Cascade Canyon was founded as an elementary school in 1981 by international educator Ann Barar (Evans). The original teachers and parent body of Cascade Canyon School wanted to establish a committed and connected community for their children. They felt that their children’s success lay in the relationship between teachers and students. Three basic tenets were established in order to secure this philosophy: 1. Small student to teacher ratio; 2. A familial atmosphere which included community meetings and cross age learning; 3. A sense of student responsibility and ability to affect positive change in the world. The original foundation of the school was based on Dewey's model of education and Barar's experience in the British Embassy School in West Germany.
Ann’s first staff member was Peggy Tunder, who was hired to teach the Kindergarten-1st-2nd grade program. Several years later, Ann asked Linda Franco, a Cascade parent and elementary teacher at the school, to develop the middle school program. Cascade soon grew from a K-5 school into an elementary and middle school, with a continuous K-8 program.
When Ann moved on, the Board placed the directorship of Cascade Canyon in the hands of Peggy and Linda, and hired Zoe Ghazi to fill Ann’s role teaching third and fourth grade. In two years, these three teachers – Peggy, Linda and Zoe – became co-directors of Cascade Canyon, a role they shared for many years. After a successful tenure of each wearing multiple hats with the school, the co-directors decided to re-immerse themselves in their teaching and pass on the administrative functions of the school. In the spring of 2006, Peggy, Zoe and Linda solicited the help of the Board in searching for a Director.
Sharon Reynolds-Kyle, seven year Board member and parent of Cascade Canyon stepped into the Director role in its first year, 2006-2007, and was succeeded by Rebecca Hausammann, in the fall of 2007-2008.
In 2004, Cascade Canyon welcomed Sarah Burhop as the fifth-sixth grade teacher. In 2008, Cascade Canyon bid Zoe Ghazi "bon voyage" to re-join her family in Iran and welcomed its newest staff members, Jayme Pohl and Page Hersey to the first-second and third-fourth grade classrooms, respectively.
Today, the three founding tenets of Cascade Canyon still remain as
integral components of the school. The curriculum has grown to include
visual art, music, theater, French then Spanish, Sign Language, and Physical Education, in
addition to core studies in English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies
and Science. The size of the school has grown since its inception, as
has the number of staff. Cascade Canyon is currently composing a strategic plan for the next 5-10 years, to conserve the essential elements from the school's past and outline the direction for the school's future.
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CASCADE CANYON SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY
At Cascade Canyon School, everyone knows everyone, and children feel comfortable expressing their individuality all the way through eighth grade. Within our accepting, inclusive community, we foster cross-age relationships and multi-age learning opportunities. Teachers, students and families work together to support our students' intellectual, social and emotional development. We offer small classes and a flexible, responsive learning environment that allows each student to reach his or her full potential. Our teachers are skilled in teaching to different learning styles and incorporating students' interests into the classroom.
The Cascade Canyon curriculum is rich in critical thinking: students actively analyze, evaluate, synthesize and apply their learning. We value the arts as an integral part of a child's education and are committed to helping each student develop his or her creative, expressive side. We recognize that students need a healthy balance of arts, academics and physical activity to thrive intellectually, socially and emotionally.
Through balanced, conscious and caring K-8 education, Cascade Canyon students gain a strong awareness of themselves and learn to communicate effectively with peers and adults. Our graduates are well prepared to succeed in high school and beyond as active, responsible citizens.
MISSION STATEMENT
Cascade Canyon School is dedicated to maintaining a small
student/teacher ratio and to offering an integrated and balanced
curriculum that exposes students to the joys of learning as a lifelong
pursuit and leads students to become independent thinkers, strong
leaders, and active participants in the global community who are
respectful of others, flexible in responding to challenge and
appreciative of diversity.
We challenge students to think deeply. We engage students in learning. We inspire students to express themselves. We connect students and famlies to our staff, each other, the school and communities around us.
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Cascade
Canyon is truly a hidden gem, quietly nestled on the edge of the
woods, on the outskirts of the town of Fairfax. You can find the
school site easily, but you have to look deeper, you have watch the
students and the teachers for a moment, before you truly find Cascade
Canyon. Then, you will be amazed by the spirit of this community.
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Donations are always welcome to Cascade Canyon's Capital Campaign Fund. Donations may be received at the school office on a walk-in basis, or through the mail, addressed to our Office Manager, Cascade Canyon School, 2626 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax, CA 94930. Our Capital Campaign Fund is used to augment our school budget in support of our academic program, our facility, and our school operations. As a small, independent school, we rely on community support to continue to offer a program of excellence that is rich in both arts and academics, and to preserve our small class size.
If you prefer to donate directly to a particular intiative or program, there are several other ways to support Cascade Canyon. One is by contributing to our newly established Theater of Tolerance Fund. Two years ago, our wonderful theater teacher, Peggy Tunder, laid out her vision for the rebuilding of our outdoor amphitheater, equipped with lighting and sound, a wonderful stage and dressing/costume area, and natural wooden benches. In keeping with the values of Cascade Canyon, our vision is for the theater to become a venue for school and community productions that celebrate diversity, tolerance and acceptance of ourselves, others and the environment.
You are also able to donate directly to our newly established Eco-Literacy Fund. The Eco-Literacy fund supports green initiatives at Cascade Canyon, including the greening of our facility and our operations, and the ongoing development of our science and gardening program. Cascade Canyon became a Marin Green Business in the spring of 2007. In the fall of 2007, we launched our Eco-Council with parents and staff members interested in continuing green efforts at our school; and in the spring of 2008, we will be launching our student Green Team who will work alongside our Eco-Council. We are committed to modeling and teaching environmental and social responsibility through activism.
All donations made to Cascade Canyon are tax deductible; a receipt will be furnished for your records. Please make checks out to Cascade Canyon School, and note in the ledger where you would like your contribution directed.
We thank you for your interest in our school and for any contribution you can make.
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About Us 
