At Swan School we value children as individuals and believe in developing the creative, intellectual, emotional, social, and physical well-being of each child through our core values.

Our Core Values

Community
We strive to create a supportive, safe community in which students, parents, staff, and other members work together in partnership.

Examples of Community at Swan School

• Multi-age classrooms.
• Older/younger buddy activities that encourage friendships between older and younger students.
• Daily whole school meetings.
• Monthly parent meetings.
• Special presentations by parents and community members.
• Strong parent involvement.
• Learner Exhibitions during which cross-age student teams teach, demonstrate, or present what they have learned during a unit.
• Students actively and regularly participate in taking care of the school environment in which they learn.
• Respect and awareness of other cultures are taught throughout the curriculum, including learning foreign languages. Students study Spanish twice each week.

Challenge
We strive to challenge students to reach excellence in academics and life.

Examples of Challenge at Swan School

• High expectations of students are clearly stated.
• Teachers utilize current research-based teaching methods.
• Curriculum is individualized and developmentally appropriate.
• Small class-size enhances the learning experience of each child.
• Students learn and develop intellectually at their own rates and in their own styles.
• Students are assessed through daily student work and through teacher observation.
• Students are encouraged and expected to take chances and to use their initiative.
• Project-based learning requires students to demonstrate their learning through creative hands-on projects rather than exclusively through test-taking.

Creativity
We strive to foster students' fascination and curiosity about the world by providing a rich environment that encourages original ideas and inventions, innovative thought, and personal expression.

Examples of Creativity at Swan School

• A music program that includes singing, instruments, and regular opportunities for performances.
• Integration of art throughout the curriculum as well as ongoing art classes.
• Student learning through integrated units of study is culminated with projects and presentations.
• Writing and reading workshops that incorporates student choice.
• Learner Exhibitions where student projects and inventions focus on initiative and original ideas, not a correct answer.

Compassion
We understand the importance of emotional well-being in our lives, and strive to teach and encourage students to have compassion for fellow beings, creatures, and themselves.

Examples of Compassion at Swan School

• Students are taught to care for one another as part of the curriculum.
• Students practice compassion and caring in a learning environment structured to encourage this.
• Whole-school recesses, special learning projects, and regular interaction between all classes supports the practice of showing compassion to one another.

Connection
We strive to teach how all aspects of life are connected. Through meaningful curriculum, learning becomes fun and relevant to students' lives.

Examples of Connection at Swan School

• Because of small class-size, teachers can focus on emotional and mental well-being of students in addition to academic rigor.
• Integrated units are studied by the entire school - both science based and social studies based. The units integrate math, science, art, literature, history, music, writing, etc. Focusing on one topic for an extended period of time encourages a deeper understanding of the topic and the world.
• We are environmentally friendly, recycling and using recycled and non-toxic goods as much as possible.

Examples of Leadership at Swan School

• Student leadership program that includes responsibilities for our classroom and school community.
• Older more experienced students mentoring and nurturing younger or less experienced students.
• Opportunities to learn about and practice environmental stewardship.
• Democratic classroom structures that involve children in the process of making meaningful classroom and school policies and decisions.

Enjoyment
We strive to make learning enjoyable! Enjoyment is an integral part of learning ­ if you're bored, you're probably not learning anything. But if you're having fun, not only are you learning a lot, you're more likely to retain what you learn.

Examples of Enjoyment at Swan School

• A dynamic and enthusiastic staff who love what they do and are lifelong learners themselves.
• Laughter is encouraged and heard throughout the day in all of our classrooms.
• Choice is integral to students' academic and artistic pursuits.
• Students are encouraged to share their world and their knowledge with others through activities, presentations, discussions, independent projects, etc.