ParentStudentHandbook2017-18 AUG.17

MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Berlin Community School, in an active partnership between school and community, is to provide effective and comprehensive educational opportunities in a nurturing environment designed to challenge all students to strive for personal excellence and responsible citizenship. This will foster the pursuit of life–long learning while achieving proficiency in the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and meet the challenges of an evolving global society.

SCHOOL MOTTO “Where students discover their potential!”

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Our School shall be a vital community in which all individuals are encouraged to develop skills, knowledge, and awareness, in order to attain happiness through improving themselves, society, and the environment. Our school shall be designed primarily for the individuals in it, and then for the society at large, in that well–educated citizens can contribute more effectively to society. WE BELIEVE that education is a prime factor in maintaining, improving and perpetuating a democracy as the ideal way of life; each child can be inspired to strive for personal distinction with a democratic environment; children should be preparing to assume the full responsibility of American citizenship; children can gain in self-esteem and become contributing members of home, school and community when provided with democratic experiences. WE BELIEVE that each child should be given worthwhile learning experiences based on our understanding of child growth and development; learning experiences should provide strength of character, moral integrity, and keen understanding of the changing world in which the child lives; individual creativity should be the culmination of successful experiences in academic, as well as social, emotional and physical development. WE BELIEVE that a teacher should be well trained, well informed and creative; the teacher provides the atmosphere, material, program and love required to help all children belong, achieve and grow; the professional responsibility of the teacher is a directive force of the educational process; the teacher’s attitudes and practices toward other teachers, administrators, students and parents should be ethical; a high degree of intra–staff cooperation is essential.

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