Many middle schools teach facts. Willow school teaches understanding.

There is a big difference between knowing something and understanding it. Willow middle school students are expected to acquire knowledge and demonstrate their capacity to analyze, evaluate, apply, and explain their learning to others. They are encouraged to explore topics in-depth, learn from their mistakes, and expand their intellectual capacity. In conjunction with our Virtues Program and Five Academic Innovations unique to our school, Willow students have every opportunity to learn with purpose and lead with character.

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Systems Thinking

Universities and Fortune 500 companies use Systems Thinking, yet this discipline, which helps students understand and navigate a complex world, isn’t widely taught or used in schools. Willow students are engaged with Systems Thinking in elementary and middle school through interdisciplinary studies and projects. This way of thinking prepares them to be good problem solvers and effective citizens who know how to create positive change in the world.Here’s how Willow students practice Systems Thinking in our classrooms: 

Handcrafts & Architecture

Willow students are engaged with some of the oldest art forms on earth, vital to their intellectual and physical development. Handcrafts are taught from Kindergarten to Grade 4. Weaving and knitting, for instance, mirror traditional methods of storytelling, which supports literacy and language arts. The tactile nature of the Handcrafts program also develops fine motor skills, such as manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.Architecture begins in Grade 5. Students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through the process of design. Handcrafts & Architecture, in conjunction with core academic subjects, foster creativity, self-discovery, and higher order thinking skills.

Public Speaking

One of the most recognized attributes of Willow students is their ease and ability with public speaking. Children are encouraged to find their voice at an early age in classroom meetings, discussions, and Morning Gathering, where every student in every grade has multiple opportunities to ask questions, present insights from class studies and projects, and contribute ideas to a school-wide conversation.The benefits of the constant practice of communication is most evident at Graduation when each Grade 8 student delivers thought-provoking, powerful, and sometimes hilarious speeches reflecting upon their time at Willow.

3 World Languages

We believe that meaningful exposure to multiple world languages is vital to forming global citizens who can communicate across cultures. French and Spanish are taught in Grades K- 2. In Grade 3, students choose to continue with French or Spanish until Grade 8. The progression of study includes fluency (speaking and understanding), proficiency (reading and writing), and cultural appreciation. Latin, the root of so many world languages, is required in Grades 6-8 in addition to French or Spanish..Grade 7 and 8 students have earned numerous awards in the National Latin Exam, a competition involving more than 150,000 Latin students throughout the U.S. and 20 foreign countries.

Let’s Start a Conversation

Please submit the form below and our Director of Admissions Lisa VanderVeen will connect with you.

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Request our ebook on Systems Thinking. We will email it to you immediately.

Director of Admissions Lisa VanderVeen is here to help! Contact her at (908) 470-9500, ext. 1100 or via email.

Apply Fall 2023
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