Our Core Values
“Our task, regarding creativity, is to help children climb their own mountains, as high as possible. No one can do more.”
— Loris Malaguzzi
RESPECT
We strive to be respectful in all our interactions. This includes all communication within the Cornerstone community: between teachers and students, teachers and parents, among all members of the staff. We teach our students the importance of being respectful, and view every interaction we have as an opportunity to model to students ways to demonstrate respect for others.
INCLUSION
We are a community of children, teachers and families from a variety of ethnicities, backgrounds, family structures, beliefs, abilities and learning styles. We provide an inclusive environment that welcomes all people who share this approach to diversity and who will join us in celebrating and honoring both our commonalities and our differences.
FAITH
We welcome families and teachers of all faiths. In our curriculum we acknowledge and learn about a variety of religious holidays and practices, but celebrate Christian holidays throughout the year.
HOLISTIC APPROACH
Our program is designed to meet the needs of the whole child. Through a mix of individual, small group and large group activities, our curriculum is designed to meet the social, emotional, physical, sensory, spiritual and academic needs of every child.
PLAY
We believe children learn through play. Our classrooms and daily schedules provide an environment where children learn through doing; moving from concrete hands-on experience to more abstract concept development. This play-based approach provides a child-centered classroom, directed by teachers, in which children are encouraged to construct their own knowledge and explore their own curiosity. Throughout the day, teachers take advantage of the teachable moments to provide a creative and age appropriate environment.
COLLABORATION
We believe a respectful and cooperative partnership between parents and staff is crucial to a fulfilling educational experience for our children. Early childhood education is most successful when it is a collaboration between parents and teachers.
“Learning teaches us what is known, play makes it possible for new things to be learned.”
— David Elkind