Revel Recap: Last Update of 24-25
Spark Studio
What a fantastic year it has been in the Spark Studio! Throughout the year, we've seen so much growth, learning, and joy. From engaging Quests in engineering, art, Wild Kratts, and insects to wrapping up with health and fitness, our Sparks have been busy exploring, creating, and discovering. A highlight was watching them shine as fitness instructors during our final Exhibition. Thank you for your outstanding participation!
We also made unforgettable memories on field trips to the Canada Science and Technology Museum, the Ottawa Art Gallery, and the Experimental Farm. We even experienced riding the public bus together! We loved welcoming our mystery readers and special guests like Alex, Mandy, and the Zoo Crew. Every day brought outdoor fun and free play with friends, helping to build connections and creativity.
This year has truly been filled with fun, curiosity, and meaningful progress. We are proud of every Spark and grateful for the amazing families supporting them. We're especially proud to celebrate five learners who moved to the Discovery Studio. This huge milestone reflects their hard work and readiness for new challenges.
Thank you for a wonderful year, and have a great summer! We're already excited for what's to come next year!
Discovery Studio
Every year, the Discovery Studio works hard to step into self-governance and find its rhythm through the Revel schedule and by working the systems. One big piece of this is determining how we measure excellence because excellence is required for badges earned and work showcased at exhibitions.
To celebrate the end of the year, we've curated some work that particularly illustrates when a Rebel has tried their best, improved a skill, and met world-class criteria; in other words, work that exemplifies excellence.
In this session in Reader/Writer, the Rebels learned about newspapers and writing their own article. A soon-to-graduate Discovery Rebel wrote this piece about his journey to Revel. Enjoy!
From Chaos to Calm: My Journey to Revel Academy
Written By: A First-Year Rebel
I never thought my first day at Revel Academy would be as amazing as it was. It was a million times better than I could have imagined.
Before Revel, I went to [a Montessori school]. It was fine until fourth grade. That year, I was put in a class that had grades 4, 5, and 6 all mixed together. There were 35 kids in one class, and it got pretty crazy. People were running around, singing random songs, and shouting silly things. Even wearing my noise-cancelling AirPods, it was super hard to focus.
The teachers were great — they really did their best — but it was just too much for anyone to handle. About two weeks before the school year ended, my parents and I started looking into other schools. We even talked to the principal, but she told us the class size would stay the same next year. That's when we knew that it was time for a change.
We came across Revel Academy, and right away it sounded like a great option. I also found that my friend ______ was going to be starting there too, which made it even more exciting. We booked a trial day, and I absolutely loved it. It was one of the best school days I had ever had.
Of course, I was still a little sad leaving my old school, especially when I found out that all three of my teachers were leaving too. I still miss my friends and I'm still getting used to some things, but I know for sure that I'm much happier now than I was back in fourth grade.
Revel has completely changed how I feel about school. I'm more focused, less stressed, and honestly excited to come to school each day, which is the opposite of my previous experience. I'm really grateful to be here.
Math Lab
In Math Lab, excellent work can look different from week to week. In this series of probability labs, figuring out ways of organizing all the possible outcomes in a situation and reflecting on whether or not we have found them all can be time-consuming. This Rebel made their own organized list of sums and eliminated those that couldn't be made with two standard dice.
Additional Highlights
With the extreme heat and multiple indoor recesses, Rebels were given the opportunity to showcase excellent teamwork and collaborative play! With studios of all ages sharing the gym, there was a lot of energy, inclusion and fun going on with various tag games. It's wonderful to step back and watch older Rebels organize gameplay, welcome younger ones into their game, and for the community to regulate and resolve conflicts when they arise. We hope you're proud of yourselves, Rebels!
Exploration Studio
At Revel, without report cards, how do we measure progress? Badges demonstrate mastery and completion of challenging projects, 360 scores communicate character development and contributions to the community, and points in Journey Tracker measure effort. But what about new projects, like the studio band? When it is something you have never done before, how do we know it's excellent? Well, it's actually quite simple - you just have to have tried your best. The Rebellion's recording of "Zombie," originally by the Cranberries, is nothing short of excellent, as every band member gave it their all during their sessions each week. We were so excited to get to listen to their mixed track at Exhibition!
Reader/Writer
In this session, the Rebels reflected on their year and whether they had been heroes. Enjoy this piece written by one of our Exploration Rebels!
Was I a Hero or Not?
This school year was like a story. At the beginning, I felt nervous, uncertain, scared. During the year, I had to face challenges that I didn't want to, but I did do them, and in the end, I grew from them. In this essay, I will speak about how my year was like a hero's journey. I will share what happened, how I felt, and what I learned about myself.
The Call to Adventure
I was a hero this year because I bravely stepped into the unknown and took a risk entering in Revel Academy. During summer vacation, my family was still searching for schools as I was transitioning from elementary to middle school. There were plenty of options, maybe even too many, but ultimately, I made a choice to try something new. Then, one of my parents heard about Revel Academy from a friend, and we decided to look into it. I found that it was like no other public school or private school for that matter, it was a learner driven school futuring the students to make their own choices and not the adults for them. I've never been to a school like that. It was scary at first since I've never attended a school or even been in a school like that before, but once I stepped in, I knew this was the right school for me. Another example was my commitment to attending and showing up almost every day. I did miss a few days, but only because I was either sick or had to attend something important. My attendance showed me just how much I love Revel Academy. It's truly one of my happy places, definitely in my top three. My last example is Health or as it's known in public schools, Sex Ed. It definitely wasn't one of my favourite subjects, but showing up anyway proved that I was willing to learn, even when I didn't really want to.
Mentors and Talismans
I was a hero this year because I had the courage to stand up and ask for help from friends and mentors. Here are three examples that show how I did that. The first example was when I was introduced to Khan Academy. It was completely new to me at my old school, we used math workbooks, so learning math online was a big change. I reached out to friends for guidance, whether it was to clarify a concept or get coaching on how to use the platform. With their help, I was able tocomplete a full grade level in Khan Academy. Another example comes from Quest, specifically in Session 6 when we were working on rocket science. That topic was really challenging for me, but I didn't give up. I asked a friend for tips and suggestions on how to improve our rocket design. Their advice helped me understand more and feel confident in our project. Finally, there's coding also known as Skill Struck. At my previous school, we had simple coding labs, but Skill Struck brought new tools and challenges. During the first few sessions, I asked my friends for help when I got stuck. Thanks to their support, I've made a lot of progress. I can code much better now, even though I still have a few questions from time to time. As you can see from the examples I've shared, it's clear that I showed courage by asking for help when I needed it.
The Journey Home
Is a Hero defined by small everyday choices like kindness and bravery, or is a Hero defined by big and bold acts of kindness that everybody will notice? I think the definition of hero means the way one puts others before themselves, taking what looks like small leaps of faith but to them they are big ones. In my own hero's journey here at Revel, I've discovered that heroism can show up in simple, small but important ways. For example, holding others accountable like taking Rebel Bucks when necessary, reminding someone of their responsibilities, or even asking someone to leave when they're not following our ROEs, Covenants, or Guardrails. For example, there was a time when someone was supposed to be working on their core skills, but I noticed they weren't this month. I gave them a warning before taking a Rebel Buck. These moments aren't always easy, but I've learned that they help protect our environment, support our community, and keep our studio a better place for everyone. That's something I will carry with me into next year. Another example is choosing to lift others up instead of bringing them down. This session's Quest focused on how to build trust and encourage others and that's a big part of what being a hero means to me. My final example is about doing what I am supposed to be doing at the right time. For instance, eliminating distractions around me. During core skills this month it was a loud day, so I had to find a place with no noise or interruptions like the pod rooms. In the end, I believe being a hero isn't about being famous or doing something big. It's about the small, everyday choices we make that help others and build a stronger space for all people.
In conclusion, this year taught me that facing challenges can lead to helping you severely in life. I've come to believe that a hero isn't defined by big gestures, but by small acts of kindness. Even if I didn't accomplish anything big this year, I will try to aim higher next year. Most importantly, my journey has shown me that with effort and determination, I can do anything.
Additional Highlights
Another example of excellence is this year's school yearbook project. The committee has put together a beautiful collection of memories, moments, and achievements and has truly captured the joy that is Revel. Not to mention that both the front and back cover, as well as the organization of contents and most of the layout, were fully designed by our very own Revel Rebels! These stunning books arrived on Friday and were distributed to those who ordered. Some are still available for sale if you want to purchase one!
Launchpad Studio
What a year! Our two remaining learners spent the week closing loops and submitting final assignments. On Wednesday, we enjoyed a lunch out at Paradise Poke before attending our final wheel pottery class.
Potential Discussion Ideas or Questions to Ask Your Rebel:
What is your most excellent piece of work from the year?
How did you decide it was excellent?
What is easier: giving feedback or receiving feedback?
Which feedback was hardest to hear this year?
What feedback makes you feel the most proud?
Important Upcoming Dates
Canada Day- Tuesday, July 1st- No School
Revel Olympics- Wednesday, July 2nd
Raven Park Wading Pool (Sparks and Discovery), Pinatas, & Ice Cream Party - Thursday, July 3rd
Last Day of School- Friday, July 4th