Our Land Acknowledgement shows recognition of and respect for Indigenous peoples from the past and the present. We acknowledge that the property of Richland Academy is situated upon traditional territories of the Anishinabek, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Mississaugas of the Credit, Mississauga and the Wendat peoples.
Recognizing this land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory you reside on, and a way of honouring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial.
The Reggio Emilia philosophy guides us to provide a safe and nurturing environment that inspires a life-long love of learning. The keystone of this approach is the image of the child as a capable, resourceful researcher, who is an active protagonist of their own growth, possessing an ecological sensibility towards the environment, and toward constructing knowledge. It is the richest, most expansive, and demanding vision of learning, and as we attempt to cultivate its possibilities, we see children, teachers, and families respond with a depth of thinking, feeling, and joyful participation.
A question you may have is why are we Reggio Inspired instead of just Reggio? Unlike other educational philosophies like Montessori, there isn’t an official organisation that will certify a school as Reggio.
Reggio Emilia is a city in Italy and the Reggio Emilia approach is named after the city in which it originated. However, it is not a structured approach that can be simply transplanted to every community in the world. Reggio is supposed to be adaptable to the child, their community, and their environment.
At Richland Academy, we see the strengths in the values of the Reggio Emilia approach and have adopted and adapted this philosophy throughout our program.
You can read more about those values from reggiochildren.it and you can see how they have been applied in our school below.
Our environment is recognized for its potential to inspire children, filled with natural light and beauty. The learning spaces showcase intentionality and purpose and invite children to delve deeper into their interests. They are ever-evolving and promote creativity, collaboration, and communication.
Relationships are at the very heart of the Reggio Emilia philosophy. The learning process encourages relationships with and between peers, teachers, materials, environment, family, and community. The quality of relationships at Richland Academy sets the platform for learning that is engaging, relevant, and evolving.
Transparency is a metaphor for the recognition of the learning that is unfolding in the classroom. We value the voice and work of our students and use documentation to showcase the learning journey. The documentation is often organic and alive and allows us to share student learning with a wider audience.
Opportunities to inquire and explore in small groups allow children to develop curiosity, ask questions, test their theories, and learn from each other in a safe environment. Within our collaborative classrooms, students are encouraged to think critically, approach problems with a growth mindset and offer constructive feedback to their peers.
