Seek First to Understand: Building Compassion, Curiosity, and Connection in the Studio

spark studio

Quiet, Focused, and Inspired

This week, Spark has been a bit quieter than usual as we've been putting Habit No. 5 into practice: Seek to understand, and then be understood; listen with your ears, eyes, and heart. We’ve spent a lot of time focusing on how to listen—not just with our ears, but with our eyes and hearts, too. This can be harder than it sounds!

One challenge we tackled was working in silence for 30 minutes—no talking, not even a whisper. It was tough not to ask questions, share ideas, or communicate with our friends, but the results were surprising.

The silence made the Studio feel peaceful and calm, allowing us to focus deeply on our goals. It was a chance to really concentrate on our work without distractions. Not having the urge to speak or engage in side conversations helped us better understand our tasks and make progress on our individual quests.

Speaking of quests, this week, we shifted our attention to something exciting: pitching our dream “all-inclusive park” idea to Ms. Amber and Dr. Tyler. They, along with a parent, joined us to hear our pitch. The feedback we received was encouraging and helped us refine our ideas. We're thrilled to be taking the next steps to make these concepts a reality.

The first step was for each of us to create a blueprint of our dream park. Drawing our ideas has been an incredibly fun process. The creativity flowing around the Studio has been contagious, and we can’t wait to see how our individual visions come together. If you or someone you know has experience in park design or development, we’d love to hear from you! We're looking to get expert feedback on our ideas before we present them at our exhibition. Your insights would be invaluable as we move forward.

A few reminders before we sign off:

Spark is in need of extra Legos. If you have any that you’d like to donate, please send them with your learner so we can start sorting through them for our upcoming projects.
If you’re able to chaperone and transport learners to LEGO Discovery, please use this link: SignUp Genius to sign up. We’re excited about this upcoming opportunity and appreciate your support!

And finally, our letter of the week is "K." Keep an eye out for the connections we’ll be making with this letter in the days ahead!

We can't wait to share more as we continue to focus, listen, and create.

“The time is always right to do what is right.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.

lower elementary studio

In our Studio, we revisited our overarching question for the year: How can you become the hero of your own story and accomplish great things? This week, we looked at it through the lens of someone who did just that—Dr. Kwane Stewart, Founder of Project Street Vet and CNN’s 2023 “Hero of the Year!”
Read more about Dr. Kwane Stewart
Learn about Project Street Vet

We are thrilled to be working with this amazing organization for our Veterinary Medicine Quest this session! This collaboration has sparked powerful conversations around Dr. Stewart’s work and led to deeper discussions on equality, equity, and justice as we look forward to the upcoming holiday celebrating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

So many good things are happening in this Studio!

In Civilization: We added a new civilization, the Indus River Valley, to our timeline, exploring the trade routes that connected it to Mesopotamia and even Egypt.
In Story Arts: Learners engaged in design thinking to define their product pitch. They worked to create an idea and an early prototype to solve a problem or need they see within our Studio or the school.
In PE: Guides challenged both the body and mind with a learner-reported “101 million squats!”
In Art: We explored color blocking inspired by Henri Matisse. The resulting brilliantly colorful artwork brought great fun and joy to all!

upper elementary studio

We hope everyone enjoyed a cozy and eventful snow day this past week! At school, our learners have been diving into hands-on, real-world challenges that inspire creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving. Here's a glimpse of what they’ve been up to:

Quest:
Our aspiring veterinary medicine experts are tackling the fascinating world of parasites! This week, they explored the science behind identifying heartworms, ticks, and fleas—common threats to cats and dogs. Taking their learning further, they began prototyping vet kits designed to help pets of unhoused individuals. This compassionate project is sparking innovation and empathy in equal measure!

Civilization:
Learners are “reinventing the wheel” as they dive into the origins of one of humanity’s most revolutionary inventions. This week, they’re exploring a timeline of the wheel’s evolution and discovering how it has shaped history and modern innovation. It’s an eye-opening journey through time and technology!

Story Arts:
Creativity and critical thinking are in full swing as learners work on their “Guide Tank” pitches. They’re researching and developing persuasive ideas to wow the ‘Sharks’ during their upcoming presentations. We can’t wait to see their brilliance shine!

It’s been a week full of excitement, discovery, and meaningful work!

Health Reminder:
As we navigate the winter season, we kindly remind parents to send their child to school with a warm jacket and to take extra precautions, as we’ve noticed an increase in illnesses. Your support helps keep TFS’s community healthy and thriving!

Technology Reminder:
As we help our learners become great stewards of technology, please ensure all tablets and phones are kept at home. If a learner brings a device, it must remain in their locker until the end of the day. If the policy is misused, Guides will hold the device and return it to parents at the end of the school day.

middle school studio

This week, Middle School learners at The Forest School delved into a variety of challenges designed to stretch their minds, creativity, and compassion. Here's a peek into their journey:

Quest: Empathizing and Defining Real-World Problems
In our second challenge of the year, learners explored the biological needs of animals and the roles of veterinarians, humans, and animals—all through the lens of empathy. They tackled a particularly complex issue: the challenges faced by unhoused pet owners and their pets. Guided by the "Empathize" and "Define" stages of design thinking, learners engaged in meaningful discussions and problem-solving activities that underscored the importance of compassion in addressing real-world problems.

This session, our habit of focus is "Seek First to Understand." We are weaving this habit into Quest, Wellness, and Story Arts by emphasizing empathy and active listening skills. In Quest, learners practiced understanding diverse perspectives while brainstorming solutions, ensuring that compassion remained at the heart of their work.

Building on this foundation, today’s challenge shifted into a hands-on Design Sprint. Learners worked collaboratively in the launch area to brainstorm innovative solutions, leaning into empathy as their guide. These experiences not only developed critical thinking skills but also helped learners see the value of understanding others’ perspectives.

Civ: Exploring Ancient Egyptian Mysteries
In Civ, we dove deep into the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt. Learners explored the intricate processes behind mummification—a practice far more complex than simply wrapping a body in linen! Together, we researched questions like:

Who was mummified, and why?
What purpose did the famous "canopic jars" serve?

Using their findings, learners reflected on what Ancient Egyptian burial practices reveal about their beliefs in the afterlife and the body. Did you know that the Egyptians removed the brain during mummification? Learners theorized about what this might mean regarding their understanding of human anatomy.

The day’s highlight was creating "mummified apples." Mixing equal parts salt and baking soda, learners prepared their apple "mummies" and hypothesized what they’ll observe after seven days. The process sparked curiosity, and learners can’t wait to share their results next week!

Story Arts and Council Updates
In Story Arts, learners interviewed each other to craft mini-biographies, practicing empathy through storytelling. With "Seek First to Understand" as our guiding principle, learners honed their active listening skills during these interviews, ensuring they captured the essence of their peers’ stories.

Meanwhile, our new Council was elected and is already hard at work! Their first project? Enhancing the Hero Bucks store—an incentive system that rewards learners for their achievements and contributions. Improvements will roll out on Friday, January 17.

From exploring ancient mysteries to tackling modern-day challenges, Middle School learners are cultivating empathy, problem-solving skills, and creativity every step of the way. Stay tuned for updates as they continue to grow and thrive!

high school studio

Production Preparation
This week, the Studio was buzzing with creativity and collaboration as the heroes immersed themselves in story arts, exclamations, and production planning. The focus was on honing their storytelling skills and preparing for their upcoming short film production—a project that has sparked excitement and dedication among the entire group.

The highlight of the week was a special visit from ten experts who joined us to share their insights and skills. These professionals brought a wealth of knowledge in areas like cinematography, scriptwriting, acting, hair and makeup, and set design. Through interactive workshops and hands-on activities, the heroes gained valuable tools to elevate their film project. From brainstorming imaginative ideas to refining their scripts, every moment was a step toward creating the best short film ever.

As the week wrapped up, the Studio was filled with enthusiasm and confidence. The heroes are now equipped with new skills, inspiration, and a clearer vision for their production. Stay tuned as their hard work takes shape and they continue their journey to bring their creative vision to life. It’s going to be amazing!

Respect and Accountability Policy
Heroes are expected to uphold respect and the Hero Honor Code at all times. If a Hero acts disrespectfully—such as wearing headphones while others are talking, interrupting others, disobeying a Guide, or violating the Honor Code—then Guides may send them home immediately for leadership to address the situation.

College Guidance Update
A clarification about college guidance moving forward: To support you and your learners throughout the college admissions process, Brennan will host online group sessions where you and your heroes can bring questions, listen to his insights, and learn from the questions you pose and others ask. These meetings are invaluable opportunities to gain knowledge and clarity about the admissions process, so we encourage you and your learner to attend every session and engage fully.

While Brennan provides this important group support, your learner will continue to work closely with their Guide for one-on-one assistance with uploading transcripts, crafting applications, and navigating the process. Guides will also write your learner’s college recommendation letters, with training and support from Brennan to ensure those letters are impactful. This collaborative approach ensures both learners and Guides are equipped for success.

Thank you for your partnership as we work together to support your learner’s future.

-Onward!

Session 5: Year 7, WeeK 24 In Review