Norris News
November 2023
What's Happening at Norris?
A few reminders:
- Next week, November 13th-17th is our November Week of Service (WOS). Learners will be crafting door hangers and resin ornaments to donate to local senior residential facilities.
- Trimester 1 ends on Tuesday, November 28th.
- Friday, November 17th is our November Spirit Day: Inside Out Day. We encourage all learners to wear their clothing inside out!
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.
Curiosity Labs
Pumpkin Decorating Contest
2 Ball Tournament
November 2023 Chess Rumble Tournament
Chess Rumble Tournament will take place over November 20 - 22
*Exact day/time may vary depending on amount of people signed up; may take more than 1 day
- Any Norris learners (virtual or in-person), River’s Edge Staff, Bakari Staff, or Norris Staff are eligible to participate
- All skill levels are welcome, and players will be paired accordingly–so even if you are just learning you can still join!
- Double Elimination, so you are still in the tournament until you lose twice
- Championship Games may be recorded/spectated to forever capture the epicness!
Email or talk to Robert by Friday Nov 17, 2023 to enter the tournament
June's Journal
As the weather continues to get colder, please make sure your child brings warm clothes as many learners spend a good amount of time outside.
Additionally, I wanted to make you aware that we will be having our annual lockdown drill on November 22nd. 2017 Wisconsin ACT 143 requires that each school building regularly occupied by learners drill learners at least annually, in proper response to a school violence event. We will do some learning with the kids prior to this date and talk about what to expect on that day and the importance of following staff directives. This drill will be done in conjunction with the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department. Should you have any questions or concerns about this drill, please feel free to contact me.
High School Lab Gab
ELA: Learners are practicing the art of opinion writing in ELA. Their writing is based on topics they feel strongly about. Some topics are controversial and some are just about fun! As learners read and listen to fictional stories they are identifying and describing plot, theme, setting, characters and more. Some learners wrote opinion paragraphs about the stories they read and movies we have watched. Looking ahead, the learners will be identifying different types of figurative language as well as continuing spelling and grammar practice.
Mathematics: Our math labs have been super busy with learners finishing up last minute details on their projects. Learners had a fun time learning about area dimensions while designing blue prints. They used creativity to design and produce their own homes by following a rubric with specific guidelines. The final step allowed learners to add additional rooms of their choice. It truly gave learners an amazing opportunity to showcase their different styles of creativity. We took learning to a new level and allowed the learners to show off their skills in a unique way. This project was such a hit! Learners have been asking to engage in more similar activities. Heidi and Misty have been working hard to develop new project ideas that tie into their course curriculum while adding a fun flare.
Social Studies: High School Social Studies labs have just finished up a unit on Egypt and Hieroglyphics. They learned how hieroglyphs were used to write and document, and then created their own. Discussions about the Israeli/Hamas conflict were held as new information unfolded. The history of Halloween and Day of the Dead finished out the month of October. Learners learned about sugar skulls and created their own on paper honoring loved ones who have died. Looking into November, the study and history of racing will start the month. Social Studies this year has evolved into learner driven study. Many times the learners have come up with the topics that were studied during lab times. It has been a fun and engaging way to learn; so if it sometimes seems like we are all over the board, this is why.
Science:
Biology Labs- Biology Learners are wrapping up their study of the anatomy & physiology of human body systems. Learners have completed experiments to test their reflexes and reaction time (nervous system), heart and respiration rates (circulatory & respiratory systems), and metabolism (digestive system). For their final project in this pathway learners are investigating diseases & disorders that alter the normal functioning of body systems.
Chemistry Labs- Chemistry learners are finishing up their pathway on Atomic Structure. Learners have been engaging in a variety of learning opportunities that explore atomic nuclei, radiation & light energy, physical & chemical properties, and the properties of matter. For their final experiment in this pathway learners were given 6 mystery substances and had to perform a variety of tests to determine the identity of the materials.
Earth/Space Science- Earth/Space learners just finished Pathway 1 where they studied Gravity, the Solar System, and the Universe. We are now starting Pathway 2 where the learners will be exploring the Age and History of planet Earth. Learners will investigate the characteristics of the different eons in Earth's history. We will wrap up this unit by creating a giant timeline that will extend across the classroom and organize the important events in Earth's History.
Academy Orientation: We welcomed Travis to the Orientation team this month! He is settling in well and developing relationships with new and existing learners. With the addition of Travis, we have been able to spend more time working on our mini-pursuits. Learners are really enjoying exploring interests and trying new things.
ELA Lab
Academy Orientation
Science Lab
K-8 Lab Gab
K-8 Labs
ELA: In ELA, learners identified interesting facts about one another and then, shared the facts on the board for the entire class to see. We also worked on our debate skills to identify facts and have effective conversations.
Math: In math, learners incorporated measuring while making slime and rice crispy treats. We worked on basic addition and subtraction with the younger learners and multiplication and division with the older learners.
Science/Social Studies: In K8 Project Based Learning (PBL), learners have been working on various projects tied to their interest. We have completed egg drop experiments, using different variables. We are testing eggs in different solutions and comparing the results over time. We are creating different design challenges in Minecraft. We are seeing if apples can be mummified in different solutions.
Egg Solution Comparison
Sprectiscoping
Egg Drop
Norris Academy Virtual School (NAVS)
As we round the corner into November and near the end of Trimester 1 in a few weeks, it is a great time to take a second and reflect on your progress. Are you as far along as you would like to be in your courses? Are you putting forth your best effort to do what you need to do to progress at a reasonable pace? What things might I do differently Trimester 2? Answer these questions honestly, set some goals, and do what you have to do to be successful!
As far as IBL activities related to NAVS: Fridays offer unique opportunities for learners to interact with each other through the Friday Engagement activities. If you haven't take advantage of this amazing opportunity yet, reach out the Matt mbornheimer@norrisacademywi.org to join the fun!
D&D Club is well underway, and we now have 2 NAVS and 3 in person learners that play on Fridays. After the successful exploits of our adventurers, the Scarecrow is dead...or is he??
There is a Chess Tournament happening at Norris starting Monday, November 20th. NAVS learners are encouraged to enter, and join in on the fun! Email Robert rkuprenas@norrisacademywi.org by Friday, November 17th if interested.
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
Recently learners began the introduction to Boost by learning and following the design of 2-Dimensional Art. Learners focus on first drawing basic shapes and overlapping the shapes followed by blending the primary and secondary colors. Learners will take what they learn on drawing shapes and the blending of colors to create their own 2-D Piece. Following 2-Dimensional Art learners will move on to learn about Abstract Art and develop their own Abstract piece. Once they have completed their Abstract piece they will be learning and discovering different Art Movements. Artventure will be moving on to more 3-Dimensional forms once they have completed the 2-Dimensional, Abstract, and Art Movement styles. We have a promising group of learners who have shown great enthusiasm in discovering their Art skills and seeing where Art can take them!
A Note for Johnna Noll, Norris School District Executive Director
I’m proud to be one of the forty learner-centered practitioners, experts, systems thinkers, and young people that Education Reimagined brought together to explore and imagine a future of thriving learner-centered ecosystems. As a result, Designed to Thrive: A Guidebook to Equitable Learner-Centered Ecosystems was made.
From our group’s collective expertise, experience, and creativity, this guide emerged with frameworks and insights to support on-the-ground systems reinvention. I hope it leaves you feeling as excited about opportunities for invention as I am!
Designed to Thrive: A Guidebook to Equitable Learner-Centered Ecosystems
Ecosystems for the Future of Learning
Norris School District is very excited to be an instrumental part of exploring and developing learner-centered ecosystems within our community and beyond. As culmination of this work, we are proud to share Ecosystems for the Future of Learning which explores the state and future of learning ecosystems in the United States.
Take a minute to reimagine what education CAN look like...
Norris Beyond Fostering
The foster care program at Norris is offering a FREE virtual training on Thursday 11/16 from 6pm-7pm to share information about foster care in southeastern Wisconsin. Did you know that the foster care program at Norris receives over 100 referrals each month from counties across the state who are looking for foster homes for children they are working with? Are you interested in learning more about the foster care system, how you could support foster children or foster parents, or how you might consider becoming a foster parent yourself? View event details here: https://fb.me/e/1cM5ZPI8g or email tfc@norriscenter.org
Mark Your Calendar
11/17 Spirit Day: Inside Out Day
Show your spirit by wearing your clothes inside out to school on Friday, November 17th.
11/20 - 11/22 Chess Rumble Tournament
11/23 - 11/24 No School for all learners
11/28 Trimester 1 Concludes
11/29 Trimester 2 Begins
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