIN UPON IT. PROVERBS 22:6

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We believe education must be relevant, meaningful, and fun. It must inspire the natural curiosity of a child. Learning is accomplished by providing a safe environment that challenges each child to explore their would through play. The curriculum must incorporate children’s interest. Finally learning must address each child’s individual path of development.

We believe this is accomplished by integration the following subject areas throughout the school day:

RELIGION: The goal of our religious philosophy is for each child to develop a unique relationship with God. Children need to experience God’s love everyday through celebrations, prayer, biblical stories, music and a sense of community. These joyous experiences take place ongoing and naturally within the context of the school day. This integration will encourage children to “live” as Christians in every aspect of their life, instead of just on Sunday.

DIVERSITY: Our goal is for children to practice the teachings of Jesus, by accepting and celebrating differences with respect and compassion. Our diverse enrollment provides every child with the opportunity to embrace the uniqueness given to each of us. Through compassion and understanding a family community based on God’s love is founded.

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Our school builds on daily experiences which empower children to identify and express their feelings. Though modeling and teaching we provide children with options to use in life situations.
As a strong emotional foundation develops, effective social skill will become second nature. The overall goals are to have the children express their feelings, be able to solve their own problems, and be compassionate to others.

INDEPENDENCE: Fostering independence in children is and integral part of our philosophy. Children are encouraged to take responsibility for themselves and their classroom. We offer a supportive environment that enhances the child’s self-reliance. Children are encouraged to try new experiences and they are supported in mastering developmental milestones.

DISCIPLINE: We believe that discipline is a positive process that teaches children how to effectively relate to others. We encourage the use of self-control, redirection, problem solving, and cooperation. These methods are utilized to teach the children how to be responsible and accountable for their own behavior. By targeting the child’s behavior as opposed to the child we believe the end result is a strong self-esteem.

CREATIVITY: Creative expression enables the child to recreate the world as they see it with artistic elements and principles. A variety of materials is used to experiment during the creative process. Children can use their work as a means of communication. The emotional process of their work is celebrated, as well as the finished product. Their individual creativity allows them to process their world as they learn about it.

MUSIC: Children will have opportunities to experience music from a variety of genres and cultures. Instruments and singing allow the children to express themselves emotionally and creatively, as well as experience musical elements. Music and movement are integrated as enjoyable parts of the curriculum, which encourage children to take risks and overcome inhibitions.

MATH/SCIENCE: Math and science activities are designed for exploration and discovery. Through hands-on experiences, children will experiment using a variety of math and science techniques. These concrete experiences allow the children to gradually comprehend math and science. By providing opportunities to explore and develop a sense of stewardship for God’s earth, children will gain respect and appreciation for our natural environment.

DRAMATIC PLAY: Dramatic play is a child-centered activity. Children engage in pretending, role-playing, and imaginative play. These activities enhance a child’s intellectual, physical, creative, and social emotional development. By providing a variety of materials and situations, children are able to integrate what they learn and experience into reality. By practicing social and communication skills, they learn to resolve conflicts, express their individuality and realize their creativity.

LANGUAGE ARTS: Language arts include reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Children are involved with quality literature in diverse settings. We encourage children to explore a variety of writing materials used in ways that are interesting, meaningful and fun. They are encouraged to express themselves and listen to others in a variety of situations. By integrating these opportunities throughout the day, the children practice effective communication skills.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT: Our goal is to facilitate cross-curricular activities that suit each child’s physical development of large and small muscle skills. This goal is achieved through establishing an environment which provides freedom of expression, challenges, and opportunity for frequent repetition. The ability to have control over one’s body provides satisfaction, pride, and positive self-awareness.

OUTDOOR PLAY: Outdoor play is utilized as an extension of the classroom. The goal is to provide an enriched environment for physical exploration of each child’s abilities, which stimulates sensory and physical play. The outdoor experience broadens a child’s perspective of the world through freedom of expression and movement.

WE BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING CHINESE PROVERB EXPLAINS OUR PHILOSOPHY IN THE SIMPLEST OF TERMS:

“ I HEAR AND I FORGET,”
“ I SEE AND I REMEMBER,”
“ I DO AND I UNDERSTAND.”