2025-2026 Session 1 Newsletter

As we wrap up an incredible first session of the school year, we want to take the time to celebrate the hard work, growth, and energy our learners have poured into their learning journeys. From our Sparks studio to our LaunchPad leaders, the spirit of curiosity, creativity, and community has soared through every studio. Now, as we head into a well-deserved break, we hope your family finds time to rest, recharge, and reflect on the exciting start we've had.

There’s so much to celebrate and share, so keep reading below to hear what each studio has been up to. You won’t want to miss the highlights, milestones, and memorable moments from this powerful first session!

Jump to your Eagles' section of our Studio Blog by clicking here:

Sparks Elementary  Middle School

Sparks Studio

Session 1 Newsletter

Tuesday, August 19th, 2025 to Friday, September 26th, 2025

Hello Acton Friends and Family!

Session 1 began with enthusiasm and intention as Sparks jumped into a new school year, ready to learn and grow! From getting to know new friends, to working together as a tribe to create a music video, to writing a Studio Contract, learners have shown up every step of the way with innovative ideas and hard work. We are so proud of the efforts Eagles have made to help the year start out strong.

Systems and Contract Building

Sparks diligently brainstormed and shared many suggestions while forming guardrails regarding how to treat each other and our studio. Learners practice leadership skills on a daily basis as they execute studio jobs, follow Studio Contract promises, abide by Rules of Engagement, and solve conflicts at the Peace Table.  Sparks understand that these systems have been created to help make our studio a place in which each learner can truly thrive.

Build a Tribe Quest

Session 1’s Build a Tribe Quest inspired a good deal of creativity and teamwork as Sparks worked together to create a Lip Dub music video based on the "Pup Academy" theme song! Learners created character costumes and backdrop scenery, rehearsed lyrics and choreography, and cooperatively collaborated to make this experience both fun and meaningful.

Character Badges

Sparks have begun their Hero’s Journeys by focusing on character-building.  Learners have been practicing demonstrating a variety of character traits that heroes possess. During our first session, Eagles began learning about traits such as courage, kindness, wisdom, love, and patience.  

CORE

Sparks have been developing strong study habits during daily CORE work periods while building reading, writing, and math skills.  Core work time spans the development of basic phonetics, simple addition and subtraction, and practicing handwriting skills, to more advanced levels of strengthening reading comprehension and mathematical abilities.

While some Sparks are working on sounding out words and gaining number sense, others are using their critical thinking skills to solve complex word riddles and practice higher-level addition and subtraction. Sparks are also working on understanding fractions, time, and basic units of measurement. 

Sparks have also been loving computer learning during core work times! DreamBox Math has been a major hit this session, motivating young learners to develop conceptual understanding, build critical skills, and improve achievement regardless of where they are on their learning journey.

Discovery Time

Discovery time takes place during the afternoons for Sparks.  Learners enjoy this opportunity to use the enriching materials in our studio to enhance core skills.  From using letter blocks to build words, to matching phoneme cards to their corresponding pictures, to solving mathematical equations with Montessori math beads, to matching three-dimensional shapes to their names, Sparks are getting an abundance of hands-on experiences that reinforce core skills. 

Writers Workshop: North America

Sparks have been learning about the continent of North America this session.  Learners played geographical games to familiarize themselves with the world map, read about various animals and famous landmarks throughout the region, and wrote about a variety of American symbols. Sparks also spent time creating individual and collaborative maps of North America and the United States.

Sparks enjoy using beautiful wooden maps of the world, as well as continent-based booklets, to journal and illustrate what they are learning in geography. Each session will introduce a new world continent.

Physical Education

Sparks look forward to time at the gym each day. Learners take turns leading warm-ups and choosing group games. From running laps, to practicing soccer skills, to enjoying parachute games, to competing in relay races, Eagles are getting great exercise and practicing important sportsmanship qualities. Nature walks to and from the gym have been delighting Sparks as well, as a variety of insects, birds, and plants are sighted along the way.

Science & Robotics

Sparks are spending Friday mornings exploring science experiments and learning all about robotics! Learners have been experimenting with colors by mixing primary colors to make secondary ones. Also, our special parent volunteer, Ms. Heidy, has been teaching Eagles all about algorithms, debugging, coding, and sequencing as Sparks create their own mobile robots!

Art

On Friday afternoons, Sparks head up to the "Create" room to spend time coloring, painting, drawing and crafting! Learners have loved drawing self-portraits of themselves, blending colors to paint name tags, and illustrating their heroes. So much love and artistic flair has been poured into constructing their Hero boards!

Field Trip: Livermore Library

Eagles had the opportunity to visit the Livermore library this session! This was a wonderful time filled with enjoying cozy reading nooks, exploring literary activities, and checking out a book of choice! Sparks had a blast eating lunch and playing school-wide games on the grassy area outside at the end of the day. What a great way to inspire a love of literature!

Family Welcome Back Night 

Family Welcome Back Night was such a special time to enjoy a delicious dinner together and build community. Hopefully this helped shine some light on what a “day in the life” of a Spark looks like, and provided a feel for the amazing learning that takes place each day!

Exhibition

Our first exhibition of the year allowed Eagles to practice special speaking roles, write their own scripts, rehearse lines, and prepare artwork! Sparks eagerly shared all that they have been learning in so many subjects, including their geographical studies of North America, and the many science experiments they have enjoyed.

Closing Statements

We are very proud of Sparks for the hard work and strong effort they put forth into making their first session fun and successful! We are looking forward to all the learning and adventure in store in Session 2. Have a great break and we will see you soon!

Elementary School Studio

Session 1 Newsletter

Tuesday, August 19th, 2025 to Friday, September 26th, 2025

Hello Acton Friends and Family!

What a fantastic Session 1 we've had! It was so wonderful to meet so many families and get to know your Eagles. This first session has been all about building connections, establishing routines, and creating a strong foundation for the year ahead. From day one, our focus has been on helping Eagles build their "tribe" - a supportive network that provides support and a sense of belonging. By forming these bonds early, Eagles have laid a solid foundation of trust and collaboration that will make challenges easier to navigate and successes more rewarding throughout the year.

Back to School Night

Thank you to all the families who attended our Back to School Night on September 4th! It was wonderful to see the studio filled with families connecting with one another. The Eagles worked incredibly hard to create a fun and informative evening, and one of the highlights was hearing them present and speak about their work. We hope you enjoyed getting to know other families in our community through the Bingo game and gained a sneak peek into the daily routine of our Eagles.

Systems and Contract Building

Throughout this session, Eagles built systems that make our studio community function smoothly. They worked on studio contracts, rules of engagement and studio maintenance. Eagles collaborated to create agreements they could commit to together. At the end of the session, Eagles created and signed their studio contract, committing to a year of excellence. They will face challenges throughout the year and are likely to reflect on this contract many times as they progress on their Hero's Journey. This ownership over their learning environment empowers them to hold themselves and each other accountable.

Build a Tribe Quest

Our first quest of the year, "Build the Tribe," laid the foundation for a powerful and connected learning community.  As we moved through the session, Eagles worked on focus, self-monitoring, and keeping each other accountable, building responsibility and encouraging one another to achieve excellence. Their Quest set a positive tone for the entire session, reinforcing their teamwork, creativity, and commitment. 

Eagles teamed up to create and choreograph a music video or lip dub, participating in the Annual Regional Acton Academy music video/lip dub competition. You may have noticed your Eagles repeatedly singing the same song or rummaging through closets for costumes and props! The quest required extensive brainstorming, collaboration, negotiation, and diligent practice. Eagles finalized their plan after much creative effort, and the collaboration, creativity, and hard work that went into this project truly showcased their dedication to their tribe.

Lip Dub

The ES Eagles collaborated with the MS Studio to finalize their Lip Dub video. The encouragement from older eagles helped them gain a different perspective and see their project in a new light. The filming and editing process required teamwork, creativity, and persistence. It was heartwarming to see the Eagles laughing, learning, and bonding with one another throughout this process. The Eagles were incredibly proud of what they accomplished together.

CORE

Eagles have been diving deep into their Core Skills throughout the session. We introduced weekly Guide meetings to help Eagles set their weekly goals and track their progress intentionally. Eagles were encouraged to use their Brains, Books, and Buddy before coming to their Guide (3 B's before G). Reading assessments were completed, and Eagles set up their Google Classroom, a key tool for our communication and connection. As the session concluded, Eagles met to outline their end-of-year goals, helping them identify what they need to accomplish and pace themselves effectively throughout the year.

Writers Workshop

The Writers Workshop topic for this session was "Pitch a Field Trip!" Eagles learned the entire process of pitch writing, from brainstorming ideas to pitching their final presentations. There was teamwork as Eagles learned the art of critiquing and giving feedback to one another. On Exhibition Day, Eagles presented and shared their pitches with everyone. While some felt nervous about performing, they faced their fears and rose to the occasion. Their creativity and dedication throughout the entire writing process was impressive to witness.

Physical Education

Eagles started their first PE lessons during Week 2 of the session. This season, we focused on group games of Flag Football and Quidditch, giving Eagles opportunities to practice teamwork, strategy, and physical fitness in fun and engaging ways. These activities not only build physical skills but also reinforce the collaboration and tribe-building.

Robotics

ES started their first Robotics class in Week 4. Eagles will have this opportunity every other Friday to develop and practice this very important, fun, and relevant skillset. Robotics provides hands-on learning in engineering, problem-solving, and computational thinking, preparing Eagles for the technology-driven world ahead. The Eagles are very excited to learn this new skillset.

Art

We had a special campus-wide activity where all Eagles gathered to relax and reflect on who we are as heroes through an art project. This gave Eagles a chance to take a break from their hard work and express themselves in a new way. Throughout the session, Eagles also created beautiful pieces of art that were showcased at the Exhibition, demonstrating their creativity and artistic growth.

Field Trip: Livermore Library

Our first field trip to the Livermore Library was a great success! Eagles had a fantastic time visiting the library and exploring books. Some Eagles even selected titles for their Deep Books Badge, where they'll read a book of their choice in depth and submit a detailed review at the end. It was a wonderful opportunity for Eagles to explore, learn, and build memories together outside the studio environment.

Exhibition

The Session 1 Student Exhibition on September 25th was a tremendous success! Eagles were eager to showcase their achievements, from their Writers Workshop pitches and Build a Tribe Quest to the creation of their own hero boards and beautiful pieces of art. They spent the week creating content, wrapping up projects, and practicing their presentations. They showcased this during the Exhibition, collaborating effectively with the MS and Sparks teams. The Eagles were recognized for all their hard work, dedication, and progress in our Session 1 Badge ceremony. 

Close

These six weeks have been a time of getting to know one another, working together and growing as a community. They've learned to set intentional goals, work with focus, support one another, and celebrate their achievements together as a studio. 

We look forward to an exciting Session 2 with more learning and more adventures. Have a great break and we will see you soon.

Middle School

Session 1 Newsletter

Tuesday, August 19th, 2025 to Friday, September 26th, 2025

Hello Acton Friends and Family!

MS & LP Studios launched the year with high energy and a deep commitment to building a meaningful studio culture. We welcomed back four experienced MS Eagles and introduced a founding Eagle in our Launchpad studio. From playful chaos to focused project work, the theme of Session 1 was clear: Build a Tribe. Not just through words, but through both challenges and mutual respect.

Whether filming hilarious skits or taking on leadership roles in PE, MS learners embraced the balance of hard work and fun, courageously stepping into their roles as studio leaders. Throughout the session, learners pushed themselves and each other to think critically, lead boldly, and work independently. With new responsibilities and studio systems unfolding, this was a powerful beginning to what promises to be a transformative year.

Crossing the Threshold

From day one, the Acton Eagles made a commitment, Crossing the Threshold of the campus studio with a promise: Take on the challenge and transform their world, beginning their Hero’s Journey. This ceremony showed their courage to begin their journey in independent education and take on the year with fresh eyes.

Back to School Night

Our Annual Back To School Night brought on meaningful connections that reinforced our shared commitment to the Hero’s Journey. The event featured delicious catered Mexican food and a game of bingo uniquely designed to connect families across studios. It was also an opportunity to learn more about this year’s new opportunities, including the Family Plan Badge and our recently opened LaunchPad Studio.

Quest: Build a Tribe

Middle School (MS)

The MS studio kicked off the year with an annual, but improved, Build a Tribe Quest, filled with collaborative challenges and playful experiments with studio norms. Eagles began with a “chaos” Rule of Engagement, deliberately removing all structure during Socratic discussions to see how it affected energy and participation. While exciting and raising participation, the lesson in intentional structure creates freedom and belonging was quick.

Each week brought on a new test of teamwork for the tribe. Learners started with group games, LEGO builds, and preparation for their LipDub. Later, they explored teamwork through escape rooms (both physical and digital), strategy games, and even designed a pirate-themed escape room for ES learners! They closed the Quest by building intricate Rube Goldberg machines - an engineering challenge that tested their creativity, and taught them lessons in failure and excellence.

Launchpad (LP)

Our Launchpad learner centered their Quest time around defining their Next Great Adventure (NGA), a long-term vision for life after Acton. Through games, planning exercises, and discussions with MS Eagles, LP explored what success, failure, and motivation really look like in competitive and high-stakes environments.

They embraced their NGA (Next Great Adventure) exploration by diving into the Quest, deep self-reflection, and real-time collaboration with MS learners. The path forward for them and future LP Eagles is uniquely driven by the learner, and they are off to a strong start.

Genre: Hero’s Essays and My NGA Blog

Middle School (MS)

MS learners embraced a new challenge this year, balancing daily Genre challenges in tandem with daily Quest activities. This required intentional goal setting and time management. Their writing focused on answering questions like “Who am I?” and Who is my Hero?” Learners drafted reflections, essays, and narratives that explored these questions and were refined through peer feedback cycles. With deadlines and peer critique cycles, learners strengthened both their voice in their writing, as well as their time-management skills, a great starting point for the rest of the year.

Launchpad (LP)

The LP Genre was a chance to try out marketing strategies through prose by writing a blog that advertises the Acton NGA and other Acton philosophies. Through a strong personal work ethic and dedication to their writing, LP finished their blog with excellence, and early too!

Civilizations

This session brought a shift in the format of our usual Civilizations. This year, Acton East Bay MS/LP Eagles will be given a time frame with resources for specific events and challenged to write on the time’s most important figures, events, and tools that changed history. Each session, we will be taking a step forward in time! This session started with 1400 to 1900 in MS Studio, and Beginning of Time to Rome for LP Studio. Their final product to represent their work was a visual trifold to be displayed during the end-of-session Exhibition.

Acton Academy Film Festival 2025

One of the most energizing projects this session was the Acton Film Festival LipDub, with MS and LP Eagles creating a hilarious, highly creative Dance Moms-themed skit. Eagles were responsible for everything from filming to editing, and brought humor and heart to their final product, complete with wigs, bows, and camera stabilizers.

The LipDub also served as a creative reflection on the Hero’s Journey and the studio’s Question of the Year: “What is most important to build a heroic tribe?” The final cut was submitted to the network-wide Film Festival and premiered at the Exhibition with laughter and pride.

To see the MS/LP Studio’s Lip Dub, click HERE.

MS Plan a Trip Project

One of the most beloved and high-stakes projects of the year began this session: Plan-A-Trip. Each Eagle proposed a Spring Trip destination, complete with a budget, itinerary, and reasoning to convince peers and parents to vote for their city.

The MS Eagles practiced public speaking, persuasive writing, and presentation skills, culminating in live pitches during the Exhibition. Planning for the adventure begins in Session 2 and will continue all the way up to the trip. We are so excited to get this long-term project started!

CORE & ASU

CORE is our academically focused period each morning, where Eagles work on Math, Reading Comprehension, Coding, and other various ELA topics. Each Eagle works at their own pace, allowing the opportunity for learners to work at differing grade levels from their “given grade”. The progress this method allows for is substantial, with some of our learners finishing topics through their maximum level. They are not left without work, however, as learners who have completed 2 CORE programs in total unlock new opportunities, such as language learning through Duolingo and an elective course through our partnership with ASU. Some of these courses include 3D Graphics and Video, Interior Design, and Fashion Design!

Physical Education (PE)

PE this session was more than just movement; it was leadership training for our MS Eagles. MS refereed Capture the Flag games for ES learners, managed equipment, and upheld fairness with maturity and grace. These moments of responsibility outside the classroom demonstrate just how much growth happens in unstructured, real-world play. One PE period, the MS Studio even took on the role of a Guide, creating the Friday Relay Race for the rest of the studios to enjoy together.

Field Trip: Livermore Library Civic Center

On September 12, the Acton studio took its first field trip of the year to the Livermore Library – Civic Center. The goal? Explore a public resource and find their first Deep Book of the year! The quiet, purposeful energy of the library inspired many Eagles, and several requested to return more frequently. After checking out their books, everyone gathered by the greenspace for a picnic-style lunch under our favorite climbing tree. The Eagles were very patient as the lunch was slightly delayed, but their behavior and Acton excellence was applauded by both the members of the library and the staff at the attached cafe. We are extraordinarily proud of the Eagles' demeanor and grace; everyone could see the confidence they carry!

Exhibition

The Session 1 Exhibition on September 25 was a triumphant showcase of learning and creativity. Families toured displays of the MS studio’s Rube Goldberg machines, Civilizations projects, and watched the Dance Moms LipDub debut. The Eagles demonstrated their confident public speaking skills and leadership in the studio. It was an impressive sight for this to be their first Exhibition of the year.

Most notably, Eagles delivered passionate Plan-A-Trip presentations for the Spring and held a vote for where they plan to go, a unique experience exclusively for our older MS/LP Studios. LP also introduced their learning flow to parents and shared their reflections on the NGA journey.

Close

This session was not just a beginning; it was a declaration of who these young heroes are becoming. It was action-packed, with basically 2 Quests for MS alongside their LipDub and other usual activities. Next session is sure to be a delight, and we can't wait to see them back in the studio soon.

Have a great break!