Norris News
September 2026
Welcome Back, Norris Learners and Families!
And just like that, we are off and running! We are excited to welcome our learners back for another year of learning, growth, exploration, and new opportunities here at Norris.
Our first week has been all about getting settled, reconnecting, building relationships, and getting ready for what is ahead. From exploring learner interests and jumping into labs to setting goals and discovering new opportunities, learners are already getting a glimpse of all that this year has in store.
We are also excited to welcome several new team members to the Norris community! Please join us in welcoming Lizzie Koutalis and Joe LeBlanc to our Engagement Team here on campus at Norris Academy, Aymie Butler to our Office Support Team, and Daishawn Dillard to Norris Academy Virtual School (NAVS). Daishawn will serve as an Interest-Based Learning Navigator at our remote hybrid learning hubs, LearnMKE. We are excited to have each of them joining our team and look forward to the experiences, ideas, and energy they will bring to our learning community.
As we look ahead, we are excited to meet learners where they are, follow their interests, and support them as they take ownership of their learning journey. With Personal Pursuits, Curiosity Labs, ELOs, internships and externships, Academy Events, Learner Showcases, and so much more, there will be plenty of opportunities for learners to explore, grow, and show what they can do.
We are excited for the year ahead and all the stories, successes, challenges, discoveries, and celebrations that will come with it. Here’s to another great year in the Norris School District!
📚ELA
ELA this year will focus on meeting learners where they are at and supporting their individual learning needs. Kayla and Amy will use diagnostic scores to help tailor lessons to each learner, creating opportunities for targeted and meaningful growth. Learners will meet with our ELA specialists twice a week for 30 minutes. These individualized sessions will provide focused support and help accelerate the learning process for many of our learners.
During ELA, learners will also participate in activities that foster critical thinking and effective communication skills. Activities will include group discussions, logic games, and word puzzles. Learners will also have opportunities to practice effective communication by engaging in debates about select topics.
We are excited to see the growth that comes from meeting learners where they are and helping them move forward!
📊Mathematics
We're trying a new approach to math! Each new skill will begin with a mini-lesson led by the specialist. Learners will then have dedicated practice time to work on and strengthen the skill.
Whenever possible, learners will also explore real-world applications to see how math connects to everyday life. After practicing, each learner will meet with Heidi or Jocelyn to demonstrate their understanding and be checked off on the skill.
This approach allows us to provide support when it is needed while encouraging learners to take an active role in their learning. We are excited to see our learners grow in both their math skills and their confidence!
🔬Science
To start the school year in science, we are exploring topics in climate and ecosystems. Learners will be using scientific tools to explore microclimates around the school and in our forest area. Learners will compare different locations to gain an understanding of how microclimates are affected by the larger climate in our area.
📜Social Studies
As we begin Trimester 1 in Social Studies, we will have some important conversations and celebrations!
We will talk about Labor Day, a day that honors the achievements and contributions of American workers. We will be discussing Patriot Day, taking time to remember September 11, 2001, and talking about how the world around us changed after 9/11.
As we approach Constitution Day, we will spend time learning about the Constitution, why it was created, and why it continues to be an important part of our government today.
All of our Social Studies labs started the school year by discussing classroom norms and expectations. To make it especially relevant to Social Studies, we focused on boundaries! Boundaries can be personal, such as respecting someone's space and belongings, or geopolitical, such as the borders between states and countries. Learners had some fun and interesting map activities and personal-boundary questions to explore both ideas.
I am excited for all the learning, discussions, and adventures ahead in Social Studies!
🔍Orientation
Welcome to Norris! I am excited to welcome new learners and help them get settled into our community. During our short (up to 10 school days) time together, learners explore their interests, learning style, and engagement preferences. Each learner will be featured in the Learner Showcase at the end of the trimester - what that looks like is up to them. Learners are also creating portfolios of the work they’re most proud of this year, which are linked on their profiles.
This month, I am excited to kick off an ongoing endorsement campaign with our learners, promoting the Norris Practices. The Norris Practices are the core of our program and a focal point for Orientation. They include Learner Agency, Solution Seeking, Socially Embedded, and Dynamic Leadership. Learners assess themselves on these practices during Orientation and, throughout their time here, receive endorsements from staff when they exemplify these practices. In this campaign, learners will endorse staff and/or each other for exemplifying the Norris Practices by writing their names on the wall of practices in the library.
📖Library
Salutations and welcome to the Library! There are so many events and resources available for learners (and families!) to take part in. We are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting some of those resources.
Destiny Discover - an app (and website) allowing learners to log in with their Norris Google account and access our library catalog from any digital device, any time.
Learning Ally - to access ebooks and audiobooks.
Fourth Grade Families: Every Kid Outdoors is a program put on by the National Park Service allowing 4th graders to get a free national parks pass! Let us know if you have any adventures!
We have also launched our celebration of Fancy Words* this month! As learners discover new vocabulary words in their pursuits or think of unique words they appreciate and want to share, they can fill out a Fancy Word card to post on the wall in the library. These cards can have as much or as little pizzazz as they like, but should all include the word, the definition, and an example sentence. I will make a hebdomadal trek to collect the Fancy Words, catalog them, and post them in the library. This will help everyone develop their vocabulary and spark curiosity by introducing and celebrating new words.
September 6th is National Read A Book Day! What are you reading?
NAVS & LearnMKE
It’s hard to believe that summer has already come and gone and that another school year is underway. We had a wonderful first week back at LearnMKE as we welcomed 16 returning learners and 6 new learners to the program. We are also excited to welcome a new staff member, Daishawn Dillard, who has already proven to be a tremendous asset to our team. We’re excited to have him on board.
Our learners were especially excited to visit our new southside hub, LearnMKE@SMILE. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we were unable to have the hub ready to open at the start of the school year as originally planned. The good news is that many of our orders have begun arriving, and we will be meeting with the SMILE staff next week to begin organizing and setting up the space. We will continue to provide updates as progress is made, and we are hopeful that the space will soon be ready to welcome both our learners and community members.
Beginning mid-month, Coach Erica will return to LearnMKE@WCS to work with our learners. Learners who have not yet completed the required Financial Literacy course should plan to attend in person every Wednesday morning. We are also excited to welcome a new community partner, TOPS, who will be joining us each Wednesday morning to work with learners as well. Be sure to watch the weekly schedules and updates for additional information about these opportunities.
We are off to a great start and are looking forward to an exciting, productive, and successful school year.
IBL
A New School Year, New Opportunities!
With a brand-new school year comes a great opportunity to take advantage of all that Norris has to offer. We encourage learners to actively engage in our Interest-Based Learning Opportunities (IBL):
- Curiosity Labs
- Mini-Pursuits
- Personal Pursuits
- Academy Events
- Learner Showcases
- Experiential Learning Opportunities (ELOs)
- Internships/Externships
The beginning of the year is also the perfect opportunity to set new academic and engagement goals and make a plan to achieve them. Work with your advisor to make sure you have what you need to have a fun, successful year full of learning!
The Navigator's Corner
We are ramping up for another successful school year here at Norris! This week, we will be making applesauce with the apples from our own apple trees. We are already starting to explore art projects, Personal Pursuits, and learners are getting geared up for the year.
We have a few seniors, and they are reflective and ready to cross the finish line with our continued support. We are excited to fully dive into learner interests and get this show on the road!
Artventure
During art lab, learners participated in hands-on activities that enhanced fine motor skills, communication, and self-expression. Learners used their fine motor skills by engaging in activities such as clay molding, cutting paper, and painting. Healthy communication and self-expression were encouraged by teaching learners how to be respectful of other learners’ art pieces.
What the Tech, Jack?
Staff Birthdays: September
Mark Your Calendar
9/1 Trimester 1 Begins
9/7 Labor Day: NO SCHOOL
9/18 Spirit Day: School Color Day 🔵🟢🟠🟤
Show your school spirit by wearing our school colors: blue, green, orange, and/or brown.
September Week of Service: Positive Endorsements
Staff and learners will dive deeper to identify what endorsements are and how we use them on our Professional and Learner Profiles.
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