Culture
The school culture at Étude Elementary is an integral part of the educational program.
Étude Elementary’s school culture supports a learning environment where students openly share thoughts about their school community and support the learning of others. We accomplish this through a participatory community, where students have a voice in community decisions via daily Morning Meetings and a discipline system founded on decency and trust.
Responsive Classrooms
Responsive Classroom facilitates a nurturing community where students take an active role in creating a culture of decency and trust. At the beginning of each school year, students and staff work together to create classroom and community expectations. These expectations help students understand what it means to be part of a learning community and to take ownership of their learning. Classrooms are set up as inquiry-based environments where students are encouraged to ask questions and take risks. Students are given opportunities throughout the day to work individually, as well as collaborate in meaningful ways with others. Through these interactions, students learn that we all have valuable thinking to share and collectively contribute to the community.
Morning Meetings
Daily Morning Meetings are a core part of our school culture. Students begin each day with a classroom meeting that helps facilitate the transition from home to school. These meetings help students prepare for learning by disengaging stress through movement activities and by building connections and community through sharing celebrations and problem-solving concerns.
Classroom Meetings may also occur as needed throughout the day. Students work together with teacher guidance to problem-solve situations and concerns as they arise. Interdependence is an important part of the classroom meeting ritual. Students learn they are self-reliant while at the same time responsible for each other.