The Foothills School philosophy is based
on the interrelationships among intellect, character, and creativity.
We believe that in order to be well prepared for the future, children
must have a solid intellectual foundation, must develop their capacities
for inventiveness, and must 
participate in a community that builds
self-confidence and interpersonal skills.
Our expectations and
our educational strategies reflect an understanding of children's
needs and abilities as they grow and mature. This developmental
perspective, together with a profound concern for the physical
and emotional well-being of each child, is the essence of the Foothills
School program. The curriculum content emphasizes critical thinking,
problem solving, the arts, environmental science, and international
perspectives, including ongoing foreign language instruction that
begins in kindergarten.
Intellect
The most fundamental goal at Foothills School is to engage our
students’ minds. Academic skills and content are taught together,
not as fragmented lessons. Thus, basic skills are learned in context
and become a means for understanding the world rather than ends
in themselves. Our goals for intellectual development are divided
into three areas:
Academic Skills
- Literacy
- Mathematics
Knowledge
- Scientific Literacy
- World/Cultural Awareness
- Literature
- Music
- Visual Arts
- Performing Arts
Tools for Thinking
- Keen Observation
- Recognition of Relationships/Patterns
- Analysis and Synthesis of Information
- Interpretation, Inference
- Inductive and Deductive logic
- Critical Thinking, Hypothesizing
- Problem
Solving
Character
The Foothills School atmosphere values diversity. We encourage
both a strong sense of self-worth
and sensitivity to others. We support children’s
capacities for positive social action, which includes:
cooperation, empathy and
responsibility. Our goals for character
development are based on the child’s growing sense
of self, understanding of other individuals,
and participation in the community.
Self
- Self awareness and understanding
- Self-confidence and self-esteem
- Responsibility for one’s
actions and choices
- Integrity
Other Individuals
- Capacity to initiate, develop
and maintain satisfying
relationships
- Social construction of
knowledge
- Interpersonal
skills
such as: communication,
negotiation,
cooperation
- Peaceful
conflict
resolution
- Respect
for
others' ideas
- Capacity
to
understand
another’s
perspective
Community
- Capacity
to function
harmoniously and
effectively with
others
- Responsibility
and sensitivity
as a
group member
- Concern
for the
common good
of the
group
- Propensity
to contribute
to the
welfare of
the group
- Sense
of social
responsibility
Creativity
We encourage and recognize creativity
in its many forms. Certainly
creativity is
often expressed
through the
arts: drama, dance, music,
painting, and drawing,
but it is also evident in new combinations
of ideas or objects as children work
on projects.
Sometimes creativity
leads to a tangible
product,
sometimes to a new idea, a unique solution
to a problem, or
a whole new way of thinking;
we value all such creative expressions and
create a climate of trust in which students
are
encouraged
to reach for
the unique, the untried,
the “risky idea” or expression.
We offer a rich variety of media and tools
for students to manipulate.
We focus on the attitudes
that foster creative responses
and the skills that
give creative ideas form and substance.
Attitudes
- Self-confidence and self-esteem
- Sense of curiosity, playfulness
- Flexibility of mind
- Ability to generate and accept new
ideas
Design
- Ability to frame a problem, identify
criteria for solutions
- Ability to generate a variety
of strategies
- Ability to choose a plan
and judge its probability
of success
Expression
- Skills to express oneself
through a variety
of media
- Ability to sustain
efforts to complete
projects
and plans
- Ability to evaluate
results, reflect
on process and
message
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