Merriam School Core Values

Revised Dec. 16, 2003.

Our Core Values

The integrity of the Merriam School Community is built on a set of Core Values.

We Believe in Risk Taking

All members of the Merriam School Community will be able to take thoughtful and appropriate risks and accept responsibility for the risks they take. Children will be encouraged and assisted to make a case for an unpopular view, to have the confidence to do difficult things, to have the courage to do what's right, to contribute new or different ideas in discussions, and to offer friendship to a child who has been excluded. (See the Descriptors and Vignettes for risk taking.)

We Believe in Persistence in One's Own Learning

All members of the Merriam School Community will demonstrate initiative and persistence in learning. Children will be encouraged and assisted to see a task through from start to finish, to ask for help from a variety of sources, to try multiple strategies in problem solving and to draw connections between learning experiences in and out of school. (See the Descriptors and Vignettes for presistence.)

We Believe in Respect

All members of the Merriam School Community will demonstrate respect for themselves and others. Children will be encouraged and assisted to speak up against exclusion, to respond to someone in need, to acknowledge the efforts of a classmate, to be open to ideas and approaches not rooted in his own culture or experience and to value all members of the community as learners and teachers, followers and leaders. (See the Descriptors and Vignettes for respect.)

Merriam School Core Values Descriptors and Vignettes

We develop and promote these values in school, at home and in the wider community believing they enable us to be capable and responsible citizens of the world. Each of these values -- risk, persistence, respect -- are described below through a list of "descriptors" and "vignettes" in order to help staff and families better visualize, recognize and support the development of these values in children. The vignettes and descriptors were written by a subcommittee of parents and teachers and are a synthesis of the ideas expressed by the whole school community.

Merriam Core Value - Risk Taking

All members of the Merriam School community will be able to take thoughtful and appropriate risks and accept responsibility for the risks they take.

Risk Descriptors

takes chances	courageous	negotiates
seeks challenges	supportive	questions
takes initiative	self-confident	thinks critically
responsible	problem-solves	experiments

Risk Vignettes - A child:

Resists peer pressure: fads, speech, dress, interests, etc.
Contributes to a discussion when unsure of the response's correctness.
Makes a case for an unpopular view.
Contributes new or different ideas in discussions.
Reads aloud despite lack of confidence.
Says, "I don't know the answer."
Sees two friends writing a hurtful note to another student, tries to stop it, and goes to get adult help when the two don't stop.
Defends a classmate who is being teased.
Tells a friend when his feelings have been hurt.
Offers friendship to a child who has been excluded.
Asks a question to clarify information which others might think is "easy."
Asks to be included in a group.
Has confidence to do difficult things.
Has the courage to do what's right.

Merriam Core Value - Persistence

All members of the Merriam School community will demonstrate initiative and persistence in learning.

Persistence Descriptors

perseveres	experiments	inquisitive
curious	reflects	active learner
responsible	self-assured	manages self
self-starter	can-do attitude	open minded
explores	enthusiastic	sets goals
creative thinker	tenacious	determined
resourceful	self-directed	problem solves
internal motivation	flexible thinker	assertive in learning
independent thinker	lifelong learner

Persistence Vignettes - A child:

Asks questions and pursues answers.
Independently seeks additional information from outside resources to supplement learning (e.g. library, community, peers).
Discovers the answer to a problem through determined trial and error.
Pursues individual interests (e.g. academic, artistic, social, physical).
Can't wait to read another chapter in a book.
Shares information about a favorite topic with others.
Comfortably discusses own strengths and areas for improvement and sets personal goals.
Tries multiple strategies in problem solving.
Independently engages in challenging tasks.
Asks for help from a variety of sources.
Sees a task through from start to finish.
Draws connections between learning experiences in and out of school.

Merriam Core Value - Respect

All members of the Merriam School community will demonstrate respect for themselves and others.

Respect Descriptors

listener	responsive	inclusive
kind	attentive	considerate
values others	appreciative	accepting
compassionate	understanding	sensitive
receptive	defender	confident
tolerant	open	encouraging

Respect Vignettes - A child:

Asks to join a game, knowing she will be welcome.
Makes friends with many different kinds of people.
Speaks up against exclusion.
Responds to someone in need.
Says, "I'm good at …"
Acknowledges the efforts of a classmate.
Is open to ideas and approaches not rooted in his own culture or experience.
Values all members of the community as learners and teachers, followers and leaders.
Catches a tadpole for observation only after preparing a suitable tank and returns the tadpole after observation.
Seeks challenges.
Expects that others will stand up for him and feels comfortable expressing such needs.
Listens to others, expresses a different opinion and encourages a response.
Uses expressions like "please," "thank you," and "you're welcome."
Shares her progress with her parent during a student-parent conference.
Understands health risks and makes wise choices.
Uses language that is kind and respectful.
Starts a 4-square game and invites others to join in.
Continues to wear certain clothes with pride in spite of teasing from others.

Return to the Merriam's Core Information page.