Debate, Design, and Storytelling: A Whirlwind Week of Learning

Check out this week’s updates…

spark studio

The Power of Attire in Leadership

In the world of leadership, appearance plays a significant role in shaping perceptions and establishing credibility. As we gear up for an exciting election season, let's take a closer look at the attire of key players: the Presidential Candidate, the Vice President, the Campaign Manager, and the Secret Service.

Presidential Candidate
A presidential candidate often opts for a polished and professional look that exudes confidence and approachability. Tailored suits or dresses, often in navy or charcoal, are staples, paired with crisp dress shirts and understated ties. Accessories are minimal yet impactful, such as a classic watch, earrings, or a lapel pin that can symbolize their campaign values or affiliations.

Vice President
The vice president typically mirrors the candidate's style, with an added layer of formality. Women in this role may wear elegant dresses or tailored suits, often in bold colors to stand out. Men might choose lighter fabrics for warmer climates, maintaining a clean, authoritative look that reflects their position as a key advisor and representative.

Campaign Manager
The campaign manager's attire strikes a balance between professionalism and approachability. They often wear smart casual outfits—think blazers paired with slacks or dresses—that allow for mobility and comfort during hectic campaign schedules. Their goal is to embody the campaign's energy while remaining relatable to the electorate.

Secret Service
The Secret Service maintains a distinct uniformity that emphasizes security and authority. Their standard attire includes dark suits or dresses, earpieces, sunglasses, and polished shoes, projecting a professional image that reassures the public of their candidates' safety. Their appearance is functional yet disciplined, designed to blend in while remaining vigilant.

Upcoming Events

As we delve deeper into the dynamics of leadership and representation, don’t miss Spark’s upcoming “Becoming a Spark Leader” learner-led exhibition on Thursday, October 10th, from 8:30 to 9:45 AM. Join us to explore what it means to lead and make an impact in your community. You, the people, get to vote based on each team’s collaboration, eye contact (one of our superpowers), voice volume and clarity, and professionalism. May the best team win this election season!

A friendly reminder about our field trip to Southern Belle Farm on Friday, October 25th, from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. If you're interested in volunteering:

Please sign up here and remember to include how many heroes you can transport.
Make your payment here.

Lastly, a completed background check is required to participate.

lower elementary studio

What a week for Lower Elementary!
We have been quickly adding more math and language lessons and games; the Studio is humming with choice, activity, and learning! We have also worked hard as campaign teams, with candidates, campaign managers, and policy advisors digging into tough issues such as pollution, climate change, food deserts, the use of AI, the economy, the wealth gap, and more. Please feel free to continue these conversations at home and ask your learners their thoughts on these issues and any potential solutions they might have!

In the middle of the week, heroes had the opportunity to be target audience experts for Middle School as they work on their Story Arts project of creating children’s books. At the end of the week, we had an awesome surprise when we got to meet the “campaign manager” for Kid President, Brad Montague! Our Lower Elementary heroes joined the Middle School heroes and asked wonderful questions about the origin of Kid President and where he is now (ask your learners!).

Brad has also written several award-winning books, including Fail-a-bration and The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination. We ended our week preparing for our upcoming “Making of a Politician” Quest, and we are so excited to welcome friends and family to our debate on Tuesday, October 8, at 3:45 PM. See you all very soon!

upper elementary studio

As we near Exhibition, our learners are putting in the hard work to make their mark! In Quest, they’ve been channeling their inner leaders by practicing and refining their presidential debate speeches. Through powerful public speaking and persuasive arguments, they’re preparing to take the stage and share their visions as future leaders, ready to debate and inspire!

In Story Arts, creativity is in full swing as learners finalize their campaign posters. These vibrant posters, filled with clever slogans and colorful designs, are their personal statements of leadership, presenting their platforms with pride and confidence. It’s been incredible watching their visions come to life!

In Civilization, our learners took a fascinating trip back in time, exploring ancient religions through myths. From tales of gods and heroes to understanding the roots of belief systems, they discovered how these stories shaped ancient societies. This newfound knowledge gives them deeper insight into how ideas and narratives shape civilizations — a perfect complement to their quest to understand leadership.

We can’t wait to see how these experiences culminate in the Exhibition! Stay tuned for an exciting showcase of talent, leadership, and creativity!

middle school studio

This week was full of creativity, competition, and exciting surprises for our learners! One of the highlights was the completion of the Children’s Books project. Our learners worked tirelessly to meet the deadline, ensuring their stories were ready for Spark and Lower Elementary heroes to review. The younger learners enthusiastically provided feedback and cast their votes for their favorite books, leading to the selection of five winners. These chosen stories will be celebrated in a public book reading next week at a local bookstore, giving our young authors a platform to share their creative work with the community. It’s a thrilling opportunity for them to see their ideas come to life and receive public recognition for their hard work!

In Quest, our learners had an intense week of preparation for the upcoming Exhibition. We dove deep into understanding the policies of the opposing candidates, giving learners the chance to refine their arguments and field questions with confidence. This practice was crucial as they gear up for the live debate next Wednesday. In a special twist, we also joined forces with Forest School Online for a live virtual debate! This collaboration allowed our learners to practice debating in a real-time, dynamic environment, enhancing their public speaking and critical thinking skills.

The week didn’t stop there! In an unexpected and delightful turn of events, we were invited to meet New York Times Bestselling Author Brad Montague at a local Trilith Institute event. Montague, known for his creative work and his mission to change the world through children’s ideas, gave an inspiring talk about embracing creativity and learning from failure. Our learners not only got to meet him, but also had the incredible opportunity to ask questions publicly during the Q&A session. It was a moment of immense pride when Montague asked what questions The Forest School learners had, and several of our heroes were able to speak up and engage with him directly. His message about creativity and resilience resonated deeply, especially as our learners had just completed their children’s books.

In the midst of all these activities, learners reflected on the significance of creativity, debate, and feedback in their work. From creating imaginative stories for younger learners to practicing real-world debate skills, and even interacting with a world-renowned author, this week was full of growth and learning. As we look ahead to next week’s book reading and exhibition, it’s clear that our learners are not only developing as writers and debaters but also as confident and thoughtful individuals, ready to take on new challenges with curiosity and courage.

It’s been an unforgettable week, and we can’t wait to see where these experiences take our learners next!

high school studio

This week was a whirlwind of reflection and adjustments as we worked hard to ensure that our learning remains both deep and enjoyable. Many of the heroes spent time evaluating what worked and what needed modification within the studio, leading to a few changes that we believe will enhance our experience. These changes aim to strike a balance between fostering meaningful learning and allowing room for more fun as we head into the final week of this session.

In Quest, we took a step back and reviewed all the work we’ve done so far. The heroes collectively reflected on their learning journey, creating a detailed plan for evaluating the information they’ve gathered in preparation for our upcoming exhibition. The energy was buzzing as we began strategizing how best to showcase our efforts!

In Story Arts, excitement is building as we prepare for experts to visit the Studio. These experts will guide us through the various departments involved in film production, offering a deep dive into the essential roles we’ll need to understand for our next big project. The heroes are eager to learn from the pros and apply this knowledge to their own creative work.

Finally, in Civilization, we engaged in a lively debate on one of our favorite recent topics: Gender Equality. The discussion was passionate, thought-provoking, and reflective of the critical thinking skills our heroes are developing. It’s always inspiring to see how deeply they engage with important social issues.

We’re looking forward to a fun and productive final week of the session. Have a wonderful weekend, and we’ll see you all on Monday, ready for more learning and growth!

Session 2: Year 7, WeeK 9 In Review