MARS Weekly Dispatch — Issue #12
Weekly Dispatch
MARS Weekly Dispatch
Issue #12
Week of May 04, 2026
// This Week's Sections
01
Enrollment Has Begun + Rocket Drones Competition
Application season is heating up — grab your seat soon! Plus: Rocket Drones National Student Drone Competition
02
Course Updates
Units 1 and 2, STEMQuest — and coming later this year: Sentence Diagramming
03
Conferences
The 6th Neurodiverse Homeschooling Summit · Learn Beyond the Book Summit
04
Stay in the Know
Be sure to follow MARS Microschool on all their social media platforms for the latest updates
05
Articles Worth a Read
Recent articles and news for microschools and families
06
MARS Endorsed
Curriculum tools, programs, and learning experiences we stand behind — carefully vetted for academic rigor, real-world relevance, and meaningful student outcomes
MARS Microschool – Enrollment
MARS Microschool
Enrollment Open Now

Enrollment Season

has begun  🚀
📚 Step One Choose Your Classes
🎓 Eligible Learners Calhoun Dual Enrollment
Important Start Early & Save
🔔
Enroll Early — curriculum & materials are ordered based on enrolled students. Late additions may cost extra.
marsmicroschool.ai
Apply Now
MARS — Rocket Drones Competition Recap
MARS Trailblazers · Competition Recap
🏆 National Event
Rocket Drones
National Competition
Venue U.S. Space & Rocket Ctr
Event National Student Drone
Placers 3 Trailblazers
Trailblazers Take Flight

Our students spent the day at the Rocket Drones National Student Drone Competition at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, flying, learning, and competing alongside students from schools across the country. It was fast-paced, challenging, and exciting — and our kids showed up ready to learn and support one another.

🏆 Congratulations
We want to offer a huge congratulations to our three Trailblazers who placed in the competition. Their wins were well earned and a reflection of the work they have put in throughout the year.

We are also incredibly proud of all of our students who participated. Competing at a national event like this takes courage. Our Trailblazers stepped into a big moment, problem-solved through challenges, learned from other pilots, and represented MARS with confidence and heart.

🙏 With Gratitude
We are grateful to Rocket Drones and the team at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center for creating such a meaningful opportunity for students. We also wanted to thank Stephen Pyle for taking all of these incredible photographs, and to our families for supporting our students and helping make experiences like this happen.

It was a great day for MARS, and we are so proud of every Trailblazer who took part. 🚀

3 Top Placers
🚀 National Stage
100% Trailblazer Heart
Watch the Highlights
Rocket Drones National Competition Highlights
Watch on YouTube
MARS Dispatch — Course Updates | Issue #9
Course Updates · Issue #9 · Week of April 12, 2026
New Courses Available
Course Updates
Units
2 Active
Grades
6–12
Status
Enroll Now

Units 1 and 2 form a creative journey from imagination to expression — exploring how technology can expand creativity without replacing human imagination. Click either unit below to enroll.

Together these units guide students through a full creative cycle — designing, writing, and refining ideas — while strengthening storytelling skills, multimodal thinking, and confidence.

2
Units Available Now
6–12
Grades Served
100%
AI-Powered Creative
// Ready to Enroll?
Both units are available now. Start with AI Art, storytelling, or take both — each builds on the last.
Get Started ↗
Creative Learning Starts Here
Build. Create. Lead.
AI Art & Storytelling — available now for grades 6–12
Enroll Today ↗
MARS Diagramming Lab — Newsletter Section
// MARS Microschool  ·  New Program Preview  ·  Coming Soon
// New Learning Experience
MARS Diagramming Lab — Coming Soon
🚀 Coming Soon 🚀
Status
Beta
Program Type
Interactive
Focus
Grammar & ELA
Sentence Diagramming Lab
Early Look — In Development

We're excited to share an early look at Sentence Diagramming Lab, a new learning experience currently in development. This program is designed to help learners truly understand how sentences work by combining clear instruction with engaging, interactive challenges.

📐
Structured Progression — Learners begin by identifying simple subjects and predicates, then gradually move into more complex sentence structures as they progress.
🧠
Intentional Level Design — Each level builds purposefully on the last, strengthening grammatical reasoning while keeping the experience playful and motivating.
XP & Gamification — Through XP, levels, and increasingly rich sentence puzzles, learners stay engaged as complexity grows.
// Mission
Sentence Diagramming Lab is built to support deep learning while remaining accessible and fun — proof that grammar mastery and genuine engagement aren't opposites.
XP
Reward System
β
Beta Phase
Sentence Puzzles
🔬
// Currently in Beta
Our team is actively refining pacing, gameplay, and instructional flow. We look forward to sharing previews and early-access opportunities soon — and we're grateful to our community for helping shape what's ahead.

StemQuest — Add-On Subscription, $10 per month

Add-On Subscription
SQ
StemQuest
Your weekly mission hub for curious minds
Starting at
$ 10 / MO
🗓
Weekly Tasks
Fresh challenges and missions dropped every week to keep learning active and exciting
📋
Worksheets & Resources
Printable and digital worksheets aligned to each unit — ready to use, no prep needed
🎮
Minecraft Education
Full access to Minecraft Education Edition — build, explore, and learn in immersive worlds
👥
Your Own Community
Share your work, connect with other learners, and get inspired in a safe, moderated space
Cancel anytime·No commitment required
Conferences — MARS Microschool

Where MARS Shows Up

FREE VIRTUAL · MAY 6–21
The 6th Neurodiverse Homeschooling Summit
mlccoaching.com/summit-registration
Jennifer Wolverton — How to Use Technology in Homeschooling

Jennifer Wolverton presents How to Use Technology in Homeschooling at this landmark free virtual event celebrating neurodivergent learners and the educators who champion innovative approaches.

Register Free →
IN-PERSON · JUNE 9–10, 2026
Learn Beyond the Book Summit
Newhall, California · Rooted in Connection

A two-day, in-person gathering for homeschooling families, hybrid school families, and educational entrepreneurs seeking more connection, clarity, and practical support. This year's theme — Rooted in Connection — focuses on building strong relationships, learning together, and moving beyond one-size-fits-all education.

// jennifer's session focus

How artificial intelligence is reshaping education, why ethics must be taught alongside emerging technologies, and how microschools and hybrid models can better prepare students for real-world careers and workforce readiness.

// next deployment California · June 9–10 — Learn Beyond the Book Summit, Newhall
MARS Dispatch — Stay Connected
MARS News & Stories
Latest from the Field
MARS News & Stories
// Articles
5 New Posts
// Authors
Tanya & Jennifer
// Platform
Substack

Fresh writing from inside MARS — real students, real days, real vision. Read what school looks like when you actually trust learners.

Tanya Waller May 4, 2026 Substack
The Uncomfortable Elephant in the Room
The Cost of Your Child's Education
No one wants to talk about money in education — but Tanya does. MARS is a private microschool, not a co-op, and that distinction matters. Quality, mission, and outcomes come with a price tag, and it's time to have that conversation openly.
Tanya Waller May 1, 2026 Substack
University‑Model Microschool?
Why MARS chooses to trust students sooner and how it's changing the way they learn
MARS isn't asking kids to pretend to be in college — it's giving them the same level of ownership, self-direction, and trust that college students earn. Tanya breaks down what "university-model" actually means in practice.
Tanya Waller Apr 23, 2026 Substack
The Last Pages of a Really Good Book
When a school year ends, but the story stays with you
Tanya walked into the classroom on the last day and felt it differently — not sad, just full. Another chapter of the MARS story closing. A reflection on what it means when something actually matters enough to feel like a loss when it ends.
Tanya Waller Apr 18, 2026 Substack
What MARS Feels Like from the Inside
A student's perspective on community, confidence, and finding your place in tech
Tanya asked one of her students — a natural leader and the heart of the class — to write about MARS not as a program, but as a place she carries with her long after the one day each week ends. What she wrote is honest and deeply powerful.
Jennifer Wolverton Apr 26, 2026 Substack
We're Not Waiting for Permission to Reinvent School. We're Looking for a Partner.
A letter to MacKenzie Scott's Yield Giving — and to anyone who believes in what MARS is building
Jennifer wrote directly to MacKenzie Scott's philanthropic initiative. MARS isn't asking for validation — it's already proving the model. This is a letter about what's possible when someone with resources meets a mission already in motion.
MARS Weekly Dispatch — Endorsed Curriculum
Endorsed Curriculum  ·  MARS Microschool Recommends
Educator Approved
Math That Actually Works
// Format
Self-Paced Online
// Support
Live Teachers Included
// Access
Free Trial Available

At MARS Microschool, we vet every tool we recommend. Unlock Math earned our endorsement because it delivers something rare: a structured, rigorous math curriculum that works on a student's schedule — without sacrificing the human support that makes all the difference.

Unlock Math — Flexibility of Self-Paced. Support of Live Teachers. Free Trial.
// Endorsed Partner · Unlock Math Start Free Trial
Flexibility of Self-Paced Learning
Students move at their own speed — no waiting, no rushing. Perfect for microschool environments where schedules are non-traditional and learner ownership matters.
Support of Live Teachers
Real math teachers are available to answer questions and explain concepts — giving students the accountability and connection that online learning often lacks.
Comprehensive K–12 Coverage
From foundational arithmetic through pre-calculus, Unlock Math covers the full spectrum — so families can use it across multiple students and grade levels.
// Why MARS Endorses This
We believe math fluency is the foundation of every STEM discipline our Trailblazers will pursue. Unlock Math combines the independence our students are trained for with the expert guidance they deserve. It's one of the few platforms that actually honors both.
K–12
Full Curriculum
Coverage
FREE
Trial Access
No Credit Card
LIVE
Teacher Support
Included
MARS Weekly Dispatch — Endorsed Curriculum: ChemExplained
Endorsed Curriculum  ·  MARS Microschool Recommends
Educator Approved
Chemistry Taught, Explained & Understood
// Format
Video-Based Instruction
// Level
College-Prep High School
// Credit
240+ Colleges Accept

ChemExplained is a college-prep high school chemistry program designed to make complex concepts clear and approachable. Students learn directly from an experienced chemistry teacher through video-based instruction, guided notes, and flexible lab options — working independently at an appropriate level of rigor.

ChemExplained — A hidden gem in homeschool curriculum. Where chemistry is taught, explained AND understood.
// Endorsed Partner · ChemExplained Learn More
Video-Based Instruction with Guided Notes
Students learn directly from an experienced chemistry teacher on video — not a textbook alone. Guided notes reinforce each lesson and keep learners on track without hand-holding.
Flexible Lab Options
Labs are designed for real-world flexibility — no elaborate school setup required. A strong fit for home educators who want genuine science rigor without institutional constraints.
Transferable College Credit
The full ChemExplained course earns transferable credit at over 240 Christian colleges and universities — letting students start their degrees affordably before graduation.
// Why MARS Endorses This
ChemExplained delivers the kind of concept-driven, rigorous instruction our Trailblazers are built for. It pairs the independence our students are trained to embrace with the depth that science education demands — and it opens real college credit pathways that give learners a head start.
240+
Colleges Accept
Transferable Credit
DUAL
Credit Opportunity
While in High School
VIDEO
Expert Teacher
Led Instruction
MARS Microschool

// Ready to get started?

Ready to Bring MARS to Your Learners?

See how MARS can support your child's creativity, problem-solving, and future-ready skills — in just a short, focused session with our team. Want to learn more? Schedule a Discovery Call today.

Schedule a Call ↗

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MARS Microschool — Future-ready learning for curious learners.
We believe every child deserves a place to explore boldly, think creatively, and grow with confidence.


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INNOVATE · CREATE · PIONEER

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