Join our regenerating community that learns & teaches life to make real impact
For Kids, Parents, Teachers & Makers: Sep ‘21 Utrecht
Empowering children of today to be the change makers of tomorrow.
Learning by living
It’s not about what we learn, but how we learn. We are a community of life-learning individuals where solution thinkers, creative entrepreneurs and sustainable changemakers work together to create a thriving future for themselves, others and the world.
Adapt to the now
We continuously challenge and reinvent the way we learn, teach and grow by adapting to today’s world. Our future starts now and it is up to us to shape our lives in it.
The child at the center
At NOW school children have ownership over their learning journey and freedom to be curious. As entrepreneurs the children are guided by our educators and by life. This way they develop their unique outlook on life
Authentic & engaging educators
As an educator you have the freedom to design engaging learning experiences and bring them to life with great purpose. Educators are our heroes and we expect you to inspire through your own authenticity.
Sustainable playground
The world is our classroom and playing is the highest form of research. It’s not just the children who learn, we all learn together. Through real life learning we connect to ourselves, others and all thats out there.
Together with our community of kids, parents, teachers and partners we go through certain phases as we buildup and continuously develop NOW School.
- 01
Foundation
First, we formed an amazing team of volunteers making everything happen that you can see today. We develop what we stand for, our values, vision and mission. We build our business and financial plan so to document what we aim to achieve, how and when. In this way we can ask for members of our cooperation to join and trust NOW.
- We are here 📌02
Community
The foundation allows us to connect with children, parents, teachers, partners, everyone who feels connected with what we stand for. Together we will realize NOW School. We will fund parts of the project with the crowd.
- 03
Ideation
In the ideation phase we design the curriculum together with kids, parents, teachers and other creatives. We further develop valuable partnerships for the location, curriculum and programs, … let’s not restrain ourselves.
- 04
Learning
We aim to open our doors between around September 2021.
Follow our steps
Where our journey started
In 2016, our Co-initiator visited the Green School Bali. She was so amazed by the way there were learning. ’The school breaths sustainability and social interaction, I could just feel it everywhere around me, how special this school is.’ Teaching kids to become Green leaders and be part of the solution instead of the world wide problems. ’I spoke to a dad how had 2 kids in Green school, he told me that even during the weekend his kids want to go to school because they truly enjoy it, this is what school should be about.’
Once back in the Netherlands she asked herself ’How can I make an impact in my own local community?’ and she decided to start a school where Education for Sustainability would be at the core.
’My first action was to post a message on Linkedin, to see if I would get some responses from people that wanted to help me start this school.’ In just a few weeks, she got over 100 responses and decided to organize a meet- up to brainstorm on this idea. Teachers, parents, and businesses joined forces brainstorm and shape the idea for a school.
Every journey starts with the belief that it’s possible. Juliette was so dedicated to make this work, that over the last two years she is dedicating her time, money and energy into this project besides her branding & design business.
’I have such a strong belief that it’s so important to educate in such a way that children become empowered to make real change, so I know deep in my heart that this is what I have to do.’
Nudge Global Impact Challenge
Our Co-initiator Juliette was selected as a WildCard participant during the Nudge Global impact challenge. To work on our impact plan.
Nudge is a unique learning experience for future leaders who want to make a global difference Nudge has combined leadership, sustainability and impact creation in an eight- month development program, inviting young professionals to realize their very own sustainability impact plan. Their aim is to provide change - makers with the knowledge, inspiration, and skills to become a force for change.
Green School becomes NOWschool
Over the last two years, we have been researching a potential collaboration between Green School and our team in the Netherlands.
We believe in collaboration, and we believe in the Green School concept. The Global Support team offered us to join forces and help us to start a Green School. To start a GS in the Netherlands it would take us about 2 years and 15 million euros just to build the school. As a team, we struggled with this "high end" school concept, because we believe it would be more sustainable if the money would be spent locally in order to make real change within the community.
Besides, we realized along the process that we were not just inspired by Green School, but many other schools as well. So we partnered up with a the amazing "green school inspired" - Real School in Budapest. They have a beautiful concept where everything they develop, from curriculum to vision, is available for other(new) school to learn from. We are exchanging what every we can and think is valuable in the process to see what we can learn from one another.
This journey is a learning experience for all of us.
We are starting NOW
The world is changing and so are we. Over the last two years we have developed an unconventional perspective on learning. To start such a school, you need to be out of the ordinary. At the same time, we trust that together we will create the proper environment. Help us make NOW a reality.
Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Become a #changemaker and support NOW school.
Why NOW?
The education system expects children to learn and adapt, while the system itself hasn’t it hasn’t been challenged to learn or adapt since the industrial revolution. We asked ourselves, how can we transition from a linear economy-driven system to an adaptive learning ecosystem that is future-proof and solution-based? How can we, as a community of learners, continually question, what is school for?
What is school for?
Prince EAThe education system expects children to learn and adapt, while the system itself hasn’t the system hasn’t been challenged to learn or adapt since the industrial revolution. We asked ourselves. What is school for?
NOW school is a new, English-taught, K-12 international school in Utrecht, the Netherlands. We aim for the school to open it’s doors in September 2021.
Support usHOW we teach tells more than what we teach
We structure learning around how the students approach certain materials, and what competencies and skills that material might address. We call these structures Learning Forms. They are flexible, adaptable and embody a diversity of learning styles. No more forced curricula. No more one size fits all.
Community
A time dedicated to building relationships and social-emotional engagement through games, songs, rituals and talking.
Foundations
Working through maths, building stronger writing skills, discuss latest readings, and get exposed to key concepts of science.
Our World
A wholly integrated learning experience giving exposure to what our world has to offer: nature, people and cultures.
Excursions
Learning happens everywhere. So each week we spend a day out in nature or in the city, exploring and getting our hands dirty.
Entrepreneurship
Real life project work for 21st century skills development, following consistent design processes with a real impact.
Extensions
Opportunity to continue project work, or join a language class, arts and music courses, game clubs or sports.
Old School vs. NOW School
Purpose
Old SchoolPreparing for post-secondary education or employment - for individual prosperity
NOW SchoolLiving a purposeful and fulfilling life -for collective prosperity
Goal
Old SchoolBuilding a knowledge base; knowing the right answers
NOW SchoolDeveloping competencies, values, knowledge and motivation to change the world, while learning about and being in harmony with self
Learning process
Old SchoolKnowledge is absorbed through lectures, worksheets, text
NOW SchoolDevelopment happens through real life projects, community-involved, entrepreneurial learning
Pathway
Old SchoolLinear, school centred, one size fits all, with few pathways
NOW SchoolDivergent, differentiated, with many pathways
Content
Old SchoolDisciplines are separated into subjects, delivered in a scope & sequence
NOW SchoolContent is integrated, inquiry-driven, derived from the real world and local context
Teachers
Old SchoolTeachers are experts, authoritative approach, transfer of knowledge
NOW SchoolTeachers and community members are collaborators and facilitators, democratic, seeking knowledge and making change together
Learners
Old SchoolStudents learn, receive and follow instructions, organised by birth year
NOW SchoolCommunity learns and acts, organised by interests
Environment
Old SchoolIndoor classrooms, static, desks organised by rows, canteen food
NOW SchoolIntegrated with the natural environment, sustainable materials and practices, quality food, the world as your classroom
Time
Old SchoolStructured timetables, short periods of study
NOW SchoolFlexible timetables, long blocks of projects and cross-curricular study
Assessment & Reporting
Old SchoolTesting for knowledge and skill development; reports as grades
NOW SchoolOngoing feedback and self-reflection for skill, knowledge and social-emotional development; reports as narrative
Measure of success
Old SchoolUniversity or college entrance through grades and test-scores; get a good job
NOW SchoolActions to make our world a better place; university or college entrance through portfolio; create great jobs
Why we do what we do?
We believe that education for sustainability is fundamental for real change. We understand that we are the creators of our problems. And so we can rethink the way we live and be part of the solution. It all starts with education and enabling children to be who they truly are. That motivates us every day. We live and lead the change we love to see in this world.
