The philosophy of the Nursery Level is to offer children a school experience that is so deeply gratifying that the enjoyment of learning becomes a way of life. Learning is most effective when interest is high, guidance is personal, and the tools of learning are well chosen.

There is much research that suggests a child's early years are important for the development of intelligence. It is our philosophy that an excellent nursery school should stimulate and challenge the child to develop to his/her fullest potential. It is also our belief and experience that when placed in an environment of happiness and cooperation, children respond positively and develop fully. Our Nursery program begins the foundation for mastery learning and mastery teaching. We know that discipline is an important factor necessary in a child's life; we realize that discipline must be fair and consistent.

In addition to the materials and physical aspects of a school, another factor that is of major importance is the staff. An excellent nursery school must have a staff with knowledge, kindness, a deep love for teaching children and the desire to do more than is required. We find this to be a comfortable situation for both children and staff.

The philosophy of the Elementary School is similar to that of the Nursery Level. However, the philosophy of the upper level also addresses growth and continued challenge in all curricula. Therefore, the upper level philosophy is that "school" should continue to be a happy place where learning is fostered and guided. Structure and order are important. Each child should continue, throughout the elementary school experience, to develop an inner sense of satisfaction with his/her efforts.

The continuation of mastery learning at this level is an effective part of our program. It is important to guide each child toward self-discipline and self-reliance. Learning approaches in reading and math include individual attention and small groups. Group interaction occurs in other subject areas such as science, social studies and learning games.

Our school strives for a happy balance between learning and play. Each level follows a definite schedule and curriculum. Our ultimate goal is that each child will develop to the fullest potential and be well prepared for the next level of schooling.

Our school is unique because our philosophy is integrated at all levels with the concept of mastery learning and mastery teaching. The key to this approach is that children are taught skills which they are ready to learn. They are given time and encouragement to develop their skills to a level of mastery. The word failure does not exist in this philosophy.

A student's sense of accomplishment builds a strong foundation for continued learning. It also helps strengthen a child's self image, because the child is successful in learning the skills that are introduced. It is our experience that SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS.

As James Block points out in his book
Building Effective Mastery Learning Schools

"How students experience their learning process affects their self-concept, motivation, and approach to later learning experiences. Providing students with the opportunity to learn and succeed and formally acknowledging and recording their learning success in its own term encourages students to seek further learning experiences. Learning success is not a scarce commodity reserved for a small group of superior achievers, but the deliberate goal of quality instruction for all students"