Our Mission, Methods, and Values

Our students are prepared to excel in college and beyond.

• They enjoy learning and respect knowledge. They regard learning as meaningful and fulfilling.
• They have confidence in themselves and in their peers and the persistence to work together to solve problems and surmount difficulties.
• They value healthy, balanced lifestyles, embracing a range of interests and valuing the arts, athletics, and their personal relationships as fully as academics.
• They understand the components of a rewarding life.
• They recognize their own strengths and weaknesses, and they know their own emotions.
• They understand how they learn and solve problems. They can monitor their own learning.
• They are well-spoken, articulate communicators.
• They advocate for themselves.
• They adapt easily to different environments and cultures.
• They know how to lead and recognize there are many ways to do so effectively.

Our students ask why and what if.

• They know how to problem-solve: how to approach problems critically and creatively, and how to ask probing questions.
• They habitually reflect on ideas.
• They have confidence that comes from engaging legitimately difficult questions. 
• They have the confidence to challenge received wisdom and to explore their own novel solutions.
• They possess a healthy skepticism and the skill to identify fallacious reasoning.
• They can analyze, synthesize and evaluate the credibility of data gathered from a variety of sources. 
• They are comfortable using
  technology to collect, analyze, and pres- ent information.
• They seek and find solutions.

Our students display tenacity and persistence.

• They take initiative.
• They display the will to persist in the active pursuit of creative solutions.
• They know how to manage time and how to cope with the challenging pace and complexity of the modern world,
• They know how to work hard now for rewards that will come later.

Our students embrace cultures other than their own.

• They are open-minded and collaborative.
• They enjoy interacting both socially and professionally with people of different backgrounds.
• They believe that working together with others can engender clearer understanding.
• They understand the importance of developing relationships and of under- standing other cultural perspectives.
• They affirm their individuality and celebrate the unique gifts of others.
• They have the courage to explore other points of view and the willingness to build bridges that connect them with others.

Our students live with integrity.

• They seek out strong communities
  and participate responsibly in their world, demonstrating empathy through service to others near and far.
• They recognize a moral dimension to their lives and their learning.
• They appreciate their own good fortune in the gifts life has given them.
• They are courteous and respectful of others.
• They are good sports on and off the playing field.

Our teachers share a commitment to continuously developing their lessons and methods based on new research and best practices. The result is an intentional, future-focused curriculum that helps students become skilled problem solvers, empathetic leaders, and compassionate human beings.

At Seven Hills, we:

• Believe that learning should be engaging and relevant.
• Use teaching methods designed to ensure that students acquire the intellectual and social skills they need to thrive in an increasingly complex global community.
• Focus not only on the acquisition of knowledge, but on inquiry, discovery, and the application of skills to meaningful problem-solving.
• Teach students to make choices, to manage their time, to think critically and creatively, and, above all, to take responsibility for their own learning.
• Are committed to exploring educational best practices and to adapting our instructional methods to advances in technology and developments in the world

At Seven Hills, our classrooms are open, nurturing, and highly participatory. Teachers guide students through a journey of self-discovery while getting to know their individual learning styles and interests. By giving students the freedom to explore and experience new things, we help them become confident in who they are and what they want to do.

At Seven Hills, we believe that:

• Students learn best when they work in an atmosphere of open inquiry and mutual respect.
• The school should provide a safe, supportive, and challenging environment, with clear goals and high expectations for student achievement and conduct.
• Education is relationship-based and that students learn best when teachers fully understand the interests, motivations, and individual learning styles of each of their students.
• The school should provide the widest possible range of opportunities for students to explore personal interests and develop individual talents.
• Extracurricular and athletic activities should be open to all students who wish to participate, regardless of their innate ability.

We believe that who students are is just as important as what they know. That’s why we explicitly model and teach our values to our students from a very early age. As they grow into their own person, we strive to nurture their intellectual, moral, and social skills, so that they can become engaged, articulate, and responsible citizens of the world.

At Seven Hills, we:

• Believe that the school, in partnership with our families, plays a critical role in helping students develop character and core values.
• Strive to nurture the intellectual, aesthetic, moral, and social skills our students will need to become engaged citizens and responsible leaders.
• See our teachers, administrators, and staff as role models, mentors, and collaborators, engaging with students in meaningful and mutually respectful ways.
• Value individuality and believe that a rich diversity of backgrounds and perspectives enriches our community.
• Encourage students and faculty to be actively involved in their communities, making us all more aware of the needs of others.