AW25 — The Campaign: December 2025 → May 2026
Like a bottle sealed with twilight, AW25 opens the year in a whisper of ink and cedar. For the exemplary 14‑year‑old, outcomes shimmer: deep reading and literary composition focused on Arthurian romance and Marie de France; historical context from 1066 across the Norman settlement and medieval society; disciplined classical pedagogy in logic and rhetoric; rigorous pre‑college mathematics (AoPS Intro to Algebra and Intro to Geometry) mapped to problem‑solving fluency; and laboratory practice in perfume chemistry, water and air purification, and home biology greenhouse experiments. Each module carries a fragrance note: the green of botany, the brass of a violin, the salt breath of snorkelling sea studies.
Instruments—violin and piano—become the spine of temporal discipline; yoga and pilates carve posture and breath. Language is cultivated in a French immersion stream, with bilingual recipes and Laduree‑style patisserie practice that produce plated high‑tea photo drops. Photography, birding (with Cornell Raven/Ornithology software and birdsong study), and underwater photography complement natural history labs. Documentation is couture: a Filofax leather portfolio acts as atelier ledger, scented paper swatches and field notebooks accompany every lesson; each module is recorded with a mood board, lookbook photos, and campaign‑level annotations.
Student Outcomes — AW25
By May 2026 the student will: analyze Sir Gawain and related Arthurian texts with literary close reading and sustained essay (1,500–2,000 words); present a researched timeline of post‑1066 social change; solve AoPS geometry and algebra problem sets with written solutions; run safe small‑scale perfume distillations and document lab protocols; build a greenhouse planting portfolio with plant press specimens; demonstrate intermediate violin pieces and sight‑read piano repertoire; complete a French immersion oral portfolio (10 minutes recorded monologue + annotated transcripts); and maintain a couture Filofax with weekly planner, lab notebook, recipe cards, and monthly photo drops suitable for college portfolio review.
SS26 — The Campaign: June 2026 → November 2026
The SS26 chapter turns luminous: fieldwork and exhibition. Birding expeditions and snorkelling trips yield curated image series and sonograms; advanced perfume chemistry meets Neal's Yard botanical preparations for bath and kitchen; a pottery studio produces a collection of plates and teacups for Laduree‑style service; culinary projects include breads, soups, seafood and seaweed dishes, homemade cat food formulation and safety notes. High‑tech fairy lab practices—distillation rigs, small air filters, and water purification protocols—are recorded as method cards. Photography and styling become campaign production: lookbooks, mood boards, and printed mini‑catalogues ready for submission to artistic portfolios.
Assessment now pivots into presentation: a bilingual culinary booklet, a printed Filofax portfolio (six sections), a digital lookbook, a performance recital, and a science fair style presentation of greenhouse and purification work. College competencies are highlighted through evidence: critical analysis, lab technique, quantitative reasoning, artistic process, language proficiency, and project management.
Student Outcomes — SS26
By November 2026 the student will: compile a curated end‑of‑year portfolio (print + digital) that includes a literary essay collection, a documented science lab folder with safety and results, mathematical problem folio, music recordings, a photographic lookbook, and a bilingual recipe and plating portfolio. Competency evidence will align to college application expectations: research and writing, lab experience with protocols, math problem solving, artistic production and documentation, language fluency, and independent project leadership (curation, exhibition, public presentation).
Month‑by‑Month Checklist (Dec 2025 → Nov 2026)
Each month: one major deliverable, weekly rituals, and documentation tasks to file in the Filofax campaign sections (Curriculum, Lab, Music, Field, Culinary).
- Dec 2025 — Launch & Atelier Ledger
- Set Filofax sections, print inserts (weekly planner, lab notebook, recipe cards, field notes, photo capture log).
- Baseline assessments: AoPS placement, reading sample (literary response), music audit, French oral sample, fitness/sleep baseline with biometrics.
- Design seasonal mood board and scent swatch library; photograph and log the initial studio setup.
- Jan 2026 — Foundations & Instruments
- Begin AoPS Intro to Algebra modules; weekly problem sets logged.
- Weekly violin & piano practice schedule with recorded 5‑minute video snapshots.
- Start reading Marie de France tales; keep verse translation notes in Filofax.
- Feb 2026 — Botany & Perfume Basics
- Plant press and greenhouse planting schedule; baseline soil and water testing.
- Intro to perfume chemistry: safety, extraction methods (solvent & steam), record first scent journal entries.
- French kitchen labs: simple breads and Laduree‑inspired pastries; bilingual recipe cards drafted.
- Mar 2026 — Arthurian Deep Dive
- Close reading of Sir Gawain; weekly essays and comparative notes with Marie de France.
- Medieval history timeline project (post‑1066): annotated map and source list.
- Filofax: literary section grows with annotated quotes and 1st draft essay.
- Apr 2026 — Lab Methods & Air/Water
- Small air purifier build; basic water purification lab (boiling, filtration, solar still) with safety log.
- Perfume distillation: produce one sample eau (documented protocol and analysis).
- Monthly photo drop: lab setup and product shots for lookbook.
- May 2026 — Exhibition Prep & Mid‑Year Review
- Compile mid‑year portfolio: literary essay, math folder, music recordings, lab notebook extracts.
- Mock college competency mapping: annotate evidence to competencies in the Filofax.
- Hold a recital / tasting / mini‑exhibition for family to gather qualitative feedback.
- Jun 2026 — Fieldwork & Birding
- Birding series: Raven studies with Cornell software, birdsong recordings and spectrograms entered into Field section.
- Begin snorkelling and underwater photography units; safety certification and basic skill logs.
- Pottery studio starts: 6 pieces in progress, logged with photos and glazing notes.
- Jul 2026 — Advanced Math & Photo Campaign
- AoPS geometry modules and proof writing; weekly proofs saved in Curriculum section.
- Lookbook campaign: style shoots of culinary plating, botanical still lifes, and fragrance swatches.
- Digital backups and print run of monthly photo drops.
- Aug 2026 — Culinary & Nutrition Science
- Advanced French high‑tea service: plated menus photographed and bilingual recipe cards finalized.
- Nutrition & Dr Courtin/Clarins‑style wellness notes: biometrics tracking, sleep hygiene plan, and menu logs.
- Create sample trays for presentation and mood board documentation.
- Sep 2026 — Capstone Projects Begin
- Choose two capstones: (1) Perfume + botanical dossier; (2) Literary + performance portfolio with historical presentation.
- Begin research, lab work, rehearsals, and photographic storytelling for each capstone.
- Start arranging the printed portfolio layout and Filofax exhibition kit.
- Oct 2026 — Consolidation & Presentation Drafts
- Finish capstone drafts: lab report, essays, recordings, lookbook sequences.
- Portfolio formatting: print recipes, recipe cards, lab protocols, music program; bind sample set.
- Mock review with mentor/teacher; annotate improvements and finalize rubrics.
- Nov 2026 — Final Exhibition & End‑of‑Year Portfolio
- Public presentation: recital, science demonstration, and culinary high‑tea; portfolio distributed as print + digital.
- Final mapping: evidence → college competency checklist completed and cross‑referenced in Filofax.
- Archive: produce a bound ‘campaign’ portfolio and digital archive for work samples and application attachments.
Weekly Schedule Template (Printable)
Use a Filofax weekly planner insert. Replace durations to fit your day—this is a balanced template for school days.
Morning (08:00–11:30)
- 08:00–08:30: Morning ritual — yoga/pilates, sleep & biometrics check, journaling (scent swatch, mood board notes).
- 08:30–09:45: Math (AoPS): concept + problem set; file solutions in Curriculum.
- 09:45–10:00: Break — outdoor walk, birdsong listening.
- 10:00–11:30: Language block — French immersion reading/speaking and literature close reading (rotate days).
Midday (11:30–14:00)
- 11:30–12:30: Lab/Culinary session (alternate days): plant care, perfume lab, or kitchen; document protocol in Lab/Culinary sections.
- 12:30–13:00: Lunch, plating photography practice for culinary days.
- 13:00–14:00: Music practice (violin/piano, technique + repertoire), record a short video or audio file.
Afternoon (14:00–16:30)
- 14:00–15:30: Project time — capstone work, history research, photography editing, greenhouse work.
- 15:30–16:00: Movement break and birdsong field notes or short snorkel/swim practice when scheduled.
- 16:00–16:30: Light math review or grammar exercises; file in Filofax.
Evening (18:00–20:00)
- 18:00–19:00: Family high‑tea / culinary sharing (2–3x week) — plating & bilingual recipe discussion.
- 19:00–20:00: Reading hour (Arthurian literature, science journals, French novels). Evening biometrics & sleep hygiene routine logged.
Weekly rituals
- Friday: Backup digital portfolio, photo drop, and weekly Filofax review.
- Saturday: Field trip / snorkelling / birding day (documented with images + audio).
- Monthly: Mood board refresh, scent swatch update, and portfolio printing run.
Portfolio & Assessment Mapping (Printable Checklist)
Below is a checklist to convert evidence into college competencies. File a copy of each artifact in the Filofax cross‑referenced to the competency.
- Critical Reading & Writing
- Evidence: 1,500–2,000 word Arthurian essay; close‑reading annotations; comparative essay with Marie de France.
- Checklist: rough drafts, annotated bibliography, final essay (PDF + print), mentor feedback, rubric scores.
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Evidence: AoPS problem folio (scanned pages), timed problem set results, geometry proofs.
- Checklist: solutions, error analysis, teacher/mentor comments, benchmark tests.
- Scientific Inquiry & Lab Techniques
- Evidence: perfume lab notebook, water purification protocols, greenhouse experimental logs, safety checklists.
- Checklist: protocols, datasets, photographs, labeled samples, video demos, reflective lab report.
- Artistic Practice & Production
- Evidence: photographic lookbook, pottery object photos, music recordings (three polished tracks), culinary plated photos, bilingual recipe cards.
- Checklist: high‑res images, captions, process notes, before/after, public presentation program.
- Language Proficiency
- Evidence: recorded French monologue, written translation exercise, bilingual recipe booklet.
- Checklist: audio files, transcripts, CEFR self‑assessment, mentor evaluation.
- Project Management & Leadership
- Evidence: capstone timeline, budget for materials, exhibition planning docs, outreach emails.
- Checklist: Gantt or timeline, vendor receipts, attendee lists, reflective project report.
Filofax Insert & Campaign Templates (Printable Guidance)
Recommended sizes: A5 or Filofax Personal (choose what photographs and lab notebooks fit). Export templates as PDF (for print) and PNG/JPEG (for digital images). Keep one master digital folder mirrored to the Filofax physical sections.
Suggested Inserts (printable):
- Weekly planner (vertical columns with time slots and an annotated ‘scent/mood’ margin)
- Lab notebook insert (date, aim, materials, method, results, safety notes, photograph slot)
- Recipe card insert (title, bilingual ingredients, method, plating notes, allergen & nutrition notes, photo box)
- Music practice log (piece, technique focus, time, video link QR code)
- Field notes + birdsong sheet (location, species, audio file name, spectrogram thumbnail)
- Portfolio index & evidence mapping sheet (artifact title, date, competency tags, folder location, digital filename)
- Mood board sheet (swatches glued, scent strip space, short concept statement)
Labeling system: use season + section + date (e.g., AW25-LAB-04-2026; SS26-CUL-10-2026). Include a QR code index page that links to the digital archive for reviewers.
How to Keep It Couture — Practical Steps
- Daily: quick Filofax update (5–10 minutes) — habit over perfection. Record measurements, mood note, and one photo slot.
- Weekly: Friday photo drop and backup. File hard copies into the appropriate Filofax section with sample swatches and printed thumbnails.
- Monthly: curate a mini‑campaign page: mood board, 4–6 best images, small narrative blurb, and a tagged competency list.
- End of year: print a bound portfolio (30–50 pages) with a campaign cover, a contents page with competency mapping, and a digital ZIP for applications.
Final Notes — The Archive as Fragrance
Let the portfolio breathe like a classic eau de parfum: top notes that announce curiosity (birdsong, French phrases), heart notes that reveal craft (lab protocols, essays, music), and a base that endures (problem solving, project leadership). The Filofax atelier ledger, the photographic lookbook, and the printed recipe cards become a single curated scent story—an academic dossier that is evocative, precise, and entirely fit for college applications.
If you like, I can now:
- Produce printable PDF templates for the Filofax inserts (weekly planner, lab notebook, recipe card, evidence mapping sheet).
- Convert the month‑by‑month checklist into a one‑page printable A5 insert for the Filofax.
- Create a simple rubric template to score each artifact against college competencies.