ACES Academy

Today, we recognize Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and celebrates freedom in our nation's history.

One of the gifts of homeschooling and personalized education is the ability to dive deeper into meaningful conversations, explore historical perspectives, visit museums and cultural sites, read great books together, and engage with history in ways that bring learning to life.

Today, we encourage families to celebrate the gift of the freedoms we share to teach, live and learn a little better each day.

Hi! I'm Jane Marcoux, founder of ACES Academy and the Executive Director of the ACES Education Family Foundation.

People often ask how ACES began, and the answer is actually quite simple: it started with a desire to create the kind of learning community I wanted for my own family.

More than fifteen years ago, I began homeschooling my children and quickly discovered that while homeschooling offered incredible freedom and flexibility, many families were searching for something more—a place where children could learn alongside friends, where parents could find support and encouragement, and where education could be both academically meaningful and deeply connected to community.

What began as a small homeschool co-op (Who remembers "Off We Go!"?) grew into something bigger than I could have ever imagined.

In 2017, ACES Academy was founded with my vision of creating a personalized learning environment where children could be known, valued, and learn while families remained at the center of their educational journey.

From the very beginning, ACES' mission has been rooted in one simple belief:
💛 Relationships matter

And it looks like this:
🌱 Children learning best when they feel safe and connected.
🤝 Families feeling supported and encouraged.
📚 Education inspiring curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.

Today, ACES serves families across two campuses (could a third be in our future???) and through a growing network of community programs, events, support services, and resources. Yet at its heart, the vision remains the same as it was all those years ago:

To build a community where families feel supported, children feel like they belong, and learning is both intentional and joyful.

Whether you've been part of our community for years or are just beginning to explore homeschooling, thank you for being part of the journey.

We truly believe that when families learn together, support one another, and invest in community—✨ Together We Learn Better. ✨

Next Week!

🌳☀️ PARK DAY ON MONDAY, JUNE 22ND! ☀️🌳

Looking for a fun way to connect with other homeschooling families this summer?
Join us tomorrow morning in Batavia from 10:00–11:00 AM for one of our ACES Summer Park Adventures! Children will have the opportunity to play, explore, and make new friends while parents connect with other local families in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

Whether you're already homeschooling or just exploring your options, we'd love to see you there!
📍 Batavia
⏰ 10:00–11:00 AM
Additional details can be found in the registration.

👉 Learn more and RSVP: www.togetherwelearnbetter.com/events/
Bring a water bottle, sunscreen, and your sense of adventure—we'll see you at the park! 🌞🛝

💛 Maslow Before Bloom #2: Learning Happens in Relationship

When you think back to your favorite teacher, chances are you don't first remember a worksheet, a textbook, or a lesson.

You remember how they made you feel.

You felt seen.
You felt encouraged.
You felt like you mattered.
That's because learning is deeply relational.

At ACES Academy, we believe that meaningful learning happens when children are connected—to trusted adults, to their peers, and to a community where they feel known and valued.

Before students are willing to ask questions, share ideas, take academic risks, or persevere through challenges, they need to feel safe in the relationships around them.

Research consistently shows that students learn best when they have strong connections with their teachers and peers. Relationships build trust. Trust builds confidence. Confidence creates the conditions for learning to flourish.
That's one reason our intentionally small class sizes matter so much.

✨ Teachers know their students well.
✨ Students develop genuine friendships across age groups.
✨ Families become part of a supportive community.
✨ Learning becomes collaborative rather than competitive.

Community is not simply an "extra" benefit of education—it is one of the foundations that makes learning possible.

In a world that often feels increasingly disconnected, we believe children thrive when they experience belonging, connection, and meaningful relationships.

Because before children can fully engage with academics, they need to know they are part of something bigger than themselves.

Stories in the Park will take place on Monday, June 22 from 10:00 - 10:30 am at the Civic Center Park for ages 0-11. Meet us at the park for a stories and fun. No registration is needed.

We loved meeting so many wonderful families last week and sharing what makes ACES Academy such a unique and supportive learning community.

From exploring our classrooms and learning spaces to discussing educational goals, personalized learning, and homeschool support, it was a joy to connect with families who are thoughtfully considering their options for the upcoming school year.

If you missed us don't worry—there's still time to learn more about ACES Academy.

📚 Fall registration remains open through July 31st, and enrollment is filling quickly.
⏳ At this time, we are at approximately 94% capacity across all age bands at both campuses.

Our intentionally small class sizes allow us to build meaningful relationships, create personalized learning experiences, and foster the strong sense of community that ACES families value.

Want to connect?
We'd love to meet you! Schedule a private tour to:
✨ Visit the campus
✨ Meet members of our team
✨ Learn about our programs
✨ Ask questions about homeschooling and educational options
✨ Discover if ACES is what you're looking for

Don't wait until the final weeks of registration—many program days are already at or nearing capacity.

Call/text us at either campus (numbers in the graphic) or visit us our website and click the red "Let's Get Started!" button!

🇺🇸 Freedom Includes the Freedom to Learn Differently 🇺🇸

This Flag Day, we're reflecting on one of the many freedoms that makes our country unique: the ability for families to choose an educational path that aligns with their values, goals, and their child's individual needs.

In the western suburbs of Chicago, families are fortunate to have access to a wide variety of educational opportunities. From traditional schools to homeschooling, microschools, hybrid programs, enrichment communities, co-ops, online learning, and personalized academy experiences, there are more options than ever before.

At the ACES Education Family Foundation, we believe that parent choice in how to educate a child is a freedom to celebrate.

Every child learns differently.
Every family has different priorities.
Every educational journey is unique.

The beauty of educational choice is that it allows families to thoughtfully curate a boutique learning experience—one that reflects their child's strengths, interests, learning style, and developmental needs.

For some families, that may look like full-time homeschooling. For others, it may mean combining homeschooling with enrichment classes, academy days, community programs, outdoor learning opportunities, or specialized support.

We are grateful to live in a community where families have the freedom to ask:
✨ What helps my child thrive?
✨ What kind of learning environment fits our family best?
✨ How can we create an education that is both meaningful and personal?

Today, as we celebrate Flag Day, we also celebrate the freedom to learn, explore, grow, and choose a path that supports the unique potential of every child.

Happy Flag Day from all of us at the ACES Education Family Foundation! 🇺🇸

🎉 Tomorrow is Open House Day at ACES Academy! 🎉

Are you exploring homeschool options for the upcoming school year? We'd love to meet you!

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, June 13th, for an opportunity to tour our learning spaces, meet members of our team, learn about our programs, and discover how ACES Academy supports homeschooling families through personalized learning, community, and meaningful educational experiences.

📍 Kendall Campus
🕘 9:00–10:00 AM
📍 DuPage Campus
🕚 11:00 AM–12:00 PM

Whether you're looking for academic enrichment, a flexible academy program, early childhood options, or simply want to learn more about homeschooling, this is a great opportunity to ask questions and explore what might be the right fit for your family.
✨ Meet our team
✨ Learn about our programs
✨ Tour the campus
✨ Get your questions answered

Can't make it tomorrow? Private tours are available throughout the summer!
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing what makes ACES Academy such a special learning community.

👉 Learn more and register:
www.togetherwelearnbetter.com/events/