Our Mission and Values
Mission: The Ray School provides a nurturing and inclusive learning community that inspires excellence.
Vision: To be One Ray, focused on empowering students to dream, create, think critically, and contribute to the greater good.
In the spring of 2023 the Ray School presented it's updated Mission, Vision, and Values: A Roadmap for Ray.
The Bernice A. Ray School welcomes all elementary-age children in Hanover, and Etna, New Hampshire in kindergarten through grade 5. Our teachers and staff members are committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and trusting environment for all children. We offer a balanced and challenging academic program and a supportive atmosphere for children of all abilities and backgrounds.
The educational, social, and emotional growth of each child is our prime concern and we actively encourage our students to become responsible and contributing members of the community.
Traditions play an integral part of our students’ experiences at the Ray School and encompass all grade levels and all students.
As a school, our commitment to school traditions has the following guiding principles:
The child’s point of view is always considered;
We honor the values and habits of mind conveyed through the tradition;
We consider the expanding ripples of influence and effect of the tradition;
We are mindful and respectful of and sensitive to each other’s professional responsibilities.
Ray School traditions, among many, include:
- Forest Classroom, celebrating the 100th day of school, and community field trips (apple orchard, Hanover Police and Fire Departments) in Kindergarten.
- Life cycle studies culminating with hatching chicks in First Grade.
- Forest science work in Second Grade.
- Studying Japanese culture in Third Grade.
- Exploring Camp Brook during the Fourth Grade.
- Biography Study during the Fifth Grade.