Welcome To The 2022-2023 School Year!

Head Of School Fall Letter

Dear Childpeace Community,

This summer, I had the opportunity to attend a professional conference in person. It was my first such event in two and a half years. The days spent with nearly 150 other school administrators were inspiring and reinvigorating. The conversations were rich, the engagement was deep, and spirits were high. Repeatedly, discussions re-focused on the student experience. In all we do, we think about our support of children’s development. At Childpeace, our interpersonal connections are powerful and centering. The faculty and staff strive to be well-prepared to be present, responsive, and of service to children and families.

Montessori schools, including Childpeace, have a special mission that centers on the development of each child. Childpeace is the place where we help children create themselves, rather than ‘making’ children turn out a certain way. At Childpeace, children’s interests are the guides and through that energy, they build a solid foundation of a love of learning that will last a lifetime.

This summer has been an exciting one on campus with our Early Childhood programs continuing while Elementary and Middle School students participated in a variety of camps. We’ve seen ceramics, stop-motion animation, cooking, prep for middle school, elementary transition class, and more. The children on campus have been engaged and delighted!

We are excited to welcome you back to campus in a few weeks. As we anticipate the start of school in September, there is much to look forward to for the 2022-23 school year:

The theme for this year is CONNECT! This year, let’s get together and be a well-connected community. After the past two years, we’re excited to have a full lineup of in-person events for this year. There will be back-to-school nights, socials for grownups, student day trips, conferences, overnight travel, community education events, our fall Fun Run, student celebrations, presentation nights, student plays, and more. We can’t wait to connect with you throughout the year!

We’re starting off this fall by adding an option for families to do morning arrivals and afternoon departures inside the school building (the Thurman Street building, varies by age group). We’ve been offering this option for the past few weeks of our summer program. You’ll read more detail about arrivals and departures for your specific class in the coming weeks. 

I’m also excited to announce that this year our Toddler Community will be expanding! The Oak Room will grow to accommodate a total of twelve children, the same number as in the Toddler Community Laurel Room. This will bring a nice balance to our Toddler Community rooms and allow us to meet more of the constant interest in our youngest children’s communities.

Our health and safety response to the COVID-19 pandemic is informed by guidance from the Oregon Department of Education, the Oregon Health Authority, and the Multnomah County Health Department. This fall, we are continuing with our mask-optional policy, which welcomes people on campus to mask according to their personal needs. Following Oregon requirements, all school staff and volunteers are required to have a COVID-19 vaccination (this includes parent drivers on student outings). 

We continue to center the Childpeace experience for all members of our community. In particular,

• Our commitment to an exceptional learning environment and experiences for all children and adolescents that help them prepare themselves for learning and contributions in high school and beyond
• Engaging and building connections within the school community and cultivating new relationships and partnerships beyond the school
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives that support each community member’s sense of belonging 

In the coming days, you will receive more detailed back-to-school information from Program Directors and your child’s classroom Guide. We will also be sending out a list of fall events and several opportunities for families to get involved, volunteer, and contribute to the school this year! Please take some time to read through all the information carefully.

Mark your calendars for the Welcome Coffee on Thursday, September 8 at 8:30 a.m. for the NW campus (at the Greenspace) and Friday, September 9 at 11:00 a.m. for The Terrace. For more dates for 2022-23, subscribe to the school calendar here.

I look forward to seeing you on campus in a few weeks!