FAQs

+ What are Collective Kind's Core Values?

Community

The support and inspiration of those in our community creates a vibrant education context. Learning is a relational process. Families, teachers, peers and the physical environment all contribute to the experience. Families are essential partners. And kindness is key.

Integrity

We draw from the best practices nationally and internationally. The theorists and educators who have come before us have much to contribute. We are inspired by the developmental Interaction Approach at Bank Street, RIE, Social Constructivism, the Reggio Approach, Montessori and Waldorf. We are committed to integrating an anti bias curriculum as well. Education is a right of all humans.

Curiosity

Children are naturally curious. They are compelled by wonderings and a desire to explore. We believe in the process of inquiry, investigation and reflection as the foundation for the construction of knowledge. Direct experience is invaluable.

Joy

Children deserve to experience school (or day care) as a space of wonder, delight and connection. The physical environment, social relationships and access to the natural world all contribute.

Creativity

Communication takes many forms. Children have the right to express their questions, thoughts and creations in many languages or media from sound and light to paint and clay.

Democracy

Children are active participants in the creation of their world. They are the youngest citizens who influence our present and will shape our future.

Diversity

We welcome folks from multiple traditions, cultures and identities and believe that the world is a dynamic space of many truths and perspectives. It is important to embrace a multidimensional way of seeing and being. We are guided by an Anti Bias Curriculum and inspired by the ideas of Valarie Kaurs, framework the Revolutionary Love Project. We choose our words with care, to recognize and to support all families, using the terms “family” “caregiver” and “grown-ups” instead of “parents” and “mom and dad”.

Authenticity

The most enriching learning environments offer authentic tasks in a meaningful context (rather than skill and drill).

Environmental Awareness and Responsibility

The preservation of the environment is our legacy. At Kindside we do all we can to decrease our impact, to heighten our appreciation of the natural world and to evolve as environmental stewards.

Collaboration

Action and interaction are key to discovering our own identity and to understanding the complex world in which we live. Social discourse and negotiations allow children and adults to understand diverse perspectives as well as to clarify and modify ideas. We see our collaborations and work together, both when joyful and challenging, to bring depth and companionship to the teaching and learning journey.

Innovation

Children are confronted with countless challenges daily and offer many unexpected and creative responses. We trust and celebrate the competence of young children and their ability to innovate.

+ Is Collective Kind an Authentic Montessori school?

All of our head teachers are Montessori Certified. Our curriculum is based on a social-constructivist approach rooted in carefully crafted and ever evolving Anti-Bias and Nature-Based principles, with influences from Maria Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Rudolf Steiner and the Developmental-Interaction approach. We trust the competence, sensitivity and determination of young children and believe that children construct knowledge through physical and social interactions. Therefore, our environment is specifically designed to delight the senses, ease the soul, celebrate the natural world and challenge the body and mind.

+ Can you explain your tuition principles?

Collective Kind is proud to offer sliding scale tuition rates based on Household income. We strongly believe that equity in access to better quality early education brings back a multitude of benefits to our society, and that equal opportunities start with cross-society early childhood education development. The Child Care crisis is driving caregivers away from the workforce at an alarming rate and it is affecting primarily female workers. We believe that inclusive tuition rates combined with employer-sponsored tuition discounts is a strong stepping stone to cross-society access to quality early education.

Please get in touch with us to learn more about our tuition rates and to discuss your personal needs.

+ I am interested in joining Collective Kind's team. How can I express my interest?

We are honored that you would like to join us now or in the future. Please send us an email at hello@thecollectivekind.com and send us your resume, and don't forget to add a bit about you and why you liked us!