Meet Ella Peterson! Kazoo School alumni and current 9th grader at Loy Norrix high school. Ella has had a positive transition to high school and after her first trimester is holding a 4.0 GPA! Ella contributes her success to the excellent middle school faculty at Kazoo School.

"Paige (Maguire) is the best math teacher I have ever had! Paige took the time to teach us to UNDERSTAND math instead of just reviewing it to memorize for a test. Paige spent time with me one-on-one in class and after school. She took the time to find out what kind of learner I am so she could help me to know the material better. Thanks to Paige I am really feeling good about Algebra this year -- it all makes sense and sticks with me."

"Mel (Dr. Melanie Crow), taught us so much about citing, research and giving a college level analysis. My research papers have been recognized at a high level by my high school teachers because of what I learned from Mel. When Langston Hughes came up in class I knew who he was because we studied Harlem Renaissance in Humanities last year."

"Karen (Anderson) is the adult most people wished they could have in their life. You can talk to her about anything."

"I enjoyed STEM with Kate (Ripley) and Steve. They introduced me to knowing all about bees." Ella received a bee house for Christmas and plans to set it up in the family garden this Spring.

Ella says one of the highlights of high school life is being part of the GSA (Gender-Sexuality Alliance). Participating in this club has given her the opportunity to reconnect with former classmates from Parkwood-Upjohn and Maple Street along with continuing relationships with participating Kazoo School alum. The GSA is a wonderful community of accepting, caring students who share and work together on social justice issues. Ella's connection to the GSA also comes from the excellent guidance and open communicative curriculum with Lex Fate at Kazoo School last year.

Ella experienced her education in KPS and transferred to Kazoo School for 8th grade. Ella and her parents agree the year Ella spent at Kazoo had an incredibly positive impact on her in all areas - socially, emotionally and academically.Meet Ella Peterson! Kazoo School alumni and current 9th grader at Loy Norrix high school. Ella has had a positive transition to high school and after her first trimester is holding a 4.0 GPA! Ella contributes her success to the excellent middle school faculty at Kazoo School.

"Paige (Maguire) is the best math teacher I have ever had! Paige took the time to teach us to UNDERSTAND math instead of just reviewing it to memorize for a test. Paige spent time with me one-on-one in class and after school. She took the time to find out what kind of learner I am so she could help me to know the material better. Thanks to Paige I am really feeling good about Algebra this year -- it all makes sense and sticks with me."

"Mel (Dr. Melanie Crow), taught us so much about citing, research and giving a college level analysis. My research papers have been recognized at a high level by my high school teachers because of what I learned from Mel. When Langston Hughes came up in class I knew who he was because we studied Harlem Renaissance in Humanities last year."

"Karen (Anderson) is the adult most people wished they could have in their life. You can talk to her about anything."

"I enjoyed STEM with Kate (Ripley) and Steve. They introduced me to knowing all about bees." Ella received a bee house for Christmas and plans to set it up in the family garden this Spring.

Ella says one of the highlights of high school life is being part of the GSA (Gender-Sexuality Alliance). Participating in this club has given her the opportunity to reconnect with former classmates from Parkwood-Upjohn and Maple Street along with continuing relationships with participating Kazoo School alum. The GSA is a wonderful community of accepting, caring students who share and work together on social justice issues. Ella's connection to the GSA also comes from the excellent guidance and open communicative curriculum with Lex Fate at Kazoo School last year.

Ella experienced her education in KPS and transferred to Kazoo School for 8th grade. Ella and her parents agree the year Ella spent at Kazoo had an incredibly positive impact on her in all areas - socially, emotionally and academically.

Meet Kazoo alumni, Raidan Greene!
Raidan has made a positive transition to Loy Norrix High School. His favorite classes are Ceramics and Novels of Choice and he also enjoys Sword and Board Club. Raidan enjoys seeing friends from Kazoo in the halls and hanging out with them when he can. Raidan is now taking private lessons and renting the space at Glass Art Kalamazoo where he focuses on lampworking. He's been making plant sculptures, oceanscapes and hedgehogs. If you stop in at Art Hop, you might see him behind the flames!

Meet Simone, a Kazoo School alumna and current 10th grader at Loy Norrix High School.

“At Kazoo I learned how to find the support I needed, but also how to work independently and manage my time and projects. It was a lot of responsibility, but it was a lot of one-on-one attention, too. For me, Kazoo was a place where we could talk with teachers and ask questions, not just blindly accept information.”

“The way our teachers taught us, project based learning, was more effective. We walked away with specific memories that stuck with us, like the time we dissected squid and then fried and ate them. The learning from History Day projects has helped me, too. In my high school classes when we are learning about research, writing papers and thesis statements, I feel prepared because of how Kazoo built up my research skills.”

Going to Kazoo gave me a unique writing style which is useful for journalistic writing.

Not only did Kazoo prepare me educationally, but I learned how to make strong connections at kazoo school. So, even at a big place like Norrix, it is easy to make connections with the people in my classes. And the difference between Norrix and Kazoo is just size. It’s been an easy transition. I did like Kazoo School, but I really like the big environment. Norrix isn’t as chill, but I can tell that my teachers really care about me.

I love Kazoo. I was there from 4th grade until 8th grade. I felt like the teachers respected me–which I think is vital for kids, and that allowed me to be creative and self-driven. My teachers at the time gave my group a long leash, so to speak. But I think they were also good at stepping in when we needed an adult voice whether for structure, guidance, authority, what have you. They were also great at tailoring the work we were doing to our level of learning. It is impressive that they could encourage students to choose the projects we were most interested in, and yet the teachers were able to ensure that each of us could be working and learning at different levels and speeds where necessary. The variety in learning styles in tandem with the close relationships of students to each other and their teachers meant that students had the chance to feel both ownership and support. And I know that many of my peers continue to regard learning at Kazoo as formative in their education and life beyond academics. For me, my time at Kazoo gave me the confidence to pursue what really matters to me, and to be able to take on the challenges that come in life with positivity and creativity.

June of 2017, taken on the farm she worked on for 2 years.

8th Grade Graduation-

L-R

Mrs. Russo, Emerald, Ben, ??, Maven, Karen Anderson, Chris Morgan, Jason Weeby

Growing up a Kazoo School kid has made me the person I am today in more ways than I can count. I could talk about the outstanding curriculum, dedicated teachers, and healthy environment I was immersed in for seven wonderful years at Kazoo School, but what makes Kazoo School special goes beyond all this. The greatest thing I took away from my years at Kazoo School was how to work hard, and how to hold myself accountable to a standard higher than what my peers at other school were held to. I can remember playing basketball for Karen Anderson, and having to fill out homework forms every week. The expectation here was twofold. We were expected to know what work had to be accomplished, but more importantly, we were given a framework and support structure to help us complete all assignments either on time or ahead of schedule even with a busy sports calendar. As a college basketball coach, having been raised in such a rigorous yet supportive system helps me make sure my student athletes succeed in the classroom in addition to on the court.

There is a sense of pride you get having been a Kazoo School kid. I was able to be passionate about learning at Kazoo School, I was able to be authentic. I have lived in multiple states since leaving Michigan for college and rarely do I get to come home and visit. Yet when I do, I always make sure to go back and visit Kazoo School.