The Atelier (“ah-teh-lee-ay”) is an integral part of the schools in Reggio Emilia, and we draw inspiration from their model. In our Atelier program, the Atelierista partners with the teachers and the Pedagogical Director to support students and the school community in building their creative and expressive capacities. The program is designed to be responsive to the emerging inquiries of students as they explore their identity, relationships, and community environments.  The educators focus these curriculum extensions on creating unique contexts for children to explore the natural world and their community, to connect with true expressions of who they are, and to build authentic relationships with others. Students are empowered through opportunities to develop competencies within various 2-D and 3-D media, explore traditions of visual arts, and share their work with their communities. We believe children learn and express what they know when given many opportunities to take new perspectives and represent themselves and their ideas in a variety of ways. Educators prioritize documenting the strategies, processes and questions of the children while they work. The structure of the program also fosters deep connections within classrooms, across the school, and with the community.