Kairos Students and Staff Recognized for Hands-On Learning in Sustainability
- Stuart Murray
- Jan 23
- 3 min read
Mrs. Emi Belciak and her Green Machine club students were recently recognized for their hands-on learning experiences by the Green St. Louis Machine Gazette:
Kairos Academies is a free, personalized learning public charter school where students are empowered to shape their own futures through hands-on, real-world learning. This vision aligns powerfully with Green St. Louis Machine. Together, we inspire students to lead, grow, and solve meaningful challenges—connecting sustainability, food, and community to education. Through this partnership, learning moves beyond the classroom, nurturing agency, purpose, and a healthier, more resilient future for our city.
During the first semester, students jumped right into hands-on sustainability work by launching their own compost program. They collected everything from cardboard and coffee grounds to tea bags and vegetable scraps—learning how small daily habits can have a big impact.
They also celebrated their first harvest of cilantro and lettuce, which they turned into a homemade tomato soup. Even better, the tomatoes in the sauce came from crops grown by Kairos students the previous school year—making it a full-circle moment from garden to table.
About Mrs. Emi
If you’ve ever seen students buzzing about sustainability projects, cooking with fresh produce, or talking excitedly about science, chances are Emi Belciak is involved.
Emi serves as Kairos’ Science Department Chair and brings a deep passion for hands-on, real-world learning into everything she does. She’s currently a Ph.D. candidate in education at UMSL, and she believes school should be a place where students feel empowered to ask big questions, take action, and see themselves as capable of creating change.
In addition to teaching full-time, Emi is a sustainability leader in the St. Louis community. She’s a published author on science education, sustainability, and equity, regularly presents with Green St. Louis Machine, and was even a featured guest on their first podcast.
At Kairos, Emi leads the Green St. Louis Machine Club, which meets weekly after school on Fridays, and supports our cooking club, which meets every other Wednesday during the school day. Both clubs use produce from our Tower Gardens—giving students a chance to grow, cook, and learn all in one place.
Student Spotlights
Jay, Kairos Senior
Jay is a member of Kairos’ first-ever graduating senior class and a founding member of Green Machine, which he’s been part of since middle school. He’s curious by nature and loves learning how things are made and where they come from—especially when it comes to history and culture.
Through Green Machine, he especially values the hands-on experience of growing their own ingredients and learning practical skills that connect to the real world. As Jay puts it, Green Machine students take the time to learn about the earth and how to do things for themselves—skills that aren’t always taught in a traditional classroom.
Nailah, Kairos Senior
Nailah is a senior in Kairos’ first-ever graduating class and is known for her creativity, sharp wit, and great sense of humor. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies, and experimenting in the kitchen.
Her favorite subjects are History and ELA, and she joined Green Machine this year after hearing about it from friends over the years. Nailah says she loves growing things (but is deathly afraid of leeches). As she heads into postsecondary education, she plans to stay connected to Green Machine by coming back to encourage future students.
Fun fact from Nailah: her favorite vegetable is bok choy—and she insists everyone should eat more of it. (Good news: it grows really well in Tower Gardens!)
Naomi, Kairos Sophomore
Naomi is a 10th grader and first-year member of Green Machine who loves mountain biking and singing. Her favorite part of the program is “the community and friendships that grow,” and she encourages other students to take advantage of opportunities when they come—even if they feel unsure at first.
Naomi sees life as a series of cycles and believes in making the most of each day, even when things get hard. Recently, she helped make a from-scratch potato-leek soup in Green Machine using rosemary and thyme grown and dried by students last semester—a perfect example of what the club is all about: growing food together, sharing it together, and building community along the way.
About Kairos Academies: Kairos is a free public charter school focused on student ownership, strong relationships, and real-world learning. With personalized support through one-on-one mentoring, Kairos prepares students to find their voice and shape their future–from middle school, to college, and beyond. Families can apply now for grades 5-12.