About Us
Our Vision
Sun School Bali strives to be an inspiring, innovative model of education that supports a global shift in the perception of education – away from plain academia and mind-based evaluation to an integrative + cultural approach of learning that puts emotional intelligence at the forefront, encompasses the wholeness of being human, for a world that considers leading from a sense of feeling and embodied presence, and to create the changemakers of tomorrow.
From Children of the Sun to Sun School Bali
Our Ubud School ‘Children of the Sun’ was founded in 2019 and started out in a small villa in the rice fields of Katik Lantang, Ubud; to offer education to the children of our expat community that had been shaping up over the course of previous years. As our school flourished and grew we moved to the premises of the Alchemy Academy Cooking School which enabled us to cater for more children as the space was larger, we found ourselves blessed with more space. We were fortunate to bring on more staff, introduce extracurricular classes. This move humbly provided us with the essential elements that a bigger school needed to grow and thrive.
As we enter 2024 our dream of our own uniquely designed school environment is now coming to fruition. Our growth in recent years has fueled our decision to move to a larger and more dynamic campus in Kaba Kaba, allowing us the opportunity to offer a broader spectrum of classes and educational experiences to our students. Our excitement for the environment we have cultivated, from using earth bags and bamboo for our physical structures, to our immersion into nature by building around the existing trees and natural elements, brings us much pride. Knowing that our actions speak louder than words when it comes to sustainability and the gift that this embodiment brings at shaping the values of young impressionable minds. We weave intention from start to finish, always coming back to our why to inform our decisions. Our “Why” comes from the roots of our philosophies, aiming to always return to our desire as educators to inspire the connection back into harmony with people, nature and spirit, Tri Hita Karana teaching.
Kaba-Kaba, a small village outside of Canggu, is where Sun School Bali will find its new home. The land is located amongst beautiful jungle and rice fields, with a small river running through it, offering abundance, peace, tranquility and the opportunity to deeply connect to nature. This natural setting is an integral part of our evolving curriculum and the vision we uphold.
Moving to a larger campus in Kaba Kaba signifies not just physical expansion, but also a commitment to fostering a more comprehensive and inclusive educational environment. It allows us to accommodate more students and educators, while also enabling us to refine and offer a broader range of courses and activities that cater to various interests, talents, and developmental needs.
This step forward holds our dedication to providing an exceptional educational experience that empowers our students to explore, grow, and thrive in a nurturing and supportive environment.
Our school will run under the name of ‘Sun School Bali’ as it has been re-named by our very own students, our Children of the Sun.
Our Mission
Sun School Bali stands for an approach of education that nurtures the child in its wholeness, by putting emotional, social, kinaesthetic and ecological intelligence to the frontline of our curriculum, with the intention to create a community of passionate, respectful and inspiring change makers preparing them to navigate the complexities of the world, for a kinder and more hopeful tomorrow. What sets us apart is our deep connection with the natural world that envelops us, including plants, animals, and the elements of nature. We educate for change, agency, empowerment, imagination, compassion and mutual understanding and pursue an approach to education that is inclusive, passionate, nature-based, experiential and collaborative.
Our Approach
Sun School Bali nurtures the growth of creative, warm-hearted, resilient and courageous individuals who are able to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world through love in action. We focus on the development of the whole human being supported by a conscious connection to nature, land and each other.
We believe in the innate wisdom of a child and its wholeness. Sun School Bali is a place that encompasses all forms of intelligence. Emotional intelligence – the knowledge and experience of embodying emotion – and having emotional agency,– the ability for choice and action based on our emotional understanding – form the core of our approach to education.
Our educational approach is centered around providing an all-inclusive, nature-filled learning experience that prioritizes environmental consciousness and sustainability. We believe in fostering a holistic foundation for our students, involving essential subjects such as mathematics, language arts, science, and the arts.
What sets our approach apart is our deep connection with the natural world that envelops us, including plants, animals, and the elements of nature.
Our teaching philosophy is rooted in inquiry-based and experiential methods, empowering students to not just learn but also understand and apply their knowledge. Through this approach, we aim to cultivate a strong foundation for their future endeavors, preparing them to navigate the complexities of the world.
At Sun School Bali, we nurture a profound appreciation for our surroundings and prioritize individual growth through an educational model that is all-inclusive, experiential, and globally minded. Our emphasis on nature-based learning harnesses the natural beauty and abundance of our environment to ignite curiosity, foster collaboration, and inspire creativity in our students.
We firmly believe that to maintain a thriving school and community, each child must receive personalized attention and support. This personalized approach allows them to explore and develop their creativity, nurture their unique identity, and unlock their full potential.
At Sun School Bali, we are committed to creating an educational journey that is not only enriching but also deeply rooted in nature and sustainability, setting the stage for our students to thrive as compassionate and responsible global citizens.
Our approach and all our choices and actions connect back to the Balinese principle of Tri Hita Karana, to the concept of sustainability and the principles of the Waldorf educational system.
Philosophy
I. Tri Hita Karana
"Tri Hita Karana" is a Balinese philosophy that en-compasses three principles of harmony and balance in life. It is a guiding philosophy that influences various aspects of Balinese life, culture, and spirituality + translates to "three causes of well-being : to live in harmony with spirit (divinity), among people (humanity) and nature.
II. Inspired by Waldorf
The principles of Waldorf education evolve from an understanding of human development that address the needs of the growing child, in particular their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth —through creative, experiential + collaborative learning.
III. Symbol of the Sun
The sun is a powerful + multi-faceted symbol with various meanings across cultures. In its essence, the sun represents the center + the heart around which all of life circulates. The sun is the element that brings every- thing to light + life. It is the source of aliveness. Sun School Bali is a place that keeps children in their full aliveness.
IV. Sustainability
Sustainability as the core of our educational philosophy encompasses a variety of interconnected practices aimed at creating a harmonious balance between environmental, social & human considerations. Our commitment to sustainability creates a nurturing environment that fosters lifelong learning and deepens our students' connection to the natural world.