Mission Statement - Learning Themes
Purpose of the Principia
“The Principia shall seek to serve the Cause of Christian Science through appropriate channels open to it as an educational institution.”
Policy 1 from Education at the Principia by Mary Kimball Morgan
Mission Statement
The mission of the Principia College Athletic Department is to offer students a vigorous physical activity program that encourages spiritual growth and character development, creates opportunities to learn and master new skills, and provides a forum for achieving competitive excellence.
Vision
The vision driving Principia College Athletics is educational in the larger sense. It is helping students maintain a balance between intellectual pursuits and a competitive athletic enterprise that complements the development of the whole person. It encourages a life-long passion for sport, and endeavors to nurture unique and essential qualities in shaping the character and spiritual progress of each participant. Working hard to achieve excellence, sacrificing self for team, expressing a sense of joy for the opportunity to compete, and demonstrating grace and sportsmanship in victory or defeat, represents our highest ideals in this pursuit.
Defining Success
Spirituality Underpinning
Character
Competitive Excellence
Scholarship
Service
Learning Themes
#1 Character
Our student-athletes should demonstrate character growth and spiritual progress through…
· sportsmanship and ethical behavior
· resilience and self-control
· self-discipline
· accountability
· integrity
· attention to detail
· unselfishness
· understanding the value of hard work and practice
· respect for teammates, opponents, officials, coaches, parents and fans
· prayer and adherence to the Golden Rule
#2 Life Skills:
Our student-athletes should demonstrate the qualities of a good student and be able to explain how lessons learned in sport apply outside the competitive arena by…
· “knowing thyself” and capably articulating one’s values and purpose
· identifying distractions, making adjustments and re-focusing one’s efforts
· honestly evaluating performance in daily life
· establishing an appropriate balance between sport and other life activities
· establishing enduring relationships with coaches and teachers alike
#3 Teamwork:
Our student-athletes should demonstrate the qualities of a good team member by…
· embracing the concept of team—that each member contributes to the whole and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
· demanding much of oneself and others
· understanding the dynamic role of leadership—that it takes moral courage to lead with authority to bring out the best in others
· communicating effectively– verbally, through body language, at the appropriate time, and with the proper delivery
· engaging in active followership
#4 Game Skills:
Our student-athletes should demonstrate the skills that win contests within the rigors of NCAA DIII intercollegiate competition by…
· displaying competitive maturity—the right balance of intensity and restraint, seriousness and lightheartedness, grit and grace
· processing critical information in a competitive environment leading to avenues of creative problem-solving
· performing technical skills with proficiency and precision
· developing mental skills such as confidence, perseverance, focus, concentration, and dominion
· understanding the game/activity and the rules of play
Years of Eligibility
The student-athlete experience is developmental. Participants in a sport are recruited with the expectation that they will possess desire, talent, ability, and experience in their activity. Student-athletes will invariably present varying degrees of familiarity with the general tenor of our departmental themes as they embark on their collegiate careers. Expectations for freshmen will be different from those of seniors. The hope is that student-athletes will remain in a sport for the allowable four years of their eligibility, thereby fully engaging the benefits of our programs.
Assessment Tools
Sport at Principia is a vehicle for character development and spiritual growth. What did you learn about yourself and/or your relationship to God this season?
Explain how you have applied the lessons learned in your sport to other aspects of your life.
Developmental Progression Rubrics—to be filled out by students and by coaches
Use of Learning Themes
Basis for feedback-progress
Recruiting
Career