OUR HISTORY
Bloom Community School was founded in 2017 by a group of diversely trained educators and parents who were committed to creating a school community that was fundamentally different than traditional educational systems. Supporting teachers as leading voices and children learning together, Bloom's founders engaged parents, community collaborators, university education leaders, and area professionals in creating a student-centered school.
Bloom teachers are fulfilling a mission in nurturing students to 21st century success through best practices in:
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Democratic education
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Inquiry-based and project-based learning
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Connecting play-based learning and foundational skills
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Individual and group learning opportunities
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Outdoor exploration
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Non-standardized assessment models
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Social-emotional learning
Located in Normandy Village (Normal One Plaza) since 2017, Bloom Community School has served more than 100 families from Central Illinois. The school occupies several buildings in this storied local (and state) landmark, which was built as part of the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Children's School (ISSCS). School facilities indoors are ADA compliant.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Bloom’s mission is to cultivate joyful, independent learners in an educational environment that nurtures individual development by integrating high academic standards and community engagement. We encourage students to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their ability to contribute to collaborative problem solving that positively impacts their community and the world.
CHILDREN ARE NATURAL LEARNERS.
Our school honors and nurtures students’ natural curiosity and innate desire to learn, fostering internal motivation and the passion for discovery.
EDUCATION SHOULD ENHANCE INDIVIDUALITY, NOT DEMAND CONFORMITY.
Education should respond to the unique developmental trajectory of all students and focus on their holistic social, emotional, intellectual, cognitive, cultural, and physical development.
LEARNING HAPPENS BEST THROUGH INTEGRATED AND MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES.
Children learn best through hands-on opportunities that weave relevant skills and content throughout interdisciplinary projects and provides them with hands-on and authentic learning opportunities.
EDUCATION SHOULD EMPOWER STUDENTS TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND WORLD.
Effective educational experiences amplify students’ voices, agency, conscience, and intellect to create a more equitable, just, and sustainable world.