Norris News
January 2024
What's Happening at Norris?
We hope everyone enjoyed their winter break and is ready for a fresh start in the new year. We have a lot of exciting things on the horizon including our upcoming Career Fair. All learners will participate in an on campus Career Fair on Thursday, January 11th. Learners will have an opportunity to visit 15 different stations. Each station will provide learners with information about a unique on campus internship. Learners will be able to sign up if they are interested in participating in an internship. They will then, interview for the position. Once an intern has been selected they will be working beside a staff member to gain workplace experience, earn credit, and potentially continue their interest in an off campus externship.
Stone Age Shelter Model
Artventure
IBL Lab
June's Journal
I hope you all had a relaxing break! We are excited to get back to learning here at Norris. Once again, we are so happy to partner with you in your child's education. Communication is such a vital part of a strong partnership and is extremely important to me. Should you have any questions, or feel you are not being provided with an adequate amount of communication regarding your child, please let me know so I can work to remedy the situation. Contact me at: jsadowski@norrisacademywi.org.
High School Lab Gab
ELA: The learners in ELA are off to a fresh start in the new year by reflecting on goals they set earlier in the school year. Learners are discussing and developing action steps needed to reach the goals that are most important to them. Some learners are making pamphlets displaying their goal, specific actions, and the steps required to reach their goal which they will reflect on in the coming weeks and months. Inspirational quotes for the daily journal topic are showing learners how to think about things in new, productive, and positive ways. Opinion writing is another skill learners are working on as well as informative and creative writing.
Mathematics: Math has hit the ground running since returning from break. After a short check-in/refresher, learners are working on a variety of projects to start the New Year.
Algebra is working on solving mazes through solving equations. Some learners are also investigating different math concepts such as lines and parabolas in real life and putting them into math terms. In Geometry, learners are exploring the concepts of area and perimeter in housing plans by completing challenges to make the largest area with the materials given.
Meanwhile other learners are working on consumer math skills including budgeting and learning about bank accounts and loans.
Overall there is a lot going on in this little room!
Social Studies: Social Studies labs spent the month of December studying World Geography. Activities were all based around locations in the world. They learned about different cuisines in different countries and then, had to place those countries into the correct continents. They did a lot of activities involving the 7 Continents of the World; where they are located, and what countries are within each continent.
Science:
Biology Labs- Biology Learners are continuing to work through Pathway 2 which focuses on Biological Molecules. Learners are currently studying the inverse processes of Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration on the molecular level. As we wrap up Photosynthesis/Respiration we will transition to learning about the "Central Dogma" of Biology where learners will investigate the processes of Transcription and Translation. By learning about these processes learners will build an understanding of how their DNA is used to create proteins and also determines the traits of all living organisms.
Chemistry- Chemistry learners are also continuing to work through Pathway 2 where they are learning about Chemical Bonding and Chemical Reactions. They are currently studying the formation and properties of Ionic and Covalent chemical bonds. As we wrap up our investigation of bonding we will transition to learning about the 5 types (combination, decomposition, combustion, single replacement, and double replacement) of Chemical Reactions. Learners will be participating in a variety of labs and demonstrations in the upcoming weeks to build an understanding of each type of Chemical Reaction.
Earth/Space Science- Earth/Space Science learners are doing a great job moving through the curriculum and are wrapping up Pathway 2 this week! Learners have learned about the Theory of Plate Tectonics & the Age and History of the Earth in this pathway. They are currently studying the types and mechanics of Radiometric Dating with an emphasis on Carbon-14 dating techniques. By investigating these processes Learners will be able to understand how scientists know the dates of important events in Earth's history. Looking forward to Pathway 3, learners will begin to focus their learning on the Water Cycle, Weathering, Erosion, and other natural processes that impact Earth.
Academy Orientation: We have been working on building lots of relationships with many new learners this month. Some of our techniques include building challenges, game playing, and exploring the depths of our selves and emotions. We are excited for Dra and Key, who have their Who Am I interviews coming up, as well as several other learners who have moved on to labs, but still have some Orientation work to do.
Connections
Art Lab
Science
K-8 Lab Gab
K-8 Labs
There are many changes in K-8 in this new year! The schedule has swapped, so the grades 7 and 8 have English Language Arts (reading and writing) and Mathematics in the morning and Grades 3 through 6 have English Language Arts right before lunch and mathematics right after lunch recess. Their Science and Social Studies times have also flipped.
Beginning in 2024, Ms. Kayla Sanders is teaching the 5th and 6th graders mathematics and English Language Arts.
ELA: For ELA with the 3rd and 4th graders, we are beginning the short story collection Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar. On our first day back, we read the introduction, which describes the setting, and the first story in the book. Students are taking turns reading aloud.
For ELA with the 7th and 8th graders, We continue to read the novel Holes, also by Louis Sachar. Students are reading with a variety of adults and are in different places in the novel. Some students have chosen to read a different novel approved by staff.
All students will demonstrate their comprehension of each chapter they read by completing a written story map.
Math: For mathematics with the 3rd and 4th grade students, we are beginning to explore mathematical factions as parts of a whole. We are learning to write and model both fractions and mixed numbers. We will continue to do single digit and double digit multiplication and single digit division.
For mathematics with the 7th and 8th graders, we are currently adding and subtracting fractions using like denominators with sums that are mixed numbers (and differences of proper fractions). We continue to multiply and divide multi-digit whole numbers. We are using the standard algorithm for multiplication and the long division algorithm.
All students will continue to use a multiplication chart and hundreds chart to guide their computation.
Science/Social Studies: In PBL Science and Social Studies learners are working on making different types of circuits. Learners are also working on independent projects involving, current events, Lego Technics, Kinexs, and making their own card games.
Pin Ball
Elements of Art
Cookie Decorating
On-Campus Internships
We now have 3 learners signed up for on-campus internships. Miguel was our first intern this school year, obtaining the Sanitation Assistant Internship. This week, Kenyare obtained the Norris Business Assistant Internship, and Tavis became our first K8 General Tutor Intern. It is great to see each of the learners taking initiative and going through the process to become interns at Norris!
On Thursday, January 11th during IBL time, we will be hosting a Norris Job Fair. Learners will have the opportunity to circulate among different stations in the gym. Stations include information and activities regarding internships, upcoming academy events, VR Career Simulations, and more! Get excited, sign up for upcoming events, and set yourselves on the path to a successful career!
Norris Academy Virtual School (NAVS)
Welcome back to NAVS. We hope you all enjoyed your break. While you were away there were a few changes taking place here. Robert has moved on to his other responsibilities at Norris and will no longer be teaching Social Studies and ELA. He will still work with learners on many electives and special interest projects. In his stead we welcome Mike Bachofen (mbachofen@norrisacademywi.org). Mike will be meeting with learners 4 days a week, a 100% increase in face to face (screen to screen) time with ELA and SS learners from what they had in Trimester 1. We have also added engagement meetings with Jared and Nicole to all learners' agendas. These meetings will serve as coaching opportunities, elective check ins, and academic skill building. Learners can earn HS elective credit for participation in these sessions.
Due to the staffing additions all learners agendas have required some alteration, please be sure to log in and check the agenda on the learners profile to see these changes. If there are any questions or concerns please reach out to Robb (rjackson@norrisacademywi.org)
Bakari
BOOST
What is Boost?
Boost is an after school program set up for K-12 learners from Oak and Spruce Hall. Currently the Boost program is offering an Art focused program, Artventure, taught by Sam Dickey. This after school program provides additional opportunities for learners to explore their interests, hobbies, and talents which expand their learning network and increases their confidence, boosting learner agency and hope for the future.
Artventure
Learners have branched onto working on Abstract focused works. They have completed weave paintings, by overlapping colors in a weave pattern and blending as they alternate the colors, String art, dipping art into paint and then laying them on a canvas then pulling the string to create a pulled pattern, and recently learners worked their own Paul Klee painting by painting with watercolors and then drawing fish on the watercolor with oil pastels.
Outside of Boost: Artventure in the Art room, learners have been working on individual paint works, clay, and even making tea!
Norris Cares
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.
Norris Beyond Fostering
The foster care program at Norris is offering a FREE virtual training, Foster Care in Our Community on January 24th. Learn about what is happening right here in our community…foster parents and social work professionals will share their experiences and answer questions. This virtual meeting is FREE and there is no obligation other than listening and asking questions! Link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AfaUuc03SiaeqQD3i4Yc3COWLhY0NMgbC9wXWmfkVvg/edit
Free E-book: https://www.norriscenter.org/become-a-foster-parent-4/e-book/
Mark Your Calendar
1/11 Career Job Fair
Learners will participate in an all school job fair. Staff will introduce learners to different opportunities to continue exploring their career interests and on campus internships.
1/22 -1/26 Week of Service: "What Does it Mean to Pay it Forward?"Learners will be paying it forward through action.
1/19 Spirit Day: Pajama Day
Reminders
Online Absence Form
Click Here: https://tinyurl.com/onlineabsenceform
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