| |
The Power of Community - Our Approach
 |
|
The entire blueprint for life at NBS is one of nurturing
our students to learn, not in isolation, but as part
of a loving and dynamic community, and thereby nurturing
the community itself - parents and grandparents, educators,
visitors, health advisors, environmentalists, artists,
nutritionists... all those who come together to facilitate
learning at entry level.
Here, at NBS, our children depart from traditional,
defined study methods and enter into an expanded and
pioneering space for learning... a space where they
experience the immense power of community.
|
On community:
"If we are going to use the word meaningfully we
must restrict it to a group of individuals who have
learnt how to communicate honestly with each other,
whose relationships go deeper than their masks of composure,
and who have developed some significant commitment to
rejoice together, mourn together, and to delight in
each other, making the other's condition our own. "
M. Scott Peck
|
The power of being 'small'
In order to give our children the absolute advantage of
community, it is imperative that we first meet their individual
mental, physical, emotional and development needs in the best
possible way. This cannot happen without giving them sufficient
personal attention. Thus at NBS, we are careful not to lose
the advantage of staying small and focused. We maintain an
optimal staff-student ratio of 1:10. The overall school size
is deliberately limited, with two sections per class of no
more than 25 students per section.
The power of learning together
At NBS, we encourage our children to learn in coopeartive
and collaborative ways with and from each other. Thus, rather
than being passive receivers, they debate and discuss, review
each other's work and learn through presentations and projects
in the true spirit of the community. Since most of life's
really important tasks involve working with others, our students
are uniquely equipped to achieve what they set out to do in
the real world.
The power of parental participation
Educators at NBS do not work alone; they reach out and partner
with parents and the extended family. Parental participation
is recognised as a vital component in a child's education,
and when parents and educators work together, they create
a learning environment without conflict - one that is secure,
creative, healthy and happy and that extends seamlessly from
home to school and into the world beyond.
The power of learning from life
Our educators continually update our curriculum to ensure
that it remains intimately connected to the life experiences
of our children and responsive to the needs of the community.
Thus field trips, interdisciplinary projects, interactions
with guest experts and community service are all an integral
part of our programme.
The power of all day, every day learning
At no point in time do we wish our children to 'shut down'
on the ringing of a bell.
Thus, learning never comes to an end at NBS. Innovative after-school
programmes and weekend family events ensure that it continues
even beyond school hours. In keeping with our spirit of lifelong
learning, we share our facilities and invite members of the
community to use the sports fields, computer rooms and library
at their convenience and to look upon the school as an extension
of home.
|
 |
