By Ted Graf, Head of School

Imagine you’re an eighth grader and one day in December, ten days before winter break, you walk nonchalantly into one of your classes; let’s imagine it to be math. Everyone gets settled and a fellow student leads the class in Centering. It’s a gentle and typical Headwaters day—there’s laughter, wonder, and connection. The guide thanks the student who centered the class, checks in and asks, “How’s your energy and stamina today? How has your morning been?” Following the din of responses, she says, “One of my jobs is to challenge you, to push you out of your comfort zones, to test your ability to apply your math skills, your drawing skills, your organizational skills, and your fine motor skills. So, your assignment is the following and you have about ten weeks to complete this while you’re doing all of your other school work:”

1. Choose a building on our campus that has meaning for you. In other words, you love the building and hope it stands forever.
2. Draw it inside and out as best you can. Know it well, including the nooks and crannies. Sketch it and explore it from all angles.
3. Research the building you chose and learn as much about it as you can, including the dimensions and floor plans. You may be able to get these details from Facilities and/or the Business Office. It’s also possible they may not have them, so if that’s the case, you’re going to have to measure the building yourself.
4. Make a work plan for recreating this building to scale but as a 2-foot by 3-foot LEGO model.
5. Collect and find the LEGO bricks of the right sizes, paint them to match the color of the building. You may not send the dimensions or photos of the building to LEGO.
6. Assemble the model.
7. Display and present it at Project Week Fair, then publicly reflect on your efforts, the product itself, and what you learn about your capacity for managing a multi-step project.

Just so you know, this was not an assignment “given” by a guide to a student. Rather, it is an “assignment” conceived of and imagined by a student, with the support of their guides and advisor. The student gave it to themselves during eighth grade and what turned out to be their culminating project for Project Week.

Click here to read more about this remarkable project.

At Headwaters School, we define excellence as more than just academic achievement—it’s about student-driven exploration, leadership, and creativity. In this series, we’re spotlighting how students embody excellence through projects that demonstrate attention to detail, problem-solving, and passion. As students take on challenges, they reveal how curiosity and empathy fuel their growth.

At the River Campus Clubs Fair, middle and high school students showcased strong leadership and teamwork. As they advocated for their clubs, students engaged actively with peers—encouraging, collaborating, and sharing ideas. The event shared their passion and highlighted how Headwaters fosters growth through community-based learning, empowering students to lead and support one another.

Primary Bluebirds recently held their first “sewing circle” of the year, where young students learned to thread needles, practice basic stitches, and work on larger projects. Sewing offers many benefits in early childhood, including improved hand strength, pre-writing skills, and key aspects of Practical Life: order, concentration, coordination, and independence (OCCI). While initial projects may not be perfect, the focus is on learning and process. Families are encouraged to ask their children about the experience and celebrate their efforts to foster confidence and pride in their work.

The K-1 Swifts are deepening their understanding of word problems by integrating Texas Longhorn football scores and point spreads into their lessons. This multifaceted approach combines math, language, and critical thinking, enabling students to not only improve their math skills but also enhance language comprehension and analytical abilities. Using real-world data like sports scores adds an engaging, practical element to learning, making it both fun and relevant.

“The Hopeful” is a monthly newsletter generated by 6th grade students. It contains student-interest with timely events. The tagline is “The Hopeful is a newsletter that amplifies positive news in the world.” We love how it allows students to explore topics they are passionate about!

An Early Elementary student has a clear passion for math! During Before Care, he often asks for equations instead of opting for free play. Recently, he completed a 12x12 Pythagorean chart in under nine minutes! His enthusiasm and skill have his teachers excited to see him continue as a "Math Master.”

Senior Randy Wright serves as a TA for Natalie Turner’s Outdoor Education Class, guiding Centering, managing transitions, ensuring safety, organizing students for activities, and modeling good sportsmanship. He also shares personal experiences, like college applications and work. Natalie praises Randy as a natural leader who effectively connects with middle schoolers, responds well to guidance, and adapts quickly to changes.

Early Elementary Owls visited the Bird’s Nest property to continue their shelter-building project. They practiced safety skills, learned to identify suitable materials for building, and sorted sticks by size. The activity emphasized problem-solving, teamwork, and structure. Back in class, students reflected on the experience, discussing what they observed, felt, and wondered. Responses ranged from excitement about being outdoors to curiosity about the next steps in the project. This hands-on learning is sparking creativity and deeper thinking as the project progresses.

In Lidia Galarza’s IB Spanish Classes, students effectively used LEGO pieces to create scenes that help them visualize their writing topics and demonstrate reading comprehension skills. This hands-on method enriches the writing process and encourages creativity, curiosity, and exploration as they develop their ideas.

In our YCC Casita, a nineteen-month-old has completed their work, and now, with both hands, returns the work to the proper place on the shelf. While it may seem small, this child demonstrated effort and learned to focus on the process. A sense of purpose is created and the child is guided by committed educators who engage students with intellectual respect.

You don’t want to miss the grooviest fundraiser of the year! Join us on Saturday, November 2, at the Austin Public Library Rooftop Garden for the Founding Day Fling! There will be drinks, food, games, and good vibes. Grab a Mystery Prize or play our giant game of Heads or Tails for a chance to win an Austin Staycation with dinner out and groceries included. Tickets are on sale now! The silent auction will go live on Monday, October 28.

We are delighted to share some exciting updates about the transformation of our Creek Campus garden! This beloved space has always been home to hands-on learning, and recent enhancements are making it even more dynamic and engaging for our students.

Click here to learn about new additions and what’s next for the garden.

Austin Studio Tour Participants!

Are you part of this year’s Austin Studio Tour? Let us know your stop! We’re featuring two stops from our community so far, but there’s still time to add yours. We'll update our list for families on the Culture Calendar.



• Weekend 2: November 16-17 EAST of IH-35, 12-6pm
• 370: Nicole Lloyd | Photography | Learn more here
• 378: John Mulvany | Painting | Learn more here

If you'd like to be included, please reach out to Cait Taylor with your details.

Check out this section for a featured term that we use at Headwaters and its definition.

Founding Day Fling

noun

Definition:

Every Headwaters Parent, Alumni, and Friend is invited to attend our annual Founding Day Fling! The evening has lots of fun, food, drinks, and entertainment––all while raising money to support Headwaters' Purpose, Promise, and PACT. Don't miss the event of the year!

Learn more Headwaters terms in our A-Z Glossary.

Shop at any of the places below and the companies will donate a portion of the sale to Headwaters! Need more details, click here.