Mission/Vision

Below is a more in-depth explanation of how we seek to facilitate a learning process that flows with the four areas of a child's life:

Flowing with the Child’s Christian Faith

These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.…Deuteronomy 6:7-8

• We believe that no child should be forced to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, but the exposure to Christian resources helps to draw a child’s heart to the Savior.
• We believe in the importance of Christian music, reading books and watching films that do not contradict scripture, and daily school devotions help a child develop a love for God
• We believe that  the subject of Bible should not be treated as an academic subject but should be intertwined throughout the school day and through the daily school devotions
• We believe that the invitation to accept Christ should be given, but the child must take the initiative to tell a staff member that they want to receive Christ.
• We believe that if a child does not accept Christ they should be loved and included in our school community without any bias.
• We believe that children learn about God by applying Biblical truths to their every day lives and school experiences
• We believe that scripture memory should take place only as the child finds a scripture they personally connect with.
• We believe the Bible stories should be shared in an engaging way where students appreciate the relevance of the story to themselves
• We believe in the importance of allowing students to discuss and debate Biblical topics
• We believe that no child’s faith will look the same and the child’s relationship to the Savior is a very personal and unique one
• We believe that children should be allowed to freely study the Bible for themselves and to develop their own connections with the scriptures.

Flowing with the Person

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations. Then I said, "Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' Jeremiah 1:5-7

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:12

• We believe that every child is uniquely made by God for a specific purpose and the role of the school is to help the child discover that purpose.

• We believe that the purpose of education is to understand God’s unique design of each child and to create an environment where a child can freely learn according to that design
• We believe that only the parent and child can help to inform how a child should be educated and the teacher/school is there to listen and support them
• We believe that education should take place with encouragement and facilitation, not pressure because God has already placed within the child everything they need to develop their heart, soul and mind. As they learned to speak, walk, or become potty trained, with the support of the child's community, they will learn.
• We believe that children have the right to express their individuality, and therefore they should be able to choose what they want to wear to school as long as it adheres to the Biblical teachings on modesty (details in parent handbook), therefore we do not require uniforms.  

Flowing with the Child’s Learning Style

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.…Psalm 139:1-3

• We believe that learning is never stagnant and that all activities are a learning experience for the child, even if those learning experiences are developed by the child (through play, interaction, reading, independent research, rest/reflection, etc.)
• We believe that the child should be able to decide how the school day is spent as long as it does not go against the school rules
• We believe that age mixing is appropriate because the older child can grow as a leader and mentor, while assisting the younger child in learning new skills and information.
• We believe that a child’s educational experiences should rarely be interrupted  by the input of a teacher’s opinion or the objectives of a traditional curriculum.  The teacher’s purpose is to guide the flow of learning and to support and supervise students who decide to veer off into other directions in their learning
• We believe that a child learns best through real life experiences, play and engagement in subjects/topics that are of personal interest
• We believe that small group instruction is necessary when a child or group of children demonstrate a desire to learn a specific subject or skill
• We believe that standardized testing does not determine intelligence, therefore it will never be offered during the school year, nor will it ever be a requirement.
• We believe that the evaluation of a child should be seen through observation and discussion with a child about their school experiences
• We believe that the purpose of school is NOT to group students based on who is smart or doing poorly, but it is to give them the skills necessary to be good, kind Christian citizens in our society.
• We believe in the importance of the classic texts to enhance student learning and understanding of our nation and our world. This understanding should be allowed to develop in its own way and time within every child.  This is done through optional regular book clubs and group discussions of various rich literature. Students are not given comprehension tests, but are allowed to enjoy engagement in and discussion of the literature.
• We believe in providing small group instruction in the traditional core subjects (reading/language arts, math, science, etc.) as students demonstrate an interest in learning these subjects. These subjects are not presented in order to give a grade but to provide the child with the skills necessary to reach their personal and  future goals in society.

Flowing with the Child’s Community

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

• We believe that the parent and teacher should support the child’s discovery of their God-given identity without forcing their own expectations on them
• We believe that the school community is responsible for the overall governance of the school and this is done through the School Meeting (staff and students pray, worship and  vote on the day to day running of the school), the School Assembly (staff, students, parents and other supporters  pray, worship and vote on the yearly running of the school) and the Judicial committee (a committee of  a staff member and several students that address when school rules are broken and vote on the proper way to provide consequences to the students involved)
• We believe that the church, home and school community should flow together
• We believe in the importance of community living and each person living in consideration of the rest of the community.  This is practiced through group interaction, study, play, student chores and other projects
• We believe in the importance of heavy parent involvement.  We are not a school  where you can drop you child off and we are solely responsible for their education. Parents have to be willing to be an active and supportive participant in their child's learning experience.

(c) 2015