Core Values & Guiding Principles
Core Values
01 — Children are born persons, in the image of God
02 — Children are created to cherish the good, true, and beautiful
03 — Children flourish when discipled toward prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude
04 — Guiding children demands humility in the presence of God
Guiding Principles
01 — Children are born persons, in the image of God
Honoring each child’s giftedness as part of our community
Recognizing that our teachers’ primary role is to support and inform, all the while remembering that children’s “potentialities are as great as our own”
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Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Psalm 139:13-14
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
02 — Children are created to cherish the good, true, and beautiful
Inspiring joyful, lifelong learning by pointing the child to the good, true, and beautiful ideas they are worthy of receiving, and the important work they are capable of accomplishing
Focusing on timeless works of literature, philosophy, history, music, and art
Developing the habit of best effort (rather than chasing after a “gold star”)
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Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
03 — Children flourish when discipled toward prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude
Emphasizing character formation by intentional focus on virtues and habits to build a strong foundation for life
Discipling children in agreement with the approach of Connected Families — “Child you are safe, you are loved, you are capable, you are responsible.” Students should feel every day that, “Child, I am for you”
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1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
04 — Guiding children demands humility in the presence of God
Fostering an atmosphere that seeks to learn from different approaches: Classical education, Charlotte Mason’s principles, classroom learning, and home education; we wish to avoid a mindset that suggests one pedagogy has all the answers
Providing a Christian school and community that is ecumenical in nature
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Ephesians 4:1-6
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.