We have taken the best practices from these tested and established programs to bring our children and families a more meaningful and deeper education.

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Waldorf

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Waldorf schools offer a developmentally appropriate, experiential, and academically rigorous approach to education. They integrate the arts in all academic disciplines for children from preschool through twelfth grade to enhance and enrich learning. Waldorf education aims to inspire life-long learning in all students and to enable them to fully develop their unique capacities.

Founded in the early 20th century, Waldorf education is based on the insights, teachings and principles of education outlined by the world renowned artist, and scientist, Rudolf Steiner. The principles of Waldorf education evolve from an understanding of human development that address the needs of the growing child. 

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Music, dance and theater, writing, literature, legends and myths are not simply subjects to be read about and tested. They are experienced. Through these experiences, Waldorf students cultivate their intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual capacities to be individuals certain of their paths and to be of service to the world. 

Professors who have taught Waldorf students across many academic disciplines and across a wide range of campuses—from State Universities to Ivy League—note that Waldorf graduates have the ability to integrate thinking; to assimilate information as opposed to memorizing isolated facts; to be flexible, creative and willing to take intellectual risks; and are leaders with high ethical and moral standards who take initiative and are passionate to reach their goals. Waldorf graduates are highly sought after in higher education.

Teachers in Waldorf schools are dedicated to generating an inner enthusiasm for learning within every child. This eliminates the need for competitive testing, academic placement, and rewards to motivate learning and allows motivation to arise from within. It helps engender the capacity for joyful life-long learning.

Waldorf education is independent and inclusive. It upholds the principles of freedom in education and engages independent administration locally, continentally and internationally. It is regionally appropriate education with hundreds of schools worldwide today.  Waldorf education is truly Inspired Learning. 

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Contemplative Education

 

What does it mean to be contemplative? 

 

Contemplation is defined by the notion of deep thinking and processing. This is accomplished with awareness and our core foundation lies in helping your child to grow their awareness of themselves and their world. Brave New School helps students develop their awareness, concentration, and insight through mindfulness and contemplative practices to teach peaceful living and compassionate action. We strive to use processes that illuminate the innate wisdom of human beings and cultivate a growing sense of peace and wonderment in everyday life.

 

We practice:

 

        The exploration of wisdom traditions near and far as a means to understand the spirit

 

        Poetry and storytelling as a means to explore the human condition

 

        Movement arts as a means to explore and enhance one’s sense of physical connectedness and awareness

 

        Silence and meditation as a means for reflection and inner awareness

 

        Self-reflection and self-mastery techniques as a means to act with intention and thoughtfulness

 

        Finding deep nature connection with sit spots in natural setting to promote deep connection to place and self.

 

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Progressive Education

 

What does it mean to be progressive?  

 

Our model supports transformative learning with individualized attention. We do this by empowering the learners with experiential learning and real world circumstances to have them use and develop real world skills. Brave New School promotes Social-Emotional Learning and critical thinking through experiential activities and creative expression in a collaborative, project-based curriculum.

 

We practice:

 

        The development of intrinsic values over extrinsic punishment-reward systems

 

        Teacher-Student collaboration in the learning process; ‘doing with’ instead of ‘doing to’

 

        Social-Emotional Learning to meet a child’s social, emotional, and intellectual needs

 

        A Project-Based curriculum with subjects overlapping, as they often naturally do

 

        Creative expression and reflection as a tool to find meaning and internalize learning

 

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Democratic School Ideals

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Democratic education provides students with choice and authority in the classroom, both individual and collective choice. Democratic education is concerned with the nature of relationships in the classroom. It aims to develop a commitment to the common good and to foster caring relationships.

 

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Sudbury Valley Education

 

THE SUDBURY MODEL

 

We respect the ability of every student, regardless of age, to plan and carry out their daily activities. We do not encourage students to follow particular paths, nor do we provide assessments of their performance. Rules to protect individual liberty are made by all community members through the School Meeting, and the social order is protected by a peer judicial system.

 

 

WHY IT WORKS

 

Freedom is the essence of the Sudbury Valley experience. From it stem the intellectual ferment, the joy of creativity, and the emotional effervescence that permeate the community. Freedom enables the age-mixing, the mobility, and the wide-ranging conversations that are the key to striving for the highest level of excellence in every activity. Access to the entire world of human experience made possible by the digital age is the icing on the cake.

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