CAF believes that a joyful and well-balanced workplace for staff translates to a joyful and rigorous learning environment that is essential to scholars’ academic success. Cresthaven Works exists to provide support and resources that are otherwise unavailable through public funding to CACS and its faculty and staff.
Through Cresthaven Works, CAF paid for facilities and staff salaries during the CACS planning year, when the school was preparing to open but had not yet received funding from the New Jersey Department of Education. CAF also purchased and renovated Cresthaven’s current K-4 campus. With a lease that is below market rate and capped rent payments, Cresthaven Works allows CACS to spend less on rent and more on direct support for Cresthaven scholars, without worrying about future rent increases. Rent payments that exceed mortgage payments are used by CAF to directly support Cresthaven scholars and families. When the current K-4 facilities are paid off, CAF will look toward the future purchase of additional new facilities as Cresthaven Academy continues to grow.
In addition to supporting acquisition of facilities, Cresthaven Works includes amenities like CAF-sponsored coffee, tea, and light refreshments in CACS Staff Workrooms, as well as dinner, snacks, and other meals for staff during special events, Parent-Teacher Conferences, Summer Institute, and late night or weekend working sessions. CAF also helps fund professional development opportunities, holiday and end of year staff celebrations, and is also available on a case by case basis to support staff members who find themselves facing temporary crisis or hardship.
Cresthaven Academy's success is a testament to the value of partnership between CACS and CAF, as well as the hard work and dedication of administrators, staff, faculty and board members. This collaborative effort has been rewarded with the recent Charter Amendment Approval by the NJ Department of Education, which grants the expansion of Cresthaven Academy to a K-8 school. This exciting expansion presents new challenges, including the need for a new facility to accommodate the growing student and staff population. Through Cresthaven Works, CAF can continue to provide resources to support a balanced and joyful work and learning environment across all Cresthaven campuses.
It is no secret that great schools can shape and transform communities, and with your help, Cresthaven Works can help Cresthaven continue to work for the Plainfield community.