Vision:
Waikiki School is a safe, vibrant, nurturing environment that
encourages lifelong learning. We believe that lifelong learning
is a desire for continuous growth which results in responsible,
competent, and confident individuals. Implicit in this vision is
nurturing learning of the heart and mind through collaboration,
thoughtfulness, and direct instruction in thinking.Mission Statements:
•We encourage our school and community to work together.
•We provide a strong foundation that respects the contribu-
tions and uniqueness of each individual.
•We work together to develop positive self-esteem, well-
being, and desire for active lifelong learning.Belief Statements: To be an environment where...
•Instead of seeking power we seek to empower others.
•Instead of controlling people we seek to enhance creativ-
ity and free the intellect.
•Instead of uniformity of practice we seek to evolve a collec-
tive vision of excellence.When the school began to implement mindful school practices, it
was driven by this ambitious goal: To develop, implement, and reflect
upon strategies to assess impact of the use of the Habits of Mind on...
•Student achievement.
•Teachers’ professional growth.
•Staff collaboration.
•The school as a learning organization.
The school conducted a series of workshops for staff and parents
beginning in 1991. As a result of these inservice sessions, the staff adopted
the Habits of Mind, which have been integrated into the curriculum in
the years since and have become the expected norm throughout the
The Mindful Culture of Waikiki Elementary School 351