From Wellness and Storytelling to Rockets and Reflection

spark studio

Wellness from Within

We kicked off the week with a beautiful expert visit with Jayida Chè Herbal Tea Spot, where learners explored the health benefits of several herbs. Your learner brought home a recipe card for you to try at home! Our experts also happen to be a family from TFS, which made the experience even more special. Learners worked in groups to create their own unique tea blends promoting health and wellness from the inside out—and they even named them! Think Bunnies in the Spring and Double Mia. Perhaps Jalida Che will promote a new tea blend in their salon…fingers crossed!

We certainly are excited to enjoy these blends at our upcoming Learner-Only Tea Party. We are asking for six parent volunteers to act as servers, a photographer, and a few food donations for this annual event. Please sign up here https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C45A4A62CAAF49-62074036-its if you are able to volunteer or donate. Thank you in advance for helping us create a meaningful opportunity to practice etiquette.

Our Salón Español continues to offer beautiful moments of learning. Learners who have chosen to participate in the club as an extra badge are thriving. As a matter of fact, when Ms. Ivana walked in, she witnessed two learners having a conversation in Spanish. ¡Qué momento tan especial!

The D.R.I.P. Challenges are flowing, with learners proudly coming to group reflections saying, “I completed my first D.R.I.P.!” It has been incredible to witness their growth.

Science was an exciting discovery filled with curiosity and excitement. After filling different-sized containers of water outside over the past weekend, we returned to discover one had burst. As learners exclaimed, “Our pipes burst!” this led to rich conversations filled with theories and wonder as we analyzed—another amazing learning moment.

Share Time Update:
Share time has become incredibly popular, and we have not been able to get to everyone in a timely fashion. We sincerely apologize if your learner has not yet had a chance to share. We will be restructuring share time next session and will send a follow-up with details on how it will work moving forward. Thank you for your patience as we work through the logistics.

Upcoming Reminders:

Annual Tea Party (Learners Only): Wednesday, February 11th
Valentine’s Card Exchange & Session Reflection: Thursday, February 12th

May you be well, happy, and peaceful. Butterfly hugs to all!

lower elementary studio

In Story Arts, learners worked independently or in small groups to identify real Studio challenges, such as cleaning up, managing noise levels, or other everyday issues. They then created solutions using one of three formats: a problem-solving poster, a before-and-after comic strip, or a short skit. Each project included a clear beginning, middle, and end that showed the problem, the actions taken to help, and the resolution. Learners also completed a reflection explaining why their chosen problem mattered, what felt challenging, how they persevered, and how caring about others shaped their choices. Everyone shared their work at the end of the session, highlighting both creativity and strong social-emotional growth.

In Quest, learners began creating dishes for Chef Leigh in preparation for next week’s Exhibition. Chef Leigh is developing a children’s cooking class, and our Lower Elementary heroes are supporting her by designing kid-friendly recipes that can be prepared independently by children. Learners are thoughtfully experimenting with flavors, ingredients, and presentation. During the Exhibition, they will proudly showcase both their food and their recipes. Parents, please check in with your learner about which ingredients they need and how they plan to prepare and present their dish with their partner. This is a great opportunity to support planning, organization, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

In Civilization, learners rotated through hands-on engineering stations where they worked with their Bin Buddies to create simple machines, including a tipping cup, turning handle, water lifter scoop, time marker, and surprise trigger. With limited time at each station, learners practiced creativity, teamwork, and quick problem-solving as they moved from one challenge to the next. We also talked about Ibn al Haytham and the principle of how light travels. Learners also created a camera obscura to observe how our brains automatically translate the image our eyes receive.

We look forward to seeing you at the Exhibition on Tuesday, February 10th, from 4:30–5:45 PM. Lower Elementary learners may stay after school to prepare, so please remember to pack an extra snack. Additionally, we will celebrate Valentine’s Day on Thursday, February 12th. Please check with your learner to see what they signed up to bring.

upper elementary studio

This week, our community has been deeply focused on preparing for our upcoming Exhibition, and the energy across spaces has been purposeful and creative.

Quest
In Quest, learners stepped into real-world roles as they prepared to present their work. Each learner approached the project from a different lens:

Writers crafted rich culinary descriptions of their recipes.
Scientists investigated ingredients and explored whether changes during cooking were chemical or physical.
Suppliers researched where to source local, farm-fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Money Managers calculated the cost per serving to ensure recipes are both delicious and affordable.

Learners will be presenting their recipes to the staff at Enzo and Exhibition attendees, helping solve a real problem: how to gather inexpensive, local, seasonal ingredients for restaurant dishes. This work blends literacy, science, math, and community connection in a meaningful way.

Story Arts
In Story Arts, learners continued developing their original songs. Many now have their chord progressions locked in and are moving closer to finished pieces. Learners have begun recording demos in the studio so we have a record of their work, and a few are even interested in performing their songs live. It’s been exciting to watch their confidence grow as their ideas turn into full compositions.

Civ
To make space for Exhibition preparation, Civilization work was briefly paused this week. However, we did hold a powerful launch on Friday exploring the connection between Martin Luther King Jr. and Asia, focusing on how Dr. King studied Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence and applied it to the Civil Rights Movement.

Additionally, Mr. K has begun a series of Black History launches, introducing learners to lesser-known Black inventors, including the inventor of video games and the traffic light. These stories sparked great conversations about innovation, influence, and whose stories get told.

As we move closer to Exhibition, learners are juggling collaboration, creativity, and responsibility—and rising to the challenge. We’re excited to see their work come together and to share it with the broader community soon.

Please sign up for a slot at Exhibition if you haven't already! It's 12:30 at Enzo on Tuesday, February 10th. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548A8AE2DA3F8C07-62110853-theexperimental

middle school studio

From Rocket Science to Storytelling

This week was all about bringing ideas closer to launch—both literally and creatively—across Quest, Story Arts, and Civilization.

Quest: Preparing for Liftoff
In Quest, heroes reached a major milestone. After weeks of testing, analyzing, and iterating, they finalized their solid rocket propellant recipes and began making their propellant in advance of Exhibition next week. The shift from planning to production has brought a new level of focus, and we can’t wait to see these rockets launch.

We’re also thrilled to welcome Paul Vaughan, Lieutenant and Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, who will join us as an expert to provide feedback. Connecting learners with professionals working in aerospace engineering adds real-world rigor and raises the bar for the work they present.

Story Arts: Visual Stories Take Shape
In Story Arts, heroes prepared six-panel comic and graphic novel layouts in advance of expert feedback next week. This phase focused on solidifying storylines, clarifying character arcs, and continuing illustration work. Learners were intentional about how visual choices communicate emotion, pacing, and meaning—an important step before presenting to experts.

Civilization: Researching the Islamic Golden Age
In Civilization, learners explored the Islamic Golden Age and the major advances made across trade and economics, math and science, and art and culture. They began by examining two modern sources that frame the era from very different perspectives.

From there, heroes researched specific innovations from the period, tracked their sources carefully, and transformed their notes into clear visual explainers—posters, infographics, and other formats designed to be understandable to someone without much historical background. Learners then tested their communication by presenting their visual like a short-form video to two or three people and listening as their audience shared three takeaways without looking back at the work. The challenge concluded with reflection on how to decide what information is trustworthy when a topic has been debated for centuries.

As we move into Exhibition week, the Studio is full of momentum. Rockets are nearly ready, stories are taking final shape, and ideas are being sharpened through sharing, feedback, and reflection.

high school studio

This week marked an important transition in the Studio as we officially moved into Quest, diving into meaningful work that connects learning to real life in powerful ways.

Quest — Mental Health in the U.S., and Us
Our current Quest centers on the mental health crisis in the United States and how awareness, prevention, and understanding can empower young people today. Heroes are learning how to analyze real data, interpret trends across the nation, and reflect on what the state of mental health looks like within our own school Studio community.

Beyond awareness, this Quest is focused on prevention and practical tools. One highlight has been exploring the science of deep breathing—understanding how it affects the brain, nervous system, and body. Heroes are discovering that something simple can be truly powerful when you understand why it works and how to use it intentionally.

Protected Core Skills & Ongoing Check-Ins
Even as Quest takes center stage, we continue to protect core skills time and prioritize check-ins with heroes who are behind. These structures ensure Heroes stay grounded academically and emotionally while engaging with such an important topic.

Studio Health/Practices
We are also working to raise the quality of running partners across the Studio, tightening expectations and strengthening accountability. These updates are currently being implemented as a pilot, allowing us to refine systems, work out the details, and ensure they truly serve Heroes well.

Once the Studio has tested and improved these practices, we look forward to sharing them more broadly—but for now, you’re getting a small inside look. Wink, wink.

Looking Ahead: Exhibition
Next week, preparation begins for Exhibition, where Heroes will showcase their learning, insights, and preventative strategies connected to mental health. We are excited to see how this meaningful work comes to life and to celebrate the growth happening across the Studio.

Session 5: Year 8, WeeK 22 In Review