Explore: Y7, S5, W5
What Has Taken Root
Click here to see pictures from this session.
This week marked the close of Session 5, a moment to pause, look back, and recognize just how much has taken root.
What began weeks ago as an idea has now quite literally come to life: our gardens have been planted. Learners moved from researching how to protect their crops and designing structures for our climate to finally getting their hands in the soil. It was a quiet but meaningful milestone, one that reflects the kind of long-term thinking and care this work requires.
That same spirit carried through the rest of the week.
During our Community Service Outing, learners stepped into the responsibility of contributing to something larger than themselves. At Community First Village, they helped care for the community garden alongside volunteers, weeding, aerating the soil, and supporting the growth of fresh, accessible food, while hearing Jordan’s story of resilience and rebuilding after his family experienced homelessness.
The Field Badge Outing this week was earned through steady, behind-the-scenes work. In order to participate, learners completed a series of challenges around cycling, from learning how to properly maintain a bike and fix a flat tire, to researching cycling heroes and reflecting on questions of risk, discipline, and freedom. They also trained their bodies through consistent workouts over several weeks. By the time they reached the outing, they were not just participating; they were prepared.
Back in the studio, learners prepared for Thursday’s Exhibition, where they shared both their work and the thinking behind it. What stood out was their ability to speak clearly about their decisions, their challenges, and what they might do differently next time.
The Writers’ Workshop has been one of the most demanding and rewarding arcs of this session. Learners began with a single big question, something they genuinely cared about, and had to pitch it to their peers for approval. From there, they stepped into the role of researchers and thinkers, learning how to ask sharper questions, explore opposing viewpoints, and organize their ideas into a clear argument.
In the final weeks, the work shifted from drafting to true revision: giving and receiving specific peer feedback, reworking ideas, and refining their voice. What you will see in the final essays is not just writing, but thinking that has been challenged, stretched, and clarified over time.
Download the Writers’ Workshop Essay Compendium PDF here.
As we closed the session, we returned to a few traditions that continue to shape our culture: writing thank-you notes, offering thoughtful reflections through 360 reviews, and gathering together for our now well-loved end-of-session potluck.
During the break, we also said goodbye to Moccha Latte. We will hold a moment of remembrance together at the start of Session 6.
As we step away from Session 5, what lingers is a sense of steady progress, of seeds planted, work completed, and a community continuing to grow together.
