2025-2026 Session 2 Newsletter

Session 2 was a long and transformative session! Over seven weeks, our Eagles have shown remarkable perseverance through complex challenges, deepened their independence as learners, and strengthened the bonds that make our community so special. They've embraced curiosity with open hearts, supported one another through both planned adventures and unexpected surprises, and demonstrated the kind of courage and collaboration that defines what it means to be a hero.

Now, as we head into a well-deserved break, keep reading to discover what each studio accomplished. You won't want to miss these highlights!

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

Sparks Elementary  Middle School

Sparks Studio

Session 2 Newsletter

Monday, October 6th, 2025 to Friday, November 21st, 2025

Hello Acton Friends and Family!

Session 2 was a time of deepening understanding of studio systems, cultivating stronger friendships, and learning more about fascinating areas of study. From practicing key elements of our “Rules of Engagement”, to having meaningful experiences that strengthen bonds, to exploring botanical and entomological interests, Eagles have had so many memorable moments.

Systems and Contract Building

During Session 2, Sparks examined and discussed a key element of Acton culture as they considered the acronym “I.C.E.E.” which stands for “Intentionality”, “Civility”, “Energy”, and “Excellence”. Learners examined how to set achievable goals, prioritize using kind manners, channel energy in an effective way, and consistently produce their best work.

Gardening & Insects Quest

Session 2’s Quest took Sparks into the world of gardens and insects! Over the course of the session, learners compared and planted real seeds, and studied the life cycles of pumpkins, bees, and butterflies. A big highlight of the session was watching real caterpillars complete the entire metamorphosis process. Watching chrysalides form and eventually hatch into beautiful Painted Lady butterflies was exhilarating for Eagles.

Character Badges

Sparks have continued to use Reflection times at the end of the day as an opportunity to think about which character traits they have been displaying. Essential traits including respectfulness, productivity, having a growth mindset, displaying curiosity, and demonstrating partnership are wonderful examples of the character traits that Eagles are striving toward embodying on a regular basis.

CORE

Core work has been filled with Fall-themed reading, writing, and math activities. Sparks wrote about their Halloween costumes choices, what they enjoy doing most during the Fall season, and what they are most grateful for. Learners unscrambled words about Autumn, read about deciduous trees, and solved spooky math problems. Eagles also completed “Giving Thanks” word searches, scarecrow sight word pictures, before and after number sequence turkeys, comparing numerical values using lesser and greater than signs, labeling the parts of the turkey, Thanksgiving riddle mazes, and candy corn place value.

Sparks are also still loving computer learning during core work times, and Nessy will be a big focus during computer time next session..

Discovery Time

Discovery time continues to take place during the afternoons for Sparks. Learners enjoy this opportunity to use the enriching materials in our studio to enhance core skills. From using math beads and an abacus to practice place value, to matching phonemes and consonant blends to their corresponding pictures, to playing memory games about a variety of leaves and butterflies, to completing a 1-100’s number chart in sequential order, Sparks are exploring learning in a hands-on way.

Writers Workshop: South America

Sparks have loved exploring South American geography, wildlife, and vegetation throughout the second session. From learning about coffee plants to cocoa plants to orchids, to mantises and vipers and jaguars, Eagles have researched and written about their favorite flora and fauna from this region of the world. Sparks journal and draw detailed descriptions and illustrations of what they learn about each continent throughout the year along their “world travels”.

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 creating a variety of versions of superpower tag, Eagles are getting great exercise and practicing important sportsmanship qualities. Nature walks to and from the gym continue to delight Sparks as well, as a variety of insects, birds, and plants are sighted along the way.

Science & Robotics

Sparks continue to spend Friday mornings exploring science experiments and learning all about robotics! Learners have been making mudshakes, creating a cloud in a jar, and molding their very own volcano. Also, our special parent volunteer, Ms. Heidy has been continuing to teach Eagles all about algorithms, debugging, coding, and sequencing as Sparks create their own mobile birds!

Art

On Friday afternoons, Sparks love spending time coloring, painting, drawing and crafting! Learners have loved gathering real leaves for crayon leaf rubbings, painting pumpkins and succulents, creating handprint haunted houses and silly monsters for Halloween, and putting together an across studio collaborative turkey!

Field Trip: Dell'Osso Family Farms

Eagles had an amazing field trip to Dell’Osso Family Farm in October! Sparks enjoyed the giant “jumping pillows”, strolling through the corn maze, climbing on the pirate ship, adventuring through an amazing obstacle course, feeding the farm animals, taking a pony ride, riding spinning pumpkins, going on a hay ride, and running a restaurant in “Teeny Town”. What a fun-filled Fall day!

Halloween & Friendsgiving Celebrations

Our Halloween and Friendsgiving celebrations were both delightful opportunities to come together as a whole Acton community and to take part in a memorable costume parade, enjoy gym games, create Halloween lanterns and collaborative handprint turkeys, play holiday-themed Kahoot!, and eat a delicious spread of mouth-watering dishes.

Exhibition

Our second exhibition of the year allowed Eagles to practice special speaking roles, write their own scripts, rehearse lines, and prepare meaningful projects. Sparks eagerly shared all that they have been learning in so many subjects, including their geographical studies of South 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 second session fun and successful! We are looking forward to all the learning and adventure in store in Session 3. Have a great break and we will see you soon!

Elementary School Studio

Session 2 Newsletter

Monday, October 6th, 2025 to Friday, November 21st, 2025

Hello Acton Friends and Family!

Session 2 has been an amazing adventure for our ES Eagles! As our longest session of the year, these past seven weeks have been packed with scientific exploration, creative writing, and meaningful connections. From researching inspirational heroes to supporting each other through haunted houses and kitten distractions, this session has challenged our learners to grow in perseverance, collaboration, and independence. We're so proud of how these Eagles have embraced each challenge with curiosity and determination!

Field Trip: Dell'Osso Family Farms

Dell'Osso Family Farms delivered the perfect fall field trip experience! Eagles sampled yummy farm treats while bouncing between attractions all day long. Tubing down steep hills got hearts racing, navigating the corn maze sparked teamwork and problem-solving, and the giant jumping pillow brought pure joy. The true hero moment emerged during repeated trips through the haunted house. Eagles bravely supported friends through scary moments while also practicing the important skill of maintaining personal boundaries with others in the group. When the ES and MS/LP studios connected for activities later in the day, the cross-age friendships and collaborative spirit highlighted everything special about our Acton community. Stay brave, ES Studio.

Halloween Parade

Spooky, spectacular, and totally fun! Halloween celebrations consumed the entire day from morning to afternoon. The costume parade kicked things off with Eagles proudly modeling their creative outfits for families while posing for group photos. After burning energy during gym time, learners returned to discover their studio transformed into a Halloween wonderland. Spooky music bingo filled the air, glowing ghoulish jars lit up corners, and caramel apples became edible art projects. The Eagles dove into every activity with full Halloween enthusiasm! We're grateful to our parent reps and all the helpers who brought this memorable celebration to life for our learners.

The Story of Energy Quest

ES Eagles explored The Story of Energy through a journey that spanned from ancient times to modern innovation! The quest focused on scientific thinking, energy, and physics through a series of weekly challenges tied to different periods in history.

The adventure began with Hunter-Gatherer Week, where learners practiced what amount of energy it would take to survive as hunter-gatherers, connecting action with reason. They explored how energy transfers from the sun through the food chain and drafted creative comic strips imagining the beginning of the universe and where it might go.

As they traveled through time, Eagles investigated how humans have converted energy into working machines. They created a series of machines that displayed at least two different forms of energy, and their creativity came through in each project. The Eagles also explored density and fire (yes, actual fire!), testing whether high-dense or low-dense materials burn brighter or hotter. While some materials were so dense they never lit, the Eagles learned so much about how materials store oxygen and energy. Their attention to the task despite failure was a great example of their perseverance.

Writers Workshop: Hero Biographies

Writer's Workshop introduced ES Eagles to the exciting world of biography writing! They brainstormed inspirational heroes and started researching in depth about someone they wanted to write about. Throughout the session, Eagles learned essential skills like how to cite sources and paraphrase properly to avoid plagiarizing someone else's work. As their biographies took form, new facts prompted strong and curious conversations in the studio. Eagles worked through multiple drafts, focusing on organization and presentation of their topics.

Music

Welcome, Mr. Elijah! Our new music guide brought weekly doses of musical joy to the ES Studio this session. Eagles dove enthusiastically into piano playing and vocal exercises, and you could see the excitement lighting up their faces every music day. Mr. Elijah's approach resonated immediately with the learners, making this elective an instant hit. We're delighted to provide this creative outlet for our Eagles and look forward to watching their musical abilities and confidence flourish in future sessions!

Robotics

Ms. Heidy brought robotics back into our weekly rotation! Eagles explored coding concepts and terminology, with a particular focus on algorithms and how they work both in programming and everyday life. Ms. Heidy's teaching continues to spark engineering curiosity and computational thinking in our learners. Thank you, Ms. Heidy, for helping Eagles think like programmers and creative problem-solvers!

CORE & Deep Books

Throughout this session, Eagles have practiced a deeper focus on their CORE subjects, building independence and taking ownership of their academic progress. At the session's start, ES Eagles selected their first Deep Book, kicking off a badge that encourages meaningful reading paired with essay writing to build writing skills. Deep Books are more than just free reading, but must also carry themes that the learners can pinpoint and discuss. As the session closes, Eagles are finishing up their first Deep Book essays and are eager to start their next one.

Physical Education (PE)

PE sessions kept Eagles moving and energized all session long! The activities focused on building teamwork skills, developing physical fitness, and establishing healthy habits. Eagles brought great energy and enthusiasm to PE, especially in competitive sports like ultimate frisbee. Together, they have grown stronger in their sportsmanship and overall teamwork.

Holiday: Thanksgiving Lunch

The Thanksgiving potluck was absolutely delicious and so much fun! Every Eagle contributed something tasty to share, ensuring everyone left with full bellies and happy hearts. As the final day of our longest session, the community table buzzed with stories, laughter, and reflections on the journey. This special gathering gave our young learners space to connect deeply, celebrate collective growth, and appreciate each other before heading into break. They look forward to this tradition each year, and it remains a meaningful cornerstone of our studio culture that emphasizes community and gratitude.

Learn to Be

An adorable surprise arrived when a kitten family set up home right outside the ES Studio window! Watching the kittens play and tumble each morning quickly became the Eagles' favorite distraction, sparking daily brainstorming sessions about creative names and rescue plans. This unexpected situation created valuable lessons beyond animal welfare. Eagles grappled with managing exciting distractions during work time and discovered how even wonderful interruptions can block personal progress when not managed well. By session's end, their improved focus and resolution showed real growth. We hope this lesson about balancing excitement with responsibility stays with them throughout the year.

Exhibition

What an incredible Exhibition celebration! The ES Studio absolutely loved presenting their Story of Energy Quest through the Hunter-Gatherer Games and sharing their Hero Biography Kahoot with you. The anticipation was palpable. You could hear their voices projecting excitedly as they revealed their discoveries! The range of work spanning Quest, Writer's Workshop, and Civilizations proved just how much rich learning happened during this session. Way to go, Eagles!

Close

What a wonderful session it has been! We truly are so proud of the amount of time these learners took to get on track and finish with excellence. From conducting their first Journey Meetings of the year to completing complex energy experiments, these Eagles have shown dedication, creativity, and grit.

We look forward to session 3!

Middle School

Session 2 Newsletter

Monday, October 6th, 2025 to Friday, November 21st, 2025

Hello Acton Friends and Family!

Session 2 has been an incredible journey for our MS/LP Eagles! As the longest session of the year, these past seven weeks have challenged our learners to strengthen their leadership skills, embrace adaptability, and support one another through new systems and schedules. From environmental engineering challenges to photography projects, from butterfly releases to kitten rescues, this session has been filled with opportunities for growth, collaboration, and memorable

experiences. We're so proud of how the MS Eagles have risen to every challenge and built an even stronger studio culture together.

Field Trip: Dell’Osso Family Farms

Our annual Dell'Osso adventure brought the studios together for a day of fall fun! The corn maze challenged the learners’ problem-solving skills (success!), the haunted house tested their courage, and the farm's treats satisfied everyone's appetite. What stood out most was witnessing cross-age collaboration as studios formed teams throughout the day. The MS/LP Eagles stepped naturally into mentorship roles, demonstrating the community-building spirit that drives our tribe forward. This campus-wide event perfectly illustrated how our learners support and push each other toward success, a strength that has only deepened throughout the session.

Halloween Parade

Halloween brought festive energy to campus! The costume parade launched our celebration as Eagles displayed their frightening costumes for families, capturing memories through group photos. The MS/LP studio's leadership truly shone as they volunteered hours to organize activities and create a memorable experience for our younger learners. They coordinated spooky music bingo, guided the creation of ghoulish light-up jars, and managed caramel apple decorating stations. The Halloween spirit was alive and well! Special appreciation goes to our parent reps and everyone who helped make this event possible, and especially to our MS/LP Eagles, whose leadership made it unforgettable for the entire campus.

Quest: Environmental Engineers & Photography

Middle School (MS)

MS Eagles took on their environmental engineering hats to tackle real-world challenges facing our planet. They began by exploring major oil spills, including the Exxon Valdez disaster and California's Guadalupe Oil Field Restoration, then created their own oil booms to test collection methods. Using microscopes, they assessed local streamwater health, discovering concerning truths about dangerous algae blooms and littering in freshwater resources.

Their hands-on work culminated in building homemade water filters using cotton balls, activated charcoal, and sand, successfully turning bright orange dirt water into cloudy light tan water (though wisely, none trusted it enough to drink!). They also explored wells and landfills, creating filtration layers to protect aquifers from groundwater contamination.

Launchpad (LP)

LP Studio grabbed their camera and dove headfirst into the art of photography! They kicked off by taking studio portraits and group shots for Acton's Picture Day, developing valuable skills in posing subjects and client relations as younger Eagles visited for their photo sessions. Throughout the session, LP photographers explored self-portraits and "tourist-esque" photography around campus, capturing fresh perspectives of familiar spaces (including adorable shots of our surprise kitten visitors!).

Their final challenge had them recreating famous movie clips, focusing on scene lighting and audio quality. This multifaceted approach to being behind the camera has built an excellent foundation for their future work in media.

Genre: Phenomenal Me & Writing New Media

Middle School (MS)

Genre had the Eagles research fascinating phenomena. From rainbows to the auroras to reverse waterfalls and earth radiation, learners chose their own topics and dove deep into scientific research. They worked through outlines and multiple drafts to create scientific papers that demonstrate both their research skills and writing excellence. Their "Phenomenal Me" boards incorporated their inner artists, visually showcasing what they learned through their academic research. Seeing them bring art into the studio has been a delight, and their final products presented at the Exhibition were truly impressive!

Launchpad (LP)

LP focused on blog-style writing and a persuasive piece that contributed to their understanding of media and journalism. They crafted descriptive text to accompany their photographs and photography experiences, learning how journalists format their writing and properly credit sources. This work in "Writing New Media" gave them valuable insight into the relationship between visual and written storytelling, building skills they'll use for years to come.

CORE & Deep Books

Throughout the session, Eagles have maintained strong progress in their CORE subjects, demonstrating the independence and accountability that continue to impress us week after week. MS Eagles are wrapping up their first Deep Book of the year! Each year, they find a book that is more than just a fun read, but one that has a cultural impact. MS has 4 of these to complete in a year, and LP is challenged to 5, a goal which they are already working diligently on with 2 books nearly finished.

Music

Mr. Elijah joined us as our music guide this session, and the MS/LP Eagles couldn't have been more welcoming! Friday music sessions became an instant favorite as Mr. Elijah introduced rhythm games, group listening exercises, and innovative warm-up strategies. Watching the Eagles lean into their vocal training, practicing with volume and confidence as they prepared for Exhibition, has been fantastic. Music has quickly become a weekly highlight, and we're thrilled to keep building on this strong foundation in upcoming sessions!

Physical Education (PE)

Physical activity remained a priority throughout the session with PE activities designed to strengthen teamwork, build fitness, and promote healthy lifestyles. The Eagles' enthusiasm and energy during these sessions provided an important counterbalance to the intensive academic focus of Quest and Genre work. This session brought a few new games, such as ultimate frisbee, an Eagle-favorite, and pool noodle hockey!

Holiday: Thanksgiving Lunch

The Thanksgiving potluck lunch honored a cherished studio tradition! Every learner brought a dish to the communal table, and the feast was enjoyed together in true community style. Being the final day of our longest session, this gathering held special significance as Eagles reflected on what they are grateful for and celebrated the journey of Session 2. Moments like these, where connection and celebration intertwine, form the backbone of our studio culture. Watching the tribe unite in gratitude and appreciation was a beautiful way to close out this demanding and rewarding session.

Learn to Be

Unexpected lessons emerged this session when a kitten family moved into our courtyard! The studios immediately engaged with the situation, specifically LP, researching animal rescue protocols and observing animal behavior patterns as they worked toward getting the family spayed/neutered and fostered. This real-world scenario became a powerful lesson in responsibility and taking action when needs arise.

Freedom Levels launched in the MS studio this session, creating a system where learners earn privileges or opportunities to reset based on weekly progress and studio participation tracking. Eagles accumulate Eagle Bucks by meeting requirements, but risk losing them if they fall short of weekly minimums.

Exhibition

Thursday's Exhibition powerfully showcased everything our Eagles achieved this session! The MS studio revealed an understanding of each other's unique learning journeys as they guided families through environmental engineering projects and in LP’s photography and new media quest. Confidence radiated through their presentations, and public speaking voices rang strong. Whether explaining water filtration mechanics, presenting scientific research on reverse waterfalls and rainbows, or performing their musical piece with Mr. Elijah, growth was visible everywhere. Thank you to every family who came to celebrate the Eagles' dedication and accomplishments!

Close

What an extraordinary session it has been! We've witnessed our MS/LP Eagles grow in leadership and their commitment to supporting one another with honesty. From volunteering their time for younger studios to conducting honest badge audits, these learners have shown what it means to be part of a heroic tribe. Their willingness to push themselves academically while encouraging others to succeed is truly special.

See you in Session 3!