These Seven
Foundational Statements establish our Mission and
Purpose based on our philosophy of education:
1.
Unfolding Each Child's Full Potential
We celebrate and honor
the whole child, creating a learning environment
that acknowledges a full expression of each child's
innate abilities and goodness, and allows each child
to reach the fullest potential.
2.
Teaching through the Arts
We offer an integrated arts
curriculum, enabling children to learn according to their interests
and through music, movement, sculptural and visual art, literature and drama to
ensure a lasting enthusiasm and love of learning. Integrated arts
education allows students to engage multiple intelligences and
diverse learning styles. Our students develop as creative artists and thinkers
as they also gain meaning and understanding in academic disciplines.
3. Caring Community
We acknowledge the benefits of a
compassionate, caring, and inclusive community and facilitate
cooperative and collaborative learning through all activities. We
strive to create a true sense of community by including families in
enrichment activities. We embrace children of all backgrounds and
abilities, including children with special needs.
4.
Fostering Character & Spiritual Growth
We promote positive character
development and a healthy sense of emotional well-being for all
children through our emphasis on cooperative learning, practice of
nonviolent communication, and care and concern for each other, our
families and community, other creatures, and the Earth. We
acknowledge that children are created as individual expressions of
divine Love, Life, Truth, Soul, Mind, Spirit, and Principle. We
encourage everyone in our community to look for the good in others
and we celebrate the blossoming of each child that results from this
spiritual concept. We practice the meaning of the beautiful
greeting, "Namaste," which can be translated as "the light in me
sees the light in you."
5. Creative Thinking & Imagination
We value the development of creative
thinking abilities, imagination, and higher-level problem solving
skills over a focus on mere fact-based curriculum. Children learn
academic disciplines (vs. subjects) as they learn to
problem-solve as a mathematician, investigate as a scientist, write
as an author, invent as an engineer, synthesize as a historian, and appreciate arts and
culture as a truly educated person.
6. Experiential, Thematic,
Child-led Learning
Our process of learning creative arts
and academics avoids following adult models but allows the child to actively
participate in the generative process and to experience first-hand
what they learn. Children follow their interests as an experienced
teacher guides them to accept greater challenges and provides
opportunities for growth. We explore thematic units together
to sustain interest, gain in-depth knowledge, and to see the
connections across disciplines. Rather than earning grades or taking
tests, students share what they learn through projects and
performances.
7. Cherishing Childhood
The world needs the qualities children
offer so readily: enthusiasm, joy, curiosity, originality,
creativity, spontaneity, compassion, affection, imagination, and energy. At the
same time, these gifts of childhood get continually pushed aside in
our media- and consumer-driven culture. At Creative Learning
Circle, we cherish children--and
childhood itself--as we offer a haven for children to learn and grow
with all the joy and fullness of a healthy childhood. We believe
childhood should include closeness to
nature, family, and friends; freedom from impositions of harmful media; plenty of
open-ended exploration and creative expression; and a caring
community, and Creative Learning Circle strives to offer all of this
to children.
Copyright © 2006-2007
Enicia J. Fisher
Homeschool Enrichment
Program
Special Interest Classes
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