The Standard of Excellence posters get their final form today. Photographed for the archive, hung in their permanent spots. Lip Dub gets a deep practice block. Launch Circle prep continues. By end of day, every learner has practiced their Friday role at least once.
By 3:30 today, the Standard of Excellence posters are in their permanent form, the Lip Dub has had two full practice runs, and every learner has done at least one rehearsal of their Friday Launch.
Thinking Puzzle: "If you could give one piece of advice to next year's Week 1 D2 learners on their first day, what would it be?"
The opener (3 min):
"Today we lock in our Standard of Excellence. The six posters that have been on these walls since Week 1, getting refined as we lived them. Today they get their final form. They stay up all year. They're how next month, next quarter, next May, we'll remember who we said we'd be."
The challenge (10 min):
"Each poster needs three passes today: (1) read it as it stands, (2) refine the language to be true to who we are now, (3) make it look like a poster we're proud to have on the wall. By end of day, photos taken, posters back up, signed by the studio."
Standard rhythm.
Standard rhythm.
Standard rhythm.
Standard rhythm.
Today's ELA shifts heavily toward Friday prep.
The whole studio works on the posters in 6 small groups (one group per poster).
At end of block: gallery walk. Each group reads their poster aloud to the full studio. Photos taken. Posters go up in their permanent spots.
Standard.
Today is a heavy Lip Dub block. Goal: two full run-throughs at performance quality.
If Run #2 lands well, Wednesday's final filming is the safety net. If not, Wednesday becomes the real shot.
Last-minute Lip Dub changes can frustrate learners who've practiced their original part. Coach the studio: "Refining is part of the work, not a punishment for the part you had." If a learner is genuinely losing their role, talk privately before the change.
Standard rhythm. Today's reflection prompt: "Look up at one of the Standard of Excellence posters. Which one do you most want to live tomorrow?"
The camera operator needs extra prep this week. Today they should also start practicing the route alone, without the studio, just to feel the timing. Show them the playback before tomorrow.
Some learners will choose smaller Friday roles (operating projector, greeting families, holding the Contract for signing). These are not lesser roles. Coach them on the dignity of "supporting cast" before Thursday's dry run.
If a learner wants a bigger Friday role than they have, today is the day to negotiate it. Don't say no in the moment — say "let's look at the schedule and see where we have room."
End-of-day: photograph the posters in their final form. These photos go in the year-archive folder. They're also worth sending to families with the Wednesday email.