It happens around the same time every year. The school year wraps up, the schedules clear out, and within forty-eight hours of the initial excitement wearing off, it happens. A child walks into the kitchen, slumps against the counter, and delivers that familiar, inevitable summer refrain: I’m boooored.
If we took a poll of our students asking for their favourite way to spend a Tuesday morning, sitting in a quiet room with an HB pencil and a booklet of long division or grammar rules probably wouldn’t crack the top ten. In fact, for many children, it ranks somewhere between accidentally eating a lemon and cleaning their room on a Saturday.
Recently, I wrote about why we are choosing connection over screens and reducing digital noise at Walden. We believe in being pro-human, which often means having the courage to put technology away to protect careful thinking. However, being mindful of technology does not mean ignoring it entirely. It means being incredibly picky about which tools we use and why.
Ten years ago, I founded this school in response to a growing problem I observed as a public school teacher and administrator. In those hallways, I watched as provincial test scores and graduation rates began to overshadow students' actual needs. Between the pressure of data and the rise of social media, our kids were losing ground. Eventually, the gap between doing things right and doing what’s right became too large to ignore.
Every parent wants their child to succeed. We dream of the high school diplomas, the university acceptances, and the exciting careers that lie ahead. But at Walden, we believe in a deeper kind of success. We believe that before a child can achieve greatness, they must first be "good."
What Making Good People looks like in Kindergarten
At Walden, Kindergarten is about more than learning to read and count—it is the foundational stage for making good people. But what does that look like in practice? How do you measure kindness, integrity, and community alongside literacy and numeracy?
December invites us to pause, celebrate, and look forward. At Walden International School, our motto—Making Good People—guides how we teach, learn, and care for one another every day. Over the year, 11 monthly posts explored threads of our shared journey: opportunities for growth, learning from the journey itself, supportive guidance at home, kindness, empathy, imagination, readiness, beginner’s mind, openness, personalized learning, and the joy of being understood. Read on for a cohesive reflection that ties those moments together and points toward the year ahead.
In 2026, Walden International School turns ten. That simple sentence fills me with joy and a deep sense of purpose. When I opened our doors a decade ago, I wasn’t trying to build a bigger or “better” school. I was trying to make a kinder one.
During my thirty years as an educator, I learned a lot about what young people need to grow. I also saw what happens when those needs are ignored. In one of the largest public school boards in Canada, I watched as provincial test scores and graduation rates took center stage. Over time, it felt like the system cared more about numbers than about children. With the rise of the internet and social media, pressures grew, and the gap between doing things right and doing what’s right became too big to ignore.
Discover What’s Possible
Our loyal readers are well familiar with our school so perhaps we can consider this post as an invitation to extend an invitation! If you have friends, family and colleagues who share your commitment to a high-quality education, we hope you’ll share this.
At Walden International School, we believe education should spark curiosity, nurture character, and prepare students to thrive. Our Open House (Saturday, October 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) is your chance to experience this vision in action. Step into welcoming classrooms, meet passionate educators, and see how our learning environment helps students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Central to our mission is Making Good People—students who think deeply, act with integrity, and contribute positively to their communities.
Opening windows for learning
“At last, after our long journey, we have reached the beginning.” – Brian Herbert
Picture this: A Grade 8 student sits at the piano for their first lesson, fingers hovering over the keys. Across the hall, a JK student picks up their first crayon to draw a house. In the staff room, a teacher opens a book about a new method they’ve never tried.
What do they have in common? They’re all beginners. And that’s where the magic happens.
What Is a Beginner’s Mind?
The beginner’s mind is a mindset of openness, eagerness, and freedom from preconceptions. It’s like hitting a mental reset button—letting go of what you think you know to make room for fresh perspectives, deeper understanding, and new possibilities.
