With the Annual Fund targeting the many needs that will arise from the building of Patriots Hall, the students thought it would be good to use a visual medium to provide supporters with a glimpse of life in the new buildings. This video was sent home with weekly newsletters. If you had trouble viewing it on your home computer or DVD player, just watch it here.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Two Down, Six To Go
This past weeekend BA swimmer Kelsey Hojan-Clark accomplished the rare feat of winning two state titles at the WIAA Division II state swimming meet. Kelsey took first in the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute 50.27 seconds, the second-best time ever behind the state record of 1:49.94 set by Shorewood's Jamie Belfor in 1996. She also won the 500 free on Friday, and her 4:54.18 mark ranks second-best all time behind the record of 4:53.94 set by Belfor in '96. Blogger thinks Belfour better watch out as Kelsey is only a sophomore. In fact, Blogger thinks Kelsey might attempt a Michael Phelps next year and compete in eight events! From what Blogger knows about Kelsey and her teammates, eight gold medals is a strong possibility.
For the time being, though, being named the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Prep Athlete of the Week will have to suffice. Go to http://www.jsonline.com/sports/preps/34620309.html and read about Kelsey.
Grace Paquelet, also a sophomore, placed 10th in the 500 freestyle (5:18.78), dropping her sectional time by 10 seconds. Grace and Kelsey are part of a swim team that has established quite a reputation for excellence, despite the small number of team members and the fact that there is no pool on campus. Those obstacles do not seem to be much of a deterrence.
Congratulations to the entire girls swim team. What a tremendous effort by these girls and what a marvelous reflection of their dedication to their sport and to representing Brookfield Academy.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Toiling in Successful Anonymity
When looking at high school sports results in the sports section, BA Blogger noticed that BA's own Kelsey Hojan-Clark is currently the fastest 500 yard swimmer in the state. At sectionals she beat everyone in Division II by well over 20 seconds. Teammate Grace Paquelet will be joining Kelsey at the state swim meet. Who needs Michael Phelps and Dara Torres when we have Kelsey Hojan-Clark and Grace Paquelet? They are part of a very successful swim team, yet they and their swim team teammates fly (swim?) under the athletic radar screen.
The BA Cross Country team recently competed at the state tournament for the eighth straight year. The cc team has won eight conference titles in nine years and six sectional titles since 2001! This is an astounding record of success and one that is unmatched in BA athletic history. (Except by the equally successful BA track team). Yet their exploits are relatively underreported.
The BA Cross Country team recently competed at the state tournament for the eighth straight year. The cc team has won eight conference titles in nine years and six sectional titles since 2001! This is an astounding record of success and one that is unmatched in BA athletic history. (Except by the equally successful BA track team). Yet their exploits are relatively underreported.While it is a fact that football and basketball are the most "public" of high school sports, BA Blogger wants to celebrate the efforts and recognize the dedication of student-athletes who compete with little or no fanfare for the good of Brookfield Academy. Removed from the glare of the bright lights, these athletes are in the pool at 6:00 AM or train in relative isolation on the back hills of running courses. When it comes time to compete against other schools, they are surrounded by teammates, family and some students, but the simple reality is that big crowds are not the source of their motivation nor is the adulation of publicity. Yet they have wracked up an impressive litany of accomplishments.
While it is impossible to alter patterns of popularity, BA Blogger salutes BA's cross country and swim teams. Selfless in their efforts and reaching unheard of levels of success, these two teams quietly represent the best in BA athletics.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Concrete Flows!
What's so exciting about seeing a cement truck pouring concrete?Not much unless it is pouring concrete at the site of Brookfield Academy's future high school. The arrival of concrete signals the start of work on the actual foundation of the building. Construction terms like "excavating foundations" and "footings" and "backfill" are part of the discussion as Patriots Hall construction starts in earnest. BA Blogger is not sure what any of those terms mean, but saying them out loud sounds really cool!
If you want to sneak a peek at building construction progress, click on the Patriots Hall webcam link located to the right of this blog for a live look at the "job site." (Job site, another great term, is construction lingo for the location of Patriots Hall!) You can also follow Soar with the Stars...A Stellar Opportunity capital campaign happenings by going to http://www.brookfieldacademy.org/ and 
clicking on Soar With The Stars. BA is dedicated to keeping everyone informed about the progress of Patriots Hall, especially when "underfloor plumbing," "drywall tapping," and "topping slab" occur. Again, BA Blogger is not sure what those construction terms mean, but they sure do sound like progress! If you don't believe the blogger, check out some live action scenes from today's concrete pour.
College Admissions Expert To Speak At BA
While Brookfield Academy's academic program prepares students to compete for admission to the best colleges and universities in the country, providing students and parents with the intellectual capital essential to understanding the college admissions process is a major aspect of the college counseling program.
Students begin this learning process their freshmen year when they take a formal college admissions class, set personal and academic goals, hear from seniors about their personal college admissions process, do a practice PSAT, and meet with teachers to discuss the college recommendations teachers will eventually write for them. Sophomore year, the students become familiar with the College Board website, visit college campuses, and begin to take SAT and ACT practice tests. In the junior year, the focus begins to narrow to the individual student and the process of building a college list begins in earnest. By second semester of the junior year, students are beginning to prepare to formally apply to schools of their choice. All this preparation culminates with the formal submission of college applications during first semester of the senior year.
Parents are partners in the college admissions process. Like their children, the process begins in the freshman year, when parents are invited to college counseling seminars. As they move further into the process, the focus narrows to the individual child and their college admissions predilections.
The BA college counseling approach is intent on taking the complexity out of the process and ensuring that BA students are in the best possible position when it comes to choosing a college of their choice. On Tuesday, November 11, Brookfield Academy further demonstrates its commitment to demystifying college admissions by welcoming Mr. Lee Stetson, recently retired Dean of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania and a 29-year veteran of the college admissions process. Mr. Stetson travels throughout the United States speaking about the highly-competitive college admissions process and is a leading expert in the field of college admissions; his insight into admissions strategies will be invaluable. This speech is open to all BA families and the college counseling department strongly encourages parents of students in grades 7-12 to attend Mr. Stetson's presentation. It is at 7 pm in the Upper School gym and is free of charge.
The BA college counseling program is a sophisticated response to the highly-competitive world of college and university admissions. The visit by Mr. Stetson is another part of the learning process essential to realizing the goal of admission to the college of your choice. Be sure to join other BA students and parents in taking advantage of another opportunity to prepare for the college admissions process.
Students begin this learning process their freshmen year when they take a formal college admissions class, set personal and academic goals, hear from seniors about their personal college admissions process, do a practice PSAT, and meet with teachers to discuss the college recommendations teachers will eventually write for them. Sophomore year, the students become familiar with the College Board website, visit college campuses, and begin to take SAT and ACT practice tests. In the junior year, the focus begins to narrow to the individual student and the process of building a college list begins in earnest. By second semester of the junior year, students are beginning to prepare to formally apply to schools of their choice. All this preparation culminates with the formal submission of college applications during first semester of the senior year.
Parents are partners in the college admissions process. Like their children, the process begins in the freshman year, when parents are invited to college counseling seminars. As they move further into the process, the focus narrows to the individual child and their college admissions predilections.
The BA college counseling approach is intent on taking the complexity out of the process and ensuring that BA students are in the best possible position when it comes to choosing a college of their choice. On Tuesday, November 11, Brookfield Academy further demonstrates its commitment to demystifying college admissions by welcoming Mr. Lee Stetson, recently retired Dean of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania and a 29-year veteran of the college admissions process. Mr. Stetson travels throughout the United States speaking about the highly-competitive college admissions process and is a leading expert in the field of college admissions; his insight into admissions strategies will be invaluable. This speech is open to all BA families and the college counseling department strongly encourages parents of students in grades 7-12 to attend Mr. Stetson's presentation. It is at 7 pm in the Upper School gym and is free of charge.The BA college counseling program is a sophisticated response to the highly-competitive world of college and university admissions. The visit by Mr. Stetson is another part of the learning process essential to realizing the goal of admission to the college of your choice. Be sure to join other BA students and parents in taking advantage of another opportunity to prepare for the college admissions process.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Thrill of Victory...
and the agony of defeat was experienced this past Tuesday night by the Brookfield Academy football team and their many fans. In a game that was talked about in newspapers, on radio stations, and in sports blogs across southeast Wisconsin, the overwhelming underdog Blue Knight football team matched up with Racine Lutheran in the first round of the WIAA state playoffs. The Blue Knights fought its way back a number of times and eventually took the lead with a little over one minute left in the game, only to lose 35-34 on a last play blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone.
Athletic events come and go, but this particular game will live in athletic infamy at Brookfield Academy not because of the final score, but because of the heart and determination exhibited by the football team. Unequivocally, the spectators who witnessed that game were privileged to be part of something special, made so by the gritty effort demonstrated by a bunch of young kids. It was an amazing game and one that truly symbolized all that is good in athletics.
Extracurriculars, whether it be athletics, theater or clubs, provide a great deal of joy, excitement, and sometimes disappointment to the BA community. None of these emotions would be possible without the commitment of the students. Toiling in relative anonymity, the students attend practice after practice in order to prepare to perform for the benefit of others. The BA community becomes the joyous recipient of their effort.
To all the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools students who augment their core academic experience with extracurricular participation, the BA community salutes you. While the final score may not always fall BA's way, thanks to your dedication and drive, BA is always in the game.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Homecoming Festivities
Before over 1,000 football fans, the Brookfield Academy Blue Knights defeated conference rival Lake Country Lutheran 21-17 in the homecoming football game. The victory propelled the Blue Knights into first place in the Midwest Classic Conference and culminated a night of homecoming fun and spirit rarely seen on the Academy campus. Beginning with Upper School service activities and a homecoming pep assembly, the day included a number of sporting events prior to the football game, including victories by the school's field hockey, soccer and volleyball team. Of course, the annual chili tailgate party served as the backdrop to most of the events. Homecoming attendees were able to watch the events on a full stomach!
Homecoming 
this year also marked the opening of the team room project. Under construction since June, the 2500 square foot addition to the concession stand features home and visiting locker rooms, coaches offices, officials rooms, and plenty of storage. The locker rooms will eventually serve as the official home of the football team, allowing them to vacate the cramped locker room that currently serves them. Thanks to the generosity of the 2007 Dinner Auction, over $325,00 was raised to help pay for the locker rooms.
this year also marked the opening of the team room project. Under construction since June, the 2500 square foot addition to the concession stand features home and visiting locker rooms, coaches offices, officials rooms, and plenty of storage. The locker rooms will eventually serve as the official home of the football team, allowing them to vacate the cramped locker room that currently serves them. Thanks to the generosity of the 2007 Dinner Auction, over $325,00 was raised to help pay for the locker rooms. 
Of course, no homecoming weekend is complete without the annual Five Star Run. Under bright blue skies, the gun sounded at 12 noon signaling the start of the race and over 250 runners, walkers, gifted dogs, and strollers undertook either a 5k or a one mile challenge. This marks the 28th year the Five Star Run has been held and people are already training for number 29.
Whether it was at the Friday night football game or Saturday's Five Star Run it was great to see many alums returning to campus as well. It was truly a special week for Brookfield Academy and one that spotlighted growing school spirit.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Grandparents Rock
On an absolutely perfect fall day, Brookfield Academy welcomed over 450 grandparents from around the world to its campus for the annual Grandparents Day celebration. This year's Grandparents Day theme was "Grandparents Rock" and each grandparent was given a small rock from the new Patriots Hall building site.
This year's "rockingest" grandparents were honorary Grandparents Day chairs Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Mclario. Long-time supporters and grandparents to ten BA students, the Mclarios still have grandkids in all three divisions. However, the Mclarios are way behind in the grandkid game as it was discovered this year that one of BA's grandparents has 42 grand kids!
The day began with grandparents assembling in the gym for breakfast and student presentations. Grandparent Mary York presented an update on the Patriots Hall building project and the following are some excerpts from her speech.
"GRANDPARENTS ROCK!!!! is the theme of this Grandparent’s Day…and we do rock. Now, I am not sure we rock like Elvis or the Beatles did, or that we sit and rock in rocking chairs but….we sure do rock in many significant ways! "
"Last year you all received a letter from me telling you about our capital campaign, Soar with the Stars, and asking you to join us and to contribute. I am pleased to say, to date we have raised 11.5 M, only $500,000 short of our goal. This is the largest amount ever raised by this school and we are extremely proud of the support received. However, we are still 500,000 short of our goal. Some of you have given and given generously. I am asking you, as we ask our students, to dig a little deeper, to try a little harder, to reach for the stars, and to help us raise the last $500,000. This will benefit all of our grandchildren."
"The Soar with the Stars has been a monumental undertaking. We have received wonderful support…hundreds have worked on the campaign, 100% of the faculty has given (unusual for any school) as well as many many donors for which we are grateful…..but we still need that last $500,000. I am hopeful, as you head off to watch and enjoy your grandchildren this morning, you will consider joining our campaign and help us finish the job we started. You have been the rocks of your family and we need you to be the rocks of BA. Please consider adding to the rocks that will build for the future of your grandchild’s education."
After Mary's presentation, the grandparents were entertained by Lower School poems and songs, and then by the Middle and Upper School chorus'.
After the formal assembly, the real action began. Transported by an army of BA golf carts, the grandparents descended upon their grandchild's classroom for fun and learning. Thankful to have survived the ride, grandparents got a small glimpse of life as a BA student. Indeed, a visit from grandma or grandpa is the highlight of the day for the students.
Grandparents Day is one of BA's best days. Nothing goes wrong when grandma and grandpa are on campus...unless, of course, "grandma gets run over by a golf cart." Fortunately that did not happen this year, thus ensuring a great Grandparents Day at BA.
Take a look at some scenes from BA's Grandparents Day 2008 by clicking on the video below.
This year's "rockingest" grandparents were honorary Grandparents Day chairs Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Mclario. Long-time supporters and grandparents to ten BA students, the Mclarios still have grandkids in all three divisions. However, the Mclarios are way behind in the grandkid game as it was discovered this year that one of BA's grandparents has 42 grand kids!
The day began with grandparents assembling in the gym for breakfast and student presentations. Grandparent Mary York presented an update on the Patriots Hall building project and the following are some excerpts from her speech.
"GRANDPARENTS ROCK!!!! is the theme of this Grandparent’s Day…and we do rock. Now, I am not sure we rock like Elvis or the Beatles did, or that we sit and rock in rocking chairs but….we sure do rock in many significant ways! ""Last year you all received a letter from me telling you about our capital campaign, Soar with the Stars, and asking you to join us and to contribute. I am pleased to say, to date we have raised 11.5 M, only $500,000 short of our goal. This is the largest amount ever raised by this school and we are extremely proud of the support received. However, we are still 500,000 short of our goal. Some of you have given and given generously. I am asking you, as we ask our students, to dig a little deeper, to try a little harder, to reach for the stars, and to help us raise the last $500,000. This will benefit all of our grandchildren."
"The Soar with the Stars has been a monumental undertaking. We have received wonderful support…hundreds have worked on the campaign, 100% of the faculty has given (unusual for any school) as well as many many donors for which we are grateful…..but we still need that last $500,000. I am hopeful, as you head off to watch and enjoy your grandchildren this morning, you will consider joining our campaign and help us finish the job we started. You have been the rocks of your family and we need you to be the rocks of BA. Please consider adding to the rocks that will build for the future of your grandchild’s education."
After Mary's presentation, the grandparents were entertained by Lower School poems and songs, and then by the Middle and Upper School chorus'.
After the formal assembly, the real action began. Transported by an army of BA golf carts, the grandparents descended upon their grandchild's classroom for fun and learning. Thankful to have survived the ride, grandparents got a small glimpse of life as a BA student. Indeed, a visit from grandma or grandpa is the highlight of the day for the students.
Grandparents Day is one of BA's best days. Nothing goes wrong when grandma and grandpa are on campus...unless, of course, "grandma gets run over by a golf cart." Fortunately that did not happen this year, thus ensuring a great Grandparents Day at BA.
Take a look at some scenes from BA's Grandparents Day 2008 by clicking on the video below.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Homecoming Fun
While the Homecoming dance is the culminating homecoming event, the entire week leading up to the dance is full of activities. All three divisions get involved in capturing the spirit of homecoming week.
Homecoming Friday is the penultimate day in the week's activities. There are a variety of events that day and they truly put the "home" in homecoming. Upper School students engage in a number of service activities on Friday, there is an all-school pep assembly, the many BA sports teams begin playing immediately after school, and the night culminates with the BA football game.
As part of the festivities, there is an all-BA chili tailgate. Attended by students, parents, and alumni of the Academy, the tailgate has become an important part of the homecoming tradition. It is a time for the entire BA community to come together in the spirit of homecoming and celebrate. Perhaps some attendees can remember that so many people attended the first tailgate that BA ran out of food and drinks! Over 1000 loyal BA supporters attend the tailgate, including a large number of alumni for whom homecoming has special meaning.
As part of the fun this year, tailgate volunteer co-Chair Connie Peppel has put together an amazing "Ultimate Sports and Entertainment Basket" to be raffled to one lucky winner. Included in the basket are tickets to a 2009 Brewers game (sorry playoff tickets are not part of the basket), various Brewer items such as a bags, hats, and clothing, Wisconsin Badgers clothing, an NFL game football, gift certificates to various Brookfield area restaurants, BA spirit merchandise and a 60 quart cooler on wheels. Oh, and by the way, there are autographed Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun baseballs! How about that for great timing?! We thank Connie and co-chair Gigi Balkhy for their hard work in organizing this fun event for all BA families and alums.There are two ways to enter the "Ultimate Sports and Entertainment Basket" raffle. Purchase an $8.00 ticket to the chili tailgate or buy a separate raffle ticket for $5.00. Pre-sale $5.00 tickets are available at Four Season coffee or you can purchase at the door on Friday night. Winners need not be present, but must include their name on the back of the raffle ticket.
We hope all BA supporters, especially BA alumni, will return for the Friday night festivities. The tailgate starts at 5:30 and kick off for the football game is 7:00 PM. Field hockey, soccer, and volleyball are all in action prior to the football game. BA will also be officially opening the new team rooms. Ribbon cutting for that event will take place at 6:45.
And, of course, the 28th annual Five Star Run takes place at 12:00 noon on Saturday. Honorary Chair Bob Bair and co-chair Cindy Reiske welcome all to that BA tradition. Bob wants everyone to know that being in shape is not a requirement for participation.To learn more about the timing of all the BA activities happening this week, visit http://www.brookfieldacademy.org/. We hope you will take part in the fun!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
BA Tradition
On September 10, 1962, Brookfield Academy opened its doors to 33 students and five faculty members. Since then it has become a tradition to hold the Founders Day assembly every year on September 10th. All students, faculty, parents, and guests assemble at the same location where the original 38 stood and commemorate the founding with a guest speaker and induction of past faculty and staff into the Brookfield Academy Honor Roll of Distinguished Service.
Renowned educational theorist Thomas Sergiovanni talks about the importance of shared values, beliefs, and norms in creating an authentic school community. He believes that knowledge of a school's history, the people, events, and anecdotes that helped shape a school's identity, is an essential component of a healthy and successful school. Through its well-organized archives, written histories of the Academy, and personal stories that have been passed down through the years, Brookfield Academy's rich tradition continues to give the school meaning and quietly contributes to its success. The Founders Day celebration reflects the school's emphasis on mission, tradition, and history.
This year the Academy welcomed as its speaker Miss Cindy Davis. A 1998 graduate of Brookfield Academy, Cindy is currently practicing law with the firm of Foley and Lardner. Cindy has a special and unique connection to Founders Day as it was her grandparents, Walter and Betty Davis, who were among the founding families of the Academy. Indeed, Cindy's father was one of the 33 students who stood at the top of the hill in 1962. As a BA student Cindy herself attended 14 Founders Days assemblies. While her return as guest speaker may have seemed surreal, in her speech Cindy captured the spirit and essence of Brookfield Academy. Here are some excerpts from Cindy's speech:
It feels like not too long ago I was a student standing on the blacktop right where you are all standing. I have many memories of Founders Day, some of which consist of commiserating with fellow students about how the teachers made us trek to the top of this windy hill and stand patiently while we listened to some speaker carry on about how great Brookfield Academy is. Well, you know the saying, what goes around, comes around. I do realize, now that I have the distinct honor of speaking to all of you on Founders Day, that maybe those speakers really did know what they were talking about.
Two years ago, I had the amazing opportunity to serve as the judicial law clerk to Justice David Prosser in the Wisconsin Supreme Court. I worked in the majestic State Capitol in Madison and got to listen to the parties’ oral arguments in the grand courtroom. I thought the cases that the Supreme Court would hear would be really substantive and controversial—dealing with constitutional law like freedom of speech and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. The court did have a lot of cases like those. But, the court also had one case that brought me back to Mrs. Daane’s grammar class in Middle School and those two weeks or so when we studied commas and how commas can change the meaning of a sentence. We learned about restrictive versus non-restrictive clauses, and I still remember Mrs. Daane’s catchy phrase to help us remember when we use a comma and when we don’t. The case that the Justices heard involved a medical malpractice and wrongful death claim. Thousands of dollars were at stake for a family who had just lost a mother and a wife as a result of a doctor’s mistake. Instead of arguing about lofty principles and ideals, the case came down to a single sentence found in the Wisconsin Statutes drafted by the Legislature. The Legislature ended up using a comma followed by the word “which” and for those of you grammar buffs out there, it thus created a non-restrictive clause. And the question that the court had to decide was whether the Legislature really meant to use a comma. Now, I won’t bore you with all the details of the case. The point I want to make is that a case made it all the way to the Wisconsin Supreme Court because a law was not written as clearly as it should have been. Commas were used when they allegedly should not have been. And all the while I was thinking, wow, that two week session on commas in Middle School class really did matter.
Brookfield Academy is a constant reminder to me that the conventional route isn’t always the best route—that you don’t always have to follow the crowd or accept the status quo. By its very example, Brookfield Academy has taught me to check the assumptions when I don’t agree with the conclusions, and it has provided me the wherewithal when presented with “Option A” or “Option B” to say with quiet confidence, “Thanks, but no thanks, I’m going with ‘Option C’.” And finally, Brookfield Academy has prepared me for the hard work and responsibility that go along with making Option C happen.
As we embark on this next stage of BA’s history with a brand new high school and state-of-the -art athletic facilities, we cannot and should not become complacent, take this success for granted or forget what makes this school so special. As my dad said in his Founders Day speech in 1989, “While the Academy has seen many changes in its life since the first opening day, the most important things are unchanged and are just as alive today as they were 27 years ago.” And so I say to you today: While the Academy is experiencing many new and exciting changes, the most important things are unchanged and will continue to be just as alive today and tomorrow as they were 46 years ago, so as long as we continue to cherish and hold tight to those things that make Brookfield Academy so special to us. Too often we forget what we have or how much something means to us until it’s gone or jeopardized. Let’s not make that mistake here. Nor let us forget all the hard work that has been put into this school and continues to be put into this school ever since the Founders paved the way for us and chose Option C way back in 1962. From the outside looking in, it looks pretty easy. But, we all know it isn’t. I know that my grandfather and the rest of the Founders would be very proud of the Brookfield Academy today. So, let’s be proud of ourselves too and show that pride to others.
And finally, as you begin another school year, I would like to leave you with a quote from a book that has provided me with inspiration and has challenged me to reach for the stars and believe that this life can be whatever it is that I want it to be. It is a quote by Ayn Rand, from her famous book, Atlas Shrugged:
“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.”
Renowned educational theorist Thomas Sergiovanni talks about the importance of shared values, beliefs, and norms in creating an authentic school community. He believes that knowledge of a school's history, the people, events, and anecdotes that helped shape a school's identity, is an essential component of a healthy and successful school. Through its well-organized archives, written histories of the Academy, and personal stories that have been passed down through the years, Brookfield Academy's rich tradition continues to give the school meaning and quietly contributes to its success. The Founders Day celebration reflects the school's emphasis on mission, tradition, and history.
This year the Academy welcomed as its speaker Miss Cindy Davis. A 1998 graduate of Brookfield Academy, Cindy is currently practicing law with the firm of Foley and Lardner. Cindy has a special and unique connection to Founders Day as it was her grandparents, Walter and Betty Davis, who were among the founding families of the Academy. Indeed, Cindy's father was one of the 33 students who stood at the top of the hill in 1962. As a BA student Cindy herself attended 14 Founders Days assemblies. While her return as guest speaker may have seemed surreal, in her speech Cindy captured the spirit and essence of Brookfield Academy. Here are some excerpts from Cindy's speech:
It feels like not too long ago I was a student standing on the blacktop right where you are all standing. I have many memories of Founders Day, some of which consist of commiserating with fellow students about how the teachers made us trek to the top of this windy hill and stand patiently while we listened to some speaker carry on about how great Brookfield Academy is. Well, you know the saying, what goes around, comes around. I do realize, now that I have the distinct honor of speaking to all of you on Founders Day, that maybe those speakers really did know what they were talking about.Two years ago, I had the amazing opportunity to serve as the judicial law clerk to Justice David Prosser in the Wisconsin Supreme Court. I worked in the majestic State Capitol in Madison and got to listen to the parties’ oral arguments in the grand courtroom. I thought the cases that the Supreme Court would hear would be really substantive and controversial—dealing with constitutional law like freedom of speech and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. The court did have a lot of cases like those. But, the court also had one case that brought me back to Mrs. Daane’s grammar class in Middle School and those two weeks or so when we studied commas and how commas can change the meaning of a sentence. We learned about restrictive versus non-restrictive clauses, and I still remember Mrs. Daane’s catchy phrase to help us remember when we use a comma and when we don’t. The case that the Justices heard involved a medical malpractice and wrongful death claim. Thousands of dollars were at stake for a family who had just lost a mother and a wife as a result of a doctor’s mistake. Instead of arguing about lofty principles and ideals, the case came down to a single sentence found in the Wisconsin Statutes drafted by the Legislature. The Legislature ended up using a comma followed by the word “which” and for those of you grammar buffs out there, it thus created a non-restrictive clause. And the question that the court had to decide was whether the Legislature really meant to use a comma. Now, I won’t bore you with all the details of the case. The point I want to make is that a case made it all the way to the Wisconsin Supreme Court because a law was not written as clearly as it should have been. Commas were used when they allegedly should not have been. And all the while I was thinking, wow, that two week session on commas in Middle School class really did matter.
Brookfield Academy is a constant reminder to me that the conventional route isn’t always the best route—that you don’t always have to follow the crowd or accept the status quo. By its very example, Brookfield Academy has taught me to check the assumptions when I don’t agree with the conclusions, and it has provided me the wherewithal when presented with “Option A” or “Option B” to say with quiet confidence, “Thanks, but no thanks, I’m going with ‘Option C’.” And finally, Brookfield Academy has prepared me for the hard work and responsibility that go along with making Option C happen.
As we embark on this next stage of BA’s history with a brand new high school and state-of-the -art athletic facilities, we cannot and should not become complacent, take this success for granted or forget what makes this school so special. As my dad said in his Founders Day speech in 1989, “While the Academy has seen many changes in its life since the first opening day, the most important things are unchanged and are just as alive today as they were 27 years ago.” And so I say to you today: While the Academy is experiencing many new and exciting changes, the most important things are unchanged and will continue to be just as alive today and tomorrow as they were 46 years ago, so as long as we continue to cherish and hold tight to those things that make Brookfield Academy so special to us. Too often we forget what we have or how much something means to us until it’s gone or jeopardized. Let’s not make that mistake here. Nor let us forget all the hard work that has been put into this school and continues to be put into this school ever since the Founders paved the way for us and chose Option C way back in 1962. From the outside looking in, it looks pretty easy. But, we all know it isn’t. I know that my grandfather and the rest of the Founders would be very proud of the Brookfield Academy today. So, let’s be proud of ourselves too and show that pride to others.
And finally, as you begin another school year, I would like to leave you with a quote from a book that has provided me with inspiration and has challenged me to reach for the stars and believe that this life can be whatever it is that I want it to be. It is a quote by Ayn Rand, from her famous book, Atlas Shrugged:
“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.”
Thursday, September 11, 2008
BA's First Blog
Welcome to the Brookfield Academy blog. We will be using this blog as a way to share information, keep you abreast of happenings, provide links to our growing library of BA You Tube™ videos, and give you another way to communicate with Brookfield Academy.
Take a look at the following link. (http://www.youtube.com/v/_PquXYvh1WY) It is a short video of the site preparation that is occurring as the first step to building "Patriots Hall." Site preparation began Monday, September 8th, following the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, September 5th. Patriots Hall is a 100,000+ square foot building that will house the new Upper School. State-of-the-art in every way, it is part of a campus-wide campaign to benefit all the students. When Patriots Hall is complete, it will lead to the doubling of space available to Upper, Middle and Lower School students. The site grading may not seem like much, but it is generating some real excitement here on campus. It signals that Patriots Hall has gone from a dream to a reality. The grading is occurring on the west side of the campus (almost directly across from the Middle School). Patriots Hall will be the first academic building located on the land west of Brookfield Road.
We will be using this blog in conjunction with the BA website (http://www.brookfieldacademy.org/) to stay abreast of the building progress, as well as many other facets of the Academy. We hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to stay informed about BA and all that is happening at the school.
Take a look at the following link. (http://www.youtube.com/v/_PquXYvh1WY) It is a short video of the site preparation that is occurring as the first step to building "Patriots Hall." Site preparation began Monday, September 8th, following the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, September 5th. Patriots Hall is a 100,000+ square foot building that will house the new Upper School. State-of-the-art in every way, it is part of a campus-wide campaign to benefit all the students. When Patriots Hall is complete, it will lead to the doubling of space available to Upper, Middle and Lower School students. The site grading may not seem like much, but it is generating some real excitement here on campus. It signals that Patriots Hall has gone from a dream to a reality. The grading is occurring on the west side of the campus (almost directly across from the Middle School). Patriots Hall will be the first academic building located on the land west of Brookfield Road.
We will be using this blog in conjunction with the BA website (http://www.brookfieldacademy.org/) to stay abreast of the building progress, as well as many other facets of the Academy. We hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to stay informed about BA and all that is happening at the school.
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