Japhet’s mission is to nurture and prepare each child for life by integrating character education with a strong academic program.  Nurturing is the foundation of everything we do.

Nurture is defined as helping something or someone grow, develop, or succeed. Japhet’s goal is to help each child grow, develop, and succeed as far are they are capable of during the time we share with them. We educate the whole child, integrating both character and academics. We provide a safe place where children are appreciated, where they can make mistakes, and where they can flourish, very much like a family.

During our 2011 ISACS School Survey two-thirds of our parents commented that our nurturing environment is one of our most important strengths.  Here’s what they had to say:

• “The feeling of family, trusting my child to be in Japhet’s care is really important.”
• “The strengths are the close relationships formed between the students and faculty.”
• “Very nurturing environment for parents and students.”
• “Strong character education and nurturing of the children in a safe and positive environment.”
• “Nurturing environment and emphasis on character education are definitely strengths.”
• “The staff is amazing. I am so glad my child is influenced by them everyday.”

Each spring I have the privilege of teaching Leadership Class to our fifth through eighth grade students. This class, which is a long standing Japhet tradition, provides our older students with the opportunity to understand what leadership, based on character, really means.

Students practice leadership via role-playing, classroom discussions and activities that require teamwork and cooperation to accomplish.  While my intent is to inspire them to consciously think about leading and to rise to the opportunities I provide for them to practice leadership, I find myself inspired by their insight, cooperation, and understanding of what it means to lead others.

Here are a few reflections from our Intermediate Class and Upper Class students:

• “You have to reach a person’s spirit and use that as a detail to help you lead.  You have to be kind to be a good leader.  Leaders lead by their actions and their words, not just their status.” ~ IC student

• “You need to lead yourself, before you can lead others.” ~ UC student

• “Being a leader will take you to another place where other people may have not seen from that view.” ~ UC student

~ Japhet School’s Respect for Others definition statement

Upon hire and at the beginning of every school year, every member of Japhet’s faculty and staff commits to teaching and working in harmony with our philosophy, which defines our unique approach to helping children grow as individuals and as confident learners.

At Japhet School “seeing the good” is part of that philosophy.  We see the good in our students. We see the good on their best days and we see the good on the days they are having challenges.  When we truly believe in someone we give them a gift beyond measure. We remind them of their goodness. We remind them of their unlimited potential.  We bring out the best in them, and as a result, the best in ourselves too.

~ Japhet Philosophy Statement #8

Readiness is defined as “a developmental stage at which a child has the capacity to receive instruction at a given level of difficulty or to engage in a particular activity.”

Readiness is what we do.  As our mission statement says, we nurture and prepare each child for life. We get students ready for what comes next:  the next test, the next grade, the next part of their life.  What happens when children are ready?  They are open to possibilities.  They can see, hear, and think in ways that were not possible before.  When a child is ready, receptive, and engaged, learning is unlimited.

A blue whale is equal to the distance from the preschool door to Mrs. Pospisil’s desk.  It is also equal to the length of our school building.  Students used a rope to see just how long 110 feet is, integrating both math and science to form a lasting memory.

Part of our Preschool’s dive into the ocean was the building of a yellow submarine to explore a section of the classroom that was turned into a coral reef, a field trip to an aquarium store, and a school wide presentation on scuba diving in the great lakes.  Preschoolers also took part in ‘scuba diving’ in their classroom. What fun our preschoolers have learning about their world!

Confront your fears

DO your best

OUt do yourself

FaiRness is important

ChAllenge your mind

Use couraGe

TEll the truth

~ 6th grade student

I spent time in each of our seven classrooms last week and loved what I saw.  I observed Upper Class acclimate to the new space Mrs. Butler created for them, routines being established in our new Primary 2 classroom, and students and adults spread out in the library and centrum during DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time. What struck me most, however, was the initiative I saw our students express to help those who are new to our school feel welcome. This month our character quality is initiative. Our definition includes striving to “Do useful things without being asked” and to “Be alert to the needs of others.”   Our students are embracing these ideas and putting them into action!

Welcome to all of our new and returning teachers, students, families, and staff.  I am looking forward to our year together!

At a time when many schools are increasing class size to meet budget cuts, Japhet is adding a second-grade class.  We see it as growing to stay small.  At Japhet we are committed to teaching each child as an individual learner.  Teachers get to know their students, and all of our students know one another. Education at Japhet is more than just meeting standards.  Knowing and understanding how each child learns is key.  We believe students learn best when information is shared with creativity, enthusiasm, and in a variety of ways that supports different learning styles.  It is why we are committed to the small class sizes, caring teachers, and family-like learning environment that makes Japhet different.

~ e.e. cummings

Last month as I watched my son graduate from Michigan Tech receiving his degree in mechanical engineering, I was reminded of his journey to this moment. If you met Jake for the first time today you would meet an optimistic, social, and outgoing guy.  For Jake, life is a “Hey, let’s go rock climbing” kind of adventure. If you met Jake as a Kindergarten student you would have met a shy boy who hid from crowds and avoided the spotlight and anything unknown. Jake’s journey from then to now  began at Japhet.

Next week we will celebrate the graduation of five Japhet students.  They have shared with us their sense of justice, curiosity, and joy. We have shared with them a solid foundation on which they can build their futures. Graduation at Japhet is more than a celebration of their academic successes. It is a celebration of the people they have become. Celebrate with us on Friday, June 10, at 11 AM and see not only the difference Japhet has made in their lives but the difference they have made in ours.

Yesterday, our Recycling Committee sponsored a seed-planting activity that engaged little-buddy/big-buddy pairs in a thrifty gardening project.

Today we learned more about what it means to be thrifty from our eighth-grade INSPO speaker, Chase.

“Thrift is a character quality that can be expressed in a visual way or it can be expressed in a way that you can’t see. Thrift is an idea that — with the right amount of work and energy — can become a big project that benefits everyone. Remember to do whatever you can from recycling a pop can to giving clothes that don’t fit you anymore to a local thrift store. Little things can make a big difference.”

What a wonderful week of celebrating thrift!