Cold Mornings, Big Thinking: A Week Inside Our Studios

spark studio

Wellness from Within

This week in Spark felt like a story written in frost and sunshine.

The cold arrived first—sharp, ice-cold mornings that turned our breaths into clouds and our curiosity up to full blast. We bundled up and stepped outside anyway, ready to meet the weather face-to-face. We talked about temperature and precipitation, about how the sun can feel warm even when the air makes your nose tingle.

Then we found the ice: big pieces, tiny shards, crunchy and crackly under our feet. We crushed it, tested it, listened to it snap and pop like nature’s own sound effects. The cold never bothered us anyway… or so we thought.

Because then came the snake (no worries, it was a harmless garter snake).

There it was, curled up and basking in the winter sun like it had missed the memo about freezing temperatures. One second we were scientists; the next it was, “Aahh, run—there’s a snake!” It definitely bothered some of us, and we bothered it too, scaring it right under a rock where it clearly decided this adventure was over. Hearts pounding and laughter spilling out, we headed back inside with stories to tell and write.

The adventure didn’t end at the door. Inside the Studio, we shifted from explorers to thinkers, learning about D.R.I.P. and what it means to be self-directed at The Forest School. D.R.I.P. stands for:

Desire to learn
Being Resourceful
Taking the Initiative to start
Being Persistent enough to get it done

Self-direction, like water, may advance in a patient drip or rush swiftly with the current. We reflected on where we each are along that path, knowing there’s no rush and no single right pace.

We are focused on honesty, ownership, and empathy as we continue learning how our choices affect others. We are talking about how respecting people and their belongings helps our community feel safe and trusted. When mistakes happen, we emphasize telling the truth, taking responsibility, and repairing harm with care.

Onward we move—curious, brave, and growing—discovering together that we can do hard things, even when they’re cold, surprising, or hiding under rocks.

lower elementary studio

What a wonderful week back in the Studio! Learners returned curious, engaged, and ready to explore new ideas while building their skills as thoughtful, self-directed learners and leaders.

This week, learners continued to strengthen their self-direction through DRIP—Desire, Resourcefulness, Initiative, and Persistence. During one morning launch, learners reflected on how often they demonstrate each quality. Most reported showing Desire and Resourcefulness regularly, while Initiative and Persistence were more challenging for some. We have been intentional in our morning launches and daily routines to support mastery of DRIP by creating opportunities to practice, recognizing moments of success, and guiding learners to reflect, analyze, and evaluate their growth.

In Story Arts, learners continued developing leadership skills through Emotions Revealed, focusing on effective communication and active listening. They participated in two interactive games:

Mystery Message Builders: Learners described objects using clear, specific language while others listened carefully, asked questions, and made guesses, strengthening both expressive communication and active listening.
Listening Detective Challenge: Learners practiced listening with their eyes, ears, and brains to fully understand what others were sharing, emphasizing the importance of helping peers feel heard and understood.

In Civilization, learners experienced creating remedies for sick patients, managing budgets, and exploring the effects of imported goods. Through hands-on simulations and role-playing, they made decisions about resources, costs, and trade, gaining insight into how choices impact communities and economies.

In Quest, learners explored the concept of heat by examining how s’mores are made using different heat sources. They learned about the three main ways heat moves—radiation, conduction, and convection—and discussed how each type of heat transfer affects the cooking process. Learners compared s’mores prepared in an air fryer versus a microwave, observing differences in melting, texture, and overall results. As they shared their observations, learners also enjoyed a serving of s’mores paired with roasted berries, making the experience both engaging and delicious.

It has been a week full of curiosity, collaboration, and meaningful learning. We are proud of how our heroes are growing as thinkers, communicators, and leaders, and we look forward to the discoveries and adventures ahead in the Studio.

upper elementary studio

A Short Week, Big Progress

With a shorter week on the calendar, our Studio shifted gears slightly. We paused Civ and leaned fully into Story Arts and Quest, giving learners extended time to push creative work to a more polished, professional level. The result was a week filled with experimentation, iteration, and some genuinely impressive growth.

Story Arts: Making Songs Move

In Story Arts, learners continued developing their original songs, moving beyond just “having lyrics” and into thinking like real musicians and producers. We explored how strong songs create interest and momentum by changing things up—especially in the second verse.

Learners studied common techniques artists use to add variety, such as:

Dropping instruments or beats for contrast
Adding new instruments or percussion layers
Bringing in second voices or harmonies
Changing rhythm or energy to surprise the listener

Armed with these ideas, many learners began experimenting confidently. We saw chord progressions coming together on guitar, original drum patterns created from scratch, and full multi-track compositions built in Soundtrap. Some learners worked through frustration, revising and reworking sections multiple times, while others discovered that small changes could completely transform a song. It was exciting to see them start thinking not just as writers, but as composers and producers.

Quest: Red Sauce, Real Stakes

In Quest, learners tackled their final recipe challenge: red sauce. This was not about following a recipe—it was about designing one. Learners experimented with spices, balance, acidity, sweetness, and texture, testing and adjusting as they worked toward what they believed was the strongest possible sauce.

Once the testing phase wrapped up, Guides selected a winning recipe in true MasterChef style. The process required learners to justify their choices, reflect on what worked (and what didn’t), and accept feedback—sometimes hard feedback—with maturity.

Looking Ahead: Exhibition Prep Begins

On Thursday, learners were officially introduced to the Exhibition plan:

February 10 at 12:30 PM at Enzo

With that clarity, the Studio energy shifted. Learners began stepping into their Exhibition roles—supplier, scientist, writer, and money manager—each responsible for a critical piece of the experience. Over the coming days, learners will continue experimenting and refining their dishes so that the chefs at Enzo can prepare them exactly as designed.

This week marked an important transition: moving from exploration to execution. The work now is about precision, communication, and teamwork—and learners are rising to the challenge.

More soon as Exhibition approaches.

middle school studio

A Week of Thinking, Creating, and Problem-Solving in Middle School

This week in Middle School was packed with moments that asked learners to think deeply, create boldly, and defend their ideas with evidence and clarity. Across Quest, Story Arts, Civilization, and Genius Hour, learners stepped into real-world roles and practiced the kind of thinking that matters far beyond the classroom.

In Quest, learners continued their work as chemical engineers, applying unit conversions and calculating the volume of a model rocket as they plan upcoming rocket fuel recipes. This wasn’t math for math’s sake—every calculation had a purpose. Learners had to be precise, justify their methods, and understand how small numerical decisions can have big real-world consequences when designing something that must function safely and effectively.

Story Arts brought a truly special experience. We welcomed two industry experts, including a former creative director from Cartoon Network with over 20 years of experience, who met with learners and gave individualized feedback on their comic and graphic novel work. Learners received professional-level critique on Storytelling, Visual clarity, Pacing, Character development, and then, they immediately began applying that feedback to revise their work. It was a powerful reminder that iteration and outside perspectives are essential to high-quality creative work.

In Civilization, learners analyzed and ranked evidence supporting the idea that Polynesians reached South America before European contact. Rather than hunting for a “right” answer, learners evaluated multiple forms of evidence, explained their reasoning for how they ranked each source, and reflected on how historians make claims when certainty is elusive. Their written reflections showed growing sophistication in weighing credibility, context, and interpretation.

The week also featured Genius Hour with Dr. Tyler Thigpen, where learners took on the role of consultants. Teams analyzed data, made recommendations to a client, and then practiced making counterarguments against competing proposals. The thinking was sharp, the debates were thoughtful, and the stakes were high—our top two teams earned a celebratory Chick-fil-A lunch for their compelling reasoning and teamwork.

Weeks like this capture what Middle School looks like at Forest: learners wrestling with complex ideas, learning from experts, defending their thinking, and discovering that hard problems are often the most rewarding ones to solve.

high school studio

This week in the Studio struck a healthy balance between rest, readiness, and purpose, setting Heroes up for success as we prepare to enter our next Signature Learning Experience: Quest.

A Strong Start: Rest & Rejuvenation

Heroes kicked off the week on a positive note with a snow day—an unexpected but welcomed opportunity to rest, reset, and rejuvenate. Time away from routine can be just as important as time in it, and returning refreshed made a noticeable difference in focus and energy.

Protected Core Skills — All Day, On Purpose

Following the snow day, we dedicated an entire day to core skills. This intentional pause gave all Heroes the chance to catch their breath, rebuild momentum, and strengthen foundational skills before launching into our next major challenge. Protecting this time reinforced the importance of balance and preparation as part of long-term success.

Signature Learning Experience: Quest — Preventative Mental Health

Our next Quest is officially underway, with a powerful and timely focus on preventative mental health. Heroes will explore how to care for their mental well-being before challenges escalate, building tools they can rely on throughout life.

During this Quest, Heroes will:

Learn from several experts in the field
Analyze national trends related to mental health
Create a personal mental health portfolio—a resource they can keep “in their back pocket” for times of stress, anxiety, or emotional overload

This portfolio will include practical strategies and techniques, such as deep breathing, that Heroes can use immediately and independently when they need support.

Ongoing Check-Ins

Guides continued regular check-ins this week, helping Heroes reflect on their readiness, name stressors, and set intentions as they enter Quest. These conversations are especially important as we lean into topics that connect learning to real life.

Hero Ownership & Studio Culture

Heroes continue to demonstrate ownership of their learning and well-being, engaging thoughtfully with Studio structures and supporting one another as a community. This mindset will be essential as Quest work deepens.

Looking Ahead: Exhibition

We are already looking forward to Exhibition, which promises to be both meaningful and fun as Heroes showcase their learning, insights, and practical tools around mental health. We’re excited for the community to see the impact of this work.

This week reminded us that learning isn’t just about doing more—it’s also about pausing, preparing, and taking care of ourselves so we can show up fully for what’s next.

Session 5: Year 8, WeeK 21 In Review