What if we intentionally chose to look deeper?

In schools, it is easy to focus on what is most visible - tangible: grades, test scores, and subject-specific achievements - products and performances. These outcomes are important, but they are only one part of a much bigger picture. If we truly want to prepare our students for the world beyond the walls of school, we need to look past academics and see them holistically.

Students are not just learners of content; they are individuals with identities, aspirations, fears, and strengths. When we, as educators, take time to know who they are, to listen to their stories, and to affirm their sense of self, we build their foundations for deeper learning and real growth. Formal education then becomes more than walls, assessments, and deadlines. Being in a school becomes meaningful, relevant, and transformative.

Holistic education does not mean abandoning rigor or academic excellence. On the contrary, it is what allows language acquisition, subject knowledge, critical thinking, creativity, and wellbeing to flourish simultaneously. A student who feels safe, seen - heard, valued, and guided will not only perform better in class but also grow into a more confident, compassionate human being.

This approach to teaching is about building rapport, offering guidance, creating real-life learning opportunities, and ensuring that love and care are closely crocheted into the capes of the unseen heroes in the school communities - be they the students or educators.

I started and am still continuing to build LEAVES with all of the above in mind - but, focusing the lenses more towards ‘second language acquisition’ since that is my professional area of expertise. However, the core of the LEAVES approach is intentionally broader: affirming identities, fostering belonging, and strengthening human connections across all areas of school life. At its heart, LEAVES is a reminder that education is not only about knowledge - it is about nurturing people.

If we commit to seeing our students - ,and colleagues for that matter - in their full humanity, schools can become more than places of pressure and performance. They can become places of growth, joy, and lifelong learning.