The Willow School

Last Monday, April 13, 2009 I took advantage of an invaluable opportunity to visit the Willow School with Doug Demeo and his sustainability class. Although I am not a devoted 'green guru' I jumped at the opportunity to visit the ecological friendly Willow School because I was interested in discovering the different approaches it has towards education. To say the least, the Willow School surpassed any expectation I previous concieved.

The Willow School is a k-8 private instituition located on 34 acres of land in Gladstone, New Jersey. It was founded in 2000 by Gretchen and Mark Biedron with 5 missions in mind: to promote the joy of learning, to stimulate the wonder and curiousity of the natural world, to uphold academic excellence,to ensure students have mastery of the english language, and to implement an integrated curriculum for student learning. Even more, the Willow School focuses on cultivating virtues in conjunction with learning.

As a future educator I was amazed to see the many benefits the Willow School offers its students. The teacher to student ratio is 1:6. Because the school is encompassed by 34 acres of land, students are able to observe the harmony that exists in nature and how connections naturally exists among all subject areas. Through interaction with nature students develop consciousness of their natural surroundings and learn how to take care of their surroundings.

Students study French from kindergarten to fourth grade, and have the option of continuing French from 5-8 or switching to Spanish. Through the school's Core Virtues Program, students develop the characteristics of responsibility, honesty, compassion, and respect for not only one another, but for nature and the surrounding community.

In addition to meeting with the Mark Biedron, the founder of the institution, my visit to the Willow School included a tour of the two buildings. Please click on the link below to see the advances the Willow School has made in sustainability. The two buildings that comprise the Willow School are both L.E.E.D. Certified and serve as a model for where education development seems to be heading.

The Student Education Association and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society at Saint Peter's College hope to be visiting the Willow School on May 5, 2009. Stay posted for more information.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2897045226534378318