Big Work, Big Ideas, and Exhibition Around the Corner

spark studio

Wellness from the Outside In: A Spark-tacular Week: Science, Spa Creations & Big Excitement Ahead!

What a magical week it’s been in Spark! Our science lab has been in full flow, buzzing with curiosity, creativity, and a whole lot of mixing and experimenting, hosted by the lovely skin care expert, Summer Thigpen. “She makes everything smell good!” “She’s a nurse, we can ask her anything.” “My mom’s a nurse.” From combining solids and liquids to blending sugars and spices, our young scientists have been hard at work crafting delightful creations—all in preparation for something very special…

Welcome to “The Best Spa Ever!!”

Get ready to relax, refresh, and be pampered like never before! Our upcoming spa experience promises a blissful morning filled with creativity, collaboration, and care.

Here’s a sneak peek at our full spa experience:

The Chill Lounge
Need a moment to unwind? Rowan T., Abel, and Kendrick (in Florida spirit) have created the perfect cozy space to browse, relax, and recharge.
SUPER Yoga
Stretch, breathe, and reach for the clouds with Wynnie, Dakota, Daren, Boden, and Ishvi (California spirit) leading the way to calm and balance.
Mountain Everest Hair Studio
Feeling bold? Try a new look with free color techniques! Our talented stylists Claira, Safi, Mecca, and Phoenix are ready to help you shine.
Collaboration Juice Bar
Sip on refreshing, creative blends crafted by our amazing hosts Liam, Alyse, Mia B., Carter, and Miles.
Sun Bright Nails
Sit back and enjoy a calming nail experience with technicians Charleigh, Aria, Sammy, Emilia, and Aspen—cool as cucumbers and ready to pamper!
Everything is Fine Massage Therapy
Relax and let it go… our massage team will help you melt into tranquility and bring the “ahhh” into your day. Massage therapists: Moon, Mia M., Felicia, Rowan D., and Ezra.

Save the Date!
Our Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, April 1, from 8:30–10:00 AM. Meet in The Courtyard by Spark to hear more about The Best Spa Ever!! We cannot wait to welcome you!

Heads Up!
There will be no shares next week as we prepare for this exciting event.

Stay tuned…
Products and wellness tips are coming soon!

Lastly, our fantastic Fun Friday field trip to Piedmont Wellness Center was an energizing and inspiring experience! We had the chance to learn from expert professionals about how to care for our bodies from the outside in and why staying active truly matters. As we discovered, a body in motion really does stay in motion—and we put that idea into action with plenty of movement and laughter. It was big fun and a great reminder that wellness can be both educational and exciting!

See you at the spa!!

lower elementary studio

This week, learners have been working diligently to bring their Exhibition projects to the finish line. In Story Arts, teams finalized their Shark Tank pitches by revising their writing, practicing delivery, and preparing to clearly communicate why their product deserves support. In Quest, learners completed the hands-on work of crafting their handcrafted soda and choosing whether to pair it with sorbet or ice cream.

A major highlight this week was experiencing what it means to be greenlit. Every team had to earn approval before they could begin making their final soda and sorbet or ice cream, reinforcing the importance of preparation, quality, and follow-through. Shoutout to the team that earned their greenlight first and was able to craft their soda on Tuesday.

At Exhibition, families can look forward to sampling products from up to six teams and viewing tangible examples of each team’s writing process as they developed their Shark Tank pitch. Five teams will be serving soda and sorbet, while one team will be serving soda and ice cream. We are excited for learners to share not only their final products but also the thought, teamwork, and persistence behind them.

Reminder: On Exhibition day, your learner must be picked up during regular carpool. They should return at 4:20 PM to allow 10 minutes for setup before Exhibition begins promptly at 4:30 PM.

Question of the Week:
What does it look like to finish something with excellence, even when you feel tired or ready to be done?

upper elementary studio

Exhibition Prep in Full Force

This week brought a surge of energy and focus as we moved into full preparation mode for our upcoming Exhibition. Across Quest and Story Arts, learners stepped into responsibility, creativity, and collaboration at a high level. While Civ took a brief pause this week, we’re planning to double up next Wednesday and Thursday to stay on track.

Quest: Designing for a Real Audience

In Quest, the focus was clear: get ready for Exhibition. Learners worked in teams to finalize their sensory instruments and create poster pages that will communicate their designs to an audience. This meant thinking not just about what they built, but also how to explain it clearly and effectively.

By Thursday, teams presented their designs to each other, practicing how to give and receive meaningful feedback.

On Friday, they took it a step further by presenting to our expert, music therapist Maria Aguilar, over Zoom. This was a powerful moment—learners were able to share their work with a real-world expert and hear authentic feedback, pushing their thinking even further.

Story Arts: Bringing the Production to Life

In Story Arts, each day brought us closer to being performance-ready. The space transformed as learners worked across multiple roles—art, tech, performance, and direction.

In art, learners constructed a mecha dragon, while we also saw the full assembly of our periaktoi, thanks to Ms. Amanda. With the set coming together, every role suddenly mattered in a new way. Learners were actively managing the soundboard, props, lighting, microphones, music, and choreography.

Leadership also began to emerge more clearly. Autumn stepped into a directing role, supported by Layla, while a team of learners took responsibility for rotating the periaktoi during the performance. Others worked behind the scenes to black out the room, preparing the space for a true theatrical experience.

Guide-Free Day: Stepping Into Leadership

Thursday marked a major milestone—a full Guide-Free Day. Roman and Ana stepped up as the day’s leaders, guiding the group through a full schedule that included a play run-through, core skills, lunch, and Quest presentations—all without direct support from adult Guides.

They came out strong, successfully completing the play run-through right away. As the day went on, some challenges emerged, particularly around cleaning up and maintaining focus. Mr. Hadrian and Mr. K observed and took detailed notes, later sharing feedback with the group.

Each part of the day was scored on a scale of 1–5. The goal moving forward is to reach an average score of 4—and if they do, the reward is already set: a live rap battle between the Guides.

Looking Ahead

As we move toward Exhibition, the work will continue to intensify. There is a growing sense of ownership across the group, and learners are beginning to see how all the pieces—design, performance, and teamwork—fit together.

We will also be continuing our Hero’s Journey stories into the next session to ensure they are completed with the same level of care and creativity we’re seeing in other areas.

This week was about stepping up—and our learners are rising to the challenge.

middle school studio

Middle School learners have been busy this week doing the kind of work that asks them to think like scientists, designers, and historians all at once.

In Quest, learners conducted round four of their Candy Chemistry experiments, continuing to test, revise, and improve their thinking through real trial and error. Each round has pushed them to pay closer attention to how ingredients, temperature, texture, and process all work together. Rather than settling for first attempts, they have been learning what it means to iterate with purpose. This week also included preparation for an exciting field trip to visit the two real users connected to this Quest. As they get ready to meet with them, learners are thinking carefully about how to share their findings, ask thoughtful questions, and gather feedback that can strengthen their work even more.

In Story Arts, learners spent time adding texture to their 3D models. This stage required both creativity and restraint as they considered how texture, detail, and design choices could better communicate the personality and identity of their characters. It has been exciting to watch their models become more expressive and polished as they move from rough forms into more intentional artistic choices. The work has challenged them to think like real designers, making decisions that are not only visually interesting but also meaningful.

In Civilization, learners explored the question of how early Viking colonization efforts were similar to or different from later European colonization beginning with Columbus. They considered differences in scale, motive, and interaction while discussing what the historical record can and cannot clearly tell us about those relationships.

Across Quest, Story Arts, and Civilization, learners are continuing to practice observation, revision, creativity, and critical thinking. This week reflected what deep learning can look like when learners are invited to test ideas, make meaning, and connect their work to the real world.

high school studio

This week, our heroes are officially knee-deep in Quest: The Biology of Hair, and the energy in the Studio reflects it. What started as a real-world problem—how to solve hair dryness across all hair types—has now turned into full-scale product development, branding, marketing, and media creation.

Across the Studio, teams are working in their departments to bring their ideas to life:

The Product Team is researching ingredients and designing solutions that could realistically combat dryness.
The Branding Team is building identities that tell a clear and compelling story behind each product.
The Marketing Team is developing strategies to reach real audiences and position their product in the market.
The Commercial Team is crafting visuals and narratives to show how their product solves a real problem.

It’s been powerful to watch learners move beyond just learning content and step into roles as creators, problem-solvers, and entrepreneurs, all working toward a shared goal.

Core Skills & Studio Habits

Even in the midst of this exciting Quest work, we have continued to protect dedicated Core Skills time each day, ensuring that learners are making consistent progress in reading, writing, and math.

Our Studio systems—running partners, check-ins, and intentional work time—continue to support focus, accountability, and growth as heroes balance both foundational skills and complex, real-world projects.

Looking Ahead: Exhibition

We are excited as we begin preparing for Exhibition, where learners will present their products, branding, and marketing campaigns. This will be an opportunity for our community to see not just the final results, but the thinking, research, and iteration that went into solving a real problem.

We look forward to showcasing the creativity, effort, and innovation our heroes have poured into this Quest—and we can’t wait for you to experience it.

Stay tuned for more details as Exhibition approaches!

Session 6: Year 8, WeeK 28 In Review