Our Philosophy

Nuestro Jardín Academy is guided by these core set of beliefs.

• The child is a strong, intelligent, and creative individual with unique qualities.
• Children are able to construct their own learning, driven by their own interests.
• Through interactions with others, children form an understanding of themselves, the world, and their place in it.
• Learning (and second language learning) happens when children form warm relationships with teachers, peers, and their environment through interactions with materials, books, music, games, movement, and ideas.
• A rich learning environment is formed in collaboration with children, families, teachers, and the school community.
• A culturally diverse and inclusive environment that respects the unique qualities and beliefs of children, families, and teachers are essential in helping children develop confidence, acceptance, and lifelong habits of the mind

Fostering Cultural Awareness

At Nuestro Jardín, we believe in the importance of raising cultural awareness in students, teaching diversity, and growing responsible global citizens. We help children understand, embrace, and respect differences and similarities among those in our community.

We also help children understand who they are in the context of their race, ethnic group, culture, language and familial history. Through dramatic and role-play activities, students are encouraged to express themselves within the context of their identity.

We take pride in our diverse community and we encourage our families to share their culture and heritage in the classroom.

Spanish Guitar

Music is an important part of learning

Flamenco Dance

Spanish is more than just a language

Guelaguetza Celebrations

The Guelaguetza, or Los lunes del cerro (Mondays on the Hill) is an annual indigenous cultural event in Mexico that takes place in the city of Oaxaca, capital of the state of Oaxaca, as well as in nearby villages. The celebration centers on traditional dancing in costume in groups, often gender-separated groups, as is traditional, and includes parades complete with indigenous walking bands, native food, and statewide artisanal crafts such as prehispanic-style textiles. Each costume (traje) and dance usually has a local indigenous historical and cultural meaning. Although the celebration is now an important tourist attraction, it also retains deep cultural importance for the peoples of the state and is important for the continuing survival of these cultures.

Arts & Craft (by Giulian Frisoni)

Ceramics in Mexico date back thousands of years before the Pre-Columbian period, when ceramic arts and pottery crafts developed with the first advanced civilizations and cultures of Mesoamerica. With one exception, pre-Hispanic wares were not glazed, but rather burnished and painted with colored fine clay slips. The potter\'s wheel was unknown as well; pieces were shaped by molding, coiling and other methods.

Day of the Dead

Children are engaged with stories about local customs, dances, songs and art.

Frida Kahlo (by Maria de Oro)

Learning and understanding the culture behind the language can make learning fun.

Salvador Dali

Children are engaged with stories about local customs, dances, songs and art.