Practicing the 7th Habit at iLEAD Agua Dulce: Sharpen the Saw This Summer

As the final week of the school year arrives at iLEAD Agua Dulce, it is time to look back at the incredible gallery we’ve built together. This year, our school community embraced a powerful theme: “Create Your Masterpiece.” From the classroom to the playground, our learners, facilitators, and families have poured their hearts, curiosity, and hard work into making this year a true work of art.

But as any great artist knows, you cannot create indefinitely without pausing to look at the bigger picture. When summer officially begins, we encourage everyone in our iLEAD Agua Dulce family to practice Habit 7 from Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: “Sharpen the Saw.”

Embracing Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

“Sharpen the Saw” means taking care of yourself so you stay strong, happy, and ready to learn.

Like a saw that cuts better when sharpened, we do our best work when we renew our body, mind, heart, and spirit.

If we ignore one part, the others don’t work as well — just like a car can’t drive smoothly if one tire is flat.

Baby Steps for Learners

• Go to bed 30 minutes earlier.
• Read or be read to daily for 20 minutes.
• Write or draw three things you are grateful for.
• Try a new activity (stretch, walk, dance, or sport).
• Spend time with a friend or family member without devices.

Applications by Area

• Body: Sleep well, exercise, eat healthy foods, drink water.
• Mind: Read, write, ask questions, explore new topics.
• Heart: Show kindness, laugh, spend time with loved ones, listen well.
• Spirit: Create music or art, reflect, enjoy nature, help others.

At Home / Family Extensions

• Create a family challenge: Each person chooses one Body/Mind/Heart/Spirit goal for the week. Share successes at dinner.
• Build a Sharpen the Saw Corner at home with books, art, puzzles, music, and games.
• Try new experiences: Cook, garden, visit a park or museum, volunteer together.
• Parents model balance by sharing how they sharpen their own saw.

Refill Your Cup

Taking a break is an essential part of growth.

Thank you, iLEAD Agua Dulce, for a beautiful school year. Take this time to refill your cup, rest deeply, and recharge your creative spirits. We can’t wait to see you return, refreshed and ready, for another amazing year ahead!

Have a wonderful, restful summer!

About iLEAD Agua Dulce:

iLEAD Agua Dulce is a free public school offering TK-12th graders a unique, personalized education in picturesque Agua Dulce, CA. Founded in 2018, the school emphasizes leadership development, play-based and project-based learning, and social-emotional development. Its outdoor classroom, complete with farm animals, promotes empathy and responsibility. Learners benefit from technology, arts, and aerospace opportunities, developing collaborative skills and critical thinking. High schoolers take advantage of UC a-g approved coursework, Career & Technical Education (CTE), and the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme, preparing for success in college and career. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and find us at www.ileadaguadulce.org.

Join our innovative school today!