Session 5: Year 8, WeeK 18 In Review
A Powerful Start to Session 5: Curiosity, Choice, and Courage Across Studios
spark studio
Happy New Year! We couldn’t think of a better way to kick off 2026 than by diving into the incredible human body and how it works. This week at Spark, we began our learning journey from the inside out—discovering that while we are all made up of the same basic parts, it’s our differences that make us truly unique.
We explored fun facts about our bodies: our organs work nonstop to keep us alive, our blood can travel thousands of miles through our bodies over a lifetime, and water plays a vital role in keeping everything running smoothly. This led to a thoughtful discussion—what if we were all exactly the same? We quickly agreed life would be pretty boring! We’d like the same things, think the same thoughts, and struggle to tell one another apart. Our differences are what make our community vibrant and exciting.
Hydration became a big focus this week. Learners discovered how much water their bodies need each day and created charts to track their intake. The big realization? We should all be drinking more water! To build on this, we conducted a fun science experiment by smelling herbs, adding them to water, and observing the changes. We are now attempting to propagate two plants—one in plain water and one in herbed water. Will the herbs make a difference? Stay tuned!
Next, we’ll explore food and how it affects our insides. Would you rather eat a homemade french fry or one from Chick-fil-A, Whataburger, or McDonald’s—and which option best supports a healthy body? We’re putting this question to the test with a science experiment on food spoilage. Our hypothesis is that noticeable changes will occur within 15–30 days. We predict that the raw potato will spoil first, followed by the homemade fries, then Chick-fil-A, Whataburger, and finally McDonald’s fries, which we expect to last the longest.
Ms. Ivana also shared a special family tradition from Spain about The Three Kings, explaining who they are, why they visit, and how their arrival is celebrated with joyful parades. To bring the tradition to life, each learner received a special gift along with a piece of king cake. Daren found the king in her slice and was proudly pronounced Queen for the day, while Ishvi discovered the bean and was jokingly told he had to pay for everything. What a fun and memorable tradition for everyone to enjoy!
Our core skills movement is truly taking flight. Each morning, learners eagerly discover which island their Phoenix has flown to—Sensorial, Math, Language, Science, Civilization, Art, PE, Quest Discovery, or Practical Life. Once they complete their first task, they’re free to travel island to island, exploring interests, building independence, and mastering skills that spark their curiosity.
It’s been an energizing and joyful start to the year at Spark!
Friendly reminder: Family Share time is always available! If you didn’t get a chance to share and would like to, please feel free to reach out—we’d be happy to add you to the schedule. We truly love learning about each other and value the stories, traditions, and experiences that make each family unique.
lower elementary studio
Happy New Year and welcome to Session 5. It has been a joy to welcome learners back after the break. They returned focused, energized, and ready to dive back into their learning.
During Quest, learners stepped into their roles as Flavor Innovators and participated in a series of taste tests exploring how preparation methods and flavor additions change food. They compared strawberries with lime versus no lime, baked versus air-fried sweet potatoes, salted and unsalted cucumbers and tomatoes, and bread dipped in oil and pepper versus bread dipped in water and pepper. The majority of learners really enjoyed the strawberries with lime, which quickly became a class favorite. These experiences sparked thoughtful observations, lively discussions, and plenty of curiosity.
In Story Arts, we launched our new investigation, Emotions Revealed. Learners worked with their squads during an “act it out” activity, identifying and discussing a range of emotions through expression and movement.
During Civilization, learners explored the Golden Age of the Islamic World through an interactive scavenger hunt that led to unlocking a secret message, encouraging curiosity, collaboration, and excitement around historical discovery.
It has been a wonderful first week of Session 5, and we are excited to continue building on this strong start together.
upper elementary studio
Launching Signature Learning Experiences
Session 5 is off to an exciting start in Upper Elementary, with learners diving into several signature learning experiences that blend creativity, inquiry, and real-world problem-solving. This week marked new beginnings across Story Arts, Quest, Civ, Math Labs, Studio, and beyond.
Story Arts: Songwriting & Musical Inspiration
We leapt straight into a Story Arts songwriting experience, centered on how songs are actually made. Hadrian shared his personal songwriting process from ideas to releasing a song on Spotify, beginning with songs that inspired him, moving into creating a musical riff, choosing a lyrical topic, and then developing lyrics and instrumentation.
Learners began building playlists for inspiration, curating music that sparks ideas, emotions, and themes they may want to explore in their own writing. On Friday, we were thrilled to welcome Brianna McGeehan, an indie folk/pop artist and parent to Lucien, who helped launch our lyric-writing work. We have several professional musician experts joining us throughout the session, and learners are already buzzing with excitement about what’s to come.
Quest: The Experimental Table
In Quest, we launched our new cooking quest, The Experimental Table. Learners are helping Enzo tackle a real-world problem: rising grocery prices—especially when it comes to sourcing quality meat and produce.
Their challenge is to design a healthy, seasonal meal at a low cost, without sacrificing flavor or creativity. We kicked things off with culinary inspiration, exploring how chefs mix flavors in unexpected ways. Learners sampled ideas, discussed combinations, and began imagining how thoughtful experimentation can turn constraints into opportunities.
Civ: The Golden Age of China & Creative Connections
In Civ, we transitioned our focus to Asia, beginning with the Tang Dynasty (600–900 CE)—often called the Golden Age of China. Learners explored Tang art forms, daily life, and culture, and even wrote Li Bai–style nature poems, inspired by the famous Tang poet.
We also examined the layout of Chang’an, the Tang capital city, and compared it to Ba Sing Se from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Learners were amazed to discover how much real history and cultural structure the show draws from. Soon, this learning will extend into Chinese ink painting and calligraphy in art. Our hope is that these connections ignite both a love of history and a deeper creative spark.
Core Learning Shifts: Math Labs & Studio
As we move deeper into Session 5 and the rest of the year, there are important updates to core learning.
In Math Labs, learners are beginning work on the Math Labs Badge. This requires them to identify their weaker math areas using assessment data and then intentionally target those skills with focused practice. Learners are also building a math notebook that will serve as an ongoing reference guide and a place to clearly show their thinking.
In Studio, learners now have several choice-based pathways to grow their skills:
Attempting STEM math challenges
Playing math games to practice specific skills
Attending topic-specific math chats (Guide- or learner-led)
Learners are also responsible for completing 10 math practicals—word problems across 10 content areas—in order to move on to sixth grade. They may begin as soon as they feel ready. Additionally, learners can choose to attend reading groups, focused on short articles or stories, with topics selected week to week.
Forest Walks & Off-Campus Permissions
Starting next week, we will be offering Forest Walks during brain breaks for interested learners. These walks will take us into nearby woods to identify trees and plants, observe closely, and occasionally sketch what we notice. Time in nature is an important part of human flourishing, and we’re excited to bring this practice into our week.
We are also planning a walking trip to Enzo’s as part of Quest. To make both of these experiences possible, we need permission to take learners off campus.
👉 Please fill out this permission form before next week:
No learner will leave campus without Guide supervision.
We are also in search of camping stoves and hot plates so we can boil pasta, and ice cream makers if you have any to spare! Of course, all materials will be labeled and returned.
Schedule Note
Hadrian will be out of Studio from Tuesday afternoon through Thursday, attending an educational conference in Colorado and representing Forest School. He will be back in Studio on Friday. Mr. K will hold down the fort in the meantime.
Looking Ahead
Session 5 is shaping up to be a powerful blend of creativity, challenge, and connection—to history, to nature, and to real-world problems. Thank you, as always, for your partnership and support as we continue building meaningful learning experiences together.
middle school studio
Middle School Highlights: Trade Routes, Rocket Science, and New Leadership
This week in Middle School was packed with momentum, curiosity, and meaningful responsibility as heroes stepped into new roles, launched bold challenges, and strengthened our Studio culture.
The Silk Road Challenge continued to push learners to think globally and strategically. Heroes explored how ideas, goods, and cultures moved across continents—often facing obstacles like geography, scarcity, and competing interests. Through simulations and decision-making challenges, learners grappled with real trade-offs: Who gets access? What risks are worth taking? How does innovation spread? The work sparked thoughtful discussions about interdependence, cultural exchange, and how systems—ancient and modern—are shaped by human choices.
We also officially launched our Rocket Launch Quest, kicking off a chemistry-driven exploration of propulsion, engineering, and physics. We kicked it off with a stomp-rocket contest outside to get heroes excited about this new Quest. Following the literal launch, heroes stepped into the role of propulsion engineers, beginning the process of designing, testing, and refining solid rocket fuel mixtures. Early work focused on safety protocols, scientific vocabulary, and understanding how variables like ratios, reaction rates, and mass impact performance. This Quest will be highly iterative, requiring careful documentation, analysis, and revision—mirroring the real work of engineers and scientists.
In Studio leadership news, Middle Schoolers elected a new Council this week. Candidates shared their visions, articulated how they would represent their peers, and demonstrated courage by stepping forward to serve. The election process emphasized voice, accountability, and trust—core pillars of our learner-driven model. We’re excited to see how this new Council helps shape Studio culture, norms, and decision-making moving forward.
Building on that spirit of shared ownership, we also hosted a Town Hall, giving heroes space to raise concerns, celebrate wins, and practice civil discourse.
Finally, we kicked off Comic & Graphic Novel Story Arts, launching a creative deep dive into visual storytelling. Heroes began analyzing how authors and illustrators use panels, pacing, dialogue, and imagery to develop characters and convey theme—setting the stage for original story creation later this session.
Additionally, we had Dr. Tyler give a launch on recent political events, putting learners in the shoes of someone in power. Later in the week, we had a special guest launch led by a respected leader in our local community, who challenged heroes to think intentionally about leading their own lives, planning for their futures, and learning through real-world apprenticeships. The talk helped learners connect their academic work to long-term purpose, reinforcing that the skills they build now—curiosity, discipline, and perseverance—matter beyond the Studio.
From ancient trade routes to rocket science, civic leadership to creative expression, this week reflected what Middle School does best: challenging learners to think deeply, act purposefully, and take real ownership of their learning.
high school studio
This week in the Studio was grounded, intentional, and deeply reflective as we balanced core skills, running partner expectations, and an important Civilization experience centered on identity. All of this work is anchored in our session theme: Using Your Own Ideas — encouraging Heroes to think independently, take intellectual risks, and trust their own voice.
Studio Schedule & Protected Core Skills Time
Our daily schedule continued to prioritize protected core skills blocks, ensuring Heroes had uninterrupted time to build mastery in reading (deep book), science, and math. During this time, Heroes are expected not only to complete work, but to make choices about pacing, strategies, and problem-solving approaches. This structure reinforces the habit of relying on their own thinking rather than waiting for directions or answers.
Intentional Hero Requests & Partner Challenges
This week, Heroes engaged in intentional and effective running partner challenges (per their request), with a strong emphasis on setting achievable goals. These challenges required Heroes to bring their own ideas to the table — designing approaches, testing strategies for upcoming math exams, and adapting based on feedback from peers rather than relying on preset solutions.
Civilization — Identity
Civilization focused on exploration of identity. Heroes examined how identity is shaped (individually and collectively) through culture, history, values, and lived experiences.
Rather than being told what to think, Heroes were asked to form and defend their own ideas, connecting personal identity to larger civic and historical contexts. Through discussion and reflection, they grappled with questions such as:
How does identity influence decision-making?
In what ways do civilizations define “who belongs”?
How does understanding identity help us better understand others?
This work emphasized that strong civilizations — and strong individuals — are built by people who think critically and act from their own convictions.
🎓 Senior Update
A senior meeting with Ms. Brittney was held this week. If your Hero missed it, please see her soon!
Lastly, this session continues to challenge Heroes to move beyond compliance and into ownership, trusting their ideas, refining them through feedback, and learning how to stand behind their thinking with confidence.