Weekly Updates
Preschool / Spark Studio (PS) Update
A Productive Week
The PS Eagles settled into a productive week with zero Hurt Incidences and only a few minor daily Conflict Resolutions (listening to each other’s feelings and actions and deciding between themselves what is fair so that it does not happen again).
Making Cleaning Up Fun!
With the introduction of a musical clean-up/freeze game, the PS Eagles hit a new cleaning-up speed record of 4 minutes! As a result, they have been enjoying 3 days of super long Snack Times and DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) times.
Taking a Beat
During the Quest ‘Shrinking Magic Carpet’ game, there were instances of accidental pushing and falling. The PS Eagles took a pause to observe what had just happened and understand the cause and result of their actions. The learning that they took away from this was that working as a team is fun and everyone achieves something greater together.
Discovering Team Work and Drafting the Final Studio Contract
The PS Eagles were challenged to Build A Tribe by discovering Team Work and Drafting the Final Studio Contract. The double challenges were, ‘the Shrinking Magic Carpet’ and ‘Rescue Chief Bear Together’.
Elementary Studio (ES) Update
Campus-Wide Town Hall
The ES Eagles started this week with a campus-wide Town Hall, but unfortunately not all the Studios were present. Only 2 Studios participated in the meeting.
An ES Eagle led the Town Hall meeting and was finding it challenging to explain what was going on to the PS Eagles. After some time spent explaining, however, the PS Eagles understood what was going on.
The challenge for the ES Eagles was communication and the challenge for the PS Eagles was focus and understanding why they were there. Both Studios decided that no after school programs would be allowed to use the PS and ES Studios, and that the Studios would be closed after Studio hours.
Studio Maintenance
This week, the ES Eagles only focussed on the cleanliness of their Studio. Prior to this, the ES Eagles were also in charge of the bathrooms and kitchen. In breaking the work down to smaller chunks, they were able to achieve their goals.
The challenge in the past weeks were a messy kitchen area and a messy Studio area, and no one wanting to own up to the mess. The consequence of that was that campus tours were affected and the campus was receiving negative feedback regarding cleanliness. Now, with the ES Eagles working on the problem bit by bit, things are improving.
Changes were made, too, in the Studio. An assigned area for eating was created, and the mess is now contained within one area of the Studio. The ES Eagles also came up with some basic Studio Maintenance tasks such as sweeping the floor, picking up the trash, and organising the tabletops after Studio hours. It is heartening to observe that the ES Eagles have started showing responsibility for their Studio cleanliness.
Triple Celebration Fun Friday
Fun Friday this week was one major celebration that amalgamated 3 celebrations into one! Why the triple threat? Firstly, as agreed, last week’s celebration was postponed and absorbed into this week’s celebration of a movie. On top of that, the MS Eagles promised a reward for an excellent performance during the Lip Dub practice and recording. The ES Eagles delivered and the MS Eagles kept their promise … sweets galore!
Leading up to Fun Friday, the ES Eagles checked on each other throughout the week to see if everyone was on track to qualify. The stakes were high this time around! One observation was how the ES Eagles responded to this urgency. Many took on the persecutor role and tried rescuing themselves by suggesting and taking votes that Fun Friday qualification should be individualized instead of in squads.
One ES Eagle took a different approach and, instead of reacting, responded by taking on the role of a coach. She was assertive yet gentle, guiding her fellow Eagles on her squad, one being a new Eagle who has just joined us.
This ES Eagle made sure that her squad completed their work to qualify and took charge by using simple tools in the Studio such as the timer and limiting distractions. At one point, however, she felt overwhelmed by the work and time limitations and broke down in tears.
As A Hero, she sought the support of her family, Guide and tools in the Studio. She picked herself up and made a plan. Planning her time with her squad, she kept moving forward and led her team to success!
Congratulations to this brave, caring and persevered ES Eagle for leading the way to success and qualification for Fun Friday! It was a well-deserved celebration for her and for all the ES Eagles who worked hard.
Challenge in the Studio
The challenge in the ES Studio at the moment is that the ES Eagles are quick to react to challenges by prosecuting, seeking to be rescued, or maintaining a victim mindset.
As the ES Eagles continue their Journey, we strive to Guide them towards responding to challenges by challenging themselves, coaching others, and adopting a Hero’s MIndset.
One ES Eagles who faced challenges this week was asked, “Where are you right now on the Hero’s Journey?” He responded, “Going into the unknown. Coming to Acton was my call to adventure.”
Middle Studio & Launchpad (MSLP) Update
It was an exhausting weekend for the MSLP Eagles, spent serving 50 pax. Here are some headline figures:
- Revenue = $1,495. Cost ~ $800
- The experience of organizing and delivering an event with lots of challenges
But there seemed to be cash breaks. The MSLP Eagles struggled to audit.
The MSLP Eagles are using the earnings for their trip of a lifetime. Mostly due to the constraints of the rising Covid-19 cases and RMCO, it will be back to the usual campground – Father’s Organic Farm.
The exhausting weekend also meant a slump of energy for the first few days of the week. The MSLP Eagles crept into cheap distractions, or just fell asleep.
This week’s launch was based on a personal audit of this chart:
The chart, a measure of the learner-driven community, prompted more investigation into what makes a good MSLP Studio.
How do you create a combination of belonging plus a co-working space where the MSLP Eagles can pursue an independent path?
The real world provides the constraints of revenue, cost, income, and deadlines. For a teenager, the impact is cushioned. The Guide was prompted to dive deeper. There was Deeper Feedback to shape the joint MSLP Studio, coupled with:
Space Changes
Games
What is next for the MSLP Eagles? Come and learn more at their Exhibition!