Navajo Indians traditionally greet the dawn by invoking the need to walk in beauty. In this e-newsletter, we are taking the time to reflect on some of the incredible gifts we walk alongside at Green School. In a very short period of time, we have created a school and developed a community of people who care deeply about the connection between education and the environment. Some of us may value most relationships with peers or teachers. Others might cherish the chance to learn in a beautiful setting and work with plants and animals. The gift we each hold dearest is less important than our willingness to share it with one another and honor the beauty of what we're trying to achieve. And here's my opportunity to offer up my thanks, here in Bali, land of offerings, for the amazing web of people—students, faculty, parents, and staff—who, together, make the gift of Green School possible.  

Green School is an inspiring example of a truly international school. Our community consists of students from neighboring Balinese villages and the nearby countries of Malaysia and Singapore to the farthest reaches of Australia, North America, and Europe. Our student population is comprised of a diverse student body from 16 countries with 20% of our students coming from Bali. Green School learners are lively and engaged and have the promise for academic and personal success as well as a willingness to go beyond the bounds of convention.

Click here to learn more about sponsoring a Balinese child at Green School.

The Heart of School will consist of three interconnected spirals that encompass the building, which will stand over 20 meters high. At over 2000 square meters, it will be the region’s largest bamboo structure, housing our library, exhibition halls, computer room, meeting spaces, offices, classrooms and much more.

Carve your loved one’s name on a bamboo now!

Green School will implement a wide array of projects to enhance the lives of our students, parents, faculty and staff, and, in keeping with our holistic and regenerative approach, provide our community with an authentic experience that expands and enriches their notion of education and improves their lives.

To these ends, we are seeking the support of generous donors interested in helping to fund exciting initiatives that embody real needs at the School as well as achieving our underlying objective: to educate joyful, grounded, and deeply adaptable children willing and able to become the leaders of the 21st century.

Funding is needed for projects that include environmental projects, scholarship programs, and creative development initiatives.

Click here to learn about funding opportunities at Green School

To our sponsors, Green School would like to thank you for being a supporting member of our community.  In recognition of your generosity and sponsorship we have dedicated a part of our Heart of School building to you. A structural piece of bamboo will have your name carved onto it and will be installed in our building. Once construction is complete you will be able to see the names of all the people who’ve made this project possible, including your own, through partnership.  

For your gift of a Green School education and for your help in building a sustainable international community, we thank you.

Less than a year ago, Paula, Maggie and I were living in a small one-bedroom apartment in New York City. I enjoyed my job and made a good salary, but was ultimately unfulfilled professionally. Relocating to Bali and being a part of the creation of Green School has been very challenging for me and my family at times, but I am incredibly grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity.                                                                                    

I love living in a place with clean air, vibrant culture and wonderfully kind and patient people. I love living in a bamboo palace in the jungle and getting to walk around our spectacular campus every day. I love that we are raising our Maggie in such a natural environment with the nearest shopping mall an hour away, and I am especially grateful that she has begun her formal educational experience at Green School.           

Finally, I am grateful to my wife Paula for hanging in there!

I really appreciate living in a society where it's acceptable for someone to call a multitude of countries part of their heritage and I want to thank the families of our students. Without you and the support you give at home, none of this would be possible.

I'm pleased that Green School took me in this year, giving me the opportunity to teach 15 pensive, bright, witty, caring students and smile as they teach me.   I enjoy my commute to work - a nature hike.  

I thank the educators here, who inspire me and the work we do, especially my team teachers - I couldn't do this without you.  

I am in love with the toads, geckos, mantises, stag beetles, birds, butterflies, and all sorts of other things that slither, creep, and fly through my home and work every day.  

I am grateful for the magic and beauty of Bali, from her rivers to her coastlines, from her mountains to her valleys, from her jungles to her rice fields.  

I will always hold close to my heart "Boogie," the little moto that takes me everywhere I need to go, and the dogs of Bali that remind me daily to drive defensively.  

Finally, I thank the families.  Without you and the support you give at home, none of this would be possible.

I am thankful for Steven Still’s advice. For many years I lived in a ski resort far from my hometown. This made going home for Thanksgiving a tall order. Instead, Thanksgiving gatherings involved co-workers, friends, and like-minded individuals who became as important as family in my life.  Now in the jungle, a half a world away from family and the friendships I nurtured in the mountains of Colorado, I’m thankful that the people I’m surrounded with make it so easy to do all over again.

The first person I see in the morning is Ibu Ayu, armed with one of the most disarming smiles I’ve ever seen. She makes it difficult to start the day with anything other than a positive outlook. From there, I’m escorted to class by her cooler-than-most-everyone-son, whose enthusiasm reminds me of why we are all working so hard, so far from home.  

A day in class with students who seem as if they think they’re on holiday at Disney World keeps a smile on my face through a long and demanding day. Watching them learn and grow with such confidence and joy gives validation to our vision of education.

A student body from all over the world that embraces and nurtures one another gives credence to our hopes that the peoples of the world can learn to respect one another.   Co-workers who are some of the most interesting and talented individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure to be around keep me motivated to do my best. They help me to remember that the only limits to potential are a lack of effort and focus.   Living in a community of people who have a smile for every emotion and who welcome all who come their way sets an example of how easy and natural it can be to accept and understand others.

The parents of our students who always seem to be right on time with words of gratitude, encouragement, and support make it easy to get back on my feet again.

Finally, I’m thankful for my family, friends, and fiancée whom are so far away yet so rock solid with support. They make it easy to venture so far from home and follow my heart.

Love the ones you’re with,
Pak Glenn

I am thankful for having a friend to share with, a comfortable bed to sleep in, challenges that allow me to release my weaknesses and actualize my strengths, nutritious food to eat, warm sun to dry me after it rains, silence to awaken me to the noise of my own thoughts, lights that guide my way home in the dark, a point of stillness that I can return to whilst amongst the chaos, insects to teach me the value and power of community, fertile ground on which to stand, a river to remind me that all things pass, vegetation that demonstrates the earth’s incredible capacity to heal and rejuvenate, smiles that reveal true beauty, eyes that reveal hidden truths, and a compost toilet to use.

The morning crept by ever so slowly as we awaited the moment we could finally put on our costumes and let the Halloween celebrations begin. Pizza, pasta, sushi and fruit filled our bellies before the assembly in the Mepantigan, where the entire school paraded about showing off their ghoulish garb. Root beer floats, fairy dust, chocolate witch cake, and dancing tunes finished off our festivities. -- Sara Moronen, Co-Lead Teacher, Year 7-8

The tension was palpible on the ride from Sibang Kaja down to Sanur as the Green School Geckos prepared to enter the lair of the dragon—the Bali International School Dragons, that is. Here they were, upstarts from the jungle going in to face Bali’s most established international school and its polished soccer machine in Green School’s first ever inter-school match. The bus was mostly quiet, with occasional hiccups of nervous laughter. Coach Pak Glenn, as always, exuded an easygoing confidence in his team, made up of boys and girls from Years 3 through 8, and spoke words of encouragement.

Like gladiators entering the Coliseum, the Geckos got off the bus and strode into BIS with heads held high and looks of gritty determination, knowing full well the daunting nature of the task ahead.

At the end of the day, the Dragons scored three goals and the Geckos two, but one does not have to perform terribly difficult mental gymnastics—the equivalent of a backwards somersault, perhaps—to come up with a non-losing interpretation of the final tally. For the match was divided into three portions, each with a different age group making up the bulk of the players. The first was a hard-fought and scrappy 0-0 tie. The second proved to be a Green School masterpiece, with the first goal scored in school history, a nifty putback by Finlay Ross-Russell (whose father Ali is a volunteer coach for the Geckos) and a lovely arcing shot by Jay Tyler-Clement proving all the Geckos needed for a 2-0 veritable drubbing. Green School faced its comeuppance in the third game, perhaps emotionally spent from an exhilarating afternoon, and lost 3-0. Although I’m not one to make excuses or point fingers, rumor has it that one of the teams fielded 9th graders in this segment (and keep in mind that Green School has no 9th grade).

All in all, the Geckos’ first match was a great success, and at the conclusion the team members gathered with your humble narrator for a rousing version of the Green School anthem, “Living in Bali”, in mid-field. Gecko pride, and the beginning of what we hope will be a long and glorious athletic tradition at Green School.

On November 7th, The Drum Factory made their first visit to the Green School. Class 1/2 and 3/4 collaborated to create wild beats and rhythms that resounded throughout our campus. The Drum Circle is now officially part of our exploratory music program and every week Green School students learn new drum notes, including bass, tone and sharp, as they rotate through a variety of percussion instruments. The energy from the beats are exhilarating. Visitors are free to stop by the Mepantigan on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 11:30am – 12:30pm and 1:30pm – 2:30pm to witness beats and rhythms that weave into musical synergy.

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From November 14-16, Green School hosted the Global Citizenship Summit -- a conference that brought experts in the field of international education from all over the world to our campus.

Representatives from UNESCO, Clinton Climate Initiative, Conservation International, International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), Oxfam, Facing the Future, United World Colleges, EARCOS, Crossroads International, National Association of Independent Schools, Sinarmas World Academy, Canada Council for the Arts, Circus Action International, and WE International Philippines were present to deliver presentations throughout the Summit.

Eighty participants from twelve countries across Asia discussed the development of international curricula and the responsibility teachers and schools have to prepare students for the interconnected 21st century world. Teachers left the Summit with valuable materials and resources to address sustainability, service learning, and global citizenship in their curricula and school environment--tools necessary for children to create concrete solutions to global problems.

The Summit opened with a Green School tour, directly followed by a colorful Legong Dance and Mepantigan performance. Afterwards, the presenters and participants proceeded to our open-air bamboo kitchen for a working dinner. The evening wasn’t over until everyone participated in a poverty trap simulation activity, illustrating some of the complexities associated with poverty. Saturday and Sunday were packed with one inspiring workshop or speaker after the next. Participants left the conference both inspired and ready to inspire. Green School wants to hear your feedback, comments, and discussions regarding the Summit including your specific initiatives. We encourage you to join our dialogue for positive change. Email us at gcs{at}greenschool.org.

When I was a kid, I sat every day in a concrete block without windows. The prevalent theory at the time was that windows were distracting (this wasn’t in the Dark Ages, but the 1980s). I like to think I turned out okay, despite my windowless education. But how much better could I have evolved if I had experienced a living classroom? A place where I could have hands-on experience in permaculture, and where I was educated in sustainability? What kind of education do our children need to meet the challenges of this century? More basically, how do we instill environmental values in our kids?

On Saturday, November 8th, 2008, Project Concern International (PCI) honored Green School founders, John and Cynthia Hardy, as Cultural Ambassadors for bringing jewelry design, social business, and sustainability together for good. PCI’s 18th Annual “Hands Across Borders” celebrates the diversity and spirit of South and Southeast Asia. “One Night, One World” is a unique, authentic celebration of culture and contribution. The event convened and connected an “Honor Roll” of individuals and nonprofit organizations in South and Southeast Asia whose commitments are making a real difference.

This year’s Humanitarian Award was presented to Prof. Muhammad Yunus, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, author and economist whose groundbreaking work on microcredit demonstrated that providing small loans to poor women can be an effective tool for poverty alleviation and positive social change.

PCI aims to raise awareness, engage more people in global change initiatives and honor people who are committed to making a difference. PCI is committed to improve community health, facilitate economic empowerment and/or promote sustainable development.

Click here to visit Project Concern International’s website.
Read more about John and Cynthia Hardy here

"We have to respect the environment because it's the only thing we have that's close to magic."
~ Matilda Wallensky - Year 7 -8 student

“We wanted to express again how happy we are with you and your team at the Green School. In just half a month, we feel we have absolutely made the correct choice in joining this school. It is so nice to be a part of this highly involved and highly evolved community - a dream for a school, really! Both children come home with positive attitudes every day and singing up a storm (Living in Bali...) (http://www.greenschool.org/living-bali-green-school-song). They have never been happier in school! Keep up the good work!!! Thank you for caring about Mya and Sasha more than any other school!”
~ Lahra & Chicco Tatriele, parents of Sasha Kai Steere - Pre-K & Kindergarten student, and Mya Jasmine Steere – Year 1 – 2 student

Click here to read more testimonials from our parents and students.

Leading environmental analyst and Right Livelihood Award recipient, Helena Norberg-Hodge visited and toured Green School on Sunday, October 19th. Helena is also the Founder and Director of International Society of Ecology and Culture (ISEC) in London, a non-profit organization concerned with the protection of both biological and cultural diversity.

Click here to read Helena’s thoughts on Green School.
Find out more about ISEC.