A new #fabULyss Find WeGrow – March 6th, 2018
A new #fabULyss Find
WeGrow
WeGrow is committed to supporting growth in children’s minds, bodies, and souls through an integrated, individualized curriculum that challenges and elevates all aspects of the child. The learning originates from each child’s passions and is hands-on and project-based, drawing from progressive educational pedagogies, such as Montessori, Bank Street, and Reggio Emilia. The goal is to create conscious global citizens, who know who they are, understand their gifts, and approach life with wonder, joy, humility, and a profound desire to share. With a focus on studying life through spirituality, farming as a way to respect and understand the planet, and yoga, meditation, and conscious eating as tools to center our bodies, they delve deeply into cultivating the whole child. Language and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) are taught and emphasized as ways to further connect with the world. WeGrow supports the growth of our children’s entrepreneurial spirits through initiatives such as a school-run farmer’s market as well as a collaboration with WeWork. As they begin to identify our students’ passions, they will be paired with employees and members under whom they can apprentice.
Q: Please tell the #divamom blog readers how WeGrow came to be?
A: The idea for WeGrow came from Rebekah and her husband Adam’s search on both the East and West coasts for an elementary school for their eldest daughter. They had a very clear vision of the type of school they wanted their daughter to attend – a place that would not only nurture growth in her mind but also her spirit, a place that had a real culture of kindness, a place where she would have a real connection to nature, and a place where her individual gifts, talents, and passions would be recognized and supported. Ultimately, they could not find a place that was addressing the needs of the whole child in such a way, and Rebekah decided to launch WeGrow.
Q: Where will the first of many new locations be opened in NYC? When?
A: The first WeGrow school will be opening September 2018 in Chelsea at the WeWork Headquarters on West 18th Street.
Q: What are you most excited about for the new school? Please share with our readers…
A: We are most excited to help every child unleash their superpowers. We believe that every human is a creator, that each of us has a unique spark to share with the world – and we want to help every child discover and nurture the creator within themselves. Children are innately creative, curious and altruistic yet too often these characteristics are lost in traditional school settings. We’re excited to create an environment where the magic and joy of childhood thrives and helps to cultivate the creative, entrepreneurial spirit within every child.
Q: Please tell us about the schools philosophy and the awesome curriculum (I love that you offer yoga and meditation)
A: At WeGrow we believe that you go to school to evolve as a human just as much as you to do expand your intellect. Our goal is to create conscious global citizens, who know who they are, understand their gifts, and approach life with wonder, joy, humility, and a profound desire to share.
We draw from progressive pedagogies such as Montessori, Bank Street, and Reggio Emilia to personalize curriculum around children’s passions, needs and aptitudes. But ultimately, we aim to take learning out of the textbook and classroom. We bring our students to a farm once a week to cultivate a deep love and appreciation for nature. While they learn how to plant seeds and harvest crops, they are expanding their understanding of science and math at the same time. We use the WeWork community as our classroom. With more than 200,000 creators, leaders, and specialists across the world, students have access to an amazing network of mentors who encourage our children to pursue their passions creatively through mentorships catering to their interests and superpowers.
Q: What makes WeGrow stand out from other schools in New York Cit
A: There are five things that make WeGrow stand out from any other school: our weekly connection to nature at our supernature labs, an emphasis on creating a culture of kindness, a curriculum that is centered around the spirit as much as the mind, access to the WeWork community, and plans for a global expansion that will allow families to live an international life and for students to use the whole planet as a classroom.
In particular, the WeWork community is one of the most unique aspects of WeGrow. Each student at WeGrow has access to WeWork’s global community of more than 200,000 creators and entrepreneurs. Until now it has been nearly impossible to have this many specialists in one school. So whether a child is interested in fashion, engineering, or coding and tech, he or she will be paired with WeWork members and employees as mentors who can bring their passions to life.
Q: What grades will you be enrolling to begin with?
A: For the 2018-19 school year we are accepting applications for ages 3 through fourth grade.
Q: How many children will there be in a grade?
A: In our first year, each class will be composed of 15 students with 2 co-lead teachers.
Q: Any additional information that you would like to share with our #divamomblog readers about the new wonderful school?
A: Just as much as we are rethinking the traditional approach to education, at WeGrow we are also rethinking the entire school experience and what that looks like in terms of our physical spaces. We’ve worked with Bjarke Ingles Group (BIG) to create an inspiring and collective space where children can feel like they are part of a meaningful community.
Many parents are passionate about their kids being raised as free thinkers who are able to advocate for themselves. But in order to do that we need to change from the traditional classroom model of a teacher standing in the front of the room speaking at our children to an engaging environment that establishes self-confidence and mutual respect. For that reason we worked with BIG to create a school universe at the level of the child. The space will include modular classrooms for smaller group instruction as well as climbing walls and acoustic clouds where children can explore their curiosity and energy. Kids need to be able to move their bodies regularly throughout the day, so we are creating opportunities for this as well as moments to connect with nature even while indoors.
Q: What is the best way for #divamoms to get in touch with the school about setting up tours? Please include email and phone
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