We opened today by playing video clips of Top Gun pilot Maverick (Tom Cruise) panicking and spinning his F14, killing his best friend Goose; juxtaposed by a clip of the calm voice of Sully Sullenberg, as he safely guided US Air flight 1549 into the Hudson, saving all aboard

The topic: Distraction versus Focus.  The difference between faux heroes like Maverick, full of blusters, and the quiet, real heroes like Sully, who train hour after hour in the simulator; who are focused and diligent; who prepare for when their name is called.

Focus is important. That’s why today we put in a series of steps to remove those students who are struggling with distraction.  Taking away potential distractions, step by step, until they can catch up with the rest of the community. Middle Schoolers love community; but participating in a community is a privilege that cannot be allowed to become a distraction.

Some of you have been wondering, “What’s a Yurt?”  Here are pictures of our Yurt, a special outdoor place where our Eagles listen and retell the great stories of history, engaging in Socratic discussion with Ms. Laura around our one great question of History: Why do some civilizations rise, and others fall?