We are committed to infusing our classes with joy and wonder, whether students are on campus or online, because it is the best way to engage and motivate children. Willow teachers designed their lesson plans to meet the unique challenges of this fall with joy, curiosity, collaboration, and hands-on exploration at the heart of our students’ learning experiences.

Virtues remain embedded into everything we do at Willow. This fall, daily Morning Gatherings continue in smaller classroom groups, supplemented with virtual all-school conversations twice a week. Our Virtues Program is meaningfully integrated into the curriculum, practiced by all of our community members, and used as a guide for our decision-making as a school.

Willow was founded on the importance of teaching children in and about the natural world. Our 34-acre campus was designed for outdoor learning, and our teachers are experts on leading lessons that integrate the outdoors. We know that learning outside is the safest way to teach our students this fall, and we are not only continuing to teach children in nature but expanding our outdoor learning with new outdoor classrooms. Our teachers are engaging those learning at home with outdoor instruction, too. See how Willow science teacher Ms. M inspired children to explore outside during distance learning with a series of nature challenges.

Academic innovations like systems thinking and project-based learning are not only continuing this fall, we are finding new ways to deepen our student’s critical thinking and enrich their creative problem-solving skills. For example, Willow teacher and systems thinking expert Carol Fontaine is working with our Lower School teachers to integrate systems thinking, project-based learning, imaginative inquiry, and art into their social studies lessons for the new school year. Read how Ms. Fontaine worked with our fifth graders to tackle complex problems using systems thinking this spring.

Whether students are learning on campus or from a distance, our teachers are committed to providing a level of individual attention and differentiated instruction that other schools can’t match. Our small class sizes help students and teachers develop strong relationships and give our teachers the ability to tailor their instruction to meet individual students’ needs. 

Willow is a true community. While we have had to change some of our community traditions this fall, we are committed to finding creative ways to connect school-wide, honoring our students’ growth through virtual learning celebrations, developing strong student-teacher relationships, fostering friendships, encouraging our students to collaborate with each other, and bringing parents together to keep our supportive, close-knit community thriving.

Willow was intentionally designed as a healthy learning environment that prioritizes wellness, emphasizes stretch versus stress, and cares for each member of our community’s social and emotional wellbeing. As we integrate new technology and add new safety protocols to our on-campus instruction, we are maintaining a healthy, balanced approach to technology, ample time for outdoor play, and a community of care that treats each individual with compassion and respect.