Session 1 Week in Review - Week 1
Zoom Gatherings
It was lovely to welcome back learners this week and meet new learners. We introduced this year’s theme: What is a good life?, and held launches that will help learners get the year started strong!
Some highlights from Zoom Gatherings this week included:
Monday: We kicked off the year with a Carmen Sandiego-style game to find out: Where in the World is Pablo (our school mascot). Congrats to Team 7 on completing all ten clues and securing the win!
Tuesday: Tuesday’s Human Skills Launch was all about Mastermind Groups, and how at FSO we utilize Dream Teams to accomplish a similar objective.
Wednesday: Wednesday’s Skill-Builder focused on how to create, pitch, and lead a Learner-Led Club, and how to begin preparing for the Session 1 Exhibition.
Thursday: Thursday’s Changemaker launch was all about how to be a changemaker in a group setting, and what happens when just one person strays from a group’s norms and agreements. This launch launched us into beginning discussions about creating our 2026-2027 Studio Contract.
Week 1 Highlights
What an incredible start to the school year!
First, we'd like to give a huge shout-out to all of our new learners who have completed their New Learner Onboarding. Taking the time to learn our systems, explore our tools, and practice navigating Forest School Online now will make the beginning of the year run so much more smoothly. Thank you for investing the time up front, it truly pays off!
We also want to recognize Calvin, Elliotte, and Sam for already sending out their Dream Team email invitations. Great job getting ahead! Families, keep an eye on your inbox because every learner is responsible for sending their Dream Team invitations by Tuesday, August 11, so your invitation should be arriving soon.
We've also been thrilled by the attendance at our Zoom launches this week. These first launches of Session 1 are some of the most important of the entire year as we establish our routines, expectations, and systems together. Thank you for making them a priority!
One of our favorite moments this week has been meeting with learners during their Badge Plan Orientations. They have been showing up incredibly prepared with ideas for Quests, Civs, Story Arts, Deep Books, and creative ways to turn their current passions, hobbies, sports, businesses, jobs, and interests into meaningful learning experiences. That's exactly what Forest School Online is all about: building an education that is deeply personalized and uniquely yours.
To all of our learners: well done! You are already taking ownership of your education, and it shows.
We are genuinely excited about this year's community. We have an amazing group of thoughtful, creative, compassionate, and talented young people, and we can't wait to see where this year takes them. Our hope is that each learner grows not only in knowledge and skills, but also in purpose as they discover their unique calling and learn how to use it to make the world a little better.
Our Question of the Year = What is a Good Life?
It's a deceptively simple question, and one we'll return to throughout the year. As learners build learning plans, choose challenges, reflect on experiences, and pursue apprenticeships and projects, we'll continually invite them to consider what a truly good life looks like for them.
At Forest School Online, we don't believe there is only one right answer. Instead, we want learners to think deeply about what matters most, examine different perspectives, and intentionally build lives of purpose, contribution, growth, and joy.
We hope you'll join us in exploring this question at home.
💬 Family Conversation Starters
Families told us last year that these weekly conversation starters became some of their favorite moments together. Here are a few questions to spark meaningful discussion this week:
When you picture someone living a "good life," what do you notice about them?
What do you hope this school year helps you become (not just what you accomplish)?
Is a good life mostly about happiness, financial success, relationships, purpose, faith, adventure, helping others...or something else? Why?
What's one experience you hope to have this year that would move you closer to the life you want to build?
What is one small choice you could make this week that your future self would thank you for?
There are no perfect answers. The goal is simply to create space for honest conversation. Some of the most important learning happens around the dinner table, during a walk, or on the drive home.
