Week 16: 1/4-1/11
Surprises lurk around every corner as we begin our new session in the new year…
From the Spark Studio
From Miss Nina: I have been looking forward to being a guide while Miss Anna is out with her baby. While training in the Spark studio, I sensed that the heroes had a special bond with Miss Anna. I wanted the heroes to feel just as loved and safe as they do when Miss Anna is around. So as I prepared for this week, I incorporated activities to help us connect with each other. The surprise (and biggest highlight) for me, is how quickly the heroes have found a place in my heart. I started the week not sure all the heroes would warm up to me, but I ended the week having a cherished moment with each one. I enjoyed getting involved in their outdoor play. I enjoyed seeing them beam with pride as they made progress in their learning. I enjoyed seeing heroes care for and help one another. I am going to savor this time I get to be so involved with this tribe.
The highlight for most of the heroes was learning about bones, muscles and tendons. After learning how these systems work together we enjoyed chicken wings as a snack. I am sure the heroes have eaten meat many times before, but I doubt they payed this much attention to the way the meat was connected to the bone and thought about how these parts allow animals to move. Surprise!… There is even learning while eating snack!
From the Elementary Studio
From Kara: The heroes are on a quest to invent and innovate this session! The challenges have been a great metaphor for life as they are required to problem-solve within constraints of budget and time, figure out how things really work so they can be improved, manage the use of personal potential energy and energy of action, and prepare for evaluation by peers and professionals. I love hearing the hum of creativity and teamwork as they tackle quest challenges in the studio!
From JeVonne: Usually when I get a moment to work at school, I sequester myself in the office and focus diligently on my work. However, the new quest was so fun to watch! I surprised myself by doing most of my work in the studio so I could watch and listen. I listened to the moaning over paying bills : ) I watched the frustration when an invention doesn’t work and then saw the grit to keep going. I listened to the bartering and decision making. I only wish I could have done this quest when I was in school!
At the end of last session the question arose: how do we send a thank you note to the man who visited us who is blind? I was 100% surprised that the heroes voted to go visit him at his home to say thank you (that option never crossed my mind). We were by far the most visitors this man had ever received and I think we all felt as he did – “I am so happy today.”
Coming back to core skills after the long break, I halfway expected the heroes to be a little bothered by “Mrs. Distraction.” However, to my joyful surprise, this was not the case. Many of them returned from break with an even greater focus and desire to engage during Core skills and civilization. It helps that Miss Jeanette creates such engaging civilization challenges!
We are so grateful for each of these heroes and love the surprises that come every day on this journey!