Our Foundation
Holistic Education
Holistic education programs guide each person to find meaning and purpose through community connections, natural world connections, and humanitarian virtues. The aim of this type of education calls forth an intrinsic reverence for life and a passion for learning.
Balanced Program Goals
We believe learning programs should focus on both character development and intellectual development. The goals are to establish a safe, warm and caring environment within which children learn positive and appropriate ways to handle situations; to develop a strong sense of self-discipline, responsibility, courtesy and self-confidence; and to develop an atmosphere conducive to peaceful learning.
Children Come First
Children’s program should offer a child-centred environment that fosters understanding and cherishes the uniqueness of each individual child and promotes his or her learning by remembering that:
- All children can learn;
- Children learn in different ways and at different rates;
- Learning needs to be relevant and responsive to individual needs and interests;
- Children learn best when they feel physically and emotionally safe;
- Learning should build upon children’s successes;
- Education should be holistic, developing the interdependent facets of the child’s mind, body and soul;
- Children’s self-esteem and happiness are key to successful learning.
Spiritual Education
Virtues
Universally understood virtues are the building blocks of children’s characters. We believe community leaders are responsible for modelling personal integrity in both action and words; respecting each individual for the unique talents and gifts that he or she brings to our community; living and learning together joyfully; and striving to include the widest range of people in a learning community, regardless of culture, socio-economic status or ability.
Beliefs
- Children can be introduced to a developmentally appropriate concept of our Creator. We believe children instinctively know the truth about God and children can come to know about God’s invisible qualities through creation and caring relationships.
- Children should hear: God created our world, God loves and knows everyone, we can talk to God, and we find joy in caring for the world and others.
We acknowledge and respect the diversity of belief systems of families and suggest you welcome everyone. Invite families to discuss what their child hears at your program in relation to their own belief system in an effort to cultivate tolerance.