Norris Academy

To Parents/Guardians of Norris Academy Learners,

Gov. Tony Evers directed the Department of Health Services (DHS) on Friday, March 13 to issue an agency order mandating the statewide closure of all K-12 schools, public and private, as part of the state’s efforts to respond to and contain the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin. In compliance with this mandate, Norris Academy will initiate full virtual learning for all students enrolled in the Norris School District. To comply with the best practice of social distancing, we will be restricting access to the Norris Academy building and school grounds for all learners, families, and non-staff visitors.

During this period of virtual learning, instruction will not change significantly. Learners will continue to receive educational services through conferring for up to 30 minutes at a time in a 1:1 format with a Norris Academy staff member. The conferring sessions will take place virtually on Google Hangouts using an Internet-ready device. Meeting times will be visible in each learner's calendar, with a link to the Google Hangout embedded in the calendar event. Your learner will receive an email with a video showing how to access their conferring sessions on Monday morning. Learners will be scheduled for a minimum of two meeting times per day to ensure that they have all the support needed to successfully complete academic tasks.

In between conferring sessions, learners will continue to work independently, learners will continue to access their academic pathways utilizing their online connection to the Google platform. If you need technical assistance with helping your learners log into their Google accounts, please email jnuss@norrisacademywi.org. If a learner is struggling with academic work outside of established conferring times, they may email individual staff members.

Parents and guardians, please check in with your learner early and often to make sure he is attending his scheduled conferring times with staff. You will be his most valuable support person during this process. While we don't yet have a sense for how long learners will be asked to attend virtually, know that we will be seeking guidance from the health department and from the Wisconsin DPI, and when we are given the green light to re-open Norris Academy safely, we will share that with you no later than 3 pm on the day before doors open again. It is our intention and our hope that we will be able to welcome learners back in person as soon as possible.

Please reach out with any questions you may have at 262-910-3880. Thank you for your understanding and your support as we work together to keep our children safe.

Warmest Regards,

Johnna Noll
Executive Director
Norris Academy