From Forest Paths to Financial Plans: A Journey in Self-Discovery

spark studio

Stars, Promises, and Pencils – A Week of Spark
This week in Spark, we’ve been diving deep into something exciting—our Badge Plan. But this wasn’t just any presentation. Each level was invited into a magical meeting where the journey began... in a forest. Imagination took the lead as learners walked through the woods of possibility, discovering what it means to grow, reflect, and take ownership of their path.

Through the forest adventure, learners found themselves earning special stars—not just stickers or tokens, but moments of joy that come from within. These stars weren’t handed out; they were felt. They came from choosing lessons with intention, focusing on personal goals, recognizing emotions, solving conflicts, and even remembering to use kind words when feeling frustrated. Manners at lunch became another quiet space to practice mindfulness—a small but powerful way of showing respect and care.

These experiences tied in beautifully with our Contract of Promises—a powerful conversation around what we owe to ourselves and to each other. This wasn’t just about rules, but about values: kindness, responsibility, and honesty. The learners led the conversation, discovering for themselves what matters most. We were even joined by Mayor Johnson on Friday, who listened to our ideas, gave thoughtful feedback, and reminded us how our small actions ripple into the community.

But the week didn’t stop there.

High School brought their energy to a special launch that had everyone buzzing—What Can You Do with a Pencil? The challenge was deceptively simple: Spark learners versus High School in a brainstorm battle. How many things can you do with a pencil? From drawing to measuring, fixing things to pretending it’s a magic wand—the ideas flowed. Groups were mixed with different ages, reminding us that creativity doesn’t belong to any one grade.

The point? To become resourceful. To see ordinary things in extraordinary ways. And most importantly, to remember that the tools we carry—whether they’re pencils or emotions, promises or good manners—shape the kind of people we are becoming.

This week was more than just lessons. It was about who we are when we choose to show up with curiosity, kindness, and courage. The stars, the promises, the pencils—all reminders that growth happens when we engage our hands, our hearts, and our minds.

Until next week—keep noticing the stars you earn, the promises you keep, and the tools all around you.

lower elementary studio

This week, our learners took a big step forward in their journey as thoughtful communicators.
We explored the differences between a discussion, a disagreement, an argument, and a fight—and discovered how choosing the right approach can help us build stronger connections with one another.

During Quest, we leaned into teamwork as we continued building our crew and preparing for our very first Exhibition. We are so excited to invite you to join us on Tuesday at 4:30 to celebrate all the hard work and creativity your Heroes have poured into this moment!

In Story Arts, our young authors and dramatists dreamed up bold storylines full of conflict, twists, and meaningful growth—proving that flat stories just aren’t in our style. Even more inspiring, many of our learners are now confidently stepping into the role of Guide, giving Montessori lessons to their peers. Watching them transform from learners into leaders has been a joy.

Finally, Inventure Lab with Ms. McKenna has sparked incredible energy and excitement. Learners are buzzing with the thrill of solving real-world problems and the possibility of seeing their ideas come to life beyond our Studio walls.

It has truly been a week filled with growth, courage, and creativity—and we can’t wait to share it with you!

upper elementary studio

Getting Ready for Next Week
This week, our learners began preparing in earnest for our very first Exhibition—a special time when parents and community members can see our learning in action. For this Exhibition, we’ll be showcasing our studio guilds. Each learner was sorted into a guild (either their first or second choice) as an apprentice and has started preparing for their guild’s presentation.
We’re keeping this first Exhibition simple: just presentations from each guild. But there will be a few exciting surprises we’re looking forward to sharing with you!Signature Learning Experiences
Quest – Learners continued building their guilds, which were designed to meet the needs of our studio. The guilds include:

Arte di giudici (judges/lawyers)
Arte di fissatore (fixers)
Arte di cambio (bankers)
Arte di culina (kitchen workers)
Arte di artiste (artists)
Arte di imprenditore (entrepreneurs)
Arte di auditores (helpers)

Each guild is now preparing its presentation for Exhibition under leadership of the guildmaster.
Story Arts – Learners explored what makes things funny, watched sketches for inspiration, and gave peer feedback on their own comedy writing.
Civ – Heroes gave one-minute pitch presentations about the basic mechanics of our Civ game. We filmed these pitches, and a small team will now decide which mechanics will best serve the game design.Class Pets
We’re thrilled to welcome two new class pets: leopard geckos named Pixel and Vader! Learners were ecstatic to meet and care for them. A huge thank-you to Ethan and his family for providing food for the geckos, since they breed lizard grub at home. We also created a Pet Responsibility Chart, and learners volunteered to help with daily care.Other News

On Friday, the mayor will visit our studio to review our studio contracts. Our judges guild will present the contract for feedback.
On Wednesday, Tyler visited to launch a great discussion on making big life decisions, like buying a car.
Our judges guild began working their job in earnest this week. They will oversee cases when learners violate our studio nonnegotiables. We're counting on them to be fair, honest leaders in the studio and have done a great job so far.
Our student council also conducted their first Town Hall to help resolve issues that happened in P.E.

Looking Ahead
We’re excited to see you all at our very first Exhibition on Tuesday at 4:30 pm. We can’t wait to share what we’ve been building together!

middle school studio

A Week of Visitors, Feedback, and Experiments in Middle School
This week in Middle School was packed with excitement, meaningful conversations, and hands-on discovery. From welcoming special guests to diving into the science of chemistry, our learners had opportunities to grow, reflect, and showcase their hard work.

Feedback from the Mayor of Fayetteville
A highlight of the week was a truly memorable visit from our city’s mayor. As part of our ongoing work on the Middle School Contract, learners had the chance to share the promises they crafted to guide how our community works and lives together. The mayor listened closely, asked thoughtful questions, and gave direct feedback on how their commitments connected to real-world citizenship.

It was a powerful reminder that the work we do here—shaping values like responsibility, respect, and leadership—has relevance far beyond the walls of our Studio. Learners walked away inspired, recognizing that their voices matter in shaping both their school and their community.

Expert Cake Baker Visit
Later in the week, our culinary creativity took center stage. An expert cake baker joined us to taste the first round of bakes from our ongoing project. Each learner (or team) presented their cake, describing the choices they made in ingredients, flavor, and dietary restrictions.

The expert offered encouraging yet constructive feedback, highlighting both strengths and areas to refine for the next iteration. It was an authentic moment where learners could experience what it feels like to share creative work with a professional and embrace the process of feedback as fuel for growth. The excitement in the room was contagious—learners are already brainstorming new techniques and flavor adjustments to wow the judges at Exhibition.

A Chemistry Twist in Civilization
In Civilization, we explored the Middle Ages through an unexpected lens—chemistry. Learners carried out an experiment with pennies, testing reactions and changes that connected both to scientific principles and historical contexts. Just as medieval alchemists experimented in hopes of turning base metals into gold, our learners got a taste of how curiosity and science intertwine with history.

The experiment sparked rich discussion: Why were people in the Middle Ages so fascinated by transformation? How did their experiments pave the way for modern chemistry? By mixing historical inquiry with hands-on exploration, learners saw how knowledge grows through trial, error, and persistence.

Looking Ahead
This week reminded us of the power of authentic work: contracts that shape community values, cakes that bring both joy and challenge, and experiments that reveal the deep connections between history and science. Most importantly, learners practiced receiving feedback with open minds and using it to make their work stronger—a skill that will serve them for life.

We can’t wait to see how their next round of bakes, contract refinements, and scientific explorations continue to unfold as we prepare for Exhibition next week!

high school studio

Week 3 at The Forest School: Financial Wins, Big Ideas, and Studio Synergy
What an exciting third week it’s been! Our Heroes are stepping up in big ways—taking ownership of their learning and showing incredible persistence in the process.

Running Partners continued to play a key role this week, as Heroes worked together on badge approvals, encouraged one another, and built stronger connections through meaningful check-ins. These partnerships remind us that success is often a team effort.

Core Skills have become part of the daily rhythm, and Heroes are setting bold goals in math, science, and Deep Books. Our Math Lab is buzzing with energy, full of curiosity, problem-solving, and those “aha!” moments we love to see.

The big highlight? Quest is officially in full swing, and this session’s focus—Financial Literacy—is already sparking powerful conversations. Heroes explored real-world money scenarios, learned about decision-making with limited resources, and started to uncover the habits that lead to financial independence. From budgeting basics to the risks and rewards of investing, this Quest is equipping Heroes with tools that matter now and will matter even more in the future.

Practical pitches also continued this week, showcasing creativity and confidence as Heroes presented their ideas. Every pitch gave us Guides new insight into their passions and problem-solving skills—it’s amazing to see their voices shine.

Week 3 has been a perfect mix of learning, teamwork, and big-picture thinking. We can’t wait to see how our Heroes continue to grow their financial smarts and leadership skills in the weeks ahead!

Session 1: Year 8, WeeK 3 In Review