Design Principles
Our Design Principles are the foundation of the Watershed experience. They celebrate our commitment to a program and school culture that inspires and educates students to become highly capable, healthy, wise, and engaged citizens prepared to take on the world’s great challenges.
Principles Affirmation
In keeping with the founders’ intentions, Watershed periodically reviews, updates, and re-affirms its Design Principles. The seven Design Principles below were adopted in 2019 and serve to focus our vision, remind us of what is important, and inform our decisions.
Our Community Ethos
A strong community is the foundation of great student learning and growth.
Adventure and Wonder
Education at its best is an adventure full of wonder and discovery for students, for educators.
Real-World Learning
Deep, enduring learning happens first-hand – directly from the people, ecosystems, cultures, and challenges of the “real world.”
Depth Over Breadth
Exploration of real-world topics and questions leads to deep understandings.
Student Agency
We honor students as architects of their own learning.
Educators as Learners and Mentors
To best help students learn and grow, educators’ most important roles are as expert learners and trusted mentors.
Work that Matters
Learning focused on the previous six Design Principles culminates in work that matters – to the learner and to the world. Students learn best when engaged in work that matters.
