It is the purpose of the Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School to equip students with the knowledge, competencies, and confidence needed to live responsibly and successfully in our changing society. In order to fulfill this mission the school will implement programs and establish conditions that maximize learning success for students.
Underlying this mission is our belief that every child can learn and succeed. Every child is exceptional and valued. Each is a separate individual differing from others in learning style and learning rate. Each child comes to us at differing stages of development in social skills, physical maturity, cognitive ability and emotional adjustment. While the rate of growth is not the same for all areas within the child, neither is the rate of growth constant. We also believe children perform according to expectations and that students can be expected to develop to the fullest of his/her potential physically, mentally, socially and morally.
We believe that learning is a lifelong process in which success breeds success. Each person needs a positive self-concept in order to learn effectively. In learning one must: acquire new knowledge, insights, and skills; practice to reinforce and apply those acquisitions in more advanced ways; and then demonstrate proficiency.
Effective learning occurs in a non-threatening, interesting environment where students, parents, teachers, the school, and community take joint responsibility and work cooperatively together to foster a positive learning attitude. In order to achieve excellence, academic efforts cannot be confined to the classroom alone. Community and family partnerships are critical. A desirable learning atmosphere is rich in opportunities and relevant, meaningful, and challenging learning activities which demonstrate high expectations that all students can and will do well. Differing styles of teaching are employed in the constant search for ways to expand success experiences and support for our students every day.
The school will provide future oriented and problem solving educational experiences to enable our students to be “good at life” during their school years and after they graduate. Students will be provided with the time and instruction they need to: acquire knowledge and the skills for learning; develop thinking, initiative, creative ability, and critical judgment; acquire necessary social and moral habits and attitudes; learn to express themselves courteously and thoughtfully; maintain emotional, psychological, and physical health; understand and respect self; make decisions and set goals; develop the responsibility and self-discipline to work independently and do a task thoroughly; understand the interdependence of our global society; be able to use technology; and develop an awareness and respect for the contributions to our multicultural society by diverse ethnic and religious groups and by both sexes.
In order to achieve excellence, academic efforts cannot be confined to the classroom alone. Community and family partnerships are critical.
Just as quality instruction is a priority for the Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District, we are also committed to research based professional development opportunities for our staff. It has been proven that the best way to improve academic achievement is by providing quality staff training alongside providing staff time to work together, observe one another, coach each other and practice new skills.
Just as we hold high expectations for our student body, we hold equally high, if not higher, expectations for our teaching staff and administration. Our board, administration and our staff shall be role models for our students and the community in the pursuit of excellence.
Approved:
Reviewed: 10-12-98, 10-8-01, 10-11-04, 10-8-07, 11-8-10, 3-10-14, 11-12-18
Revised: 01-12-09, 01-10-11, 11-08-21
