Our goal at the Phoenix School is to demonstrate the best in educational practices to ensure the success of all children.  With this goal in mind, it is important to know that, as in any profession, practices are constantly improving and changing as we learn, research and collaborate with other professionals in the field.  All of the practices currently used at the Phoenix School have either been proven effective through this research and collaboration, or are promising new ideas that foster learning. Thus, our curriculum is a “living” document. Its design and development reflect the tenets upon which our school was founded.  These tenets include:

• Everyone can learn. At the Phoenix School , parents, students, teachers and staff are passionate about learning.

• Experiential Learning is essential. Students optimize understanding through active participation in the process of learning.

• Critical and creative thinking are essential to success. Students develop the ability to gather, analyze and evaluate data in a dynamic world.

• Integrating the curriculum increases its relevance.  It is essential that students engage in experiences that demonstrate the relationship of subject matter.  These integrated experiences heighten the relevance subjects have to one another.

• Education is child-centered.  Children's needs are at the center of all decisions made at the Phoenix School.

• Education is actively linked to the community.  All members of the community, both at the Phoenix School , and our surrounding area, contribute to the process of teaching and learning.

• Assessment and evaluation are critical steps in the learning process.  Assessment and evaluation reflect the learning goals of the Phoenix School, and are aligned with the curriculum, national standards, instructional objectives and instructional strategies.

• A safe learning environment encourages inquiry and promotes growth.  Students at the Phoenix School are encouraged to take risks, explore, discover, question, examine, and to evaluate ideas, interests and concepts.  Such learning requires a safe, supportive, nurturing environment where collaboration and relationships are cultivated.