There is nothing better than a fresh new school year. If you’re anything like me, seeing the Back to School displays overflowing with boxes of colored pencils, markers, notebooks, crayons, and more has activated a sense of excitement impossible to ignore. There may be others, however, who are less thrilled, relishing in the delight that there are still a few weeks left before the official end of summer break. Wherever you land on this spectrum, returning families or newly enrolled, welcome to our school!

This week’s Sequoia Scoop is the first of our 2024/2025 school year. A year ripe with possibilities, wonder, exploration and of course, a brand new theme. One morning last spring I was once again inspired by a quote. This time, while reading an article written by J. Craig Venter, a renowned scientist who led the team that sequenced the human genome, I paused when he said that he contributed this success to the fact that he, “Came out of the education system with my curiosity and imagination still intact."

This simple phrase reminded me that as humans we are born curious and it’s because of this insatiable curiosity that the first few years of life are a time of exceptional growth and learning. Given the right environment, babies, toddlers, and preschoolers can’t be stopped. They don’t just want to learn new things, they need to. As people get older and their environments change opportunities for curiosity dwindle but they don’t have to. So as we move forward into a new school year, we are thrilled to introduce “Stay Curious,” as our theme.

Curiosity is the engine of growth and development. It drives us to ask questions, seek answers, and push the boundaries of what we know. When we make space for people to Stay Curious, we empower them to think critically and take control of their own learning.

As homeschooling parents, you play a crucial role in nurturing curiosity in education. Here are some ideas you can use this year to help create an environment of curiosity in your homeschool:

Explore Together: Visit new places, read books, or participate in activities (cooking, exercise, gardening) with your child. Show them that learning is a lifelong adventure.

Ask Questions: Encourage discussions about how things work or why things are the way they are. Here is a quick list to get you started:

• What are you wondering about today?

• How do you think that works?

• Can you tell me more about [something they're interested in]?

• What do you think will happen if...?

• Why do you think that is?

Share Your Interests: Whether it’s a hobby, a book you're reading, or a new skill you're learning, let them see your enthusiasm for learning new things.

Join us by embracing our "Stay Curious" theme this school year. Remember that curiosity is not just about finding answers—it's about asking the right questions. Together, let's foster an environment where curiosity thrives, questions are welcomed, and learning becomes an exhilarating journey of discovery.