We guide our students to think critically and independently, and to relish learning as an end in itself. We teach a knowledge-based curriculum building strong foundations for later learning and opens doors to effective participation and mutual understanding in a global society. We foster a positive, non-punitive school culture where students feel interconnected, emboldened, and secure to take academic risks.
We invest profoundly in our faculty by providing ongoing professional training and support and encourage our educators to collaborate closely and push each other to achieve great outcomes to curate this thriving learning community where there is a palpable sense of reciprocal teaching and learning.
We co-design our schools with families, educators, students, and community organizations. We believe it takes a village to actualize the promise we are making to families to prepare our students for a life of opportunity, impact, and choice. Schools are important institutions within our communities, and they have a responsibility to amplify the voices and create a responsive experience for the students, families, and communities we serve.
Classical education depends on a three-part process of training the mind. The phases are roughly coordinated with human development and would ideally be coordinated with each individual student’s development. The philosophy of education is a robust study of literature, poetry, drama, philosophy, history, art, and languages. The early years of school are spent in absorbing facts, systematically laying the foundations for advanced study. In the middle grades, students learn to think through arguments. In the high school years, they learn to express themselves.
EVA’s school design incorporates teacher and leader planning and development meetings, the aim of which is to develop the teacher’s content knowledge and the leader’s leadership capacity to lead their teams. EVA will also provide teachers and leaders with ongoing coaching (observation and feedback), weekly professional development and summer institutes.
Ours will be built on the idea of interconnectedness and interdependence. We approach one another with generosity of spirit and acts of service. We engage the whole school and class community meeting daily. Out of many neighborhoods and communities, we are one village.
Our families and our communities are our partners. We will promote collaboration and engagement with our families and communities through calendared events and our school’s “open door” policy. We will actively engage our village to support the development of our scholars.
EVA must ensure all students are socially, psychologically, physically, and intellectually safe. The EVA approach to discipline supports the commitment made in the mission statement to create a family centered learning environment. Ultimately, EVA views discipline as a process of learning – so the discipline system supports students to learn through reflection and action with a community of people who work to preserve and protect the dignity of every child.
We will proudly serve students with special needs and English Language learners. We meet scholars where they are no matter how they learn.
Students will be challenged every day to engage deeply with rigorous academic content but will also be supported with flexible small groupings tailored to their specific learning needs.
Mindfulness matters to us. Practicing mindfulness will support our students to build awareness of self and how their thoughts, feelings and actions may impact others. The act of learning to self-regulate is the essential to social-emotional learning. We take care of ourselves and our “village”.
An extended day allows us to provide adequate instructional minutes in core content to achieve mastery, provide small group in the moment feedback, a comprehensive enrichment experience and opportunities for teachers to engage in robust planning and development meetings.
Student uniforms are an important aspect of our school culture. Uniforms help to reduce the socio-economic tensions creating balance in the school and allow scholars to focus on what is most important: their learning.
Our world and communities are interconnected; we approach one another with generosity of spirit and acts of service.
Act well in situations that require an ethical response and honesty.
We grow our capacities with a relentless pursuit to learn and challenge ideas, while aiming to do all that we do with distinction.
Regard for the feelings, wishes, rights or traditions for each other, others and ourselves.
Statement of Non-Discrimination
It is the policy of Excelsior Village Academies not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If you wish to make a complaint or request accommodation or modification due to discrimination in any program, activity or service, contact the Chief Executive Officer at mflowers@excelsiorvillageacademies.org or (404) 986-8595 ext. 1000.
Title IX
Any questions regarding Title IX or the application of this policy can be directed to the Title IX Coordinator, Michelle Flowers at mflowers@excelsiorvillageacademies.org.
Excelsior Village Academies is a K through 8th-grade tuition-free public charter school proposed to open Fall 2024.
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