The Sunflower School: Nurturing Creativity and Imagination in our Youth | Written by Camila C.
At the heart of Orangeville, the Sunflower School is doing something truly special. Founded by Heather Jackson in 2009, this unique school focuses on the relationship children have with their learning materials. For Heather, the road leading her to start the school was started at the time she realized that her executive job was not fulfilling her passion for early childhood education—a passion that had been with her for most of her life.
Heather said she didn’t want to spend the last part of her career behind a desk. Her dream was to make education for children organic and interactive. And so, the Sunflower School came to be. Although, the school has grown substantially from its humble origins. It now flourishes in three locations, where over 200 children are served by the dedication of 40 staff. Its growth provides evidence for the efficacy of the school’s pioneering education and its strong emphasis on community. “My vision to start was something small and homey… but it has become something so amazing,” Heather says.
One of the best parts about the Sunflower School is its curriculum. The school follows the lead of the Reggio Emilia system from northern Italy. The emphasis is not on making products but on the creativity and experience that comes with the materials. Heather explains, “It’s all about the relationship the kids have with the material. It’s not about creating a product. The children need to realize they don’t need to be making products all the time.” You will never see any plastic toy in action at school. Natural materials and parts are engaged to enhance the imaginative ability of children, helping them interactively engage with nature. It enables children to develop their creativity and critical thinking in such a way that a traditional toy would not.
When talking about what makes this place so unique, Heather said she feels that one of the most important cornerstones of the school is in teacher education. There are annual teacher conferences, where they get to share their innovative practices as much as they learn from others. It is a learning culture, guaranteeing improvements of teachers with fresh ideas in the classrooms.
Community engagement is yet another pillar of the Sunflower School. This is achieved through their active involvement in the community activities, which include the Ladies’ Lunch and the Farmer’s Market. In this way, the school keeps in contact with the Orangeville community at large and affords the children an opportunity to learn as well as participate in their local environment.
It’s safe to say the Sunflower School is not your typical school; it is a home for budding ideas, discovery, and imagination for children. Vision and dedication on the part of Heather and her staff are what made the school a second home for the children, nurturing not only education but also individuality and creativity. It is reigning more and more nowadays as an exemplar of what impassioned, thoughtful education can do with continuous growth.