Dear Prospective Families,
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Thank you for your interest in our school. By considering this investment in your child’s foundational learning experiences, you are joining an engaged community of educators and families who care deeply about whole-child development.
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Our mission is to cultivate joyful, independent learners by nurturing individual development and integrating high academic standards with deep community engagement. We focus on your child's academic and social-emotional growth to build 21st-century skills. In our small, multi-age classes, our teachers utilize best practices in inquiry, project, and play-based learning to create a joyful environment that encourages collaborative problem-solving.
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We are excited about the growth ahead and invite you to become a part of it. Below is an overview of the admission steps for new students:
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Our Admission Process
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Explore Our School: We invite you to learn more about our school's unique program and community by exploring our website. Please also schedule a meet and greet to see the school in person and speak with a member of our team.
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Submit Application Materials: Our school currently takes year-long applications. To be considered, please submit the following items:
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The completed application form.
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The non-refundable $75 application fee.
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A Teacher Appraisal Form, completed by your child’s current teacher. This should be submitted directly by the teacher. We recommend requesting this early in your process.
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Shadow Day: Once all application materials have been received, we will contact you to arrange a shadow day for your child. This is a crucial step that helps us get acquainted and, most importantly, allows us to assess if we can adequately support your child's unique needs, as we are not able to support all learners.
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Application Review: Our enrollment team will review the complete application package, including the appraisal form and the outcome of the shadow day, and will follow up if any additional information is needed.
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Notification: Your family will receive official communication from us regarding acceptance status.
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Enrollment: Upon acceptance, the school will determine the appropriate next step and extend one of two contracts:
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Full Enrollment Contract: To secure your child's placement, you will sign the enrollment contract, pay a $300 enrollment fee, and set up an account with FACTS, our third-party tuition management system. Afterward, you will receive an enrollment package for the upcoming school year.
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Exploratory Contract: In some cases, the school may determine that a 1-2 week trial period is the best next step to ensure our environment is a good fit. This trial costs $250 per week. (Families may also request an exploratory contract for consideration). Following this period, the school, in consultation with the family, will decide if a long-term contract is appropriate. If your child transitions to a full enrollment contract, the exploratory fees will be credited toward tuition.
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If you are seeking financial assistance, a staff member will guide you through the process of submitting materials to FACTS.
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Warmly,
Bloom Community School
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​​Learner Readiness
Bloom is committed to nurturing a diverse group of learners who can all be successfully supported in inquiry-based processes within the school's unique environment. Our innovative approach is designed to foster independent decision-making and self-regulation within a structured, balanced school day. Bloom's experienced teachers dynamically meet the needs of individual students while maintaining the equilibrium and momentum of the class as a whole.
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As our enrollment team receives applications, parents/guardians will be contacted for a meeting with a teacher and/or staff member to discuss enrollment and determine placement appropriateness.
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Financial Considerations
As part of its mission, Bloom Community School seeks to engage families who prioritize innovation and best practices in education. Yet our leadership is mindful of the budget realities of prioritizing educational investments that match family values and interests can sometimes be limited.
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Bloom Community School’s financial aid program is based on two factors: 1) Availability of financial aid dollars in a given school year based on budget, and 2) Demonstrated need of the family applying for tuition assistance, which is based on recommendations from FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment. Families applying to the Bloom Connections program will be asked to submit relevant financial information to FACTS, an online, third-party finance tuition finances management service that has been contracted to provide a fair assessment of financial need.
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Health Policies
Bloom Community School takes seriously the responsibility to do our part in protecting the health and safety of our students, staff, and families as part of the wider community's efforts in public health. All students attending Bloom Community School are required to meet the minimum immunization requirements for children enrolling or entering a child care facility of school in Illinois as determined by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Documented medical exceptions to this requirement will be considered, but are granted on a case by case basis; no other exceptions are allowed. Bloom requests this information before August 1 of the year of enrollment. All new students must provide documentation of a completed medical examination and dental examination. All new incoming kindergarten students must also have an eye exam. Exceptions are granted for medical reasons only.
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Anti-discrimination Policy
Bloom Community School is committed to developing diverse, inclusive classroom communities that draw strength from a positive recognition of our varied backgrounds. Bloom administration and teachers will transparently communicate with families about the school's ability to support a range of unique learner needs as our school grows. Bloom Community School does not discriminate against any person on the basis of gender, race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, disability, political persuasion, or national or ethnic origin.