Our Mission
To provide an educational setting where challenging academics
build solid work habits, an achievement culture nurtures healthy
attitudes, and a caring environment forges social responsibility.
Our Focus Is To:
Inspire children to set goals, be productive, and develop an attitude
toward life that is positive, purposeful, and satisfying.
Develop in children the habits and attitudes of hard work, self-discipline,
fortitude and responsibility in order that they may reach their goals.
Equip children with the highest standards of academic training that
furnishes a strong knowledge base and teaches students how to think
critically and creatively.
Shape children's conscience to know the good, to love the good and to
do the good.
A Good Tree Produces Good Fruit
The academic program at Birchwood School is based upon our belief in
historical principles of child development. Drawing from the tenets of a
classical, liberal education and Judaeo-Christian ethics, we believe the
nurturing of character should begin early; children who are taught how to
be industrious, responsible, productive, and compassionate at an early
age, have the strongest chance of becoming happy, productive, and
responsible adults. In other words, if we can cultivate a good tree, there
is a good chance we will have good fruit.
We use challenging academics to nurture character. We make every
effort to place each child at an instructional level where they can learn
how to be a goal setter, how to exercise self-control, and how to be
productive. Our approach is supported by 1) small class size where we
provide individual attention, 2) a close working relationship with parents
through which we carefully monitor each child=s academic, emotional,
and social development, 3) teachers who are dedicated to our vision and
goal, and 4) by academic standards which give children a strong
knowledge base while teaching them to think analytically and critically.
Our academic successes are measurable, and the performance of our
students in high school and college substantiates our confidence that "A
good tree produces good fruit."
Inspire
An inspired child is a child who is positive toward life and eager to stretch
toward new opportunities. Inspiration springs from examples and personal
experience. At Birchwood, we address both.
Each morning we read inspiration stories taken from history, great
literature, famous quotes, current events or biographies. These stories
help to inscribe mental images in the minds and consciences of children
that have the power to affect the children attitudes and conduct long after
the story is told.
Second, we use our educational program to give students their own
goal-setting experiences that team them how to live a positive, inspired
life. Education that inspires requires that each child is kept at an
instructional level. Whether an average student or a gifted student, every
child must have opportunities to set challenging academic goals. Then
they need caring adults to surround them with the support they need to
reach their goals. When goals are achieved, children discover the
inherent joy of a job well done. They find pride in their work and pride in
themselves. Each small success is like a building block toward a life of
productivity. It teaches them the process of goal-setting and the
satisfaction it brings while inspiring them toward future achievements.
Develop
Inspired children also need to develop the personal characteristics and
virtues which enable them to reach their goals. They need academic work
which demands industry, diligence, perseverance and self-control. Not
only do they need to experience success, they also need to experience
setbacks, not as a debilitating factor, but as an experience from which to
learn, something which teaches them to evaluate their work, consider
how to improve, and then, with a teacher=s understanding and support,
tackle the work once again. In this way, children develop a hardy
constitution which aspires toward high goals and yet can face the
rigorous path that is required.
Equip
As we develop each child's character, it is important to equip them with a
first class education. At Birchwood we draw from time-tested and
research-based education strategies and curricula. We avoid untested
educational bandwagons and hold ourselves to educational standards
which compare our students= work to that found in the best schools in
the country. While providing a strong knowledge base in subject matter,
we teach all our children to be problem solvers and to think analytically
and creatively.
Furthermore, we believe it is important to validate our academic claims
with objective criteria. To this end, we test all of our children yearly on
national standardized tests. We enter our children=s work in academic
competitions which measures their work by the highest standards of
excellence. We benchmark all of our academic programming, holding our
education plan to the scrutiny of the best programs in the country. And
we take note of the high schools our students enter and their academic
performance in those schools.
Educating the Conscience
Positive, productive children also need an educated conscience. The
human conscience is the regulator of human conduct, and the
conscience functions according to the knowledge it possesses (in both
Greek and Latin conscience means "with knowledge"). At Birchwood we
believe that the home and school should work together to teach children
to "know the good, to love the good and to do the good" (Classical Greek
aims of education). Granted, in the adult world, the line between good
and bad is not always clear cut. Choices are complex. However, children
should not grow up in a morally gray environment. They need a firm
moral base that clarifies and reinforces what is good and what is right.
They need guidance in how to treat others with kindness and respect.
Subsequently, this knowledge gives them a base of morality from which to
develop the wisdom needed in a complex adult world.
A Team Approach, A Common Calling
Parents who choose Birchwood School believe that our philosophy and
practice reflects their own values and aspirations for their children. They
find an administration and staff who become an extended family ready to
work together as a team. They find at Birchwood a common sentiment, a
high calling, that to raise our children well is one of the most important
things we can do in this lifetime.
> Founders' Statement
> Core Values
> School Goals
> Theoretical Base
build solid work habits, an achievement culture nurtures healthy
attitudes, and a caring environment forges social responsibility.
Our Focus Is To:
Inspire children to set goals, be productive, and develop an attitude
toward life that is positive, purposeful, and satisfying.
Develop in children the habits and attitudes of hard work, self-discipline,
fortitude and responsibility in order that they may reach their goals.
Equip children with the highest standards of academic training that
furnishes a strong knowledge base and teaches students how to think
critically and creatively.
Shape children's conscience to know the good, to love the good and to
do the good.
A Good Tree Produces Good Fruit
The academic program at Birchwood School is based upon our belief in
historical principles of child development. Drawing from the tenets of a
classical, liberal education and Judaeo-Christian ethics, we believe the
nurturing of character should begin early; children who are taught how to
be industrious, responsible, productive, and compassionate at an early
age, have the strongest chance of becoming happy, productive, and
responsible adults. In other words, if we can cultivate a good tree, there
is a good chance we will have good fruit.
We use challenging academics to nurture character. We make every
effort to place each child at an instructional level where they can learn
how to be a goal setter, how to exercise self-control, and how to be
productive. Our approach is supported by 1) small class size where we
provide individual attention, 2) a close working relationship with parents
through which we carefully monitor each child=s academic, emotional,
and social development, 3) teachers who are dedicated to our vision and
goal, and 4) by academic standards which give children a strong
knowledge base while teaching them to think analytically and critically.
Our academic successes are measurable, and the performance of our
students in high school and college substantiates our confidence that "A
good tree produces good fruit."
Inspire
An inspired child is a child who is positive toward life and eager to stretch
toward new opportunities. Inspiration springs from examples and personal
experience. At Birchwood, we address both.
Each morning we read inspiration stories taken from history, great
literature, famous quotes, current events or biographies. These stories
help to inscribe mental images in the minds and consciences of children
that have the power to affect the children attitudes and conduct long after
the story is told.
Second, we use our educational program to give students their own
goal-setting experiences that team them how to live a positive, inspired
life. Education that inspires requires that each child is kept at an
instructional level. Whether an average student or a gifted student, every
child must have opportunities to set challenging academic goals. Then
they need caring adults to surround them with the support they need to
reach their goals. When goals are achieved, children discover the
inherent joy of a job well done. They find pride in their work and pride in
themselves. Each small success is like a building block toward a life of
productivity. It teaches them the process of goal-setting and the
satisfaction it brings while inspiring them toward future achievements.
Develop
Inspired children also need to develop the personal characteristics and
virtues which enable them to reach their goals. They need academic work
which demands industry, diligence, perseverance and self-control. Not
only do they need to experience success, they also need to experience
setbacks, not as a debilitating factor, but as an experience from which to
learn, something which teaches them to evaluate their work, consider
how to improve, and then, with a teacher=s understanding and support,
tackle the work once again. In this way, children develop a hardy
constitution which aspires toward high goals and yet can face the
rigorous path that is required.
Equip
As we develop each child's character, it is important to equip them with a
first class education. At Birchwood we draw from time-tested and
research-based education strategies and curricula. We avoid untested
educational bandwagons and hold ourselves to educational standards
which compare our students= work to that found in the best schools in
the country. While providing a strong knowledge base in subject matter,
we teach all our children to be problem solvers and to think analytically
and creatively.
Furthermore, we believe it is important to validate our academic claims
with objective criteria. To this end, we test all of our children yearly on
national standardized tests. We enter our children=s work in academic
competitions which measures their work by the highest standards of
excellence. We benchmark all of our academic programming, holding our
education plan to the scrutiny of the best programs in the country. And
we take note of the high schools our students enter and their academic
performance in those schools.
Educating the Conscience
Positive, productive children also need an educated conscience. The
human conscience is the regulator of human conduct, and the
conscience functions according to the knowledge it possesses (in both
Greek and Latin conscience means "with knowledge"). At Birchwood we
believe that the home and school should work together to teach children
to "know the good, to love the good and to do the good" (Classical Greek
aims of education). Granted, in the adult world, the line between good
and bad is not always clear cut. Choices are complex. However, children
should not grow up in a morally gray environment. They need a firm
moral base that clarifies and reinforces what is good and what is right.
They need guidance in how to treat others with kindness and respect.
Subsequently, this knowledge gives them a base of morality from which to
develop the wisdom needed in a complex adult world.
A Team Approach, A Common Calling
Parents who choose Birchwood School believe that our philosophy and
practice reflects their own values and aspirations for their children. They
find an administration and staff who become an extended family ready to
work together as a team. They find at Birchwood a common sentiment, a
high calling, that to raise our children well is one of the most important
things we can do in this lifetime.
> Founders' Statement
> Core Values
> School Goals
> Theoretical Base
Birchwood School
A private elementary school serving grades 1 through 8
| Cleveland, OH 44137 Office: 216.251.2321 Fax: 216.251.2787 |
