|
The
Stanwich School is a new school, but its culture
is well-established. The School's symbol,
the Triskelion, represents Mind, Body and Spirit.
It is this distinctive values-based, character-building
education that sets Stanwich apart. At
Stanwich, students are encouraged to:
Be
the Best You Can Be
Help
Others Be Their Best
Make God's World a Better Place
On
a daily basis, in countless ways, The Stanwich
School encourages students to embrace the Judeo-Christian
values by which it hopes they will live.
From the moment students arrive each morning
and shake Mrs. Young's hand, their values-based
education begins. All students attend
morning meetings which build community and instill
in students a sense of purpose and belonging.
Meetings begin with song and end with a non-denominational
prayer. During meetings in each House,
students recite the Pledge of Allegiance, recognize
birthdays and student achievements, and discuss
the issues of the day.
Weekly
values and ethics classes are taught to students
by the Headmistress and the Head of House.
In the Primary House, these classes include
a story with a pertinent moral or lesson.
In the Intermediate and Junior Houses, classes
involve discussion of current events and adolescent
issues. Students maintain a "values
notebook" and are assigned homework relating
to class discussions.
Monthly
mottos and themes are emphasized by teachers
throughout the day. The "Stanwich
Seven" guide these themes across all the
Houses: Courage, Compassion, Commitment,
Forgiveness, Honesty, Wisdom and Joy.
Teachers
model the behaviors that The School advocates
such as kindness, generosity, perseverance and
service to others. At assemblies, teachers
are invited to relate personal experiences that
underscore these messages. Teachers eat
lunch and spend recess with their classes; they
get to know the "whole child."
Many teachers also attend student activities
after school such as drama productions, art
festivals, sporting events and social gatherings.
As one teacher observed, "Stanwich, in
a word, has value. It is a place where
people are treated fairly and good moral lessons
are learned. I truly believe that the
moral lessons rub off on the students, which
ultimately will make them better people."
A
special book is chosen for students in each
House to read over the summer. The book
reflects the mission of The School and forms
the basis for activities during the first week
of School in the fall.
The
Stanwich School recognizes that parents and
families are an essential and integral component
in encouraging students to embrace its values.
Therefore, parental involvement is actively
promoted in many aspects of school life.
Many parents attend morning meetings and assemblies
to hear The School's leaders emphasize The School's
mission and show their support for what The
School is trying to accomplish. Many school
events such as community service projects and
forums for guest speakers are organized by parents.
Parents participate in monthly values assignments
and are called upon to discuss their life experiences
with students. Parents are also asked
to read a book each summer that reflects The
School's mission. The Head of School then
discusses that book with parents in the fall.
The
School has also established unique traditions
that reinforce its mission. For example,
each year the School celebrates Charter Day,
the anniversary of the founding of The School.
Students reflect on what Stanwich means to them,
guest speakers address the importance of the
Stanwich mission, and a School-wide community
service project is undertaken. Of course,
birthday cake is served as well!
Come
visit us at The Stanwich School and you will
see what the "Heart of Stanwich" is
all about!
|
"We
are so proud that our commitment to a traditional,
rigorous academic program has had such great
results. But our students are learning something
more. The Golden Rule, Ten Commandments and
the emphasis we place on personal responsibility
truly become a certainty that our kids can internalize.
We call this the Heart of Stanwich, and it is
our hope that every child here will use this
heart to guide them wherever life takes them".
-
Headmistress
