Leadership

Welcome from the Head of School

It is my pleasure to introduce you to The Pike School.

At Pike, our mission is to develop in our students a life-long love of learning, respect for others, the joy of physical activity, and a creative spirit. A Pike education is a journey that prepares students to be independent learners and responsible citizens.

Founded in 1926 by Cynthia Pike, the Pike School is a vibrant community of approximately 440 students in grades Pre-K through Nine. Our students represent a diverse range of racial, religious, cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. At Pike, we believe that by recognizing, respecting, sharing and appreciating our similarities and differences, we grow and flourish. Our dynamic community is united by a common commitment to, and passion for, learning.

Pike, in fact, is a Professional Learning Community. As we design our curriculum, we focus first on what we want our students to learn and understand in order to guide what and how we teach. Establishing essential outcomes, developing rubrics, and regularly assessing students to provide differentiated instruction gives teachers a significantly clearer and deeper understanding of what their students are really learning and how they can help each student move forward on his or her own learning journey. The added benefit is that personalizing the learning process increases students’ engagement and excitement about learning.

To that end, we adopted a schedule that allows for smaller classes in some areas, fewer transitions for students, more opportunities for re-teaching difficult material or providing extra challenge, and more choices for students to experience the passion-driven learning described in our strategic plan. In addition, it eliminates the unequal burden on some classes caused by the abundance of Monday holidays. At Pike, we are always looking for ways to build upon the strong foundation of our long history of helping children grow and succeed.

I invite you to peruse our website and to visit our campus. When you do, you will discover myriad ways our supportive environment challenges each student to reach his or her highest potential as a scholar, artist, athlete and citizen. You will find an innovative curriculum that allows students to acquire the intellectual, social and physical tools they will need for success in an ever-changing world. You will meet teachers who are eager and able to tailor their teaching so that every child learns. You will see the benefits of our 1-to-1 iPad initiative in Upper School.

Most importantly, you will encounter students with boundless curiosity, a thirst for learning, and an abiding concern for the well-being of others.

Sincerely,
John “Muddy” Waters