NATURALLY INSPIRED CHILD LED LEARNING

The Owl’s Nest Holistic Alternative Kindergarten Program is currently taking registration for 2023-2024.

Running 5 days per week, our holistic alternative program is a school program lovingly curated and tailored to each individual child’s needs and desires. Our program doesn’t fit into a category or “box”. It is a careful choosing of many amazing philosophies that is holistic in nature and alternative. We believe each child is competent and capable. Each child has an innate desire to learn. And each child is unique with their own language of learning. The program organically grows and evolves within the mix of children in the program at the time.

Located at Reroot Organic Farm, children will NOT only be learning math, literacy, science, and arts instruction but they will be learning while being immersed in the small organic farming of crops and animals, have access to acres of natural forest, streams and creeks and have opportunities to converse around a fire.

The Owl’s Nest Holistic Alternative School encompasses a holistic approach to learning. The three domains of the whole child development include Physical, Social-Emotional, and Cognitive. Please note that the domains are interrelated and influence one another (Bushnell and Boudreau, 1993).

Social/Emotional

Including the child’s emotional regulation, healthy attachment, self-image, ideal self, self- esteem, confidence, self-awareness, self-concept, managing strong emotions, self- efficacy, teamwork, community building, relationship with others (acceptance, love, kindness, ability to read others), social skills and competence, empathy, trust, perception, inclusion, empowerment, reflection, pushing comfort zones, connection to land, nature appreciation, sense of agency, and cultural appreciation.

Physical

Including the child’s fine and gross motor skill development, manipulation of objects, relationship with others, spatial awareness, organizing, interpreting and responding to sensory information, skill acquisition, perception and decision making, physical literacy, visualization, and pushing comfort zones.

Cognitive

Including the child’s decision making, higher ordered thinking, critical thinking and problem solving, deep knowledge and understanding of activity, intrinsic motivation, concentration, pushing comfort zones, emotional intelligence, eco-literacy, local knowledge and identification development, nature appreciation, empowerment, reflection, cultural appreciation, imagination, and planning.

Experiential Learning

This is the process of learning by doing. It is typically a hands-on approach to learning where skills, knowledge and experiences are acquired. It can also involve guided reflection throughout.

Emergent, Inquiry-based and Student-led. Learning at The Owl’s Nest Holistic Alternative School is a dynamic and emergent process. Each day can differ from the last. Student’s drive the learning process while the educators support them; uncovering the curriculum as we go with student interests at the forefront. We value the process, not the product.

Play-based Learning

We know that play is valuable in and of itself, but it’s also a marvelous vehicle for learning! Play theorist Bob Hughes (2002) said, ―Play is a biological necessity that puts the child in the driving seat. Through play, children authentically learn and retain more with less repetitions than a traditional school setting.

Choice

At The Owl’s Nest Holistic Alternative School, we believe in the concept of Choice alongside explicit instruction, where students are presented with an opportunity (or challenge) and they are empowered to decide how they will participate or engage in the activity. We encourage students to challenge themselves and participate fully in the experience at-hand; however, we fully respect the decision of the child and their personalized level of engagement. All students are asked to add value to the experience by finding a way to contribute to the group’s efforts in a way that is meaningful and authentic for them. Creating a space that reflects a student’s comfort level while expanding their comfort zone( by moving into their growth zone) is very important and a process we respect and work together on.

Scientific research proves that the above skills are the skills of future careers and we are committed to supporting kids and families in a changing world.

With our program you receive:

Collaboration and Communication:

Gone are the days of report cards and grades. At The Owl’s Nest you have a collaboration that transcends the idea of education and teacher/parent relationships. Communication is at the forefront of our program as a holistic school. 

Most of our families take advantage of:

-messages and documentation communicated regarding goals, learning and ideas

-home support in areas of behaviour, challenging parenting/child situations, guidance and clarity with learning philosophies and perspectives

-support with specialized programs, support for special needs and public services

-detailed observations and goals communicated

-building close relationships and becoming a community

Specialized and individualized learning for your child:

- In our small school, each child is engaged in a vibrant and ever changing, flowing “curriculum” (loosely based on the Ontario Curriculum) that provokes their own interests and encourages growth that meets their needs.

-learning is child led and centred

-children learn through play and authentic learning opportunities

-growth and learning is expedited because it’s child driven and learned through authentic experiences and through play