Blogger Loves The Sound of Pounding Steel in the Morning

With aplogies to Robert Duvall for paraphrasing his most famous line, Blogger has been busy watching steel rise from the ground as the Patriots Hall project moves into another exciting phase.


Steelworkers are busy constructing the academic section of the school and the combination of large cranes setting the steel in place and the workers pounding the huge rivets makes for pretty cool sights and sounds.

In addition to the steel girders that are dominating the job site, the large brick column located in the northeast corner of the construction site is home to the elevator shaft. The large brick wall on the west end of the site is the outside wall of the athletic wing. In addition to rise of steel girders, there is a tremendous amount of concrete being poured. Weather has been a challenge, but our friends at Beyer Construction tell us we are just a bit behind their ambitious schedule.

Don't forget to occassionally visit the Patriots Hall webcam. It updates every minute and with the feverish pace of construction, the landscape is changing quite quickly.

Living the School-Year Theme Step-by-Step: Dr. Solsrud Hikes the Grand Canyon

Every year, Brookfield Academy chooses a theme to frame specific goals. In November 2008, Dr. Robert Solsrud, Head of School, found himself living out this year’s theme: “Be Uncommon: Appreciate, Aspire, Accomplish,” as he reached for a personal goal.

BE UNCOMMON Fewer than one percent of the 5 million annual visitors to the Grand Canyon actually hike into the Inner Canyon, where the mighty Colorado River courses between steep canyon walls. Dr. Solsrud became one of those uncommon adventurers when he hiked to the floor of the canyon and back.

APPRECIATE Dr. Solsrud stood in the cold, thin air at the South Rim’s 7,000 foot elevation, ready to take his first step down the South Kaibab Trail on a 7-mile descent to the floor of the canyon. He had anticipated this moment for eight months, ever since a stranger he met at a sandwich shop told him about his own Grand Canyon hike, piquing Solsrud’s interest. He read everything he could get his hands on about hiking the canyon and trained hard in preparation. Thankful for good health and the opportunity to undertake this adventure, he now stood at the rim, ready to test his mettle.

ASPIRE The aspiration to successfully hike in and out of the Inner Canyon was fueled when Solsrud watched the Jack Nicholson/Morgan Freeman movie, The Bucket List (2007), about goals the movie’s characters wish to accomplish before they die. Solsrud made hiking the Grand Canyon the top priority on his personal “bucket list.” He’d always enjoyed hiking and keenly appreciates the beauty of nature.

ACCOMPLISH He did it! When Solsrud safely returned to the rim from the 10-mile Bright Angel Trail two days after his descent into the canyon, he experienced relief first, and then a great sense of accomplishment. “I was so happy to have had the experience. Descending and ascending on the trails makes the canyon part of you in a way that cannot be experienced viewing it from the rim,” he said. “I now have a vastly different appreciation for the canyon. I didn’t really know what it was like until I hiked it.”

Progress on Patriots Hall Heating Up

There is quite a bit of Patriots Hall activity on both sides of Brookfield Road.

Cement is being poured and walls are going up on the construction site.

Thanks to the generosity of the BA community, the Soar with the Stars...A Stellar Opportunity capital campaign recently reached $11.7 million. The campaign now has its sights firmly set on reaching the $12 million needed to receive the $500,000 challenge gift and realization of the $12.5 million goal.

Alumni Christmas Party

Blue Knight and the BA Alumni Association wants to thank all the alums who attended the annual alumni Christmas party. A great time was had by the 200+ alums who attended and Blue Knight is already at work exploring ways to top this year's keychain/bottleopener/flashlight giveaway. (Blue Knight obviously has too much time on his/her hands....) While many attendees waited in anticipation for the appearance or unveiling of Blue Knight, he/she remains a mysterious part of BA's effort to improve communications between alums and the school. The BA Alumni Association is in the early stages of developing a strategic plan aimed at improving alumni relations. Over the next few months alums will be asked to give feedback on where BA currently fits in their world. The feedback will be used to achieve the ultimate goal of making the BA Alumni Association an active, vibrant organization, the "best in the country," one that adequately serves the needs of alums, and strengthen the school-alumni connection.It is an exciting time in the life of Brookfield Academy and it is essential that the alums feel an important connection to this excitement. Be sure to visit the many communication avenues available to stay abreast of happenings at the Academy and watch your mail for important announcements of alumni events and activities.