What Makes Us Unique

DEVELOPING THE WHOLE PERSON

We understand the heart as the center of our whole being – the rational, social, physical, volitional, emotional as well as spiritual aspects of ourselves. Children in our school explore, engage, and form their whole hearts.

OUR

VALUES

We believe that every person is created in God’s image, which means that every person has great value and is in their essence curious, creative, courageous, and more. We give children space to be what they were created to be.

MULTI-AGE CLASSROOMS

We teach children in groups which combine three grades (1st through 3rd, 4th through 6th, 7th through 9th). The younger children find it motivating to be around their older classmates and the older ones strengthen their knowledge and skills by assisting younger children.

INDEPENDENT WORK PERIOD

A portion of the school day is set aside for independent work. Some of the tasks are elective and others are part of the required minimum for their grade level. Children learn to manage their time. The teacher is available to each student for explaining, encouraging, redirecting, etc.

PROJECTS

Through frequent projects, children are able to use the knowledge and skills they are acquiring, to apply their knowledge and skills in various contexts, and to decide how to extend their learning in ways that are personally meaningful.

FIELD TRIPS

We often leave the classroom and get out to the garden, to the woods, to historic sights, to woodworking shops, to museums and galleries, to various workplaces. Children help to organize these outings, so they are learning on many levels.

ENGLISH

DAY

Once a week we have English Day, when students learn in English under the instruction of experienced English teachers and native speakers.

CHILD-PARENT-TEACHER

Several times a year, the child, their parent(s) and the teacher meet together. They celebrate the child’s achievements and set goals for the coming months.

MINIMA

A lot of thought has gone into the knowledge and skills that all children should be gaining. This minimum we have divided into three categories:I

I know about = in this category we want the child to have a deeper knowledge of the concept and how it relates to other things
I know of = in this category the child should have a basic familiarity with these topics
I know how = in this category are skills which we feel are important for the child to master

CHALLENGES

In addition to the minimum, we want to support children in deepening and broadening their knowledge in areas of personal interest and talent. We offer a list of suggestions to children in the form of challenges. Children can choose the challenges that they want to complete.

Examples of challenges: interview your grandmother and write down some of her memories, grow a plant, maintain a first aid kit for your class, create a game for a friend, build a model of a building, etc.

GET TO KNOW OUR TEAM

A USUAL WEEK AT THE WHOLEHEARTED SCHOOL