1475 S. Higley Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296 (480) 208-0256 - A Montessori Community - Creo School
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A Montessori Community
Family Handbook
2020-2021
1475 S. Higley Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85296 (480) 208-0256“In the child is much knowledge, much
wisdom. If we do not profit from it, it is only
because of neglect on our part to become
humble and to see the wonder of this soul
and learn what the child can teach.”
-Dr. Maria MontessoriTable of Contents Letter from Head of School…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………4 Mission Statement……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5 Communication Contact Outline…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…6 Montessori Philosophy……………………………………………………………………………………………….……...…………….7 Enrollment………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………8 Payment Procedures………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9 Attendance……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...……….……10 Student Health and Wellness………………………………………………………………………………………………………….12 Department of Health Services……………………………………………………………………………………………………….13 Personal Belongings………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13 Visitor Regulations……………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..………14 Parent Volunteers………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….14 Volunteer Opportunities……………………………………………………………………………………………..………………….14 Annual Events and Fundraising……………………………………..……………………………………………….……..…..……15 Parent Education………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………..15 Montessori Journey and Discovery………………………………………………………………………………….………………16 Parent-Teacher Conferences………………………………………………………………………………………..….………..…….16 Classroom Observations………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….…….16 Summer Program………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….………...….17 Campus Grace and Courtesy………………………………………………………………………………….…………….……….....17 Social Media and Marketing………………………………………………………………………………………………..….……….17 Birthdays and Celebrations………………………………………………………………………………………………….….……...18 Snack and Lunch………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….…….….…18 Field Trips……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….….………...19 Elementary Going-Outs………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….19 Communications…………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………….……….20 Freedom with Responsibility and Self Discipline………………………………..…………………………………….……...20 Discipline and Corrective Behavior…………………………………………………………………………..……………….….…21 Use of Electronics……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….22 Pest Control Procedures…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..22 Tobacco Policy………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………….…….22 Child Abuse Reporting……………………………………………………………………………………………….………....………..22 Child Find and Special Education…………………………………………………………………………………………..…….….22 Student Records and Personal Information………………………………………………………………………….……….…23 Dress Code and Appearance……………………………………………………………………………………………….....………..24
Dear Families,
It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Creō Montessori School! In the following
Family Handbook, we hope you find helpful information in understanding our
school’s policies, principles, and procedures of our daily life at Creō Montessori
School.
Our qualified staff is committed to serving your child and providing the highest
quality environment. We never underestimate the importance of our parents’
cooperation and partnership with us as we work together to create a
harmonious and successful community. To support these efforts, it is necessary
for all families to commit to our partnership and follow the handbook as
outlined.
Please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions about the content of this
book or any aspect of your child’s experience at Creō. We look forward to
working with your family and sharing many joys of new discoveries.
Respectfully,
Jill Rovira
Head of School
4MISSION STATEMENT
Creō Montessori School is committed to developing within the child a passion to learn through
discovery in a secular, bilingual and family centered learning community, based on the principles and
philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori. We encourage the self-development of each individual’s natural
potential by nurturing creativity, promoting forward thinking skills, honoring personal integrity, while
supporting a global perspective.
EQUITY STATEMENT
Creō School embraces and celebrates the diversity of our world. Our differences —including those of
culture, race, ethnicity, religion, age, family structure, sex and sexual orientation, gender identity and
expression, socioeconomics, learning style, and world view, among others — form and inform a rich
environment that is a crucial part of educating our children on their path to maturity and global
citizenship. Our interactions across our entire community are characterized by guiding principles of
respect, equity, justice, humanity, peace, and personal responsibility. Creō School believes that a full
educational excellence requires an inclusive and diverse community.
We oppose discrimination and consciously recognize the value of diversity throughout our hiring
practices, admission process, classroom composition, professional development, and community
activities.
ADMINISTRATION
Head of School Jill Rovira Jill@creoschool.org
Assistant Head of School Lauren Franchek Lauren@creoschool.org
Elementary Director Ruchira Fernando Ruchira@creoschool.org
Adolescent Director Adam Ladd Adam@creoschool.org
Development Director Jennilyn Costantini Jennilyn@creoschool.org
Finance Manager Barbara Miller Barbara@creoschool.org
Admissions Coordinator Sarah Loewenthal Sarah@cresochool.org
Community Coordinator Bonnie Shearer Bonnie@creoschool.org
GENERAL INFORMATION
Hours of Operation are: 7:30am to 5:30pm Monday through Friday.
Telephone: (480) 208-0256
Website: www.creōschool.org
Federal Tax ID #: 81-2117695
Creō School does not transport children to and from school unless the student is enrolled in the
Adolescent Program, in which the student may be provided transportation to and from Creō School
Campus to Creō Farm Campus.
Creō School carries the liability insurance of at least $300,000 in accordance to Statute R9-5-308A.
Creō School is a drug free, smoke free, and weapon free facility.
Resume information for instructional personnel is available in the Front Office.
Inspection reports are available in the Front Office.
5COMMUNICATION CONTACT OUTLINE
For matters such as… Contact…
• School Policy and Procedures
• School Mission and Goals
• Board of Directors
Jill Rovira
• Safety and Security
• Referral to Specialists Head of School
• Parent Education
• Montessori Accreditation
• Testing and Benchmarks
• Student Health and Wellness
• Department of Health Services
• Support of all levels
• Nido, Toddler and Children’s House
o Guided Observation
o Program Inquiries/Support
o Parent Support
• Marketing
o Website Content Lauren Franchek
o Photography
o Social Media Assistant Head of School
o Public Relations
• Communications
• Calendar Inquiries
• Student Ambassadors
• Elementary Community
o Guided Observation
o Program Inquiries/Support Ruchira Fernando
o School Tours
Elementary Director
o Field Trips (Going-outs)
• Middle School Community
o Guided Observation
o Program Inquiries/Support Adam Ladd
o School Tours for Creō Farm Campus
Adolescent Director
o Field Trips (Going-outs)
o Middle School Curriculum
• Student Medications
• Attendance
• Transfer of Records
• Parent Contact Updates Sarah Loewenthal
• School Forms
o Enrollment Documents Admissions Coordinator
o Enrollment Applications
o Re-enrollment Contracts
6• Creō School Campus Tours
• Admissions Paperwork – All Levels
• Any inquiry you are unsure of…
• Creō Distance Learning Program (CDL) Bonnie Shearer
o Student and Parent Support Community Coordinator
• Administrative Support
• Financial-aid Awards
• STO (Tax Credits)
• Parent Groups
Jennilyn Costantini
• Charity Events
• School Functions Communications and Development
• Community Building Director
• Outreach and volunteer opportunities
• Tuition Payment and Billing Barbara Miller
• ProCare, Online Tuition Support Finance Manager
• Specific concerns about your child’s social,
emotional, or academic progress
• Classroom procedures
Your child’s Lead Guide
• Snack or Lunch
• Recess
• Show and Shares
• Meeting requests
MONTESSORI PHILOSPHY
Dr. Montessori wrote, “A child’s work, is to create the man he will become. An adult works to perfect
his environment, but a child works to perfect himself.” Dr. Montessori, a physician, an educator and
engineer developed an approach to education that would aid the child in his work. The Montessori
approach is based on careful observation of and respect for the natural development of the child and
has been used in schools around the world for over 100 years.
The theory behind Montessori education is simple: Children want to learn. From birth to maturity, the
child lives in what appears to be a chaotic world. He or she gradually establishes order by learning to
distinguish the senses and develop their inner resources. The child who accomplishes this becomes a
confident, self-assured learner. The main purpose of an authentic Montessori school community is to
provide a carefully planned, stimulating environment which will help the child develop an excellent
foundation for creative learning. Montessori classrooms provide a prepared environment where
children are free to respond to their natural drive to work and learn.
One basic idea of the Montessori philosophy is that carried unseen within each child is the person that
the child can become. To develop his/her physical, intellectual, and spiritual powers to the fullest, the
child must have freedom - a freedom achieved through order and self-discipline. The child's world is
full of sights and sounds that at first appear chaotic. From this chaos the child gradually creates order
and learns to distinguish among the impressions that assail his/her senses, slowly gaining mastery of
7self and environment. Dr. Montessori developed what she called "the prepared environment." Among
its features is an ordered arrangement of learning materials in a non-competitive atmosphere that
helps each child develop at his/her own rate. "Never let the child risk failure until he has a reasonable
chance of success," said Dr. Montessori, understanding the need to acquire basic skills before
participating in a competitive learning situation.
The years between two and six are those when a child learns the ground rules of human behavior most
easily. These years can be devoted constructively to preparing the child to take his/her place in
society through the acquisition of good manners, organizational skills, and work habits. Between the
ages of six and twelve, the child is able to think abstractly, and is engaged and motivated by the
imagination. Learning must challenge his imagination in order to be meaningful. Dr. Montessori
recognized that self-motivation is the only valid impulse to learning. Children move themselves toward
learning. The teacher prepares the environment, creates stimulating activities, and functions as the
reference person and role model for the class. But it is the child who learns, motivated through the
work itself, to persist in his chosen task. The Montessori child is free to learn because she has acquired
an "inner discipline" from exposure to both physical and mental order. This is the core of Montessori's
educational philosophy. Habits of concentration, perseverance, and thoroughness established in early
childhood produce a confident and competent learner in later years.
Historically, Montessori schools have taught children to observe, to think, and to make judgments.
Montessori introduces children to the joy of learning at an early age and provides a framework in
which intellectual and social discipline goes hand in hand. Through the elementary and middle school
years, children in a Montessori environment acquire a strong academic and emotional base, allowing
them to grow into capable young adults with integrity, intellectual honesty, and social grace.
ENROLLMENT
Families are required to attend a Tour/Informational Session as the first step to enrollment. After
attending the Tour/Informational Session, availability will be confirmed by Administration. If a
position is available and offered to your family you will have one week in which to return your
enrollment agreement, enrollment documents, a $200 non-refundable application fee and $300 tuition
deposit to secure your child’s space at Creō.
Age or milestone Requirements per level
• Children entering the Nido program must be 8 weeks.
• Children entering the Toddler program must be walking steadily by the time of
enrollment.
• Children entering the Children’s House program should be 2.5 years old by the
time of enrollment and MUST be toilet trained.
• Children entering the Elementary program should be six years old by September
1st. Exceptions for those with birthdays between September 2nd and December 31st are
based on evaluation and approval by school administration.
• Children entering Middle School should entering grade 7.
8We follow a rolling admissions process, where applications are considered, and admissions decisions
are made as they are received, and the steps are completed. Because we see the school as a
partnership with a family, admission is based on many factors, which we consider together all based
on whether or not the student, family, and school are a good fit. Admissions is therefore not
competitive, but rather a reflective and supportive process of collaboration.
Upon acceptance of an offered position, a start date will be determined. It is Creō’s practice to begin
new students joining our community at the beginning of a school year on a rolling start to better
support the child on their first day of school. This means that not all new students will begin on the
first day of the new school year in August, rather in the days and/or weeks following. Administration
will inform families of their individual start dates. If a child were to start mid-year, a start date would
be selected in similar fashion starting on a day that would set the child best up for success.
All Nido, Toddler, Children’s House, Lower and Upper Elementary, and Adolescent students will be
accepted on a conditional basis. Parents or guardians may be asked to withdraw a student if Creō
School determines, in its sole discretion, that the program is not meeting the student’s needs, or that
the student’s presence is having an adverse effect on the program.
Creō School strongly believes in the strength and integrity of all classrooms. It is the policy of Creō
School to not accept parent requests for specific classroom placements. Classroom placement is
determined in the best interest of the child by our Head of School and Assistant Head of School.
Creō School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges,
programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at our school. It does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic, or sexual orientation origin in
administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and
athletic and other school-administered programs.
PAYMENT PROCEDURES
Parents or Guardians are required to enroll in the ProCare Tuition Management System as a condition
of enrollment in the Nido, Toddler, Children’s House, Elementary, and Adolescent programs.
Return of Fees and Deposits
Parents or Guardians of Nido, Toddler, Children’s House, Elementary, and Adolescent students
agree and understand that the Registration Fee is non-refundable and will not be returned for
any reason. Parents or Guardians further understand and agree that the Tuition Deposit will
only be refunded after the student(s)’s last year of enrollment in the Nido, Toddler, Children’s
House, Elementary, or Adolescent program at Creō School. However, if the student withdraws
or is disenrolled by Creō School prior to the end of any school year, the Tuition Deposit will be
forfeited. If a child re-enrolls year to year, the Tuition Deposit will roll over each year until
their last year of enrollment at Creō.
Tuition Payments
9Parents or Guardians agree and understand all tuition payments will be processed through the
Tuition Management Company. Early withdrawal of the student(s) from Creō School’s
programs will be effective 30 days following Creō School administration’s receipt of written
notice of student(s) intent to withdrawal or the date of withdrawal, whichever occurs later. If
30 days rolls into the next month tuition, the next month’s full tuition will be charged. If the
annual tuition amount was paid in full and the Student withdraws or is disenrolled by Creō
School prior to the end of the 2020-2021 school year, the pro-rated tuition payment will be
refunded, less the pay in full discount.
Termination
Creō School reserves the right to terminate the Enrollment Contract and disenroll Student(s)
from Nido, Toddler, Children’s House, Elementary, or Adolescent programs with or without
notice for any reason. Parents or Guardians agree and understand that termination of the
Enrollment Contract and disenrollment of the student form Creō School programs does not
change the refund provisions.
General Terms and Conditions
1. Late Pick-Up Fee: Please refer to your Enrollment Agreement on when pick up is
considered late per your selected program. Excessive “late pick-ups” may
jeopardize your child’s enrollment.
2. Illnesses and Vacations: Creō School does not give refunds for days which students
are absent due to illnesses, vacations, or other personal reasons.
ATTENDANCE
It is important for your child to be in class every day. Each child is an essential part of the classroom
dynamics. Lessons are planned for children each day; thus, a child’s absence impacts the
schedule. If a student arrives late, they are missing out on valuable class time. If the child arrives after
class time has begun, please check in at the front desk.
Regular attendance and punctual arrival at school are two habits that dramatically impact
student achievement. Tardiness and absences are disturbing to students, disrupt their schedules,
require adjustments to the class routine, and diminish learning. Parents are urged to make every
effort to schedule doctor, dentist, and other appointments for students at times outside of the school
day.
When students are absent, it is Creō's intention to call their parents. This is the responsibility of our
Admissions Coordinator and/or Community Coordinator. This sometimes means leaving voicemails as
parents may not be available, are working, or may be traveling. If we do not receive a response within
two school days, we will reach out to the emergency contacts. However, we ask our families to be
diligent about sending Gold Notes to notify our staff of illnesses, absences, being tardy, changes at
home, and shifts in caregivers. This is important for accountability purposes, but also for teachers to
be in the loop should there be any behavioral changes, and it helps them to connect with the children.
10Absences
1. In case of an absence, please complete a Gold Note or Absence Form via SchoolCues. This
will deliver the message the fastest to administration, front office staff, and your classroom
Lead and Assistant.
2. If you are unable to report the absence via SchoolCues, Gold Notes can be obtained in the
front office or you may call the school office to report the absence at (480) 208-0256. Leave
a message if necessary. You may also send an email to Creō Administration:
admin@creoschool.org.
3. Vacations should be planned around regularly scheduled breaks. The school does not
condone taking Elementary or Middle School students out of school during the regular
school schedule.
4. Ten consecutive days of unexcused absences will be cause for automatic withdrawal.
5. Some program levels require students to be accountable for missed work.
6. Frequent patterns of absences may result in a meeting with the teacher and/or Head of
School or Assistant Head of School. Penalties for excessive absenteeism (10 or more days
per school year) may include non-promotion to the next grade.
7. When a child needs to leave school early, please send a Gold Note to the teacher and sign
the child out in the office.
Tardiness
1. The school day starts at 8:30 for Toddler, Children’s House and Elementary students. A
student is considered late if he or she is not inside the classroom at the start of the school
day.
2. Frequent tardiness may result in a meeting with the teacher and/or Head of School or
Assistant Head of School. Due to the nature of the Montessori Method, late arrivals are very
disruptive to a student’s school performance and are handled very seriously by
administration.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up
1. For the safety of all our children and parents, please drive slowly and with caution at all
times, especially during drop-off and pick-up times when the parking lot is the busiest.
2. Please do NOT park in the “No School Parking” spaces, or spaces designated for businesses
other than Creõ, throughout the complex.
3. Please refrain from the use of cell phones during arrival and departure times as well as
while driving on Creõ School property.
Sign in/out
Children in the Toddler and Children’s House programs must be signed in and out each day by
parents or designated individual (18 years and older) as required by the State of Arizona’s
Department of Health Services. If someone other than the parent will be signing a child out, the
school must have written permission on file. Families will use the tablet located outside of the
classrooms designated drop off location.
11Dismissal
Creō School will only release a student to the parent, guardian or an authorized person as
stated on the student dismissal authorization form. If someone else is going to pick up a
child, the parent must use a Gold Note and/or call the office. In cases of doubt, we will phone
the custodial parent to confirm that someone else has been authorized to pick up the child.
Photo identification is required from any adult who is not known to school personnel and who
comes to pick up a child.
STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS
For the 2020-21 please read and acknowledge Creo’s Operating Plan as an overriding
document for any overlap listed below.
In case of injury or illness during school hours, the student will be brought to the school office.
Parents will be notified by phone when a child is sick or injured. It is the parent’s responsibility to
collect the child within 45 minutes of contact from the school. If a parent cannot be reached, the
office will call the alternate pick-up names on the emergency card. Parents are responsible for
keeping all emergency information current by making any changes in addresses, telephone
numbers, or emergency contact information in SchoolCues and the front office.
We cannot admit your child to school if one or more of the following conditions exist:
a) The illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in normal school activities,
including outdoor play.
b) The illness/injury requires more care than teachers can provide without compromising the
health, safety, and supervision of the other children in the class.
c) The child has a temporal temperature of 100.0 degrees or greater.
d) Symptoms and signs of possible severe illness, such a s lethargy, abnormal breathing,
uncontrolled diarrhea, vomiting, unexplained rash, mouth sores with drooling, behavior
changes, or other signs that the child may be ill.
e) A health-care professional has diagnosed the child with a communicable disease, and the child
does not have medical documentation to indicate that the child is no longer contagious.
Children should come to school healthy. Please wait 24 hours after vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever
over 100 degrees (without fever reducing medication) has subsided before bringing your child back to
school. If your child develops a fever, or shows other signs of illness during school hours, you will be
called to arrange for him to be picked up. Children with communicable diseases as defined by
Arizona Department of Health Services may not come to school, nor be readmitted until the
recommendations by the A r i z o n a Department of Health Services have been met.
Communicable Diseases
Should a child be diagnosed with a communicable disease, the school requires a doctor’s note
upon the student's return, to verify that the child is no longer contagious. If a communicable
disease is reported in a classroom, a health notice will be posted outside of that classroom and
a notification emailed to all parents via SchoolCues. Please refer the 2020-2021 Operating Plan
for protocols specific to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
12Medical Emergencies
In the event that a student needs emergency medical attention, 911 will be called. The parent
or person responsible will then be notified. If it is necessary to transport a child to the
hospital, a staff member will accompany the child and remain with that student until one of
the parents (or someone designated by the parent) arrives at the hospital. Staff members
with current CPR/First Aid training are always present on campus and will administer aid
whenever necessary.
Medication
1. A designated staff member is responsible for the administration of all medications
including storing, supervising ingestion, and recording the dosage.
2. The administration of any product or medication is not permitted unless the child’s parent
completes a Medication Consent Form.
3. Prescription medication will only be administered from an original container dispensed
by a pharmacy, which provides the child’s name, specific administration directions, and
expiration date.
4. Non-prescription medications or products will only be administered from a prepackaged
container labeled for use by the manufacturer and labeled with the child’s name, specific
administration directions, and expiration date. No medication will be administered that
has been transferred from one container to another.
5. Medications are to be brought directly to the office by an adult. For topical ointments
including sunscreen, insect repellent, and lip balm, parents must complete the Topcial
Medical Consent form:
https://creoschool.formstack.com/forms/topical_medical_consent_form. All prescription
medications must be dropped off to the front office.
6. No medication will be administered without a signed Medical Consent Form. This form
can be obtained at the front office.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
Creō School’s Nido, Toddler, Children’s House, Elementary, and Adolescent Extended Day Programs,
and Summer programs are regulated and monitored by the Arizona Department of Health Services,
which is located at 150 N. 18th Avenue, 4th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85007, www.azdhs.gov. The
telephone number is (602) 364-2539. All DHS inspection reports are available at the front
office upon request.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Some children like to bring something from their home environment to school as a part of
themselves to place in the new environment. We want to honor this desire, and at the same
time, be sure that what the child brings leads to a positive experience. Acceptable things to
13bring to school; flowers, items from nature, things of interest to share with the class (example:
cultural or scientific artifacts or objects) if you have any doubt, please contact your child's
teacher. Please do not send any live animals unless it has been arranged with the teacher.
Please leave all toys, stuffed animals, music, card collections, money and personal electronics
at home. Children’s House has show and share on
VISITOR REGULATIONS
All visitors must check in at the office and obtain a visitor’s badge. All parents visiting
campus during school hours must check in at the office. All parents have access to the areas
on facility premises where the parent’s enrolled child is receiving childcare services while
accompanied by a staff member.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
Parent volunteers are required to maintain a valid Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card at all
times. Prior to contributing time and talent to the school, volunteers must attend the Creō
School Volunteer Training session and submit the Volunteer Guidelines acknowledgement
form.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
At Creō we understand the importance of collaborating and working together to make a difference. It
is imperative that our staff and our families have free flowing communication and we make great
efforts to expand and grow together.
Room Parents - Two parents in each classroom will be asked to take on the role of Room
Parent. A list of tasks and a calendar of events that the Room Parents will manage throughout
the year will be presented to Room Parents to ensure consistency and clear expectations. Our
Director of Communication and Development will conduct a Room Parent/Volunteer meeting
at the beginning of the school year and will serve as a liaison between staff and volunteers.
Ambassadors - Creō will enlists the help of “Raving Creō Fans” within our community to tell
their story and share their experience with prospective parents through our ambassador
program. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with other families that are interested in
attending our school by extending knowledge and firsthand expertise. We feel it is important
to get the “parent-to-parent” questions answered by parents that can empathize with the task
of finding the best school and environment for their children.
Community Service - Creō’s Upper and Lower Elementary students will be participating in
“Going Outs” to give back and enhance the lives of others in surrounding communities. There
will also be school wide opportunities for our families to contribute time and resources to
better the lives of others and spread grace, courtesy and love far and wide. We will extend our
mission of achieving a cohesive, compassionate and meaningful Creō Community that makes a
difference beyond our own campus.
14If you are interested in learning more about the above or additional volunteer opportunities,
please contact our Communications and Development Director, Jennilyn Costantini:
jennilyn@creōschool.org
JEDI Committee
Creō’s Justive, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (JEDI) Committee is a parent-led group
designed to support and foster dialogue among Creō’s Community Members. Please visit our
website for more information or to become involved.
ANNUAL EVENTS AND FUNDRAISING
The main components of raising funds for our school include Arizona’s tax credit program as
well as our annual charity event. Throughout the school year, our Communication and
Development Director, Jennilyn Costantini will conduct individual family tax credit meetings
as well as school wide trainings to teach the process, answer your questions and serve as a
liaison between Student Tuition Organizations (STO’s) and Creō. The program makes school
choice possible and is an integral part of our school’s success.
FUNdraising Events: Every year Creō holds an event to raise tuition scholarships for our
students that are under five years old and therefore are not eligible to participate in the state
tax credit program. We want to ensure that families with children under age five have the
opportunity to enroll as early as they would like for the benefit of the child and that tuition is
not a barrier. By coming together as a community and putting on a fun filled event, we can
spread Montessori and provide school choice to younger students until they are old enough to
receive tuition assistance through the state of Arizona. All of the proceeds from our school’s
annual events go to supporting our under five-year-old students at our school. We enlist the
vast talents and resources from our community to create memorable and successful events to
aide in our mission.
PARENT EDUCATION (COMMUNITY MEETINGS)
Our highly qualified staff members work diligently with each child on a daily basis.
Montessori teachers are referred to as Guides because they are experts at assisting children
to find their own strengths and their own capabilities through the use of practical, self-
correcting (didactic) materials. An AMI Montessori Guide is adept at leading from behind.
Creō School is proud to provide constant professional development opportunities for each
staff member. Part of the responsibility of a Creō School parent is to adopt a Montessori
view; to understand and embrace the mission of the school. It is essential for our Guides to
be able to share their knowledge in practical ways to best serve the entire family.
Creō School strongly urges all parents to make a habit of attending parent education events
offered by the school throughout the year. The purpose of these events is to strengthen the
child-parent-teacher relationships by offering programs, speakers, and publications that
focus on Montessori educational principles and practices, parenting skills, and child
development topics. Dates and descriptions of each event are available on our website.
Childcare is available for most evening events.
15MONTESSORI JOURNEY AND DISCOVERY
Each year, Creō School offers an incredible two-part opportunity to our community members
and prospective families. The Montessori Journey and Discovery is a powerful and emotional
event for parents and caregivers. It is the most comprehensive form of parent education that
a Montessori school can offer. Unfortunately, most parents did not attend a Montessori
school as a child, and although they can read about the Montessori philosophy, attend
community meetings, and observe their child’s classroom, it can be difficult to fully
understand the experience their child has every day at school. Furthermore, it is challenging
to envision the entire continuum of a child’s Montessori experience, across all levels of
development.
Montessori Journey and Discovery provides an opportunity for parents to explore and
experience the amazing outcomes that our authentic Montessori program has to offer,
firsthand, just like their children. It is mandatory for each family to attend the Montessori
Journey and Discovery at least once during their child’s enrollment at Creō School. Childcare
and meals for adults are provided during the Journey.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Constant communication between teacher and parent is vital for a child’s success at Creō
School. Formally scheduled Parent-Teacher Conferences are held each semester; however, a
parent may request meetings throughout the year according to their teacher’s availability.
During Fall Conferences, parents are invited to observe their child’s classroom followed by an
immediate meeting with their child’s Lead Guide. Spring conferences are held outside of
school hours. Our Lead Guides compose written narratives of each child’s social, emotional,
and academic achievements and provide families with a copy of current progress reports
sourced through our record keeping system: Transparent Classroom. Upon request, Spanish-
English translators are provided during conferences. Parent-Teacher conferences are
ADULT ONLY meetings. Childcare may be provided, when applicable.
CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS AND PRIVACY AGREEMENT
Scheduling is done in advance through the Assistant Head of School (for Toddler and
Children’s House), the Elementary Director (for Elementary Programs), and the Adolescent
Director (for Middle School). Prior to your scheduled observation, you will receive more
information regarding key goals and how to respond to children from an Administrator.
Receiving an invitation into a Montessori environment is a sincere privilege. It is an
opportunity to take in the essence of a child-centered environment. When Dr. Maria
Montessori opened her first school, she called it ‘Casa dei Bambini’, meaning, ‘Children’s
House.’ This term indicates that the Montessori Prepared Environment is a home for children.
Our environments are safe and sacred places for children to develop their unique
16personalities while living as a family member in their home away from home. It is important
for visitors to remain neutral, quiet, calm, and present respect for the work that is taking
place. The Guide and/or Assistant cannot take time from the classroom to converse with you,
either during or immediately following your observation, because they are focused on their
work with the children.
Another important aspect to consider is the privacy of the children. Our community, as large as it is,
can seem small at times. Understanding the honor of observation means that parents are required to
maintain the confidentiality regarding classroom happenings. Should a parent breach this privacy
agreement, their privileges to observe in Creō School classrooms may be revoked by the. Head of
School and/or Assistant Head of School.
SUMMER PROGRAM
Summer at Creō School is a time of wonder and exploration. Montessori principles continue to guide
our work in prepared environments with a distinctive flavor of summer. Students enjoy fun activities
such as splash days, drama, indoor play, games, team building, horticulture, arts and crafts, cooking,
transition classes, and much more. Elementary students participate in Going Out adventures to local
museums, theaters, yoga and art studios, restaurants for cooking lessons, etc. Students across all
levels participate in educational units as well as continuous Spanish immersion.
We hope you will join us for excitement in the summer at Creō School! For more information,
contact: Lauren@creoschool.org
CAMPUS GRACE AND COURTESY
A common and fundamental quality about Montessori Education, across all levels, is the concept of
Grace and Courtesy. To create a harmonious world, we recognize the human potential to care of
oneself and the world around us. Our outdoor environments, which include our gardens, are integral
parts of our student’s learning endeavor. It is critical for all of Creō School’s community members to
pay homage to the growth of all living things. This includes the care and protection of our community
campus. Parents are required to advise their children to refrain from picking flowers or pulling on
plants on school property. In addition, littering is strictly prohibited. During pick-up and drop-off,
car engines must be turned off to limit harmful chemicals from entering our outdoor spaces. Should
parents identify any suspicious or dangerous activity, Creō School requires immediate reports to be
filed with our Administrative Staff and/or Gilbert police.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING INITIATIVES
Sharing the beauty of Creō Students’ experiences in our authentic Montessori program, and the magic
that happens inside and outside of our prepared environments, is no small feat. Creō School
considers parent education as an important aspect of community building. It has been said that a
picture says a thousand words. By capturing photos and videos of the work that is happening in our
students’ daily lives enhances parent interaction and connection with their children through solid
examples. In addition, Creō School’s marketing efforts promotes growth of our community by
providing an excellent resource for parents and teachers alike. Each family must sign a Photo Release
17Form via Formstack. To make changes, please contact our Admissions Coordinator:
Sarah@creoschool.org.
CREO FAMILIA FACEBOOK GROUP
Creō Familia Facebook Page is a Facebook group for families moderated by Parent Ambassadors and
Creō Administration. This group is for parents and family members with children currently enrolled
at Creō School. Should your child become disenrolled, the moderators will remove you from the Creō
Familia Facebook group. Please view the community rules before requesting to join the group.
BIRTHDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS
In a Montessori Children’s House classroom birthdays are celebrated with a special ceremony in which
the birthday child carries a globe (representing the earth) around a candle (representing the sun) in
one complete orbit for each year of the child’s life. For Elementary classrooms, a photo from each year
of your child’s life may be sent in advance so that your child’s life and growth can be shared with the
class. Birthday celebrations for Toddlers are arranged directly with your child’s teacher. Please do
not send invitations of any kind to school for distribution, as all invitations should be delivered via
post or email. Contact lists can be found on SchoolCues.
At Creō School, we believe that learning about different cultures is an important aspect in developing
appreciation for oneself and others. Throughout the year, we present lessons and activities that give
the children opportunities to personally experience other cultures. The children are exposed to the
celebrations as stories and experiences. When at all possible, we invite representatives of a particular
culture to share their experiences with the children. The opportunities to taste, dance, and sing about
different cultures leads to lifelong appreciations for cultural experience.
SNACK AND LUNCH – Home Preparation
Creō School places an emphasis on good nutritional health and including children in the process of
helping to make their daily lunch. Children learn about foods and their importance in building
healthy bodies and minds. Provide choices of foods that are as close to their natural form as
possible. Fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products and whole grains are all good examples. Creō
School supports a “no bar code” lunch and snack policy. Please do not send “squeezy pouches” for
children to suck food out of as we promote the use of utensils and dishware at lunch.
It is preferred that all lunches and foods brought to school should be in reusable glass
containers that the student can manage to open. This promotes healthy eating as well as less
product waste to the environment. The lunch container should include a ‘cold pack’, as the
lunches will not be stored in the classroom refrigerator. Granola bars, chips, pretzels, goldfish,
soups, peanut butter, applesauce, yogurts and cereals should be all natural with no/low
sugars. Students should have a balanced lunch that includes a protein, fruit/vegetable and
grain. It is recommended that hot foods be sent in a thermos.
Snack
Snack in the Toddler and Children’s House classrooms are presented as a practical life lesson.
It is available for children to choose just as any other lesson. It is not considered important
18for every child to have snack; indeed, we expect that they have had a good breakfast and will
have a good lunch. The emphasis is on Grace and Courtesy and the preparation of food and
washing dishes.
Lunch
Lunch is an important community time for the children. We emphasize Grace and Courtesy
and Practical Life activities during this time. Children set the tables with placemats or
tablecloths, silverware, napkins, plates and/or bowls, glasses and flowers. A separate table will
be available, if requested, for children with food restrictions due to allergies.
Children carry their lunches and are to follow school policy by bringing nutritious food.
Children are expected to eat from their plates and return containers and plastic bags to
their lunchboxes. Each table waits until everyone at the table is prepared to eat. We work
hard to make this the most pleasant and relaxing social time possible. No children should bring
beverages, a s we provide both whole milk and water.
Due to severe and potentially unknown allergies, students do not share food at school. Furthermore,
due to the coordination and being conscientious of staying in ratio, non-sharing of food also extends to
siblings. If a child does not come to school with a lunch, we will notify the parents rather than
redistributing food of siblings for the child missing a lunch.
In an effort to cut down on waste, and as a way of enhancing the child’s interest in being
environmentally friendly, the children will return uneaten food, containers and plastic bags to their
lunchboxes. By returning all of these items the children can see whether they are packing too much
food, as well as how much waste they may have generated. We recommend using containers with tight
lids so liquid items will not spill into their lunchboxes during the return trip home.
FIELD TRIPS
We are fortunate to live in a community with access to a variety of venues to further your child’s
science and cultural arts experiences. These opportunities for discovery open the doors for
introduction to research various things that are not easily brought into the classroom.
ELEMENTARY GOING-OUTS
A Going Out is a planned outing from our campus that is organized by a small group of students in
our Elementary and Adolescent programs. These trips are motivated by work or research interests of the
child. Going Out is a major consideration in the delivery of Cosmic Education and the process is
guided by the interest of the children. Through the experience of going into the community, the
children further their Grace and Courtesy skills, and gain confidence in their knowledge of the world.
The Guide will provide detailed expectations to the students in order to utilize the program to the
fullest. Children arrange transportation with the classroom Assistant or may call volunteer parents to
arrange a Going Out. Volunteer parent training will be provided in the fall.
Another part of the Going Out program is care of our school environment by going to various stores
to purchase supplies that may be needed in the classroom. A group that includes older and younger
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