Learning is messy—both metaphorically and literally. Walk into any studio at almost any time of day, and what you might first perceive as chaos tells a deeper story. Scattered art materials, stacks of books, laptops tangled with cords, snacks, and heaps of paper all reflect the learning happening daily. A cluster of laptops on a table signals collaboration. A pile of markers and cardboard reveals creativity in progress. A mountain of pillows holds the remnants of worlds visited during DEAR. Learning is messy, and that’s a good thing.
The Village School model embraces this kind of messy learning, which makes one daily ritual indispensable: studio maintenance. During studio maintenance, learners team up to clean their shared space, ensuring it is ready to welcome everyone the next morning. While the process varies by studio, the goal remains the same: fostering a sense of responsibility, teamwork, and care for the community space. Along the way, learners practice practical life skills—cleaning, cooperation, communication, teamwork, and advocacy.
For example, in Adventure this session, learners formed their own studio maintenance groups rather than being assigned. Unsurprisingly, they chose to team up with close friends. This decision gave learners the opportunity to hold not just their peers accountable but their close friends, too—a skill that is often one of the most challenging to master in middle school.
Studio Maintenance in Spark
In Spark Studio, guides often incorporate games to make cleaning up fun and engaging. One favorite is looking for “magic trash”—hidden pieces of trash lurking in sneaky places around the studio—or playing “I Spy.” For example, a guide might say, “I spy something shiny under a table!” and learners excitedly search for the hidden clutter. At other times, learners gather on a rug while guides read aloud a list of tasks that need to be completed. Each learner picks their task and together transform the studio into a spotless space.
Studio Maintenance in Discovery
In Discovery Studio, learners work in groups, with each group assigned a specific space (e.g., the math room) to clean. After completing their assigned tasks, learners get the green light from a studio maintenance champion, the space is closed, and the group moves on to assist another team. This cycle repeats until the entire studio is spotless. Cleaning zones rotate each session.
Studio Maintenance in Adventure
In Adventure Studio, learners also clean in rotating groups assigned to specific zones. Each zone has a checklist of tasks, and group members decide who will handle each job for the week. At the end of studio maintenance, one or two learners assess the zones and note any areas needing further attention. These remaining tasks are read aloud during Close, and learners finish them before joining free time outside.
In a typical school setting, cleaning is usually left to the adults–the teacher, the janitor, the parent volunteer. Like so many parts of our learning model, allotting time and space for cleaning up after yourself is intentional, by design, and character-building. Studio Maintenance is more than a collection of chores; it’s a chance for learners to build agency, embrace shared responsibility, and develop essential life skills. As written in each studio’s contract, learners commit to taking ownership of their space–not just for cleanliness, but to nurture a thriving learning community.
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