Elysium School

Ms. Kristyn representing Elysium School at the Fresh Take Conference today! We are so fortunate that our students are surrounded by some of the most loving and dedicated individuals on the planet.

Hands-on learning comes alive here at Elysium through thrilling science experiments, where students explore, create, and discover far beyond the desk. 🔬✨

Check out the video to see these amazing concepts in action during our classroom experiments on thermal energy!

In one experiment, students watched in awe as hot and cold water behaved in completely different ways. The faster-moving hot water molecules spread out and became less dense, floating on top of the colder, tightly packed water without mixing, turning an abstract concept into something they could actually see.

In another experiment, students witnessed the surprising power of heat on a balloon. A balloon filled with only air popped instantly over a flame, while a balloon with a small amount of water stayed intact because the water absorbed and redistributed the heat. Science has never been this exciting.

These are more than demonstrations. They are moments of discovery where students actively connect science concepts to the real world in ways that stick!

At Elysium, learning is never just sitting at a desk. Our students are curious, engaged, and hands-on every step of the way.

Ms. Andie Hixon Snyder and Ms. Tory Thompson went to IXL Live for administrators. They dove into edtech that has the power to truly accelerate student achievement.

What stood out most? The ability to meet students where they are and then push them beyond what traditional models allow.

We are excited to take what was learned and continue advancing engagement, personalization, and growth for students.

The future of education isn’t coming… it’s already here.

Elysium students designed an incredible boat and won a field trip to the U.S. National Whitewater Center! 🚣‍♀️

Going down memory lane today, I can’t believe all they have accomplished. From brainstorming ideas to building, testing, and refining their designs, this group showed creativity, perseverance, and teamwork every step of the way.

Moments like these remind me why hands-on learning matters.

So proud of these innovators. 💙

✈️ Taking Learning to New Heights!

Our students at Elysium School of Innovation spent the day exploring the incredible Sullenberger Aviation Museum, and it was an unforgettable experience!

The museum is named after Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot known for the US Airways Flight 1549 Hudson River Landing—a story that reminds us how knowledge, preparation, and calm leadership can change the course of history.

At Elysium, we believe some of the best learning happens beyond the classroom. Experiences like this allow students to see how science, engineering, and innovation come together in the real world.

Who knows… maybe one of these students will design the next generation of aircraft someday! ✈️

Students built Rube Goldberg inventions during Innovation Lab today. Creative, chaotic, and incredibly fun! 🤩

Still One of Our Proudest Moments — All Them. All Their Ideas. All Their Hard Work ♻️🏙️

Even though the Future City Competition is over, we are still completely blown away by what our Elysium middle school students accomplished. They did it all on their own. Every sketch, every solution came from their creativity, teamwork, and dedication. They built a sustainable, zero waste city entirely from repurposed materials, bringing their vision to life.

This year’s Future City theme was Farm to Table: design a city that eliminates food waste and keeps citizens healthy and safe. Our students presented their city to judges, explaining the thought behind every innovative detail.

Some highlights of their brilliant solutions:
• Using biofuel to eliminate food waste and power the city
• Turning animal waste into fertilizer for healthier crops
• Implementing composting and zero waste systems to keep the city sustainable
• And so many more!

This video captures just a glimpse of their imagination, hard work, problem-solving, and passion that earned them 5th place out of 45 top middle school teams!!

We are still so proud of what they accomplished and can’t wait to see what they do next! 💚

What happens when science meets creativity? Something amazing! 🔬✨

Students built atom models using Life Savers, marshmallows, gumdrops, yarn, and toothpicks. By physically constructing protons, neutrons, and electrons, they turned an abstract concept into something they could see and hold, truly visualizing how atoms are put together!

Building on their atom models, students took their learning a step further by researching an element from the periodic table and turning it into a superhero inspired by its real-life properties. From powerful metals to reactive gases, their creativity brought science to life in remarkable ways.

The creativity, effort, and excitement on display were amazing to witness. We are so proud of our young scientists! 🚀

Our students have been reading Esperanza Rising and exploring Esperanza’s journey of resilience, courage, and hope 📚✨

Through lively class discussions, creative projects, and hands-on activities, students have brought the story to life! They even crafted yarn dolls to explore the symbolism in the novel and imagine how families found comfort, joy, and creativity during challenging times. These projects have sparked rich conversations about empathy, perseverance, and the power of community.

Now, we’re thrilled for our students to see the story they’ve been living in the classroom come to life on stage at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte 🎭 It’s sure to be an unforgettable experience!