The Studio at HP
The Handpicked Studio programs are hosted at Handpicked Education HQ
— a thoughtfully designed, second-story 1,600-square-foot space that feels far more like a home than an office. Think We-Work for teens, grounded in mentorship, accountability, and academic focus but intentionally warmer, more personal, and deeply rooted in community.
Our Jr. High & High School Programs
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Mondays | 9am to 12pm | 6th - 9th Grade
In Literary Launchpad, we explore the timeless art of storytelling through rich literature, narration, and thoughtful writing. While we immerse ourselves in the beauty of classic works and meaningful discussions, we also sharpen communication skills that are key to leadership, marketing, and entrepreneurial success. Whether you’re crafting a persuasive pitch or captivating an audience, this class cultivates the storyteller within, preparing you for life’s ventures—both in business and beyond.This class will focus on improving communication skills through literature and deep discussions.
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Wednesdays | 9am to 12pm | 9th - 12th Grade
In The Foundry, students gain hands-on, real-world experience in essential business and professional skills. From mastering Google Workspace and crafting standout résumés to learning marketing strategies and building networks, The Foundry equips students with practical tools to thrive. Each session blends actionable skill-building with real-life scenarios, ensuring students walk away ready to navigate professional environments, take on leadership roles, and confidently step into their future ventures. -
Fridays | 9am to 12pm | 9th - 12th Grade
The Forum is where entrepreneurial ideas take flight. Each week, students tackle hands-on business or entrepreneurial objectives, applying their creativity and critical thinking to real-world challenges. Once a month, a guest speaker—an experienced entrepreneur—joins us to share their journey and insights. Students engage in Q&A, making connections between their own projects and the wisdom of real-world practitioners. It’s a dynamic blend of doing and learning, inspiring students to shape their own entrepreneurial paths.
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M | W | F | 1pm to 3pm
After each class session, from 1 to 3 p.m., we offer an optional free add on of Creative Commons —a relaxed, open space where students can stay, create, and connect. Whether they want to work on assignments, dive into an art project, or simply use the space as their creative home base, this lab offers flexibility. Students can grab lunch, collaborate, or just unwind, making the day not just educational but also a time for creativity and community.
Course Information
Literary Launchpad
Course Title: Literary Launchpad
Grade level: 6–9 (best fit), with select 9–12 students needing communication foundations
Schedule: Mondays, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Old Town Orange, CA at The Studio at HP
Format: Charlotte Mason-inspired (living texts, narration, conversation, habit-building)
Purpose: Build confident communicators using story, narration, and deep reading—skills that transfer directly to leadership, business, and real-world work.
About the Course:
Literary Launchpad is the communication skills foundation of the program. Students learn to read with attention, think clearly, and speak with confidence by practicing narration (retelling), discussion, and storytelling. Students grow through consistent, guided practice with excellent texts.
Why it connects to business (without turning into “business class”)
Business runs on communication: listening, understanding, summarizing, explaining ideas, and speaking with clarity. Literary Launchpad trains those exact skills through story—so students gain the communication habits they’ll use later in The Forum, Foundry, interviews, presentations, teamwork, and leadership.
Skills students build (practical + transferable)
Students learn to:
Speak clearly and confidently in a group
Retell and summarize accurately (narration = meeting recap skill)
Ask and answer thoughtful questions (discussion + real-world conversation)
Organize ideas into a beginning, middle, end (story structure = presentation structure)
Read with deeper understanding (attention, comprehension, vocabulary in context)
Write with clarity (short, strong writing—no fluff)
Communicate with professionalism (tone, listening, respect, presence)
What class looks like (weekly rhythm)
Each session includes a blend of:
Read-aloud or shared “living text” reading (short, high-quality)
Oral narration (students retell with clarity and detail)
Guided discussion (what happened, why it mattered, what it reveals)
Short written narration (building clear writing habits)
Storytelling practice (voice, pacing, eye contact, confidence)
Light “real-world communication” moments (introductions, speaking up, giving a clear answer)
Student work between classes
Short reading (or excerpt) + simple preparation note
Occasional short written narration or revision
Work is designed to be consistent and doable.
Evaluation (simple, growth-based)
Progress is based on:
Preparedness and participation
Growth in narration quality (clarity, sequence, detail)
Discussion contributions (listening and responding)
Writing improvement over time
Confidence and professionalism
Outcome
Students leave with stronger comprehension, clearer speech, better writing, and noticeably increased confidence—plus the communication foundation that supports future business-oriented work and leadership opportunities.
Mondays | Communication Foundations
The Foundry
Course Title: The Foundry
Grade Level: 9-12 (high school/ homeschool)
Schedule: Wednesdays, 9:00am-12:00pm (1x/week)
Duration: 16 Weeks Per Semester (2 Semesters)
Location: Old Town Orange, CA at the Studio at HP
Format: Hands on, Workshop and Weekly Intensive
Purpose: The Foundry exists to help students turn ideas into finished work by building real projects, practicing teamwork, and developing follow-through.
About the Course:
This elective builds the same core skills used in most entry-level jobs: clear communication, digital productivity, teamwork, and finishing real projects – and leaves students with published work they can show.
What students will learn (high-level)
Workplace communication: clear writing, professional tone, presenting ideas
Digital productivity: Google Drive/Docs/Sheets/Forms/Slides for real tasks (organization, revision, simple analysis, presentations)
Design & marketing basics: creating visuals and communicating a message with Canva
Web publishing: building a simple website and maintaining a professional online presence
Project management habits: weekly milestones, checklists, deadlines, revision cycles
Professionalism: receiving feedback, improving work, teamwork roles and responsibility
Most work happens during class time. Each session students aim to complete:
One website update
One short writing draft or revision
A small amount of evidence/proof to support their ideas
Between-session work is optional/light and primarily supports revisions or source gathering.
Feedback and professionalism
Students practice giving and receiving constructive feedback using a structured routine. The course emphasizes growth, revision, and clear communication over perfection.
Teamwork
Students complete a brief team project during the year with defined roles (writing, visuals, presenting) and clear individual accountability.
Assessment
Students are evaluated on:
Consistent progress and completion of milestones
Clarity and organization of work
Evidence-based reasoning
Improvement through feedback and revision
Not on advanced design skills or technical complexity.
End-of-course outcome
Outcome
Students leave The Foundry with finished, real projects they can show—proof of transferable skills like teamwork, communication, digital productivity, and follow-through—and the confidence and habits that make them entry-level ready for the workforce.
Fridays | Skills, Application + Career Exploration
