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Parenting is important for all children, and we do our best to make Greenwood a home away from home. Although our program is structured and maintains definite behavioral expectations, the atmosphere here is relaxed and friendly. Students are supported in taking responsibility for harmonious interpersonal relationships. We nurture a sense of partnership in the school family. For example, students and faculty are on a first name basis, one small way in which we help engender familial feelings and relaxed communication.
In addition to the school morning meeting, small groups of students meet regularly for a social pragmatics class. These classes provide a forum for resolving personal and community conflicts and for improving social interactions. Here, students learn effective strategies for creative problem solving. These strategies were developed specifically for Greenwood by Tom Scheidler, Greenwood's co-founder. They have been refined over the years and have, as well, been recognized at national and international educational conferences.
Dormitory life is an important part of Greenwood's program. To create a good environment for community living, most faculty members participate in dorm life and assist the teachers who live in the dorm. Spending time together outside the classroom fosters close relationships between teachers and students.
We believe that good communication skills are essential to the development of all areas of language; indeed, they are the purpose for which language exists. In order to support the development of all areas of language and communication skills, the recreational use of computers, television, and electronic games is limited.
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