The Sound School’s Vision, Mission, and Goals:

Key words: Authenticity, Power, Fluency, Engagement, Motivation, Achievement.

At the Sound School, we strive for authentic learning through powerful experiences and powerful teaching. At our command is a learning environment as small as a ruler, or as wide as the ocean.

Given this, our beliefs are:

• That our focus on the marine environment, our unique location, and our vocational aquaculture and agriculture curricula are powerful tools to capture student interest and motivation, ensuring student fluency, and therefore, student achievement.

• ThatFluency in the core content areas is paramount.

• That students who are fluent can use mathematics to solve real-life problems, analyze scientific data, think critically about what they read, command a working knowledge of the world’s history, cultures, and languages, and express their ideas coherently in writing.

• That fluency is not only the greatest factor influencing student success on high-level, high stakes assessments such as the CAPT—it is an essential prerequisite for a successful life.

Our vision for the Sound School is that it will be a learning community where:

• Students and Faculty feel safe and respected.
• Faculty members fearlessly use methods “outside the norm,” which lead to authentic student learning.
• Students recognize the power of academic pursuits.
• Teachers are part of a professional learning community that leads and directs the educational program.
• Teachers capture student interest and motivation through engaging learning activities.
• Administrators support teachers in their efforts, and make school a positive experience for students.
• Students reach beyond their grasp, and teachers consistently challenge them to do better.
• The physical plant supports the educational program.
• The knowledge and values inherent in a love for the marine environment, America’s agricultural heritage, and New Haven’s maritime tradition are transmitted to students consistently.
• Students take care of one another and feel that they are partners in all school endeavors.
• Students exhibit the qualities of good character.

The mission of the Sound School is that, given our beliefs and vision, we will produce citizens of the United States and the World who can think critically; solve problems, question, and act with facility and fluency.

In an effort to realize this mission, we commit to the following goals—that all students will graduate from the Sound School with the ability to demonstrate:

• The use of critical thinking.
• Proficiency in solving multi-step, interdisciplinary problems.
• Proficiency in mathematics, reading, writing, and science.
• Facility with at least one foreign language.
• Appropriate public speaking skills.
• Job readiness skills.
• A working knowledge of the tools of maritime and/or agricultural commerce.
• A working knowledge of marine and/or terrestrial ecology.
• An understanding of the history, geography, and cultures of the United States and the world.
• The ability to function as part of a team.
• A healthy respect for the diversity of individuals found at school, in academia, in the workplace, and in the world at large.
• Knowledge of their role as stewards of the earth.