Daystar Academy

Many of our High School students will head to Peru later this month too. The photos here include several current students who visited Peru in 2022. Students who venture to South America this year will study how traditional potato farming in the Andes reflects an ecocentric environmental science worldview, working with nature instead of against it. They will also explore techniques like crop rotation and using diverse potato varieties to protect soil and biodiversity. This helps students understand how indigenous farming practices can be sustainable without harming the environment.

Again, travel like this is central to who we are at Daystar, helping broaden perspectives and fostering global awareness. Daystar students graduate as confident, compassionate leaders who view the world as their classroom 🌎 💫

Some more photos of our PYP Christmas celebration on Thursday night. Grateful to our teachers for their dedication to this event and for our ongoing partnership with the and Mr: Fornett. The season certainly becomes a little more magical when seen through the eyes of a child 💫

📷: Frank Slomkowski

💫 New Falcon swag has dropped! 💫

Get ready to fly into the holiday season with brand new Falcon gear 🦅 Rock some fresh school pride or find the perfect gift for your favorite Falcon fan. Items will be available for purchase in the office next week. Limited sizes and supplies available at this time, with more items arriving soon.

Falcons rise, Falcons soar!

Our student running club dashed all the way to Chicago’s Christkindlmarket yesterday afternoon. They proved that “running around in circles” is worth it when you can warm up with cocoa and a whole lot of holiday spirit! ❄️🎁

Merry runs to all, and to all a good pace! 🏃‍♀️🎄✨

Our film students had the opportunity to visit the this afternoon for Day 02 of Cinema Interruptus, a communal film criticism event centered around a single movie.

From the Gene Siskel Film Center website:

“For decades, legendary critic Roger Ebert led Interruptus at the Conference on World Affairs in Boulder, Colorado. After screening a film in its entirety, the audience spent multiple days working through the movie scene by scene, interrupting with comments and questions along the way. Josh Larsen—critic, author, and co-host of the Chicago-based podcast and radio program Filmspotting—has been leading Interruptus in Boulder since 2017 and is thrilled to bring it to the Film Center.”

“‘With the help of sharp, observant moviegoers, we always discover something new and enlightening about the movie during Interruptus,’ Larsen said.”

✨ Let’s shine bright together! ✨

Daystar is committed to nurturing young hearts and minds in a Christ-centered, deliberately diverse, and globally aware environment. We believe every student is called to bring out the God-colors in our city and in our world.

Your generosity today and everyday makes it possible for us to continue cultivating leaders who will bring love, compassion, and justice to the world around them 🌍💫

Join us in empowering the next generation of change-makers. Every gift, big or small, helps our mission to inspire and equip students to shine brightly in all they do.

Donate here: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/DaystarEducationAssociation/donateonline.html

Well done, fall athletes! It was a joy to celebrate you yesterday during our Fall Fest activities. Your hard work and enthusiasm have shone this season. You’ve grown as athletes, but also as individuals, showing resilience, teamwork, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The Daystar community is proud of everything you’ve accomplished, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll achieve next. Congratulations!

Some of our littlest learners embracing fall 🍁

This week our preschool students started learning more about both pumpkins and leaves. They read “From Seed to Pumpkin” which outlines how pumpkin seeds are planted and then grow throughout the season. The students then participated in a hands-on learning activity, dissecting pumpkins, smelling pumpkins, playing with pumpkin seeds, and more.

Hands-on activities like these are important as our students learn to love learning.

Our 4th grade student have spent time during Q1 honing their speaking and listening skills through various activities. They recently delivered powerful performances of their poems, showcasing their enthusiasm for different poetic elements. Through this experience our students are learning to be Communicators, one of the IB Learner Profile Traits.

If you’re interested in a:

Christ-centered,
Deliberately diverse,
IB World School,
In the South Loop of Chicago.

JOIN US!

Experience during a K-8 Open House on Thursday, November 21, starting at 6:00 PM. We’re excited to welcome you into our community!

RSVP: https://www.daystaracademy.org/admissions/open-house

Grateful to celebrate our grandfriends yesterday and to honor the role they play in our students’ lives. Thank you for modeling for us what it means to be “salt and light” in Chicago and in the world. We ❤️ you!

Grateful to spend a beautiful October night with the crew watching the .

JUST LAUNCHED 🚀 Our first-ever fundraiser for Falcon Athletics. Check the link below to purchase a t-shirt to support our student athletes. 100% of your purchase goes to our Falcon Athletics program and supports adding new teams, bringing in amazing coaches, providing the best equipment and facilities, and upgrading our uniforms 🔥

Falcons Rise, Falcons Soar! Proud to be a Falcon!

https://gearup.daystaracademy.org

Spotlight on some of our littlest learners 🔦

kindergarteners learn in academic settings curated for hands-on learning. Here’s an example: earlier this month kindergarteners read the book “My Mouth is a Volcano” and learned the importance of managing their impulses and emotions, particularly during class discussions. Instead of “erupting” by speaking out of turn, they discussed the value of raising their hands to contribute respectfully and effectively in the classroom setting. The students engaged in a hands-on and creative activity related to the book. They had the opportunity to craft their own volcanoes, providing a visual representation of the consequences of ‘erupting’ without proper consideration. This exercise was not only engaging and enjoyable, but also served as a practical way for our students to grasp the lesson on self-regulation.

Daystar Academy is a deliberately diverse community where students are engaged, curious, and creative learners. We take a non-competitive approach to student achievement. The International Baccalaureate (IB) grading system measures individual growth rather than growth compared to others. This creates an environment that results in greater psychological health, social competence, and self-esteem.

🗓️ MARK YOUR CALENDARS 🗓️

Family Picnic on Friday, September 27. See Falcon Family News for the food item your student is responsible for (i.e. dessert, salad, side, etc.).

High School Open House on Thursday, October 3. Current Daystar students in grades 6-8 are strongly encouraged to attend. You’ll get a glimpse into what Daystar’s high school will look like reimagined 💫 Please RSVP using the link in bio!

Falcons rise, Falcons soar! Our Middle School cross country team battled the heat Saturday during their XC meet. Well done, runners!

📷: Mike F

“You are the salt of the earth…”
“You are the light of the world.”

Our theme verse this year is from Matthew 5: 13, 14. It reminds us to embrace our identity as world changers, engaging with our community and our world while also shining bright by following the example of Christ, the Bright, the Morning Star, the Herald of the Dawn...