Norris News

March has been another fantastic month at Norris School District, filled with fun, learning, and new adventures! We’re excited to share that our chicken eggs are in the incubator, and in just 21 days, we'll have adorable baby chicks joining us! Our learners had a blast making donuts from scratch, applying teamwork and creativity in the kitchen. Even rainy days couldn’t stop us from having fun with Adventure Education! We tackled the indoor ropes course, overcoming challenges and building trust—proving that adventure can happen anytime, anywhere. We’re also looking forward to the rescheduled SOUPtacular Cook-Off, where five teams are ready to compete for the title of "Best Soup." As the weather warms up, we're gearing up for outdoor activities like the high and low ropes course challenges and a Campus Beautification Clean-Up during our April Week of Service. It’s the perfect time to get outside, make a difference, and enjoy the fresh air. We can’t wait to see what April holds—stay tuned for more fun, learning, and community spirit!

As the weather warms up, more learners are eager to spend time outdoors. While we love seeing them connect with nature, it's important to remember that our policy is to always keep learners within sight and sound for their safety. Recently, we’ve noticed an increase in learners leaving the building without permission, which creates safety concerns and requires staff to go outside to bring them back in. To help address this, we’ll soon be offering an outdoor education/survival class to meet the interests of those who enjoy being outside. Please remind your child to stay inside until they have permission, and encourage them to speak with Travis if they’re interested in joining the outdoor education class. Thank you for your support!

ELA

In celebration of Poetry Month, learners in ELA have kicked off an exciting study of poetry that’s already sparking creativity. They’re diving into the world of figurative language, exploring how metaphors, similes, and personification can bring poems to life. In addition, they’re experimenting with various poetic forms, from free verse to sonnets, discovering how structure can shape meaning. But that's not all — the learners are also exploring the powerful connection between hip hop and poetry, examining how rhythm, wordplay, and storytelling in rap music mirror the artistry of traditional poetry. It’s an inspiring blend of past and present, where language takes center stage in all its forms.

Mathematics

Exciting news from the math world! Many of our incredible learners are almost there—closing in on completing their competencies for the year in their labs! I couldn't be more proud of them, and they should be so proud of themselves too!

Right now, we're carefully looking at what each learner still needs to master and finding ways to weave that into our daily learning.

As soon as our learners are nearing the finish line, we’ll be looking for a special project where they can showcase all the amazing math skills they’ve developed throughout the year in a real-world and meaningful way!

Science

March was a very exciting month in science labs. Our primary content area of focus last month was Chemistry. Learners studied the different types of matter (elements/atoms, compounds/molecules, and mixtures) along with the major states of matter (solids, liquids, and gasses). We did lots of hands on experiments including the "Mystery Substance Lab". Learners were presented with 5 different white powders (all common house-hold products) and performed a variety of tests on each to determine their chemical composition.

Additionally, learners are continuing to care for our classroom pets (Elote' our corn snake and Antonio, Sharkbait, & Mary Poppins our 3 goldfish). In other, animal-related, news . . . just this week we started incubating 12 chicken eggs. Learners will monitor the eggs in the incubator for the next 21 days and hopefully we will have a dozen baby chicks hatching later this month on April 23rd. Stay tuned for further updates . . .

Social Studies

We’ve started incorporating psychology into our Social Studies Lab, taking a deeper dive into human behavior, society, and history. This approach helps us foster thoughtful learners and, eventually, well-rounded citizens. Throughout this process, we've engaged in a variety of activities, such as food reaction tastings, bubble play, outdoor walks, and discussion groups around the Social Studies table. These activities encouraged learners to open up and share their thoughts in a vulnerable way, and it turned out to be unexpectedly successful!

Next, we transitioned to the topic of technology, exploring it through the lenses of behaviorism, humanistic psychology, and social influences. This led to fascinating discussions about both the intended and unintended consequences of technology. Did you know that “FOMO” and “IRL” are now officially in the dictionary? It’s wild how technology is changing not just our lives, but our language too!

As we wrap up this section, we’ll be shifting our focus to understanding primary and secondary sources, with an emphasis on the importance of cultural context when interpreting these materials.

Orientation

We are excited to start an 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 for exemplifying the Norris Practices by writing their names on the wall of practices in the library.

Library

Happy National Poetry Month! We are celebrating across Norris, with collaborations from Art to Social Studies. We are also excited to expand the reach of our collection - Mr. Dominic has volunteered to deliver books to learners at our LearnMKE North & South hubs!

We are also launching a celebration of Fancy Words this month! As learners discover new vocabulary words in their pursuits, they can fill out a Fancy Word card to post on the wall in the library. This will help everyone develop their vocabulary and spark curiosity by introducing and celebrating new words.

Check out our library catalog and digital resources on Destiny Discover!

Another month has come to pass. We are nearing the end of the year here, so let's finish strong with some engaging learning activities! Here are some of the IBL activities learning participated in this past month:

• Learner Showcase
• Week of Service Staff Appreciation Cards
• MetaSpace Exploration at the Mukwonago Community Library
• D&D Club
• ELOs to the local Pet Shop

The Learner Showcase gave learners the opportunity to present evidence they were proud of to an authentic audience of parents, community members, learners, and Norris staff. There were moments of wonder and joy, as well as an impromptu break-dancing performance by our very own Baden. It was quite the event, and we can't wait for the next one!

We've had some new learners in the studio, diving into auto-tune and learning how to identify different musical notes. As we begin the next term of PeaceTracks, learners will have the chance to collaborate with teenagers from all over the world, including but not limited to Morocco, Sudan, Jordan, Palestine, France, and more. We've also been exploring applied design through 3D printing. Meanwhile, the plants in the hydroponic farm are growing steadily, and we're getting ready for the summer garden. This year, we plan to expand the garden and, likely, plant fewer tomatoes. We're also developing a curriculum focused on survival skills and indigenous shelters, with an emphasis on how to engage with the environment more meaningfully. Summer planning is already underway, and we're looking forward to the Soup Competition and climbing on the newly updated elements in the gymnasium.

As we approach the end of another year, many have asked how to check in on their learner’s progress to help motivate them through to the end. Edmentum uses a portal called Sensei to monitor learner progress. It is currently set to run updated reports every Saturday morning, which detail your learner's progress both cumulatively and for the week. If you do not currently have access to Sensei and would like to, please email rjackson@norrisacademywi.org. For more information about the reports, please refer to this document from Edmentum .

At Learn MKE, we are dedicated to providing flexible, personalized education through our learning hubs. Our learners engage in a variety of subjects, including social studies (history, civics, etc.) and science, using Edmentum to track and support their learning journey. Here’s an overview of what our hubs are all about:

Holistic Support
Many of our learners are supported by case workers and caregivers from multiple agencies, each playing an essential role in their success.
Work Experience
Some learners are already balancing work and learning, while others are actively seeking employment opportunities. Nicole, our Employability Specialist, is helping learners find jobs, practice job-ready skills, complete applications, and meets regularly to support them throughout the entire process.
Earning Competencies Outside the Classroom
Learners have opportunities to earn competencies through activities outside the conventional classroom, such as volunteering, employment, clubs, and other community-based experiences. These activities provide evidence of learning and help learners earn competencies toward credit attainment. Robert, our Learning Design Architect, guides learners in aligning competencies and deepening their involvement in these experiences.
Tailored Learning Approaches
Every learner is unique. Some thrive with online instruction, while others face challenges with perseverance, engagement, and attention span. We work closely with each learner to tailor support that best fits their individual needs, helping them overcome obstacles and stay on track.

At Learn MKE, we’re committed to helping each learner achieve their goals and develop the skills they need to succeed. We believe in fostering a supportive, dynamic learning environment where every learner can flourish, no matter their background or challenges.

March was an exciting month at Bakari! We welcomed a new learner into our community, and they’re already on their way to completing orientation. Three other learners finished the first part of their orientation and successfully completed their 'Who Am I' interviews. During the interviews, they shared their inspiring vision boards. One learner dreams of becoming a real estate broker, while another aspires to be a youth treatment specialist right here at Bakari! Over the next five months, these learners will work hard to turn their dreams into reality.

We’re excited to share some helpful resources to support our learners and families! From educational websites to community programs, these tools are designed to provide additional support.

🏊‍♂️Huge congratulations to Baden! On March 22nd, he competed in his first Special Olympics swim meet and absolutely crushed it! 🏅 He took 1st place in the 25m freestyle and 3rd in the 50m freestyle! 🥇🥉 His impressive 1st place finish earned him a spot at the State Meet next weekend! We couldn't be more proud of all his hard work and determination. Go Baden!

During DBT, learners explored a new mindfulness skill related to the vagus nerve, a part of the body linked to calming effects. “It turns out that many activities we associate with calmness—such as deep breathing, meditation, massage, and even the experience of awe—can affect the brain by increasing vagus nerve activity,” said Vernon B. Williams, MD, a sports neurologist at Cedars-Sinai.

Following a guided video, learners practiced various breathing techniques and body movements designed to enhance vagus nerve activity. Afterward, many expressed feeling a sense of calm and requested additional skill-building sessions in this area.

Hello Artventure Community!

March – Blossoming Creativity

March has been an exciting month for Artventure, filled with hands-on projects, creative expression, and engaging collaborations across multiple disciplines. Here’s a look at what our learners have been up to!

Pinewood Derby: A Fast-Paced Start

We kicked off the month by wrapping up our science lab work with an exhilarating Pinewood Derby! Congratulations to our top three racers:
🏆 1st Place – Sylvia Davies
🥈 2nd Place – Elian Pagan De Jesus
🥉 3rd Place – Sofia Arfsten

Learners worked alongside Science Specialist Ryan Thompson, Music Specialist Travis Shipley, and Art Specialist Sam Dickey to explore the physics of racing, design their derby cars, and put their knowledge to the test on the track. After multiple test runs, groups raced head-to-head in an exciting final showdown!

T2 Learner Showcase

On March 7, we celebrated creativity at the T2 Learner Showcase! This event gives learners the opportunity to showcase their talents, knowledge, and research in a variety of ways. Art is just one of the many skill sets on display, alongside music, science, writing, and more.

Learners proudly presented an incredible variety of artwork, including paintings, ceramics, drawings, and ukuleles. A special highlight was a Fairy Terrarium created by Sofia Arfsten, capturing the imagination of many. It was an inspiring event that highlighted the talent and hard work of our Artventure community!

Exploring the Art of Debate

Mid-month, we rejoined ELA to dive into the art of debate. Learners researched topics they were passionate about, developing their arguments and refining their public speaking skills. While honing their debating techniques, many also continued their artistic projects, such as building and customizing their own ukuleles—assembling the pieces and designing them to reflect their unique style.

Why did the computer go to the dentist?

-To get his Bluetooth checked.

4/7-11 Week of Service: Campus Beautification

-Learners will work together with staff and peers to clean-up the campus grounds

4/9 Norris School SOUPer Spectacular

4/18 Flexible Learning Day

4/25 Spirit Day: Super Hero Day

24 Kyle

Norris Academy is introducing a new program called, Norris Cares. Norris Cares will accept monetary and physical donations in support of those of our learners who may be experiencing food, housing, or other basic need insecurities. We have noticed a great need within our community that we would like to help support but we cannot do it alone. All donations to Norris Cares will be used only for this purpose and delivered equitably on a needs determined basis.

Please contact Amber Ehrmann, the Community Liaison at aehrmann@norrisacademywi.org for questions or donations.

Thank you.

As the new school year begins, we want 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/.

https://www.norrisacademywi.org/learners-families/calendar.cfm

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.

Click Here: https://tinyurl.com/onlineabsenceform

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

Norris School District prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. The notice of nondiscrimination is located at https://www.norrisacademywi.org/