OUR MISSION
The Gordon School is a racially diverse nursery through eighth grade coeducational independent school in East Providence, Rhode Island. Child by child, the Gordon School community cultivates successful students by inspiring joyful learning, encouraging intellectual leadership, fostering an empathic spirit and stimulating a drive for positive societal impact.
TO THE GORDON COMMUNITY
In 1910, Gordon’s founder Dr. Helen West Cooke opened a school grounded in the belief that the education of a child requires the development of mind, body, heart, and spirit. Almost one hundred and ten years later, that founding purpose still holds true, and the challenges we face as a human family compel us, the heirs of Dr. Cooke’s legacy, to consider how to carry that vision into the future.
As 2019 began, the Gordon School invited the entire community into an inclusive process of dreaming and designing our next chapter. Parents, students, alumni, faculty and staff, and parents of alumni answered the call and, together, built a vision of Gordon’s role in creating a more just and sustainable world. This vision is a declaration of an intention to strengthen and expand the gifts of Gordon and extend them beyond the schoolhouse doors.
We invite you to join us in the joyous work ahead!
more on the process behind A More Just and Sustainable World
OUR VISION
Since 1910, we have sought to instill the true spirit of joyous work into each day of school, to fuel each child’s innate curiosity and idealistic spirit in the belief that mind and heart should be educated with equal care.
Today, at Gordon, we will create the just and sustainable world we want for the future.
OUR STATEMENT ON INCLUSIVITY
Gordon proudly honors each individual within its community. The school respects the customs, traditions, values and perspectives of individuals of different gender, race, religion, socioeconomic status, family configuration, sexual orientation, ethnicity, ability and age. The faculty actively teaches students to confidently consider multiple perspectives, examine and express their own beliefs and respond respectfully to the ideas and beliefs of others. To the greatest extent possible, Gordon takes steps to ensure equal and equitable participation for all members of the school community.
Gordon’s emphasis on inclusivity, an evolving process, is essential to its mission to prepare students for active citizenship in the world.
OUR VISION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Teaching, learning, and practicing the habits of environmental stewardship are essential parts of Gordon’s history and reflective of our commitment to stimulate in our students a drive for positive societal impact. Environmental justice must be at the forefront of our commitment to addressing social inequities and the imminent threats to our natural world. This work will be integrated across all aspects of school life and operations and guided by a “do no harm” philosophy and a holistic adaptation of current research and best practices. We seek to cultivate environmental literacy among all members of the Gordon community and foster a culture of sustainability that inspires students to be lifelong stewards of the planet.