Origin Stories, Studio Culture, and a NYC Field Trip (Session 1, Week 5)

Welcome to Launchpad’s fifth week! This week was filled with meaningful discussions, creative projects, historical exploration, and our first field trip of the year to New York City.

Genre: Once Upon a Time…

This week in Genre, we focused on drafting our origin stories—stories that tell our audience who we are, where we are headed, and what our mission and values are.

These stories help us connect with others and build trust, an essential element in business, relationships, and, in our case, successful job interviews. By learning to tell our stories clearly and authentically, we are developing an important skill for our future.

Quest: Why Is Culture Important to You?

This week, Quest focused on defining the culture we want to build in our studio.

During the first half of the week, learners created presentations around four key categories: beliefs and values, boundaries, diagnostics, and promises and coaching. In the second half of the week, they revised their presentations based on the feedback they received.

Finally, we brought everything together to create our very own Launchpad Culture Deck! This project gave learners the opportunity to reflect on the kind of community they want to create and the principles that will guide it.

Civ: Are Modern Times Truly Different from Ancient Times?

In Civ, we explored Ancient Egypt, the importance of the Nile River, and historical texts and artifacts that have endured through the centuries.

Our studies included the Book of Genesis, the Ten Commandments, and other ancient laws. After examining these texts, learners debated how much influence ancient ideas and historical records continue to have on present-day societies—and how they might shape future civilizations.

Field Trip: The Guggenheim Museum and Central Park Conservatory Garden

Exciting news: Launchpad went on its first field trip of the year!

Our destination was New York City, where we visited the Guggenheim Museum. Although traffic shortened our time there a little, we still enjoyed exploring the museum, climbing its famous spiral ramp, and admiring the artwork.

Afterward, we walked to the Conservatory Garden in Central Park. This beautiful garden was the perfect place to enjoy lunch, take photographs, and spend time together. The lovely weather made the day even more enjoyable!

Looking Ahead

This week was full of learning, creativity, and exploration. From developing our personal origin stories to defining the values that will shape our studio, we are laying the foundation for a strong Launchpad culture—one that we hope will last far beyond a single school year and stand the test of time.

Thanks for reading, and see you next week!

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