All Posts

Every September at Higher Elevations starts the same way, with a room full of children who are mostly new to each other. Our theme for the month grew right out of that: changes and community. We do not hand our teachers a script. Our curriculum is emergent. It follows the children and what they are curious about. In September, one thread runs underneath all of it: who are we together? Teachers begin with three questions they ask the children. Who am I? Who are you? Who are we

Walk through Higher Elevations and you come across portfolios, one for each child. Each one holds the story of who a child is and how they are growing over the year. Our approach to assessment starts with the child. A teacher gathers a child's work, their projects, and their words, and builds them into a record that grows all year. One favorite is the self-portrait. Children draw themselves, sometimes on butcher paper big enough for their whole body. They come back to it agai

September 3rd was Move Up Day at Higher Elevations. Children who were ready for their next classroom started in their new rooms that morning. Moving up is a big step for a young child. A new room means new shelves to explore, a new spot at the table, and a teacher learning their name. Some children have been in the same room for a year. They walk into a space built for who they are becoming. We move a child up when they are developmentally ready for it. A child who is ready f

Halloween is on its way, and at Higher Elevations we are marking it with a Costume Swap on Friday, September 25 for our families. Bring in an outgrown costume, and take home another one that fits. Kids grow fast. A costume that fit last year is snug by fall, and a perfectly good outfit ends up in the back of a closet. The swap gives all of those costumes a second Halloween. Your child gets something new to them, and another family gets the one you pass on. This is the spirit

At Higher Elevations, families are partners. One of the clearest ways we live that is our Parent Advisory Council, and right now it is open to new members. The Council is a group of parents who sit close to how the school works. They give real feedback on the things that shape your week: our calendar, our closures, the rhythm of the year. We bring every real decision to them, and we listen. Council parents bring ideas that boost our teachers and lift morale. They help other f

Early childhood education shapes how children see the world and themselves. Choosing the right approach can make a lasting difference in a child’s development. Our childcare center embraces the Reggio Emilia philosophy, a unique way of learning that encourages curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. This post explains what Reggio-inspired learning means, how it benefits children, and what parents can expect when they enroll their child with us. What Is Reggio-Inspired Learn