environmental club, history, and a haunted house

Check out this week’s updates…

spark studio

To everything - turn, turn, turn

There is a season - turn, turn, turn

And a time for every purpose under heaven

-Pete Seeger, an influential folk singer

The days are gradually growing shorter, and the nights are extending, painting the world with the beautiful hues of autumn. As we witness this natural transformation, let us come together to embrace and celebrate the change surrounding us.

In Spark, we dove into the captivating science of seasons, exploring the reasons behind these shifts and how they impact the weather. It's fascinating to note that some regions experience all four seasons, while others may only have a glimpse of two or three, with faint hints of the fourth.

The moon, with its ever-changing phases, captured our curiosity this week. We unraveled the many names given to the different phases of the moon. Did you know that the moon doesn't emit its light but rather reflects the radiant glow of the sun, almost like a luminous rock and metal orb in the night sky?

In our never-ending quest for knowledge, we've also embarked on the journey of crafting our monthly calendars and making it a habit to jot down our daily experiences each morning. Understanding the passage of time, from days to weeks, months to years, is a crucial skill, closely tied to comprehending the concept of time itself. We're learning that once a moment slips by, it's gone forever.

As we prepare to celebrate our connection to the rhythms of nature, community, and the ever-changing world around us, we're immersing ourselves in new folk songs and spending more time outdoors. We're witnessing the leaves gracefully don their autumn attire and gently fall to the earth, creating a beautiful tapestry of colors.

In a season when daylight wanes and darkness lingers, we're discovering the profound truth that we are the light within the darkness, the sparks that shine in the night. Music has been a guiding force in our week, and we'd like to leave you with the heartfelt words of yet another beautiful song.

As we go on

We remember

All the times we

Had together

And as our lives change

Come whatever

We will still be

Friends forever

Lower elementary studio

A brand-new adventure awaits as Session 3 begins with boundless enthusiasm and curiosity! In Civilization, our young learners have embarked on a thrilling journey across the seven continents, discovering their significance in our world's history. We've delved into the depths of World War I and the Russian Revolution, igniting a passion for learning and understanding.

Over in Story Arts, our creative minds are at work, crafting captivating storyboards and unraveling the mysteries of reality shows. Imagination knows no bounds as our learners dive into the realm of storytelling, ready to create narratives that will inspire and entertain.

In Quest, the universe comes alive in our hands! Our adventurers have taken on the cosmos, mapping the solar system with vibrant paints and moldable clay. But that's not all – they've embraced the vastness of space by comprehending the distances and sizes of planets, creating a stellar masterpiece that showcases their astronomical knowledge.

And how can we forget the empowering journey of self-reflection? This week marks the commencement of our learner-led parent conferences, where our heroes take the reins, guiding their parents through their progress as self-directed learners. It's a testament to their growth, independence, and the strong foundation they've built.

So here's to a new chapter, a world of possibilities and endless discoveries. Session 3, we're ready to learn, grow, and explore together!

upper elementary studio

This week in the Upper Elementary Studio, our heroes have been diving deep into new and exciting topics. They've been exploring outer space, from the solar system to rocketry, and getting a better grasp of the universe. In Civilizations, they've focused on 20th-century history, starting with the World Wars, which builds their historical knowledge and helps them understand the past and empathize with people from that time.

In Mathlab, our learners have been strengthening their math skills, working with number charts, number lines, and concept studies. There's been significant progress in their math abilities. In Story Arts, they've been learning about drama and writing dramatic monologues, drawing inspiration from both classic and modern works.

One of the week's highlights is our Environmental Club's involvement in a pilot program through Project Learning Tree. Our heroes are among just 30 groups selected nationwide for this program. They'll be studying the environmental impact of Trillith's development from the 1990s to today. If you have insights on GIS, Trillith's development, or current environmental efforts in the neighborhood, please reach out to Gage. Our heroes are determined to make a difference in the environment and inspire change. Stay tuned for more updates as they continue their journey of exploration!

middle school studio

This week was all hands on deck for Haunted House! Parents, donors, heroes, and the Forest School community have banded together to make this pipe dream a reality.

The past three days, heroes have rolled their sleeves up to help in so many capacities, from hanging set pieces, practicing makeup techniques, acting, and being “testers” to implementing feedback.

In between Quest times, heroes have moved forward with badge approvals, Squad time, Core Skills, Apprenticeship planning, and Math Lab. We have also had an extensive discussion this week on revising the consequences for breaking our contract of promises. Heroes shared their perspectives, voted, and now have a clear display on the wall for each promise and the potential matching consequence for not keeping each promise.

Heroes have also expressed how meaningful Shout Outs are from Guides, so Guides have intentionally shared more “Sweet Shout Outs” (candy or juice boxes involved) for heroes to feel recognized. We are also gearing up for hero-led parent conferences next week and our first apprenticeship week.

Today, as we had our final dress rehearsal for the big Exhibition tomorrow, we reminded heroes to wear black, pack water, dinner, and rest up. It’s gonna be spooktacular!

high school studio

"Six Steps to Insanity”

Have you ever embarked on a project that left you feeling utterly discouraged, questioning your abilities and sanity? Many of us have been there, and it's in these moments of doubt that true resilience is tested. A recent experience at Middle and High schoolers created a bustling creative hub that reminded us that even in the darkest of times, the path to success can be illuminated.

Step 1: The Vision

It began with a story…four days before the event, when we envisioned a masterpiece, a project so ambitious that it felt borderline insane.

Step 2: Doubt

Doubt quickly crept in. Were we in over our heads? Would we be able to pull it off?

Step 3: Determination

As the haunted house at the shipyard loomed on the horizon, we steeled our resolve and persevered.

Step 4: Collaboration

Each and every member of the Middle and High School Studio worked as a team; we found strength in unity, pooling our resources and ideas.

Step 5: Grit

The haunted house event is upon us, leaving us with excitement and satisfaction that we are at the end of the road.

Step 6: Triumph

Seeing the final product through, we realized that sometimes, taking those "insane" steps can lead to the most rewarding outcomes.

Don't forget, the haunted house at the shipyard is happening tomorrow – a perfect chance to celebrate your triumph over self-doubt.

Also, a reminder: the apprenticeship program starts next week, so seize the opportunity to further develop your skills and passions. In the face of adversity, remember that perseverance often leads to the sweet taste of success.

-Onward

wellness review

This week in wellness, we welcomed Holistic nurse practitioner and Forest School mama, Ms Samantha Wakefield! Ms Samantha has been practicing as a Family Nurse Practitioner for ten years and is certified as a meditation teacher, reiki master, and holistic health practitioner. Ms Samantha is passionate about helping others go from feeling overwhelmed and unwell to finding relief and joy in their messy, beautiful lives. Through easily accessible, everyday holistic health practices, Ms Samantha has completely transformed her own life and has found her life calling of teaching these practices to others.

Ms Samantha began her sessions with the learners by encouraging all to sit in a circle to feel included, heard, and respected. We began discussing different feelings we experienced in mental health and shared our observations about what physiological responses we’ve noticed in our bodies. Ms Samantha asked for a volunteer from Upper Elementary, Middle, and High School Studios. She took the opportunity to use biofeedback to measure how heart rate variability was affected when we consciously changed our emotional states from sympathetic to a more coherent parasympathetic state of being. Learners loved the evidence showing more jagged, reactive heart rate variability when stressful cues are given compared to more smooth, relaxed variability when using coping mechanisms led by Ms Samantha.

All Studios discussed coping mechanisms they have learned and employed during times of stress or overwhelm. With Ms Samantha’s guidance, learners could recognize that most coping mechanisms rely on outside tools. Ms Samantha worked with learners to embrace an internal coping mechanism available to us at all times of the day, “The 3 H’s”. We first rub our hands together until our hands feel warm and possibly notice a tingling sensation. Next, we move to place our hands on our hearts. Finally, we begin to think about heart-warming thoughts… these thoughts can be affirmations, positive notes throughout your day, or things that make you happy. At the close of the exercise, learners reflected that they felt an improvement in their moods and overall state of well-being. Ms Samantha also shared her tuning forks and asked learners to identify where they notice the sensation of energy when pressed against their wrists and crystals with explanations of what different energies the crystals can bring and move in our bodies. The learners were very interested in learning practical tools to manage stress and build their internal toolbox of self-regulation—a skill many adults are still learning! It is so fascinating and encouraging to see how self-aware and vulnerable our group of learners can be at Forest!

Session 3: Year 6, Week 11 In Review