Big Vision - Leave a Legacy for Lismore
By John Stewart, Conductor of Living School
(no AI used)
Living School is now entering the next phase of its big vision – and it is exciting and achievable with your support. We are looking to lodge within the very heart of Lismore – in a space that is truly community and commercial. The question we explore is: Can a School Empower a Town? I believe not only that it can but that it must. A school’s purpose is to improve community – so every generation develops stronger connections and support systems. In our current technological age, this is more relevant than ever. All of our children, our families, our communities benefit from improved social cohesion. It is that simple.
To meet this vision, we need a community to support us and Lismore. As part of our school community – your network is our strength – and your support our catalyst to realise our legacy.
Living School is a not-for-profit entity – there is no ‘business’ profit running this school. It was birthed on the belief we should create a schooling system that is world-leading and generates a model of teaching and learning that adds a new dimension to mainstream education.
When you consider the options for ‘alternative education’ are Montessori (1907), Steiner/Waldorf (1909), and Summerhill Democratic (1922) – we have not had a united vision on a progressive schooling system for over 100 years!! It is time – and it is happening here… now!
Our vision – click here to see the signt-lines – is being realised, and we should all take great pride in what we have all achieved. Your child’s enrolment is a trust-based support of this belief – and I never take that for granted. After having 200 of your children at the beach last Monday – I can honestly say we have the very BEST kids!! They are confident, supportive, integrate with all and they are kind – they also love sitting in a circle for hours on end!
Brown and Jolly is a big intention and we are looking to activate this for the start of next school year. We are intentionally striving to be in that space – and to grow a school, a ‘living’ school, over the next three years. It will start with the internal rainforest, theatre space, amenities and play areas, which are all on the lower floor.
We have a federal government Block Grant, giving us access to $1.5 million dollars. But we must match this. And the grant is accessed after we expend that level of funding. We have also applied for another $2.5 million BGA grant – for the second phase of the Brown and Jolly building. So if our community can raise funds, we can access all that is needed to make this heart beat loudly.
The Brown and Jolly site plans
Why Build in Lismore’s CBD?
In the Regional City Action Plan 2036, the NSW Government has committed to Lismore’s long term sustainable future. And education is a key! Lismore is the Northern Rivers’ centre of quality education and training, with Southern Cross University, TAFE NSW, a range of public, private and specialised primary and secondary schools.
Lismore is a regional centre and, as such, has a unique central business district that is a grid within a grid, akin to town squares found in Barcelona. Living School is surrounded by arcades. As such, Living School is the heart – and surrounded by the Back Lane Gallery. This is a creative setting compared to other coastal towns. Accessing the community is a central foundation that makes Living School different. We want to connect and integrate with our local community – this is what a progressive school is designed to be!
Being the only school sited in the heart of Lismore also provides access to the sports fields, skateboard park, river and museums/theatres/art galleries.
By supporting the Brown & Jolly Building Fund, you become part of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help us build the future of education in our region: one that belongs not only to our students, but to the whole community.
Pay It Forward – give to Lismore’s future.
We have a tax-deductible building fund. Every dollar donated unlocks an additional dollar – and every dollar you donate gives a community buy-in. Raising funds – as a community – is really important: it gives us all buy-in and strengthens this initiative to be a truly community-driven adventure. And when/where else do you get this opportunity?
Our Board – our Guardians of Purpose – are volunteers and steer the good governance of our not-for-profit constitution. We are a registered charity and we operate within all of the legal requirements of a registered company, charity and non-government school.
This is the first fund-raising focus we have initiated (apart from the donations to repair after the 2022 flood). Rich Bolus – our Development and Partnerships Coordinator – is guiding this fund-raising effort.
Living School is a progressive model of schooling with incredible depth, engineered and designed to cause ripples of change to improve schooling – globally! When you consider our difference, I do not know of a worthier cause to get behind.
What Makes Us Different?
- 6 six-week long terms: ensures children and staff are not exhausted nor watching videos for the last few weeks of a ten-week term!
- Exceptional teachers and staff: with very small staff to student ratios. Our class sizes – with teacher aides – allows for every child to be ‘seen’.
- International Baccalaureate Diploma Program: We are the first school to offer the IBDP on the North Coast of NSW. The Diploma Program is a globally renowned academic pathway that teaches not just subject knowledge but is underpinned by the CORE learning areas: Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity, Service.
- Incredible Pedagogy (teaching and learning): not always visible but we have a unique offering, including Catalyst Curriculum under development by National Excellence in Teaching Australia winner – Emma Wilson (who teaches Year 7 – and all of us).
- Whole-being program – we have our advocates and guardian groups to ensure all students and families feel supported.
- All inclusive in fees: our tuition fees cover the vast majority of all required outlay – and when you compare this total fee cost with other schools, Living School offers incredible value for money.
- Child-centred: we offer our children agency to discuss changes and direct some of their learning.
- Onland Learning – not online learning: students access incredible outdoor learning pursuits every Friday.
- Camps and Excursions – we have camps and excursions embedded into our curriculum program – and covered by our fees.
- Inquiry to Project Based Learning our students apply theories and concepts to a real-world context. We break free from the classroom and the school fence!
- Learning Neighbourhoods: We offer different age-appropriate campuses to ensure children learn and develop at their own pace in their own learning space.
- Indigenous culture college: we have our own Indigenous culture college (Ngulingah) where we support local Bundjalung students.
- Southern Cross University: embedded in SCU as part of our Living Academy.
- Our children explore more! We believe great learning is connected and in context
- Our own bus fleet: our students access the broad community for excursions, learning experiences and camps.
- The best school food – Jabay: we believe nutrition is fundamental to learning.
- Kitchen Garden Program: we have our own kitchen garden where students learn to grow and cook
- We explore, we perform, we grow, we harvest, we build, we express, we create, we love learning!
- Respect, Responsibility and positive, productive Relationships. We have an incredible teaching community, who believe that relationships are based on our key values: the three R’s.
- Community of trust: We have a diverse range of learners and families – we are not a monoculture but a place shaped by kindness, inclusion, and our VAST values.
- Adaptable: we can make decisions that benefit our community quickly.
- We are kind: and one-of-a-kind!