Philosophy Statement

Friends believe there is a divine light in each of us that deserves our loving attention. We are guided by that belief as we provide a strong education grounded in the Quaker principles of equality, community, simplicity, and harmony.

Equality means respect for all and a genuine appreciation for human diversity. Expressions of this value include our affirmation of the importance of all faiths and our commitment to making the school accessible to an economically and culturally diverse student body.

Community is a vital source of strength and wisdom, a living commitment to working together that shapes the character of learning as well as the relationships among people in our school. We act on that value by encouraging service to others, both in our immediate community and in the larger world.

Simplicity means a life centered in the spirit. That includes an avoidance of materialism, a constant search for truth, living according to one's beliefs and creating opportunities for reflection in daily life, through Meeting for Worship and in other ways.

Harmony arises from Friends belief in the spirituality of life. We seek harmony with the natural world by encouraging responsible stewardship of the Earth. We seek harmony with each other by actively encouraging nonviolent responses to conflict and greater awareness of our global community.

Our school motto states that "Education is a journey, not a destination." That means we view learning as a process of exploration and self-discovery, with students actively engaged in constucting knowledge from experience. The teacher's role in this process is to provide a careful balance of challenge and nurture. Consequently, our expectations are high, both for intellectual learning and for developing self-discipline and responsible independence. At the same time, we nurture the capacities of the spirit that enable students to do their best: confidence, self-esteem, imagination,caring.

We know that the pace and style of learning is different for every child. In responding to those differences, we actively support children's strengths and interests, placing importance on all aspects of learning: intellectual and physical growth, social and emotional development, creative experiences in the arts, and spiritual awareness. In all these areas, we encourage children to shape the character of their own education by emphasizing cooperative learning and critical thought, making choices and taking risks.

George Fox, the founder of Quakerism, once offered this guidance: "Walk cheerfully over the Earth, answering that of God in everyone." As we encourage students to do so, our fundamental aim is that they will become competent, resourceful, and compassionate adults who will minister to the needs of our changing world.