Finalizing Our Ethos: A Milestone Four Years in the Making
When we first opened the doors of Acton Academy Columbus in 2020, it was just six courageous learners and a dream.
A dream to build something different—a community where young people could find their calling, develop their gifts, and change the world.
Today, just four short (and long) years later, our tribe has grown to 45 learners strong, and that dream has become a living, breathing reality.
The journey to where we are today has been one of incredible growth, deep learning, and constant refinement.
We've always known that culture eats everything else for breakfast, and we worked tirelessly to cultivate a culture that feels alive, intentional, and heroic—even before we had the words to define it.
But we also knew that at some point, we needed to capture it. To write it down.
Not because words alone create culture—but because a clear, shared ethos helps protect, strengthen, and launch it.
After four years of living, reflecting, failing, learning, and growing together, I’m so excited to finally share what we’ve created:
The Ethos of Acton Academy Columbus for our Learners, Guides, and now, our Parents.
Ethos for Our Learners
Our Learners' Ethos captures what it means to be an Eagle at Acton Columbus.
It is a call to ownership, courage, craftsmanship, and community.
Each statement represents a commitment our heroes make to themselves, to their peers, and to the future they are building.
We aren't just "going to school"—we're living out a journey of growth every single day.
Some of my personal favorites?
"We Call Out the Light in Each Other."
"We Solve Real Problems and Make an Impact."
"We Are Grounded in Nature and Mindfulness."
These aren't just aspirations—they're daily practices in our studios.
Ethos for Our Guides
Being a Guide at Acton isn't about rescuing heroes or delivering information.
It’s about launching young people on their own authentic journeys.
Our Guide Ethos reminds us that while we are each on our own path of growth, our true mission is to coach, challenge, and celebrate—not to solve, save, or soften the hard work of learning.
We lead with questions, not answers.
We protect the sacred space where growth happens through struggle.
We trust the genius in each learner, even when the path looks messy or uncertain.
And above all, we remember that this is their journey, not ours.
Ethos for Our Parents
Finalizing the Parent Ethos feels like the last piece of a beautiful puzzle.
Acton Columbus has never been a traditional school where you drop off your child and hope for the best.
It's a partnership, a community, and a shared mission.
Our families are critical allies in building the culture that makes Acton so special.
The Parent Ethos speaks to this partnership:
"We Support Our Learners' Journey."
"We Foster a Partnership with Guides and the Community."
"We Trust in the Process of Learning."
"We Act as Mentors and Guides to Provide Guardrails and Constructive Feedback."
It recognizes the courage it takes to step back and let your child own their education, to celebrate effort over results, and to embrace the slow, beautiful unfolding of a young hero’s potential.
Our parents don't just enroll their children at Acton—they enroll themselves into a new way of thinking about education, growth, and success.
Why It Matters
Capturing our ethos isn’t about making posters for the walls—though yes, they do look beautiful in the studios now!
It’s about clarity.
It’s about alignment.
It’s about making sure that as we continue to grow, every new family, learner, and guide knows exactly who we are and what we stand for.
At Acton Columbus, we aren't just building students.
We are launching heroes.
We are lighting flames that will warm, challenge, and change the world.
And now, for the first time, we have a written compass to guide us.
The journey from six to forty-five learners has been nothing short of extraordinary—and I can’t wait to see what the next four years will bring.
Thank you to every single Eagle, Guide, and Parent who helped us live our ethos before we ever wrote it down.
The best is yet to come.
—Varun
