Our Story
Crete Academy was founded by a group of individuals passionate about creating opportunities for children living in poverty. The vision for the school developed from the Founder’s life-changing experience on Skid Row, thirteen years ago. The Founder recalls watching a disconnected mother, watch her daughter crawl through the filthy streets of the city. As she observed the child crawling, she thought, “something has to change for children in these circumstances.” The vision of a school that serves underserved children in impoverished communities emerged from that experience. The Founder, along with many other passionate individuals developed the Crete model.
Crete’s Mission
Crete Academy will deliver an educational program to students TK-6th grade who are homeless and living in poverty, that will meet their physical, mental and emotional needs while developing strong character and critical thinking skills so that each child is prepared for college and beyond.
Crete’s Vision
One day, the cycle of poverty will end and children who once were homeless and living in poverty will be leaders of this world.
Core Values
The Crete model also embodies the following Core Values: Character, Responsibility, Equality, Teachability, and Excellence. The Crete core values are embedded in the educational program of the school and designed to develop students’ social/emotional well-being and leadership skills. Crete aims to develop students who are healthy, happy, thoughtful, compassionate and full of gratitude.
Crete students learn to love themselves, the concept of learning and their community. We prepare all students for the real world and ensure they are prepared to lead healthy, productive lifestyles with bright, successful futures.
Character: Crete is dedicated to ensuring students have strong character, which means they are honest, trustworthy, have integrity, and a strong sense of perseverance.
Excellence: Crete students will do all things with excellence, understanding that they are not perfect, but they are always asked to do their best.
Responsibility: Crete students will be taught to take responsibility for their actions. Students will learn humility in times of celebration and acceptance in times of failure.
Equality: Crete students will learn to appreciate and embrace the differences of others, including but not limited to individuals of different ethnic backgrounds, religious faiths, sexual preferences and learning abilities.
Teachability: Crete students will be taught the growth mindset in order to remain life-long learners. This means students will have an understanding that intelligence is not fixed.
The Crete Educational Model
The Greek word “Crete” means "to create,” which represents the essence of the school. Students at Crete will have the tools and resources to create their own futures. At Crete, we believe in serving the whole-child and meeting the various needs that each individual student has. Crete teachers and students believe that it is our duty to ensure students' basic needs are met and that they are challenged with an academic program that will develop their math, literacy and critical thinking skills, which will ultimately prepare them for success in college.
The Crete Educational Model focuses on the immediate, basic needs of students and their long-term educational needs. Our goal is to provide resources and support services to every student, so that they are successful.
Crete’s Educational Model includes a college preparatory curriculum that is designed to prepare students to succeed beyond the classroom. Students at Crete learn to think critically about problems and learn multiple ways of approaching issues. Through differentiated instruction, grouping and Constructivist approaches, critical thinking activities are embedded and taught across the curriculum. Lastly, Crete teachers support the development of students’ character, so that they develop positive dispositions and traits.
A key component of the Crete model is the Wellness Program. The Crete Founding team developed a research-based program that ensures all students receive the proper nutrition, physical, mental and emotional care they need to succeed. Through the Wellness Program, students are taught to monitor their physical and mental well being while participating in workshops and other programs. All services are provided by and through our partnerships with community organizations.
At Crete, all students have the opportunity to succeed and thrive, despite their circumstances.
Academic Program
At Crete, we believe all students should be prepared for life after high school and particularly for college. Thus, we begin discussing college and the benefits of a college degree with our TK and Kindergarten students. Throughout the year, we have "College Days" where students get to wear t-shirts and hats that promote various colleges and universities. Our goal is to create a college-mindset through continual reminders of college.
In addition to promoting college and creating a college-going atmosphere, we prepare our students for the academic rigor and discipline needed to succeed at the university level. Crete students are taught how to think critically and use reasoning to solve problems. We believe that future academic and professional success begins with the mastery of mathematics and literacy skills. Finally, in meeting the needs of the "whole child" we offer regular opportunities for students to participate in enriching experiences including: foreign language, visual and performing arts, yoga, culinary arts, and horticulture.
