Philosophy

At the Atrium School, children are encouraged to build on their distinct experiences. Each child engages in a process of discovery that recognizes his or her uniqueness within a community of learners. This process fosters growing responsibility for one’s own development and an increasing sense of independence and self-reliance. This community, made up of children, parents, teachers, and administrators, holds at its core the growth and development of each child.

The educational program at the Atrium encourages children to become invested in their learning and to value and trust in themselves as learners. An emphasis on collaborative and hands-on learning sustains a climate where students learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students develop strategies that nourish their intellectual, emotional, social, and physical self-confidence. With these tools, children are inspired and prepared to take risks in order to achieve higher levels of thinking and learning. In these ways, children expand, deepen, and solidify their knowledge. In all of their interactions and studies, Atrium students are given time to question, explore, experiment, and reflect both independently and cooperatively.

A sense of community is a powerful and pervasive force at the Atrium School. Respect for each individual within a group and each individual’s membership in the community defines the essence of human interaction at the school. Teachers, families, and administrators work to meet the evolving needs of children. Together, they form a partnership of mentors, collaborators, and allies who guide children to think and act responsibly.

By upholding the principles of social justice and educational equity, the Atrium community accepts and teaches responsibility for building a community in which each person’s voice can be heard and respected. Children carry with them the teachings of an educational community that encourages its members to see the common threads that run through people’s lives. They learn to value the strength and integrity of differences, and to affirm the rights of the individual and the rights of others.

Here children learn the skills and concepts necessary to continue their explorations and education as contributing members of a diverse and multicultural society. Children at the Atrium School emerge from their elementary years with a positive sense of self and an authentic love of learning.