My tour asked me, “What are you all about?” I was confused. “What do you mean” I asked. “Well, what’s the most important value to your school? Is it academics, is it being eco-friendly? Who are you?”
Good question. This made me think: How do I summarize in just a few minutes what The Grove School is all about? My answer was this: We are a Healthy Mind, Healthy Body, Healthy Planet school. All pieces of this value system are equally important, and all aspects of our program weave together and interconnect with this central concept. One does not exist without the other.
Our outside gardens provide a unique experience. Even our youngest children are given the opportunity to water the gardens, talk about where their food comes from, and even harvest their own vegetables. But our gardening is about more than just eating healthy. Last spring the children discovered a spider. They learned how spiders contribute to the life of plants, and how our eco-system relies on insects as part of the food cycle. While somewhat simplistic, the notion of science is a step into higher level thinking skills. And allowing kids to grow and harvest their own vegetables encourages them to adopt a healthier lifestyle, thus developing a stronger body. Our planet benefits from less pesticides and the compost bin we’ve created, and our goal is to instill these values in our children so they know how to create their own eco-friendly gardens one day -Healthy Planet.
Take into consideration the lesson the Strands class did on recycling. They collected items from outside and placed them in the proper recycling bins. They discussed how each could be reused or recycled instead of being thrown into the trash and landfills. This was a lesson in conservation. Healthy Planet, right? Then there’s the fresh air they received, running around outside, gathering and collecting materials – Healthy Body. As they went outside, students were able to discuss the types of objects they located and sorted them according to different properties, such as size and shape. And in Ms. Cristen’s room, they brought in recycling items from home and simply played with them, using their imaginations and creativity to play games – Healthy Mind.
Our curriculum does not consist of one core value being taught at a time. Rather, it is a wholistic approach to learning, with all aspects of our curriculum supporting one another.
The Grove School is a refreshing new idea, and one that I truly believe in. If you haven’t done so already, we’d love to have you stop in and see for yourselves what makes us so unique!