This week we are closing the 11 part series of Systems at Acton Academy KL. We have covered the 5 core processes that make a learner-driven community and other elements which can be tricky to manage, such as Eagle Bucks, Townhall, and the Badge process.

Systems keep the learner-driven community functioning with a high dose of autonomy, purpose, and mastery. When the foundations are set well and evolved from the simplest forms, magic happens. Young Eagles own their studio, and transformative learning happens among peers with little Guide involvement. An anthropologist will see the Eagles engaged in interactions based on the Systems. There is order around the chaos, emerged out of the wisdom of children.

This is what attracted us to start and continue to pursue the Acton Academy mission. As we are entering our 4th year, we are reminded of the potential of what children are capable of, and we are as excited about the work as we were on Day One.

But all those systems cannot work without one fundamental ingredient—the deep belief in the potential of children. The belief that they are on a Hero’s Journey to find a calling and change the world.

It is this belief that sparks the soul. Or, as in the case of Transformers, the Spark that makes the System come to life.

May each child find their deepest calling and transform to who they are meant to be. Remember, there is More than Meets the Eye in every child.

Weekly Updates

Preschool / Spark Studio (PS) Update

Endless Curiosity

“Mr. Aaron, Mr. Aaron, see, I caught some ladybugs!” chimed an Eagle who showed her “collection” of ladybugs in a bottle. A group of Preschool Eagles was busy collecting ladybugs from the vegetation found at the organic farm where we had our Survival Camp.

Some got upset when their ladybugs flew away while others carefully handled and observed them.

Curiosity in young children is natural, stepping back and empowering them allows this process of discovery and learning. The boundaries were simple, always stay with the group and be safe.

Running up a small hill to slide back down and repeat was another game that they played. A parent mentioned that she lost count of the multiple times they repeated the process. To a child, every time they did it, it was different. 30 times up and down the hill meant 30 different ways I can do this.

How far would I roll if I roll down the hill?

Engineering a Water Gutter

Earlier in the week, the Eagles built a water gutter using leftover bamboo poles, aligning them in a way to fill a cup with water. The Eagles were in a deep process of play. They repeated the process of pouring over and over again. They were curious, they played, they discovered, they failed and they learned. That’s the best learning process.

Stirring, pouring and mixing … what are we making?

Happy Holidays!

Elementary Studio (ES) Update

Project Planning: Infographic

In preparation for the end of the week Exhibition, the ES Eagles explored how to use Infographics. At first, the Eagles just threw in random facts but eventually realized that it wasn’t going to work. They realized that they had to go through a thought process.

Reflection from Jun Hung: “I learned that we need to plan first before we do the infographic.”

Project Planning: Practical

There was some trepidation, there were some negative outcomes. There was trial and error, there was learning. There was a blossoming understanding of the subject at hand. There was also much bravery, understanding and loving offers to help each other. There was triumph and a sense of pride too when the goal was finally achieved. There was excitement and positivity, teamwork and … sweetness! All in all, it was a true reflection of how an Eagle’s studio works at its best.

Fire Team

Ee Wern: “Come… let me help you. All you need is to stay calm and be brave… and follow the flow.”

Arjun: ” you need to hover around the fire starter… now you try!”

Xavi finally did it with the encouragement from his teammates.

Ee Wern: “We need to add paper, Arjun. Wow, look at that fire. Yay! roasted marshmallows!”

Cooking and Nutrition Team

We learned that we need to put the salt into the beef first before we put it into the pan and we need to plan the serving size for the quesadilla.

Water Filtration Team

Abhi was trying to explain the water filtration process to the PS. “Jasmine… can you please go get some dirty water to show them?”

Tent Team

While the other teams were working on their practical preparation, this team was still working hard to resolve their team problem with their infographic. The takeaway? Perhaps it’s still best if one person takes point to pull the whole team together.

Camp Breakfast Preparation

It was ES’ mission to prepare breakfast for the whole camp on Sunday morning, a challenge that they rose up to with lots of prep, prep, prep and practice, practice, practice. On the menu: pancakes, scrambled eggs, and fresh-cut fruits. Through this challenge, they learned about estimates, measurements, time management, food safety, safety, portioning and countless more real-world skills. Eating up the fruits (literally) of their labor was a fitting reward at the end of it all!

“Our mission is to prepare breakfast for all the guests… and it’s about 70 of them!!??” “How many pancakes can you make in a minute? Or an hour?”

Relax, teamwork will get us there … and taking a break to stuff our faces!

Ms. Caryn: “You have to extra careful!! You are holding a knife!”

Fruit cutting … 2 watermelons, 10 oranges and very steady hands!

Middle Studio (MS) Update

Hero Sharing

The MS Eagles were honored to host a Hero Sharing with Benjamin Eqbal, the test prep master trainer who brainchilded Benefit Prep. With 25+ years in education, he now prepares students seeking entry into top universities in the USA. He shared many fascinating experiences from his life, his studies and his work and challenged the MS Eagles to think critically and laterally. Naturally, they had lots of questions for him Thank you, Benjamin, for sharing your journey with us.

“I got very drunk and watched the scud missiles from Iraq hit Tel Aviv. True or False?”

Muay Thai Boxing

The MS had the last boxing session for this Sprint. Next Sprint, the Eagles decided to continue with more boxing lessons.

I Need You, You Need Me Boss Challenge

For this ultrachallenge, Team Girlz designed Team Boyz’ orienteering route and Team Boyz returned the favor. The challenge: If the other team does not arrive at their Final Landmark, the Treasure Hunt Tickets will not be distributed.

The Challenge took place around Taman Jaya and the Petaling Jaya Museum and it encouraged teamwork, practical map work, compass work, and orienteering skills. Their reward? A meal at Kanna Curry House, just off Jalan Gasing.

Th Girlz made it, but the Boyz hit technical difficulties: “The Girlz did not include, “Cross the road” in our instructions, that’s why this is the wrong way. OK. Backtrack! Backtrack! Backtrack!”

Team Girlz finding the final destination of their morning orienteering activity.

Camping Skills

Team Girlz testing their tent they just procured before the camp.

In preparation for the MS Camp, the MS Eagles have practised their camping skills throughout the Sprint. Evan, Andre and Gibran tried their hand at cooking rice with bamboo and … Bamboo Rice was born! In this challenge, the boys practised starting fires, using a machete and mallet for splitting/cutting bamboo and backwoods cooking.

“Quick! Keep the matches and the firestarter! It’s starting to rain on our Bamboo Rice!”

Team Boyz worked together with Team Girlz to develop a prototype of the zip line that they wanted to do for the camp.

And then it’s … Happy Trails!