Learning with Purpose: Celebrating Progress, Unity, and Real-World Impact

Check out this week’s updates…

spark studio

Rise & Shine Bugfast: Exploring Mealworms and Their Life Cycle

Mealworms are fascinating creatures that play a crucial role in our ecosystem. These larvae of the darkling beetle are not only a popular food source for many animals but are also becoming increasingly recognized for their potential in sustainable food practices.

The Life Cycle of Mealworms

Egg Stage: The life of a mealworm begins as a tiny egg, laid by an adult darkling beetle. These eggs are often found in warm, dark environments.
Larva Stage: After a few weeks, the eggs hatch into larvae, commonly known as mealworms. This stage lasts about 10 weeks, during which they feed on grains, vegetables, and decaying plant matter, growing significantly.
Pupa Stage: Once they’ve matured, mealworms enter the pupal stage, where they transform into pupae. This stage is crucial as it prepares them for adulthood.
Adult Stage: Finally, the pupae turn into adult darkling beetles. The cycle then repeats as the beetles lay eggs, continuing the life cycle of mealworms.

We have our very own mealworms that we are observing as they morph into darkling beetles.

Speaking of life cycles, in celebration of Halloween, we studied the life cycle of a pumpkin. We had fun exploring the inside of two pumpkins. One began to decompose and became pretty smelly, while the other was ready for carving. We took the seeds, planting one for each of us, and roasted the rest. We hope our pumpkins don’t die on the vine!

A big thank you to the Executive Branch of the Spark Studio for guiding us as we created our Contract of Promises. Rules provide a sense of security and stability for learners, helping them feel safe and confident in their surroundings. Clear expectations and boundaries guide learners' behavior, promoting self-regulation and reducing conflicts.

Weekly Share: Letter of the Week “D”

This week, we’re focusing on the letter “D”! Engaging with these themes helps the heroes learn about and explore the world around them in a fun, interactive way.

Please follow the schedule below:

Monday: Leo, Elliot, Auggie, Siro, Carter
Tuesday: Grace, Ezra, Safi, Hannah, Rowan
Wednesday: Hadley, Trey, Liam W., Winnie, Josie
Thursday: Claira, Liam James, Able, Verayna, Wilder
Friday: Fiona, Sloane, Fletcher, Amani, Alyse, Mecca

lower elementary studio

Why Do We Need a Contract of Promises?

As we gathered to celebrate the commitment we made to one another by signing our Contract of Promises, it's important to reflect on why we do this.

We do not sign this contract simply to create more rules. Instead, we sign it—something we have drawn up and agreed upon together—to honor each other and ourselves by striving to understand others before seeking to be understood.

As we move forward in our commitment to these promises, it is our hope to do so in the spirit of these words from the author and poet Kahlil Gibran:

“Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.”
—Kahlil Gibran

We recognize that it takes courage to make this commitment—to trust that by giving respect and seeking to understand others first, we, too, will be heard, valued, and understood. Making these promises to each other is an act of humility and strength and a first step toward building the community we all desire to be part of.

And so, together, let this journey begin.

Session Three - November 5th Lower Elementary Virtual Work Day

20-30 min. Core Skills - Lexia
20-30 min. DEAR (Drop Everything And Read - read a book and work on the book report)
15 min. Brain Break (preferably with outdoor movement!)
20-30 min. Core Skills - Zearn
15 min. Brain Break (preferably with outdoor movement!)

Pen License Challenge:

Our Pen License Challenge is on! Practice writing words with your new cursive handwriting skills. Try to fill a page with cursive words to bring back and share as you work toward pen license mastery!

Quest:

Hello, Marine Biologists! Spend some time thinking about which part of the ocean environment you will represent in our exhibition. Remember, there are five kingdoms of life, so you could choose an animal, a plant, bacteria, algae (protista), or fungi.

upper elementary studio

Our heroes have dived deep with the kickoff of our Marine Biology Quest! This week, they explored the ocean's water column layers through an engaging hands-on activity that combined science and visual learning. Using liquids of different densities, they created a layered representation of the ocean’s depths—a fascinating experiment that revealed the unique challenges marine animals face in different zones. Additionally, our heroes gained insight into the essential work of conservation experts and the significance of conservation status, learning how ecologists prioritize resources to protect vulnerable species.

In Civilizations, we began our exploration of the Copper Age by putting on our investigative hats and examining the ancient murder mystery of Ötzi the Iceman. Heroes started their quest into forensic anthropology, learning to analyze ancient artifacts and clues from the past.

This Session’s Story Arts covers the beautiful intersection of poetry and songwriting, as the two forms often inspire one another. Be sure to ask your hero about their poems this week, how their views on poetry may have evolved, and what they’re excited to create next.

In our Studio, regular check-ins play a vital role in supporting learners’ academic and social-emotional growth. Ideally, learners should meet with their guides weekly or every other week. We have two types of check-ins: formal and informal. Formal check-ins cover both academic progress and social aspects of Studio life, and learners will follow up with you by email afterward. Informal check-ins focus on general progress and may not include an email update.

If you feel your learner could benefit from more frequent meetings with their guide, please email us, and we can schedule a recurring check-in time to support them. Here’s to more discovery and creativity in the weeks ahead!

Virtual Learning Day Challenge: "Design Your Own Emoji!"

Objective: Learners will design a personalized emoji that represents an emotion, hobby, or something special about themselves. At the end, they'll share their emoji with the Studio and explain its meaning.

Emoji Inspiration Brainstorm
Learners will think about what they’d like their emoji to represent.
Prompt ideas:

An emotion they want to share with friends.
A hobby or activity they love.
A favorite animal, food, or color.

Consider colors, facial expressions, and symbols to include.

Design Time
Learners can draw their emoji on paper or create it digitally using a program like Canva. NO AI!!!
Think about details like facial expressions, color, and shapes to make their emoji unique.

Share
Email your emoji to your Forest School email and be prepared to share it when you return to school on Wednesday.

middle school studio

On October 28, we embarked on an exciting week filled with memorable activities, team-building moments, and impactful learning experiences for our community.

Our journey began with a Contract Signing event at the Alliance Theatre, a place synonymous with creativity and innovation. The ceremonial contract signing symbolized each learner’s commitment to our community agreements and learning goals for the year. This was more than just a formal exercise; it represented a shared vision and personal dedication to growth, responsibility, and collaboration. Following the signing, we participated in team-building games designed to build trust and deepen bonds among our learners and staff. These activities reinforced the values of cooperation and respect that we collectively strive to uphold, setting a tone of unity and excitement for the year ahead.

Our learning adventures continued with a field trip to Panola Mountain State Park, where we explored the Watershed Project, delving into the environmental science behind watershed management and conservation. Our time at the park was enriched by the expertise of a Park Ranger and a representative from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Together, they provided valuable insights into the intricate relationships within ecosystems and the critical role watersheds play in maintaining biodiversity, water quality, and ecological health.

As part of our hands-on learning experience, learners had the chance to collect water samples directly from the park’s watershed. These samples will be analyzed in their comprehensive lab reports as we prepare for our ongoing proposals to Panola Mountain State Park. Learners will practice the scientific method, gathering data to inform their findings and recommendations for conserving and enhancing the local watershed. This fieldwork emphasized the importance of environmental stewardship and underscored the real-world impact of scientific research. By empowering learners to engage with nature and apply scientific principles, we’re inspiring a generation of environmental advocates committed to sustainable practices.

Another significant milestone this week was the launch of hero-led conferences. This platform offers learners the chance to take the lead in discussing their progress, challenges, and goals with their parents and mentors. It’s an opportunity for reflection and self-assessment, encouraging each learner to take ownership of their growth journey. These conferences focus on developing self-awareness and communication skills, fostering resilience and confidence as learners articulate their achievements and aspirations.

Looking ahead, we want to remind everyone that Tuesday, November 5, will be a virtual learning day. This past week highlighted the values of our community: commitment, curiosity, and connection. Through contract signings, field studies, and learner-led reflections, our heroes demonstrated that learning is more than just an academic pursuit; it’s a transformative journey that shapes both minds and hearts. Here’s to more adventures and discoveries in the weeks to come!

high school studio

This week, we’ve made great strides across multiple areas of our school, with exciting developments in Quest, Story Arts, Civilization, and more!

In Quest, we’ve embraced planning with the end in mind as we focus on our Exhibition. We’ve solidified our user and now have a tentative plan in place. It’s amazing to see everyone’s vision come together as we prepare for this project.

Meanwhile, in Story Arts, we’re diving deep into our roles. Learners are working closely with experts to refine their skills and ensure that we bring a high level of professionalism to our film production. Everyone is gearing up to make this a truly great film!

In Civilization, we’re taking a closer look at the food we eat. Learners are exploring what’s in their meals, with some making positive changes to their diets. It’s incredible to see these real-world applications happening in our classrooms!

Conferences are going smoothly; if you haven’t signed up yet, please do so while spots are still available. Additionally, our Juniors had their first Mastery Transcript meeting this week, kicking off their road to college!

As for check-ins, remember that each hero should have at least one Session check-in scheduled by a Guide based on their badge. Additional check-ins can be scheduled at any time upon request via Slack, email, or in person. Juniors and seniors have specific scheduled check-in times that were sent via email and are expected to attend unless they’ve communicated otherwise.

Let’s keep up the great work!

Session 3: Year 7, WeeK 13 In Review