“Why does Discovery have more freedom? It isn’t fair that they can choose to be inside during recess and we can’t.” These were the wise words of a 5 year old Spark learner early on this session. This 5 year old saw and felt great inequity and deeply desired freedom for themselves. At the start of Session 4 Discovery learners were extended the opportunity to freely choose where and when to lunch and where and when to play outside or inside during the hour and a half of the mid day period. Naturally, this new freedom was observed and coveted by Spark learners. After a week of difference between studios and a chance for Discovery to experiment, Spark learners had their chance to feel freedom. For these last 3 weeks there has been a palpable change that is undeniable. By offering the flow of freedom learners appear more joyful, more regulated, and are buzzing with creative energy.

I’ve had a variety of jobs in my past: librarian, teacher, professor, musician, camp bus driver, event planner, retail sales associate, administrator, security guard, usher. Of all the jobs of my past I currently have one job that has demanding hours, challenging customers, ongoing professional development, physical, mental, and emotional stress, and although exhausting this job has been the most fulfilling. This isn’t my role as Acton’s Director it’s my job as parent and Mom. The role of a parent is both laborious and glorious and the toughest job I’ve ever had the privilege to hold.

The journey of an Acton parent is equalling rewarding and challenging. One of the most treasured parts of our community is our parent network and their stories of experience. Stories are absolute treasure that pave the way for new families and echo learning from fellow traveler parents. Knowing that someone else is on the same arduous journey as you is a magical mirror and support system. Last week I received the following email letter from a brave Spark learner Mom named Kelly. Her family’s Acton journey began last Fall 2022 and has been rich with learning. When I received her email I had tears in my eyes and felt the value of her contribution. With her permission, I’d like to share her story with you today as perhaps you’ve been wondering if creating space for your learner to follow their own journey without your push is worth it.

As learners begin this session’s Space Quest I’ve found a parallel universe with the concept of space and the current freedoms to move at Acton. Space is defined as a continuous area or expanse which is free and available to explore. During this January’s camp we experimented and explored flow, freedom, and space and because of the positive experience of camp Guides and I wondered: Are learners ready for greater freedom at Acton without explicitly proving they are ready? So, just like camp, we extended our experiment and offered freedom to Discovery learners during the lunch and recess time block.

This past week I met with a cluster of Acton leaders in the Midwest and the question that was asked was “What aha’s or big learning have you had recently?” I shared that my big aha was the difference between the feeling of camp and the feeling of school. School often feels lovely and busy while camp exudes peace and oodles of creative flow. I learned that slowing time and allowing greater freedom and learner messiness in camp is where the magic lives. We all want to live in a world that is magical so naturally my next question is “How can every day at Acton have this magical flow of time?

There’s a book called Same, Same But Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw that tells a beautiful story of two pen pals. One lives in America and one in India. Their worlds might look different but they are actually similar. We’ve read this many times at Acton and this story reminds me of camp life. Camp at Acton is the same as school but different. Here’s a clue into the camp life you may have been hearing snippets about and why we feel camp is a special and experimental adventure!

What makes Acton special? This is a question I’m often asked by curious and slightly skeptical community members. There are so many ways to answer this question however one is the pursuit of entrepreneurship. Learners pursue entrepreneurship not just in idea generation and an end of session business fair. They practice the process of planning, teamwork, systems, and embracing failure. Learning to fail hard, fail often, and fail cheaply is an essential life skill that’s best to have when the stakes are low and the learning is high.

Learn to learn, learn to do, learn to be. This is a common Acton phrase and a tagline we have framed on the wall that learners pass by every day. During a Guide squad meeting this past Tuesday this Acton phrase came up. One Guide shared “I always forget the order and want to say do first.” I shared that remembering will be easy once you understand the connection of the words. I’d like to share this thought with you too in case you’ve wondered the why behind this tagline.

“Good intentions are like magic.” —butterflies rising

Monday morning I practiced my favorite activity: observing learners. I set my computer and notebook in front of me and while rarely touching them I tracked the habits of Discovery learners. It was the first Monday after an adventurous break and therefore the habits and productivity of the studio were incredibly low. Left and right learners were abusing their guardrails, taking excessive breaks, collaborating with friends without purpose, and many were actively distracting. The energy was a buzz for sure and for a handful it was purposeful but for many it was like a bee swarm of goofiness.

17, November 1560

Dearest Parental Readers,

There is a noble lady from another kingdom named Lady O who every year is abundantly generous and offers lavish treasures to members for no effort at all. Her past gifting in this wizard clip was most extravagant and although generous in action goes against our Acton kingdom’s values. In the kingdom of Acton members value hard work and practice honoring the journey above all, regardless of outcome. An Acton hero only finds treasure when they find themselves whether that be the lesson of learning to be a hero that pushes through a challenge or a hero who was not ready for the journey this time.

10, November 1560

Dearest Parental Readers,

Just like the turn of the tide the Acton kingdom has made a considerable turn in attitude these last few weeks of Fall. I am excited to report that gone are the ways of the grumbling peasants and in their place are now craftspeople and nobles exuding pleasure and passionate work ethic. Looking back to the first days of the Acton kingdom I recall many peasants expressing their feelings of enslavement, punishment, and their plans to rebel against the entire Renaissance process. Do you remember hearing through the ton or at your quiet home village the words of “I can’t believe we have to clean! We are peasants and they don’t even call us by our name! Noble Guides are so mean, they make us do everything! When will this abuse stop?” How quickly a few days changed the tune of each peasant and now nearly at the finish of our RenQuest festival the words of the learners were this: “I can’t wait for tomorrow, I can’t wait to work on my crafts and become a noble!” “My favorite days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday because I love Quest days!” “It’s so much fun being a lady and talking in an English accent.”

3, November 1560

Dearest Parental Readers,

The Acton kingdom is swirling with excitement of the young playwright William Shakespeare and his variety of theatrical works. His recent tragic story of Prince Hamlet has inspired both action and thought in the Discovery and Spark households. Shakespeare’s soliloquy states “To be, or not to be, that is the question.” This question poses the idea of how to live. Just as Shakespeare’s words beg the question of life I urge you, my most honorable parental readers, to consider this question: To be or not to be involved? What does parental involvement, true engagement in being look and feel like?

Dearest Parental Readers,

As your Lady of Communication of the Acton kingdom happenings I would like to share with you a question posed by her honorable Queen that most perplexed the members of the House of Spark and Discovery this week. The Queen sent an owl post with the sentiment of “Do you posture yourself as serious or silly?” Her royal majesty declared that there was far too much seriousness in her kingdom and she wished to be entertained. She desired dance and a joyful display of merriment for her amusement and thus the houses were tested.

On this day of the 20th of October of 1560 in the Acton kingdom there is much news to report about the noble household happenings. I as your Lady of Communication would like to provide you, our regular parental readers, with some astute insight into my recent tours of the households of Spark and Discovery. Both households recently experienced a hiring of new peasant staff and as they began their positions of house operation this week there were many gems of peasant productivity and a twinge of rebellion!

The words “I promise” are powerful. These words have honest intention, hope, and most importantly they are a pact between people. Promises often followed by a pinky, handshake, hug, or serious wide-eyed nod seal the commitment to a specific dream for yourself and to others, to follow through.

At Acton every first session of the year learners create their contract of promises. Promises are different than rules and language at Acton is important, there are no studio rules only promises.

Every time I share our unique Acton school model of child-led governance with adults I typically get a raised eye brow and this comment, “How is that possible? They can’t run school by themselves.” This doubt is our Acton fuel! YES, they can do hard things! Children when encouraged and equipped to work as a team with kindness and grit can 100% govern and lead the charge of their education. This session is proof as every day learners are stepping up and rising as heroes by leading discussions, managing jobs, and inspiring one another to make mindful changes for their school community.

My son loves treasure, he is like a dragon that is attracted to small shiny objects and he can’t resist the pull of the precious. He always has a coin, rock, or something curious in his pockets and often we find his stash under his pillow at bedtime or more often than not in our washing machine. Treasure is this magical thing. It doesn’t matter if it’s a pile of coins, a pack of gum, or a book that we love, treasure is anything greatly valued or highly prized.

Have you ever witnessed a pack of runners? A few years ago I was picking up my kids at daycare and I saw them—the pack running with energetic strides, palpable rhythm, oozing joy. As I sat in my car I witnessed 15 UW Oshkosh runners in a variety of yellowish gold and black clothing run. As I watched I was mesmerized and I’m sure my thought was “look at them go!". This memory is stuck in my brain as a slow-mo moment where time shifted. I remember watching leaders show the way and I’ll never forget the encouragement the middle crew showed to the runners in the rear. As I watched for probably way too long the pack shifted and although the front leaders forged on the group as a whole organically morphed and changed as if their movements were choreographed.

“The most fantastic magical things can happen, and it all starts with a wish.” —Pinocchio

The first day of school, the nerves, the excitement, the fear, the thrill is memorable. Maybe you don’t remember every detail such as the taco socks you wore or the name fact you shared but you definitely remember the feeling, that “first” feeling. This first week there were so many emotions that crossed the Acton threshold for learners, Guides, and even myself however at the end of the first day one feeling had a palpable consensus, the feeling of joy.

Think back to September, think back to the challenges, the goals, and the style of your learner. Now think of your learner today. How have they stayed the same and how have they changed? Think of yourself and your family. How have you stayed the same, how have you changed? As I look back on this past year I am filled to the brim with surprise and awe. For some reason the year 3 that I envisioned developed to be a year of transformation that I never could have predicted. In the words of an overwhelming majority of parents the growth this year at Acton is overflowing, blossoming! The “G” word is all encompassing.