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Philosophy
and Mission
Sunset Mesa Schools, Inc., is
a privately-owned, non-sectarian, independent school.
Each of these adjectives reflects a significant truth
about this school. First, SMS has been a tax-paying,
privately-owned school since 1948 and has operated
under its current ownership for over 30 years. What
we do at SMS is not just a job; our work impacts family
stewardship, personal reputation and a lengthy heritage.
Second, the school is non-sectarian.
Religious instruction has never been part of the curriculum.
No faith requirement has ever been applied to students
or faculty. However, SMS has over the years been owned
and directed by Christian people. That necessarily
informs our actions and values. People are uniquely
created by God, are highly valued by Him and are responsible
to him. All people in the SMS community should therefore
treat one another as valuable, respected individuals
with great potential to develop and use their unique
characteristics and traits. Those values which we customarily
call Judeo-Christian should be modeled by adults and
taught to the students. These values include honesty,
integrity, loyalty, patriotism, diligence, respect,
personal responsibility, perseverance, courage, and
friendship. Students should be challenged with high
expectations and held to high standards for learning,
behavior and values. The same is true for the adults
at SMS.
Third, SMS is an “independent
school.” This term historically has meant that
ownership, governance and finances are independent
of governmental or diocesan control. Of course, independence
has its consequences. SMS must persuade families year
by year that this education is worth the tuition; no
other source of revenue exists for a tax-paying independent
school. An independent school has substantial choice
in defining its own approach to education. We highly
value that choice at SMS, independent also means “hands
on.” You will find the decision-makers right
here.
In the context of these characteristics,
SMS purposefully provides a strong academic climate
which fosters the intellectual and emotional growth
of each student. Students can learn responsibility;
they can earn self-esteem. Students are challenged
to become productive, responsible and caring people
by learning sound values, compassion and ethical behavior.
They are encouraged to learn, develop good study habits,
think and act independently, solve problems, and think
critically.
These characteristics do not
mean, however, that SMS is isolated in its own insular
world. It is accredited by the National Independent
Private School Association (an organization of tax-paying
schools), the North Central Association Commission
on Accreditation (which accredits over 9,000 public
and private schools), and the State of New Mexico Public
Education Department. Accreditation provides you an
assurance of quality. It provides SMS with peer review
and support, professional development, and a wide spectrum
of information.
Thank you for placing your child
with SMS for this exciting experience in learning.
You, the parent, are a vital part of the process. Thank
you for cooperating with the administration and faculty
in all of the vital areas of mutual concern for the
education of your child.
Whenever you have questions,
need information, or want to visit about school or
your child, please call or stop by our offices. We
want to help.
| Alan
Mask |
Deborah
Mask |
| President |
Executive Director |
Values
"Manners easily and rapidly
mature into morals." -- Horace
Mann
For over fifty years, Sunset Mesa Schools has instilled
a strong set of values in its students. Courtesy and
respect for peers and adults are expected as each child
learns the value of camaraderie and teamwork.
Sunset Mesa Schools holds to the principles and methods
of Positive Discipline (Nelsen, 1996) as a philosophy
of discipline for our students. All staff members who
work directly with children are required to complete
the assigned reading and attend the workshop and any
follow up workshops.
We feel that the principles and methods of Positive
Discipline provide the structure for excellent discipline
in and out of the classroom. Positive Discipline, through
kindness and firmness, encourages self-respect, self-discipline,
cooperation, good behavior, and problem-solving skills
that we consider an invaluable component of the education
we provide our students.
When children leave Sunset Mesa, they take with them
a sense of responsibility and self-esteem that will
help them defend their values and morals when faced
with tough situations later in life.
Mistakes: Opportunities to Learn
"It is hard to fail,
but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. In
this life we get nothing save by effort." -- Theodore
Roosevelt
At Sunset Mesa, we believe in the positive value of
our students' mistakes. Learning from mistakes, rather
than feeling ashamed, is an important part of an education
here. The key is that students keep trying--the attitude
and work ethic that this inspires is a necessary ingredient
in the recipe for success beyond Sunset Mesa and throughout
life.
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