A Story About Us
“Children need opportunities to explore, experiment, and create.” - Loris Malaguzzi
Founders
Mission
Inspiring Inquiry Through Progressive Learning
Creative Inspiration Journey School (CIJS) provides a groundbreaking, organized Reggio-inspired approach that offers interdisciplinary learning, through project-based experiences. We differentiate and enhance instruction through “gifted teaching methods”, that prepare every student for success in school and life. Our curriculum features environmental responsibility through an agricultural component and reliance on repurposed materials. We value compassion, mutual respect, creative and critical thinking, and collaboration, while recognizing the relevance of our actions locally, nationally and globally.
Leaders in Progressive Education
Creative Inspiration Journey School (CIJS) was founded by two sisters, Sherri Schneider and Patty Marquis in 2014, with only 4 students in a renovated CVS building. CIJS began as an early childhood educational program inspired by the groundbreaking Reggio Emilia Approach to learning and has continued to thrive as the program expanded through middle school.
What began as a small movement in the town of Reggio Emilia in post-war Italy, soon emerged as one of the world’s foremost childhood learning systems with a strong emphasis upon community, individual respect, and social responsibility.
The Reggio Emilia Approach is so powerful because it allows children to direct the learning process according to their own needs in a less-scripted, but structured environment that gives students the chance to grow as individuals and community members.
Based upon these principles, our schools create a warm and caring environment where children love to learn through guided self-discovery, imagination, and creativity—while interacting with others in a friendly and safe atmosphere.
Our belief in caring for nature is steeped in the natural surroundings of our campus environment to help integrate the green philosophy we express on a daily basis.
The curriculum is well-balanced and crafted to foster growth in social, physical, cognitive, and emotional developmental areas.
It allows room for teacher and child directed activities utilizing critical thinking skills, communication and collaboration as core tenants.
Our scholars are competent, resourceful, inventive learners, capable of co-constructing knowledge while fostering their natural talents.
We embrace a collaborative partnership inclusive of the surrounding community, parents, teachers and students to help children become life-long learners who will excel along their future educational paths.
Excellence in Education is Our Mandate.
Student Researchers
Eco-Friendly
Inquiry-Based
Experiential Learning
Your Adventure Awaits.......Enroll Now!
“Learning and teaching should not stand on opposite banks and just watch the river flow by; instead, they should embark together on a journey down the water.” Loris Malaguzzi