In Home. In School. Invaluable.
Message from the Head of School
The Sagemont School Learning Outcomes
Sagemont’s Learning Outcomes communicate the balanced view of educating the whole child. This is the core of our curriculum each day. The Learning Outcomes cover Cognitive Skills, Interpersonal Skills, and Self-Awareness Skills. Each one of these skills play an active role in the learning process and is a focus for our students beginning from early childhood. Research in human development shows that the seeds of empathy, caring, and compassion are present early in life. This is why it is essential that we introduce our students to ethical decision making in the early grade levels.
Keeping in line with our Learning Outcomes, we have implemented programs and classes to maintain a genuine focus on ethical decision-making. When we view ethics, the definition includes principles that guide us to make a positive impact through our decisions and actions. Our students’ ethical behavior includes honesty, integrity, fairness, compassion, and personal responsibility. Our foundations are rooted in our students having the interest of others in mind.
Character Development at the Lower School Campus
Students at the Lower School Campus (LSC) engage in Character Education. This is the development of knowledge, skills, and abilities that encourage our children to make informed and responsible choices. Ms. Zea at the LSC teaches monthly Character Development classes to students in PK-5th grade. Lessons include bullying prevention, self-discipline, goal-setting, kindness, respect, perseverance, compassion/empathy, responsibility, cooperation, honesty, citizenship, social justice, and mindfulness. The LSC programs are guided by the principles from Teaching Tolerance, Sanford Harmony Social-Emotional Learning, and more. Last week, our LSC students participated in the Week of Kindness. They decorated rocks with positive words of encouragement, engaged in acts of kindness, and composed positive writings. (See the pictures below).
Ethics at the Upper School Campus
Ethics are a philosophical reflection of moral beliefs and practices. As our students transition to the Upper School Campus, this level of critical thinking continues in our 6th-grade Ethics course with Mr. Brown. The mission of this 6th-grade Ethics course is to teach students to think independently, act with respect and integrity, and find joy in their learning. By challenging students to take risks and push themselves, now, in a safe environment, we hope to foster a lifelong habit of ethical, active citizenship, as well as give students the confidence to navigate unknown opportunities and challenges.
Character Development and ethics play a critical role in the Learning Outcomes that guide our teaching throughout the curriculum. The above programs are two ways in which this is in play each day. We want our students to be able to express their own values, explore with empathy the values of others, analyze critically their actions, negotiate solutions, make ethical decisions, and act upon them. It is a process that we are committed to.
Mellesia Nelson
Sagemont Student Spotlight
Ayva Hatzisavvas, Kindergarten
Ayva is passionate about bringing a smile to others. Ayva is a thoughtful individual and cares deeply about those around her. Concerned about social separation, she took on the project of painting “Kindness Rocks.” Ayva then went around her community and left the rocks at her neighbors' homes. Her hope was simply to bring a little happiness to those in her community. We are so proud of Ayva’s thoughtfulness! She represents our Learning Outcomes with her kindness.
Chase Cooper, 10th Grade
Chase has a passion for presidential history. When I first met Chase, he blew my mind with his level of knowledge. This year, Chase wanted to explore this passion further and with the help of his teacher Mr. Roe, Chase started the Election Times. This publication was student-driven and focused on the voices of his peers. All students were invited to analyze the election process and share their views. All viewpoints were welcomed and this online student newsletter provided a space for our writers to engage with each other outside of the classroom curriculum and dialogue. We value our students taking their passions and finding ways for it to be an outlet for others as well. Chase represents our Learning Outcomes because he is a critical thinker who approaches problems with creativity, perseverance, and grit.
Paula Contreras, 12th Grade
Paula discovered her passion for technology two years ago at Sagemont in Ms. Mejias' robotics class. Prior to her experience with robotics at Sagemont, Paula had no experience with coding. Her love and joy while in the robotics lab were quickly noticed by Ms. Mejias, who Paula said, “believed in my capabilities even when I didn't. She (Ms. Mejias) was always extremely welcoming and ready to help if I was ever struggling, reminding me that I did not need to do everything alone. I believe that it was due to this that I was admitted to my dream school, MIT!” Paula is currently the president of Sagemont’s Girls Who Code, which she was inspired to launch with her teacher to encourage other young women to pursue a path in technology. Paula has been accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Case Western Reserve, Worchester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), the University of Miami, and the University of Michigan so far. She exemplifies Sagemont's Learning Outcomes, as she always takes responsible risks, is a problem solver, focused on research, and is innovative.
The Sagemont School
Email: info@sagemont.com
Website: www.sagemont.com
Location: 1570 Sagemont Way, Weston, FL, USA
Phone: (954)389-2454
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sagemont