21 days into a habit. Done.

What happens now? Time for new habits? Or maybe the human in us want attention. Why has nobody noticed anything?

Here’s one of those better posters that the fitness industry. There’s some truth to it.

But Acton Academy is not a fitness industry for motivated adults. The child craves feedback, craves attention, craves celebrations, and most dearly, craves belonging. Acton Academy does not have an authority teacher. So, no stars for good job or praises on good results.

Instead, our Guides listen and respond by asking questions and growth mindset praise. That is just one part. Our Eagles’ crave for belonging is filled from all ends—a community of learners supporting each other on a journey, and a robust system & process that rewards effort and accountability.

Highlights this week:

Day Trip to Father’s Organic Farm
Confident Rock Climbing
ES Intentionality Update
Survival Quest: First Aid, More Fire & Cooking, Planning for Camp, and more Identity
A Learning Community: Building Blocks & Info Session
Belonging in ActonKL

Day Trip to Father’s Organic Farm

It had been raining during the past few weeks. The daily forecast of Genting Highlands: rain for the next 14 days. The hourly forecast: rain at every 3 hours.

Fortunately, we were blessed. No rain, cooling breeze, and enthusiastic children. The Eagles and parents had a great time. They surveyed the campsite (we are going to camp here in 2+ weeks time), harvested organic vegetables, ~~role-played as illegal immigrants~~ had a truck ride and played & explored the waterfall. Then, it was a homecooked organic lunch and a tour of the farm.

I will let the picture do the talking :))

Go to your respective cars! The community carpooled together.

Here’s where we going to camp. Where am I going to pitch my tent?

Catching tadpoles with Auntie Brenda. Both tadpoles & eggs were found. Few Eagles “adopted” them as pets (or experiments). Throughout the week, the learnings continued. The Eagles discussed & shared their observations & research. “What do your tadpoles eat?” “Our tadpoles are growing legs now!”

Seedlings. That’s how life (almost) starts here.

Harvesting organic vegetables. We’ll have it for lunch!

Lorry Ride. Excitement before the roller coaster!

Even the parents had a go. Can’t help it :))

“This is even more fun than Fun Friday! Can we please have a waterfall near our school?”

This is the “baby vegetables”, which we are going to migrate them to the next stage.

A small taste of farm life. Harvesting passionfruits!

The Eagles are pumped up for the camping trip! Thank you, Frankie & company for organizing. We will be back!

Confident Rock Climbing

The third session of rock climbing. The Eagles were clearly confident.

We are all good climbers now!!!

Skills: how to tie a knot, and connect the belaying rope to your harness.

ES Intentionality Update

The Eagles continued the streak of focused work. The noise level tracker (a manual version of yacker tracker) is keeping intentionality and sound in check. Naturally, Weekly SMART Goals are on track too.

Meditation is still loved, with Eagles practicing it almost daily.

It’s the second week now. It takes 21 days to form a habit. Given that the next week has only three days of school, can the Eagles persist another two more weeks—all the way to the end of the Sprint?

Survival Quest: First Aid

The Middle School (MS) Eagles did simulations of First Aid and shared their learnings with the Elementary School (ES) Eagles.

MS Eagles demonstrating it to the ES Eagles

Artistic perfection to creating blood and pain.

This blood is so real. Is she really injured?

Now we have real victim!! Do we know how to treat him? How big is the wound?

“Injured” Eagles all treated and ready for a picture.

Survival Quest: More Fire & Cooking

The MS Eagles had been cooking all sorts of food over the last three weeks. This week, it was tacos and pancakes. The ES Eagles got serious too and took lessons from the MS Eagles.

One milestone was when Kimaya and Naomi started a fire on their own. Like our ancestors, there was a deep sense of pride as they saw their fire flames sustained into embers.

We are so good now that we are getting better than the MS boys!

I’m 7 years old, but nothing stops me from making a fire.

Hehe, the ES build the fire. I cook my bread 😛

Survival Quest: Camp Planning & Building

With less than two weeks to the MS Camping Trip, the Eagles started planning their trip. As the quote goes: fail to plan, plan to fail. Also, it was part of the requirement for Fun Friday!

What to build, what to eat. What to eat exactly. Ingredients for the menu. You know what is this team’s priority :))

Expanding their set of tools with a hole digger. Necessary to build benches.

Survival Quest: More Identity

The MS Eagles did MBTI test this week, while the ES Eagles explored into Identity Maps. For the ES Eagles, it was a fun session as they expressed themselves in arts & crafts while asking deep questions: What do you like? Who are you?

I was born in Hong Kong. My parents are Indians but they are from England. We now live in Malaysia. Where am I from? I am confused sometimes.

Sharing. We get to know one another. Also, I learn to understand myself.

A Learning Community: Building Blocks

Building Blocks are workshops for parents. The purpose is to connect and support the Parent’s Hero’s Journey. In the past, we covered Family Plans, Hero’s Journey, Authority and a deeper look at the Acton Academy model. We do 3–4 Building Blocks each year. This Sprint, the focus is on Independence, fitting together with the Home Challenges and Survivor Quest.

Parents shared their insights. What’s needed for us to “take a night out” (trusting our child to the first step of independence)? Thank you, parents, for coming together to share, learn and build the community together.

A Learning Community: Info Session

We do not do any school visits. Many prospective families find this surprising. Our per our FAQ:

In order to protect the learning environment of our Eagles, we do not offer tours or have meetings on campus. We have three Info Sessions each year and we encourage anyone interested in meeting our guides or seeing our studios to attend. Please visit our Events page and RSVP through http://bit.ly/actonkl-interest to attend.

Our Info Sessions are mostly organized by our Eagles. This Friday’s (26 Jan) is no different. They set up the registration booths, give tours and answer questions. The adults did very little work 😛

As usual, the Eagles were super excited and took charge!

“Guys, let’s practice first.”
“Everyone take your positions!”

These are the programs we use. What’s the best way to find out what an Eagle is doing? Ask an Eagle!

Belonging in ActonKL

Feedback, attention, celebrations, and encouragement is important in the learning process. Especially for a child. It is not that a child craves just for attention, but a child has a feel of energy. He can’t say it, but he knows it.

Where focus goes, energy flows – Tony Robbins

Our focus and intention create energy, and the right energy creates a sense of belonging. This blog is part of the expression of this intention too, alongside all the actions of the Eagles, parents, and Guides. Naturally, the ActonKL community is more motivated to continue and develop habits, more than the 21 days track record.

That is a Learning Community that nurtures heroes that will find a calling and change the world.

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