Infinity School: An Acton Academy

Today's direction of schooling and where modern schooling is going in the future is a program with the students at the helm. Some people mistake learner driven for learner centred, which are actually two very different things. A learner centred program is still one dictated by adults even though the focus is on what the students want/ need. We also mindfully steer away from the word, "education," as that implies passively following a program of studies directed by others vers...us "learning." So what is a learner driven approach? This post explains that! Feel free to post your questions in the comments below. #21centuryskills #schoolsuccess #LoveSchool #ldnont

Most adults can’t imagine the freedom to live without the fear of judgment due to some bad habits much of our society has developed. But the thing is, it is possible to shift out of a judgmental thought pattern. This requires some coaching, determination, and practice. Can you imagine how life would be different if you didn’t let judgment be a restraint?... The children at Infinity School are being supported without judgment and being coached to shift any judgment thinking patterns that have snuck in. Imagine a life of knowing how to respond to someone coming from a place of judgment and not fearing what others think. Our Eagles know what that feels like. That’s called compassion and acceptance. We still have a few spaces available and our high school is accepting registrations for this fall. InfinitySchool.ca #SkillDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #21CLearning

Here is our @rubegoldberg machine! The challenge was to create a #RubeGolbergMachine that would result in shaking a box of @nerdscandy. Congratulations to four of our Explore Studio Eagles, Cadi, Kashi, Taz, and Wes for their incredible work!

At Infinity School, we are able to stay on course with our calendar throughout the school year so that our families can manage their schedules with ease. This is just one of the many benefits made available from the way we operate our school. No days missed due to weather, shut-downs, or even a pandemic!

It was wonderful hearing from @sethgodin in our annual #ActonAcademy founders conference this week! His words were so encouraging as validation for what we are all trying to do for children around the world and as a reminder that we’re strengthening communities. -Andrea... InfinitySchool.ca

For Math Power Hour this week, Ms Andrea & Ms Becky, who both enjoy textile art hobbies, led the Eagles through a cross-stitching activity. How is this math? Well, this session we are doing an Art Quest called Art Through The Ages so we though about how to pull that into math. Cross-stitching was an obvious choice for us given its prominence in history and use of patterns and spatial acuity.... The Eagles had to figure out how to make our round Infinity symbol become a cross-stitching (squares) product. They used graph paper to make their designs before starting the stitches! It was incredible to see them smiling, chatting away, and with some music as they helped each other through the hurdles of this fun activity.

Getting ready for... MATH! #MathIsArt #ArtIsMath

We’re in a crazy time! We’ve got half of our Eagles working from home today due to COVID symptoms/ awaiting testing result! Sheesh! Thankfully we’ve had enough time together to feel solid in our peer systems and processes to just carry on like any other day. (But we miss having them here)

It was clay-making day today! #ArtQuest

We are remembering fallen, retired, and active soldiers today by watching the @amabilechoirslondon #RemembranceDay concert while painting poppies onto rocks. After the rocks are done, our Eagles will be writing letters to veterans residing in local long-term care homes. Those will be delivered tomorrow. #WeRemember #ThankYouVeterans

*BEFORE* Ms Andrea’s got her paint clothes on we can’t wait to see the AFTER of this new room we now have access to. It’s a shared space called the gym which is great for running around in.

Did you hear @sethgodin’s interview with @allison__hare in her #CultureChangersPodcast?! We were thrilled to hear him mention our #ActonAcademy program and share his thoughts on education as a whole. When I was staring out my window almost six years ago wondering what to do with my own kids, I did actually ask this question. The answer led me on this path to pull them out of traditional school and start this one! ... Incredible things can happen when we ask and consider tough questions. -Andrea

Yay! It was a great mail day this gem by Katie Hurley arrived today. We’re going to weave the daily motivations into each day here and encourage other schools to do the same. #MentalHealth #TeenMentalHealth

Working outside wearing a t-shirt in November in Canada?! We’ll take it!

Thank you to @urban.iskwew for making these beautiful colouring sheets available for #OrangeShirtDay today. After colouring those, our Eagles ended the day listening to @westernu_indigenous’s Honour Song and thinking more about what we can do in the #truthandreconciliation process. #DoSomething

Today is #OrangeShirtDay, which we will be talking about all day. We also announced to the school that we are a Downie Wenjack Fund Legacy School, are creating a Legacy Room, and what that means for everyone. Ms Andrea told the Eagles about residential schools and played, Stranger from Gord Downie's SECRET PATH album.... When she asked how the Eagles felt listening to the song, they said, sad, lonely, and scared. #DoSomething #Reconciliaction #ChanieWenjack #EveryChildMatters

It was a great mail day! We received our @downiewenjack #LegacySchool parcel today. And just in time for #orangeshirtday tomorrow. #SecretPath #DoSomething

Tools to facilitate improved focus: -Trifold to block out visual stimulation. -Sound-blocking earmuffs. -15-minute sand timer for picking one thing to work on for that amount of time. -Written goals list of what to do in each 15-minute block.... We’re growing focus muscles over here.

Ms Andrea & Rosie along with her children have been biking 10km a day this month plus the Eagles have been running about 6km per week for the Children's Health Foundation #kmsForCancer campaign. This organization is close to our hearts as a few of our learner’s lives have been greatly impacted by the services and people at the Children’s Hospital. We know the asks are high and so is the stress right now but if you are able to join us in supporting this cause, we’d be so grate...ful. Link to donate is below. http://chfou.convio.net/site/TR/Events/General

It’s official! Our school, led by five Middle School Eagles, has entered this year’s Rube Goldberg SHAKE & POUR A BOX OF NERDS contest. We’re taping off a 10 by 10 foot space for them and will report back on their progress. Thank you to the team at RubeGoldberg.com and Nerds for the opportunity and making all this possible. #STEMisFun #RubeGoldberg #RubeGoldbergMachine

We have been looking for the right yellow and green art piece to enhance the Discover Studio. We were thrilled to find this beautiful piece by local artist, @andrewlewisart! We love it for so many reasons: it is quite beautiful, it goes perfectly in the space, and the lemons theme is a great one for mindset conversations. How lucky are we to have access to such creative talents in our own city?!

Rosie our school dog loves being read to. (I can’t handle the cuteness) #ReadingTime #ReadIngTherapyDog

This is school.

That’s our Ms Andrea! (Hopefully she doesn’t delete this). Apparently she is wearing this t-shirt today as part of a promise/ dare from a friend. She is TURNING 50 this weekend and we’d like to celebrate her. Infinity School is here because of this incredible person (and her husband, Dr Vin)! You may not realize that she has invested so very much of herself to create this place.... We see her working tirelessly and with a smile to make this program for all of us. Ms Andrea, we’re wishing you the happiest of birthdays. 5-oh! And we’re SO grateful for all you do.