Weekly Updates
Preschool / Spark Studio (PS) Update
Motivation and Shared Responsibility
With the Exhibition on Thursday, there was no Quest Day on Friday. Nonetheless, the PS Eagles voted for work time on Friday so that they could work and receive points that they could convert into Eagle Bucks.
The PS Eagles are now more or less in flow with the Studio systems, and owning their Studio a lot more. There is a sense of shared responsibility amongst them.
Dealing with the Consequences
On Friday, as many as 5 PS Eagles sat out of the Clean Up Game of sorting out the Big Items and the Small Items after the Outdoor Play Time. These 5 Eagles were recovering from Conflict Resolution and still needed time to calm down. On the bright side, the remaining 6 PS Eagles split themselves into 2 groups of 3 and finished their cleaning duties in only 5 minutes and went down for an early Snack Time. Not having everyone ready for a task in the Studio did not stop the majority of the PS Eagles from carrying out their work and playing a game. The journey continues on.
Preparing for Exhibition!
The excitement level in the PS Studio was high as the PS Eagles prepared to showcase everything they do in the PS Studio in a 10 minute role play. This was to be capped off by the Signing of the PS Studio Contract – a document on which they had worked throughout the whole Sprint. The Contract states how they will work together as a Studio to create the kind of environment they want to work and play in.
Running up to the big day, the PS Eagles chose the roles and responsibilities that they would each take on during the day itself. In the excitement, the PS Eagles were given a choice to calm themselves down or take a 5-minute pause at the Pause and Reset table.
One aspect of the Exhibition brought about a lively debate – the choice of song during the Signing Ceremony:
AA – I want to choose the wedding song with the bride picture.
AZ – I choose the Wedding Song. The marching song sounds boring.
Elementary Studio (ES) Update
Exhibition Week!
This Sprint, the ES Eagles worked together on building their tribe through team-building exercises and producing a Lip Dub video. At the same time, they went through Processes and Systems in the Studio, testing each one out to see which ones would work for them as a group. Once chosen, they were refined until ES Eagles felt they worked to create a Studio they wanted to be and work in.
Studio Contract
As part of the tribe-building quest, the ES Eagles were also challenged to work together to devise a Studio Contract that they could all use to keep their Studio running well and help them keep productive. The ES Eagles finalised their Contract with 6 promises this academic year, having tested each promise out with Contract Games throughout the 5 weeks of the Sprint.
Exhibition Preparation
The two-headed Eagle headed this Sprint’s Exhibition planning. They decided on the flow and what was going to be presented.
Part of the presentation was writing the Contract down and determining how it would be presented to the Exhibition guests. This was done with a simple game (competition) between the Studio Squads.
Each Squad were challenged to write, draw, and decorate their version of the Contract. As a Studio, the ES Eagles then voted on which Contract they would use.
On To New Hero’s Journeys
A big THANK YOU to Ms Cze Yi, who is going on to a new Hero’s Journey! Thank you for nearly 2 years of loving, understanding, encouraging and challenging the ES Eagles to be their best selves! You will be missed!
A big GOOD LUCK to Ms Seline as she takes some time off to give birth and spend time with her new precious one! We can’t wait to see pictures of little baby Arianna!
Middle Studio & Launchpad (MSLP) Update
The week started with some interesting launches, followed by preparation for the MSLP Exhibition.
Simplest Launch
How does a Launch with 22 words look like? Try this at home.
The Giving Tree
Watch and read “The Giving Tree” aloud.
Q1
Was the tree happy?
Q2
Was the boy happy?
Q3
Is this a hero’s journey story?
Fun Launch – Aqeesha Turns 17!
Aqeesha is the oldest Eagle in ActonKL. She joined us as part of the Design Thinking program where she created this video:
Aqeesha organized a quiz on Kahoots to celebrate this special occasion with her fellow MSLP Eagles. Keep on being your beautiful, strong, independent self, Aqeesha, and forge your own path!
Rising Cases Woes & Exhibition Preparation
The MSLP Eagles had planned to have a camping trip on Monday 5th October, however, the COVID19 cases are on the rise again, so The MSLP Eagles changed their plans and, with the Guides encouragement, decided to stay. They decided to postpone their plans to a time when things have cleared up.
Some MSLP Eagles had concerns about a bigger planned crowd on Thursday’s Exhibition Day. There had been talk of a semi-virtual Exhibition in which they would display their Studio work online. On Wednesday, ActonKL decided to only open the physical Exhibition to Acton parents.
What’s Next? Programming Quest
The next Sprint will be another transition Sprint as we are anticipating new Eagles joining the MSLP Studio from the Elementary Studio in January 2021. Due to this, the MSLP Eagles will continue to have some flexibility.
Despite the flexibility, however, the MSLP Eagles have still chosen to have more structure. One has set themselves daily work commitments that they have to uphold to be in the Studio. They have also opted to lead the ES Eagles in the unplugged activities for the next Sprint – the Programming Quest.
One might be surprised that they made such choices. They made them because the care about their own journeys. They want to challenge themselves further and they honestly admit their own struggles with procrastination and distractions.
They are owning their learning and growth.