The preservation of cultural histories and heritages, and the transformation of cultural identities and practices contribute to sustainable communities. Students will develop the ability to discern with others what to preserve and what to change in order for future generations to thrive.

The rights, responsibilities and actions associated with leadership and participation toward healthy and sustainable communities. Students will know and understand these rights and responsibilities and assume their roles of leadership and participation.

A system is made up of two or more parts in a dynamic relationship that forms a whole whose elements ‘hang together’ and change because they continually affect each other over time. Students will know and understand the dynamic nature of complex systems and change over time. They will be able to apply the tools and concepts of system dynamics and systems thinking in their present lives, and to inform the choices that will affect our future.

The evolving theories and practices of economics and the shift towards integrating our economic, natural and social systems, to support and maintain life on the planet. Students will know and understand 21st century economic practices and will produce and consume in ways that contribute to the health of the financial, social and natural capital.

Healthy Commons are that upon which we all depend and for which we are all responsible (i.e., air, trust, biodiversity, climate regulation, our collective future, water, libraries, public health, heritage sites, top soil, etc.). Students will be able to recognize and value the vital importance of the Commons in our lives and for our future. They will assume the rights, responsibilities and actions to care for the Commons.

The laws of nature and science principles of sustainability. Students will see themselves as interdependent with each other, all living things and natural systems. They will be able to put their knowledge and understanding to use in the service of their lives, their communities and the places in which they live.

The vital role of vision, imagination and intention in creating the desired future. Students will design, implement and assess actions in the service of their individual and collective visions. 

The perspectives, life experiences and cultures of others, as well as our own. Students will know, understand, value and draw from multiple perspectives to co-create with diverse stakeholders shared and evolving visions and actions in the service of a healthy and sustainable future locally and globally. 

The strong connection to the place in which one lives. Students will recognize and value the interrelationships between the social, economic, ecological and architectural history of that place and contribute to its continuous health.

The nature, origin, and scope of knowledge and justified beliefs that vary across time and cultures. Students will study how we know what we know and explore the richness of human thought. They will be called to engage in meta-cognition (think about their thinking) and to continually expand their ways of knowing in an effort to learn and to flourish over time in a diverse, interconnected and changing world.