We believe that children learn best when they are active participants in their own learning. Integrated thematic instruction relates learning in all areas to a central focus and builds meaningful connections for understanding, retention, and application. Each school day provides opportunities for large group, small group, and independent learning as well as for discovery through hands-on learning. While each class contains a mixture of learning levels, we use ability grouping, as needed, to provide a developmentally appropriate challenge for all students. Collaborative projects promote an awareness of interdependency and respect for the ideas of others.

We are an informal school with an underlying and supportive structure that encourages students to take risks and try new learning experiences. We value play for the opportunities it provides for emotional, physical, cognitive, and social growth. We view homework positively for developing a sense of responsibility and independence for one's own learning, but balance the quantity with a desire for our students to have time to be children. Our students learn to evaluate their own learning. Self-assessment, along with ongoing teacher assessment, places the child at the center of the educational process and provides direction for future instruction.