VISION:
Our vision is to empower students to become responsible, confident, lifelong learners and leaders by exploring the world around them, engaging in hands-on learning, and fostering intellectual curiosity.
MISSION:
Realms prepares students for college and beyond by providing personalized opportunities that challenge students’ perceptions, while fostering the intellectual, physical, and emotional growth of each student in a safe and nurturing environment.
Recognizing the importance of the whole person, Realms supports students’ cognitive, physical and emotional growth. We seek to challenge and excite students in a wide variety of intellectual pursuits while celebrating all that students bring with them-big thinking, curiosity, creativity, and playfulness.
Research shows when students are allowed to assume responsibility for, and are given control over their own learning they become:
More committed to education.
Persistent.
Honest about their performance.
Willing to take risks.
Likely to view failure as temporary.
Frequently surprise themselves with how satisfying learning can be.
A Realms student develops confidence across multiple disciplines. Student created, designed, and researched projects, both individual and group, are presented at school wide exhibitions leading to assurance in intellectual and cognitive abilities. Physical and emotional determination are achieved through our unique Outdoor Program that exposes students to a wide variety of skills and activities including backpacking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and wilderness skills. Creative poise is gained though our art, drama, and music programs.
We have a firm belief at Realms that every student has his/her own talents and strengths; and that while some of these talents are easily identified in an academic environment, others are not.
Realms students are encouraged to:
Be respectful and trusting of self and others.
Be full of life - enthusiastic and excited.
Strive for quality.
Be community-oriented individuals.
Enjoy learning.
Holistic Pedagogy
Sir Ken Robinson said in his February 2006 TED talk: "As children grow up we start to educate them progressively from the waist up, and then we focus on their heads and slightly to one side." He made a case that the same emphasis should be given to the development of physical and creative talents as to intellectual talent.
Even the Romans knew that a healthy mind lives in a healthy body and in the same tradition Realms has held fast to its spectacular outdoor program over the years to challenge our students physically and push them to accomplish things that they never thought possible with the result that they gain great confidence. The activities include climbing, biking, hiking, river rafting and international exploration.
It is also clear that a person who has practical experience in a number of subjects besides intellectual knowledge has a great advantage. Realms has embedded an internship program in its academic studies in 2011 to encourage upper school students to try their knowledge and theories in the real world. This combination will help students to come up with original knowledge and inventions that culminate in published and patented work.
Picasso once said that all children are born artists, the problem is to remain an artist as we grow up. At Realms we encourage students to discover their creativity and to continue to foster it throughout their school career.