Mighty Roots Academy

Summer is in full swing, and the temperatures are rising! Need a cool escape? Explore the wonders of nature with this summer reading list! Packed with intriguing facts and captivating tales, these books are sure to inspire young minds and ignite their curiosity.

-The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
-The Call of the Wild by Jack London
-Alone by Megan E. Freeman
-Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
-Hatchet by Gary Paulson
-The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green
-Slow Down and Be Here Now by Laura Brand
-Chickenology by Barbara Sandri
-Pax by Sara Pennypacker

What’s on your reading list this summer? Share with us in the comments!

We have limited availability for ages 12 and older in our Tuesday/Thursday Homeschool Academy program!
Classes begin August 27th!

If you are a new high schooler enrolling in our high school courses in our Homeschool Academy program, we are offering a $500 discount. Contact us for more details!

Our Mighty Roots garden is producing! We are currently harvesting onions and they are so pretty! During the program year, our students worked hard to build and prepare our summer garden and a special thanks to our learning guide, Angela for helping to maintain our garden throughout this summer!

Our garden isn't just for production alone. We use it to inspire and educate our students here at Mighty Roots Academy. The pods you see in the last image are from our radishes. When you let a radish go to seed, their seed pods are edible and have a slightly sweet flavor and can be used in salads, stir-fries, or as a crunchy snack. Or you can simply save the seeds for next year!

We hatched baby chicks! 🐣🐥❤️
This was such an incredible experience for all of our students! We had a wonderful family who brought in their eggs and knowledge to share with our classes. We learned everything from helping to set up the incubator, candling the eggs to see them growing, watching them hatch, creating their “home” with shavings, water and food and then getting to hold them!
So much fun!

📸 Cari Ciangiola Schawo

Take a look... it's in a book!
Make the most of your springtime reading by grabbing a book and stepping outside!

For more resources and articles, see our spring edition of the Mighty Roots Academy digital magazine here:
https://mightyrootsacademy.com/digital-magazine

This week, we’re taking a moment to honor our incredible learning guides here at Mighty Roots! Each week, they tirelessly dedicate themselves to shaping minds, inspiring hearts and creating a passion for lifelong learning.

To all the teachers out there: thank you for your dedication, your patience, and your unwavering belief in the potential of every student!

We celebrate you this week and every week!

Come Seize the Day with us!
Mighty Roots Academy’s production of Newsies Jr. is this weekend!

There are two opportunities for you to see our show!
Friday, May 3rd at 7pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)
Saturday, May 4th at 3pm (Doors open at 2:30pm)

Location:
850 SE Church St
Lee's Summit, MO 64063

Shows are free to attend! Donations are welcomed!

It's time to get your hands dirty! Planting season is upon us! 🌱

Check out this article from our spring magazine on getting your kids involved with gardening and planting some awesome memories this growing season!

For more resources and articles, see our spring edition of the Mighty Roots Academy digital magazine here:
https://mightyrootsacademy.com/digital-magazine

Did you know you can make a salad from your own backyard? Check out this article from our spring magazine on foraging wild greens!

For more resources and articles, see our spring edition of the Mighty Roots Academy digital magazine here:
https://mightyrootsacademy.com/digital-magazine

Our theater students have been hard at work all year preparing for our production of Newsies. We have two opportunities to see our show! We'd love to have you join us!

Friday, May 3rd at 7pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)
Saturday, May 4th at 3pm (Doors open at 2:30pm)

Location:
850 SE Church St
Lee's Summit, MO 64063

Shows are free to attend! Donations are welcomed!

Rain is here and we've needed it! Rain not only waters the earth but also brings about worms! Check out this article from our spring magazine on creating a worm habitat!

For more resources and articles, see our spring edition of the Mighty Roots Academy digital magazine here:
https://mightyrootsacademy.com/digital-magazine

Our Mighty Roots Academy Spring Digital Magazine is now live on our site! Be sure to check it out!
https://mightyrootsacademy.com/digital-magazine

Flowers are popping up everywhere! 🌷
Our Botany & Plant Science class learned about pollination and the parts of a flower. They did a flower dissection lab to solidify those concepts. We love hands-on experiences!

Who can think of a better place to read a book than up in a tree? It's here among the branches, imaginations can truly soar. Words on a page can become like leaves rustling in the wind with stories yet to be told.

Rainy days may dampen the ground, but they never dampen the spirits of our little adventurers! Rain provides a unique sensory experience for children and provides a perfect day for adventure here at Mighty Roots Academy.

From the feel of raindrops on their faces and the squish of mud between their fingers to finding worms in the ground and splashing in the puddles, rainy days in nature become the ultimate playground for inspiring creativity.

At Mighty Roots, we don’t hide from the bad weather… we embrace it! After all, as the saying goes, “Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.”

photos: Cari Ciangiola Schawo

Exciting News!

A few of our students submitted pieces to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their remarkable work to the world through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The Awards give students opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarships. In 2023, students across the United States and Canada entered more than 300,000 original works in 28 different categories of art and writing.

Two of our students who submitted received recognition for a Silver Key and an Honorable Mention! We are so amazed and proud of all of our students talents and hard work! Congratulations!

Lunchtime in nature… every bite comes with a side of fresh air and open spaces. 🌳

Our art students got the opportunity to have a demo and workshop with ceramic artist Mike Cerv Pottery. Mike has his Masters in Fine Arts, has been an Artist in Residence at the KC Clay Guild, and is currently a Visiting Resident at the Belger Arts Center. Mike's expertise is hand building with clay, specifically slab work, and he designs intricate patterns which he transfers to clay slabs via tar paper patterns.

During class, Mike explained his process of working with tar paper templates and slabs, demonstrated how he makes cups with the templates, and then the students got to make their own. They could create a smooth sided cup or add texture.

We appreciate Mike’s willingness to come out and share with our students. What an amazing opportunity!

We have been spoiled with this stretch of beautiful spring-like weather here in Kansas City! At Mighty Roots Academy, we go outside in all weather, but days like these make it impossible to stay indoors! By going beyond the walls of traditional education, we exchange desks and chairs for blankets and tree branches, whiteboards for open fields, and routine for adventure!

Take the time to explore the miniature wonders around you. In the smallest fragments of nature, you may find some of the greatest treasures.

📸 Cari Ciangiola Schawo

The start of our spring Discovery Days program is fast approaching! Our Spring semester starts March 4th, and goes for 10 weeks through May 20th. There is still time to enroll! Click on the link to find out more!
https://mightyrootsacademy.com/discovery-days

We belong to the trees, where children find their roots in play and let their dreams take flight among the branches.

We know you've been waiting and the announcement is finally here! Join us at our Open House for our 2024-2025 program year!

Head on over to our website to find out more and sign up!
https://mightyrootsacademy.com/open-house

We here in Kansas City are enjoying some much welcomed sunshine and warmer temps this week. However, we also know that winter is far from over.

Check out this article from our winter magazine on overcoming seasonal depression and how you can apply some tips to your own life this winter.

For more resources and articles, see our winter edition of the Mighty Roots Academy digital magazine here:
https://mightyrootsacademy.com/digital-magazine

We love art here at Mighty Roots Academy, and we love getting messy!
Check out this article from our winter magazine on the importance and benefits of process art and how you can include this at home.

For more resources and articles, see our winter edition of the Mighty Roots Academy digital magazine here:
https://mightyrootsacademy.com/digital-magazine