Session 1 Week 4
At the Freedom Lights Festival this week, we had the opportunity to listen to many Hero’s Journey stories. I am always grateful for the reminders of the sacrifices that were made to procure our freedoms.
There was also a presentation on the process of making linen clothing—an intricate, multi-step collaboration requiring many hands. The message was clear: nothing meaningful is created alone. Building a tribe works the same way. It takes time, intention, and the contributions of everyone involved.
At CHOICE, when we talk about “tribe,” we’re talking about a community grounded in shared purposes. There’s the broader CHOICE tribe, and there are the smaller, studio tribes. Building and strengthening those tribes is not just a nice side effort—it’s the primary work of Session 1. That’s why projects like the Lip Dub hold so much weight. This Acton-wide music video competition is dreamed up, planned, filmed, edited, and celebrated entirely by heroes. Look forward to Exhibition when you will get to watch them! Heroes did much more this week besides finishing their Lip Dub…
In the Spark Studio
This week, Spark heroes were paired with DELTA buddies for a morning of connection. They played games, built with LEGOs, danced, laughed, and worked side-by-side on language and math challenging goals. Each pair even created a secret handshake to share when they see each other around campus. It was a joyful and genuine moment of cross-studio bonding, building not just the Spark or DELTA tribe—but the CHOICE tribe.
Tribe-building continued within the Spark Studio through the simple but powerful moments of everyday life. During a Montessori work cycle, one hero shouted, “I am SO proud of myself!” after conquering a challenging language lesson. Individual effort combined with sharing with those you know will celebrate with you… it’s a beautiful thing!
This week, Spark heroes also launched a new studio maintenance system. Instead of working alone, they teamed up—each group caring for a section of the studio. And when someone finished their job, they immediately pitched in to help a teammate. It was a living example of how strong tribes operate: no one stands alone.
After deep discussions and shared ideas, Spark finalized their studio promises—shared agreements about how to treat each other and the materials they use. It was remarkable to see overlapping themes emerge from each hero’s input, a sign that they’re already aligned in how they want to live and learn together. With the promises now signed and posted, heroes have already begun gently holding one another accountable.
In the Fire Studio
In the Fire Studio, tribe-building came alive in many forms. One powerful tool is Socratic discussions. In requiring heroes to take a side on an issue or question, Socratic Discussions develop a hero’s critical thinking skills and their ability to express those thoughts. But heroes don’t have to stay put on the side they chose. Often an excellent point from a hero will bring several new heroes to the other side of the discussion. Socratic Discussions also develop a hero’s ability to take in information, consider a new perspective, and be open to changing their mind. But even when heroes continue to disagree about a Socratic question, the discussion usually remains thoughtful, the comments remain respectful, and the tribe vibe feels even more connected in the end. That is a powerful thing to behold in young people–perhaps now more than ever.
During the lip dub, every hero had to be included, every decision had to be made together: who would film, what the song would be, how big the human pyramid should get (the debate over a 10-person pyramid lasted nearly an hour), and how many times they’d re-film to get it right. There were moments of frustration, but again and again, voices in the tribe reminded each other: “We all need to do this together.” One key decision mid-project wasn’t working. The group had to scrap a lot of work and start over. No adult pointed it out. The heroes themselves identified the issue, took ownership, and made the tough choice to start again—for the good of the group. That moment of self-leadership strengthened their bond and made the final product all the more meaningful. When the final version was complete, the entire studio erupted in cheers. They had done something hard—and done it as one.
During Quest, Fire heroes deepened their understanding of community by exploring India’s rich festival culture. They made Rakhi bracelets to honor their running partners, designed rangoli patterns to invite good fortune, learned Bollywood dance, and flew kites in celebration.
In Civ, both the Fire Studio and DELTA studio engaged in an engineering challenge inspired by medieval China. Fire heroes experimented with transferring water from one cup to another—without touching either. The Delta Studio took on the challenge of moving water from a cup to another cup that was 4-5 feet away. It was messy, surprising, and creative. And like so much of their work this week, it succeeds when they rely on each other.
In the DELTA Studio
DELTA heroes completed their Lip Dub this week, and the energy was electric. Every part of the process—song selection, choreography, filming, editing—was completely learner-led. Watching the final cut, they were so proud of what they had created together.
This week also marked the beginning of a beloved tradition: blurps. Each Fire Studio hero who is going to pitch into the DELTA at the end of the year is assigned a DELTA mentor—a “blurp”—to guide, encourage, and support them throughout the year. It’s a quiet but powerful act of leadership, and a strong contributor to the school wide tribe.
DELTA’s tribe is also built through something deceptively simple: play. Sometimes games are organized ahead of time, and sometimes they emerge spontaneously. But either way, they create space for connection, laughter, and trust—the foundation of every strong community.
A strong tribe matters because it gives our learners more than just a group to belong to—it gives them purpose, accountability, and joy. Session 1 lays a foundation that the heroes will build on all throughout the year. We are excited to watch them continue to grow – stronger, braver and more unified with every challenge they face together.