Session 3: Year 6, Week 12 In Review
history, astrology and wellness
Check out this week’s updates…
spark studio
How do we wash the dust of daily life off our souls? Could it be a flame within and, if so, how do we nourish that flame? Nourishing the inner flame refers to the practice of cultivating and nurturing our inner vitality, passion, and motivation. It involves taking care of our emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being in order to maintain a sense of purpose, enthusiasm, and resilience in life. This week we began discovering ways in which we can find motivation and enthusiasm in our learning. We began by working together as a team to write a sweet Haiku about something meaningful to us. A Haiku is a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world.
“One day there were two
They were playing together
It can change the world”
What am I? Did you guess, “Friendship”? If so, you guessed right.
A flame inside of us points to all the ways that we burn with passion, curiosity, and love. These are the parts deep within that no one can dull or put out. Keep moving and let us keep the sparks inside of us constantly ignited!
“Embrace the fire within, persist with unwavering hope, and let nothing extinguish your unstoppable spirit.” ~ Ave Mateiu
Lower elementary studio
Session 3 is here, bursting with amazing adventures and learning opportunities! Our young historians in Civilization class are ready to take you on a journey through the pages of history as they explore the fascinating Ottoman Empire. Along the way, they'll unravel the secrets of timelines and even discover the innovation behind the Ford Assembly Line!
In the world of Story Arts, our learners have stepped into the shoes of TV professionals. They've tuned into the hit show "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" to understand the vital roles in television, like Director, Producer, and Camera Operator. Lights, camera, action!
Over in Quest, our brave adventurers set their sights on the stars. This week, they're embarking on a mission to become Space Rangers. From rigorous exercises to testing their mettle, they're gearing up to explore the mysteries of Mars. The cosmos awaits!
And let's not forget the exciting learner-led parent conferences. Our heroes are taking the reins and showcasing their progress as self-directed learners. It's a fantastic opportunity to check in with their parents and share their incredible journey!
In Math Lab, our Guides unveil a new skill called “Studio.” Learners will team up to tackle challenging math problems using whiteboards, working collaboratively and sharing their brilliant thinking with the community. It's math magic in the making! Session 3 promises to be a whirlwind of discovery, creativity, and growth. We can't wait to see all the incredible things our young learners will achieve. Buckle up for an extraordinary adventure of learning and fun! Finally, practicals are next week school-wide and attendance is mandatory for all heroes.
upper elementary studio
This week in the Upper Elementary Studio, our heroes embarked on thrilling cosmic adventures. They explored the International Space Station, learning about its history and purpose. Simultaneously, they started planning a Mission to Mars, exercising their creativity and problem-solving skills.
In addition to cosmic exploration, Heroes began scriptwriting for our upcoming reality show spoof, "The Real Heroes of the Forest School." We're excited to see their creativity shine. A heartfelt thank you to all parents who play a vital role in our learning community, whether through conferences or involvement in your child's educational journey. Your support is invaluable, and together, we look forward to more exciting adventures in our studio. Finally, practicals are next week school-wide and attendance is mandatory for all heroes.
middle school studio
Excitement was in the air this week as heroes in the Middle School prepared for Apprenticeships! Hopeful phone calls were made, emails were written, steps were completed, and heroes made plans for how they will make those forty hours count this year. Another large chunk of the week was devoted to hero-led conferences. Heroes walked their parents through a “check-in” giving updates on their progress from Math to Deep Books to Story Arts. Parents supported by asking thoughtful questions, helping revise goals, and digging deeper into their learning experiences. We also discussed their social, emotional, and physical wellbeing as individuals and provided input and guidance as they navigate the challenging landscape of Middle School.
We also hosted a celebratory and reflection day to review the massive success of the Haunted House! We reviewed survey results from guests, debriefed with each group, and heroes shared many thoughts and perspectives on how the weekend went. This was such a mammoth undertaking, and the Guides are exceedingly proud of their heroes time, effort, and faithfulness to the process.
In Wellness, we were graced with a visit from a music therapist! We have enjoyed such a variety of health experts this year, and we are so fortunate!
We tackled two new Story Arts challenges this week on the topic of creatively telling stories with scientific data, guided by an expert from CNN via the Story Arts Collective. The first task included heroes explaining the earth’s water cycle to an educated adult with a background in science, then to the general public without a scientific background, and lastly to school children. For their second challenge, heroes chose a non-fiction article, news report, or any other informational text appropriate for Middle School, read and took notes, and then summarized and synthesized the information in a Google document.
Friday brings a new Civilization challenge, a launch on receiving feedback, a launch from a hero, Math Lab, and a discussion growth mindset. Guides are preparing for our first-ever Practicals Week in the Middle School next week. Friendly reminder that this is a week for required attendance, and heroes will need to communicate to a guide about makeups if they do happen to miss. This week will be full of meaningful moments with heroes working as individuals and in groups to provide feedback, recognition of their strengths, and opportunities for growth. This kind of week is so special because of the deep character education embedded throughout. We are also excited to announce that next week, the Middle School will publish their first newscast exclusively for our parent Facebook page! In it, heroes will be anchors, writers, videographers, and producers discussing highlights, updates, important reminders, and other surprises. If you are not a member of the Facebook page, please see this Friday’s email for the link to join! (
high school studio
We just wrapped up an incredible week! One major accomplishment is our Haunted House, it is a wrap!
It was awesome to see our heroes transform into spooky ghouls, inmates, and other creepy characters. The haunted house was a fantastic way to show off our creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Plus, it was so much fun! More information and public feedback will be shared with the studios soon.
Apprenticeships! Several of our heroes have been busy working on their apprenticeships, and they've been doing some pretty incredible things, all assignments will be done virtually, so those who are absent for apprenticeships will not miss a beat.
The cherry on top of our amazing week was the parent conferences. Parents finally had a chance to sit down and discuss their heroes' progress in studios. The best part? It was an absolute success! The majority of our heroes are either on track or ahead.
In the end, it was a week filled with excitement, learning, and celebration. We can't wait for more adventures and challenges in the weeks to come. Finally, practicals are next week school-wide, and attendance is mandatory for all heroes.
wellness review
This week in Wellness, we welcomed expert Maria Devlin, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, conductor, teacher, and music therapist. Maria earned her Bachelors in Music Therapy and a minor in psychology from Berklee College of music, where she also focused her studies on film scoring, conducting, and performance. She is passionate about helping others find their voice through music and fostering a connection through skills gained through music education and therapy, serving as a conduit for each person’s goals. Maria has over eight years of teaching and performance experience in various styles. She currently serves as the music director at Saint Mary Magdalene. She conducts the Centre Strings Orchestra based in Coweta County as well as offers at-home music lessons and music therapy sessions.
Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based practice of music to achieve individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship with a licensed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. A music therapist may use music as a conduit to guide each client to achieve their goals and meet the person at the point that they are at to help them reach the point where they want to be, allowing this type of expressive arts therapy to improve and maintain the physical, psychological, and social well-being of individuals—involving a broad range of activities, including listening to client preferred music, analyzing lyrics, singing, songwriting, and playing musical instruments.
Maria visited each Studio, sharing the concepts of music therapy and musical intake as it relates to mental health. Learners were immediately engaged and asked thoughtful questions about the science behind music therapy and curiosities about Maria’s work as a music therapist in the hospital setting. Maria shared her experience with patients in the neonatal intensive care unit, helping infants to feed appropriately means attaching a bottle to a recording of their mother’s voice, as well as her work with patients having had strokes by incorporating musical rhythms to help encourage their ability to resume walking appropriately. Maria worked with each studio to participate in improvisation… it was so fun to see learners of every age engaging in this activity and sharing how it made them feel and what it made them think. We talked about different tempos and themes in music and how we might utilize intentional listening to help us process feelings, emotions, and trauma responses. The concept of graduating themes as a way to shift moods was explored, and learners seemed excited to put it into practice. We encourage you to explore music as a family further and discuss how the differences in tempo, messaging, and themes make you feel and think.