Our Core Beliefs
Students and their families should be active participants in decisions about their education and future aspirations.
Academic and character development, supported by social emotional learning, has demonstrated learning benefits for students. We propose a model that provides weekly one-on- one mentoring for students. These mentors will also provide direct support to parents and ensure that they are informed of their student progress. We will bring all stakeholders in a child’s development to the planning table when working on character development to ensure both consistency in this work and cultural congruence.
There are habits needed to thrive upon graduation that apply in both
college and careers.
There are foundational skills that students need to develop higher-order skills. These foundational skills develop through a pathway that integrates cognitive, social, and emotional skills. The Habits of Success framework was designed with this understanding. The framework acknowledges that children do not always get the same start in life and do not all follow an identical path. It helps provide guidance to educators on how to support students who have experienced trauma and other adverse circumstances.
Diverse and applicable experiences better prepare students for
the real world.
This belief grounds all that we do. It influences our curriculum that encourages our students to explore and discover, to collaborate with classmates, and to take ownership of their education. The embedded expedition week encourages self-directed learning that promotes self-confidence, independent thought and action, and critical thinking, while fostering social-emotional and intellectual growth.
Every student should know and believe that the world is bigger than their neighborhood, state, or country.
We believe deeply that at this level, the teaching of peace, social justice, and global citizenship is based on fostering respect for all people and living things, and helping children learn the tools for peaceful conflict resolution. The combination of our curriculum and a focus on community service will ensure character development happens best in the community. We believe our school will make young people invested in the Nashville community and will lead to dynamic, long-term growth of our city.