The educational philosophy of the Somerville Public Schools is based on the belief that all children shall have an opportunity to learn and achieve their full potential. Our focus is to foster the well being of students and to provide for their academic, social, emotional, and physical development. It is also our mission to nurture intellectual achievement, civic responsibility, and foster positive self-esteem for all students. We recognize and welcome the partnership with parents in working together to see children reach their potential. Parents are the key to a child's success.

The Board of Education believes that students must be guided to attain the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in future endeavors as contributing members of the community. It is also our aim to promote dedication to the democratic process and an appreciation of our multicultural society.

The Board of Education and staff accept the following charges to achieve the goal of quality education for all:

1. To accept responsibility for enabling students to master the skills of learning, thinking, and problem solving; for teaching them to use a variety of means for self-expression; for increasing their knowledge of the social and natural sciences; for encouraging them to explore the challenge of productive work in a variety of occupations; and acquainting them with the richness of our heritage.

2. To recognize their responsibility to help meet the developmental needs of children, particularly the needs to inquire, learn, think, create, and to relate well to others in social situations involving family, work, government, and recreation.

3. To acknowledge the importance of the primary role of the home and the supplemental role of social institutions in establishing habits and attitudes which lead to effective personal living, the maintenance of optimum physical and mental health, and the promotion of sound ethics.

Our education philosophy is integrated throughout our K-12 curriculum and is captured in the Somerville Public School district's Mission Statement:

MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission as a school community is to provide a
quality education through an environment which
promotes individual excellence.