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Center Philosophy:

For over forty years, Shady Lane has held at its core four fundamental principles that serve as the foundation in fulfilling our commitment to the children, families and educators who make up our community. These principles include: a commitment to inclusion and diversity; respect for the diversity of teaching experiences and methods brought by each educator; a focus on the importance of the arts as a central piece of developmentally appropriate practice; and a fostering of mutual learning among all members of the community.

Inclusion & Diversity: When Shady Lane was founded in 1966, those concerned with diversity focused on historic barriers of race and poverty, and Shady Lane's effort to create a diverse student and staff population reflected that focus. Today, Shady Lane takes a more complex and holistic approach to diversity. We seek to address the full range of barriers to participation—not just race and poverty, but differences in culture, religion, physical and cognitive ability, family composition, and language, among others. This broader understanding of the power of inclusion does not simply embrace people in spite of their differences. Rather, it recognizes that each person is an individual from birth, bringing a whole host of gifts and experiences to the table. No single trait defines a person, and all attributes contribute to one’s unique identity. In this way, true inclusion excludes no one, and enriches everyone.

Diversity of Method: Shady Lane recognizes and respects the diverse talents, experiences and methods developed by each of our Lead Educators and team members. This diversity of method is reflected in a different approach, environment and "feel" in each classroom, varying every year in response to the unique makeup of the students as a group. Watch for this when you visit; the variety in every room is a truly unique element of the Shady Lane experience.

The Arts: We know that young children awaken their imaginations and feed their growth and development through direct interaction with the arts. We draw from all expressions (color, clay, textiles, song, movement painting, drawing, music, movement) to form the core each classroom's curriculum. Materials and interactions change over time; from the pure sensory input craved by infants, to the symbolic, imagination-laden role playing years, to the creative social interaction and problem-solving of the later preschool experience. In addition, Shady Lane's arts commitment goes beyond individual expression to collaborative creations, documentation and display of children's work, and celebration of the creative process.

Mutual Learning: We know more than ever before about the importance of these early education years to a child's lifelong development. We have a more nuanced and useful understanding of multiple intelligences, interpersonal connections and the need for parent/school collaboration. Partnering, problem solving, conflict resolution, team building and other social skills act as building blocks, supporting future learning and the growth of complete, well-rounded people. Shady Lane invests not only in individual growth and accomplishment, but in collaborative process, empathy and the principle that everyone can learn from everyone else.