What Guides Us
Mission
We aim to inspire the next generation of visionary problem-solvers by cultivating a joyful, principled, and diverse community of balanced learners—for Puerto Rico and an ever-evolving world.
Values
- Our students are the center of our school.
- Nurturing every trait of the Dolphin Learner Profile fosters lifelong success, meaning, and growth.
Vision
A dynamic, safe learning community where every student is empowered through inquiry, guided by principles, and inspired to achieve excellence in all aspects of the student experience, while leveraging our unique community to foster relevance and impact that will shape a better world.
The Dolphin Learner Profile
At The Palmas Academy, our Dolphin Learner Profile isn’t just a set of values—it’s a compass that guides everything we do. The eight core traits it outlines provide a framework for character education, shaping not just what our students learn, but who they become. They are explicitly woven into every unit of study we undertake, across our curriculum.
These traits serve as a shared language and standard for personal growth, resilience, and citizenship. They provide a template for the kind of people we strive to be. From the classroom to the playground, from athletics to the arts, at TPA we are growing exceptional human beings.
- Explore concepts and ideas to create meaning-making for themselves and others, always acting from a depth of understanding.
- Use previous knowledge to inform creative, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
- Value experience and the process of learning more than the end product.
- Know how to seek out, challenge, synthesize, and retain new information that is relevant and powerful.
- They are caring and kind to all who are around them.
- Believe in the power of compassion and belonging.
- Give of themselves to help others.
- Understand that learning is a lifelong commitment to oneself that extends far beyond academic achievement.
- Know that learning is a deeply reflective process that depends on a growth mindset.
- Recognize that it is the responsibility of the learner not just to memorize new material but to master the skillset of learning.
- Speak and act with intention and impact their audience.
- Express their ideas confidently and effectively in multiple languages and in non-verbal ways.
- Understand that communication is bidirectional, and listening is essential.
- Recognize that service is not an act but a mindset that prioritizes the well-being and growth of others.
- Seek out opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their communities, understanding the interconnectedness of people and systems.
- Act with humility, empathy, and a genuine desire to create positive change.
- Reflect on their actions to ensure their service empowers others and creates sustainable impact.
- Make decisions guided by integrity, ethics, and a clear sense of responsibility.
- Honor their commitments and hold themselves accountable for their actions and impact on others.
- Seek fairness and justice in their interactions, standing firm in their values even when faced with challenges or pressures.
- Recognize that being principled means acting with courage and compassion, ensuring that their actions align with their words.
- They take risks to become better versions of themselves.
- They are brave enough to be vulnerable and celebrate mistakes with high intentionality and learning opportunities.
- They are highly accountable for their actions, and they speak up for what they believe in the face of opposition and injustice.
- They are open-minded, going far beyond mere “tolerance” to truly respect, regard, and allow perspectives and lived experiences that are not their own to inform their thinking.
- Recognize the strength in diversity and honor differences in opinions and perspectives.
- Are resilient problem solvers who believe in the power of iteration and learning through experience.
- Focus less on comparing themselves to others and more on working toward their goals.