FAQ

Do I have to be a member of Christ Church or a Christian to apply?
Absolutely not! You may be from any faith tradition or have no faith tradition at all. Our philosophy is best articulated in The Spiritual Child written by Dr. Susan Miller who is a Professor at Columbia University. Her book highlights recent neurological and psychological research that finds that the single most important factor in a child's flourishing is to have a sense of connection with a higher benevolent power. Moreover, if that connection is not nurtured particularly in the first decade of life and also the second decade of life, then the  neuropathic pathways that allow that transcendent connection to the Divine atrophy and may never be recovered. While the research shows this is true regardless of the faith tradition, in chapel our "spiritual language" is mostly Christian although we try to include other faith traditions so that the children are multi-lingual.

Do children need to be potty trained?
At our school, we believe every child develops at their own pace, and we are here to support families through every stage of growth. Children do not need to be potty trained to attend our program. When your child is ready to begin the toilet training journey, we partner with families to create a positive and encouraging experience, working together to ensure a smooth and supportive transition. Our goal is to foster confidence and success for each child as they learn this important skill.
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What is your discipline policy?
Carillon is committed to a “positive discipline” policy. Positive discipline encourages self-respect, self-discipline, cooperation, and problem solving skills. We encourage problem solving by using words.

Where do Carillon students attend Kindergarten?
While the majority of Carillon students attend Ormondale, Carillon students also attend public and private kindergartens in Redwood City, Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Woodside. Every year we have students accepted to a number of private schools, including Sacred Heart, Phillips Brooks and Nativity.

Do you have a summer program?
Cara's Creative Camp - Weeks of June 9, 16, 23, 30

What is your policy for birthdays and holiday parties?
Birthdays are special days for children. Parents are invited to bring a healthy treat to share at snack time and may also join us at the end of the day to read their child’s favorite book. Parents are encouraged to gift a book to the school in honor of their child’s birthday.

Thanksgiving Family Potluck, Christmas Sing-a-Long, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day celebrations include families and caregivers. Other holiday parties are generally class-only celebrations.

What if my child has allergies?
If your child has an allergy, Carillon staff will work with you to comply with your child’s medical plan.

Our school is a nut free environment.

Are there volunteering opportunities for parents and caregivers? 
Volunteering opportunities for parents and caregivers are available during class parties, field trips, cooking, and special projects.

Are parents required to volunteer?
Carillon recognizes that families are very busy and has no volunteering requirement.

What is Lunch Bunch?
Lunch Bunch is an optional after school lunch program for Honeybees. Lunch- Bunchers enjoy eating lunch and playing together as a group between 12-1pm.

Parents may sign their child up for Lunch Bunch each day at drop-off and provide their child’s lunch. The cost is $30.00 a day. Families are invoiced for Lunch Bunch at the end of each month. 

What do the children do at Chapel?
As an Episcopal school, Carillon has a tradition of participating in Chapel. Chapel is lead by the Rector of Christ Church or the Youth and Family Director, and is held once a week. We often invite people from other traditions teach us their traditions and holidays, i.e. Ramadan, Passover, etc. 

The children gather in the Church to listen to stories, sing songs, and discuss a variety of religious traditions. They learn different spiritual traditions' names for God, important holy days of several world religions, and many stories from primarily the Hebrew and Christian bibles.

There is no religious instruction in the classroom. Our school celebrates the diverse religious backgrounds of all of our families.

What if my child just missed the age cutoff?
At the discretion of the Director and staff, Carillon School can accept children who just missed the age cutoff.  If parents feel their child is developmentally ready for our program, an assessment will be required.