About WISE
THE WISE PRINCIPLES
The acronym of our WISE name is a combination of these four foundational
principles and are essential for cultivating the problem-solving minds of our future.
Our Wise Methods
ACADEMICS
Our academic approach is unified through Project-Based Learning, Systems Thinking and an intrinsic socioecological and socioeconomic focus, where all academic learning is seen holistically and applied to important social, economic, and ecological topics, allowing students to understand the real-world application of what they learn and be well-versed in the affairs and function of our world.
Students
We focus on having our students develop a dynamic set of life skills, not just college and career readiness, as our highest goal is to have students leave us as game-changing entrepreneurs who set the new standards for future socioeconomic and socioecological conditions. In order to achieve this, we have developed a dynamic approach that utilizes these specific core categories: Project-Based Learning, the Habits of Mind program, social-emotional learning, holistic mindfulness, critical thinking and systems thinking, socioecological and socioeconomic awareness and application, collaborative teamwork, and hands-on, skill-building projects.
CLASSROOM
In the classroom setting, we reinforce students to be true to scientific thinking, uphold logic, and aware of biases; we reinforce students to be self-directed, skeptical, philosophical, and deeply reflective; we engage each other, both teachers and students, through open communication, spontaneous learning opportunities, collaborative discussions and activities, and healthy argumentation and educational debates.
TESTING
Instead of using the traditional method of standardized testing, we use the Project-Based Learning method, which is a much more comprehensively-engaging approach that enhances inquiry, creativity, self-direction, and project management, allowing students to express themselves and their learning in a wide variety of open-ended and creative ways.
GRADING
Instead of using the outdated grade system, we use ‘performance assessment’ rubrics that align with both international academic standards and our school’s unique academic, behavioral, and life-skill standards, which allows both teachers and parents understand the specifics of what the student has been learning and their level of proficiency in each of the specific areas.
GROUPS
Rather than using the traditional grade level system, we’ve established creatively categorized groups that align with the traditional grade levels of K-12 but help the students perceive a more meaningful connection with their level, beyond a simplified numerical value. Currently, from youngest to oldest, our groups are categorized as Wanderers, Explorers, Adventurers, Discoverers, Visionaries, Innovators, and Game Changers.
HOMEWORK
We do not assign routine homework, as we believe the students gain enough learning during their time with us and, additionally, we want families to not have an added workload at home. Although we consider our approach to be academically-rigorous, we equally uphold a stress-free atmosphere, as we never want students to equate learning or education with stress. Of course, students may be given homework assignments, whenever there are appropriate reasons for them to engage in their work at home.
"The more intelligent our children, the better our lives and the richer our culture will be".
JACQUE FRESCO
Frequently Asked Questions
Through our Project-Based approach, students will learn and apply both the core K-12 academic subjects (Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics) and other academic and non-academic disciplines (Systems Thinking, Permaculture, economics, communication, philosophy, debate, social-emotional learning, mindfulness, etc.) through comprehensive, hands-on, life-skill projects that align with the WISE values of personal well-being, community, and sustainability. Using Systems Thinking, students will also learn to see and understand how all academic subjects are interconnected and can be applied to all aspects of life.
Project-Based Learning is a teaching method in which students learn by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects. The quality of this teaching method is upheld by using the Gold Standard of PBL, which is a process where both teachers and students collaboratively design, elaborate, and revise projects together, in order to achieve a final project product that will be presented publicly to our community and kept as part of each student’s academic portfolio that showcases their learning.
Permaculture is Socio-Ecological Systems Thinking, a principled way of sustaining harmonious equilibrium with our environments through deliberate thought and action. Through the study and practice of the 12 Principles of Permaculture, students learn to see the world through a truly sustainable lens.
