“At Green School, a student’s wellbeing matters more than their grades”

SAL GORDON – HEAD OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

Our wall-less classroom blend with the outdoor learning spaces to form a living, thriving ecosystem that wraps around our students, holds them, inspires them and nourishes them.

Student wellbeing is infused into everything from campus design, to programs, to our values and our sense of community. A perfect example is our daily “mindful moment” – at the sound of our gong, our entire campus takes one minute to center themselves, breathe and be mindful before continuing with their day. Wellbeing is the foundation on which learning builds and it starts with each child being seen as an individual. It does not mean that everything is perfect all the time for everyone. In fact we understand that removing every reasonable obstacle and challenge is not helpful and does not build skills that every learner needs for life.

WE BELIEVE IN LEARNING FROM NATURE, IN NATURE

We have a living campus where nature is our teacher, and her lessons are experienced through all the senses. As school, work, living environments and even parks and recreational spaces become increasingly designed for maximum human comfort and ease, this comes at not only the expense of the environment but at the expense of our own wellbeing.

Imagine a child’s feet feeling the muddy earth squish between their toes. Imagine their hands in all the organic goodness of soil. Imagine plucking fruit from a vine and tasting its textures and tanginess. Imagine their eyes tracing bamboo stalks up to the sky and where the colour and beauty of nature is a feast for the eyes, no matter where they look. Over time at Green School Bali, we see children become one with our naturally rugged campus. Their feet, their bodies and their minds become tuned to the earth, simply by moving through the space.

Motor skills and cognitive development can be enhanced through walking, climbing, running, slipping, sliding and, best of all, creating adventures that are limited only by their imaginations.

WE BELIEVE THAT OUR CAMPUS IS A CLASSROOM

What if instead of being boxed-up, classrooms were wall-less and surrounded by permaculture gardens? This philosophy of being in and around nature is central to our learning at Green School. When students interact with nature, they develop a relationship with it. Getting our hands in the earth and our feet in the mud has therapeutic value and inspires our learners to be guardians of the earth.

Taking responsibility and helping to care for our campus is part of being a responsible, well-rounded person. This includes composting, tidying-up, sweeping, gardening, planting rice and recycling. Rugged, soothing, beautiful, adventurous and stunning, these are not words usually associated with a school campus, but this is Green School Bali. We did not build a school and then add some gardens. We embraced the jungle and nestled ourselves in it. Caring for the wellbeing of the planet and the next generations of humans at the same time.

WE BELIEVE MIND, BODY, SPIRIT CAN BE NOURISHED AT SCHOOL

At Green School, we know our knowledge journey must go both inwards and outwards. In our day, we often take time to stop and reflect on what we do and what we learn. A wall-less yoga studio with a river running next to it, provides students and our community with a space to decompress, relax and take a moment to nourish themselves, surrounded by sights and sounds of nature.

Society has grown to learn that students improve their self-awareness, attention and focus through regular mindfulness practices and meditation. And it’s time educational institutions to start incorporating these essential ingredients into the learning process as a way to improve student development and development of students. Our students, from Early Years all the way to High School, benefit from this magical space on campus as we encourage them to connect, ground and be present.

WE BELIEVE IN KNOWING THE IMPACT OF WHAT WE EAT

Our sustainable & ethical food policy centres around education and a sense of responsibility to make individual and collective effort to be conscious consumers. Our curriculum, and programmes such as “Seeds to Table” empowers students to be the stewards of their own health by understanding the food cycle and their footprint on our planet. It also helps them understand the importance of nature in our lives and our responsibility towards its conservation and regeneration.

We eat nutritious, local, seasonal, sustainable, organic wherever possible and ethically produced food. We have food growing and animals thriving on our campus. Connections with animals helps build empathy in young learners and along with our productive gardens, is part of understanding where food comes from. We encourage healthy eating habits that are good for our bodies, our brains and for mother earth.

The Arc at Green School Bali, designed by IBUKU

The Arc at Green School Bali, designed by IBUKU

WE BELIEVE THAT A GYM IS NOT JUST A GYM

What comes to mind when you think of a gym or sports complex? Introducing The Arc, our newest addition to the campus, which challenges the traditional idea of a school gym by creating a space that is a true work of art. This structure brings to life a space that supports physical wellbeing and sport, as well as music and theater arts performances, community gatherings, cultural events and more. This magnificent new space reinforces our commitment to holistic student development and community wellbeing.

The Arc has the distinction of featuring the highest bamboo arch ever built in construction, providing our community with yet another space for inspiration and collective action. Even more than that, this structure will help us harvest rain water as part of Operation Rain or Shine, our student powered renewable energy initiative.