Embedded Files
October 2024
Dear Eco Hub Families,
As fall settles in, we've experienced several rainy days, bringing challenges beyond our Hub. We’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the human and material losses caused by the recent flooding in the ‘Comunitat Valenciana’ from the DANA storm. Our hearts go out to those affected, and we’re exploring ways to support recovery efforts, either as a Hub community or through individual action.
On a brighter note, October has been full of energy and exploration! Our learners have been deeply engaged in new topics, projects, and plenty of meaningful learning experiences.
✨Learning Highlights
In this section, you'll find highlights from our Building Blocks and programs
✨Learning Highlights
In this section, you'll find highlights from our Building Blocks and programs
Barrilete kites: where cultural tradition and math take flight.
Barrilete kites: where cultural tradition and math take flight.
IMG_5112.MOVThis month we are featuring a mathematical learning experience: Barrilete kites. With Halloween celebrations on the horizon, learners learned about different cultures. One of the cultures we explored was from Guatemala. In the towns of Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez, locals create and fly these massive, beautifully decorated kites to honor the spirits of their ancestors. Barrilete kites, as they are called, are an essential part of the culture, especially associated with the annual Día de los Muertos celebrations. The tradition combines vibrant artistry, cultural symbolism, and community bonding, with each kite telling a story through intricate designs and patterns, often incorporating themes of heritage, spirituality, and social commentary.
Learners have linked this cultural heritage with mathematical concepts. The intricate patterns and structural framework of Barrilete kites rely on mathematical concepts, especially geometry. Builders use precise measurements and symmetrical designs to ensure the kites are both visually striking and structurally sound. Creating the circular or polygonal frames involves calculating angles, proportions, and spatial arrangements.
Mind&Body Gym revamp
Mind&Body Gym revamp
We continue to refine the afternoons, and we are very happy to have found a good balance of choice and Learning Guide offerings during Mind & Body Gym.
Check out the updated activities for each block! New additions include Reading Boost (Monday to Thursday), Drama Club, and Lego Club.
Adelante sprint 2 coming to an end
Adelante sprint 2 coming to an end
We're wrapping up our second sprint of Adelantes, where community members share their passions through workshops. This sprint has featured some exciting options, with the final session happening on Friday, the 8th:
Coding a Videogame: Learners explored coding basics with Scratch Jr. and started creating their own simple games.
Everything Monsters: Imaginative games brought monsters like Godzilla and King Kong to life!
No-Bake Cooking: Fun, creative recipes—all without using an oven!
Scrapbooks: Back for a second round by popular demand!
Check out this fantastic video made by learners, from the Everything Monsters Adelante—we're excited to feature it!
Halloween celebration
Halloween celebration
We wrapped up October with an incredible Halloween celebration! In the morning, our special edition of Comunitat featured a costume parade, a moment to honor loved ones who have passed, and a celebration of our Halloween drawing contest winners.
In the afternoon, learners had a blast exploring the spooky and fun stations thoughtfully organized by our amazing parents. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this event so memorable!
Spooky Adventurers
Spooky Adventurers
Creepy Discoverers
Creepy Discoverers
Terrifying Pioneers
Terrifying Pioneers
📣 Announcements
In this section you will find relevant announcements
📣 Announcements
In this section you will find relevant announcements
'Colònies' retreat
'Colònies' retreat
A reminder that the retreat is happening from 13-15 November. You can find all relevant information in this link.
Defining our Parent Coffee Alliance
Defining our Parent Coffee Alliance
On September 27th, we kicked off our first Parent Coffee of the year! We spent time getting to know each other, defining the purpose of these monthly gatherings, clarifying what they're not best suited for, and setting the values that will guide our conversations.
Check out the written summary below. And if you have a moment, we highly recommend listening to the podcast version (perfect with a cup of coffee!), created using NotebookLM. Big thanks to Jochem Kroon for introducing us to this great tool!
GOAL OF PARENT COFFEES
The goal of Parent Coffees is to create a focused, collaborative space for parents and educators to address specific challenges, gain insights, and strengthen the school-home partnership through structured discussions and diverse input.
PARENT COFFEES ARE NOT…
Parent Coffees are not a space for individual concerns or personal grievances; they are structured, agenda-driven meetings focused on collective and relevant topics, avoiding political discussions or issues specific to one student.
VALUES THAT WILL DRIVE OUR PARENT COFFEES
Values that will drive Parent Coffees include open and active communication, trust, mutual respect, and a focus on shared educational values. Meetings should emphasize compassion, active listening, and inclusivity, creating a space for meaningful dialogue, relationship-building, and the flexibility to adapt and grow as a community.
Toys policy reminder
Toys policy reminder
Quick reminder about our toys policy: Learners can bring toys from home only if they are willing to share them with others. We strongly recommend not bringing toys that are very special or if the learner prefers not to share them.
Monthly menu
Monthly menu
Please find in this link the menu for November.
Want to get involved as a parent?
Want to get involved as a parent?
Great news! These are some ways you can get involved as a parent:
Lead an Adelante - Adelantes are 1-hour weekly workshops where you can share a passion. They typically run for 4-5 sessions. Past workshops have included cooking, scrapbooking, coding, and bracelet-making. The next session block is from January 10th to 31st—sign up to lead!
Share your skills - If you have a special skill or knowledge to share in a one-off session, we'd love that too!
Have another idea? We’re all ears!
Worried about session design? No problem! We've got some helpful guidelines to make you feel confident in planning a session.
For more information or to get involved, reach out to your program Lead!
A note on accreditation
A note on accreditation
If you didn’t read in on Edvoice, please find below a communication on Eco Hub’s accreditation:
Dear Families,
We understand how important it is for the whole community to establish ourselves as an accredited primary school, and this has always been our goal.
That is why we are excited to announce that we are moving forward with the local accreditation process for the Eco Hub, building on the successful NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) approval of our program.
To become a fully accredited primary school, we need to apply for local approval from Consorci, in the same way we successfully did with the secondary program at our Urban Hub earlier this year.
The time to reach a decision can vary considerably, and we will keep you updated on our progress and key milestones as they unfold, including any plans regarding the Eco Hub space.
Thank you for your continued support and trust in us.
📆 Key dates
Save the date! Here you will find important dates and events
📆 Key dates
Save the date! Here you will find important dates and events
November, 11th - Sprint 3 starts
November, 13th - 15th - Colònies retreat
November, 13th - Acacias trip (for learners not attending Colonies)
November, 29th - Parent coffee
📌 Parent Hub corner
A note from Parent Hub
📌 Parent Hub corner
A note from Parent Hub
Despite the rain, our first Mercadillo event of the year on October 12th was a big success! We raised 800€, which our learners chose to donate to the Children’s Hospital ‘Sant Joan de Déu’ in Barcelona. A volunteer who collaborates with the hospital and other organizations kindly visited the Hub to receive the donation (thank you, Patricia Fernández, for organizing this!)
👀 Snippets of Learnlife
In this section you will find key aspects of our model, so you have a better understanding and can become a Learnlife expert!
👀 Snippets of Learnlife
In this section you will find key aspects of our model, so you have a better understanding and can become a Learnlife expert!
Learning framework update
Learning framework update
We've updated our terminology to align our Learning Framework across all hubs.
Our Learning Framework includes Learning Domains (Learning to…), which are divided into Competencies. Each competency is made up of skills, with each skill defined by specific assessment criteria that vary by age group.
For instance, under “Learning to Relate,” we have the “Literacy” competency, which includes 10 skills like “Understand and interpret written texts.” Each skill has 1-4 assessment criteria, such as: “Read familiar texts from daily life, media, and school materials silently and aloud with sufficient fluency (speed, accuracy, rhythm, phrasing, and intonation).”
Hope you have a great start to the week!
– Guille & the Eco Hub Team
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