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Valley
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About
Welcome
Naturally Curious. Courageously Playful. Purposefully Inspired.
Valley School of Ligonier was founded in 1946 on the premises of holistic education, ethical behavior, and community-mindedness.
Serving children from kindergarten through 8th grade, Valley School today provides students with a balanced academic program in a positive and supportive cultural environment. Valley School children are encouraged to take risks, develop a growth mindset, explore their unique passions, set optimistic goals, think critically, and advocate for themselves and others.
Valley School students become young adults who pursue excellence in their learning and in their lives, and who generously contribute their talents to the world around them.
Serving children from kindergarten through 8th grade, Valley School today provides students with a balanced academic program in a positive and supportive cultural environment. Valley School children are encouraged to take risks, develop a growth mindset, explore their unique passions, set optimistic goals, think critically, and advocate for themselves and others.
Valley School students become young adults who pursue excellence in their learning and in their lives, and who generously contribute their talents to the world around them.
Our Philosophy
Valley School’s primary responsibility is to our children. For their benefit, we offer an educational experience based on the concept of continuous growth of the whole individual. Because Valley School is relatively small, we are able to identify and accommodate our students’ individual needs and rates of growth and maturation. Therefore, opportunities for success are available for each child. We make a deliberate effort to develop the following habits:
Valley School’s academic coursework teaches children to pursue deep and complex understanding, reason carefully, and express themselves clearly—both orally and in writing. It is also designed to cultivate an appreciation for human interrelatedness, cultural heritages, creative expression, and the wonders of our natural and technological world. While our core curriculum emphasizes traditional academic subjects, we also require participation and achievement in the arts, sports, technology, outdoor, and community service programs.
- The desire to understand subjects in their full complexity and relation to
- The ability to think critically, constructively, and compassionately
- The self-discipline to work in a purposeful, imaginative, and independent manner
- The willingness to trust and cooperate with others
- The bravery to take calculated risks
- The flexibility to adapt to new situations
- The growth mindset to learn from mistakes
Valley School’s academic coursework teaches children to pursue deep and complex understanding, reason carefully, and express themselves clearly—both orally and in writing. It is also designed to cultivate an appreciation for human interrelatedness, cultural heritages, creative expression, and the wonders of our natural and technological world. While our core curriculum emphasizes traditional academic subjects, we also require participation and achievement in the arts, sports, technology, outdoor, and community service programs.
Inclusivity
Valley School of Ligonier wants each member of our community to be connected, known, and safe. Guided by the Valley Core Values, both children and adults share their stories, welcome the narratives of others, and grow through those experiences to navigate a diverse and interconnected world. Valley School of Ligonier is committed to providing authentic opportunities that inspire open dialogue and empower ethical social engagement aligned with the School’s mission, vision, and philosophy.
Valley Core Values
Research shows that students’ content learning is enriched when emotional, social, and cultural well-being are prioritized along with academic achievement. At Valley School, character development is actualized through our Valley Core Values:
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Cultivating Wellness
Physical & Emotional Well-Being
Well-Grounded Confidence
Spirit of Optimism
Engaged & Open Minded -
Seeking Wisdom
Growth Mindset
Pursuit of Knowledge
Informed Decision-Making
Critical Reflection -
Embracing Integrity
Moral Convictions
Ethical Behaviors
Humility
Mindful Interactions -
Building Community
Empathy
Healthy Relationships
Active Engagement
Self & Social Awareness
As principles, the Valley Core Values are not new to our school community. Rather, they are based in our founding mission, and have been recently revitalized using best-practices in education. The formal program is designed to accommodate the ways our 21st-century learners interact, assume social responsibility, become self-aware, develop resilience, and contribute to their communities—now, and later in life.
While there’s a universal element to each of the Valley Core Values, perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the program is that it allows space for each student to interpret and engage with the concepts in ways that make sense for them, personally.
Adding value-based education to our students’ curriculum means that in addition to having a strong academic foundation, our students will enter young adulthood with life skills that enable them to confidently, responsibly, compassionately navigate and contribute to our future world.
Discover More
Valley School of Ligonier
Address: 153 Lupine Lane, Rector PA 15677
Mail: PO Box 616 Ligonier, PA 15658
Mail: PO Box 616 Ligonier, PA 15658
Phone: (724) 238-6652 Fax: (724) 238-6838
In an environment that is safe, challenging, nurturing, and disciplined, Valley School provides a balanced and strong program of study for a diverse group of children. Our goal is to stimulate in each young person lifelong habits of moral behavior, seeking wisdom, and doing good works for others.
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