"The Shady Side Way"

The Junior School's character education program, called "The Shady Side Way," is built upon the Academy's Guiding Principles of Honesty, Kindness, Responsibility, Respect and Safety. Taught by the school counselor in wellness class, PK-5 students explore character development using play-based lessons that take them on a journey of transferring and implementing the Guiding Principles from school to home to their communities. A common set of expectations and behaviors make life at school more predictable, friendly and supportive, creating a better environment for teaching and learning.

Living "The Shady Side Way" is integrated into daily classroom life and weekly all-school assemblies, and is reinforced in tangible ways. Each student receives a blue Shady Side Way wristband as a reminder to be honest, kind, responsible, respectful and safe. When a student is "caught" living The Shady Side Way, teachers mail a special hand-written postcard home recognizing the child's behavior. Students receiving postcards are recognized and applauded for their efforts at assemblies.