WHAT MAKES CLA DIFFERENT?

Buddy Program Sparks Role Models

Creative Learning Academy’s Buddy Program pairs fifth through seventh grade students with preprimary students and eighth grades students with kindergarteners.  The Buddy Program promotes friendships across grade levels, provides leadership opportunities for the older students, and builds a sense of belonging in our newest and youngest students.  These elements help create an environment of friendship that allows students of all ages to flourish together.

The buddies are assigned at the end of the first quarter and are introduced to each other during a short greeting session in the preprimary and kindergarten classrooms.  There are several such short sessions before the buddies begin to attend school assemblies together or work together in the classroom for extended periods of time.  Activities include reading, making crafts, gardening, eating snack and lunch, playing outside, doing science experiments and much more.

Bonds and friendships are formed during the year and continue to grow in the years to come.   The program instills sense of responsibility in the older students and while motivating them to be role models for the younger students.  It also allows the younger students to feel safe, cared for and connected.  The program continues to be very successful and students of all ages look forward to meeting their new buddy each year.
 

OUR CAMPUS

CLA’s campus is a breath of fresh air!  Strolling along the winding walkways among the quaint one-story buildings, eating lunch outdoors at picnic tables uniquely designed by students, and tending the garden is reminiscent of the small, closely-knit school communities of days gone by.

Students can be seen changing classes outdoors or playing a game of four-square during lunch break.  A spacious, outdoor area allows students and teachers an informal area in which to commune.  Parents awaiting school dismissal may opt to park to pick up their child or to converse with parents and teachers.  

The open campus encourages camaraderie and instills a sense of community and safety, making it an ideal place for students to thrive.

CLA TRADITIONS

Annual Fall Festival – CLA Annual Fall Festival is a time-honored tradition during which our community enjoys the fun and festivities of the fall season.  Our community gathers in the first quarter of the school year at this activity-filled event complete with rock climbing wall, bouncy houses, dunking booth, CLA Jail, the “Spook”-tacular Haunted House, Fortune Teller and numerous other game booths.  The Fall Festival offers snacks and treats of the season and utilizes the beautiful open campus and multi-purpose center that CLA offers.  Our Annual CLA Fall Festival is highly anticipated and appreciated by the young and old alike. 

Alumni Day/International Holiday Luncheon – CLA’s Annual International Luncheon is coupled with Alumni Day in an effort to welcome back our alumni to share and enjoy the newest tradition at our school.  Alumni Day begins with a light brunch with recognition of special guest and a brief tour of campus.  Our International Holiday Luncheon provides our community members an opportunity to share and educate our community about the different delicacies and traditions that are honored within their families and their cultures.  Several different religions are represented and traditions associated with the upcoming holidays are shared.  CLA encourages the current families, grandparents, faculty and alumni to share in this unique and fabulous tradition.


Spaghetti Dinner – CLA Spaghetti Dinner is a community event in which our families can join together for a relaxed evening of conversation and community building.  Our Spaghetti Dinner is offered as eat-in or take-out and is a real treat for busy working parents.  This time-honored tradition has been occurring at CLA for years and is enjoyed and greatly appreciated by our entire community.


MS/LS/PP Field Day – Field Days at CLA are highly anticipated by our youngest athletes in Preprimary, our rambunctious athletes in Lower School and our competitive Lair athletes in Middle School.  Good clean healthy competition is the name of the game and an opportunity for the students to demonstrate their athletic prowess.  Field Day is complete with a healthy tug of war between the grades and Lairs.  Parents’ enthusiasm for field day is comparable to the students as they volunteer as timers and cheer on the students from the sidelines.


Spring Fling – CLA celebrates  “Spring Fling,” a tradition in which our community gathers on “the green” and enjoys a spring day with picnic lunches, backyard activities i.e. frisbee and volleyball.   “Spring Fling” provides our community an opportunity to relax, catch our breath, and enjoy a beautiful spring day with family and friends.  

DRAGON LAIRS

Created in 2003 the Creative Learning Academy Dragon Lair Program serves as a community building activity for Middle School students and also aids in maintaining our discipline policy.  Newly enrolled students in grades 5 thru 8 are randomly “selected” by our mascot dragon CLAW into four Lairs:  Li-Lung, Tatsu, Nagas, and Zaltis.  Students remain in the same Lair for all four years of Middle School.

 Each year the Lairs compete in academics, athletics, and service projects. Students receive tickets that are exchanged for marbles, which accumulate during the year. For example, tickets may be earned for achieving Honor Roll, winning intramural volleyball, or helping send packages to our troops overseas.  Individual students or groups of students who have disciplinary problems have marbles removed from the Lair totals.  

Each Lair has its colors, dragon emblem and Lair designed t-shirt. At the end of the year the Lair with the most marbles receives a trophy and a plaque engraved with individual Lair members.  Two faculty members supervise each Lair and an additional impartial faculty member serves as the Lair facilitator of marbles.   The Lair trophy is displayed in the classroom of the winning Lair advisor and the marble jars and plaques are displayed in the lobby of the gym.

DIVERSITY AT CLA

CLA is proud to be a school that promotes intercultural awareness and respect.  The student population is rich with various representations of Asian, African American, Latin American, Middle Eastern and Caucasian cultures. The students and families learn from each other about their various customs, beliefs, lifestyles, and  traditions.  Each nationality is respected and honored, promoting acceptance and a broadened worldview.