A Day in the Life of a Sage School Student
The morning sun streamed through the large windows as Maya entered the Sage School. It was Wednesday, Experiential Learning Day, and a buzz of anticipation filled the hallway. Today was all about "Why does Dallas have so many potholes?" a question that had sparked intense curiosity in her class.
At 7:45, the "soft start" period allowed students to ease into the day. Maya headed to the student lounge, pulling out her notebook to review her notes on geomorphology, a term she'd only recently learned. A few of her friends were already huddled around a table, debating the best way to present their findings later.
The bell chimed at 8:00, and everyone gathered in the common area for Morning Meeting. Today, Liam, the student government president, stood at the front. "Good morning, everyone! Today's Experiential Learning Day focuses on potholes, and we're lucky to have an engineer from the city planning department join us later. Remember, club sign-ups for next week are on the bulletin board. And don't forget, shout outs are at the end of the day!"
Block 1 began at 8:20. Instead of traditional science and math classes, the morning was dedicated to the pothole project. Maya's group, focusing on the engineering aspect, was finalizing their presentation. They had built a miniature road section, demonstrating how different soil types and water drainage impacted road stability. They were excited to show the class their findings.
At 10:20, it was club time. Maya had signed up for "Coding Bots," a group where they programmed small robots to navigate obstacle courses. Today, they were working on a particularly challenging maze, and Maya was determined to get her robot to the finish line.
ASL 1 followed at 10:55. Maya loved learning sign language. The counselor also incorporated SEL lessons into the class, focusing on communication and empathy. Today, they practiced expressing emotions through sign, which was surprisingly challenging and insightful.
Lunch at 11:50 was a welcome break. Maya joined her friends at a cafe table, the conversations bouncing between the pothole project, the robot maze, and the upcoming school field trip.
Block 2, from 12:25 to 2:20, was dedicated to humanities. Today’s focus was on writing, specifically how to write a persuasive essay, a skill that was becoming increasingly relevant in their pothole project. They brainstormed arguments for better city planning and more durable road materials.
At 2:25, it was time for Health/Communications. This semester, Maya was focusing on communications, specifically public speaking. Today, they practiced impromptu speeches, a nerve-wracking but valuable exercise.
Finally, at 3:25, it was Shout Out time. Mr. Johnson, the science teacher, started. "I want to give a shout out to Maya and her group for their excellent engineering presentation this morning. They really demonstrated a deep understanding of road construction." Maya beamed. Then, Sarah, a classmate, gave a shout out to Liam for organizing a successful Morning Meeting.
Liam then took the microphone. “Just a reminder, next Wednesday is Artist in Residency Day, and we have a visiting muralist. Don't forget to bring your art supplies. And have a great afternoon!”