DISTRICT NEWS

Written by Jackson Stangler and Wyatt Moscicki WILL HE FIND A WAY? Ever since Vince was 18, he had a feeling he had powers unlike any other. Vince would soon learn that he would have to find a way to get to the Land Beyond the Clouds. Will Vince be able to find his true self? The Land Beyond the Clouds The Land Beyond the Clouds: Authors and Illustrators

Written by: Clayton S., Ian A., Franco B., Teddy B., and Hayden W. Did you know that we have a pond behind Horizon? Sadly, instead of enjoying it, some people are throwing rocks at the animals and putting trash in the water. This can harm the pond and everything living in it. Our first reason for keeping the pond clean is that it is part of nature. Nature is already being damaged in many places, so we need to do our part to protect it. For example, you can help by not throwin

Written by Logan D., Austin G., and Sterling K. Is indoor or outdoor recess better? That is a big question for many 5th graders! We surveyed 154 students to find out what they think, and the results were very close. Survey Results Outdoor recess was the winner with 82 votes (53.2%). Indoor recess was close behind with 72 votes (46.8%). Even though outdoor recess won, many students shared strong reasons for liking both options. Why Students Like Indoor Recess Some students pre

What they are and how to make your own Written by Cadeon W. A lava lamp is a glass container filled with colorful liquid and wax that moves up and down as it heats, resembling flowing lava. Lava lamps were invented in 1963 by Edwin Craven Walker. People like lava lamps because they are bright, slow-moving, and relaxing to watch, and they can even help you feel calm. Did you know you can create your own lava lamp at home? It’s a fun and simple science experiment! Materials: A

How learning helps you shine now and in the future By Madison T. and Aarohi P. Lights on. Curtain up. It’s showtime! Believe it or not, school is like a stage where you practice the skills you need for the future. Every subject helps you get ready for your big performance in life. Here are just a few of the many learning opportunities and experiences for students. Building Social Skills At school, you learn how to talk, listen, and work with others. These skills help you

A look at what it takes to make the show happen Written by Maevyn M., Hadley P., Soronorah T., Tyler J., and Hayden W. Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of the 5th Grade talent show? Each year, Horizon’s talent show gives 5th graders a chance to share their talents and celebrate their final year of elementary school. From singing and dancing to jokes and instruments, the show features exciting performances. But it takes a lot of hard work from teachers to

A visit from a real mystery writer! Written by Thanha D., Emily O., and Sophia C. David A. Kelly visited Horizon Elementary to talk about his books, his writing process, and how he became an author. He even shared stories about his Milwaukee Brewers mystery books! From Struggling Writer to Author When David A. Kelly was a kid, he didn’t like writing and said he wasn’t very good at it. He even joked that his younger self would be shocked to learn he had become an author! Later

Written by Srithik G., Kenzie K., Amelia B., and Austin G. Have you ever had a teacher who makes learning exciting and pushes you to do your best? That is exactly the kind of teacher Mrs. Swenson is! Mrs. Swenson has been teaching for 19 years, spending most of that time working with 5th graders in math, science, and social studies. She brings energy, passion, and care into everything she does. Math is her favorite subject, and it shows in the way she supports her students an

Ride the trails and try something new! Written by Claire S. Did you know that mountain biking is a club in the Pewaukee School District? This exciting club gives students a chance to ride bikes, explore nature, and build new skills. Practices take place on school trails, at Heritage Hill State Park, and at Minooka Park. To learn more, we talked to two experts: Ms. Miller, a coach, and Calley Anderson, a rider on the Pewaukee team. Meet the Coach: Ms. Miller Ms. Miller became

A Horizon tradition full of fun and excitement Written by Aadhya J., Avery L., Brynn G., Lily Dysert, Olivia P. Did you know the Teachers vs. Students March Madness game is one of Horizon’s favorite traditions? This exciting event takes place right before spring break and brings the whole school together. From cheering crowds to fast-paced games, it’s a day many students look forward to all year. We asked 5th graders what March Madness means to them and what makes it so speci

Bringing reading, fun, and friendly competition together! Written by Annabelle M. and Kennedy G. March Madness is full of excitement, surprises, and competition, but at Horizon School, it’s not just about sports. This year, we had a March Madness Book Competition! Students voted for their favorite books as they moved through a bracket, just like in basketball. This fun activity helped make reading more exciting while encouraging students to stay responsible, respectful, and

Book 1: The Dragon Maze Written by Tyler J. Chapter 1: The First Quest September 2nd, 1:38 PM “Okay guys, are you ready for our first quest?” Tom the Thief asks. “Yes,” Tyler the Wizard and Barry the Barbarian answer. “Okay, so let’s leave our house and find the lobby,” Tom says as he heads out. Tyler and Barry follow. “How long will it take to walk to the lobby?” Tyler asks. “About 30 more minutes,” Barry answers. Thirty minutes later, Tyler the Wizard, Barry the Barbarian,

Yearbook Cover Contest Winner: Aadhya J. I am honored to be the winner of the 2025 - 2026 yearbook cover, representing Horizon Elementary School. The motto for our school has changed, which gave me a chance to create something new. I tried to represent the new motto, "Rowing Together: Every Learner, Every Day." “ Goose-a-Corn” Created by Landri L. “Retro” Created by Ellie Josol “Mount Hydra” Created by Calvin K. and Salvatore B. “Chubby Panda” Created by Josie M.

From designs to real objects at Horizon Written by Amelia B., Riley B., and Mia C. Have you ever wondered how a machine can create real objects from an idea? That’s exactly what a 3D printer does! A 3D printer uses a material called filament (a thin plastic strand) and builds objects layer by layer until the design is complete. First, students design and create using software compatible with the 3D printer. Then, the printer is prepped for printing. Next, the filament is fed

How students can help create a safer school for everyone By Landri L., Mila M., and Ayzah A. Have you ever been bullied, or have you seen someone else get hurt by mean words or actions? Sadly, bullying is a problem in many schools, including ours. Bullying can happen in different ways, such as physically, emotionally, socially, or online. No one deserves to feel unsafe or unwelcome. Bullying can cause real harm. Hurtful words and actions can make people feel sad, scared, or

Go backstage to discover how the cast and crew brought the high school musical to life. Written by Zoe Leben and Mary Powell As 5th graders, many of us dream of becoming pro athletes, singers, police officers, reporters, or teachers. Others dream of performing under the bright stage lights. Luckily, the Pewaukee School District has an amazing drama program that begins in middle school and continues through high school. On February 3rd, the Hook Jr. staff had the exciting opp

Written by Fisher E., Everett S., and Clark S. Have you ever wondered who works behind the scenes? The answer is Mr. Sevens! Not only is he the director of the Matilda play, but he is also a behind-the-scenes leader who helps bring things together. Mr. Sevens has been working for Pewaukee Schools since 2012 as the Technical Facilities Manager in charge of the auditorium and has been a leader of the drama club ever since. It is time to showcase his hard work and creativity thr

Want to learn more about the Pewaukee JV Basketball Team? This article shares the team’s Three Pillars, practice times, game times, and how the basketball format works. A fun bonus: part of this article was written by the head coach’s kid! Read on and watch your Pewaukee basketball knowledge shoot up! The Three Pillars You might be thinking about those 3 Pillars, well, we know about them. The 3 Pillars are Trust, Be A Great Teammate, and Play Hard. Trust in basketball is a

Have you ever felt upset or overwhelmed during recess and needed a quiet place to calm down? That is where the Calming Cove comes in. A Calming Cove is a safe, peaceful space on the playground where students can take a short break, calm their bodies and minds, and then return to playing when they are ready. The Calming Cove concept was developed by Derek Walz, who worked with Scherrer Cares to bring it to life. Scherrer Cares is a non-profit organization that helps build kin

How Can You Solve Problems at Recess? Imagine you are playing at recess and you see a problem start. What should you do? First, think about the Tree of Choices. Is it a small problem or a big problem? If it is a small problem, try to solve it on your own by talking calmly, using kind words, taking deep breaths, or walking it out until you feel ready to play again. If it is a big problem, like fighting or someone getting hurt, you should get an adult right away. Thank you, M