Family Night: Welcome to Heroes Academy (Year 1, Day 0)
In the Treasure Valley there are over 100,000 students enrolled in public or private schools. There are thousands more in other alternative education environments, like homeschool. Just 11 students and 6 families will embark on a new journey with us at Heroes Academy. Some would call it crazy, others would call it courage.
Tonight we began our journey by:
- Learning about our fellow travelers
- Celebrating a new adventure
- Committing to a series of promises
The evening started with casual conversations, followed by the brief introduction of our new guide, Kara. Everyone loved Kara’s thoughtfulness (she knew who everyone was before they had met), cheerful demeanor, and, of course, her accent (she traveled from Australia to be with us).
The young heroes then went on a deserted island adventure, discovering what would motivate them to stay alive (our question of the year is “What motivates a hero?”), and searching the island for objects they could use to creatively increase their chances of survival. Among several great ideas were a water filter, a dog (to catch food and be a companion), and the use of a box for trapping food.
The parents stayed with Jake (our Head of School), where they discussed three questions:
- What is your biggest hope for the year?
- What motivated you to choose Heroes Academy?
- What is your biggest fear for the year?
Parents shared heartfelt emotions about their struggles with previous schools and alternatives, and why finding a place like Heroes Academy was important to them as parents on a hero’s journey.
We finished the night with a story about Hernán Cortés, the great spanish conquistador who traveled to Mexico seeking the riches of the Aztec civilization. While many great conquerors around the globe had tried and failed to conquer this land, Hernán Cortés was the first to succeed.
How? When they landed, Cortés said three infamous words that motivated his men to ensure victory at all costs. “Burn the boats.”
With a chance to take their deposits back and not embark on this new journey, all parents and students recommitted to a new year at Heroes Academy with the signing of contracts between them and their guides.
Then, just as Cortés burned the boats, we each had a chance to burn our biggest fears for the year as a sign of commitment and courage.
There were two key outcomes of the night that made it a wonderful event:
- The young heroes bonded quickly and are excited for the new year with their fellow travelers.
- The bonding of parents as the foundation for a strong tribe that is beginning to form.
Heroes is extremely lucky to have great parents and heroes on our journey with us this year. Families all over the valley will be looking at them as examples of the type of people that are part of Heroes Academy. What they are doing matters: to us, to them, and to our community.
We are excited to walk alongside them as we embark on this new adventure.
