Session 2: Year 8, WeeK 9 In Review
From Feudal Villages to Future Visions: A Session of Creativity, Courage, and Growth
spark studio
Exhibition Week
This session, during The Rising of the Phoenix, as you now know, we stepped into the roles of peasants in the Middle Ages, working together in guilds to bring history to life. As apprentices and craftspeople, we discovered the skills, traditions, and creativity that shaped village life long ago.
Each learner explored different guilds—craftsmen, musicians, builders, merchants, and more—before choosing the one that best matched their strengths and interests. Through music, movement, building, and storytelling, we learned how each guild’s work supported the village and how cooperation was essential for both survival and celebration.
Together, we created not just characters, but an entire village where every voice, trade, and talent had a place. Along the way, we uncovered a hidden treasure: the secret of the Phoenix, a symbol of renewal, imagination, and the spark that brings knowledge to life.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all the parents, families, and friends who came out to support and make this exhibition possible. The magic truly happened because of you—your presence, encouragement, and partnership brought our village to life.
As we close this chapter, we wish everyone a wonderful and well-deserved break. When we return, a new adventure awaits—a challenge from the Phoenix itself to face our deepest fears and set sail toward new and wondrous realms of learning. The journey continues, and the spark burns brighter than ever!
One final request: If you didn’t get a chance to complete the exit survey during the exhibition, please take a moment to do so now. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us and helps us continue to grow and improve.
Exit Survey
lower elementary studio
This week was alive with excitement and creativity as our Spark, Lower, and Upper Elementary learners brought the Renaissance Festival Exhibition to life. It truly took a Feudal Village to make it happen—thank you to every family who joined in the fun and festivities!
After such a joyful celebration of learning in Civilization and Story Arts, our Studio is taking time to pause and reflect. This session has stretched and inspired us in new ways. Learners have wrestled with big ideas, collaborated across Studios, and discovered what it means to take ownership of their work—and of their place in our community. Through triumphs and challenges alike, they continue to grow in confidence, creativity, and care for one another.
As we head into Fall Break, we’re grateful for the chance to rest, reflect, and return renewed for the next leg of our journey. Thank you for walking alongside these young heroes as they learn, lead, and grow into the people they are called to be.
InVenture Prize Opportunity
If your child would like to take place in the regional K12 InVenture Prize competition at Ga Tech, you will need to provide consent by October 31st. You can do so by creating an account and filling out the required forms here. By filling out the forms, you consent to your child taking part in any event where representatives from Ga Tech come to The Forest School. Giving consent also grants them permission to take part in the competition on site at Ga Tech as well as the ability to move onto the regional and national level if they advance through each competition! You can learn more about Ga Tech's K12 InVenture Prize here: https://inventureprize.gatech.edu/ and here: https://youtu.be/JjQRk-JEsE8?si=lTXU_ALek4Z9Iqqk
Reminder: This Friday is a virtual learning day for our school. We wish all our families a restful and joy-filled Fall Break!
upper elementary studio
The Renaissance Comes Alive!
This week, our Studio took center stage — quite literally — as we brought our long-awaited Renaissance Fair performance to life!
On Monday and Tuesday, heroes focused on polishing every scene. We walked through the full performance three times, refining entrances, timing, and energy with each rehearsal. By the end, everyone knew not only their lines but also their character’s purpose, story, and personality — from brilliant artists to bold inventors and dramatic nobles.
What parents might not have known is just how much of the show was the learners’ own creation. Every scene was devised and written by the heroes themselves.
Elin penned the show’s powerful opening.
Autumn wrote the witty back-and-forth between Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, which became one of the performance’s highlights.
The long introduction sequence was crafted by our very own “Writers’ Room,” a small creative team that used what we call the AI sandwich — Human → Software → Human. They outlined the scene, used AI to generate a first draft, and then revised it together — first in their team, then with the full Studio’s feedback — until everyone agreed it captured the right mix of history and humor.
Behind the scenes, heroes worked incredibly hard to master their characters. They didn’t just memorize lines — they became their historical figures. To prepare, they presented pitches to one another, to visiting high schoolers, and twice to Hadrian, each time facing tough questions they couldn’t always answer at first. Those challenges sent them back into research mode, digging deeper into history to strengthen their understanding and confidence.
By Reflection Day on Wednesday, our Studio was buzzing with pride. Heroes were excited, proud, and already asking if we could do another Renaissance Fair! The joy of performing, creating, and sharing their hard work was contagious — and it showed.
We were also thrilled to hear from parents, whose feedback echoed what we saw all week: learners impressed everyone with their deep background knowledge, convincing pitches, and authentic acting.
It’s safe to say our Upper Elementary heroes didn’t just study the Renaissance — they brought it back to life!
middle school studio
Games, Props, and Perspectives
This week, our heroes wrapped up one of the most exciting stretches of the session — full of creativity, reflection, and real-world application.
Gaming for Good Exhibition
Our Studio transformed into a boardroom of innovators as heroes pitched their original game concepts to a real-life game company CEO. Each team shared how their game could make a positive impact in areas like health, education, and community — proving that gaming can be both fun and meaningful. They received authentic feedback from an industry expert, learning how purpose and play can come together to create real change.
Story Arts: Prop-Making Gallery
After weeks of prop research and craftsmanship, the Studio came alive with color and imagination during our prop gallery showcase. Heroes displayed their finished props inspired by the stories they’ve been developing, and their peers explored the gallery to vote for the People’s Choice Winner, while Guides selected a Guide’s Choice Winner. It was a celebration of creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to bring story worlds to life through design.
Civilization: Seeing History Through a Global Lens
In Civilization, heroes explored what historians call the “Catastrophes of the Early Middle Ages” — events like the Plague of Justinian and the Late Antique Little Ice Age. While these crises shook Europe, heroes researched what was happening elsewhere in the world at the same time. Were things “good” or “bad” globally? Their reflections challenged a Eurocentric view of history and opened up deeper discussions about how we define progress and resilience across cultures.
Each experience this week reminded us that learning is not about memorizing facts — it’s about creating, connecting, and questioning the world around us.
high school studio
Session Closeout Highlights
This week marked an incredible finish to our session!
Our heroes wrapped up with an exciting exhibition showcasing their branding campaign for The Meliora School—an up-and-coming school in Snellville founded by our very own Math Specialist, Chrissy Keck. After several creative iterations and rounds of feedback, the final presentations blew everyone away. Chrissy shared how impressed she was by their professionalism, teamwork, and willingness to refine their ideas until the end.
Meanwhile, our Haunted House project is in full swing! The energy and creativity are unmatched—but we need your help to bring it fully to life. We’re collecting:
Empty cans
Mini bean bags (for Cornhole)
Cardboard
Face paint
Elmer’s glue
Vaseline
A clown suit
And any other spooky items you’d be willing to donate!
In academics, our heroes also completed their second math exam of the year (five more to go!) and ended the week with a deep reflection and discussion activity that brought powerful insights and connections to the surface.
It’s been a week full of creativity, collaboration, and courage—and we can’t wait to see what our heroes bring into the next session.