Character and Culture
At DKH Academy, we believe children grow best in environments where they feel safe, encouraged, connected, and deeply known.
We focus on who children are becoming as much as what they are learning. These shared expectations guide daily life in our classrooms and help build a strong, connected community.
Nancy Parra
Head of School
These shared values help guide daily life throughout our classrooms and community.
As DKH Students we strive to be,
KIND
We care for ourselves, others, and our community through empathy, compassion, and encouragement.
RESPECTFUL
We listen thoughtfully, include others, and treat people with care.
RESPONSIBLE
We take ownership of our actions, learning, materials, and classroom community.
AND READY TO LEARN
We stay curious, participate, try new things, and approach learning with a positive attitude.
At DKH Academy, we believe children learn and grow best when they feel emotionally safe, supported, encouraged, and connected to the people around them.
Character development is woven into daily life across our classrooms and school community. Teachers intentionally model and reinforce kindness, empathy, responsibility, respect, perseverance, and encouragement throughout the school day.
Over the past year, our team worked alongside educational and behavioral specialists to strengthen the systems and practices that support healthy classroom communities and positive student growth. Through reflection and collaboration, we identified a shared set of community values that help guide daily interactions at DKH.
Our approach is rooted in positive reinforcement.
Teachers intentionally look for opportunities to recognize what children are doing well and build from those moments. Even during challenging situations, we work to help children feel capable, successful, and supported as they continue learning and growing.
Through encouragement, consistency, connection, and reflection, children begin to develop confidence, emotional awareness, empathy, self-regulation, and a strong sense of belonging within the classroom community.
We believe encouragement builds confidence, and confidence helps children grow.
Kindness Cards help us celebrate the meaningful moments that happen throughout the school day.
Teachers use these recognitions to reinforce kindness, empathy, perseverance, responsibility, friendship, encouragement, and positive decision-making within the classroom community.
Some moments are big.
Many are small.
When children feel encouraged, supported, and capable, confidence begins to grow.
At DKH Academy, we believe positive reinforcement helps children build strong emotional and academic foundations, and we value partnering with families who continue that encouragement at home.
