Patience, perseverance, compassion, overcoming the fear of public speaking, and sparking creativity are just a few of the learning outcomes achieved by Nonnewaug High School seniors through their Mastery-Based Learning Experience (MBLE) projects. On May 21, seniors presented their projects to staff and teachers, showcasing skills they developed outside the traditional classroom setting in areas that were both meaningful and personally interesting to them.

Through MBLE, students transformed their passions into learning experiences. Some of the projects included specialized dog training, cat rescue, learning new welding techniques, repairing an engine, building a stone patio, self-taught fiber arts, creating a terrarium, outreach to the homeless community, and developing the skills needed to teach a course, and so many more. Other students pursued research projects in areas such as business management, special education, and film, while some expanded their agriscience Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects.

The goal of MBLE is to provide students with an independent learning experience that promotes personal growth while strengthening the academic and real-world skills needed in an ever-changing global community. The program also reflects the district’s Vision of a Learner attributes by encouraging students to think critically and creatively, collaborate and communicate effectively, demonstrate empathy, take initiative, persevere through challenges, and adapt to new situations.