Norris News
June 2026
What's Happening at Norris?
As we wrap up an incredible 2025–2026 school year, we have so much to celebrate! This year concluded with many memorable milestones, including the graduation of five outstanding seniors. Even more exciting, four of those graduates earned their diplomas through our virtual charter school, Norris Academy Virtual School (NAVS), while participating in our LearnMKE learning hubs. This achievement marks a monumental moment for our learners, families, and staff. Congratulations to our graduates—we wish each of you a future filled with success, purpose, and happiness.
We also celebrated the end of the trimester with two favorite traditions: our Showcase of Learning and Field Day. During the Showcase of Learning, learners shared evidence of their growth and accomplishments from throughout the trimester. The event provided opportunities for learners to display projects, facilitate small-group presentations, and demonstrate their learning in meaningful ways.
Field Day was the perfect way to close out the school year before summer intersession began. From spending time with the goats to racing down the hill on the slip-and-slide, learners enjoyed a day filled with fun, laughter, and community. One of the biggest highlights came when staff member Ashley surprised everyone with a visit from the Kona Ice: Shaved Ice Food Truck. Learners and staff alike were thrilled to cool off with a sweet treat on a hot day. Thank you, Ashley, for your generosity and thoughtfulness!
As we move into summer, we are excited to continue fostering exploratory learning through engaging team pursuits and hands-on experiences. Beloved favorites such as the Castle Building Pursuit and Soapbox Derby will return, along with new opportunities for learners to discover, create, and collaborate.
Thank you for being part of another amazing year. We wish everyone a safe, fun, and adventure-filled summer, and we look forward to sharing more in our July edition of the Norris News!
Graduation: Class of 2026
Kona Ice: Shaved Ice Food Truck
T3 Learner Showcase
📚ELA
As I reflect on the past school year, I am amazed by the progress many of our learners have made in ELA. Their reading comprehension and writing skills have skyrocketed, thanks to their hard work, dedication, and willingness to consistently engage in learning opportunities and give their best effort.
During the month of May, learners took time to reflect on the school year, identifying what they enjoyed most about ELA and areas they felt could be improved. Many of their reflections were thoughtful and insightful. Learners also reviewed key concepts in reading comprehension, figurative language, and proofreading. To make learning about language more engaging and enjoyable, we incorporated games such as Wordle, Connections, Quiddler, and Hangman into our lessons.
It has been rewarding to watch our learners grow as readers, writers, and critical thinkers throughout the year, and I look forward to seeing that growth continue.
📊Mathematics
Throughout May, Norris learners explored geometry and algebra concepts through the work of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Drawing on their earlier learning with the coordinate plane and slope-intercept form, learners designed and created their own Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired “stained glass” pieces, combining mathematical precision with artistic creativity. Completed pieces were shared at the Trimester 3 Learner Showcase. Some learners also had the exciting opportunity to experience Wright’s architecture firsthand during a visit to the SC Johnson Campus in Racine, Wisconsin, where they observed many of the design elements they had been studying in class.
Several learners also attended Math Day at American Family Field, where they participated in baseball-themed math activities focused on statistics, measurement, and stadium design before cheering on the Milwaukee Brewers as they took on the San Diego Padres. This unique experience demonstrated how mathematics plays an important role in sports and real-world decision-making.
To wrap up the school year, many learners completed an interdisciplinary Food Truck Business project. As they planned their own food truck concepts, learners applied math skills such as budgeting, pricing, and profit calculations while also developing competencies in English Language Arts through business plans and marketing materials. Their creativity shined through the artistic design of logos, menus, and truck layouts, making this project a meaningful culmination of learning across multiple subject areas.
🔬Science
Learners in science participated in a variety of outdoor science activities, including fishing, trail exploration, trail maintenance, species identification, and egg drop physics. These were just some examples of what learners experienced during the final month of the trimester. For many learners, this was their first opportunity to try fishing or walk a trail in the woods, while for others it was a chance to support and teach peers who had not yet had those experiences.
📜Social Studies
The last month of the school year flew by! In Social Studies, we stayed busy exploring economics, immigration in the early 1900s, and current events from around the world. Learners gained insight into the immigration experience through lessons on Ellis Island, including the medical inspections immigrants underwent, such as the eye exam conducted with a buttonhook. Some of our learners also developed a strong understanding of supply and demand by examining the recent "Nee Doh" craze and its impact on the marketplace.
Looking ahead, we are excited for our summer school session. We will kick things off with a unit on Medieval History, which will connect directly to our first summer project: castle building—and eventually, castle smashing! We will also continue following current events and look forward to exploring and celebrating America's 250th anniversary.
🔍Orientation
Summer learning is off to a great start! A huge thank-you to Kayla and the rest of the team for stepping in and keeping things running smoothly while Katie enjoys a well-deserved summer break.
Our learners have been actively engaging in hands-on exploration of themselves, their community, and the world around them. Along the way, they’ve also been taking time to enjoy all that a beautiful Wisconsin summer has to offer. We are excited to continue learning, growing, and making memories throughout the season!
📖Library
We are excited to jump back into literary exploration and programming this fall! While the library is closed for the summer, our learners have plenty to celebrate. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to and some of the exciting learning experiences that wrapped up our school year.
NAVS & LearnMKE
It’s hard to believe that our first year at LearnMKE has already come to an end. The year seemed to fly by, and it’s amazing to reflect on everything our learners accomplished. Much of May was spent focusing on finishing coursework, demonstrating competencies, and maximizing credit completion before the end of the school year. We are incredibly proud of the hard work, determination, and perseverance our learners demonstrated throughout the year.
One of the highlights of May was our ELO (Experiential Learning Opportunity) to the Milwaukee Public Museum. Learners and advisors spent the day exploring exhibits and pursuing areas of personal interest while engaging in meaningful, hands-on learning. Participants completed a science and social studies scavenger hunt that challenged them to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting. Several learners also enjoyed a visit to the Planetarium, where a live presenter shared fascinating stories about the constellations and our universe.
Of course, no trip to the museum would have been complete without a visit to the Streets of Old Milwaukee. Learners especially enjoyed searching for members of the Watson and Juneau families, whose stories they had studied during a Milwaukee History project prior to the ELO. Beyond the learning opportunities, it was wonderful to see classmates collaborating, laughing, and building connections outside of the traditional classroom setting.
We would also like to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the members of our very first LearnMKE graduating class: TJ, Kiera, and Ja’terrius. Their graduation ceremony was held on May 28 in the auditorium on the Mukwonago campus. It was a truly special afternoon, and we could not be more proud of their accomplishments. We would also like to give a special shout-out to Marriah, who completed all of her graduation requirements this week. She will be walking across the stage and celebrating her graduation in the coming weeks.
To all of our graduates, we wish you the very best as you begin the next chapter of your lives. We look forward to hearing about your future successes and all of the amazing things you will accomplish.
As we head into summer, we encourage learners to stay connected with their advisors and continue engaging in learning opportunities whenever possible. Remember to keep track of the learning experiences you participate in over the next few months—the more learning you do and share, the more credits you can earn. We hope everyone has a safe, relaxing, and rewarding summer!
Achievement Certificates
Graduation
Internship Opportunity
IBL
The school year came to a close with no shortage of engaging opportunities for our learners. Field Day was filled with fun, laughter, and friendly competition as learners participated in table tennis, bocce ball, slip-n-slides, a cookout, and many other activities. At our final Learner Showcase of the year, learners proudly displayed evidence of their learning while sharing projects and accomplishments that were meaningful to them. The event even featured live singing and piano performances, showcasing the many talents within our community.
Meanwhile, the Role-Playing Club successfully completed their scavenger hunt quest and earned the prestigious title of Lords of Harmondale. These experiences represent just a few of the many opportunities learners had throughout the year to explore their interests, build relationships, and create lasting memories.
This is not the end, however. As Robert Jordan wrote, “There are neither beginnings nor endings to the Wheel of Time. But it was an ending.” While one chapter has come to a close, the journey of learning continues. We look forward to the adventures, growth, and opportunities that await our learners in the future.
Field Day
Nature Exploration
Showcase of Learning
The Navigator's Corner
Wow, May might have been the best month ever! We submitted an application to the statewide Battle of the Bands, and while we didn't win, we did make it through the qualifying round, which is a Norris first!
We had a day out on the high ropes challenge course, where we experienced incredible growth. One learner who has been with us for three years and has never climbed due to anxiety climbed up and rode the zipline down, which was such a huge accomplishment for them!
We had s'mores for breakfast one day, roasted over a campfire in our own Norris Forest camp zone, which learners have been helping clean up, and it really feels like a little camp on the edge of the woods. We especially utilized that space on our Field Day, where we sat, told stories, and listened to some guitar music while Science Specialist Ryan's goats nibbled grass and wandered around.
We had a slip-and-slide, a surprise visit from a snow cone truck, a slackline, and many other fun activities. Grillmaster Stephanie T. (also a Science Specialist) grilled up a great lunch of hot dogs and hamburgers, and fun was had by staff and learners alike.
We went fishing a few times for outdoor education, and learners were able to catch fish, successfully identify species, and learn how to safely release their catches.
We are excited to get into summer programming and hope that everyone has a healthy, safe, and excellent summer!
Fishing
High Ropes Ziplining
Thomas Greenhouse
Artventure
🌷 Creativity in Bloom: May Art Room Highlights
As the school year comes to a close, our learners ended on a busy and creative note!
We kicked off May with our 3rd Annual Spring Art Gala at the Mukwonago Community Library. Learners proudly showcased their artwork, and community members enjoyed viewing and appreciating the incredible creativity and hard work displayed throughout the exhibit.
Next, learners participated in a fun-filled Tie-Dye Week, where they designed and dyed their own shirts to wear for Spirit Day. The event was a huge success and brought plenty of color and excitement to our school community.
During our Week of Service, learners created handmade candles that were distributed at the Mukwonago Community Library in honor of mothers during the month of May. A special shout-out goes to Julian Warner, Sofia Arfsten, and Malachi O'Brien for serving as our candle distributors. Their warm smiles, kindness, and willingness to listen helped make the experience meaningful for everyone who stopped by.
We wrapped up the trimester with our T3 Ceremony, where learners displayed and discussed the amazing artwork and accomplishments they achieved throughout the trimester. It was wonderful to celebrate their growth, creativity, and dedication.
Overall, we had an incredible year filled with artistic exploration, personal growth, and many successes in the art room. Thank you to all of our learners, families, and community members for supporting the arts throughout the year.
We wish everyone a safe, relaxing, and creative summer. Keep creating, exploring, and following your artistic passions—we can't wait to see what you make next!
Candles of Kindness
Nature Mandala
Learner Showcase Artwork
Click Smarter, Not Harder
Staff Birthdays: June
Mark Your Calendar
6/1 Summer Intersession Begins
6/19 Juneteenth Holiday: NO SCHOOL
Norris Cares
Supporting Learners, Strengthening Community
Norris Cares, founded in 2023 by Norris School District staff, was created to meet the growing needs of learners in our community. Many learners face challenges such as food insecurity, unstable housing, and limited access to essentials like clothing and hygiene products. These hardships can make it difficult for them to focus on school, stay engaged, and believe in their potential.
We believe every learner deserves the opportunity to thrive—academically, socially, and personally. Meeting their basic needs allows learners to concentrate on learning, build confidence, and fully engage. Access to meals, warm clothing, and supplies not only supports their well-being but also fosters dignity, stability, and belonging.
The need in our community is great, and Norris Cares cannot meet it alone. We depend on the generosity of individuals, businesses, and community partners to make a difference. Monetary and physical donations—whether food, clothing, or hygiene products—are used exclusively to support learners and are distributed equitably based on need.
Your support directly impacts learners’ lives and strengthens our entire community.
For questions or to donate, contact:
Amber Ehrmann, Community Liaison
aehrmann@norrisacademywi.org
Together, we can uplift our learners and build a brighter future.
Reminders
The Norris School District wants to remind families about items that should not be brought to school. Including items such as pillows, blankets, open beverage containers, money, and backpacks. These items can be distracting and potentially harmful, so they will not be allowed in school. For more details on our policies, please visit our website at https://norrisacademywi.org/.
Online Absence Form
Please use the online absence form if your learner will not be attending school on any given day due to illness, vacation, personal leave, or another reason.
Norris School District
Email: hello@norrisacademywi.org
Website: https://norrisacademywi.org/
Location: W247 S10395 Center Drive Mukwonago, WI 53149
Phone: (262) 662-5911
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/norrisacademywi/
Twitter: @NorrisAcademyWi