Schools of the Week: Walnut Grove Elementary and Nolensville High

The Schools of the Week spotlight is on Walnut Grove Elementary and Nolensville High this week. Take a look at the photo galleries below to see some of the fun going on in each school building, and see quotes from employees and students about what makes their school great.

Walnut Grove Elementary

"I love Walnut Grove. This is my third year, and I plan to be here for a long time. I have a lot of fun here, and I love everything about it." - WGES teacher Dylan Gormsen

"I like the possibility to try new things I haven't before. It's just a good experience. I've got a lot of friends here, and everyone's nice." - WGES student Kade Beukelman

Students in Walnut Grove Elementary art teacher Lauren Dingmann's class are finding that art can be created in many different ways.

Fifth graders used a folded sheet of paper and some paint to make symmetrical art pieces on January 5. By dripping paint on one half of the paper and then pressing it closed, the finished product could resemble anything from a butterfly, a weather map, an ink blot and more.

"It could look like a butterfly or a moth, just something that was symmetrical," said WGES student Anna Mosley. "It was an abstract art piece. It's tons of fun because we get to add a lot of colors and just do whatever we want."

Nolensville High

"Nolensville High is so special because of the community support. NHS is the heartbeat of Nolensville. Nolensville is an incredibly diverse and successful community, and the success is reflected in the students and staff at NHS. Amy Maffei has created a culture at NHS that creates an environment of academic excellence and teacher collaboration. NHS has only been around since 2016 but is making a name for itself in Williamson County and, quite frankly, all of Tennessee." - NHS teacher Joshua Leslie

"I like the community and the friendships I've made. I've done a lot of different sports over the year, so I've gotten to meet a lot of people. All the teachers, coaches and parents are always really nice. All the teachers have been so welcoming to all of us." - NHS Jenna Moyer

Nursing students at Nolensville High are learning skills that will benefit them long after high school.

Health Science teacher Amy Glenn tests her students throughout the year on new skills from each unit they cover. From practicing range of motion exercises to learning how to brush the teeth of a comatose patient, the students are getting a wide range of opportunities in the program.

"I've been in the nursing program since I was a sophomore," said NHS student Emma Boualaphanh. "It's so interesting, and I love the class dynamic. I really like to help people, and I really want to become a clinical educator. Combining my love of teaching and clinical science is so cool."