Wrapping Up the Session: Dream Teams, Creativity, and Celebration

spark studio

As we ended another wonderful session in Spark, we want to pause and reflect with hearts full of gratitude.

This week has been a beautiful reminder of why Spark is such a special place. From moments of learning and laughter to teamwork, creativity, and growth, our days are made meaningful because of the incredible learners and families who make up our community.

We are deeply thankful for our families, for your trust, partnership, and constant support. Whether it’s your kind words, your encouragement, or simply sharing your Hero with us each day, we do not take it for granted. Your involvement and belief in what we do allow Spark to shine brighter.

To our amazing Learners: thank you for your curiosity, your joy, and the energy you bring into our space. You inspire us daily with your resilience, imagination, and kindness.

As we wrap up this week, we are reminded that Spark is more than another Studio—it is a family. We are grateful for every smile, every milestone, and every moment shared.

Thank you for being part of our Spark journey. We look forward to many more weeks of learning, growing, and shining together in the New Year.

With sincere appreciation,
The Spark Team

lower elementary studio

What a quick Session it has been. This week, heroes completed peer reviews in preparation for Exhibition and then led a strong, confident Exhibition experience. Throughout the week, they lived out what it means to hold one another accountable with kindness, recognized moments when leadership was needed, and stepped into those roles with confidence and maturity.

If I could summarize this Exhibition in one word, it would be astonished. The growth, ownership, and pride heroes demonstrated were evident in their presentations and interactions.

We ended the week with a holiday celebration planned by our Studio Council. Thank you to all of the Council members for the time, creativity, and effort you put into planning such a thoughtful and special event for our Studio.

Here is the link to our Virtual Day plans:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rzDZG-cIUpsCKAnYMDAKw2a7BZuEqmULwXsdaxVjIk0/edit?usp=sharing

We look forward to seeing everyone after the break. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a happy New Year!

upper elementary studio

Dream Teams and Growing Independence

This week marked a huge milestone for our Studio: our very first Dream Team Exhibition. It was the culmination of months of thoughtful work, reflection, and courage from our learners—and it showed.

Building Dream Teams

Over the past several months, we’ve spent time deeply understanding each learner’s interests, passions, and talents through check-ins and close observation. From there, learners moved into self-reflection activities and interviews designed to uncover their true superpowers—not just what they enjoy or are “good at,” but the deeper strengths that make them special. These included things like agility, problem-solving, leadership, creativity, and care for others.

Learners turned these strengths into Superpower Trading Cards, giving them a shared language to talk about who they are and what they bring to a team.

From there, we brainstormed potential Dream Team members—people in the world who could support, challenge, and inspire them. During our Write Now blocks, learners drafted, edited, revised, and rewrote emails before sending them out. The result was incredible: 26 of 29 learners secured Dream Team members outside of their family circles. And this is just the beginning. These teams will continue to grow, building learners’ social capital and expanding the support systems they’ll carry into their lives.

Exhibition Highlights

At Exhibition, we were joined by an inspiring group of adults who generously showed up for our learners, including:

Engineers
An actor
A lawyer
Coaches
Environmentalists
Artists and designers
A dancer
A professional working with NASA

Some Dream Team members weren’t able to attend in person but will support learners at other times, including a well-known NPR podcaster and author and a former NFL player. The excitement, pride, and confidence learners showed while sharing their work was powerful to witness.

Stepping Into Autonomy

As we prepare for Session 5, learners are clearly ready for more independence. On Tuesday, instead of a traditional guided launch, learners completed a read-notes-first launch by working through a scavenger hunt–style riddle challenge. They then facilitated a discussion on teamwork and what it means to work well together—without a Guide leading the way.

That same day, we focused on sportsmanship and how to handle big feelings, using Build the Tribe activities to practice self-regulation, empathy, and collaboration.

Community & Celebration

Thursday brought a joyful shift in energy with our learner-led holiday party and a fully learner-organized white elephant gift exchange. Learners planned, facilitated, and participated in the event with care and enthusiasm, reinforcing our strong sense of community.

What’s Emerging Next

We’re also seeing new interests take shape. Several learners are excited about creating their own news, with two launching podcasts (one focused on sports and one on current events) and another beginning work on a traditional, old-school newspaper.

This week reflected something we value deeply: learners growing not just in skills, but in confidence, agency, and connection. We’re proud of how boldly they stepped into their roles, supported one another, and invited the world in. We’re excited to see where their Dream Teams—and their growing independence—take them next.

middle school studio

Exhibition, Creation, Reflection, and Celebration

This week in Middle School was full of meaningful milestones as learners prepared for Exhibition, completed major creative work, wrapped up badges, and celebrated one another before the holiday break.

On Monday, learners focused on preparing for Exhibition through rehearsal, creation, and feedback. Based on first names, some heroes rehearsed presenting their Passion Projects, walking through their slide decks, learning journeys, and next steps. Others focused on the “Make” step—building, refining, or completing their final Passion Project work. Then they swapped. Heroes practiced sharing their work and received targeted peer feedback. Reflections submitted in JourneyTracker captured progress, feedback received and given, and evidence of growth.

On Tuesday, learners shifted into full creative mode for their final Story Arts podcast challenge. They crafted complete stories with clear hooks, conflicts, resolutions, and takeaways, then recorded and edited 2–4 minute podcast episodes. The day ended with a Listening Party, where heroes celebrated one another’s work and left thoughtful shoutouts recognizing strong storytelling, creativity, pacing, and clarity of message. Learners reflected on both their process and final product.

Wednesday marked a major highlight: Middle School Exhibition. Learners hosted Dream Team meetings and shared individual Passion Projects with visiting experts off campus, receiving authentic, real-world feedback. Heroes demonstrated confidence, ownership, and reflection as they explained what they built, what they learned, and where they want to go next.

On Thursday, learners wrapped up final academic work and closed out several major badges. Heroes submitted badge work to meet deadlines across Deep Books, Quest, Civilization, Story Arts, and Running Partner. The Studio then shifted into celebration mode with a Middle School Badge Ceremony, our holiday party, and gift exchange. We ended the day by honoring progress, perseverance, and growth—and shared a heartfelt farewell to two heroes who have officially completed their Middle School Badge Plan.

This week reflected the heart of our Middle School program: rigorous learning, meaningful creation, public sharing, and joyful celebration. We are proud of our heroes for finishing strong and supporting one another every step of the way.

high school studio

Finishing Strong: A Week of Reflection, Readiness, and Real Work

As this session wrapped up, our learners finished strong—juggling Story Arts and Quest while getting ready for what comes next. This week really showed how our Studio blends creativity, responsibility, and real-world readiness, all while keeping things hands-on and meaningful.

In Story Arts, we returned to photography as learners prepared for the upcoming Exhibition. Even though photography was introduced earlier in the session, this week gave everyone a chance to revisit their work with fresh eyes. They refined technical skills, experimented with composition and lighting, and thought deeply about the story behind every shot. Some tried new perspectives to create surprising images, while others revisited older work to add extra layers of meaning. Preparing for the Exhibition pushed learners to elevate their craft, explain their process, and get ready to share their stories with an audience—turning their ideas into polished, meaningful pieces.

At the same time, learners were finishing up their Quest work. Some heroes wrapped up apprenticeships this week, hitting an important milestone in their journey. These hands-on experiences gave them confidence, independence, and a sense of accomplishment. Others—who had already finished apprenticeships—focused on completing additional Quest badge tasks to make sure they’re ready for the next session. This mix of finishing up and looking ahead helps learners build momentum and clarity as they move forward.

The Studio kept running strong on daily routines, too. Learners kept up with practicals, helped maintain the space, supported each other through partner systems, and jumped into shootouts that sharpened their skills while keeping things fun and challenging. These small routines might seem simple, but they teach consistency, accountability, and follow-through—skills that matter both in the Studio and out in the real world.

Reflection was also a big part of the week. Learners looked back on where they started, noticed how far they’d come, and shared insights about their growth, collaboration, and personal responsibility. It was a chance to see the bigger picture of their learning, beyond just finishing tasks.

This week wasn’t just about getting things done—it was about finishing with intention. Our learners showed growth, focus, and readiness for what’s next. As we head into the Exhibition and start a new session, we’re proud of their creativity, resilience, and commitment to making their work—and themselves—better every day.

We can’t wait to celebrate their work and see what they tackle next. This week reminded us all that finishing strong isn’t just about the end—it’s about reflection, preparation, and showing up ready to do the real work.

Session 4: Year 8, WeeK 17 In Review