Week three in the Marine Science Sprint. The first week was three days due to Labor holidays, the second week was two days and a camp, due to Election and Post-Election Holidays. Technically, this is the first week that is full-on. What happened in full five-day week?

Triple Birthday Celebrations, the usual (Core Skills, Civilization, dancing, ice skating), going deep into Marine Science, First Day of Ramadan, MS Elections in the Middle School, Info Session, and a reflection of what is Acton Academy. Umm, Plenty.

Triple Birthday Celebrations!

This week, we had Birthdays Celebrations for Kaleb, Ayra, and Xavi.

Kaleb’s mom brought cakes on Monday. It was a swift and fun celebration.

Ayra celebrated on Tuesday. The Middle School Eagles showered her with gifts, and they had a special treat of food too. Disclosure: I’m not allowed to reveal what they ate.

Xavi’s parents shared stories about Xavi’s life in pictures. Stories, jokes, and events that made him who he is today—a cool 6-year-old boy—who gave ActonKL a Geronimo Stilton adventure book for the library. Then, it was cake time! All this on a Friday lunch-time.

When Xavi was 2-years-old… Friendships are more meaningful when you know their stories, context, and history shared by their loved ones.

The Usual. Core Skills, Civilization, PE, Dancing, and Ice skating.

Yes, dancing and ice skating is becoming the norm.

Core Skills

The Eagles had the real dose of 8 to 10 hours of Core Skills this week. We can’t help to admire the buzzing energy in their new studio. Was it the natural light? Was it the greens outside? Or a renewed spirit of a new space?

Here’s a space for solo work, and space further away for discussions. It’s a co-working space. The best part: the average age of co-worker here is eight years old.

What are the Eagles reading now? Having it all in one place creates conversations like: “What is this book about? I’ll add that to my reading list too!”

Civilization

Civilization is part of Acton Academy’s main academic palate. It’s a study of history by asking deep questions. What makes civilization rise and fall? What would you do if you were the historical protagonist? We introduced it to MS Eagles this year and planned to do so for ES Eagles next academic year.

Meanwhile, the MS Eagles have started the Civilization process for two months now. Two months ago, many were not comfortable. Some even wanted to opt out. Now, they engaged it with full Rules Of Engagement independently for a full 1.5 hours, without a Guide.

They started from the Big History, and slowly entered the works of early Western Civilization. Greek traditions, the beginnings of Western Civilizations. Even then, the Greeks thought carefully what is the meaning of life, and how to live it.

This week, they looked into Sophism and Stoicism. It ended with the general question of who believes that rhetoric—the art of speaking well—is more important, or Scientific study? Why?

The independent discussions also started on some of the morning launches. How much can the Guide (Dr. Ewe) hand over processes to the Eagles and step away?

PE, Dancing and Ice Skating

PE with HIIT, Zumba dancing, and ice skating continued on Tuesday and Thursday.

Dancing to “I’m a Gummy Bear”. MS Eagles also join too!

Ice skating was a hit. This was the second lesson, and many Eagles were already moving around on ice comfortably!

“I love ice skating!”
“Our PE is the best!”

Ms. Caryn was totally in a bliss skating with the Eagles. Hence, no photos were taken except this one. Based on her conversations, this was what I thought happened…

Marine Science

Previously, the ES Eagles had learned about world oceans. Now, they entered the world of Marine Life. This week, they dived into corals.

“Did you know that coral is an animal that eats?”

They were intrigued by their learnings from various video and web sources. Later, the Eagles researched and crafted their own corals in teams.

The base of a coral reef. Rocks or minerals.

They also tried to research the traditional way. Tech-free and using an old school dictionary during their research and writing.

“This is quite fun actually, I have never done it before. And it helps me with spelling.”

“This is the best Sprint!”

Oh, we heard that many times.

“Every sprint is the best because each sprint is better than the previous one.”

An Aha moment! The Guides learned something new from the ES Eagles.

The MS Eagles continued the Blue Planet II series. They watched three more episodes. The Deep Sea proved to be extremely bizarre. Next week, they will need to make decisions on their research topic.

This is in the ocean, where an eel nearly got poisoned in a brine pool. Wait, a pool in the ocean!?!

First Day of Ramadan

Ramadan Mubarak to all our fellow Muslims! We had a few Eagles who started fasting from Thursday onwards. It had a certain impact. PE on Thursday morning was tougher, and meal times could be filled with temptations.

I asked on eight-year-old Eagle. “When did you started fasting?”

“Three years ago.”

Wow!

MS Election – For Real

After signing their studio contracts last week, the Eagles enter the next step of governance—electing studio leaders and representatives. With the fresh air of GE14, the Eagles asked for a “real voting experience”. So, here’s how it went.

Step 1: Register your vote (Automatic, via facial recognition technology)

Step 2: Go to the polling station (Everything just happened in the studio. No parking or driving needed)

Step 3: Present your ID (Even a false ID works here. Didn’t you know we have facial recognition?)

Step 4: Stain your finger (As proof that you’ve voted)

Step 5: Mark your vote (Carefully!)

Step 6: Place your vote (the box is sealed)

Step 7: Share it on Social Media. Malaysia Boleh!

Sorry. Our indelible ink quality is not up to Bersih standards.

Done voting!

Then, reading of Votes

This is a void vote. Dr. Ewe is polling agent, counting agent, Election council all rolled into one.

The result. There was a tie for the third council member. So, the two council members decided to do a quick vote, via blindfold hands.

A celebration of the new Council!

Info Session!

We ended the week with the first Info Session in the Taman Paramount campus!

Eagles were very excited to run the show and share their new space. “Who wants to the Greeters?” “Who is the leader of tour guides?”

There were more than 20 families. The Eagles and parents shared their experiences and stories. Our goal is to tell the journey truthfully and let prospective parents make their own choice ahead.

Thank you Eagles and parents for sharing their experiences and mission on the new campus.

What’s an Acton Academy to our Eagles?

Ms, Caryn asked the Eagles. How do you know when you are in an Acton Academy?

When children are in charge
When nobody tells you what to do. You learn to be independent.
We ask many questions and find solutions
We make our own rules to take care of the community
We choose what we want to learn
You learn real teamwork and leadership skills
Nobody judges you and asks you what grade are you in? How old are you?
You learn many new things, whether you are fast or slow

Those are the Eagles’ words. Not Ms. Caryn’s nor mine. Self-driven independent learners in the making and that makes Ms. Caryn dancing with joy.

Now that’s what I call a full week!

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