"The words 'I can't!' eliminate courage. The line 'I will!' takes us to the top of the mountain. "

Raden Ajeng Kartini

Ecosystem of Causes

I am drawn to the energy of new ideas, fresh divergent thinking and dynamic experiences. Howard Gardener's contributions to education have had a huge impact on me and helped shape my approach as an educator, leader and person. Not only have I discovered my strengths and authentic interests, but have supported so many others in their own pathway. As education has been so decontextualized in the 20th century, it is my mission to provide meaning, skills and values that transcend content. Above is a photo of a football game that was part of Green School M-Day (Men's Health Day). I believe in and support building healthy relationships with gender, sexuality and establishing an environment that is inclusive of every walk of life.

Special Projects, Involvement and Causes

Supporting Local Artisans

This event was by far the most artistic, locally empowering, and creative event between the Lengis Hijau and Bio Bus Partnership. Balinese Carvers worked in soap from used cooking oil to cultural art. The winner of the competition was the Swan design. In Bali, the swan is a common sculpture and is closely associated with Dewi Saraswati the God of Knowledge.

Boomerang Math

Of all of the curriculum that I have written and projects created, "Boomerang Math" stands out as the richest and most holistic module. The flight pattern of boomerang behaves like a quadratic formula with regard to distance and time. Students designed their own boomerang extended understanding to lift aerodynamics.

Distillation

In 2017, as a side project to the Bio Bus, I helped bring a distiller to Green School. Initially, the goal was to produce essential oils to bring down the cost of our soap making projects. Since then we have learned so much under the guidance of Mestre Indio, an alchemist expert. As a community we now explore making alcohol fuel from fruit waste and learn about making herbal remedies.

'Local Wisdom' Service Trips

Service trips are an integral part of the learning program at Green School. In my first year as Head of High School evolved the planned months in advance to incorporate the theme and the trips accessed learning opportunities that celebrated ancient custom and practices, connected with the wisdom keepers, and studied local innovation and technology that is so often overlooked in this digital age. Many students traveled afar to India, Rote, Java, Lombok, Taiwan or Borneo while others stayed on island to connect with Balinese culture or learn local permaculture applications. The experiences culminated in a sharing showcase at our Sustainability Superbowl, known as “Sustainable Solutions”. The students worked on documentaries and performances that captured the experiences.

Soap Making

Shortly after the Bio Bus started operating we were faced with a glaring issue around the glycerine byproduct from making biodiesel. The solution at that time was to ship it to Korea with huge carbon footprint implications. recognizing the irony of this we found a better option and started making our own biosoap from the leftover glycerine. It has become a very popular item at Green School and we have made it part of a soap for used cooking oil exchnage.

Dodo

by Kyle King

How did patriarchy

Come to preside over the evolutionary tree

When omnipotent power lies in reproductivity

This learning this hex

A fallible creation

A mythical apex

Statistical truths are skewed travesties

Bearing violence,

refugees and casualties

Spanning litanies of baseless claims

Are histories

of pilfered fames

One billion rise for

Eight billion to thrive

________________

I wrote this on this poem for a V-Day competition event and in the 10 years of celebrating this V-Day find ways to support and engage the experience that has helped me come to understand not only feminism, but human rights and masculinity.

M-Day

We have now celebrated "M Day”, for two years at Green School, a day to celebrate maleness in our community and come together as part of Movember. The day showcases the dynamic nature of our programming by listening to student voice and providing a space to talk about the many challenges and moments worthy of celebration in the lives of our men & boys. Among the many workshops offered on that day, I host a session on toxic masculinity in sports.

'The Martian' Integrated Learning

Upon reading this book, I was astounded by the number of math integrations and jump offs for learning math. I went on to reread it, fact check each math problem and develop a respective module. It is a fantastic and plausible story of survival the integrates learning in algebra, trigonometry, chemistry, nutrition, literacy and more. Students have found truly loved this class the plot is gripping and consequently provides us with a model to deeply engage students in learning. Lessons that are thematic, relevant and integrated bring learning to life, lighting the fire and catalyzing student interest and growth.

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