Norbel School hosts its 3rd High School Graduation Ceremony
June 5, 2007

Elkridge - Norbel School held its 3rd high school graduation on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at The Elkridge Furnace Inn. Dressed in cobalt blue robes the nine high school seniors received their well deserved high school diplomas from Norbel's newly appointed Head of School, Ms. Sharon DellaRose.

Each graduate addressed the guests which included faculty, family, friends and Board of Trustees with an original speech. Students reflected on their personal and academic challenges that they overcame with the support of Norbel School.

The graduation guest speaker, Mr. Gerry Sandusky, of WBAL TV offered encouragement to the graduates to pursue their dreams. "Never be afraid to make mistakes.", Mr. Sandusky told the graduates. He went on to say, "Don't be afraid to open a closed door, it may be the one you need to walk through to fulfill your dream."

The ceremony was followed by a catered reception. All of the 2007 graduates plan to attend either a two-year or four-year college this fall. Norbel School, located in Elkridge, Maryland, offers an individualized educational setting for bright, capable, learning disabled students in grades 1 though 12.

For more information, please contact Krys Renzi, Marketing Coordinator, at 410-796-6700 or krenzi@norbelschool.org.

Norbel School Receives Grant for Art & Literary Project
March 23, 2004
Elkridge - Students at Norbel School have found a way to bring art from the craft table to life experiences. Through a grant obtained from The Maryland State Department of Education Title 5 program, the students learned that art serves many purposes. The grant provided materials for an innovative educational program, which incorporated literature and visual arts. The program allowed students to see art as an innovative way of reinforcing curriculum, a way of building teamwork as well as being an intriguing profession. To provide further intensity Norbel incorporated its Artist in Resident program, where area artist visit the school, into the project.

For one week, local ceramic artist Herb Massey, an instructor from Baltimore Clayworks taught ceramic techniques to the school’s twenty-four upper students. Under the guidance of Mr. Massey, the students developed a collaborative ceramic project based on their recent literary reading The Secret Life of Bees by author Sue Monk Kidd. After they discussed and analyzed the book’s characters the students made clay images of their favorite characters. The students also worked as a team to construct a signature piece, a large honey pot. The class project will be on display in the school’s Merritt Multi-Media Center. Within the next few weeks Norbel students will visit Baltimore Clayworks exhibition on African American artists. There the students will have the opportunity to see Mr. Massey’s work on display and explore the studio of an artist.

Programs and grants like this provide students with the opportunity to have necessary curriculum presented to them in an interesting and integrated format. The use of multiple teaching techniques and cross curriculum lessons is a fundamental part of Norbel’s educational philosophy. "We integrate our curriculum and provide a variety of teaching techniques so that we can address the learning styles of all of our students," explains Norbel Uppers teacher Mrs. Johnnie Franklin, "This also makes for a more exciting and stimulating learning environment for both the student and educator." Norbel, located in Elkridge, is a private Kindergarten through High School for students who have learning differences.

Norbel Upper school students displays his art work.