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Welcoming our first class of Spartek students in September was a great occasion. In the last two months, students have gotten acclimated to our Studio and each other.
What Makes a Hero is this school year’s theme, and it is a question that our students will ask of themselves and others throughout the year. The goal is that every Spartek Spartan recognizes and develops their strengths and superpowers.
Our very first Quest was the Build-a-Tribe Quest. Together, the students created guidelines for our Studio and over several weeks, tested and tweaked those guidelines to make sure they worked for our community. After the guidelines were accepted, with a quill pen and ink, each student signed the final draft of the studio rules contract for this year.
Taking personal responsibility has been a big theme at our school. At school, students enjoy many freedoms. Through town hall meetings, Spartan Buck assessments, and Socratic discussions, we have gained a greater understanding of our responsibility to maintain the freedoms that we enjoy.
In addition to Core Skills (Math, Language Arts, and Writing), students focus on hands-on, real-world projects called Quest for Science and Social Studies.
So far this year our we have completed a Cartography Quest and field trip.
Chess– We have been improving our chess game. New and experienced players are notating games and improving upon their current skill set. Students hope to compete by the end of the year.
Catapult Engineering– Students have been creating catapults and testing them out. The first catapult challenge was a mangonel design, followed by the trebuchet catapult build. Students were able to test their prototypes against the other teams. Next, we tested the best mangonel catapult design versus the trebuchet model. Up next, we are building a large model of the most effective design and will launch pumpkins outdoors.
Entrepreneurship Quest– Preparing for the Baltimore Children’s Business Fair over the first six weeks was a big undertaking, but it paid off for Spartek students. Students created pitches, marketing materials, and products for their businesses to get ready for the Fair. Each student did a great job representing their companies, selling their products, and winning awards. Many of our students sold out of their inventory completely and noted customer feedback to improve for the next Fair.
Innovative learner-driven private school opening in Columbia, Maryland
Post date August 11, 2021
Every child has a gift that can change the world; Spartek Academy: An Acton Academy develops those gifts in 1st-8th grade students.
COLUMBIA, Md. – August 10, 2021 – (Newswire.com)
Spartek Academy: An Acton Academy [Spartek] is opening its doors in Columbia, Maryland. Spartek is a learner-driven private school where 75% of our curriculum is hands-on and students are in charge of their learning. There are no teachers, only guides, no homework, and no tests. How do our students learn? With a mastery-based approach. It’s simple: every student works at their own pace and shows mastery in that area before advancing.
Spartek Academy is an affiliate school of Acton Academy, based in Austin, Texas. Acton Academy has 300+ Affiliate schools worldwide and has been endorsed by Sal Khan, Founder of Khan Academy; Seth Godin, Author; and Sugata Mitra, Founder of School in the Clouds.
Acton’s disruptive educational model focuses on three things: learning to learn, learning to be, and learning to do. Students participate in Socratic discussions and self-paced challenges, which equips them to be independent lifelong learners. In addition, Hands-on Quests for Science, Entrepreneurship, and the Arts prepare children for apprenticeships and real-world challenges.
Janear Garrus, the Founder of Spartek Academy, is an entrepreneur and educator. She has founded several other organizations and programs serving the Baltimore-Washington area: Chesapeake Educational Alliance, Launch Business Camp, Greater Purpose Christian Homeschoolers, and the Baltimore Children’s Business Fair (which is hosting its fifth annual event this fall). In addition, she and her husband have homeschooled their children for their entire education. Garrus found that Acton Academy aligned with her desires for her children’s education and felt compelled to start one in Howard County. “I chose to start an Acton Academy in Howard County because I truly believe in the model. It takes the best elements of homeschooling and combines them with innovation and collaboration amongst students. Spartek is an environment where there are no limits to students’ learning and discovery. What students are good at, they can focus on now, and that’s powerful.”
Spartek is enrolling in grades 1-8 for the 2021-2022 school year. The school will add a grade-level each following school year. For more information about Spartek Academy: An Acton Academy, contact Janear Garrus at 410-343-9780 or hello@spartekacton.org.
Source: Digital Press Network
School Tours now Available!
Post author By spartek
Post date August 11, 2021
Whether our learners would like to sit at a desk, stand, or lounge on a bean bag, we have created a space where our students can thrive!
We’re getting close!! Just two short weeks ago, we received the keys to our new building. We have been feverishly unboxing furniture and supplies to set up our school. There’s more to do, but we are excited to see the vision unfolding and our learners bringing it to life in a few short weeks!
We invite families to tour the school if they are interested in enrolling for THIS fall, 2021-22, or the 2022-23 school year. Students are encouraged to attend.
No homework, no test, no stress
Post author By spartek
Post date July 26, 2021
As we approach the start of the school year, we have talked with many families that want more for their child’s education.
In those conversations, not one person has said they want their children to have more homework or prepare for more tests in school. However, the constant theme is that parents do not want the light and joy to leave their son or daughter’s eyes. Each parent sees their child’s brilliance and does not want the traditional school format to diminish their potential.
In a nutshell, those are the families that we are here to serve!
If you are familiar with Acton Academy, you may have heard about the Hero’s Journey. If not, the Hero’s Journey is our belief that every child (and person!) has a calling that can change the world. In addition, we believe each person’s journey will not look like anyone else’s. Our job at Spartek Academy is to help students get on their path, learn to think and fulfill their calling.
To learn more about the Hero’s journey and Spartek’s project and mastery-based approach, join us at the information meeting on Friday or give us a call at 410-343-9780 to see if Spartek is the right fit for your family.
Janear Garrus | Founder & Head of School
Virtual Admission Information Session | THIS Friday, July 30th at 6:00 PM Register Here
Why did we start Spartek?
Post author By spartek
Post date July 8, 2021
We started Spartek to offer a school where independent thinking, self-paced learning, Socratic discussions and real-world problem solving is the model. This is the type of education I wanted for my children, and yours too. We would love to hear about your family’s educational journey and how this type of school may be the right fit for your children.
I invite you to join us for a Virtual Open House tonight to learn more about Spartek Academy and hear our story.
I hope to see you there!
Janear Garrus | Founder & Head of School
TONIGHT Virtual Open House | Thursday, July 8th at 6:30 PM Register Here
If you would like your child to be in the first class of Spartek learners, we welcome you to complete the Interest Form. We are excited to build a community of parents and students that value learning to learn, learning to be, and learning to do within the Baltimore-Washington Corridor.
Why are we the Spartans?
Post author By spartek
Post date June 27, 2021
While we are not natives of Sparta…the Merriam Wester Dictionary also defines a Spartan as a person of great courage and self-discipline, which our learners are!!!
The Countdown has begun!
Post author By spartek
Post date June 27, 2021
We are counting down to our opening ceremony. Over the last several months, we have been preparing to open our doors this fall. A few of the things that we have been up to are: training with Acton’s co-founder, Jeff Sandefer; working towards private school certification with the Maryland Department of Education; hosting open houses and conversations with parents; and finally, the daunting task of finding a home for our school. Needless to say, we have been on a Hero’s Journey of our own, which is why I am excited to report that our school’s location is finalized!
We are located off Old Annapolis Rd in Columbia, MD, and will combine a former Karate dojo and an office suite into Spartek Academy’s new home.If you would like your child to be in the first class of Spartek learners, we welcome you to complete the Interest Form. We are excited to build a community of parents and students that value learning to learn, learning to be, and learning to do within the Baltimore-Washington Corridor.