Session 7: Year 7, WeeK 40 In Review
Epic Endings and New Beginnings: A Journey Through Our Spring Quests
spark studio
This week was filled with celebration, wonder, and creativity!
We kicked off the week with Cinco de Mayo, diving into the vibrant traditions of Mexican culture. Laughter and rhythm filled the Studio as learners joyfully practiced the Mexican Hat Dance, moving in circles around the oversized sombreros and holding hands with their friends.
One of the most magical moments came when we witnessed the birth of a baby chick — a quiet moment turned into a cheer-worthy event as learners gathered to see new life emerge before their eyes. Curiosity and care were in the air as they asked thoughtful questions and gently observed this tiny new arrival.
On a gloomy, rainy morning, we turned the cozy mood into an opportunity for comfort and connection. Learners measured, mixed, and kneaded their way through a bread-making adventure, filling the room with the warm, inviting aroma of fresh dough and shared effort.
Later in the week, we experienced another awe-inspiring transition as we released butterflies into nature, watching with amazement as they spread their wings after emerging from their chrysalises. It was a quiet celebration of patience, transformation, and freedom.
Our creative spirits were also sparked by the work of Winslow Homer, whose depictions of wind and sea inspired beautiful, expressive artwork from the learners. Brushes danced across paper as they interpreted nature through their own eyes, just like Homer.
And while we won’t give too much away just yet… let’s just say Mother’s Day is on our minds. Behind the scenes, little hands and big hearts have been hard at work preparing something special. We can’t wait for you to see it soon!
The letters of the week are “w” and “y.”
lower elementary studio
What an amazing week for the Lower Elementary Studio!
We welcomed three feathered friends and four scaled-wing travelers! The butterflies were released to help pollinate our world, but the chicks have stayed, and the Studio has been in high gear observing and learning to become chicken whisperers. We have learned so many things this past week — life is truly an incredible experience!
In Civilization, we have continued our Who’s Who of ancient history, diving deeper into the lives of people who have made their mark on ancient civilizations. We are working hard to create our own Studio and personal books about each of the people we’ve studied.
In Quest, we completed our work for the pollinator path and dug deeper into our study of arthropods. All of this, in turn, helps inform our creativity and storytelling for Story Arts in our upcoming theater presentation of Bugbeth (a loose adaptation of “The Scottish Play”). We cannot wait to perform it live for you at our upcoming exhibition on Tuesday, May 20th! Please be on the lookout for an email with more information about costume needs.
Add on to this all of the hard work learners have been doing to complete badge work and finish out the year strong, and you see why we are so proud of all we are seeing accomplished in our Studio!
upper elementary studio
This week, our learners have been putting the finishing touches on their zines — and they can’t wait for you to read them! Each zine is a unique reflection of their voice, creativity, and hard work.
We’ve also been diving deeper into ancient religions, with a special focus on early Christianity. With the exciting real-world news of the newly elected pope, learners are witnessing history unfold before their eyes — a powerful reminder that the past and present are always connected.
In Quest, our focus on native pollinators continues. Learners are studying which plants best support local pollinator species and are preparing to plant their container gardens next week. We are still in need of a few more local businesses to participate in our Pollinator Path project. If you have any connections or ideas, please reach out to Gage.
It’s hard to believe the year is almost over! If you have any questions about your learner’s badge progress or final submissions, don’t hesitate to connect with us. We’re proud of all their growth and can’t wait to finish the year strong!
middle school studio
This week in the Middle School Studio was all about bringing our mystery production to life — and we made major strides! From expert feedback to artistic expression, every day added a new layer of excitement and challenge to the journey.
On Monday, we took a bold step by performing our first full "stumblethrough" of the script. A former educational theatre director joined us to give feedback, helping us think more critically about stage presence, character development, and pacing. Their insight sparked meaningful discussion and motivated us to polish our performances.
Tuesday was all about setting the mood. Using AI tools, heroes experimented with building soundtracks for our investigation scenes. The goal: make each transition feel tense, curious, or a little eerie. Learners explored tools that transformed basic ideas into rich, atmospheric music that brings the story to life — proof that technology and creativity can go hand in hand.
By Wednesday, we were ready for a change of pace. We enjoyed watercolor painting outside — an opportunity to ground ourselves in nature and explore mood through color. We also jumped into production mode: teams split up to take on key elements of the show. Costume design, flyer updates, seating layouts, and script revisions were all tackled with energy and teamwork.
On Thursday, we took a moment to step back from the production and dive into Civilization. Our focus was on what happened after the Warring States period — a rich and complex time that shaped much of ancient Chinese history. The conversation helped connect the dots between power, storytelling, and culture — an unexpected but meaningful link to the show we’re creating.
We wrapped the week on a high note Friday by sharing our script with a professional from The Murder Mystery Co. Their feedback was invaluable, offering real-world advice on our writing. They even helped us brainstorm ways to improve.
From start to finish, this week was a celebration of self-direction, artistry, and collaboration. With just a few weeks left until our live performance at Exhibition on May 20th, our heroes are showing what it means to lead, create, and take pride in their work. Stay tuned — it’s going to be a mystery worth solving!
high school studio
We are knee-deep in our final Quest of the year — Epic Solutions — and the energy across campus is focused and purposeful. Over the last two weeks, heroes have been meeting with real-world professionals and experts from the companies they’re partnering with. These meetings have given them valuable insight into authentic challenges in the field and sparked ideas for meaningful, creative solutions.
Now, the work is underway. Heroes have officially begun building and refining their proposed solutions, which they will present next week in a culminating exhibition that showcases both their critical thinking and their commitment to real-world impact. These projects represent a true synthesis of their learning this year, and we can’t wait to see how they bring them to life!
In addition to our Quest work, heroes also completed their final math exam of the year on Thursday. This marks a huge accomplishment and closes the chapter on our formal math assessments for 2024–2025. We’re incredibly proud of the growth and effort heroes have shown in math all year long.
As we prepare to wrap up the school year, Guides have also been carefully reviewing transcripts and individual check-ins. This process allows us to determine what, if any, summer work heroes may need to complete in order to return next year either ahead or on track in their learning journeys. We believe in giving heroes clear insight and responsibility in their progress so they can make empowered decisions about their learning paths.
A few important reminders as we head into the final stretch:
All work is due next Thursday, May 15th, by 3:15 p.m.
Please support your hero at home by encouraging them to complete their work thoroughly, seek feedback from peers, and complete peer approvals for all remaining challenges and badge work. End-of-year submissions are a vital part of the Forest School learning model, emphasizing reflection, revision, and mastery.Short Film Screening – May 21st @ 6:15 p.m.
Mark your calendars! We’re thrilled to invite you to our Short Film Screening on Tuesday, May 21st. This will be a celebration of our heroes’ creative storytelling, teamwork, and technical skills, and it promises to be an inspiring and memorable evening.
As we head into the final weeks of the school year, we are filled with pride and excitement. Thank you, families, for your continued partnership and encouragement. Let's finish this year with strength, intention, and celebration!