Living Values

An atmosphere rich with nurturing and encouraging values is simply part of our mission.

The experience of feeling safe, respected, appreciated, loved, and understood is an experience every child in the world deserves. At Mizzentop Day School we accept the responsibility to be certain that our students grow up in such a warm environment. Further, it is also our mission to support our local and global communities by raising children who will provide this nurturing environment for others. We seek to reach these goals through our personal commitments as educators, as well as through implementing a world-wide program developed through the United Nations: the Living Values Educational Program.

Values are integrated into a student's experience in many ways.

More than "teaching" values, the Living Values Program leads our school to "live" the values. Universal values such as love, peace, tolerance, responsibility, humility, respect, simplicity, and unity are integrated into a student's over-all education at MDS. Whether in class, in the hallway, at lunch, at a game, or anywhere we gather as a school, our faculty and staff are continually developing traditional and innovative ways to create this reality. In the classroom, teachers may lead activities that are focused specifically on a value, but more so, values are uncovered in the curriculum in ways that are germane to the curricular theme. For example, in Math students may discover the value of simplicity while studying division; in Music students may explore cooperation through ensemble performance; in Drama students may experience freedom through improvisation.

Other ways the Living Values are woven through our school:

Upper-school small-group advisory program.
Student-run announcements with weekly reminders and visualizations.
Value themes for concerts and plays.
Ever-increasing community service programming.
Special Areas "Media and Me" units to raise student awareness of media messages.
Maintaining a respectful community through the Systematic Training for Effective Parenting/ Teaching (STEP/STET) program.
School-wide calendar to focus our school community together on one or two values each month.

Peace

Peace is more than the absence of war
Peace is living in harmony and not fighting with others.
If everyone in the world were peaceful, this would be a peaceful world.
Peace is being quiet inside.
Peace is a calm and relaxed state of mind.
Peace consists of positive thoughts, pure feelings, and good wishes.
Peace begins within each one of us.
To stay peaceful requires strength and compassion.
Peace is a qualitative energy that brings balance.
World peace grows through nonviolence, acceptance, fairness and communication.
Peace is the main characteristic of a civilized society.

"Peace must begin with each one of us. Through quiet and serious reflection on it's meaning, new and creative ways can be found to foster understanding, friendships and cooperation among all peoples."
—Javier Perez de Cuellar, Former Secretary-General of the Untied Nations

Respect

The first respect is to respect myself - to know that I am naturally valuable.
Part of self-respect is knowing my own qualities.
Respect is knowing I am unique and valuable.
Respect is knowing I am lovable and capable.
Respect is listening to others.
Respect is knowing others are valuable, too.
Respect for the self is the seed that gives growth to confidence.
When we have respect for ourselves, it is easy to have respect for others.
Those who show respect will receive respect.
To know one's worth and to honor the worth of others is how one earns respect.
Everyone in the world has the right to live with respect and dignity, including myself.
Part of respect is knowing I make a difference.

Love

I am lovable.
I have love inside.
Love is caring.
Love is sharing.
Love is being kind.
Love makes me feel safe.
When there's lots of love inside, anger runs away.
Love means I want what is good for others.

Responsibility

If we want peace, we have the responsibility to be peaceful.
If we want a clean world, we have the responsibility to care for nature.
Responsibility is doing your share.
Responsibility is accepting what is required and carrying out the task to the best of your ability.
Responsibility is carrying out duties with integrity.
When one is responsible, there is the contentment of having made a contribution.
As a responsible person, I have something worthwhile to offer - so do others.
A responsible person knows how to be fair, seeing that each gets a share.
With rights there are responsibilities.
Responsibility is not only something that obliges us, but also something that allows us to achieve what
we wish.
Each person can perceive his or her own world and look for the balance of rights and responsibilities.
Global responsibility requires respect for all human beings.
Responsibility is using our resources to generate a positive change.

Happiness

When I have love and peace inside, happiness just comes.
Happiness is having fun with my friends.
Happiness is knowing I am loved.
When I do good things, I am happy with myself.
Good wishes for everyone make me happy inside.
I can give happiness to everyone with my good wishes.
I can give happiness to others with words that are like flowers, not thorns.
I can give happiness to others by sharing.

Cooperation

Cooperation exists when people work together toward a common goal.
Cooperation requires recognizing the value of everyone's part and keeping a positive attitude.
One who cooperates creates good wishes and pure feelings for others and the task.
When cooperating, there is a need to know what is needed. Sometimes an idea is needed; sometimes we need to let go of our idea. Sometimes we need to lead and some times we need to follow.
Cooperation is governed by the principle of mutual respect.
One who cooperates receives cooperation.
Where there is love, there is cooperation.
By staying aware of my values, I can give cooperation.
Courage, consideration, caring, and sharing provide a foundation for cooperation.

Honesty

Honesty is telling what really happened.
Honesty is telling the truth.
When I feel honest, I feel clear inside.
When I am honest, I can learn and help others learn to be giving.

Humility

Humility is staying light and easy inside.
Humility goes together with self-respect.
Humility is when I know my strength but don't brag or show off.
Humility makes arrogance disappear.
A humble person can stay happy inside while listening to others.
With the balance of self-respect and humility I can stay powerful inside and not need to control others around me.
Humility allows one to be great in the hearts of many.
Humility creates an open mind.
With humility I can recognize my own strengths and the strengths of others.

Freedom

Freedom resides within the mind and heart.
Freedom is a precious gift.
There can be full freedom when rights are balanced with responsibilities.
There is a full freedom when everyone has equal rights.
All people have a right to be free. For all to be free, each one has to respect the rights of others.
Inner freedom is experienced when I have positive thoughts for all, including myself.

Unity

Unity is harmony within and among individuals in the group.
Unity continues by accepting and appreciating each person and his or her contribution.
Unity is built from a shared goal, hope or vision.
Unity makes big tasks seem easy.
The greatness of unity is that everyone is respected.
One note of disrespect can cause unity to be broken.
Unity creates the experience of cooperation, increases enthusiasm for the task and makes the atmosphere empowering.
Unity creates a sense of belonging and increases well-being for all.

Simplicity

Simplicity is natural.
Simplicity is learning from the Earth.
Simplicity is beautiful.
Simplicity is using what we already have and not wasting the Earth's material.

Tolerance

Peace is the goal, tolerance is the method.
Tolerance is being open and receptive tot eh beauty of differences.
Tolerance is mutual respect through mutual understanding.
The seeds of intolerance are fear and ignorance.
The seed of tolerance, love, is watered by compassion and care.
Those who know how to appreciate the good in people and situations have tolerance.
Tolerance recognizes individuality and diversity while removing divisive masks and defusing tension created by ignorance.
Tolerance is the ability to face difficult situations.
To tolerate life's inconveniences is to let go, be light, make others light and move on.