Focus, Respect, Think, Encourage

We will focus on our work. We will respect one another. We will always think of a way, and we will encourage each other to do our best.

Through our discussions, these four words have taken on the meaning of: paying attention; working hard to do our best; helping classmates to focus by being a good example; showing that we value what we, our classmates, and the teachers have to say; giving that extra effort toward trying to figure out how to do something.

Philosophical topics such as happiness, friendship, justice, time, etc. will be discussed as part of a curriculum initiative. The goal is to create independent thinkers. Through careful, thought provoking discussions your children will be exposed to the thoughts of the great thinkers of all time. The children will be able to use their language skills to explain their thoughts about these awesome topics, in their own words. Philosophy is the art of clear thinking. This is a definition by Marietta McCarty, author of Little, Big Minds, the source of instruction in Philosophy this year.