CICS Loomis -

For third-grader Cataleya, CICS Loomis is her home away from home.  We believe it’s important that all learners feel safe and loved in their learning environment, and Cataleya describes CICS Loomis as one big family, where she can count on the teachers and staff, naming her classmates her “classroom family”.

She shares a special bond with Principal Nash, her “school auntie,” who she’s known since she started Kindergarten. Cataleya loves when she gets to have lunch with Principal Nash, to share all of the exciting things happening in her class and at home. For Cataleya, these everyday moments of connection and feeling truly seen by her school family are building a foundation of confidence and joy. It’s this nurturing environment that makes CICS Loomis feel like home – students are loved, supported, and set on a path for lifelong success.

Ms. Purnell is no stranger to the CICS Loomis-Longwood campus—having taught several years at CICS Longwood Elementary, moving to CICS Loomis Primary is an exciting way for her to make a lasting impact on her young students. With CICS Loomis’s expansion into 3rd grade, Ms. Purnell is eager to loop with her students, having them for 2nd grade and 3rd grade! Looping allows her to seamlessly build upon her students’ educational journeys, leveraging the strong trust and familiarity already established.

Beyond her classroom, Ms. Purnell's influence extends to all students during the morning Soft Start program. Here, she leads engaging learning games like prefix and suffix bingo, demonstrating to every interested CICS Loomis student that learning is not only fun but directly applicable to their lives. Her educational games have become so popular that students constantly invite others to join. Ms. Purnell’s dynamic approach to learning ensures students don’t just acquire knowledge; they embrace education as an exciting, practical, and truly enjoyable adventure!

Second-grader Kodi experiences the CICS Loomis culture as pure happiness and joy, fostered by intentionally kind and caring teachers. Because the staff understands these are vital, formative years, the atmosphere is purposefully designed to feel like a second home where fun and growth are always priorities. This loving environment directly fuels his learning: Kodi loves that his teachers help him understand things he doesn't know so he can keep growing.

This loving, caring foundation is what inspired Kodi to serve excitedly as a "classroom helper." This student leadership role allows his confidence to shine—he is now a trusted, friendly face, ready to assist a substitute teacher with supplies or help another student who is struggling. Kodi is the perfect example of the confident, compassionate leader the early childhood education experts at CICS Loomis are cultivating.