The Willow School empowers students to better understand the world and make a difference. At Willow, students learn joyfully, care for the natural world and practice Aristotelian virtues, which inform every part of the school’s curriculum and community.
What sets Willow apart is the interweaving of ethics into all aspects of student life for its preschool through eighth graders, as well as the school’s focus on sustainability. The school’s offerings for its youngest learners continue to grow; last year Willow added a third preschool class, and this year a second kindergarten class to meet demand.
“Parents value our commitment to outdoor education and focus on learning within and about the natural world, as well as our student-centered experiential learning and our virtues program,” says Head of School Francisco Ayala. “Willow virtues—like respect, responsibility and honesty—form a shared language and ethos that help us collectively raise deeply good and ethical children.”
Students, parents and faculty work together to fulfill the school’s mission as a close-knit community. Twice weekly, Morning Gatherings bring the entire school together to reflect on the virtue of the month.
In middle school, students benefit from mixed-age social, educational and leadership opportunities. The program was recently enhanced with new thematic units and experiential learning opportunities in topics such as STEM and ethics.
“Our mission is to graduate students who believe in themselves as positive change-makers based on a foundation of stewardship, creativity, integrity, curiosity and responsibility,” Ayala says.
1150 Pottersville Rd., Gladstone
908-470-9500
willowschool.org
