Generating Love. Feeling Attached. Leading

Bamboo News
The international newsletter of Green School, Bali. Jan/Feb 2014 edition
Change Catalyst.
Generating Love.
Feeling Attached.
Green School co-founder,
John Hardy, still passionate
about making a difference.
Michael Franti - SoulShine:
A new festive movement in
music at Green School, Bali.
Importance of attachment
from journo, mum & believer:
Sophie Moeller,
The Wallace Line.
Leading Learning.
Letting Go.
British comedian Bill Bailey,
stands tall to correct the
“Theory of Evolution”.
Leading the next learning
revolution, John Stewart, the
new Head of School.
Green School co-founder,
Cynthia Hardy, contemplates
letting go to see things grow.
Phone: +62 361 469 875 | W: www.greenschool.org | admissions: www.greenschool.org/admissions/
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Spread the Word.
Mother & Board member,
Nadya Hutagalung committed
to the cause.
Other Articles.
• The Kul Kul connection
• Leadership in Asia - our new
Chairman for Green School.
• Local Focus - Documenting the culture with Mei yayasan
• Bio-diversity - a Bali blessing.
• Green Camp - your chance to
join us for short-stay learning.
• Join our staff - be inspired!
co-Founder’s Note: Give Kiss Leave.
Thousands of you have come
to Green School, fell in love
with it and donated money to
the Balinese scholarship fund
$100 - $1,000. This has been
hugely appreciated by the
Balinese kids that get to go to
the school and their families.
Thank you for your support.
We need to somehow keep you giving,
as the kids keep going to school here.
It's really a noble cause; I believe we're
making tomorrow's green leaders not
just for Bali but for the world and we are
one of the few international-type schools
in the world that actually has a dream
of having 20% scholarship kids in the
school.
The school is local and the only way
you make it local is having Balinese
kids in the classes and those kids give
back so much because they often act as
interpreters of Balinese culture, certainly
translators. It's an amazing system.
We have your names. We're going to
be reaching out to you to continue your
support of the Balinese scholarship
fund. I think we’ll probably adopt the
star system: if you donated you're on a
the bamboo pole in Heart of School. If
you donate again, we'll add a star to you,
every year that you continue to help the
Balinese scholarship fund.
The Kul Kul Connection:
How people of different
cultures can co-exist on one
planet.
At Green School the connection we
have to the local Sibang Community
informs our wider philosophy about
the world beyond. We call this the Kul
Kul Connection. This unity between the
international and local communities is a
fundamental part of being 'green.'
The Kul Kul connection promotes mulitlingualism and cross-cultural understanding
by encouraging play between locals and
expatriates. If our local village of Sibang can
see us as an asset to their community, we
will then be able to hold our heads high as a
school with a message:
one people can co-exist on
one planet within shared
environments.
Bamboo News will be highlighting many Kul
Kul connection projects over 2014.
Race to 300 - Learning Bahasa
Indonesia is a feature of being a
part of this special community.
The Green School Race To 300 Language
Project is now underway with the help of the
school’s Indonesian Language teacher, Pak
Soma, offering the community, including
parents and teachers, a fast and fun way to
build fundamental communication skills in
Bahasa Indonesian.
One of Pak Soma’s efforts has already been
conducting Indonesian lessons for the school
community. The support is in the following
parent report:
“An enthusiastic and passionate small
group of parents started Pak Soma’s Bahasa
Indonesia classes in November last year. We
have just finished our final lesson and report
that Pak Soma achieved a high distinction for
his teaching.
All round it was a great learning experience
and so much fun. We look forward to the
Race to 300 Language project and are all
signing up for the next block of Indonesian
lessons.”
Thanks Pak Soma.
Green School offers full-tuition relief for Indonesian students because of your generosity
by Claudia Esau,
mother of Louis Robinson, Year 9
Michael Franti’s Soulshine Snapshot.
The Soulshine Festival
organisers and sponsors,
Green School and the Bumis
Sehat Foundation are very
pleased to announce the
success of The Soulshine
Festival’s debut in Bali in
December of 2013.
The inaugural event in the Bali calendar
more than paid for itself, and planning
has already begun for Soulshine 2014.
Over the two days 1600 people came
through the Green School campus on
January 27 & 28, the music rocked,
speakers from around the world
gathered in front of audiences of all
ages, and workshops took place in over
10 locations. Twenty vendors offered
crafts, clothes, jewellery, homeware, and
services and 12 NGOs offered lots of
helpful tips on how to get involved and
care for environment.
A huge variety of food was available,
including a very successful burrito stand
by Green School students and parent
community, and the recycled fashions
brought innovation and colour to the
stage.
Over 180 volunteers helped to make
the event a super-fun fundraiser for
the Green School’s Local Scholarship
program and Bumi Sehat Birthing
Centers.
But there was no doubt in anybody’s
mind as to where much of the thanks lay.
Michael Franti opened both days of the
festival playing live music while yogis,
Les and Angela Perez, led a gymnasium
full of people in hour long yoga sessions,
ending with impromptu dance parties
each day! Many other great bands,
including our very own Nasi Campur,
Nahko and Friends and Jim Larkin & The
Saucy Soul Band helped raise community
spirits, fulfilling Franti’s dream to create
a festival that would “educate, enlighten,
and inspire.”
“The Soulshine Festival is about
coming together to celebrate
life—the life of our planet—and
the power we all have to make a
difference,” says Franti.
It was about two days of family-friendly
music and inspiring environmental
activities in one of the most stunning
locations in Bali, the amazing Green
School,” he says.
“The Soulshine Festival is for the benefit
of Bumi Sehat Natural Birthing Clinics,
which is working to save lives of mothers
and children in Indonesia. We will also
benefit the Green School’s Indonesian
scholarship program, which offers free
education to local children.”
In Franti’s final performance of the
weekend, the audience joined in on a
rousing and intimate rendition of his
visionary classic: 11.59 and 59 seconds.
His message: we need to change
thinking, our thinking, now before the
world passes the point of no return.
Bumi Sehat Natural Birthing Clinic
Founder, Ibu Robin, told the audience
of her work in the Philippines helping
the 1.9 million who are now homeless as
a result of Typhoon Haiyan, which hit
Boho/Cebu on October 15 last year.
The foundation has been organizing
food for 300/400 people a day in between
the births of babies. She spoke of the
babies who were due over the Soulshine
weekend who had benefitted from the
Bumi Sehat clinics.
Ibu Robin told the audience of her work helping 1.9 million people in the Philippines
To make donations to The Bumi
Sehat Foundation or the Green School
Scholarship fund please go to:www.
bumisehatfoundation.org and http://www.
greenschool.org/contribute/contributesponsor-a-student/
Franti: Change our thinking now before the world passes the point of no return.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ksbARzHU0g&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ksbARzHU0g&feature=youtu.be
A
ttachment, le tti ng
go and the b e ne fi ts
of enviro nme nt.
by Sohie Moeller
I deliberately chose December
28 as the day we would
introduce our family to Green
School. Given the choice,
why wouldn’t you come on
a day dedicated to making
your “Soulshine”? And where
else would we get so close-up
and personal to one the most
inspirational artists performing
on the planet today?
We have spent many a Byron Bay Blues
Festival “deserving” Michael Franti’s
music back in Australia. We couldn’t
believe he was to be performing at the
place soon to be at the centre of OUR
universe. Alas, it was not with shiny souls
that we exited the car on that first day.
Truth is, we were exhausted, adjusting to
the heat, and grumpy from all of those
things that happen, or don’t happen, when
you first come to the tropics: the ground
beneath you shifts like the roads after a
Balinese storm.
Underlying this, we were all grieving the
imminent departure of Katie, our 18 year
old and eldest of four Stewart children,
who in a few days was about to board a
plane to London to be separated from
the family for over a year. It didn’t take
long though. As we parked ourselves on
the lawn, what we are now coming to
realise happens at Green School started
happening... the shoes came off, we let
a long breath out and our hearts started
moving to the beat.
By the time Franti came on, we were
rocking out with the community as if
the world was ‘gonna end at 11:59 and 59
seconds.’
But it was: “I’ve Got Love for You” with
the lyrics “In the back of a Greyhound
bus, it’ll take you far,’ that touched our
family the most. The song was written
after Franti farewelled his own son, Cappy,
at the age of 18. Both Cappy, now 26 and
younger brother, Ade, 14, just happened to
be in the audience that night.
Katie and I looked over at each other; we
were moved to tears.
“In the back of a Greyhound Bus, you can
be who you are
I remember the time back when we was
home
In and out, up and down, in this life, what
a crazy road
It’s been a long time that I shoulda said
what I tell now
That I got faith in you and I believe in you
And I say
La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la la
And I’ve got love for you, love for you,
love for you.”
Three days later, I watched Katie
disappear through immigration at Changi
airport in Singapore. Wow! “We are
actually letting go,” I thought to myself.
On the plane back to Denpasar, I was
reminded of Paul Tough’s book, How
Children Succeed, and gave myself a pat
on the back. The stress of the past few
months had offered many moments of
mother-guilt but for her to spread her
wings like that, according to Tough, we
must have done something right.
The premise behind Tough’s book
might be simple but that doesn’t mean
it is easy. He speaks of how the love and
attention and nurturing of small children
actually shapes their future character.
More attachment early, especially with
the mother, means greater physical and
emotional resilience resulting in the
confidence to spread wings.
He speaks of experiments done on rats in
which the pups, who had been “licked and
groomed” most by their dams, showed
fewer signs of stress. The less nervous
pups ventured further from their mother’s
sphere, ate more, defended themselves
better and survived longer.
I thought of Franti’s impression when he
first visited John and Cynthia’s jewellery
factory. He spoke of the need for a caring
planet and told the Soulshine audience
of how touched he’d been to see all the
workers eating together, sharing food
grown from within the factory’s grounds.
It has now been a week since my husband,
John Stewart, took on the new role as
Head of School at Green School and we
took the mammoth step of moving the
family from clean, safe, isolated and
organised Australia. But I can see our new
life in Bali - irrepressible, smiling, devout
and humid - is going to offer a whole
other layer.
Most important of all, though, everywhere
at Green School, I see visions of love and
attachment in a beautiful environment.
This is, indeed, a place where children’s
souls can shine.
I didn’t necessarily know I was musical at
a young age, but she did.
She played piano and other instruments,
but I always thought basketball was my
thing. But when I went to university and
played basketball, the court was above
the college radio station and I caught
the bug listening to the base coming up
from the studio.
Michael Franti talks to Green
School about the influence his
Mom had on him and how this
allowed him to let go of his
own son, Cappy, at 18 - to be
the person “you wanna be”.
“I was adopted, so I was let go by my
birth mother. She had to trust in the
universe that the circumstances she was
letting me go to were better than she
could provide.
So in the Franti Family, into which I
was adopted, there were four kids two blonde haired blue-eyed kids and
two Afro-American (me and my other
brother).
My mom was Finnish. She always said
that her job was to give us wings so when
we left home we would be free to fly. She
gave us the moral compass to go in our
own direction.
She treated us all the same, gave us the
same opportunities, but we were not
required to be the same. We were allowed
to be our own people.
Cappy - my son - graduated high school
and I cried and was happy for him mainly because I was excited he wouldn’t
have to do all that homework anymore
- but when he set off it was fear I was
feeling. Was he going to be all right?
He’d always been adventurous and a risk
taker. I’d seen what can happen when
you are fuelled with passion in a party
situation - you can take extreme risks.
But I knew it was right for him to leave
on that Greyhound bus and make his
way. I was happy for him. He’s turned out
great.
A friend in Australia once told me
you have to tell your kids that no
matter what happens – “they will
be all right.” No matter, they will
be okay and you will be there to
support them.
You need to constantly reinforce that....
even when you do not always believe it.
You will always be there for support and
reassurance and they can come to you
and you will never say I told you so!”
Both of Franti’s sons, Cappy, 26, and Ade,
14, were in the audience at Soulshine.
Quotes to Note:
“Yeah, it’s caring here,” he said,
“compared to my last schools. I can
already tell I’m gonna fit in.”
- Kiran new Year 7 student
“We can provide the best education
and support and open their minds
to the realities of the world but, at a
certain point, you have to let go and
realise they are their own person,”
- Nadya Hutagalung
“There are kids connected in boxes
all over the world learning about
sustainability. At Green School our
kids are living in sustainability – it’s
real!”
-John Hardy, co-founder
“She treated us all the same, gave us
the same opportunities, but we were
not required to be the same. We
were allowed to be our own people.”
- Michael Franti
The power of a teacher’s
influence is clear in British
Comedian Bill Bailey’s
outlook. He reflects on his
own education:
I was very fortunate to have a couple
of teachers at my school who left a
lasting impression on me. One was an
English teacher, who inspired me to
delve deeper into books, to look for
meaning and insight, and the other
was my great mentor, Lynda, my
piano and music teacher.
Nadya Hutagalung is member
of the Green School Board.
A long time environmental
activist she is also a WWF
ambassador for Indonesia
and Singapore and is a Global
ambassador for Earth Hour
and has been ambassador for
the last 6 years.
Attachment and letting go are important
keys of a Buddhist philosophy, one
which has without doubt helped in our
parenting. As parents we have a great
attachment to turning our children into
what we see as our ideal. We can provide
the best education and support and open
their minds to the realities of the world
but, at a certain point, you have to let go
and realise they are their own person, with
their own set of life lessons to learn, of
which many come from outside the home.
2013 saw Nadya spend a month in Africa
filming a documentary on the ivory
trade, which is now being driven mostly
by new wealth in Asia. Let Elephants
Be Elephants is a regional campaign
co-founded by Nadya and Dr Tammie
Matson to be launched in April of 2014.
There comes a time for us to let go of our
attachments to being the perfect parent
and creating the perfect child, for them to
stand on their own two feet while we stand
back and provide the moral support they
need to be allowed the freedom to fail,
learn, get up and try again.
She had such passion for the subject,
I was swept along by her enthusiasm.
She encouraged me to test myself, to
challenge my own abilities.
In the context of school, this meant
performing a piano concerto as
part of a public recital, something I
would never have done without her
encouragement. It turned out fine and
gave me great confidence.
But this had a lasting impact on
me, because it taught me to always
go beyond what you think you can
achieve, to push your limits, not
accept ‘This is all I can do’.
Lynda is sadly no longer with us,
but every time I step out onto a huge
arena stage to entertain thousands of
people, I think of her.
hero in the discovery of the theory of
Evolution.
As part of that mission, the children of
Green School were lucky enough to have
Bill Bailey come and present his BBC
documentary, Bill’s Jungle Hero. The
children sat transfixed as they learned
about the life of the British naturalist,
explorer, geographer, anthropologist and
biologist.
The documentay talks about the
extensive fieldwork Wallace did, first in
the Amazon River basin and then in the
Malay Archipelago, where he identified
the faunal divide now termed the
Wallace Line, between Bali and Lombok.
Bill Bailey talks to Green
School students about his
hero, Alfred Wallace, on
what just happened to be the
BBC comedian’s birthday.
The BBC comedian, Bill Bailey, and his
19th Century jungle hero, Alfred Russel
Wallace, have a lot in common. They
both share a deep love and fascination
for the natural world. In Baliey’s case this
love was fostered in him by his parents
as a child. For him, family time was
synonymous with time each day out in
nature, bird watching or searching for
water voles in the woods.
It is not surprising that Bill is on a
mission to expose the truth about
Wallace who he sees as the forgotten
The Wallace Line separates the
Indonesian archipelago into two distinct
parts: a western portion in which the
animals are largely of Asian origin,
and an eastern portion where the fauna
reflect Australasia and provides strong
proof to support the way in which
animals have adapted over time in order
to survive.
His paper was jointly published with
some of Charles Darwin’s writings in
1858. Darwin largely took the credit.
as he was the darling of the scientific
establishment back in England at the
time. Wallace, nonetheless, is considered
to be one of the first prominent scientists
to raise concerns over the environmental
impact of human activity on the planet.
Bill’s documentary ends at the British
Natural History Museum, where in front
of an audience of Wallace’s ancestors,
not to mention, Sir David Attenborough,
his portrait is restored to its rightful
place amongst the great environmental
anthropologists of our time.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/
p0160nxk
Bill’s connection to the Earth is
well-grounded. He says,
“I’ve always loved the outdoors,
when I was a kid I spent hours
playing by the river and the
woods near our house. My
parents would take me out into
the country, to walk through
woods, lanes, canalsides and
many of the the bird sanctuaries
where we lived, and I think all
this early exposure to wildlife
and countryside has given me a
lifelong love and appreciation of
the natural world. Now, as an
adult, I realize how precious it is
and how easily it can disappear.
The sound of wind in the trees,
running water, birdsong –
these are all natural, free and
good for the soul, yet we all
have to be vigilant to make
sure they’re not diminished, or
lost for good.”
we lose uniqueness. I have always
held to the belief it is the people who
are different who make a difference.
Differences are important.
There is a difference between a
teacher and a coach.
There is a difference between a
learner and a performer.
The new Head of School, Mr
John Stewart, discusses his
new position and the magic
of a truly progressive and
bespoke curriculum.
Starting at a new school is a time of
transition and emotion. I come to
Green School with great enthusiasm,
some trepidation and a desire to share
my 20 years of experience with our
community. I am inspired by the vision,
and I sincerely believe the world needs
more progressive models of education.
Globally, schools are becoming much
too similar, focusing on test results with
a narrow belief standardization is the
dipstick for testing excellence and the
pathway to success. It isn’t.
From my experience, more schools have
a “McDonald’s factor” – where you can
walk into a school and find the same
factory processed teaching and learning.
The issue I have with standardization is
we lose the individual; we lose culture;
There is a difference between a
leader and a follower.
As I mentioned in my welcoming
speech to new families (my own family
included) Green School is an incredible
place. Reflect that only five-and-a-half
years ago there was nothing here but
nature. There truly is no other school
like this on Earth – and expand this to
universe! Our first graduating class was
last June. And it speaks volumes of the
school, when we consider the university
places awarded to these alumni.
I was reading a fascinating article on
the admission process to Stanford. The
competition for a place has escalated
exponentially.
“It took 30 years for the number of
applications to double from 10 000
in the mid-1970s to 20 000 in 2005.
It took only seven years for the
number to nearly double again.”
admission, Richard Shaw:
He states that 69% of applicants over the
past five years with perfect SATs didn’t
get in, and goes on to outline…
“It’s a(n) holistic evaluation. Of
course academic credentials are
important, but we’re also looking
for evidence that this young
person has passion, that he or
she will bring something to our
community that is unique. We
want to hear a ‘voice’ – that’s a
critical component.”
What better positioning for our Green
School students’ future than to provide
an authentic holistic education like no
other. Many schools state they do, but
their definition stretches only as far as
a ‘broad’ educational offering, meaning
they have an extra-curricular program.
I see holistic as focused on five keys:
Self and Others, Broad Intelligence,
Multisensory, Experiential and
Purposeful. Linking these competencies
with the three-frames of learning and
the Big Four (a focus on intrapersonal,
physical, emotional/social/cultural and
intellectual) will develop this school’s
uniqueness.
Along with these pillars, Green School
links learning closely with sustainability
ideals, with the emphasis on experiences
- Ivan Maisel, 2013, Stanford. that develop “green” leadership.
The article goes on to make a very
interesting statement from the dean of
We all agree, this is a school that makes
a difference.
And, let’s be understanding, schools on
the whole are quite bizarre institutions.
Consider the following:
Where else are children grouped in
classes based on age cages, where one
day can be the difference between
enrolment in Kindergarten or Year One?
Where else do we have a continuum of
learning where if you don’t get it you
are told you didn’t but still pushed up
into the next academic year – and then
withdrawn from a subject to be given
extra support and, in the process, miss
the learning happening during that class
lesson!?
Where you can sit in a class and get
bored because you know the content but
you sit through it because that’s the class
you’re in.
And where else is everyone expected to
use the loo at the same time each day?
Green School dreams of much more
stemming from our educational offering.
One of my dreams for Green School
is to develop truly for each student
a personalized learning program. I
believe in capturing the students’ voice
and developing the attitudes that define
strength of character: confidence,
openness, resilience, excellence, passion,
patience, positivity, and persistence.
Like any toddler Green School has
grown past the teething stage. We are
now not only standing tall globally but
we are walking upright, too. Now is
the time for us to grow in confidence
with our academic and eco-friendly
programs, while holding true to the
core principles that drove our founders,
pioneer students, staff and parents to
establish this remarkable community.
The foundation for our future success
is forged on the positive relationships
we share with each other, focusing on
the remarkable growth of our children’s
wisdom from K-12.
My view is quite simplistic – because I
believe in keeping things simple:
We aim to have our learners
flourish (cognitively, emotionally,
socially, physically and culturally).
We strive to nurture nature.
We share to ensure our community
improves communities.
We hope for our children to find
callings – not jobs.
Wisdom comes from many sources.
Walking along the beach with my family
at Canggu, I noticed the following
graffiti:
• Watch your thoughts, for your
thoughts become your actions.
• Watch your actions, for your actions
become your habits.
• Watch your habits, for your habits
become your character,
And your character defines your destiny.
I look forward to establishing the
relationships over time based on the
trust, the understanding and the unity
that will nurture this school’s destiny.
Our Scholars keep their
Culture.
Indonesian child who can demonstrate
financial need and can satisfy certain
academic standards can apply to join our
Green School.
Our Graduating Scholar:
Gika on the road to success.
Some of the families actually work at
the school as gardeners, cleaning staff
and in other positions. Others come
from families pursuing "green" and
other small businesses here in Bali. All
have a commitment to their children's
education and to giving them the best
opportunities they can provide.
2014 Scholars learn the ancient
Warga Sari ceremony song as part
of the Indonesian teaching offered
by Green School on Monday
afternoons to supplement the local
scholars’ international education
with a traditional cultural
curriculum. The Warga Sari is
sung in honour of The Gods and is
one of the Balinese arts taught in
Indonesian Schools.
Supporting the local community is a
core Green School value. Our school's
founders established a goal that local
students would make up 20% of our
enrolment, as we believe they are a vital
part of our community. Because our
intention is to first serve our surrounding
community, each year we invite children
of local staff and faculty to apply to our
Local Scholar Program. However, every
The school asks that scholarship
families make a local contribution
to the school. For some, it may mean
sharing traditional artistic skills in
the classroom, for others coordinating
opportunities for exchange between their
community and Green School students
and for still others, it could mean
facilitating internships or other learning
opportunities for students pursuing a
local enterprise. The school is looking to
foster potential for Green Leadership in
the scholars who take part.
Because these children are an essential
part of our community, it is vital that
we raise the funds to help pay for their
tuition and fees. Here is how you can
help:
http://www.greenschool.
org/2011/05/19/amel-green-schoolscholarship/
It has now been over six months
since Gika Savitri graduated as one
of the first Green School scholars.
Bamboo News caught up with
Gika recently to find out how she
is faring in the big wide world
beyond Green School
Gika admits, from time to time, she still
has the “different planet” feeling she
had in her first year at Green School,
ironically nowadays, it has more to do
with realizing she needs to re-embrace
her Balinese heritage in order get the
most out of her Green School education.
“Green School was this magical time
in which everything sort of fell into my
lap and I felt like I could accomplish
anything,” says Gika, “and it has
definitely been an adjustment to realize
I am now responsible for what happens
next.”
“But I figure I am not alone as a
teenager, whatever nationality, in
thinking like this,” she says.
At the moment, Gika is working as a PA
at Odyssey Insitute and studying English
Literature in Udayana University in Bali,
but she's realised, just lately, it is time to
get back into her dancing. "That is who I
truly am," she says.
"I love my independence and my bike
and eventually I hope to use the contacts
I am building up to travel."
“It can sometimes feel lonely sitting
between two worlds,” she says, “and it
might take her a little more time to
achieve her goals than it would for the
ex-pat friends at Green School. Many of
those who graduated alongside her have
now returned to their countries of origin.
But, everything about Gika displays the
burning desire within her.
‘Green School gave me wings,’ she says,
“now I am gonna make them flap.”
An extract of a letter Gika sent
to university in her application
process after leaving Green School:
Imagine: a dancer from a solid Balinese
culture attends an international school
with classmates from different countries
and cultures. I felt like I had come from a
different planet despite the fact that I was
only forty-five minutes away from home.
I struggled through my first year in Green
School. Not knowing the language did not
help. I had been one of the best English
students in my public school; however, no
words came out of my mouth the first day
and everyone spoke too quickly for me to
understand.
I had a defined culture in me, which helped
some days when I needed something
solid to stand on. Unconsciously, I began
to pick up some of the western ways like
asking the question “Why did you take
that action?” a lot. Some of my family
members and family friends considered
this rude.
I also started dancing modern dances and
speaking English all of the time. These
things helped me to find my passionate
side and my confidence began to rise.
Being one of only a few Indonesian
students was not so easy for me at Green
School, Bali. I didn’t know how to socialize
with my new classmates. It took me a
full school year to gather my confidence
to speak and make new friends with my
surrounding. Year by year, I developed
tight relationships with my classmates
and I was so proud of myself. I began to
wonder though if I was too “westernized”
and if I was moving too far away from my
own culture.
I still struggle with this problem some
days and continue to have that “different
planet” feeling. When I step back from this
feeling, I can see that it is not a problem
but rather presents an opportunity to
grow by overcoming these personal
challenges and by moving between my
two worlds. It is confusing and lonely at
times, but it makes me stronger. Balinese
dance is the tool I use to help me navigate
these worlds.
I also found a passion for business at
Green School. I have launched and run
my own online business BuBam Card
since November of 2011. It has been an
unbelievable learning experience with
significant challenges, and I loved it all!
I want to stay in Bali and stay connected
to my culture and to learn more about
business. I want to travel some in my
future, but I see myself living in Bali and
contributing to my culture and local
businesses for the benefit of the Balinese.
My deep understanding of both Balinese
and international culture will help me
be very successful in this field.
directly with two state governors, and
was Assistant to the Speaker, Ohio State
House of Representatives. He worked
for eight years in Washington DC, as
a campaign consultant. He advised
congressional candidates in eight states,
and worked closely with Congressman
Charles Vanik, a ranking member of the
House Ways and Means Committee.
As an entrepreneur, he developed real
estate in Ohio, Massachusetts and Florida
- including owning and operating a
luxury resort in Palm Beach.
Last month saw a change to the
governance of Green School. The
Founders through Yayasan Kul
Kul have appointed a new board
of directors at Green School and
Mr Dennis Heffernan has been
appointed as Chairman.
Mr Heffernan has served on the Board of
Directors of Penril Datacomm – then a
publicly-listed company on the NASDAQ.
For nine years, he served as Trustee
and Chairman of the Board of Trustees
of Ohio University, an 18,000-student
institution and his alma mater.
In 2005, he volunteered as the chief
advisor to Coordinating Minister Alwi
Shihab who was responsible for the
tsunami emergency disaster relief.
For the past ten years, Mr Heffernan
has participated as one of three partners
in the development of a commercial
farming business (strawberries,
blackberries, blueberries) which is
located high in the mountains of West
Java. The fruit is sold in supermarkets
throughout Indonesia and exported to
Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and
Dubai.
Since 2009, Mr Heffernan has served as
Governor of the American Chamber in
Jakarta where is resides.
He is married to Indriena Basarah, a
television executive, and they have five
children.
Dennis Heffernan is a principal and cofounder of Van Zorge, Heffernan, and
Associates. He has over twenty years of
experience in business and consulting
in Indonesia, and has recently provided
commentary for CNBC, Al Jazeera, the
New York Times, the Economist, and
other media.
Before coming to Indonesia in 1992, Mr
Heffernan spent twenty years in state and
national politics in the USA. He served
Green School’s beautiful Millenium Bridge, straddling the Ayung River, is a metaphor for all we do.
Thanks to the support and
enthusiasm of experienced
Green School teachers, Pak
Sal and Pak Noan, the Yayasan
Multispecies Education
International (Mei) is
currently collaborating with
the Middle School students on
a Community Data Collection
& Film Project in the area
of Banjar Saren, Bali. This
is the Balinese community
immediately surrounding
Green School.
This project is enabling the mei yayasan
to gather valuable information which
will shape their community education
and development program. It is also
deepening the understanding of, and
connection to, the local community for
Green School students.
Pak Mo, our Green School expert in the
field of filmmaking, is also assisting
with the project, by helping the Middle
School students combine their data
collection activities with the production
of a documentary film about the daily
activities of the Balinese people living
within Banjar Saren.
A sister Community Data Collection &
Filming Project is also being planned for
Bogor, West Java, where the mei yayasan
has recently rebuilt their original
Multispecies Education Centre. If you
are interested in getting involved with
this project, please contact Pak Yoga,
[email protected].
The mei yayasan is currently expanding
the centre land in preparation for the
construction of simple buildings from
bamboo to accommodate volunteers, as
well as eco-tourists from overseas.
The Centre is located in beautiful
countryside, surrounded by mountain
scenery and the friendly smiles of the
local Javanese community, who are
always willing to stop by for a chat and a
joke.
The local children are daily visitors to
the centre, where they happily participate
in lessons on sustainability with the
centre staff.
The mei yayasan sincerely hope that
in the future the students of Green
School and members of the Green
School community will join with them
and participate in the comparative Data
Collection & Filming Project at their
centre in Bogor, West Java.
Their door is always open for you!
Grade 8 Native Bird Release.
Green School’s 8 graders took a trip down to
the bird market last Monday to procure birds
and begin enhancing the biodiversity of the
avian life on campus. With the guidance of
Pak Mehd, the Head of Begawan Foundation,
the students decided to purchase 20
Kacamata birds; they did the bargaining and
earned two bonus birds, bringing the campus
total of these beautiful insect-eating birds up
to 22.
These birds will thrive on our campus where
they’ll be safe from hunters and where they
will help ease the transition to life in the wild
for our Bali Starlings.
The students fed and monitored the birds
in the classroom for a few days before
releasing them on Thursday after a blessing
from a local priest. Gecko children from our
Early Years were also invited to the release
ceremony so that they can get to know the
birds and be able to help spot them around
campus in the coming weeks and months.
Green Camp is your
opportunity to taste
the benefits of a green
experience.
Next week a group of 12 Arab girls
and two chaperones will be taking part
in GreenCamp. We look forward to
updating you on their transition from
desert to the jungle and rice paddies of
Bali
The GreenCamp experience is an
immersive nature-inspired experience!
Connect to local Balinese culture by
exploring Green Camp’s neighbouring
villages. Learn about bamboo and build
your very own sustainable structure.
Make your own organic chocolate,
learn about growing rice or just share
a transformative and memorable
weekend that will leave you feeling more
connected to each other, nature, and Bali.
Challenge by choice expands our adventure.
Hands-on exploration: a rite of passage.
Details & dates: almost every weekend
year-round, GreenCamp leads adventures
for families at reasonable prices. Book a
weekend for your family via
www.greencampbali.com
Here’s what one lovely mum said
about Green Camp after joining us last
weekend: “We’ve been travelling around
Bali and Asia for 4 and a half months,
we have seen many beautiful places
and met some wonderful people. By far,
GreenCamp has come to be the highlight
of our travels! Our kids learned about the
fascinating Subak system in Bali…,” and
more!
Green Camp plants the seeds of sustainability in an amazing fun educational environment.
Are you the Greenest Teacher on Earth?
We are growing. We seek exceptional
teachers. Are you committed to
sustainability, service and learning?
Green School strives to be synonymous with excellence in education.
Green School is unique and stands tall as a school where quality staff
are recognised and celebrated. We are a movement that wants to
change the world. Our vision is dependent on our teaching quality.
Are you exceptional? Do you want to make a difference?
To this end, our selection process is rigorous and purposeful. It is
broken into three stages:
STAGE 1 - OPEN APPLICATIONS
1. Submission of Curriculum Vitae. Any teacher in Indonesia must
hold at least a Bachelor of Education.
2. Submission of hand-written letter outlining why you want to join.
3. Submission of a ten-minute podcast answering a selection criteria.
4. Completion of an online form.
STAGE 2 - SHORT LISTED CANDIDATES
1. Request for a lesson plan based on our unique learning philosophy:
the 3Frame Learning and Big4 frameworks.
2. Taking in of a referee’s feedback. There should be three referees:
a person who has worked with or under you; a person who has
managed you; your principal/head of school or equivalent.
STAGE 3 - FINAL SHORT LISTED CANDIDATES
1. Complete online Values in Action Character Strength survey.
2. Interview with our selection panel.
If you feel you would like to accept this challenge, current positions
are available for commencement in August 2014. Positions are outlined on our website - http://www.greenschool.org/staff/work-at-greenschool/
WATCH THIS SPACE:
• New Beehives: we look to make our own honey
• The Vortex: power from the river to take us off grid
• New Kitchen: facilities for feeding the masses
• New Lodge: a new bamboo lodge for guests
• Green Educators Course: spreading the word
• Waste Water Gardens: recycle, reuse for food
mumbling to herself, thumbing through a
book of torn pages, her eyes not five inches
from the weary and rumpled paper. Almost
at the exit, I reached in my wallet, retrieved
several dollars, and doubled back to give her
this cash. Not four steps away from her, she
saw me coming and started ranting "Ahhh
NOOOO !!! Get out of here!! Get out of my
face you piece of filth !!!!!" I stopped, turned
around, and completed my subway exit.
Cynthia Hardy, co-Founder,
ponders attachment and living
in the moment.
Last night it snowed 8 inches and the
temperature this morning in NYC was minus
15 degrees celcius. I had an early morning
doctor’s appointment across town, and chose
to walk an hour to get there. Two pairs of
woollen socks and rubber rain boots carried
me through banks of snow a foot deep in
Central Park. Three sweaters, two scarves, a
woollen coat, hat and gloves kept the biting
wind at bay.
It was one of the most beautiful winter days I
have seen in the city, diamonds everywhere,
glistening in knee deep powder. At mid-day
I was meeting a friend for lunch and took the
subway part of the way there. On exiting
the train, I passed an elderly woman clothed
in a long, dirty and soiled purple down
coat, with matted hair, a tattered woollen
hat on her head. She was sitting on a bench,
alone, surrounded by giant garbage bags
full to the brim containing her life. She was
I felt shocked, embarrassed, and confused.
And I understood that somehow what we
want for others often isn't what they want for
themselves. And some people may not be
of the right mind to know what might help
them. I wondered where she would get her
next meal. The subways in NYC today were
especially cold. She, alone, could not lift the
bags that were her life. Too proud to ask for
help, where would she sleep tonight? I am a
fixer, and this was something I could not fix.
I let go and continued walking through
streets of snow until I met up with my friend
who will be 60 on Friday. She doesn't want
to celebrate 60, so she is leaving the country
to be with a friend in Paris. I like that she is
doing what she wants when she wants. She is
privileged to buy a plane ticket for herself. I
removed a bracelet from my wrist and gifted
her with a piece of me. She was happy. She is
a single mother with an ex-husband sick with
Parkinsons, another ex-husband sick with
alcoholism, a son struggling in a new job,
and a small business that keeps her alive. She
lives in the moment and is at peace.
I think our attachments to what we believe
"should be" makes it very difficult for us
to be happy. Living in the moment, and
experiencing what is the truth, is our
challenge. Being honest about it.
Building Green School in 2006 - 2008 was
like stepping over a cliff where we had a
cushion to fall back on. And when times got
difficult we committed to stay the course,
modifying as we grew. Today, Green School
is taking form with over 300 children from
around the world, all stepping out of their
comfort zones, defining their new norms.
The timing of progressive education and
the location in Bali, with its fertile soils and
welcoming culture, could not be better.
Green living and global activism are gifts
we can choose to bestow upon our children.
Social justice, fair trade, humanitarian
commitment, non-violent communication
and cross-cultural understanding are but a
few of the many possibilities of the Green
School experience.
We are so happy to welcome John and
Sophie, as we are thankful for Chris'
continued support and involvement. We
appreciate the devoted staff, teachers and
board members, as we are grateful for all of
you who have chosen to be part of the Green
School community. Om shanti shanti shanti
OM.