Revel Recap: Sept. 3 - 6, 2024

Spark Studio

Mindfulness and Launch

Welcome to the 2024/2025 year in the Spark Studio! We gathered in a circle on Tuesday morning to introduce ourselves and share about our summer vacation. All of the learners had wonderful memories to reflect on before we completed mindful colouring to ease into our day. On Wednesday, our yoga was led by two of our returning learners. They used our yoga spinner game to create the sequence and did a great job demonstrating the poses for the studio to follow. Afterward, we had a launch on the "3 B's before G." To help encourage independence and build a self-governing community, we introduced this recipe that promotes self-reliance. We talked about how they can pause and use their three B's before they ask a guide a question. (The three B's stands for Brains, Buddies, and Books.) We encourage the learners first to stop and think about their questions. If they pause and think for a minute, do they already know the answer? If not, they can ask a buddy. Who else in the studio might know the answer? We suggest asking at least two learners first. They could also use a book, meaning anything written, including a poster, schedule, or book in the studio. Thursday morning started with silliness and laughter as we played with balloons. The learners were in teams and challenged to pass the balloons in various ways. We also played the classic game of Keep It Up! We followed this up with a Launch about our Peace Table, a table in our studio dedicated as a place for the learners to talk through any disagreements. We reviewed the recipe to follow when visiting this area. At our Peace Table, we promise to: 1. Use the speaking tool. 2. Tell the truth. 3. Use kind words. 4. Say, "I feel..." 5. List ways to solve the problem. and 6. Ring the bell when the problem is solved. This is a safe place for the Sparks to work out their conflicts by talking through them and sharing their feelings. In the Spark studio, we always end our week reflecting on what we are grateful for. We read The Grateful Book to introduce us to the idea of being thankful for the things we have in our lives. Each learner took a turn sharing their gratitude and completed an entry in their journal. 

Quest

Our first Quest of the year is called Create the Culture. Over the next six weeks, we will be building a strong and supportive studio. We will play many teambuilding games, create our studio promises, and showcase our dreams with vision boards. This week, we focused on sharing who we are and getting to know one another. To launch our first Quest, we introduced the idea of Rules of Engagement. At Revel, ROEs help keep discussions and Circle Time peaceful and efficient. We brainstormed rules the learners felt might be useful. We talked about different ways to sit (criss-cross, mountain, mermaid), taking turns talking, raising our hands to speak, and keeping our hands and feet to ourselves. The learners voted on two ROEs they wanted to focus on for the day. After this discussion, we read the book All Are Welcome Here, which prompted a conversation about how we can make our studio a safe, welcoming, and fun place for all. We then played an icebreaker game called "That's Me." The learners took turns going to the middle of the circle and told us their name and something they liked. If the other learners liked the same thing, they would jump up and shout, "That's me!" Our activity in the afternoon was first to create a self-portrait using loose parts. Next, the learners drew a picture of themselves, which will be the first page in the identity booklet they are making and will share at our Session 1 Exhibition. 

On Wednesday, we played two teambuilding games. First, the learners had to work together to line up with various prompts. For example, they lined up alphabetically by their first name, or from shortest to tallest. We saw some greatleadership, teamwork, and organizational skills at play! Next, we played "Get on the Boat." In this game, we asked questions such as, "If you like summer more than winter, get on the boat!" The Sparks would race to a boat in the middle of the room. If they liked winter more, they would keep swimming. This game helped us realize that many of us had many of the same likes and interests. Our read-aloud in the afternoon was The Day You Begin. This book talks about how sometimes you might walk into a room and feel like no one there is quite like you. However, the story showed us that if you take a brave step and get to know the people around you, you might realize you have more in common than you thought! It was a relatable story for our learners who have shown so much courage this week! Our identity booklet page for our second day was all about the things we love the most. The Sparks completed this page using 3D puffy stickers! 

Thursday's Quest began in the gym, playing a game called "A Big Wind Blows." Everyone lined up on the wall, and we repeated the phrase, "A big wind blows for everyone who likes…" and said something we liked. If other people liked it too, they would run to the other side of the gym! We learned so much about each other with this game! We returned to the studio to read the beautiful story, My Heart Fills With Happiness. Each learner completed this page for their booklet and then shared their illustrations of the things that bring them happiness and fill their hearts! 

To wrap up our week of Quest, we read the story, Hair Love. We then filled in our identity page, drawing a picture of our favourite thing to wear. It was then time for our annual Spark Fashion Show, complete with music, disco lights, and a red carpet! Seeing the Sparks' smiles was so fun as they showed off their personalities and what they like to wear! 

French

This week, the Rebels and Mme. Marianne introduced themselves and then played « Seek-a-boo, » a hide-and-seek game with pictures to test our French vocabulary. This game assisted Mme. Marianne with making the French groups for Session 1.

Geography

"The world is split into continents; there are seven in all…" Ask your learner if they remember any more of the lyrics to this catchy song! After listening to this song, we looked at a globe and identified the continents we had just heard about. We then introduced everyone to our continent puzzle map. Our focus this week was on learning the names of three continents. Each learner had an opportunity to trace the outline of the continent puzzle piece and repeat the name. This multi-sensory approach is very effective in helping learners to remember information. Next, we played a game. We took turns hiding these three continents, and other learners would try to find them. Once they located the continent, they returned it to the circle and told us the name. The learners really enjoyed this activity and asked to keep playing. We love to witness their excitement! 

Math Lab

Our first Math Lab of the year started with the question, "What is math?" The learners shared what they knew about this area, and we discussed the importance of a growth mindset. Next, we took a tour of the math area in the studio. We talked about the materials and then took some off the shelves for our first group lesson. We looked at our coloured and golden bead materials and counted their associated numbers. We then used our teen boards and beads to review our teen numbers. 

Art

This week's Art Workshop was inspired by Ed Emberley and his thumbprint drawing book. We spent some time learning about his process and looked through the steps he took to create some awesome pictures. The Sparks loved seeing all his fantastic artwork using only fingerprints and adding a few scribbles or lines. We read about how there are more than 12 billion thumbs in the world and that no two prints have ever been found to be the exact same. Each of our fingerprints is unique to us, and we used this to create unique artwork this week.  First, the learners wrote their names using ink pads and their thumbprints. This name card will become the centrepiece of our vision board, which we will create in a few weeks. Then, the Sparks used their imaginations to create their own pictures with their fingerprints. We had learners who created insects, reptiles, flowers, trees, animals, and more! 

Additional Highlights

This week, we also introduced Studio Maintenance. This routine happens at 3:30 pm every day. When the chime in our studio rings, the learners begin their personal maintenance. This means cleaning up and putting away anything that belongs to them or that they have been using. Then, as a community, we have studio maintenance jobs to help us keep our studio clean and organized. We have pictures of each task, and the learners can sign up for a job each day. Areas include organizing the library, recycling, sweeping, cleaning the tables, dusting, and tidying the cubby room. These tasks promote responsibility and love for the environment. We saw all learners taking great care in their jobs this week! 

To end our week together, we met with all of the other studios in the gym for our first House Cup meeting, a new tradition at Revel! Each learner has been sorted into four houses, which are a mixture of learners from all four of the studios. They met their team this week and played fun icebreakers and teambuilding games. See the end of this recap for more details on this exciting new addition! 

Bravo, Sparks! You all showed a lot of courage in your first week, and we will have a great year together! 

Discovery Studio

Mindfulness and Launch

We began our Mindful Walking series in the field to kick off our first mindfulness session of the school year. We aim to get outside and incorporate mindfulness and movement twice every week while the weather permits, as research suggests that mindful walking can boost endorphins and reduce overall feelings of stress. Rebels paired off with a new teammate they had yet to acquaint themselves with, completed a series of icebreaker questions and participated in mindful breathwork. Wednesday morning was the return of "Wonder Wednesday," with Rebels working together to tackle the New York Times Connections puzzle. We got two of the four categories - way to go, team! Thursday, we were back out on the field for our second stroll of the week, focusing our mindful meditation on our five senses as we walked around the field while answering a few new icebreaker questions with a new partner. Feel Good Friday saw the return of Boomwhackers and brought Rebels together for some musical fun! This week's Launches featured discussions about what brings us joy, how to make SMART goals, the new Let Grow experience for families and Current Events. 

Reader/Writer

Welcome to Reader/Writer Session 1: Writing a letter to our future selves! Rebels started their week of introductory workshops, learning about the purpose of Reader/Writer, and discussed the following question: Why must we develop our reading and writing skills? What opportunities and doors open when we learn how to read and write? Rebels were introduced to their first project of the year, writing a letter to their future selves. Rebels discussed the power of manifestation and how writing something down can help us hold ourselves more accountable. As the weeks unfold, we'll explore the letter-writing process more in-depth in our Draw/Anchor and Aim/Release workshops and how to set SMART goals about where we want to go and be by the end of Session 7! 

French

This week, the Rebels met Madame Marianne and discussed "why learning French is important" and our personal experiences of learning a new language. The Rebels then filled in a questionnaire to find out their level of French, as this year, the studio will be split into two levels.

Math Lab

After covering the basics - the "who," "what," "where," and "when" of this year's Math Labs, Rebels had a more extended conversation about why their mathematical mindset matters. For further inspiration, we read the story One Word For Kids and looked into our hearts (figuratively, not literally) to see what one word we might need this year to be our best selves. This word did not need to be math-specific, just something meaningful to each individual. To keep these intentions with us, Rebels could use beads to make a bracelet, necklace or bag tag to refer back to their word when needed. Some common words were "persevere" and "creative," with other selections as far ranging from "friendly" to "mouse." We can not wait to see all the amazing mathematical problem-solving that comes with this incredible group of inspirational Rebels!

Civilizations

Rebels will participate in Socratic discussions using Story of the World - Volume 3: Early Modern Times this year. On Friday, we had a Civ workshop Launch to go over when and where this will take place each week, why we learn about civilizations, history and geography, and how to earn sessional badges and get the work approved. Rebels must complete a weekly mapping activity, participate actively in the group discussions, and then have a peer approve this work at the end of each session. Next week, we'll start with our first story: "A World of Empires."

Quest - create the culture

Welcome to our Session 1 Quest: 2024-2025 Create the Culture! Discovery Rebels will spend the next six weeks diving deeply into Revel systems, team-building and bonding activities, as well as creating our studio contracts to help set us up for success this year. We opened our Quest workshops, learning about our Studio Guardrails and their purpose. Rebels were introduced to the "Contract Game" as we reviewed Studio Covenant contracts from previous school years. We discussed the importance of Guardrails and Covenants and how they help our studios function safely and effectively, and we even began to draft some ideas of what we want our contracts to look like this year. Wednesday's Quest focused on our Question of the Year and The Hero's Journey. Rebels watched an inspiring video connecting to the theme of joy called "Alike" and discussed why doing things that connect to our joy can make our learning experiences more meaningful. Rebels created a team mind map of what makes a hero or what qualities a hero has before learning about a special hero from this year's Paralympics, Sheetal Devi, an inspiring armless archer. We wrapped up our first week of Quest going on Revel's "Safety Stroll" to learn more about the protocols we have in place to keep us safe. Rebels learned where First Aid supplies are located, what closets or rooms are off limits to keep us safe/away from chemicals or cleaning products, and what to do and where to go during a lockdown, shelter in place, or fire drill. Our teambuilding activity this week focused on a graffiti name art mural. Rebels spent time each Quest period creating beautiful name canvases on a popsicle stick mural. Using carbon paper to trace their name sketches onto the "wooden fences," Rebels created some really beautifulname art that reflects their interests, favourite colours, and nicknames and showcased a little insight into each of our teammates. Up next week, Rebels will be building Hero Boards as they learn about the systems that support the Rules of Engagement and continue to create our 2024-2025 Studio Covenants contract.  

Physical Development

We gathered in the gym for our first P.E. session of the year. We discussed what P.E. would look like this year, the importance of moving our bodies and having fun, and any ROEs they feel we should implement. The rest of the time was spent getting to know each other better and playing some entertaining icebreaker games. We started with the game "That's Me."  The learners went into the middle of the circle and told us their name and something they liked. If the other learners liked the same thing, they would jump up and shout, "That's Me." This game illustrated all the things we have in common! We then got into groups and tried to untangle our arms, playing the Human Knot game, and lined up in various ways, such as by our birth month or middle name. All the learners did a great job participating, and we look forward to a fun year in P.E. 

On Thursday, there were two options to choose from. One group went hiking in the forest, and the other played soccer. Some learners have signed up for the upcoming soccer Jamborees at other schools, so P.E. will be used each week to prepare those attending. More information about these events will be posted to Band shortly! 

Exploration and Launchpad Studio

What an awesome first week of school in the Exploration and Launchpad Studios! We used our time to get to know one another, play teambuilding games, and begin learning the Revel systems and processes that make our learning environment so unique. Going forward, our Revel Recaps will be organized by course, and the Exploration and Launchpad Studios will have separate sections. However, due to the schedule, it will be recounted chronologically this week.

Upon arrival on Tuesday, we began with an introductory circle and went over the Studio Guardrails. We then planted seeds, picked a bead for a future surprise, and filled out a "Guess Who" sheet for a game we would play later. With the first-day jitters still in effect, it was the perfect time to play some get-to-know-you games such as Get on the Boat, Revel Rebel BINGO, and Speed Meeting.

As we have several new learners this year (Wahoo!), we took time to learn about the Challenge Donut. Whenever we are doing something, we are in one of three zones: the Comfort Zone, in which we feel comfortable and safe but are not learning anything new; the Challenge Zone, in which we are pushing ourselves to try different things that might be a little scary but that will help us to learn and grow; or the Panic Zone, in which we are pushing ourselves too hard and are actually too uncomfortable to learn or gain anything from the experience. At Revel, we visualize these zones as being like a "donut." In the center of the donut, you are surrounded by safe, soft dough, representing your Comfort Zone. It's okay to be in your Comfort Zone sometimes, but you're not growing. The outside of the donut is empty space, which is your Panic Zone. The donut is your Challenge Zone, where all the tasty nutrients are. One of our goals here in the studio is to find our personal Challenge Zones and spend as much time in them as possible.

Are you hungry after reading so much about donuts? Well, the Rebels were, so they grabbed a snack, and then we took a nice walk around the neighbourhood to see where we would go in case of a fire drill or an emergency, Raven Park, Carlington Hill, and Dulude. We discussed the safest paths and the importance of not running across the road. We also pointed out how the traffic on Woodward does not have a stop sign but a yield. Naturally, we stopped by The Woodward to introduce everyone to Geoff and the crew and pick up, yes, DONUTS! On the walk home, we pointed out Miss Molly's and saw Kim at her chip truck so Rebels knew the closest lunch options for those with permission.

After lunch and recess, the Rebels were introduced to Drop Everything And Read (DEAR), which occurs from 1:00 - 1:30 pm most days. Rebels learned about Deep Books and how to pitch them to the group before choosing a book to read.

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver. After DEAR, we reviewed the Hero's Journey and why we use it as a frame for many of our discussions and learning opportunities at Revel. The Hero's Journey is a universal myth (also known as a monomyth) that describes the path of a protagonist who heeds the call to adventure, leaves behind their known world, overcomes great opposition, and returns home transformed by the journey. It is most useful as a symbolic map for personal growth and transformation, demonstrating the necessary stages for anyone who pursues a calling to change the world. At Revel, we believe there is also a dangerous temptation to focus solely on your own Hero's Journey and ignore helping those on a similar path. We hope to model that a true hero also serves and supports others. After reviewing the Hero's Journey, we used well-known stories to identify the various stages in teams. After reviewing our results, we watched the beautiful short "Piper" and pointed out the stages and challenges this adorable hero goes through to "get the treasure" and head home transformed.

Teambuilding is essential to form strong communities that support one another and solve problems. In groups of three to four, learners were tasked with making the largest free-standing structure using only pipe cleaners. Throughout the build, however, there were various challenges they had to overcome, such as losing a team member, not being able to speak, or only being able to use one hand. It was frustrating, but the learners did a great job keeping calm and doing their best! Rebels were then split into their Session 1 Squad to rotate through five stations. They were tasked with building the tallest KEVA Plank Tower, solving Foldology puzzles, creating the most words with Scrabble letters, making the longest paper chain with one piece of paper, and building a creative world together out of Lego. After the stations were complete, we reflected on how well our teams worked together and what we would do differently the next time. We ended our day eating our delicious Maverick's donuts from The Woodward and listening to a read-aloud of a Revel tradition, Of Thee I Sing.

On Wednesday morning, we introduced mindfulness and the Session 1 schedule. Mindfulness is a way to consciously and intentionally calm and focus yourself to increase awareness and clear thinking. Practicing mindfulness helps you develop the resilience to return after a "fall" and learn to notice thoughts and feelings without being consumed. In this session, we will participate in mindful journaling, art, yoga/Pilates, puzzles, Lego, and more to develop daily habits.

In order to help the Rebels get ready and organized for next week, we took time to set up our Chromebooks and laptops. Once everyone was on the WiFi, we logged into our email, found our program passwords on Google Keep, and learned how to save our login information. In order to aid our organization throughout the year, we went to Google Drive and discovered how to create folders and share our work with the guides. We practiced by making a 24-25 folder and sharing it with Erin before making even more folders within for our various courses or sessions. Lastly, we reviewed the Technology Agreement we signed before the first day of school.

After an Activity Break, Rebels returned for another teambuilding session.First, they played Human Knots and had fun untangling their group while hanging on to handkerchiefs. This time, Rebels had 25 minutes in groups to build the tallest tower using only 100 index cards and 24 inches of tape. All of the groups came up with great strategies and worked well together. We then went to the gym to play a fun game of Chocolate River, where learners worked in two large teams to cross the gym with various challenges placed in their paths.

For our first read-aloud of the year, Rebels were pitched eight different books and, through a series of votes, chose The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives. We began to read the book that day and will continue our read-aloud each Tuesday and Friday this session.

During our Quest period on Wednesday, we reflected on our gifts and when we find ourselves in flow. We believe life is more joyful when you do what you love and accomplish what you feel good about, but how do you discover your natural gifts? Rebels were asked to reflect on the activities that made them feel fully engaged and identify how they felt. They also thought about their early childhood and what they missed most. Rebels were then asked to think of three people who know them well, and email, text, or in person ask them the following questions: What talents or gifts do I have that you rarely see in anyone else? If you used just one word to describe a role or job in which I could use these talents or gifts, what would it be? Next week, we will go over the responses that we received.

Next, each Rebel chose one of three shoes (Croc, Converse, or Air Jordan) with various "Get-to-Know-You" prompts to complete and decorate. Seeing each learner's shoe choice, colour scheme, and decorative touches was fun! Once finished, the shoes were added to our individual Hero Board envelopes to keep them safe until we are ready to create our final art piece.

After a quick break, Rebels were introduced to Physical Development and the expectations for this year. We also reviewed SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound) goals and practiced by making one for a more healthy lifestyle. After each learner submitted a personal Healthy Living SMART goal, we went to the gym storage closet to explore the equipment that would be available for them to use when they plan their group PD sessions!

We ended our day learning about Personal and Studio Maintenance. Studio Maintenance allows learners to work together, be accountable to their peers, show respect for their learning space, and organize their projects and personal items. After going over the process, Rebels each were given a job to complete for the week to help keep our studio clean and organized! Next week, Rebels will have time to tweak the job expectations and accountability tracking to make sure thatthis system works for this new community. Before heading home, we played an energetic game of Whiteboard Pictionary! Both teams did well, and we were impressed by everyone's willingness to participate!

Thursday morning, Rebels participated in their first Pilates session, which featured a total body workout. Rebels were invited to move and stretch using the wall for support, and we tried to match our breathing to the movements. For example, we inhale while lowering our legs and exhale while kicking up.  Rebels were then introduced to our Overarching Question of the year: "How will you design a life full of JOY?" After trying to define joy as a group, we discussed the difference between joy and happiness and how our goal at Revel this year is to help one another find more joy in their daily lives.

"When we learn by doing, what is discovered becomes a part of us." - Socrates. With two days under our belt, it was time to introduce 3B4G! If you asked a learner at Revel what the difference is between a teacher and a guide, they almost certainly would begin, "Well, Guides don't answer questions." Guides who answer questions rob learners of the opportunity to make decisions and learn from the natural consequences. Destroying agency extinguishes curiosity and weakens the community. 3B4G is a tool to help learners embrace self-management and self-governance through a simple recipe; three B's before asking a Guide: Ask your Brain (Do you already know the answer?), Ask a Book (Is there a book, website, poster, Journey Tracker challenge, etc. that I can refer to?), and Ask a Buddy (What learner in the studio/school could I ask?). While we recognize that this is difficult for our newer learners, it is a crucial step in helping them become more independent, grow in confidence, and prepare for high school and their learning journey.

Tim from Kanata School of Music then came in to introduce himself and gauge learner interest in starting a Jazz or Rock band! Interested Rebels were encouraged to speak with their guardians and help fill out a form posted on BAND!

The rest of the morning was spent choosing a Word of the Year and creating a Word Art piece for their Hero Board. To begin, Rebels chose one word that they felt would help them focus on a specific intent in an effort to improve in a meaningful way. For example, some chose joy, while others picked words like breathe, sportsmanship, health, responsible, and brave. Rebels then went to a Word Art site where they submitted words and chose a shape, font, layout, and colours to create a unique piece, which you will see at the Exhibition!

Do you consider yourself naturally generous, someone who gives as much as you take, or someone who is more protective in relationships? After lunch, recess, and DEAR, Rebels learned about Disagreeable and Agreeable Givers, Matchers, and Takers with the help of Adam Grant. We took time to reflect on who we are in the different areas of our lives (at home, in the locker room, at school, etc.) and what the ideal mix would be in our community. It was then time to learn about Love Languages. On our Hero's Journey, Fellow Travellers will help and support us, and we will help them. How do we know what types of gifts another person enjoys receiving? How will another person know how to comfort or assure us? Rebels took the Love Language test for Teens and then posted their results on Journey Tracker. Ask your learner if they prefer Gift Giving, Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, or Physical Touch!

How do you know what you read or hear is true? In today's world, we are bombarded with information from different sources, which is why claim testing is an important critical thinking skill to have and use! To introduce our Civilizations course, groups each received one claim, which they needed to assess to determine whether they thought it was true or false. Each group then explained their thought process to the rest of the studio before we learned about the four claim testers: Logic, Intuition, Evidence, and Authority. Looking back at the four claims, we evaluated the source that made the claim, whether it was logical, and how strong the evidence provided was. Great job, Rebels! We ended our day with Studio Maintenance and a great game of Animal Charade Elimination!

Friday morning, Rebels completed a series of New York Times puzzles with Ms. Jenna before being introduced to the Let Grow program. We discussed the importance of increasing our independence and getting out of our Comfort Zone at school and home. We can't wait to see what projects the Rebels choose to complete independently this month! (More information is posted on BAND and in the update.)

Before beginning our usual schedule next week, it was time to get comfortable with Journey Tracker! Rebels learned how to set their profile picture, write a bio, set their Badge Plan, add badges, input Journey Tracker points, check their Rebel Buck status, and add to the Bulletin Board. These skills will be practiced and reviewed over the coming weeks as Squad leaders will ensure that new learners get the hang of posting and submitting throughout the session.

Mid-morning, Rebels participated in a fire drill and reviewed what to do in an emergency, lockdown, or minor first aid situation. They then had time to create friendship bracelets, keychains, and necklaces before competing in a school-wide Scavenger Hunt! The purpose of the hunt was to show our new learners where various supplies, materials, and Guides were throughout the school so that they can be more independent next week.

After our read-aloud of The 57 Bus, Rebels had time to play board and card games or work on any challenges they still needed to finish from earlier in the week. Mme. Marianne also met one-on-one with our new Rebels to determine their French language level and begin to make a plan to help them reach their goals. We ended our week with a whole school Town Hall to learn all about this year's Revel House Cup!

Revel House Cup - School-Wide Competition 

To wrap up an incredible first week of the school year, we officially kicked off Revel's first ever House Cup school-wide tournament! Revel's House Cup is a campus-wide leadership game that will encourage Rebels to step into leadership roles in their own studios and around the school to strengthen and grow our incredible learner-driven community. Over the school year, the houses will come together each session to take on challenges that can ultimately earn their team points toward a grand prize at the end of the school year. Rebels can earn points in a variety of ways - from going above and beyond in their own academic goals and workshops to demonstrating a strong sense of character by selflessly helping others, jumping in for those around the school, completing the new "Let Grow" initiatives and working together as a team to complete House Challenges each session. For the launch of Revel House Cup this week, Rebels were sorted into teams blended with Spark, Discovery, Exploration and Launchpad learners. The teams participated in some awesome icebreaker and teambuilding games to get to know their Housemates and were introduced to their first challenge: creating their House crest, name, slogan and representative symbol/mascot. We are so excited to see what the upcoming House Cup tournament brings to the learners' experience this year and wish the Rebels all luck as they take on this new adventure together. 

Potential Discussion Ideas or Questions to Ask Your Rebel

Spark Studio

  • What is something that fills your heart with happiness? 

  • What is one rule the studio should follow when you all come together and meet in a circle? Why do you think that is an important rule? 

  • How else could you find the answer before you ask a guide a question? (3 B's: brain, buddy, book) 

  • Can you show our family one of the games you played this week that helped you get to know the other learners? (That's Me, A Big Wind Blows, Get on the Boat) 

  • Who do you know in your Revel House Cup team? Do you have any ideas for what you think your team can include on the crest? 

Discovery Studio

  • Math Lab: What is your one word for this year, and how do you think it will inspire you to be your best self?

  • Reader/Writer: Since you will be writing a letter to your future self this session, what is one goal you want to set for yourself this year to achieve by Session 7?

  • Quest: What are the Studio Guardrails? What are their purpose? 

  • Quest: What is your Question of the Year? What is The Hero's Journey? 

  • Quest: Did you finish your Graffiti Name activity this week? Did you enjoy creating your piece? Why or why not? 

Exploration and Launchpad Studio

  • What did you choose for your Word of the Year? Why?

  • Did you find it difficult to describe yourself on your shoe? If so, why do you think that is?

  • When did you find joy this week in the studio?

  • What time of day did you find the most challenging? (Lunch/Recess, Teambuilding, Getting-to-Know-You games, or something else?) Is there a strategy you could use next week to make it easier or less stressful?

  • What are you most excited about for this next week?

  • What project would you like to tackle for your September Let Grow project?

Important Upcoming Dates

  • Family Onboarding - The Why: Thursday, September 12th at 6:00 pm at Revel.

  • Annual IOWA Testing: Exploration Rebels will take the September 9th - 13th subtests and Anchor, Aim, and Release Discovery Rebels from September 16th - 20th. Makeup sessions will be available should your learner miss a day.

  • Family Onboarding - Family Badges: Tuesday, September 24th at 6:00 pm at Revel.

  • Grade 2-3 Soccer Jamboree: Thursday, September 26th, at Turnbull School from 9:00 am-12:00 pm. Rebels in Spark and Discovery are interested in playing and signed up this week. Their families will be notified with further details via the BANDApp. 

  • Grade 4-6 Soccer Jamboree: September 30th at Wesley Clover Turf Field from 10 am to 2 pm. Rebels in Discovery Studio interested in playing signed up this week, and their families will be notified with further details via BANDApp.

  • The LET GROW experience has officially launched! See Erin's post on Revel Rebels BAND for guardian support and the Revel Recap email for the Project Idea List. We can "not wait to see the Rebels step outside their comfort zones and gain independence as the session continues!

Erin Anderson