Memories That Burn

Memories That Burn

Exploring Wicklow Democratic School’s Relationship With Nature One Monday morning at Wicklow Democratic School, a number of students knelt around a fire pit in the schoolyard. It was time for morning activities with Home Groups, and this group decided to use the time...
Re-energizing and Reinvigorating

Re-energizing and Reinvigorating

While the rest of the country has been slowly reopening over the summer, Wicklow Democratic School has been preparing to reopen the doors to its community on September 6th. Staff members, parents and teachers have been working hard to rethink the space to best serve...
Looking Back On Lockdown

Looking Back On Lockdown

Who would have thought that when we went off for winter break, it would be spring before we’d be back together again? While we all would have preferred to be together in school, the school community made the best of our time apart. We realise it’s hard to know what...
Learning in a Time of Coronavirus

Learning in a Time of Coronavirus

Renewing a Sense of Ownership   So here we are, after the decision to go with another three weeks of school closures, at least. It’s a sensible option – why take unnecessary chances now that we have the light of a vaccine at the end of the tunnel? This week, I’ve...
Move Yourself to Dance

Move Yourself to Dance

In a democratic school such as ours, where students direct their own learning, students are exposed to a highly social environment. Students are constantly learning how to navigate this environment in ways that work for their own unique self. This includes navigating...
Screens, Structure and Self-directed Learning

Screens, Structure and Self-directed Learning

A couple of years ago, (it feels like about a decade more than that!) a number of students were complaining of boredom, too many people being on screens, and feeling a lack of direction. The flexibility that comes with being a democratic school allowed us to be...
Our Lockdown Story

Our Lockdown Story

The school day began much like any other on 12th March 2020. Students and staff arrived ready for whatever projects or courses they were working on. Some studied in the library, some worked on a puzzle in the kitchen, some played basketball. We were all well aware of...