Our Philosophy
LEARNING FOR LIFE
At Springwell, we believe that learning is preparation for life. We welcome the whole child into our unique and caring community. Through discovery, students are encouraged to wonder, explore, connect, create, and find their calling. Whether it's digging dirt in science, cooking a meal with the vegetables from a garden, or learning fractions through rhythm and movement, Springwell will provide the daily support and learning needed to nourish a sense of self, community, and global connection. Through this holistic model, a love of learning is imprinted through experience, for life.
OUR FIVE PILLARS
THE WHOLE CHILD
Preparing for Life
We guide our students to activate, honor, and appreciate ALL the parts of themselves, their minds, bodies, hands, and hearts. We believe that learning is not just mental or academic. Instead, we tend to the emotional landscapes and physical well-being of our students as much as the intellectual. Our curriculum honors students of all learning styles and intelligences (visual-spatial, musical, bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal, verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, naturalistic, and interpersonal), prioritizing kinesthetic learning through hands-on activities and mind-body connections. Through this holistic model, a love of learning is imprinted through experience, for life.
In addition to activation, we cultivate balance and well-being. Our increasingly technological, modern world demands a lot from us, creating fast-paced days, overtired bodies, and sleepless nights. At Springwell, we provide students the foundation to find balance and develop healthy practices for life.
Examples of how we live this pillar:
Socio-emotional learning
Kinesthetic learning
Mind-body connection
Mindful, nurturing daily rituals that foster well-being, including shared communal mealtimes, and morning and end-of-day circles
A free-flowing classroom setting and the freedom to take brain breaks or concentration breaks
Exposure to healthy foods through a monthly cooking program
CREATING MEANING
A Constructivist Approach
Children, like all humans, create their own meaning. As humans, we have experiences and then we make sense of them. We get curious, we wonder, we research. We get things wrong. We express what we have learned, and then we do it all over again. At Springwell, we take an interdisciplinary, discovery-based, and arts-based approach to learning and expression. We don’t learn in boxes and categories. Why should we teach in them?
Examples of how we live this pillar:
Arts-integrated curriculum, including storytelling and drama
A student-centered and responsive classroom
Discovery-based and project-based approach
Student-led portfolios
DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE
Meeting Your Child Where They Are
Every move we make, every resource we use, every word spoken to a child is intentional to nurture growth. We hold the space for our students to be who they are, to be where they are, and to develop as individuals do. Rather than rely on uniform standards, we use an authentic, observation-based assessment system to identify student assets and to provide feedback on domains that require additional support or intervention. We take our time with our students, we observe, and we support. This mindful approach fosters lifelong sensations of self-confidence, self-acceptance, and intrinsic motivation. We maintain high expectations without the anxiety and self-doubt that plague so many learners.
Examples of how we live this pillar:
developmentally-appropriate curriculum
student choice and ownership of learning
observation-based assessment and standards
teachers and students collaborate to create and track individualized learning plans, regardless of age
INCLUSION
Finding Belonging Together
In an inclusive environment, every child and member of our community is welcomed, celebrated and recognized as an important member of the school community. We nurture a strong sense of belonging for children and adults - we are a family. As a multicultural and diverse community, we challenge the "isms" (racism, sexism, etc.) and we challenge assumptions to cultivate a safe and respectful learning environment that allows room for discomfort and difficult conversations. All intentions and actions point toward the sharing and understanding of different perspectives and reaching equitable resolutions as a community. At Springwell, we welcome differences and understand that a true democracy is an inclusive and accepting space. We skillfully support our students, teachers, administrators, and parents to communicate clearly and to value every person in order to maintain a common vision - a vibrant and supportive Springwell community.
Examples of how we live this pillar:
Supporting students to develop a powerful, growth mindset that will empower them for life
Culturally-responsive classroom
Family history and ancestral exploration projects
Exposure to stories, mythologies, histories from diverse cultures
GLOBAL & COMMUNITY MINDSET
We don’t learn in a vacuum. We are rooted in our families, in our neighborhoods, and ultimately in our global community. At Springwell, we cultivate a deep and rich experience of community, friendship, and relationship. We also support students to develop their sense of self, discover their passions and talents, so that they may unveil their greater purpose and impact the world around them. It is through action that they develop courage and resilience. It is also through activities supporting this pillar that students learn communication skills, negotiation skills, conflict resolutions skills and wrestle with concepts like justice, equity, and fairness.
Examples of how we live this pillar:
Problem-solving
Student leadership and conflict resolution circles
Exposure to Spanish language through arts enrichment programs
Community-based partnerships
Field trips and guest speakers from our local community
Parents as guest speakers and teachers at our school
Meet Our Teachers
Contact us.
info@springwell.school