Our Kinkaid

OUR KINKAID Part I A Report to the Kinkaid Community

Table of Contents Setting the Foundation 2 Clarifying the Mission 4 Defining the Core Values & Motto

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Planning Ahead 10

SETTING THE FOUNDATION

These words begin to ground our belief system and set the framework for our mission, vision, values and imperatives.

The words are adapted from works from both Mrs. Kinkaid as well as previous and current trustees.

Our FOUNDATION M r s . K in k a id ’s in s p ire d v is io n t o a p p ro a c h e d u c a t io n in t e r m s o f ‘t h e w h o lly h e a lt h y c h ild ’ is a s re le v a n t t o t h e fu t u re

o f t h e s c h o o l a s it h a s b e e n t o it s d is t in g u is h e d p a s t . “M y s c h o o l is n o t a p re p a r a t io n fo r a s t u d e n t ’s life ; it is h is /h e r life ,” s h e s a id . K in k a id re m a in s d e d ic a t e d t o o u r s t u d e n t s ’ p u r s u it o f k n o w le d g e b y p ro v id in g m e a n in g fu l e n r ic h m e n t in a c a d e m ic s , a t h le t ic s a n d a r t s a n d t h e re b y d e v e lo p in g g ro w t h in m in d , b o d y a n d s p ir it .

Kinkaid is first and foremost a college preparatory school intended to prepare every graduate to succeed in college and beyond. Kinkaid educates the whole child, not only a child who is academically gifted in ways measured by tests or grades. Kinkaid shall continue to provide an excellent education to students whose abilities are diverse, with teachers and classes that prepare the students to achieve every child’s potential. We are unique in our ability to serve both the most academically gifted and those capable of the work required at a school of Kinkaid’s caliber, but whose strengths are focused in other areas.

Educating the wholly healthy child means encouraging and challenging students to develop talents in performing, creating and understanding the arts. Educating the wholly healthy child means encouraging and challenging students to learn the discipline and the teamwork of athletics and the satisfaction of hard physical work. Our commitment remains to provide the best teachers to encourage and develop these talents while also providing the skills and knowledge needed for success in college and beyond.

Educating the wholly healthy child means teaching our core values that, without displacing the family’s role in any way, educates the character of a student to become a decent and contributing member of our Kinkaid community as well as of a college community and society. Mrs. Kinkaid believed, “Concern for others grows in service to others.” The School’s longstanding commitment to leadership and character development is enhanced by a diverse community with shared values and opportunities for service.

We recognize that education is simpler for schools that accept only students who fall in a narrow range of test scores or who specialize in a single art or discipline; simpler for schools that are sectarian and serve students, teachers and parents who have the same religious beliefs and cultural values; simpler for schools that are secular and forbid any acknowledgment of religion in the School. Kinkaid has not made these simplifying choices. We have embraced our identity and our commitment to the very principles and beliefs upon which Mrs. Kinkaid first founded our school.

In committing itself to a balanced education of the wholly healthy child in an excellent, nonsectarian, private, college preparatory school, Kinkaid has intentionally chosen its distinct path. Mrs. Kinkaid anticipated the future with her strong moral compass, grounded perspective on learning and service to others. Kinkaid has always, through its history, embraced opportunity to evolve, while fiercely holding on to its values and traditions.

CLARIFYING the mission Our mission, or reason for being, has been modified over the years. We have carefully maintained core elements of our existing mission and incorporated core beliefs from Mrs. Kinkaid with concepts that are vital to our responsibility as a college preparatory school that prepares student.

Our mission is t o p ro m o t e e d u c a t io n a l e x c e lle n c e a n d b a la n c e d g ro w t h in a c h a lle n g in g , s a fe a n d in c lu s iv e le a r n in g e n v iro n m e n t fo r t h e

b e n e fi t o f in t e lle c t u a lly c a p a b le c h ild re n o f s o u n d c h a r a c t e r w h o s e t a le n t s , in t e re s t s a n d u n iq u e n e s s w ill b e e n c o u r a g e d a n d n u r t u re d t o p re p a re t h e m t o le a d , s e r v e a n d b e c o m e c o n t r ib u t in g c it iz e n s t o t o K in k a id , o u r c o u n t r y a n d t h e g lo b a l c o m m u n it y .

Educational Excellence – we will prepare our students with a high caliber, well-rounded academic experience to ensure they achieve their best potential and be prepared to succeed in their collegiate experience.

Balanced Growth – we will educate the wholly healthy child, including the mental, physical and

emotional wellness, and create a balanced curriculum that includes academics, arts, athletics while incorporating character, personal and life skills.

Challenging – we will always be a school that values rigor in academics, arts and athletics and holds our students to high standards.

Safe – we are intentional in our commitment to create a safe campus and environment for our teachers to teach and our children to learn, to explore, and to share their individuality with confidence.

Inclusive – we foster an environment where every person is accepted for their individuality and uniqueness.

Learning environment – we work to embrace and protect our natural campus, while creating spaces, structures and environments to facilitate our children’s learning, development and growth.

Intellectually capable children – we will seek and actively support children who are able to live up to the high academic standards of the school.

Sound character – we will hold every person in our community, including our children, to a high ethical and moral standard guided by our core values.

Talent, interest and uniqueness – we will embrace the uniqueness of every child and support their individuality to live up to their full potential.

Encouraged and nurtured – we will foster an open, healthy and safe environment where each child

feels she or he is valued, appreciated and supported, and believes that they are supported in achieving to the best of her or his abilities.

Lead, serve and become contributing citizens – we will produce leaders and people who will positively contribute to the wellbeing of society and other people.

To Kinkaid – we will value contributions to our school and encourage actions that support our mission and values.

Our country and the global community – we will embrace understanding and action around the ideals, work ethic and dreams that define America and will prepare children to be part of something bigger than our school and community.

DEFINING THE CORE VALUES

Our values remain the same, with the only additions being clarifying statements to define how we view values holistically as well as additions to the definition of Honesty.

Our CORE VALUES K in k a id ’s c o re v a lu e s s e t t h e fr a m e w o r k fo r s u p p o r t in g t h e g ro w t h o f s t ro n g in d iv id u a ls o f c h a r a c t e r. T h e y e s t a b lis h t h e

b o u n d a r ie s in h o w w e w o r k a n d in t e r a c t w it h o n e a n o t h e r a n d p ro v id e a s h a re d s e t o f e x p e c t a t io n s fo r e v e r y m e m b e r o f t h e s c h o o l c o m m u n it y .

Honesty - Members of the Kinkaid community tell the truth and act with integrity and honor. We do not mislead, cheat, steal or lie.

Responsibility - Members of the Kinkaid community are reliable and hold themselves and others accountable for their actions. We do not make excuses, blame others or take unwarranted credit.

Respect - Members of the Kinkaid community affirm the intrinsic dignity of all people. We act with tolerance, courtesy, and thoughtful regard for all persons, for property, for the environment and for ourselves.

Kindness - Members of the Kinkaid community exhibit caring and compassionate behavior in all

aspects of daily life. We are not mean, do not harass nor act in a cruel manner. By our positive example, we discourage unkind behavior in others.

DEFINING THE MOTTO Our motto remains the same. We have created definition for our motto to create shared meaning.

Our MOTTO L u x p e r S c ie n t ia m - L ig h t t h r o u g h K n o w le d g e Our motto describes our belief, and that of our founder, that there is a light in every child that radiates both inward and outward. That light creates a connection to knowledge, which is absorbed, shared and disseminated.

It is through our balanced approach to learning that our children become enlightened about their studies, their community, their world and themselves.

Planning Ahead These five strategic areas are where we as a school and board will place focus, energy and resources.

Our Strategic Areas of Focus K in k a id w ill fo c u s o n t h e s e fi v e s t r a t e g ic a re a s t o fu lfi ll o u r m is s io n a n d c a r r y o u t t h e c o re v a lu e s .

The Kinkaid Student – educating our students with 21st century skills in a healthy, safe, challenging yet balanced learning and growing environment while preparing them to be successful in college and to become lifelong learners and leaders of themselves and their communities.

The Kinkaid Teacher – ensuring the best teaching in every classroom and supporting our teachers

to create an engaging, highly collaborative and psychologically safe learning environment that values diversity of thought.

The Kinkaid Citizen – fostering contributing and highly productive, moral students to not only succeed, but lead in the changing, diverse world.

The Kinkaid Experience – creating the practices as well as environments, buildings and spaces to support learning, teaching and building community today and in the future.

The Kinkaid Operations – ensuring school management and operations are high performing and all professionals are accountable to the highest standards.