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The Wakefield Mission
To foster the character, curiosity, and clear voices the world will always need.
The greatest challenge in education is preparing people to thrive in a world that is rapidly evolving. Unprecedented societal and technological advances are coalescing to capture our imagination, influence how we learn, and shape how we interact with each other and with society. In response to these sea changes in the human experience, how we educate, and how students learn, must also evolve. Yet certain fundamental skills will always be necessary for the successful and joyful pursuit of lifelong learning: acting ethically, thinking critically, and communicating effectively. It is to the development of these timeless qualities that Wakefield School’s mission is dedicated.
Guiding
Principles
To foster something is to help it grow.
Education at its most powerful enables students to nurture, explore, and expand their innate abilities and dispositions. At the heart of a Wakefield education is the partnership between the student, his or her family, and the school that empowers students to take ownership of their unique learning experiences. A transformational educational experience fosters the earned confidence foundational to achievement and lifetime fulfillment.
We Foster
Character
Wakefield’s founding motto, Virtus et Sapientia (Virtue and Wisdom), reflects the primary importance of character development to Wakefield’s educational mission. Our values of respect, empathy, integrity, and community define the “Wakefield Way.” Ownership of learning demands higher levels of engagement, accountability, and service from Wakefield students, from which character development naturally ensues. Students with good character embrace responsibility and challenge, flourish individually, and communally, and understand that success is earned.
We Foster
Curiosity
Curiosity is the instinct to question and the desire to learn more. Curious students greet the unknown and suspend judgment, recognizing that diverse fields of study and perspectives promote deeper understanding. A Wakefield education fosters student-initiated inquiries into new fields of study shaped by the students’ personal interests and passions. Fostering curiosity promotes initiative, creativity, and exploration which is foundational to a lifelong love of learning—the ultimate gift of education.
We Foster
Clear Voices
Clear voices communicate with authenticity, civility, efficiency, and a deep understanding of both the subject and the audience. Founded on studious inquiry, encouraged by supportive faculty, and reinforced by the “Wakefield Way,” students develop the confidence to express themselves through various means inside and outside of the classroom. Clear voices enable students to work effectively with others and impact their world through skillful articulation of thoughts and ideas.
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