A NALYSIS OF H OW C REATIVITY AND M OTIVATION F IT WITH ESA’ S V ISION AND V ALUE S TATEMENT Megan Jenny

V ISION & V ALUES S TATEMENT At ESA we nurture the twin virtues of freedom and responsibility. We pursue these virtues in the daily life of our school by balancing joy and challenge, inventiveness and tradition, respect and informality, trust and support. We cultivate and celebrate this balance, in our vibrant, eclectic community that prizes both individual freedom and cooperation. We take responsibility for what we do and say, and freely use our individual talents and strengths to become energetic citizens who sustain our community by making positive contributions.

Freedom Responsibility Joy Challenge Inventiveness Tradition Respect Informality Trust Support Cooperation Positive Contributions Displays as a willingness to try new activities Generates original ideas Generates many ideas Possesses a willingness to take risks Perseveres when problem solving Attacks problems from many angles Displays a great sense of independence Demonstrates high levels of curiosity Follows own instincts Generates many “what if…” questions Find connections between unrelated ideas Tolerates ambiguity Considers many perspectives Demonstrates high levels of curiosity Judges his/her work on own standards Visualizes things that are not physically Key Words in ESA’s Vision Statement Checklist of Creative Behaviors

F URTHER C ONNECTIONS ESA is a school that is fueled by the joy of discovery. Self-motivated students exhibit an intellectual vitality which strengthens their beliefs and inspires an open mind. Students develop intellectually in a nurturing environment where they master skills and knowledge. Students are challenged to learn, think and question critically; students take intellectual risks, learn how to express and support their ideas, and are encouraged to defend their positions.

H OW IT H APPENS : S CHOOLWIDE E NRICHMENT M ODEL (SEM) The SEM is an approach to learning that allows for development of strengths and talents for all students. The SEM focuses on enrichment for all students through high levels of engagement and the use of enjoyable and challenging learning experiences that are constructed around students' interests, learning styles, and preferred modes of expression. Students are challenged to think critically, problem solve and explore personal interests.

ESA IS SUITED IN THOUGHT, POLICY, AND ACTION TO BOTH THE CREATIVE STUDENT AND TEACHER OF CREATIVITY.