Education is based in satisfying the needs of the whole child.  By considering each student’s moral, physical, emotional, social, and academic needs, and by striving to work with the parents to satisfy these needs, we will help our students to achieve more educationally, and to become happier and more intelligent citizens of our country and community in the future.

We promote democracy and citizenship through teaching, and provide opportunities to participate in school activities which promote these principles.  This is necessary to make our students well aware of their privileges and responsibilities in our democratic society.

We believe that:

1. Individual student needs and differences must always be considered and addressed.

2. Children learn by doing, via actual participation in structured and planned educational activities.

3. Children’s activities must be purposeful in helping achieve educational goals.

4. All community resources should be utilized to make subject matter more meaningful and teaching more effective.

5. The curriculum should address Illinois Learning Standards, yet be flexible enough to address the needs of the community and needs of each student and each classroom.

6. It is important to stress the moral, physical, disciplinary, emotional, and mental development of each student.

Some of the areas in which our students will need teacher assistance are in the development of:

1. Critical thinking skills.

2. A knowledge of democratic principles.

3. Desirable leisure time activities.

4. Desirable health practices.

5. Personal confidence and self-esteem.

6. A sense of honesty, fair play, patience, and self-control.

7. Desirable study habits.

8. A sense of responsibility.

9. Recognizing and respecting the needs and rights of others.

10. Appreciating the need for and benefits of a positive work ethic.

11. Non-violent conflict resolution skills.

12. Achieve maximum progress in promoting academic, emotional, and social growth.

A need equally important to consider is that of the human relationships that exist in our school and our school community. In order to achieve maximum effectiveness in our work, it is necessary for us to achieve harmony and teamwork among our co-workers, students, and parents. This unified "partnership" approach to educating children is essential.

If we accurately, honestly, and consistently interpret the role of the school to the students and parents, and work together, everyone will be informed not only of our accomplishments, but will better understand our limitations and our needs as educators.  In a partnership approach to education students, parents must be well informed to both assist and support the school.

Interpreting and communicating the role of the school is a very important function of a good teacher. We must educate not only our students, but we must help the parents know and understand what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how they may assist us in being successful with their child. Achieving this goal is a major part of our professional responsibility as educators.

Parental inquiries are an indication of interested parents willing to be of help. Your rate of success in the classroom will increase dramatically if you have the full support and cooperation of parents in the home. Establishing this working relationship is not always an easy task, but the time and effort you expend creating cooperative efforts now, will yield rewards for you in the future. Please make every effort to maintain an open line of communication with parents, students, and co-workers, ensuring a positive academic environment, with community support, that will help to maximize your achievements in working with students.