A POSITIVE SETTING FOR CHILDREN, PARENTS AND STAFF
Our highest value is that Mandala be a caring and nurturing place for children, parents, and staff. The staff, family childcare providers, and Board of Directors have kept Mandala a positive, enriching environment for children and their families through their ongoing commitment to these values.
MANDALA MISSION
“Nurture the child. Support the family. Nourish the staff.”
THE MANDALA NAME — A Symbol of Wholeness
Mandala was chosen as the name for our school because it symbolizes our commitment to the development of the whole child. A “mandala” is a universal symbol representing harmony and wholeness. The simplest mandala is a circle with a cross through it. It is the first symbol universally drawn by all children when they pass from the scribbling stage into drawing. The term Children’s House comes from Maria Montessori, who called her educational programs “children’s houses.”
THE MANDALA PHILOSOPHY — Following the Child’s Lead
The heart of the Mandala philosophy is found in the Developmental Perspective and the Montessori Method. We use these theories to implement our philosophy in our school.
A DEVELOPMENTAL PERSPECTIVE
Mandala follows a “developmental point of view” in our curriculum. We will not hurry or push a child in his or her development. Instead, we support the child in his or her own unique unfolding. Learning activities are set up to enhance four developmental areas: physical, social-emotional, cognitive, and creative. Each child progresses at his own pace, according to his own needs, interests and abilities.
THE MONTESSORI METHOD
We follow the Montessori philosophy and method in our curriculum because, in our opinion, it best supports the Developmental Perspective. Montessori education is concerned with the learning and development of the whole child. Maria Montessori created a philosophy of child development based on her observations of children.
CHARACTER-BUILDING — Nurturing the Spirit
Character development is an essential outcome of a Montessori education. Maria Montessori believed that the way to bring peace and harmony to the world was to cultivate in children a deep reverence for all living things. Teaching children to treat each other with dignity, to act with concern for others, to take personal responsibility, and to be of service are “noble characteristics” that Maria Montessori believed would benefit humanity.
A FOUNDATION FOR LIFE
At Mandala, we believe we are educating a child for life. Our aim is to build confident, ethical, compassionate human beings who can think creatively and solve problems and enter the world with a lifelong love of learning.