Session 4: Year 6, Week 15 In Review
a new session and a bake-off
Check out this week’s updates…
spark studio
We’re moving and creating a new blueprint for change. In this session, we will continue building relationships, modeling positive behavior, setting goals that elevate our school expectations, sharing our vision, and appreciating people. A positive school culture impacts the entire learning experience, but one doesn’t build this culture overnight.
We have set our daily intentions and actions to make changes as we shape our culture. Our first stop was manners at lunch. We learned the importance of napkin placement and patience while everyone at our table has finished their meal before getting up to clean, intentional conversations that sparked creative story writing, and that cleaning up is a collaborative effort that takes a team. These are the small stepping stones that will build character far beyond the walls of our little Studio.
At the end of the session, we will bring everyone together for a lovely pot-luck breakfast (Family Challenge: bring a dish from your culture) to show servant leadership, kindness, and respect. An invitation with all the details should have come home with your learner today, so be on the lookout.
Lower elementary studio
Welcome to the dawn of a new session!
As we step into uncharted territory, the cornerstone of our journey is Respect. In our Studios, Respect isn't just a value—it's our guiding star. We cherish our unique family traditions, weaving a rich cultural tapestry.
As we enter our brand-new building, respect becomes the foundation, uniting us in a shared commitment to kindness and understanding. Also, respect becomes the foundation for a space where curiosity thrives, ideas flourish, and every learner feels valued. Together, let's make this session a testament to the power of Respect, shaping our experiences and forging lasting connections.
In Quest this week we are valuing the respect of our family traditions and in Civilization we are learning about Geography and the different cultures around the world. In addition, Math Labs have been well. We continue to have learners think deeply and collaboratively on the Number Line and 100s Chart. They learned the meaning of Range and Median, and they explored different heroes’ learning styles to elaborate on unique math equations.
upper elementary studio
Session 4 is already underway, and it's shaping up to be fantastic! Despite this session being shorter, our learners are eagerly immersing themselves in expanding their knowledge.
Our primary focus of this session is on Story Arts. Right now, our learners are deep into the creative writing phase of their reality show spoof, "The Real Heroes of the Forest School." The level of humor and creativity they're displaying is truly impressive!
As part of our schoolwide effort, we're dedicated to fostering a positive Studio culture built on values such as respect, empathy, and responsibility. Each family holds its unique values, and we encourage our heroes to bring these values into our Studio, enhancing our learning community. I encourage you to discuss the importance of practicing respect at school with your learners at home.
Looking ahead, we have an exciting trip planned for Monday to iFly. A huge thank you to the parents volunteering to drive and chaperone! Please remember to pack your Hero a cold lunch as microwaves won't be available.
middle school studio
Spirits were high in the Middle School this week!
With the introduction of a Bake Off Quest, excitement for our new Council and the new building! Much is coming up in December, so let’s start there. First, we have CCRA testing on Wednesday, December 6th. On Thursday, December 8th, heroes have their first opportunity to take an optional math test. If they can score 80% on their Pre-Algebra, Algebra Basics, or Algebra I test, they have shown their proficiency and can wrap up math for the year. This is not a required pathway, but it is a new option available for Middle School as an alternative to completing Khan.
Friday, December 8th, is also the deadline for heroes who want to apply for the Forest School chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. This is a stellar opportunity for heroes to join a nationally recognized organization, provide service learning opportunities, encourage scholarship, and more. More information can be found here. On Wednesday, December 13th, we will have a brief field trip in line with Quest in the morning and a holiday party in the afternoon to celebrate! We encourage every hero not to miss this fun day!
Now onto what your heroes have been working on this session. Here are a few new highlights:
Quest: the Great Middle School Bake-Off
Story Arts: Family and the Stories our Food Tells
Civilization: Colonization: Civil War
The introduction of an Excellence Committee
In Quest, heroes were randomly sorted into three teams. In preparation for Round One of the bake-off, heroes had to research the different roles in the kitchen, assign roles, choose a show-stopping recipe, and turn in a shopping and tools list. The energy was high; according to the survey, 65% of heroes felt that the Quest was relevant. The heroes are very secretive about their recipes, and we love the anticipation and engagement we see.
In Story Arts, heroes worked individually or in pairs to locate a recipe that tells a story about their family, culture, or experience. They will create a short social media-style video that tells the story through the chosen food. They selected stories, received feedback, designed storyboards, planned out transitions, and prepared for filming next week. We can’t wait to see their creativity and learn more about their stories.
Today's challenge in Civilization was to find out why the Civil War happened. They watched a video, took notes, teamed up with groups, ordered events, studied individual events, prepared written notes, and presented their event to the whole Studio.
In order to hold a higher standard for the work being submitted on Journey Tracker and provide much-needed badge approvals, the Middle School implemented an Excellence Committee this session. Heroes will earn a badge for participation twice a week and have presented the Studio with the seriousness with which they evaluate work and showed how they are logging their progress to the Studio.
We are also excited to pilot a Math Help Desk in the Middle School. Monday, December 4th, and Monday, December 11th, we will have a former Math teacher and member of our community offer her services on a first-come, first-serve basis. A sign-up list has been posted in the Studio.
We also have provided the Badge Plan digitally to heroes but wanted to include it here for parents.
That’s all for now, folks!
high school studio
As the first week back at school comes to a close, High School heroes are diving headfirst into an exciting adventure of scientific exploration and entrepreneurial skill-building. The week's spotlight has been on the scientific method, a foundational tool that empowers learners to think critically, analyze data, and draw meaningful conclusions.
This session, heroes have been eagerly engaging in hands-on science labs, applying the scientific method to unravel the natural world's mysteries. Next week will consist of all labs for Story Arts! These practical experiences foster a love for science and hone essential problem-solving skills, setting the stage for a semester of discovery.
But that's not all – our High School heroes are also channeling their inner entrepreneurs. They're learning the art of innovation, risk-taking, and adaptability through collaborative projects and real-world simulations. These entrepreneurial skills are crucial for success in an ever-evolving world, preparing learners for the challenges and opportunities that await them beyond the classroom.
As the week unfolds, heroes are faced with a meaningful choice: delve into learning more about charitable causes or take on the pressing issue of climate change. This decision-making process is integral to shaping socially responsible individuals who understand the power of their actions and contributions to the world.
Looking ahead, the excitement continues with a promise of more science labs in the upcoming week. High School heroes are encouraged to be present each day, ensuring they don't miss out on the immersive learning experiences that lie ahead. The last day of this short session is December 13th, making every moment count in this dynamic and impactful return to the Studio. Here's to a semester of curiosity, growth, and making a difference!
wellness
During this short session at The Forest School, learners, guides, and parents alike have identified a need to deepen the conversation surrounding respect. With this commitment to shaping the culture at The Forest School to be a space where all feel respected and valued, we took the opportunity to focus deeply on respect in our Wellness sessions.
This week, we began each wellness session in Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High School with an open dialogue about how we all define respect. Learners openly shared values, characteristics, and actions that they believe in defining respect with common threads, including valuing others’ input regardless of whether or not they agree with you, speaking to others with a tone of kindness, showing up to conversations with respectful body language and tone, taking care our space and property, being inclusive and considerate, honoring others boundaries.
After a robust discussion about what we all agree respect to be, learners were then encouraged to identify areas in their Studio and school that may be lacking in respect, to which we collectively brainstormed possible solutions. Learners have been asked to observe further and identify areas where we may need to address the issue of respect, especially with our impending move. As a whole, The Forest School would like to set the tone that our new space is welcoming learners who hold themselves and others accountable for their actions and show up in a way that can only be defined as respectful for their fellow learners, guides, and physical space.
Spark and Lower Elementary learners put visuals to the concepts of respect, with Spark illustrating what they believe respect to be and Lower Elementary learners observing their fellow learners acting out moments of respectful behavior vs. disrespectful behavior. This exercise brought a lot of giggles and fun, along with an opportunity to see some of the behaviors the Studio may struggle with mirrored back for them. We focused heavily on respecting our bodies in Spark and Lower Elementary, discussing eye contact, sitting upright, listening with our ears, and being patient with our mouths.
As we work to ensure our respect culture at The Forest School, we encourage you to continue these discussions at home. What respect looks like in your family, what potential consequences you may have in your households, and why presenting ourselves with respect is essential. (Maybe play a game with mirroring behaviors you would like to focus on and discuss!)