• Message from the Head of School
• Mission/Philosophy
• Faculty/Staff
• SRV in Brief
• Board of Trustees
• School Environment
• Diversity
• Community Impact
• Directions
• SRV By the Numbers
• Symposium

In January of 2004, after a year and a half long process and the input of dozens of community members, the school adopted a Strategic Plan that identified six areas of focus to concentrate on over the next five years. One of the key areas of the Plan was Program Articulation. Specifically, how would The School in Rose Valley develop and implement a communication strategy that clearly defines and concisely articulates the school's philosophy, program and practices? In what ways could the school better explain its educational mission and long standing commitment to progressive education in a way that is easily understood by all audiences and constituents? How do you encapsulate the essence of The School in Rose Valley and what makes it such a unique place, thereby ensuring its institutional health far into the future?

In order to achieve this goal, The School in Rose Valley Board of Directors hired Mark Edwards & Company, a firm that specializes in independent school marketing, in 2005. Mark Edwards, whose client list includes such progressive institutions as Shady Hill and Swarthmore College, compiled research after speaking with many people both inside and outside of The School in Rose Valley community including alumni, current and prospective parents, board and staff members, feeder schools and many others. That research, combined with years of expertise in the area, revealed that SRV was not as well known as it could be after a 75 year history and that those who did know and love the school had a hard time articulating what it was that makes The School in Rose Valley special.

Mark's job became to find the one simple truth that is the most unique, relevant, compelling and true aspect of The School in Rose Valley. With input from current Board and Staff members, the following positioning statement and what we like to refer to as the school's 'bead quote,' were adopted in the spring of 2006:

Unique path, profound destination

The School in Rose Valley offers a strikingly different model of how young people should be educated. Emphasizing hands-on experience and connection to nature, Rose Valley's preschool through sixth grade program fosters independence, creativity, and deep commitment to community. The Rose Valley experience is both nurturing and rigorous–students are prepared for future academic success, meaningful relationships, and active citizenship.

Mark recognized that The School in Rose Valley is not just another preschool and elementary school. In getting to know us, he saw the school as a model of the way young children should be educated. We do things differently here and are proud of that long-standing tradition. The integrity that Grace Rotzel and the founders of the school created in 1929 had survived more than 75 years of cultural pressure, educational trends, and other outside demands to remain intact as a place that supports children in their intellectual growth as well as their social and emotional development.

In order to accurately reflect this stance, The School in Rose Valley took a critical look at all of its communications tools. The School's original logo (designed in the 1950s), while lovely and packed with nostalgia and history, did not reflect who we are today – a school which remains rooted in progressive pedagogy while committed to using current educational research to ensure students are prepared for active, global citizenship.

In order to update the logo, the school hired Design for Social Impact, a small shop of designers in Center City Philadelphia, who specialize in "affecting positive social action through affordable design for non-profits." Members of the DFSI team visited The School in Rose Valley and were captivated by its campus, its children and its uniqueness. They designed a logo rooted in the school's connection to nature that emphasized our "strikingly different" approach to educating young children. Ours is now a school logo you don't see everyday. The spirals within the new logo function as a direct representation of the Fibonacci sequence, subtle allusions to nature in the shape of a nautilus shell, and an indication of the asymmetrical and unique paths students can take from the same starting point. The shapes interact in a nurturing, formative manner while sitting on the strong base of the words "School in Rose Valley." The orange leaf highlights the destination, which is open-ended, profound and strong.

Community members have commented that they see a parent/child or teacher/child reference within the spirals as well as the large and small leaf. Some have said that the color choice reflects the Arts & Crafts tradition and that the image, while bold and contemporary, also feels nostalgic or "like a woodcut." We are delighted at the positive feedback we have received so far. The new logo seems to be a true reflection of who The School in Rose Valley is today.

The School in Rose Valley will be incorporating the new logo, 'bead quote' and positioning statement and ideas, into all of its communications tools and vehicles including a new view book, web site, stationery, signage, and more. This project will put us on the map as the educational leaders we are and will help to ensure the health of this incredible institution far into the future.