Dear Eco Hub families,
As we move into the final stretch of the cycle, May has been full of creativity, connection, and celebration. From whole-hub adventures and cultural workshops to learner-led collaborations and farewells, this month has shown the many ways our community grows together. In this issue, you’ll find highlights from recent events, a peek into what's ahead—like 360s and our special Showcase—and an introduction to a powerful new tool: the Learning Vitae. Let’s take a moment to reflect on all we’ve shared!
Warmly,
The Eco Hub Team
Some weeks ago, the entire hub came together for a magical day at Park Güell, one of Barcelona’s most iconic landmarks. This outing supported our Connect goal of deepening our relationship with the natural and cultural world around us.
Each group explored a different big question to guide their experience:
🌱 Adventurers wondered: What superpowers does nature have?
🎨 Discoverers asked: How can we make art by nature for nature?
🌍 Pioneers explored: How can nature help us solve problems?
From Gaudí’s playful use of natural forms to the lush gardens and breathtaking views, learners discovered how creativity, culture, and nature can intertwine.
We had the joy of welcoming Ellie Petrova-Taylor, author and illustrator of the upcoming children's book I Spy a Kuker, for a special creative session with our Discoverers. Inspired by her childhood in the Bulgarian countryside, Ellie’s story opened a window into Eastern European mythology, introducing learners to the magical world of the Kukeri—masked dancers who chase away evil spirits.
The session included an interactive reading, a hands-on Kuker mask-making workshop, and a feedback circle where learners shared their insights and ideas to support Ellie as she prepares her book for publication. It was a rich blend of storytelling, culture, creativity, and learner voice—a perfect example of how stories can help us connect to both nature and diverse traditions.
As part of our Explora project on Tourism and Sustainability, we welcomed several parents into the hub to share their recent travel experiences. Learners had the chance to interview them as "tourism experts", asking thoughtful questions about where they went, how they travelled, and what kind of impact their trip might have had—both positive and negative. These real-life stories helped bring the theme to life and sparked rich conversations about responsible travel, cultural respect, and how tourism can shape both people and places. A huge thank you to the parents who made time to be part of this learning journey!
Last week, we had a fantastic visit from learners at the Village Hub, who brought along math games they’ve been designing and building. They teamed up with our Pioneers to play, test, and refine the games together. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, strategy, and collaboration as learners gave each other feedback, learned new math strategies, and shared lots of laughter. It was a beautiful example of peer-to-peer learning and creativity in action—math made joyful, meaningful, and social!
Sports Day was a huge success, filled with energy, teamwork, and lots of cheering! Learners gave it their all in a range of fun and challenging activities, showing great sportsmanship and spirit throughout the day. A big congratulations to Team Blue, who took home the win with determination and enthusiasm! Thank you to the Mind&Body Gym team for making it possible— it was a joyful celebration of movement, effort, and community.
This month, our MAY I Read Challenge inspired learners to dive into books and celebrate the joy of reading in creative ways. From cozy corners to buddy reading sessions, it’s been wonderful to see everyone so engaged with their stories! To wrap up the challenge, we enjoyed a sunny picnic together today at the forest. It was the perfect way to celebrate a month of reading, connection, and community.
Mark your calendars for our upcoming Showcase on 19/06 starting at 3pm, followed by a community potluck! This cycle’s Showcase will feature a special new format: instead of our usual open mic “show-show,” we’ll be hosting our very first Learner Talent Show, highlighting the incredible creativity and courage of our young performers. Afterward, we’ll gather for a delicious potluck organized by families, with a few surprise performances from parents to end the day on a joyful note.
From June 2nd to 11th, we’ll be holding our end-of-year 360s—a special time for learners, families, and learning guides to come together in reflection. These conversations celebrate growth, share meaningful feedback, and set intentions for the journey ahead. For learners in Year 2 of their programs, the focus will be on their transition. It’s a powerful moment of pause and purpose as we wrap up the year together. Please make sure you have signed up for a time slot with your child(ren)’s mentor.
As May came to a close, we said goodbye to our wonderful interns Amelie and Mélodie, who have been an integral part of our learning community over the past months. Whether supporting learners during projects, jumping into creative workshops, or simply showing up each day with warmth and enthusiasm, they made a lasting impact on our hub. We’re so grateful for their time with us and wish them all the best on their next adventures—our doors (and hearts!) will always be open to them.
As is our tradition, we’ll be heading to the beach on the last day of the cycle—Friday, 20th June!
Please make sure your child(ren) come prepared with swimming gear, a change of clothes, suncream, and a hat.
We’ll send out another reminder closer to the date.
Please find the menu for June here.
June 2-11 - Learners’ 360s
June 9 - Bank holiday
June 12 - Transitioning Pioneers outing, graduation ceremony and sleepover
June 19 - Showcase (3pm)
June 20 - Learners bring swimming gear + Last day of the school year (ending at 1:30pm) + beginning of Summer break
We hope to see you at our final party of the year, on June 19th! Hang around with us after show-show for some food, fun and an open mic! Look for our Parent Hub table to pick up your yearbooks or just to have a chat! Please bring a dessert (home made or shop-bought) or some fruit as well as your own plate, cup and utensils. Sign up for the open mic here - all family friendly performances welcomed!
At our last Parent Coffee, we introduced a new tool we are introducing with learners across the 3 Hubs: the Learning Vitae. This is a dynamic, evolving portfolio that helps learners document their journey over time—from the skills they’re developing to the projects they’re proud of and the reflections that show who they’re becoming. It’s designed to make learning visible in a meaningful, personal way. In the coming days, we’ll be sending out a short video that explains how the Learning Vitae works and how you can explore it with your child at the end of the cycle. We’re excited for you to see their growth through their own eyes!