School Leadership
Saplings Nature School's leadership emphasizes a commitment to nature-based learning and student-centered education, fostering wonder and lifelong learning through hands-on experiences. The leadership team is dedicated to equity and inclusivity, creating a respectful and diverse community where students are prepared for an ever-changing world with critical thinking and effective communication skills. Parents appreciate the supportive atmosphere that values every student's unique abilities and identities.
Page Contents
Facts and analysis
MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERSHIP
We invited Cecily Heras, Head of School at Saplings Nature School, to share a message.
The overview highlights the vision, values, and guiding principles that shape leadership and the student experience at Saplings Nature School.
Cecily Heras, Head of School
BC Certified Teacher, Masters in curriculum design
Welcome to Saplings Nature School, a unique opportunity for your children to delve into the BC curriculum while learning with, in, and from nature. Here, we believe that children learn best and thrive socially and emotionally when given the freedom to explore, play, and connect with the natural world. Saplings fosters a student’s sense of wonder for the great outdoors through inspirational, stimulating, and hands-on experiences, which in turn promotes lifelong learning and supports student-driven interests.
Like the BC curriculum, Saplings aims to be learner-centered, flexible and focused on literacy and numeracy while supporting deeper learning through concept-based and competency-driven approaches. Key content, concepts, competencies, skills, and big ideas that foster higher-order thinking will also be addressed. Our goal is to help prepare students to engage in and respond to the ever-changing and demanding world they are entering. Through personalized, place-based, and curated learning experiences, Saplings' students are supported in becoming aware, thoughtful, engaged, creative, flexible, self-motivated, principled, respectful, and informed citizens who can think critically, communicate effectively, and make independent decisions.
As Head of School, who has helped Saplings transform from a home-schooling program of choice to a fully-fledged independent school, I understand how important it is to value and celebrate all of our learners' diverse abilities, identities, and experiences. I have a strong commitment to equity, and inclusivity, and to fostering an atmosphere of respect and trust for families, students, and staff. Welcoming families and staff members from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas is what makes Saplings a place where everyone can feel like they belong.
