about
About Us
Silver Willow Cottage School started off as a homeschool support initiative and is slowly evolving into a small, Waldorf-inspired cottage school right in the heart of the beautiful country village of Greyton, South Africa. As a small school we can be guided and inspired by the Steiner-Waldorf philosophy of education, while still incorporating the beauty and diversity of our particular context and time.
What we love doing is:
Silver Willow Cottage School started off as a homeschool support initiative and is slowly evolving into a small, Waldorf-inspired cottage school right in the heart of the beautiful country village of Greyton, South Africa. As a small school we can be guided and inspired by the Steiner-Waldorf philosophy of education, while still incorporating the beauty and diversity of our particular context and time.
What we love doing is:
- Connecting nature directly to the classroom
- Observing and spending time in the garden
- Enjoying seasonal celebrations and festivals
- Working with our hands to create things of beauty and use.
- Being artistic and creative in everything
- Integrating our core values into our daily activities and learning
- Giving a particular focus on gratitude, love and responsibility
- Cultivating interpersonal skills like kindness, sharing, empathy and compassion.
- Nurturing Imagination through stories, songs, verses, which are all integrated into our learning and throughout the Waldorf curriculum.
Silver Willow
Salix mucronata (commonly called the Cape silver willow or Safsaf willow) is a tall, graceful, evergreen willow tree. Naturally found in a riverine habitat, the tree is widely distributed in South Africa, growing along stream and riverbanks and is used for a wide range of traditional medicines.
The Willow symbolises: Nature, fertility, life, balance, learning, harmony – just a few of many of the words that symbolise the beautiful willow. Its wood has been used in ceremonies honouring the enhancement of mental ability.
History of the Symbolism of the Willow Tree
The willow tree has a long history of symbolism rooted in spirituality and cultural traditions. There are references to the willow tree in Celtic and Christian tradition, among others. One of the most valuable traits of the willow tree is its flexibility. The willow tree is one of the few trees that is capable of bending in outrageous poses without snapping. This can be a powerful metaphor for those of us seeking recovery or a spiritual path. The message of the willow tree is to adjust with life, rather than fighting it, surrendering to the process. "the willow tree represents the strength, stability, and structure of the trunk, standing firm and withstanding the greatest of challenges. The branches are flexible and strong, bending without breaking. The leaves represent the balance, harmony, and growth we experience through these storms and life challenges. The willow tree gives us hope, a sense of belonging, and safety."
http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/plants/salicaceae/salix_mucronata.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salix_mucronata
Salix mucronata (commonly called the Cape silver willow or Safsaf willow) is a tall, graceful, evergreen willow tree. Naturally found in a riverine habitat, the tree is widely distributed in South Africa, growing along stream and riverbanks and is used for a wide range of traditional medicines.
The Willow symbolises: Nature, fertility, life, balance, learning, harmony – just a few of many of the words that symbolise the beautiful willow. Its wood has been used in ceremonies honouring the enhancement of mental ability.
History of the Symbolism of the Willow Tree
The willow tree has a long history of symbolism rooted in spirituality and cultural traditions. There are references to the willow tree in Celtic and Christian tradition, among others. One of the most valuable traits of the willow tree is its flexibility. The willow tree is one of the few trees that is capable of bending in outrageous poses without snapping. This can be a powerful metaphor for those of us seeking recovery or a spiritual path. The message of the willow tree is to adjust with life, rather than fighting it, surrendering to the process. "the willow tree represents the strength, stability, and structure of the trunk, standing firm and withstanding the greatest of challenges. The branches are flexible and strong, bending without breaking. The leaves represent the balance, harmony, and growth we experience through these storms and life challenges. The willow tree gives us hope, a sense of belonging, and safety."
http://www.biodiversityexplorer.info/plants/salicaceae/salix_mucronata.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salix_mucronata
Mission
Our educational approach guides us to:
Our educational approach guides us to:
- understand and work with Steiner's indications in our curriculum design and content choices
- cultivate an ethos of gratitude, love and responsibility
- nurture children according to their individual potential in a joyful, kind and compassionate way
- create a learning environment that will encourage imagination, creativity, resilience, empathy, innovation, balance and responsibility
- create and celebrate a culture of diversity, inclusivity, and community
- Value and recognise that all life forms are sacred, interdependent and of value
Policies
Parent participation
We value the participation and input of all parents as parents are an essential part of the growth and development of the school. There are different roles and responsibilities that parents can take on according to strengths, talents and interests.
Food
Children are encouraged to bring healthy, fresh, nutritious lunches to school. No processed food, drinks or treats.
Dress
Hats are essential summer wear. Coats and wellies for winter. Clothes must be neat and comfortable.
Technology and Social Media
Silver Willow Cottage School is a media-free environment, where children are not allowed cell phones, Smartwatches, i-Pads, computers, etc.
Absences
The school accepts absences due to illness, all other planned absences should be arranged with the teacher.
Eco-friendly
Following the Greyton Transition Town Initiative, Silver Willow Cottage School supports environment-friendly initiatives and strives to limit the use of single-use plastics, straws, food packaging, etc.
Parent participation
We value the participation and input of all parents as parents are an essential part of the growth and development of the school. There are different roles and responsibilities that parents can take on according to strengths, talents and interests.
Food
Children are encouraged to bring healthy, fresh, nutritious lunches to school. No processed food, drinks or treats.
Dress
Hats are essential summer wear. Coats and wellies for winter. Clothes must be neat and comfortable.
Technology and Social Media
Silver Willow Cottage School is a media-free environment, where children are not allowed cell phones, Smartwatches, i-Pads, computers, etc.
Absences
The school accepts absences due to illness, all other planned absences should be arranged with the teacher.
Eco-friendly
Following the Greyton Transition Town Initiative, Silver Willow Cottage School supports environment-friendly initiatives and strives to limit the use of single-use plastics, straws, food packaging, etc.
Registration
We are registered with the Pestalozzi Trust https://pestalozzi.org/en/home/ . This allows us the freedom and security to develop and organise our little school and curriculum to suit our needs and context.
We are registered with the Pestalozzi Trust https://pestalozzi.org/en/home/ . This allows us the freedom and security to develop and organise our little school and curriculum to suit our needs and context.
"Receive the child in reverence, educate in love, send forth in freedom." Rudolf Steiner