How would you describe your child’s school in just six words? Recently, hundreds of students, parents, teachers and alumni at The Roeper School did exactly that.
Their goal: To refresh this metro Detroit private school’s mission from the inside out. And their answers — progressive, justice, citizen, gifted, happy, safe — shaped the result:
“We empower gifted learners to be active and compassionate citizens of the world.”
It reflects all students’ voices, shares Lower School teacher Elisabeth Stayer — from preschoolers’ vision boards to high schoolers’ word clouds displayed in open spaces.
“Our hope was to get to the core of who we are,” explains Stayer, who is also a faculty representative to the school’s board. “By asking everyone to come up with a six-word story that describes Roeper, we aimed to spark participation and excitement. And we did.”
Here’s a look at what this new mission means for Roeper’s Lower School (preschool-grade 5) in Bloomfield Hills and Middle & Upper School (grades 6-8 and 9-12) in Birmingham.
Why is the mission revised?
Like many independent schools, Roeper revisits its mission every 10–15 years — a tradition dating to its founding by German educational pioneers George and Annemarie Roeper in 1941.
“A mission statement is what guides us,” Stayer says. “It is a touchstone that we can turn back to with every decision we make.” Compared to the 2010 version, the new one:
- Is shorter and more dynamic. “We wanted it to feel very active,” says Stayer. (Previously, it was: “Educating and inspiring gifted students to think as individuals and to engage as a community with compassion for each other and this world.”)
- Reflects collaboration and many perspectives. “We wanted to develop something that included the voice of all our community members.”
What Roeper’s mission looks like in Lower School
“At all levels of the school, we are committed to providing students with tools and experiences that give them confidence and agency,” says Stayer. “That’s what prepares them to be active and compassionate citizens.”
In preschool to grade 5, this means:
- Student choice starts early: Even preschoolers select their own “afternoon adventures,” while, starting at grade 2, kids pick electives that reflect their interests.
- Navigating campus builds responsibility: By second grade, students walk across Roeper’s 13-acre campus in small groups, practicing independence and trust.
- Leadership is built into everyday experiences: Students take responsibility, whether that’s kindergartners and first graders planning a teddy bear picnic for preschoolers or older kids pitching ideas for Roeper’s new outdoor classroom to a local architect.
- Greater awareness through curriculum: From world cultures to environmental issues to ethical dilemmas, students explore real-world issues and learn to think critically about their role in making a difference.
How Roeper’s mission comes to life in the Middle & Upper School
By middle and high school, Roeper’s mission is fully embedded in student-centered learning, leadership and independence. It looks something like this:
- Electives ramping up in middle school: Kids explore interests in areas like graphic novel design, digital storytelling and history through maps, building confidence in their choices.
- Commitment to an equitable and just world: Students reflect on systemic inequities and engage in service learning or meaningful discussions on societal challenges.
- Senior projects letting students lead: 12th graders design and execute independent projects that emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving and connections across disciplines, such as:
- Composing and publishing a book of poetry
- Designing a playground that blends architecture, urban planning, community development and child psychology
- Arranging video game music for a live performance by the concert band
- Graduates taking diverse paths: Ready to follow their passions, graduates attend top universities, pursue art or STEM programs, or take a gap year — all moving forward with confidence, adaptability and purpose.
What this all means for families
For parents, Roeper’s mission translates into a learning environment where gifted students embrace individuality, understand justice and take ownership of their education.
“The best way for kids to learn how to make choices and decisions is for them to have practice,” Stayer says.
And the focus is on building confident, engaged citizens — not just high test scores.
“We are supporting the action and compassion of learners now, while they’re here.”
This content is sponsored by The Roeper School, a private school for gifted children in grades preschool-12 in Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham. Learn more at The Roeper School website.
from Metro Parent https://ift.tt/U43qvWB
0 comments:
Post a Comment