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Creative City Public Charter school prides itself on being a supportive, nurturing environment for our K-5 students. Our staff works to make a positive difference in the lives of our students and their families everyday. Whether through before or aftercare services or our excellent academic and arts programs, we strongly believe that children enrolled at Creative City will receive a top-tier early education in a safe and supportive environment.  We are a tuition-free public school serving grades K-5 in the heart of Baltimore. Parents love our play-based approach to teaching because learning becomes fun, and students remain engaged. Creative City teachers and staff take an active role in our students' education and keep parents informed every step of the way. With our small school and even smaller class sizes, our families know that students get the one-on-one attention they deserve and need to thrive. Parents trust us with their children. Not only do we meet their needs academically, but we also strive to partner with them to help scholars succeed socially and intellectually. Creative City uses standards-based curriculum materials as well as the built and natural environment to teach. This approach allows us to help students learn in real-world settings and encourage them to think creatively to solve problems. We challenge our students to learn through various experiences like field trips, art exhibits, guest speakers and more. Creative City has more say over our curriculum as a charter school than a traditional public school. Our approach can be more inventive while still preparing students to master core subject areas. Parents appreciate our innovative style and know that we can prove successful results - not just from tests but in how well-rounded our students become. Our environment is warm and supportive, and our students thrive from the affirming, enabling guidance of our teachers and staff. We're like a family at Creative City. After-school activities like robotics, dance, chess, and karate are fun and keep our students active. Our parents love having choices when it comes to their children's extracurriculars. If you're still looking for a school home for your K-5 scholar, consider Creative City school in Baltimore. For more information or to enroll, ________________________________________________ About Creative City Public Charter School Creative City Public Charter School is a dynamic K-5 elementary school with caring educators. We engage our students in a placed-based learning environment using the city of Baltimore as a cultural and civic foundation. Our approach is creative yet challenging; and our tuition-free public school encourages out-of-the-box thinking alongside the pursuit of each student’s personal, highest academic potential. Enroll your child today!
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School may have already started, but it isn't too late to enroll. Creative City is still accepting new K-5 students for the 2022-2023 school year. Located in Baltimore, Creative City is a tuition-free public charter school that is anchored in the community. Serving grades K-5, our teachers and staff connect students with each other, our environment, our neighborhood, and our world. We incorporate play-based learning in a nurturing environment that always emphasizes creativity. At our school, students engage in hands-on lessons that combine core subjects such as math and reading with arts and creative study habits.  When students enroll at Creative City, they're not just joining a new school; they're entering a new family. We treat all our students like our own children and encourage social and academic growth daily. We challenge our students to think critically and collaborate to develop strong problem-solving skills.
Creative City teachers and staff are passionate about helping students reach their potential. We teach outside the box, using indoor and outdoor classrooms to empower our scholars to excel and build strong relationships with one another. When you enroll your child in Creative City, you're getting the following:
Now is a great time to enroll your child in Creative City. Click here to learn more about open enrollment. ________________________________________________ About Creative City Public Charter School Creative City Public Charter School is a dynamic K-5 elementary school with caring educators. We engage our students in a placed-based learning environment using the city of Baltimore as a cultural and civic foundation. Our approach is creative yet challenging; and our tuition-free public school encourages out-of-the-box thinking alongside the pursuit of each student’s personal, highest academic potential. Enroll your child today! If you are still looking for a school home for your scholar, Creative City is an excellent choice! Creative City prides itself on being an innovative, imaginative, and fun school for K-5 students in Baltimore. Our top priority is providing the best education for our students. We have a small school that allows for an individualized learning approach, so every student gets the necessary time and attention to thrive.  On our colorful campus, we firmly believe that students thrive in an environment of support and care from peers and adults alike. That's why we work with each student to meet their unique needs and develop strengths in a loving and nurturing environment. We educate the whole child through an engaging standards-based curriculum and individualized instruction. Creative City is like a second family for many of our students. What makes us unique? Our place-based learning approach to teaching. Using this method, we expand lessons to include skills such as public speaking, debates, and adventurous field trips that encourage students to develop social skills, emotional intelligence and a love of learning that will last a lifetime. We're also an arts-integrated school, meaning many of our lessons are designed to include art, music or drama. We believe that an infusion of art helps children see situations differently, connect better with academic content, and learn to express themselves more creatively. As a tuition-free public charter school, our student body comprises families from various backgrounds; we welcome all families interested in our mission to provide an excellent education to Baltimore's children. Creative City faculty and staff value community relationships and work hard to foster an atmosphere that embraces individuality and respect. We work hard to ensure every child feels safe, respected and heard so they can learn and develop to their full potential! We would love to welcome you to our school! Did you know that we offer free before and after school programs? We also work with parents year-round to ensure students remain engaged and explore outside-of-school learning opportunities in our community. Creative City is a vibrant community of learners, from our principal to our kindergarteners. We have a great time studying and challenging ourselves to grow and get better every day. If this sounds like an environment your family would love, contact us today to schedule a tour or learn about enrollment. It's not too late! We look forward to meeting you! ________________________________________________ About Creative City Public Charter School Creative City Public Charter School is a dynamic K-5 elementary school with caring educators. We engage our students in a placed-based learning environment using the city of Baltimore as a cultural and civic foundation. Our approach is creative yet challenging; and our tuition-free public school encourages out-of-the-box thinking alongside the pursuit of each student’s personal, highest academic potential. Enroll your child today! We're kicking off the new school year to a great start for students at Creative City. We’re thrilled to offer free before and after-school enrichment programs. These programs allow students to gain additional academic skills and pursue activities that enhance their learning experience. They also give our parents more flexibility, convenience and assurance that students are in great care at Creative City.  As a tuition-free public charter school, Creative City is dedicated to serving our students and families. Our before and after-school programs will include activities such as academic tutoring, STEP team, robotics and more. Best of all, they’re free! Students will also engage in a well-rounded curriculum full of practical, hands-on experiences throughout the normal school day. Using our home city of Baltimore as a backdrop for learning, we partner with local organizations and artists to regularly bring innovative programs into our classrooms. (Did we mention we have indoor AND outdoor classrooms?!) Creative City students benefit significantly from being a part of the community by having real-life learning experiences with people who could be local leaders or future mentors. This type of education has a proven track record of success and is why we work so hard to give our students a unique learning experience. Creative City is a unique school with dedicated teachers and staff working to create a safe and fun learning environment. We encourage our students to imagine, explore and think creatively to solve problems alongside their peers. As returning students walk through our doors, and new ones join us, we encourage everyone to create memories, gain new experiences and make friends who will foster growth. We welcome all students to a nurturing space where the challenge to reach the next level of learning is met with encouragement and support. Creative City is a small school with even smaller classes. Our students get teachers' full attention, especially when they need it the most. For students and families who could benefit from our no-cost before and after-care program, we encourage you to contact us to learn more. For more information or to enroll, visit our website at www.creativecityschool.org. ________________________________________________ About Creative City Public Charter School Creative City Public Charter School is a dynamic K-5 elementary school with caring educators. We engage our students in a placed-based learning environment using the city of Baltimore as a cultural and civic foundation. Our approach is creative yet challenging; and our tuition-free public school encourages out-of-the-box thinking alongside the pursuit of each student’s personal, highest academic potential. Enroll your child today! Creative City respects that young children learn in different ways and at different paces. We know that every child is unique and learns differently, so we use teaching methods that ensure each child reaches their full potential. Using play-based learning, our teachers and staff provide an interactive and rich curriculum tailored to students' individual needs and interests.  Play-based learning is an approach to education where children engage in meaningful activities based on their interests, needs, and learning style. Through play-based learning, children can explore their environment and learn at their own pace. Using play-based learning in conjunction with our standards-based curriculum is a winning combination. Creative City uses the culturally-rich city of Baltimore as a foundation for this unique approach to learning and consistently sees the following five benefits: 1. Children learn faster by doing: We give our elementary students vibrant, dynamic, hands-on learning experiences. This learning style often allows students to grasp concepts more quickly than traditional textbook methods. Students also develop confidence in their abilities and become more independent learners. 2. Relationship-building in class: Play-based learning is a fantastic way to foster young children's relationship-building and early social skills. Most play scenarios provide natural opportunities to practice collaboration, communication, and conflict resolution. Imagine if students are building a block tower together and one student accidentally knocks it over. The opportunity to navigate this type of conflict through to a peaceful resolution is a learning experience much more meaningful than any lecture-style lesson could ever provide. Strong relationships are a signal of student confidence. 3. Independence: At Creative City, students may explore their classrooms during playtime or group work. Setting clear expectations and routines at the beginning of the year allows this freedom to be offered in a way that enhances learning and does not distract from the task at hand. Ultimately, this leads to students who have the confidence to problem-solve without help (and who are self-assured when they enter middle school). 4. Development of critical-thinking skills: We incorporate critical thinking into many of our lessons and encourage the use of student imagination. Young scholars learn to think creatively, communicate ideas and feelings, and develop problem-solving skills that have long-term benefits. This builds pride and confidence. 5. The ability to learn independently: Play-based learning allows children to learn in a setting where they are encouraged to try new things and explore new ideas. It will enable children to build confidence and master new skills before moving forward to more challenging material. This is a huge part of building independence and self-reliance that will serve students throughout their lives.  Learning is a shared responsibility among parents, teachers, and the community. At Creative City, we do our part by providing unique learning experiences and an engaging curriculum that help students have a better understanding of the world. We implement physical activity and play into many of our lessons because we know it works. As a tuition-free public charter school serving grades K-5. We foster an atmosphere of experimentation and discovery where children can learn through trial and error. By giving our students the freedom to imagine and create, we boost confidence and encourage personal growth that will remain for years. We recognize the importance of early education and are committed to supporting the development of children in our community. For more information or to enroll, visit our website at www.creativecityschool.org. ________________________________________________
About Creative City Public Charter School Creative City Public Charter School is a dynamic K-5 elementary school with caring educators. We engage our students in a placed-based learning environment using the city of Baltimore as a cultural and civic foundation. Our approach is creative yet challenging; and our tuition-free public school encourages out-of-the-box thinking alongside the pursuit of each student’s personal, highest academic potential. Enroll your child today! The top priority at Creative City is providing the best education for our students. Our teachers strive to create an engaging learning environment where students can achieve their full potential. We proudly offer an outstanding standards-based academic curriculum that infuses art to help students develop critical thinking skills, creativity, and imagination. Our K-5 students learn math, reading, science and social studies while also exploring a variety of artistic mediums in visual arts, music, and dance.  Based in Baltimore, MD, we are a tuition-free public charter school open to all kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Our teachers are dedicated to ensuring that our students have the tools they need to thrive in class. We use the environment to teach in a hands-on, collaborative way to give children the confidence to succeed academically and personally. When it comes to teaching students creative problem-solving skills, critical thinking abilities and the foundational skills needed to become lifelong learners - we raise the bar.  Our use of art in academics helps students develop creative thinking skills, self-expression, and communication. Art influences so much about life that it is a fantastic way to engage students and motivate them to learn. Whether through mural painting, music, dance or drama - learning is improved when the arts are included. We believe using different creative mediums gives students the time and space to explore ideas, perceived limitations, inner wisdom and personal expression. For example, using music to teach math concepts makes learning more accessible for students with a variety of academic needs and learning styles. Bringing in a local artist to work with students can enhance their art appreciation and inspire creativity in their classrooms. These are just a few ways Creative City contributes to improving student achievement and school culture.
At Creative City, we know that achievement comes naturally when students are inspired to learn. That's why we're passionate about weaving the arts into all academic disciplines. Our unique approach helps students solve problems creatively and collaboratively while discovering their true potential in school and beyond. To learn more or enroll for 2022-2023, call or visit our website today! _________________________________________ About Creative City Public Charter School Creative City Public Charter School is a dynamic K-5 elementary school with caring educators. We engage our students in a placed-based learning environment using the city of Baltimore as a cultural and civic foundation. Our approach is creative yet challenging; and our tuition-free public school encourages out-of-the-box thinking alongside the pursuit of each student’s personal, highest academic potential. Enroll your child today! Our top priority at Creative City Public Charter School is providing the best education for our students. Our teachers and staff constantly strive to create an engaging learning environment that encourages students to try new things. Our play and place-based approach to learning (in which students spend time learning outdoors and indoors) provides our K-5 students with the tools needed to succeed. We guide young learners toward becoming strong and confident individuals who impact society positively. If you've been curious about a charter school, especially Creative City, this blog will highlight the top 10 reasons to choose us.  10 Reasons to Choose Creative City 1. Creative City is a small, family-oriented K-5 charter school. We ensure every child gets individual attention and the support needed to thrive. Our school is close-knit with a limited number of students; every child is known by name. We make sure our curriculum is challenging, and our approach to teaching is hands-on. 2. Students are active participants in learning at Creative City. We go beyond the traditional classroom approach to bring kinesthetic, visual, and auditory learning experiences. 3. We value art and infuse it into our day-to-day instruction. We teach our students to think differently--independently--and to find their unique voice. Creative City students are encouraged to use their imagination, which also helps them become more curious about the world and better problem solvers. 4. Our principal and staff are dedicated to creating an incredible student experience. We believe educational success comes from collaborative relationships built on mutual respect and trust. Our students know that when they come to Creative City, it is a safe space. 5. We provide a well-rounded education. Our students study music, art, theatre, dance, language arts, math, science, history, geography, and physical education. We nurture our students and help bridge learning gaps by engaging all of our students with opportunities to learn in ways that best match unique talents and abilities.  6. We are a tuition-free public charter school! Unlike private schools with heavy tuition, Creative City has no cost to enroll. We offer similar benefits to a private school, such as smaller class sizes, outdoor learning, special field trips and plenty more! 7. Our teachers are constantly looking for ways to empower our students and support educational goals. We know that elementary school years provide the foundation for lifelong learning, and we make daily efforts to keep students challenged, engaged and happy in their learning environments. 8. Our staff and student populations are diverse. We have created a multicultural learning environment. Every Creative City student knows every person can teach and learn from each other. 9. We know that children and families have varied needs and interests. Our no cost after-school programming offers interest-based clubs and activities such as step team, chess, robotics, art club, drum ensemble, and more. We also offer the option for extra academic help after school. 10. We use play-based learning for our kindergarteners. Our program includes a generous block of time for child-directed play each school day. We believe that young children learn best through play. Creative City offers a high-quality education in a fun environment! Visit our website, or find us on Facebook. We are committed to helping our students thrive. Enroll your child today!
---------------------------------------------------------------- About Creative City Public Charter School Creative City Public Charter School is a dynamic K-5 elementary school with caring educators. We engage our students in a placed-based learning environment using the city of Baltimore as a cultural and civic foundation. Our approach is creative yet challenging; and our tuition-free public school encourages out-of-the-box thinking alongside the pursuit of each student’s personal, highest academic potential. Enroll your child today! At Creative City Charter School, our mission is to empower our students to reach full potential. We strive to provide our young learners with a rich learning environment that realizes unique abilities and bolsters dreams. Our teachers provide support at each and every step while challenging our students to stretch and grow academically.  We are a tuition-free public charter school that uses play-based education for kindergarten and place-based learning for our first through fifth graders. What is place-based learning? Unlike traditional teaching that relies on teachers explaining information to students, place-based learning is experiential; it draws from students' real-life experiences as an authentic foundation for learning. Our approach helps young students tangibly solve problems, discover new ideas and develop strong communication skills in age-appropriate ways. We take this approach one step farther by infusing art and creativity! We Teach Outside the Box At Creative City, we understand the value of balancing academics with art. This equilibrium develops critical thinking and communication skills students might never realize in a classroom setting. We work hard to ensure our K-5 classrooms keep students inspired and engaged because we believe art gives our students the freedom to experiment and explore new ideas while harnessing imagination. Academics are regularly paired with the arts, including visual arts, dance, music and theatre, to help students creatively connect with the world and retain the new information they have learned. Our prioritization of play-based learning creates an empowering environment for our students to ask questions, pursue new ideas, gain self-confidence and learn to work collaboratively. Our teachers are passionate and our staff is nurturing. If you want to learn more about our innovative education approach, please contact us today. ____________ About Creative City Public Charter School Creative City Public Charter School is a dynamic K-5 elementary school with caring educators. We engage our students in a placed-based learning environment using the city of Baltimore as a cultural and civic foundation. Our approach is creative yet challenging; and our tuition-free public school encourages out-of-the-box thinking alongside the pursuit of each student’s personal, highest academic potential. Enroll your child today! Creative City prioritizes giving students an immersive and hands-on learning experience. We strive to be more like a family than a school while challenging early learners to become active participants in their education. At the helm of our school is Principal Traci Johnson Mathena. Like many educators, Principal Mathena is fiercely committed to ensuring students learn through exciting, real-world experiences. As an educator for almost 30 years, Ms. Mathena is passionate about bringing out the best in all students. She has been the principal of Creative City since 2015 and has helped the school thrive in the Baltimore community. In this interview-style blog, we'll share more about Principal Mathena and her thoughts on education!  What do you love most about your role? Interacting with the students is the single greatest joy in this role. Many see this position as the person whose office you never want to visit. On any given day, however, I am sitting on the carpet during a class’s morning meeting. You will find me working with students on an assignment, being the person they selected to take a break with as an incentive or to soothe their soul when needed. All of these things strengthen our school’s sense of community and belonging and truly provide me with fulfillment and enjoyment as an instructional leader. The day I forget what it means to interact with the students is the day I need to retire. What do you love most about your students? My students are honest and caring souls. They tell it like it is, and if you are honest and fair with them, they tell you how they think it should be without being selfish. Students have written me letters about things we need to change or people we need to celebrate. In one case this past year, a student wrote to tell me she was planning a Custodian’s Day, and she led her class – facilitated by her teacher – in designing, creating, and presenting the posters and cards they made for the occasion. How could you NOT love people capable of that kind of care?  What influences how you lead your team and students at Creative City? Finding the paths that lead to the best outcomes for all people is fundamental to leadership. For that reason, I make informed decisions and facilitate interactions by believing in the power of people, not programs. Understanding how children develop academically, social-emotionally, and behaviorally helps us create knowledgeable, creative, critical thinkers and problem solvers. Encouraging and expanding the professional talents of the staff supports a rigorous, challenging, and engaging instructional program and a positive, thriving school environment. Fostering a Village mentality among our parents and neighborhood/community members allows us to see ourselves as partners in this work. I lead based on that dynamic. What made you pivot from being a journalist to an educator? While on assignment for the Baltimore Sun Magazine, writing a piece on my alma mater Western High School, someone asked if I wanted to help and teach journalism and two English Classes. I agreed, and while planning lessons, listening to the students’ ideas, questions and curiosity about learning, I realized how powerful a classroom experience could be. I was determined to become part of that, and 28 years later, I’m still part of that experience. How do Creative City’s mission and vision align with your personal values? Creative City sits in the neighborhood where I grew up, and its mission, vision, and commitment to equity are all part of how I was raised. The community sharing responsibility for its children and using the environment where we live to create positive experiences and outcomes are part of who I am. I believe that “Care, Question, Collaborate, Create” are central to problem-solving, working with others, and being productive, contributing members of society. The school’s commitment to equity and social justice mirrors my own, which led to the establishment of Creative City as the first Baltimore Ceasefire 365 School. It is not a coincidence that this is where I landed. It is where I belong. Who was your favorite teacher and why? In Elementary School, Mrs. Brown told me my ability to view people and situations from all angles helped me stay open-minded. In middle school, it was Mr. Baldwin who told me that I was a writer rather than telling me that I could write. In High School, Mrs. Simms and Mr. Kessler challenged me to lead, something that took hold, stood fast and never faded. Each of those teachers had the same attribute: the ability to see me beyond being a student to help me develop as a person. It is what we endeavor to do at Creative City. What are you most excited about for the next group of students to enroll? I can’t wait to see how they explore the things we offer that I believe are different from any other school. I want to see the faces light up when they create adventures in the outdoor classroom and the faces they make (good or bad) when they taste a pepper or some greens THEY grew in the teaching garden. I am ready to hear their ideas of how they will solve a problem posed in a project and what they research and present when they get the chance to explore their own topic of interest. I want to see what student-interest clubs they participate in and how they contribute to them. I am excited for them to join the village and contribute to what makes it great. I am excited about THEM. What else would you like us to know about YOU? I am a lifelong learner for whom new information and experiences are essential. I want to model those things for all our stakeholders, regardless of age. At 49 years old, I started learning to sail. I am getting pretty good at it! I will always dare to question, and I will always explore the possibilities. Creative City is a tuition-free public school now enrolling grades K-5. To learn more about Principal Mathena and our curriculum, contact us today to learn more! You can also enroll now for 2022-2023. ----------------------------------------------
About Creative City Public Charter School Creative City Public Charter School is a dynamic K-5 elementary school with caring educators. We engage our students in a placed-based learning environment using the city of Baltimore as a cultural and civic foundation. Our approach is creative yet challenging; and our tuition-free public school encourages out-of-the-box thinking alongside the pursuit of each student’s personal, highest academic potential. Enroll your child today! Providing the best education for our students is the daily mission of teachers and staff at Creative City. We build lasting relationships with our students and make each scholar feel seen, confident, and capable of high achievement. At Creative City, we work hard to inspire our K-5 learners to become engaged thinkers and creative problem solvers. There are many reasons students feel at home at Creative City: small classes, caring teachers, passionate administrators and more.  1. Teachers at Creative City give wrap-around support to all students. We know that students who flourish in early education often become happy, confident and successful life-long learners. Teaching emotional intelligence and logical thinking is at the center of our curriculum. 2. We take account of each scholar’s individual learning styles and needs to ensure we strengthen math and literacy skills daily. Teachers at Creative City understand that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. 3. Our faculty and staff provide a welcoming school climate that supports all students. We have a high level of transparency with families, ensuring open communication about academics as well as student social-emotional development. Our low student-to-teacher ratio allows teachers to get to know each child individually and give insights every step of the way. 4. Our teaching style is unique and proven to work. We use art as a learning tool to help our learners understand the limitlessness of creative potential. Whether bringing in professional artists to collaborate on historically-informed murals or immersing students with music programs that teach about different cultures, our students learn about the world around them. We help students understand the connection between what’s outside and inside our school doors. 5. Our scholars learn about local and global communities, how our choices affect others, and concepts such as humility and gratitude. Our students achieve at high levels due to our high expectations and individualized instruction. When children feel supported, they can enjoy school and achieve academically. 6. We use play-based kindergarten. This approach takes advantage of student-directed play as a learning opportunity. Play-based learning helps kindergarteners build strong social and communication skills. Teachers and other classroom helpers engage with students during this time to connect our curriculum, challenge thinking, and identify each student’s emerging interests. We engage just enough to help students learn, but not so much that we solve problems. Creative City teachers guide students in defining healthy social relationships. 7. We teach students the value of always being compassionate, kind and respectful. Our teachers cultivate virtuous character, applying our belief in service to others to our students’ education every day. We reinforce this in our classrooms and at special events such as MLK Day of Service. 8. Creative City teachers love the field of education. We have a nurturing faculty that encourages lifelong learning and motivates students to try new things and work hard. Our staff enjoys bringing out intellectual strength in each child to change the future positively. 9. Our faculty embraces the philosophy that our strength lies in our diversity and commitment to building an inclusive community. We help our K-5 students grow everyday through both strong academics and multicultural learning. 10. At Creative City, we value the importance of exploration. Our curriculum engages and develops students' thinking and reasoning skills. By encouraging our students in our K-5 classes to question, observe, and explore, our elementary students become proficient at expressing unique perspectives in imaginative ways. Creative City is a tuition-free public charter school serving grades K-5. Our teachers collaborate to provide a rich, engaging curriculum that prepares our students for middle school and beyond. We are a fantastic choice for early elementary education and would love to welcome your child to our school. Contact us today to learn about open enrollment! About Creative City Public Charter School Creative City Public Charter School is a dynamic K-5 elementary school with caring educators. We engage our students in a placed-based learning environment using the city of Baltimore as a cultural and civic foundation. Our approach is creative yet challenging; and our tuition-free public school encourages out-of-the-box thinking alongside the pursuit of each student’s personal, highest academic potential. Enroll your child today! |
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