West Nottingham Academy

School Philosophy

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Our School Philosophy

At West Nottingham Academy, we embrace the philosophy that transformational education is essential not just for the health and happiness of individual students but for all human communities to meet humanity’s 21st-century challenges. Transformational education fosters and facilitates the ability of students to live purposeful lives that bring them personal happiness and enable them to contribute to and sustain the communities in which they live and work. WNA’s philosophy requires our entire community in all its facets to commit to life-long learning and the pursuit of methods of learning that prioritize creativity and innovation and aspiration to excellence. This philosophy allows us to be amongst the best boarding schools in Maryland. Our schoolwide curriculum, student life, athletics and extracurricular activities keep as their central core the expectation that our students learn to be independent and critical thinkers with the courage of their convictions as well as the ability to engage respectfully with diverse views and approaches. We consistently encourage our students to learn to lead as well as listen, be physically active and mentally reflective, and strive for individual success while knowing working collaboratively makes possible surmounting challenges and achieving peace.

Our Mission Statement

To inspire and educate students to become socially aware leaders and innovators, who positively impact their communities around the world.

Core Values

We do our best to live these values every day and to reinforce them in our students’ lives as well.

West Nottingham students are respectful inside and outside the classroom; they work hard, take advantage of the many educational opportunities, and are responsible, kind, accepting, and empathic community members.

The West Nottingham Academy community has adopted the core values of Respect, Responsibility, Passion, Perseverance, Spirituality, and Service; specifically:

Respect leads to Responsibility, Passion leads to Perseverance, Spirituality leads to Service, Together, these core values assure Integrity

Diversity Statement

We, as a community of learners, welcome and value diversity and what it adds to a learning environment. Every individual of the West Nottingham Academy community brings an intricate combination of cultural traditions, personal and family beliefs, and life experiences. As a historically inclusive Academy, West Nottingham respects and supports the ethical and educational importance of a multicultural curriculum and co-curricular program in accordance with its mission statement and core values.

Opportunity awaits you at West Nottingham Academy!

Every day, in every activity, from the classroom to the playing fields, art studios, and club gatherings, students are exposed to a diverse community of learners from all walks of life.