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Monday 6:30am - 5:30pm Tuesday 6:30am - 5:30pm Wednesday 6:30am - 5:30pm Thursday 6:30am - 5:30pm Friday 6:30am - 5:30pm

Elite Scholars STEAM Academy

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Swansea, IL
Elite Scholars STEAM Academy

Elite Scholars STEAM Academy is a multimedia, active learning environment for grades PreK-6. We operate by the Chinese proverb: I hear and I forget.

Elite Scholars STEAM Academy’s face book page is designed to inform our audience on the products and services of our elite school. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. We believe in a curriculum enriched classroom environment that reflects children’s special abilities and interests by giving children the tools to construct their own knowledge and foster their natural curiosity to learn and excel.

04/02/2026

Although it was April Fool’s Day yesterday, our after school field trip to Urban Air was no joke! But that doesn’t mean the Bees didn’t have fun. Nope! They had a blast jumping on the trampolines, swimming their way through the foam pit, and navigating the ninja course. And the younger Bees were ecstatic to be surprised by the presence of their older friends K and A, who were back for a visit after moving overseas in January!

As a parting treat, the Bees enjoyed Icees—and LOTS of hugs with their friends!

03/14/2026

Tonight we invited ESSA families to school for our annual STEAM Night, and this year we focused on the MANY contributions of a single individual: Leonardo da Vinci.

That’s right! We headed back to the Renaissance to learn about da Vinci’s super-cool discoveries, theories, experiments, and art. We set up four stations for the families to enjoy, each with a different focus.

Da Vinci was fascinated by the natural world, and by trying to figure out the unique properties of everything around him. For Science, the Bees and their families put their critical thinking skills to the test by trying to figure out which metal would melt chocolate the fastest—and why! 🍫Then they tried to figure out the secret behind a fun disappearing water “magic” trick. 💦

Next was a stop to learn about da Vinci’s designs for ahead-of-their-time machines! The Bees each got to choose a da Vinci model to put together (and take home!) of one of his creations—the rolling drum, clock, a paddle boat, and his famous flying machine!

Engineering was next, where the families learned about the da Vinci bridge, which uses no nails or screws to hold it together. They first tested out what they learned using popsicle sticks—then they headed outside to make a version out of 2 x 4s!

But what’s a da Vinci night without art?? So, yes, the Bees got to make their very own tempera paints using egg yolks and pigments like coffee, paprika, sand, and chalk powder—just as da Vinci had hundreds of years ago! Then they chose two wooden projects to paint and take home.

It was such a great night to visit with friends, try lots of new things, and come together to appreciate one of the most brilliant minds in history. Here’s to you, Leonardo!!

03/04/2026

What a great day for a field trip! Although it was rainy outside, there was PLENTY to keep the Bees busy indoors at The Magic House. In addition to their permanent exhibits and play areas, we also explored some new areas—and to say they were a hit is an understatement!

First, we had a picnic lunch to get some energy for our visit to the Thomas the Tank Engine exhibit! The Bees enjoyed using the model trains, trying on conductor gear, loading the train with luggage and dry goods, and manning the ticket counter. And guess what? We came across a whole crate of honeybees being shipped in the train! Our Bees were pretty excited about that cargo. 🐝🐝

After spending some time playing with the super cool and super-sized musical instruments, it was time to head to Africa, where we learned what life is like for kids living in Kenya! This was a great, thorough, and educational exhibit! The Bees learned about Kenyan homes, transportation, the monetary system, markets, schools—and what a significant role elephants play in peoples’ lives.

Later in the afternoon, the Bees learned about some historical heroes, sat in on story time, used teamwork at the construction site, and had a lot of fun using their big imaginations in the children’s village.

Although it was too wet to explore the outdoor exhibits, there was plenty inside to keep our Bees buzzing! Thanks for the fun day, The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum!

02/28/2026

Last night, in honor of Black History Month, ESSA held a special showcase to celebrate the life of Dr. Gladys West, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 95.

Dr. West grew up as the daughter of humble Virginia farmers, but her brilliant mind was destined for more. She became a renowned mathematician, and it was HER exceptional work for the US Navy that made global positioning possible. Yes! The very GPS system we use to travel to new destinations, that submarines and ships use to navigate to the correct coordinates, and that pilots use to ensure we get safely to the next airport.

Dr. West’s contributions to science were immeasurable, made even more impressive by the challenges and inequity she endured as a woman of color. But endure she did—with grace—always acutely aware that she was not simply one black woman living her own lifetime. Instead, Dr. West was among the first in her field, and she was paving the way for other women and people of all colors in the generations to come.

ESSA is proud to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. West this month; we hope you find her as remarkable as the Bees and their families have!

12/26/2025

Hopefully everyone is having a joyous and healthy holiday!

We wanted to give everyone an extra dose of Christmas cheer by sharing a few pictures from ESSA’s week of festivities during our final week of school.

At school, students participated in our annual tradition of selecting and wrapping gifts for their loved ones. But this year, a tasty addition: They also created homemade chocolates to accompany each gift. The Bees did such a wonderful job choosing and making these special presents for their families and friends! 🎁

To close out the semester and usher in Winter Break, the students, staff, and their families and friends gathered at the cozy Good Ground Coffeehouse for our annual Winter Program. The Bees performed a selection of holiday carols, ballet routines, and enjoyed their close friendships. The audience was also able to bid on a variety of festive auction baskets—and of course enjoy coffees and treats from Good Ground!

Thank you to everyone who helped to make the last week of school so special! A belated Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year wishes to all!

12/11/2025

Whew! The holiday season is such a busy time of year. And that’s certainly true for our Bees as well!

Almost the entire school day yesterday was spent out and about in the community.

Our first stop was a visit with our friends Keystone Place at Richland Creek. For the past several years, we’ve visited the lovely residents there as part of our Holiday Caroling Tour; it’s always a joy seeing their familiar faces!! The Bees first sang several carols for the residents, and then they helped their senior friends make a variety of holiday ornament crafts. As always, these ornaments were gifted to the residents as festive keepsakes for their rooms. And in return, the residents and staff surprised the Bees with thoughtful thank you bags containing chocolates and other fun goodies…they were much appreciated, but absolutely unnecessary. Being welcomed so warmly was thanks enough! 💝

Soon it was off to Stop #2 on our Caroling Tour—and to a sister facility, Keystone Place at Magnolia Commons. This year, there are family ties to this location, and it was a pleasure adding them to our schedule! Once again, the Bees sang several carols; this time, our oldest students (and twin sisters) also performed a duet: “Sisters” from the movie White Christmas. After songs, it was time for more crafts! This time, the students and residents worked to create gingerbread house decorations and cards. And after all the gumdrops were placed with care, it was time to enjoy a complimentary meal with some Keystone staff and residents. Yum!! 🍔

Once again, we truly appreciated the kindness, warmth, and generosity of our Keystone friends. These facilities are both beautiful and full of wonderful residents and staff. 💝💝

After lunch, it was time for our next destination: Bricks And Minifigs in Glen Carbon. Staff member (and former teacher) Madrigal taught all the Bees a really neat geometry lesson involving pentominoes. They learned about (and illustrated) math concepts like area, perimeter, and parallel lines with LEGOs. So cool! Afterwards, they were each able to create their own minifigs, which they were able to take home along with all their lesson materials. Yes, the Bees WERE excited! Who doesn’t love LEGOs?!

We had such a great day out in our community! It was a day full of holiday cheer, countless smiles of gratitude and joy, and new ways to think about the world around us. Thank you to everyone who helped to make it possible!!

11/21/2025

‘Tis the season for giving from the heart…and today was no exception for our Bees!

Teacher Lamar Hart wore a shirt today that perfectly embodied what this November field trip was all about: “Good deeds are done with intention, not for attention.” With that saying in mind, we loaded up and headed to the Community Interfaith Food Pantry in downtown Belleville.

We happily gave the workers there the food and other items from ESSA’s food drive; in return, we got a behind-the-scenes tour of the pantry’s inner workings! We also learned a lot more about the wonderful work the Pantry does in the community—not the least of which is the sobering statistic that the volunteers help an (increasing) average of 750 families each month.

750 families.

Each month.

Solid proof of two truths: One, that so many families are truly struggling. And two, that every single can of food or dollar donated makes a huge difference.

Finally, it was time to show them some Bee power and get to work. Our task? Dividing large bags of cat food into gallon-size bags for future distribution. The kids loved all aspects of this job!! First, scooping up cups of cat food was fun in and of itself. But combine that with putting sticker labels on the bags AND the joy of making cat noises while working?? Utter bliss!! 🐈🐈‍⬛

After we bid our heartfelt thanks to our new friends at the Pantry, it was time to let off some steam at a local playground before heading back to school for lunch.

The Bees may not have fully grasped the importance of today’s field trip. But they did see people caring and working to support their community, their neighbors. They saw hard work and dedication, good will and handshakes of thanks. All beautiful things to witness in this world of ours. 🌎

10/31/2025

What a fantastic Fall field trip today! We headed down to the historic section of Columbia, IL to enjoy one of that city’s autumn traditions: their Scarecrow Crawl.

But before scarecrows? Playground time, lunch, and *plenty* of leaf collecting. 🍁🍂🍃 The bright sunshine—after days of clouds and drizzle—felt pretty darn great! 🌞

Then it was time to buddy up and walk down Main Street to see the scarecrows! Dozens had been created by local businesses, schools, residents, churches, and other participants. There were such creative entries! We saw everything from an intricate German shepard to a box of crayons to a chef with a food bank in his belly! The kids “voted” for their favorites by having their pictures taken with scarecrows they really enjoyed. You can see some of the favorites! But the one we saw last captured ESSA’s heart—it was bee themed! Perfect for our ESSA Bees to see and enjoy! 🐝🐝🐝

On our way back to school, we also stopped by a really wonderful farm/market to pick out some pumpkins and take a peek at their other produce. 🎃🍐🍊🍋🥔🥬🫑

All in all, what a fantastic day! 💝

10/09/2025

What a perfect day for a Fall field trip! With blue skies overhead and adventure in our veins, we headed West, where we thoroughly enjoyed exploring two gems of St. Louis: the World Bird Sanctuary and Lone Elk Park.

At the WBS, the Bees learned so much about the many different species of birds, all of which arrived there after injury, illness, or imprinting; none can survive in the wild. But the WBS hospital staff is working to treat and rehabilitate the many other birds in their care; with luck, those birds will once again fly free.

After some play time and a picnic lunch, our group (which included a grandmother chaperone), headed just down the road to Lone Elk Park. We did manage to spot a bull elk’s antlers in the tall grass, and we came across a few female elk hidden among the trees later. Some lucky Bees also spotted white-tailed deer. But the real highlight was finding ourselves in the middle of the bison herd!

This was such a terrific field trip experience for the group today, and it was wonderful to see the kids’ appreciation for the natural world around them. From the acorns on the ground, to the spiders crawling along a bench, to all the beautiful animals we encountered today, the Bees loved them all. 💝

09/18/2025

Today the Bees went to the dogs…literally! We hopped in the trusty ESSA van and headed downtown to St. Louis Union Station. Then it was time to meet and watch some new friends perform.

The friends? The dog athletes and their trainers from the Purina Farms Incredible Dog Team. Because of tornado damage at Purina Farms, the Team has been performing daily at Union Station instead.

We watched 6 dogs run, jump, navigate obstacles and tunnels, catch Frisbees, and skateboard! We also learned about how the trainers begin teaching the dogs tricks as well.

After the dogs performed, it was time for some meet and greets with the animal stars! This was a definite highlight for the Bees!

The Purina trainers even surprised us with vouchers for a free carousel ride and a free T-shirt for each Bee!

After the show, the students ate lunch, rode the carousel, frolicked on the Union Station playground, and fed the koi! One of the grandma chaperones purchased fish food so the Bees could feed the fish, which were certainly enthusiastic about being fed!

It was another great ESSA adventure for students, staff, and our 5 chaperones! 🐾🐾

Address

1 Emerald Terrace
Swansea, IL
62226

Opening Hours

Monday	6:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	6:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	6:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday	6:30am - 5:30pm
Friday	6:30am - 5:30pm

Website

http://www.ess.academy/

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