Principal's Page
My Educational Philosophy
Public Schools have a unique opportunity and responsibility to shape an individual's understanding of the world and create a lifelong love of learning. Of primary consideration, is creating a safe learning environment that builds individual self-esteem, encourages participation, develops a positive sense of community, creates a sense of respect and responsibility, and challenges students to reach for their highest levels of excellence.
Learning is a joyous activity that stimulates the senses, engages the mind, and motivates the individual to reach for greater levels of knowledge and understanding. Learning is fun and energizing, as it creates frameworks and connections, links critical with creative, linear and lateral, and goes inside and outside of the box.
The classroom is an active, flexible environment, filled with potential moments of discovery and success. Students feel a true sense of belonging and community, and their individual and group efforts are reflected in the surroundings. Classrooms have a presence and contain a variety of visuals, motions, sounds, textures, and tastes that create three-dimensional opportunities for comprehension. Classrooms are also, at times, calm havens for intrapersonal reflections. Classrooms create a rich and varied environment for learning.
Teachers are the key facilitators in the educational process. The teacher identifies primary learning styles to support, bridge, and expand capabilities. The teacher uses enquiry-based curricula incorporating hands-on, activity-based learning; employs differentiated instruction through areas of content, process, and products; and creates understandable and useful curriculum guidelines, rubrics and portfolios to aid in assessment.
Teaching is student centered and success oriented. Pre-teaching and review are essential steps in the process. Lessons incorporate balanced literacy, service learning, social justice, and ethical decision-making. Student are given opportunities to lead discussions, give feedback, provide peer reviews, prepare materials, and teach lessons. Teamwork, mentoring, and peer guiding are included in the process. Passion, creativity and diversity are key components.
Parents are an important part of the school community and are encouraged to be active members. Opportunities are available for parent workshop programs, tours, open discussions, information sessions, and input.
A principal's responsibility is to uphold the vision and values of the school and to provide encouragement and support to the school community. A principal is a good listener and observer, and is able to understand individual concerns, at the same time as identifying patterns and cycles. A principal is an energetic multi-tasker, who, with patience, positive focus, and clear communications, holds the boundaries, and supports a fair, consistent, and safe learning environment.
