Session 3: Year 8, Week 13 In Review
From Physics to Phoenix Games
spark studio
What a full and interesting week we've had in Spark! Between new adventures, exciting discoveries, and a few extra challenges, there was certainly no shortage of learning and growing!
¡Hola! Spanish Club Has Begun!
We kicked off our Spanish Club this week, and the excitement was beyond our expectations! Learners are divided into small groups of five, with each group attending Spanish Club on the same day each week. This week, we introduced greetings, emotions, colors, and numbers. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm for learning a new language!
Finding Our Rhythm After Daylight Saving Time
This week felt a little different in the Studio. While our Learner-Led Conferences went wonderfully, we noticed that many learners seemed a bit more tired and out of sorts than usual. We suspect the time change may have played a role!
We talked about daylight saving time and how our mornings are now brighter earlier, while our evenings get darker sooner. This led to some great conversations about how our bodies need plenty of rest, exercise, and nutritious food to feel their best. An earlier bedtime might be just what some of our little learners need as they adjust to the change!
Physics, Phonetics & Phoenix Games
Physics is a big concept for our young learners, but we're discovering that the best way to understand it is through hands-on exploration! We started by sounding out and learning to spell the rather unusual word physics, then jumped into experiments and challenges exploring push and pull, friction, gravity, and scientific theories.
Does gravity pull heavier objects to the ground faster than lighter ones? Is it easier to push something or pull it? What happens when friction slows us down? These were just a few of the questions we explored through playful challenges, observations, and lots of curiosity!
We also continued designing and building our own games, experimenting with how movement, forces, and balance influence the way our games work. It's exciting to watch learners begin connecting scientific concepts to their own creations.
Art Inspired by Alexander Calder
Our artist of the week was Alexander Calder! We explored his playful approach to abstract art, and our learners created colorful pieces full of imagination and expression. It was a wonderful opportunity to experiment with shapes, colors, and creativity.
Character Building: The Power of Our Words
This week also brought plenty of opportunities for character growth. We navigated several moments of conflict, which gave us meaningful opportunities to practice how we speak to one another and how our words and actions can affect the feelings of others.
We worked on pausing before reacting, expressing our feelings respectfully, listening to our friends, and thinking about how we can make things right when someone gets hurt.
These moments aren't always easy, but they are such an important part of growing together as a community. Learning to navigate disagreements with kindness and empathy is just as valuable as any academic lesson!
Looking Ahead
Next week's letter is M — M for Marvelous!
It has been a packed week of learning, discovery, and growth! We hope everyone enjoys a wonderful, restful weekend and that our Spark learners return refreshed and ready for another marvelous week ahead.
Happy weekend!
lower elementary studio
Overview: Only two weeks remain in this Session! This week, our Heroes led thoughtful Learner-Led Conferences that gave families a clearer picture of where they are on their Badge Plans, how they see themselves showing up in the Studio, and where they still want to grow. Heroes reflected on their habits, named personal growth areas, and left with a clearer understanding of what they may need to improve or change in order to reach their goals.
As families continue supporting their Hero, we recommend checking Transparent Classroom weekly to stay up to date on lessons that have been introduced, are being practiced, have been mastered, or are marked Needs Practice, which means a Hero attempted Mastery but has not earned it yet. Families can also use the Suggested Badge Plan Pace to check in with their Hero and better understand whether they are currently Behind, On Track, or Ahead in their Badge Plan progress.
Additionally, remember to consistently check your Hero’s Google Doc for their routine Check-In summaries. These reflections offer another helpful window into how your Hero is experiencing the Studio, what they are working toward, and the goals they are setting for themselves. Here is the Parent View Google Drive folder again for easy access to Studio resources.
Quest: Heroes explored mobility, range of motion, force, gravity, and body control through a Sit and Reach investigation. They tested how far they could reach while staying safe and in control, then connected their observations to Newton’s Laws and the role muscles play in creating movement. Heroes are now using what they have learned throughout the Session to create a take-home educational resource for Kids on the Move that helps children better understand movement, exercise, and healthy habits.
Story Arts: Heroes continued building their Practice-to-Mastery Wrap Reports by looking for patterns in their Core Skills choices. Using their bar graphs and five weeks of Work Plans, they compared Math and Language choices, repeated practice, Mastery attempts, and changes from Week 1 to Week 5. Heroes then identified the strongest pattern they noticed and used 2 to 3 pieces of evidence to prove it. They are moving beyond simply collecting data and beginning to explain what their choices reveal about their work ethic, habits, and growth.
Civilization: Heroes stepped into the Industrial Revolution through our Factory City simulation, exploring whether they would leave the countryside for new opportunities in a growing industrial city. As factories, jobs, housing, transportation, and population increased, Heroes discovered both the benefits and challenges of industrialization, including new wages and goods alongside overcrowding, pollution, unsafe working conditions, long hours, low wages, and child labor. They also wrestled with questions of fairness, power, and responsibility, beginning to see that the Industrial Revolution was not only about machines and faster production but also about the people and communities whose lives were transformed by rapid change.
Question of the Week: As we continue our Session focus, Facing Resistance, talk together about:
When you notice yourself wanting to avoid, rush through, or give up on something difficult, what choice can you make instead that helps you keep moving toward your goal?
Heroes who share what their family discussed with a Guide before Morning Launch will earn 15 Work Plan points.
upper elementary studio
Soccer Analytics, Production Design, & Global Industrialization
What a high-energy week in the Upper Elementary Studio!
Quest: Soccer Fundamentals & High-Tech Data Collection at Sogility
Our athletic training focus shifted to soccer this week! We were thrilled to welcome Andres Bustamante—a Forest parent who played competitive soccer in Colombia—who visited the Studio to teach our Heroes core fundamentals and ball-control techniques.
On Friday, we took a field trip to Sogility to gather performance data to help balance our Phoenix Games teams! Using Sogility’s state-of-the-art training technology, learners tested their:
Visual Perception & Soccer Vision
Passing & Shooting Accuracy
One-Touch Ball Control
Heroes also played interactive, soccer-focused games to test their skills under pressure. A huge thank you to the team at Sogility for hosting us and giving our learners access to top-tier sports science equipment!
Story Arts: Full-Steam Production & Playbook Design
Production for our upcoming play is officially in overdrive, and watching the Studio divide and conquer has been incredible! Across the Studio:
Costume Designers brought in their own sewing machines to construct custom singlets.
Athletic Choreographers designed a 15-play, football-style playbook for the performance.
Set Builders constructed the wooden structural frames for four stage flats.
Visual Artists & Stage Designers drafted backdrops and collaborated with Ms. Amanda during art class to paint props.
Sound Engineers composed original background music and sound effects.
Writers polished script revisions and character dialogue.
It truly takes a village, and our Heroes are taking total ownership of this production!
Civ: Global Ripple Effects of the Industrial Revolution
In Civ, we expanded our focus beyond Great Britain to examine how the Industrial Revolution impacted the rest of the world.
Learners each selected a specific region—including Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America—to research how global trade and local economies shifted during the 18th and 19th centuries. We discussed how non-industrialized regions were drawn into supplying raw materials to fuel Western factories, how some nations adopted rapid industrialization, and how British imperial policies forced specific economies to support foreign manufacturing.
Dream Teams & Session 4 Exhibition Prep
This week, Heroes officially launched their outreach for their Dream Teams! Learners researched contact details and drafted professional emails to invite potential mentors and supporters to join their network.
Mark Your Calendars: Dream Teams will gather during our Session 4 Exhibition on December 15th!
Action Item: Many Heroes have already sent their invitations, but please check in with your learner to ensure their outreach email is sent out as soon as possible.
Parent Conferences Thank You
A thank you to all the parents and caregivers who joined us for conferences on Tuesday! We love partnering with you to support your learner’s growth and celebrate their progress. Have a restful weekend!
middle school studio
This week in Middle School, our Heroes celebrated the power of creativity, stepped into new challenges, and began exploring what it means to grow stronger—physically, intellectually, and as a team.
Celebrating Our Waste to Workshop Exhibition
We kicked off the week by revisiting Session 2 with our rescheduled Waste to Workshop Exhibition! Our Heroes showcased their creative upcycling workshop designs developed for Scraplanta, demonstrating how everyday discarded materials can be transformed into meaningful, engaging experiences.
Throughout this Quest, teams practiced problem-solving, resourcefulness, collaboration, and innovation while considering real-world constraints such as cost, staffing, and sustainability. The Exhibition provided an opportunity to share their ideas and celebrate their progress. Everyone was so excited to bring this to a successful close while practicing the balance of focusing on this current Session’s Quest as well.
Session 3 Quest: The Phoenix Games
This Session combines physical fitness, physics, and teamwork as Heroes investigate the science behind athletic performance. Following Monday’s field trip to Piedmont Wellness Center, teams are exploring how forces, motion, balance, and energy influence different exercises.
We are continuing to design and improve our own Mini Combine, a series of physical challenges that put their growing knowledge to the test.
Heroes are examining fitness exercises, applying physics concepts, testing strategies, and iterating on their designs to discover how athletes can train smarter, not just harder. Along the way, teams will earn points through challenges that reward thoughtful experimentation, collaboration, and improvement.
The Phoenix Games offer an opportunity to practice persistence, take initiative, and learn that progress often comes through reflection and revision.
Civilization: When Is It Time to Break Away?
In Civilization, Heroes are traveling back to colonial America to explore a powerful driving question: When does a government lose the right to govern?
Beginning with the French and Indian War, Heroes are investigating how Britain’s costly victory led to new taxes and growing tensions with the American colonies.
Rather than viewing the American Revolution through a single perspective, learners will examine the competing beliefs of Loyalists, Reformists, and Patriots. Why did some colonists remain loyal to Britain? Why did others seek change within the system? And what convinced others that independence was worth the risk?
Through discussion and historical analysis, Heroes will practice evaluating evidence, defending perspectives, and considering the difficult choices that shape history.
Building Community and Ownership
Beyond Quest and Civilization, our week included Hero-led Conferences, collaborative Core Skills, Math Labs, teamwork feedback, and opportunities for Studio reflection.
Heroes also strengthened their community through Build the Tribe activities, tech-free recreation, and Character Call Outs celebrating positive contributions. Whether refining an athletic challenge or debating the causes of revolution, our Heroes are practicing key skills for their Hero’s Journey: how to think critically, work together, and take ownership of their growth.
high school studio
Quest Begins, Phoenix Games, and a Week of Connection!
This week marked an exciting shift in our High School Studio as we officially kicked off Quest! Heroes began working with our new Quest partner, Piedmont Wellness, taking on a real-world challenge that requires them to ask questions, conduct research, understand different perspectives, and develop meaningful solutions. We’re excited to see how their ideas evolve as they work through this experience and prepare for the upcoming Exhibition.
We’re also joining the rest of the school in the Phoenix Games! The points are already underway, and our High School Heroes are now part of the friendly competition happening across Studios. The Phoenix Games give Heroes another opportunity to work together, represent their teams, and contribute to a larger school-wide effort. We’re looking forward to seeing the teamwork, determination, and school spirit that come out of the competition!
A big thank-you to all of our families who participated in conferences this week! Conferences went wonderfully, and it was encouraging to hear how many parents are happy with the direction of the Studio this year. We appreciate the honest conversations, questions, and feedback. All concerns and suggestions shared during conferences were brought back to Administration so they can be heard and considered. We value the partnership we have with our families and appreciate everyone taking the time to connect with us.
As Heroes move into Quest, we are continuing to protect dedicated Core Skills time for Math, ELA, and other foundational learning. However, families may notice that Heroes have less Core Skills time than they did before. This is an intentional adjustment as we make room for Quest. Heroes are aware of this change and actually requested more time for project-based learning! We will continue helping them balance their academic responsibilities with the demands of Quest and stay accountable for their individual progress.
Parents, one great conversation to have with your Hero this weekend is about their 360 scores! Ask them what feedback they received, what stood out to them, and what they might want to work on moving forward. The 360 process gives Heroes an opportunity to hear different perspectives, reflect on how they show up in the Studio community, and identify areas for personal growth. These conversations can help turn feedback into meaningful goals and action.
Looking ahead, we have a few important dates coming up:
Wednesday, November 11 at 1:00 PM: Our next field trip to Piedmont Wellness, where Heroes will have another opportunity to learn directly from our Quest partner and deepen their understanding of the challenge.
Thursday, November 12 from 12:00–1:15 PM: Session 2 Exhibition! We look forward to celebrating the work and learning from our previous Quest.
It’s been a full week of new challenges, collaboration, family connection, and school-wide excitement. We’re proud of the way our Heroes are stepping into Quest and continuing to take ownership of their learning. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish in the weeks ahead!
math lab
It has been a wonderful few weeks in Math Lab, and I am so proud of the progress our Heroes are making! Our latest Math IXL Diagnostic results show encouraging growth across all Studios. From our August testing to our October testing, every Studio demonstrated overall growth of at least 20 points! This is something worth celebrating and reflects the hard work and continued effort of our learners.
Individualized IXL Learning Plans
As we look ahead to our next Math IXL Diagnostic in January, each Hero should continue working through their individualized IXL-generated study plan. These plans are designed to meet learners where they are academically and provide targeted practice to strengthen skills and build confidence.
Working on the recommended skills in these individualized plans will count toward the 30 minutes of weekly IXL practice required for the IXL Badge.
In addition, our mathematical focus this Session is Measurement. Each Studio has a designated list of Measurement IXL lessons that Heroes can complete to earn Passport Stamps. These stamps are an important part of the Math Lab Badge plan, which requires each Hero to earn 20 Passport Stamps by the end of the school year. Completing the assigned Measurement lessons provides Heroes with an opportunity to earn stamps while strengthening their understanding of measurement concepts.
Math Office Hours: Additional Opportunities for Support
I have added some additional Office Hours for our High School Heroes to make individualized math support more accessible. The new opportunities are Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:00–8:55.
Office Hours are a wonderful opportunity for Heroes to receive individualized guidance, ask questions, work through challenging concepts, and get additional support as they build their mathematical understanding.
I encourage all Heroes to make use of these opportunities! One way to make Office Hours especially productive is to keep a running list in their math notebooks or portfolios of problems they find challenging, concepts they would like clarified, or mathematical vocabulary they are unsure about. Bringing specific questions helps us make the most of our time together and allows me to provide more targeted assistance.
Current Math Office Hours Schedule
Upper Studio: Friday, 9:00–9:55 and 1:00–2:00
Middle Studio: Friday, 10:00–10:55 and 1:00–2:00
High School Studios: Tuesday, 8:00–8:55; Thursday, 8:00–8:55; Friday, 11:00–11:55 and 1:00–2:00
Please encourage your Heroes to take advantage of these opportunities whenever they need additional guidance or support.
A Reminder About Math Lab Badge Requirements
I would also like to encourage families to take a few minutes to review the Math Lab Badge requirements together. These challenges are designed to encourage consistent practice, mathematical growth, and the ability to apply math in meaningful ways.
Please make sure both you and your Hero understand what is required for each challenge and have a plan for completing them. Remember that all Badge requirements are due during Session 7, but Heroes are welcome to complete challenges ahead of the deadline. The only exception is the Math Relevance Project, which should be completed according to its designated timeline.
Thank you for continuing to support your Heroes as they develop their mathematical skills, confidence, and independence. Their growth is exciting to see, and I look forward to celebrating even more progress in the weeks ahead!
Have a blessed week!