Page 8 - MTWI-Spring-2024

8 eleCtroniC edition: WWW.ManufaCturingtodayWi.CoM

Cte thriving at Muskego-norway schools

to cut, rout, sand, stain, and polyurethane using
a variety of hand tools. eighth-grade students in
Mass Manufacturing not only work with these
tools necessary to build and create, but one of the
greatest lessons they learn is how to work well
as a team.
every year, the class is tasked with coming
up with a product to mass-produce. during the
2022-23 school year, the two classes (44 total
students) came up with an idea to mass-pro-
duce lake denoon timberwolf-themed hook
and ring games called hook N’ howl. students
were divided into groups and were engaged with
a variety of traditional and modern methods of
technical education in order to create consistent
products. there were also subgroups of students
to package, market, and sell the product. every-
one was involved in the decision-making process
related to advertising and the overall game look.
“i really enjoyed being able to have a
Andrew Bavlnka can do as a team of women,” said Keira Petersen, voice in every step of creating the product,” said
Director of Secondary Student Learning sophomore drive coach. “We didn’t want the Khannar lee, an 8th grade student in Mass Man-
Muskego-Norway Schools event to be intimidating. robotics competitions ufacturing. Khannar and his classmates began by during the 2023-24 school year, eighth-
are always really encouraging and welcoming. rotating through each station to learn and experi- grade Mass Manufacturing students created
tWist — together, Women in It’s def nitely a positive community, so every- ence all parts of the production process. later in over 90 mass-produced leash lodges and sold
one is really supportive of each other.” eighteen
steM thrive teams from Wisconsin and illinois signed up to the course, they were able to choose which part them to family and friends. the students were
of the production process they wanted to continue
able to donate a portion of their proceeds to
the Warriorbots, Muskego high school’s participate in the tWist event. some teams had to support. although students became “experts” hoovers hause all dog rescue. the project this
robotics team, participates in offseason compe- students who were drivers for the f rst time, and in one part of the assembly line process, they year expanded to not only include Mass Manu-
titions to improve their skills and work together some teams were made up of two smaller teams were familiar with all stations so they could work facturing students, but students and staff across
as a group. Last year, they hosted their f rst off- in order to have enough girls to participate. the outside of their assigned tasks when needed. “if the school. seventh-grade Kids biz students
season event titled tWist (together, Women requirement of having all-female drivers enabled i or anyone else at my station were struggling, designed print and digital media for the leash
in steM thrive). the event was created to girls to take their skills to the next level. we could always get help,” said Khannar. “and lodge and advertisements, eighth-grade teen
empower female students to participate front- Not only did high school teams form we had to use the tools in a safe way. We had to Cuisine students created and packaged home-
and-center in a predominantly male industry. in alliances to compete in a double-elimination practice safety above all else.” made dog treats, f fth-grade eneral Music
order to be a part of the tWist event, partici- tournament, but the Warriorbots also included a the whole process–design concept, testing students composed and sang musical jingles for
pating schools were required to have all-female space for First lego league (Fll) teams made and improving, producing, packaging, and advertisements, and special education students
drive teams. Drive teams generally include f ve up of middle school students. “one of our favor- selling–took eight weeks. together, the classes packaged screws and wall anchors.
students: two drivers, a coach, a technician, and ite parts about being in robotics is mentoring created 60 games and sold them to staff and
a human player. other members of the Warrior- younger students,” said reagan bucholtz, senior families. a portion of the sales was donated to
bots, which includes a roster of 24 students and human player. “it’s a great opportunity for them the Christmas Clearing Council of Waukesha
10 mentors, helped with repairs and strategizing to get started and hopefully continue into high County. the classes presented their donation muskegonorway.org
in the pit and cheered the girls on to a f rst-alli- school with us.” during lunch, celebrating the entire process with
ance captaincy and a second-place f nish. robotics is much more than just designing one f nal act of teamwork.
“it’s a great opportunity to show off what we and building a robot. students gain experience
in business, marketing, mentoring, community
outreach, and gaining a variety of steM skills.
they frequently communicate with business
partners to collaborate and fundraise in order to
host events and purchase materials they need to
succeed. “We all love what we do,” said Kierstin
schlevensky, one of the Warriorbots captains
and robot co-pilot. “We are constantly learning
so many new things and spreading the word on
how incredible and passionate we really are as
a team.”

Mass Manufacturing class
teaches teamwork

technical education courses in middle and
high school provide students with an introduc-
tion to a variety of skills in the trades. at lake
denoon Middle school, students in grades
5-8 start working with tools including CNC
machines and laser cutters. they also learn how