BA Connect

FAILING OUR CHILDREN: WISCONSIN’S DEFICIT IN TEACHING PERSONAL FINANCE AND ECONOMICS

2011-10-26T08:45:00.014-05:00

by Bob Solsrud, Head of School

In the May issue of “The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute,” Dr. Scott Niederjohn makes the case for Wisconsin schools to improve in the subject areas of economics and personal finance. He notes only 25% of Wisconsin schools require economics, and only 21 states require economics.

The report mentions the results of Wisconsin students on a nationally normed Test of Economic Literacy developed by the Council for Economic Education. The students taking the test scored a 14.5 of the 30 questions or 48%. However, more interesting than the test results were the students understanding of the economic reality.

Here are a couple of examples:

Ø Business firms wish to sell their products at high prices. Households wish to buy products at low prices. In a market economy, this conflict of interest is resolved by:

a. Lawsuits…5% chose this incorrect answer

b. Government…61% chose this incorrect answer

c. Competition…11% chose this correct answer

d. Collective bargaining…13% chose this incorrect answer

Ø A basic role of entrepreneurs in the economy is to:

a. Tell government what new products to produce and sell…
56% chose this incorrect answer

b. Take the risks associated with starting a new business…

14% chose this correct answer

c. Buy and sell the common stocks of corporations…

16% chose this incorrect answer

d. Limit the liability of investors in new business…
14% chose this incorrect answer

Clearly, Wisconsin students do not comprehend the very basics of a market economy. This is why free market economics is a required Upper School course at Brookfield Academy and why BAME (Brookfield Academy Market Economy) is part of our Middle School curriculum.

Brookfield Academy students do graduate with a strong foundation in a working knowledge of the economy.

To read more about the report go to www.wpri.org.

Golfing "FORE" A Great Cause

2011-07-27T13:13:00.002-05:00

Brookfield Academy's 15th annual golf outing, now known as the Davis-Law Memorial Golf Outing, is on Monday, August 22 at Chenequa Country Club. If you've played the outing before, you know it is a fun-filled day of golf and camaraderie with Academy parents, alumni, faculty and other friends.

What you might not be aware of is that the golf outing is also a fundraiser and that all proceeds from the event support Brookfield Academy's Five Stars to Success scholarship program.

The Five Stars to Success scholarship program was established to provide academically qualified but financially disadvantaged students from Milwaukee’s central city the opportunity to attend Brookfield Academy’s Upper School. Over the past five years the golf outing has contributed over $85,000 to the scholarship fund.

BA's first two Five Stars graduates,
Kellie Walton and Promyce Johnson with
program sponsor Mrs. Mary Law

Since its inception in 2002, 11 students have graduated from the Five Stars program and all 11 went on to college. This year, the first two Five Star students graduated with honors from their respective colleges. There are eight students attending Brookfield Academy as result of the program and your support will help ensure that they are provided the opportunity to create a future of limitless potential.

The Davis-Law Memorial is a scramble event so you do not have to be the world's best golfer to participate. And if you don't know a bogie from a birdie, skip the golf and join the fun that starts at 5:00 p.m. with the cocktail reception, auction and raffle, delicious dinner, and more.

Registration is fast, easy, and secure at http://www.brookfieldacademy.org/

There are many sponsorship opportunities available and these may also be made online. For more information, please contact Brookfield Academy's Development Office at 262-783-3200.

Hope to see you at Chenequa on August 22!

Take a look at photos from last year's event!

Blue Knights Shine at State Track Meet!

2011-06-07T11:57:00.000-05:00

Fred Willis Earns Journal Sentinel Athlete of the Week Honors for Performance at State Track Meet

Willis, a senior track athlete, won three events at the Division 3 state meet Friday and Saturday, repeating in the 100 and 200 meters as well as the 400 relay. Willis won the 100 in 10.82 seconds and took the 200 in 21.81 to break the nine-year-old record of 21.89 set by Howards Grove's Marcus Ver Duin in the 2002. The Wisconsin football recruit also joined juniors Ethan Jaynes and Max Wrenn and freshman Ryan Send to win in 42.51 to beat the record of 43.32 the same team set in the preliminary round Friday.

Two State Records in Two Days
La Crosse - Another day, another state record for the Brookfield Academy boys' 4x100 Division 3 relay team. "The more the better, right?" said junior Max Wrenn. Wrenn and junior Ethan Jaynes, freshman Ryan Send and senior Fred Willis set a state record of 43.32 seconds in the event Friday, They finished in 42.51 Saturday. "We wanted it and we went after it," said Wrenn. The key to the over-night improvement, according to Wrenn, was that the team worked on their handoffs. "We really worked on our handoffs," he said. "Especially me, in the third leg with Ryan, we definitely improved there. That did it, I guess. Yesterday we knew we had to work on the handoffs, so we focused on that and knew if we did it right and got it to Fred (for the anchor leg), we could win it." Two state records in two days? "They're both pretty exciting," said Wrenn. "But this (second one) is definitely a bonus."

BA girls' 400 relay takes second in state!

l to r: Bailey Vipond-junior, Mary Liz Kim-sophomore, Mackenzie Bonk-freshman, Catherine Courchaine-senior

What is at the core of a Brookfield Academy education?

2011-06-01T10:46:00.000-05:00

by Dr. Robert Solsrud, Head of Brookfield Academy

During a Memorial Day Celebration, I heard the words, “We should honor those who honor us.” This statement brought to light how BA, through its understanding of a Liberal Arts Education in a Free Society, so meaningfully “honors those who honor us.”

Georgetown University Professor James V. Schall explained that “The terms of liberal education and free society arise out of the same source, out of the classic notion that we can and should first rule ourselves and that such rule is in our personal power.”

BA School Goal #1 - Character: Learn to act responsibly in a free society realizing the moral consequences of our actions.
To learn to act responsibly in a free society requires us to understand the need to rule ourselves for some purpose. We must teach our students the difference between an evil purpose and a noble purpose.

BA School Goal #2 - Individuality: Learn to appreciate their unique talents and to exercise these gifts responsibly.
To learn to act responsibility in a free society requires us to seek the truth because that is the highest power we have – to know the truth of things.

BA School Goal #3 - Truth: Recognize and pursue transcendent, objective truth.
To learn to act responsibly in a free society requires us to be a learning community that nourishes wonder, provides curiosity, stimulates creativity, and inclines the minds.

BA School Goal #4 - Intellect: Understand that learning is a goal in itself, and perfection of the intellect is the purpose of a liberal education.
To learn to act responsibly in a free society requires us to bring our students to an understanding that self-rule is at the heart of civil order.

BA School Goal #5 - Heritage: Understand the traditions of western civilization and particularly the United State of America.
At Brookfield Academy, we do “honor those who honor us” by graduating responsible, constructive, free people.”

Spring Sports Highlights

2011-05-26T11:51:00.004-05:00

Boys Track Takes Three Conference Crowns

The Brookfield Academy boys track team recorded three first-place finishes at the Midwest Classic meet on Tuesday, May 17, at BA's Fields of Freedom.

Senior Fred Willis - 100 meter dash (10.54)
Junior Ethan Jaynes - 200 meter dash (22.65)
800 Meter Relay Team -Willis, Jaynes, senior Alex Vipond and freshman Ryan Send (1:32.99)

Girls Track Wins Two Relay Conference Championships

800 Meter Relay Team - Sophomore Mary Liz Kim, Senior Catherine Courchaine, Junior Bailey Vipond, and Freshman Mackenzie Bonk (1:50.28)
The same four sprinters won the 400 Meter Relay (52.65)

Girls Soccer Team Conference Champs

BA is now 16-3-2 and 10-0 in conference play. The Blue Knights are ranked fifth in the state in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association state poll.

Ally Anderson named Defensive Player of the Year
Eimile Pesch named Offensive Player of the Year
Liz Collins unanimous First Team
Ana Bayerlein First Team
Kristen Collins First Team

Baseball Takes Second in MCC Standings

The Blue Knights concluded conference play with an 11-3 record, finishing second in the Midwest Classic Conference. BA will host a first-round WIAA playoff game on Friday, May 27 at 4:30 p.m. against Waterloo.

Junior Jake Kolasinksi named Player of the Year

Boys Tennis Takes Second in Conference

Junior Justin Saeian placed first at no. 4 singles and earned first-team all-conference

Golfers Continue Good Play

As the weather improves, so does the Brookfield Academy Golf Team. BA place fourth in the MCC Championship at Hartford Country Club on May 18, shooting its lowest 18-hole total of the season, a 347. The team also placed second in the regionals and will now travel to sectional play.

Freshman Daniel Romero was first-team all conference and Player of the Year for the MCC.
Freshman Liam McCarty Conference Champ

Oh, What A Year!

2011-05-25T09:27:00.011-05:00

With the number of days left on the school calendar now in the single digits, it is the perfect time to take a look back and reflect upon the year Brookfield Academy and its students have had. BA is proud of its many accomplishments during the 2010-11 school year including:

Record enrollment of 855 students at the end of the year.

Ten seniors named National Merit Finalists, with two earning National Merit Scholarships. Five additional students were named National Merit Commended Scholars.

Freshman Liam McCarty won the 12th Annual Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

Dozens of BA students performed on stage in one of many performances including Dear Edwina Jr., The Curious Savage, The Music Man, Hamlette, Hard Candy, and The Adventures of Lewis & Clark. Many more participated in the many music events held on campus throughout year.

Senior Kelsey Hojan-Clark won her fifth and sixth WIAA swimming state titles.

Senior Jawad Arshad placed first in the 2010 Stock Market Simulation essay contest and was also named a runner-up in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

The Middle School MathCounts team placed fourth regionally.

The Upper School academic decathlon team placed second in the state.

The BA chess team placed ninth nationally.

Senior Sofya Kozlova was awarded two national silver medals for photography in The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.

BA students performed countless hours of community service throughout the year.

Graduation of the 64 amazing students in the Class of 2011 who are ranked among the best scholars in the nation and had 308 college acceptances!

These are just a few of the too-numerous-to-list accomplishments by our fantastic students throughout the year. It would take several pages to make this list complete. As we head into the final days of this highly successful school year, we encourage you to stay connected to BA during the summer months. Visit the web site, follow BA on Facebook and Twitter, and watch for email newsletters with all the news you need to know. Have a great summer!

2011-04-20T10:20:00.002-05:00

Winter mornings are bitterly cold at the top of the hill, but Lower School scholars warm our hearts with cheers of delight when we announce that the sledding hill is officially open for its first riders of the season. Their enthusiasm for this longstanding Brookfield Academy tradition is infectious.

If our youngest scholars only knew how many Brookfield Academy traditions will actually shape their lives once they graduate prepared for college and life. As adults, we know the value of traditions, and we would like to cheer whenever we see one play out during the day. For now, we will wait anxiously for the day when our scholars grow up and return with stories of how the traditions in the Lower School influenced their futures.

There are certain to be stories about morning assemblies, where, with honor and regardless of the weather, a student raised the flag, and the pledge and prayer kicked off the day. A student or two will certainly remember the time spent at recess playing tirelessly with friends, practicing kindness and respect. Scholars will recall weekly visits to the library, gym, art, music, and language classes. Even the tradition of homework, where the lessons of the day were reviewed and mastered, and poems were memorized, will bring fond memories.

More than any tradition remembered, however, will be the commitment and dedication of their teachers. Brookfield Academy teachers know their students and take the time to help each one of them reach his or her fullest potential. They model lifetime learning by continuing to study their profession and apply that knowledge in the classroom, where mediocrity is cast aside and high expectations are the norm.

Here at BA, every season brings its lessons along with treasured traditions.

Heather Caponi, LS A-2 Division Head

2011-04-20T10:14:00.001-05:00

The popular BAME (Brookfield Academy Mini-Economy) simulation gives Level 7 and 8 students lessons on how an economy, a competitive market, government, banking, and politics coexist with each other.

After a recent BAME market day, I overheard a student exclaiming that he had a lot of Peschos (BAME currency) and would soon be "loaded." Often, students in BAME focus on instant wealth and overlook the important lessons of this simulation. Our themes of

Personal Responsibility and Gratitude Inspires

present ideas that can be woven into the lessons of BAME, reminding students that they will make contributions to others in their future.

Billionaires such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have said the rich have benefited from their nation’s assets and systems to become wealthy. Gates and Buffet are committed to giving away the majority of their wealth through a program called "The Giving Pledge." What message can we give our students while still within the borders of Freedom Hall and so diligently earning the mighty "Pescho"?

• We can raise awareness that generosity is not just about giving money but also about giving of self. It is less about the size of the check and more about the personal satisfaction of giving and the outcomes seen.

• We can teach that giving back does not have to be made with a financial donation. Students can give of their time and talent to make a difference.

• We can remind students that what we have today at Brookfield Academy is the result of hard work, support, and donations from many people over the course of 50 years. Students are the ones who are reaping these benefits.

Being thankful for what we have allows us to give back and inspires us to do more as responsible, constructive, free people.

Doug Ricci, Middle School Head

Advocating For Our Independence

2011-04-20T10:07:00.002-05:00

Wisconsin’s educational landscape is undergoing noticeable tremors reverberating throughout the nation. While tension and rhetoric are increasing, isn’t it refreshing and encouraging to be at an independent school free from the current political turmoil?

As an independent school, Brookfield Academy eschews government funding to avoid inclusion in this inevitable confrontation. Our independence encourages freedoms that form the foundation and ultimate strength of our school. That strength is manifested by our freedom to define our unique mission, determine our curriculum and programs, hire mission-appropriate faculty, and admit mission-appropriate families.

We are fond of saying, and rightly so, Brookfield Academy is held accountable to its "stakeholders" (parents, students, alumni), not bureaucrats or politicians. We embrace our freedom by providing the best educational experience for families seeking the perfect match between their beliefs and educational aspirations and our mission, philosophy, program, and people.

A Brookfield Academy Education is Like No Other

2011-03-01T14:07:00.001-06:00

by Lauren Smyczek, Class of 2008

As a recent graduate of Brookfield Academy, I often reflect upon my time at BA. I think about the many ways in which a Brookfield Academy education is above and beyond other schools. The small class sizes and the world-class faculty are two that come quickly to mind.

With the class size limit, I received individual attention, crucial to the cultivation of my young mind. Being able to learn from the incredibly skilled and knowledgeable instructors in such a setting reinforced what I was learning all the more.

Another treasured quality of my education is BA’s devotion to the humanities—classics, languages, history, literature, philosophy, and performing arts.

Beginning in Lower School, I was exposed to the cornerstones of civilization in the studies of the ancient Greeks and Romans. I have started to realize that a true education is grounded in this study of the human condition starting with ancient history, rather than just a study of one's own era.

I am deeply grateful for my Brookfield Academy education. I sense that I will continue to reap its benefits for the rest of my life. I know it did much more than equipping me for the essays, research, and readings that university years hold. For me, Brookfield Academy was a preparation for life.

Overall, however, I am fully aware that though I can sense rather vaguely the ways that BA has prepared me, I am still far too young and inexperienced and too near it to be able to recognize fully and articulate exactly what BA has done for me. And I look forward to the explorations in the rest of my academic career, my professional career, and my relationships to continue to reveal to me the boundless value of the Brookfield Academy experience.

2011-02-11T12:17:00.006-06:00

Rose Mueller, Class of 2008

Reflections on a Brookfield Academy Education

On the first day of my Environmental Science class this semester, the professor asked how many of us had studied Latin. I was the only student who raised my hand. "Toto, we’re not at Brookfield Academy anymore."

I am currently a junior at Wisconsin Lutheran College. I am pursuing a Major in German and Minors in History and English.

Had it not been for my academic preparation at BA, I would not be as successful as I am. Because of the many excellent BA teachers who helped me learn and grow, I am able to excel in college. Thanks to Mrs. Cupertino, I was able to raise my hand in my Environmental Science class. Thanks to Mr. Wasmer, I knew who John Locke was. Thanks to Dr. Jurken, my college Biology class was merely review, while many others were learning the information for the first time. Thanks to Mr. Wyer, I was able to get more out of

Beowulf than my classmates were. I could go on, but I have a word limit!

The best part of my Brookfield Academy college preparation is that I can help others. Because I am able to succeed in my classes, I am also able to work as a tutor to help students who have not had the same educational background. The teachers at Brookfield Academy taught me how to write papers, solve problems, and analyze poetry, so now I am able to help others do the same.

The incredible academic preparation, along with the work ethic and life skills that my BA teachers instilled in me and in every other student at Brookfield Academy, is invaluable. No student who graduates from BA can possibly say "Thank you" enough to our amazing teachers and to our parents for choosing the best possible option for our education.

Rose Mueller '08

Moving Day

2010-06-15T14:11:00.014-05:00

Some families move once, maybe twice in a lifetime. Not satisfied with such a mundane existence, the Brookfield Academy family is moving twice in six months. In January, the entire Upper School moved from Freedom Hall to the new Patriots Hall.

Today the Middle School is moving from Liberty Hall into the newly remodeled Freedom Hall. The "new" Freedom Hall has undergone extensive renovation and movers are now bringing semi-truck loads of desks, tables, chairs, computers, and books into the new Middle School.

Once the equipment is moved into the building, teachers, administrators, and administrative assistants will get to work setting up their new classrooms and offices.

And, yet, there is still one more move to make! Eventually the recently vacated Liberty Hall building will become home to the Level 3-5 Lower School. Before that move takes place, though, Liberty Hall will undergo some significant renovations and changes in order to better prepare it for life as an elementary school building. All this movement is the culmination of the campus-wide capital campaign project that has seen Brookfield Academy double the amount of space available to students in all three divisions. While there are some short-term headaches, all agree that the long-term benefits are worth the hassles.

Mr. Ricci, Head of the Middle School, "dreaming" of life in the new building.

It was Bruce Barton who said that "When you are through changing, you are through." After a summer of change, blogger thinks Barton will excuse BA if it decides to take a change break.

State Champs!

2010-06-11T13:34:00.005-05:00

The BA Boys’ Track team cruised to the first boys’ state championship in school history, with a dominating performance at the WIAA Division 3 State Boys Track Championship on Saturday, June 4, at UW-La Crosse's Memorial Stadium. The Blue Knights scored 80 points, well ahead of Webster and Burlington Catholic Central, who tied for second place with 30 points each. The point total matched the third highest earned points in history for all divisions.

Junior Fred Willis led the way with a first in the 100-meters (10.88) and the 200 (22.23), a second in the high jump (6 feet, 7 inches), and the anchor leg of the winning 800 relay team. Sophomore Ethan Jaynes took second in the 100 (11.06) and the 200 (22.88). Sophomore Max Wrenn and senior Taylor Davis joined Willis and Jaynes in winning the 4x200 relay race (1:39.86).

Senior Nate Heppe seized gold in the 800 (1:55.67) and was fifth in the 1600 (4:29.94). Heppe anchored the 3200 relay team which finished third (8:05.17). Seniors Neil Warren and Taylor Davis and junior Vikram Purewal joined Heppe on that team.

Senior Troy Huff was third in the high jump (6 feet, 6 inches).

The boys’ track team joins the 1987 girls’ tennis team and numerous Field Hockey teams as the only state champions in school history.

Congratulations to Coaches Jaynes, Malloy and Olizia for their dedication and commitment to the team and the track program. And to the track athletes, BA Blogger joins the entire BA community in congratulating you for this magnificent achievement.

The state championship caps an extraordinary year of athletic accomplishments in the Upper School. Listed below are some of the major highlights of the sports year:

· Football--Co-Conference Champs and WIAA State Playoffs

· Boys’ Cross Country—Seventh in state, Div. 3

· JV Girls Volleyball--Conference Champions and MCC Tournament Champions

· Girls Swimming—Two-Time Individual, Sectional & State Champion, Journal-Sentinel Swimmer of the Year, WIAA Swimmer of the Year

· Boys’ Basketball--Conference Champions (Freshmen, JV and Varsity), WIAA Regional Champions

· Boys’ Swimming--Individual & Sectional Champions, Individual Second in State

· Girls’ Soccer—WIAA Regional Semi-Finalist

· Boys Track--Conference Champion, Sectional Champion, State Champion

· Conference Player-of-the-Year in Football, Boys’ Basketball, and Boys’ Baseball

· 26 First Team All-Conference Players in boys’ and girls’ sports

2010-06-01T10:21:00.003-05:00

BA Blogger is posting a blog by Chad Gunnelson that is on Wisconsin Sports Network www.wissports.net. This blog was posted on 5/30/2010.

Division 3 Boys Team Projections (20 or more points)

Brookfield Academy 61, Whitehall 31, Oshkosh Lourdes 27, Iola – Scandinavia 26, Lena / St. Thomas 23, Edgar 21, River Ridge 20

Brookfield Academy and head coach David Jaynes look to run away with the Division 3 team title this year. Behind the legs of top sprinters Fred Willis (JR) and Ethan Jaynes (SO) who look to go 1-2 respectively in the 100M and 200M they should easily outscore the field. Brookfield Academy should also get points from Nathan Heppe (SR) in the 1600M, Troy Huff (SR) in the high jump, and their 800M and 3200M relays. Also look for strong showings from Whitehall and Oshkosh Lourdes who should round out the top three teams in the D3 field this Friday and Saturday.

2010-06-01T10:18:00.001-05:00

This year has passed far too quickly; the calendar shows that it is almost time to say goodbye to our seniors. They graduate on May 16! We will surely miss this extraordinary group of students. Colleges often ask how students impact their school community. With this class it is easy to say: “At every turn of the way, they have made a difference in our school.” They have broken athletic records, earned championship titles in academic competitions, performed with talent and grace in drama productions, led student government with wisdom and humor, created award-winning art work, and nurtured lasting friendships with their peers and their teachers.

They have earned acceptances from colleges all across the country. Some will head to the east coast to attend schools such as George Washington University, Princeton University, Grove City College, Brown University, University of Maryland, West Point, and University of Pennsylvania. Others will go south to such places as the University of Miami, Trinity University, Texas Christian University, Bob Jones University, University of Dallas, Vanderbilt, Southern Methodist University, University of Tampa, and Emory University. The Midwest will keep those who have chosen to attend colleges such as Illinois Wesleyan University, Mt. Mary College, Drake University, Macalester College, University of Wisconsin campuses at Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Waukesha, and River Falls, University of Minnesota, St. Norbert College, St. Louis University, North Central College, Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Art and Design, University of Notre Dame, Beloit College, University of North Dakota, Kenyon College, and Washington University. One will venture all the way to University of Hawaii and one will be at the opposite end of the U.S. at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

These colleges and universities are proud to have our students become their students. We all look forward to hearing about the accomplishments these young women and men will earn in the years ahead. They are well prepared! We are excited for them and we are very proud of them!

2010-06-01T10:04:00.003-05:00

The BA Blog is honored to welcome guest blogger Cristina Zeppos, Class of 2010.

When I’m asked, “Where did you go to high school?”—an almost daily question—I’m proud to answer, "Brookfield Academy." As a “lifer,” I have memories from Level A through high school. In Level A class, reciting the poem “Ten Apples” was the first of many challenges I would face in the next 14 years. For a five-year-old child, standing in front of an assembly of students and parents was a daunting task. By Level 5, though, I confidently recited a poem on my own with the entire Lower School as an audience.

Middle School was stimulating, and I learned the skills needed to succeed in the Upper School. Writing lessons, language classes, and history lectures prepared me for high school. Having the Head of School as basketball coach when we won the league championship was a highlight, too!

My early years at BA gave me wonderful childhood memories, but the Upper School provided the opportunity to flourish. I picked classes where I had an interest and enjoyed new subjects, such as the graphic design class. Serving as co-captain, with one of my senior classmates, of this year's girls varsity basketball team--and achieving our best record in four years--is a great memory.

With graduation now a memory, I have moved to the next stage of my life: Vanderbilt University. It will be a challenge, but Brookfield Academy prepared me well. With hard work, amazing teachers and wonderful parents, I am ready to go to the next level, and I have the confidence that I can and will succeed.

Thank you, BA!

2010-06-01T09:46:00.006-05:00

It has been an exciting and rewarding year for development efforts at Brookfield Academy. The excitement began in August when the Soar with the Stars capital campaign achieved its goal of 12.5 million dollars. (That seems like years ago!) The opening of Patriots Hall in January was perhaps a once-in-a lifetime event for the school. Strong donor support for projects across the entire campus has allowed us to speed up the renovation project timelines for Freedom Hall (new Middle School), Liberty Hall (Lower School 3-5), and Constitution Hall (Lower School A-2.) The establishment of two new endowed scholarships and record-level support for the scholarship program in general are signs that the BA community values people as much as bricks and mortar.

There is no great mystery to a successful development effort. The results are largely dependent on the dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work of the people responsible for making the ideas, values, and beliefs of the BA mission work. Led by an exemplary Class of 2010, BA has experienced an extraordinary year of academic and extracurricular achievements. Winners in the classroom, on the athletic field, and on the stage, the efforts of students, teachers, coaches, and directors have created a level of expectation and achievement that gives donors confidence in the fundamental values and beliefs of Brookfield Academy. Simply put, people are enthusiastic about supporting a winning organization.

As a BA fan, Blogger can unequivocally say that this has been a winning year for Brookfield Academy. Whether it is numerous National Merit finalists, athletic conference championships, or sold out theater performances, students have achieved it an unparalleled level this year. It has been an honor to be part of the success!

Solsrud Receives Marquette University Alumni Award

2010-03-11T13:22:00.004-06:00

Dr. Robert E. Solsrud, Grad '73, Grad '03

Congratulations to Brookfield Academy Head of School Dr. Bob Solsrud who recently received the Educational Policy and Leadership Achievement Award from Marquette University. The following announcement is on the Marquette University website:

Achievement Award - Dr. Robert E. Solsrud, Grad '73, Grad '03

Dr. Bob Solsrud has been on a mission — an educational mission for more than 40 years. As head of school at Brookfield Academy since 1993, he also has taught, coached and been athletic director. Along the way, he developed a real commitment to independent education, which he says, "provides the freedom to define a mission and pursue it with unbridled energy and enthusiasm."

Bob credits his Marquette education with giving him the leadership skills and virtues necessary to enhance the educational climate and culture at Brookfield Academy.
Along with helping ensure the educational success of pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students, Bob set his sights on an even bigger goal: the largest capital campaign in Brookfield Academy history. Despite the troubling economy, a 110,000-square-foot Upper School for 320 students just opened.

Others are taking notice of the academy's success, too. The Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce and BizTimes Milwaukee last year recognized it as a Top-10 Small Business.
Bob's personal mission in life — which he says is "living a life reflective of God's goodness and mercy and using my God-given talents to the best of my ability" — takes him beyond his educational efforts. He is engaged in his community, where he visits nursing homes for Bible study, helps with his church's food pantry and coaches middle school basketball.

A Semester at Sea - An Experience for a Lifetime

2010-03-11T10:51:00.006-06:00

Katie Kohls '07 spent the fall semester in the Semester at Sea program through the University of Virginia. For four months, Katie traveled the world on a ship, attending class on board and disembarking for adventures at many different ports of call. During her journey, Katie was one of three students chosen from the more than 650 students on the trip to write a blog which was posted on the Semester at Sea website. On one of her adventures, Katie spent a week in Ghana. A portion of one of her posts from this part of her journey is re-blogged below. To read more about Katie's adventures at sea, visit her blog at http://kjo-adventure.blogspot.com/

Ghana: Befriending Locals in a New Habitat

The third morning came early with the timely sunrise. Since Ghana is so close to the equator, the sun rises and falls year round at almost exactly six o’clock. At sunrise, I was on a bus headed to Kyebi, a town on the slopes of the Atewa Mountain Range. Our bus stopped three hours later on the side of a dirt road. Looking out my window I saw a green mountain shrouded in low clouds and there appeared to be nothing but thick jungle on the other side. We were lead through the density to a village opening. It was a picturesque reality of poverty.

My team and I set to work, continuing the brick laying work that preceded us. These clay bricks had been molded in wooden frames and laid to dry. We made mortar, by combining concrete sand with water and mixing with a shovel. Alternating the brick pattern for fortitude, we worked quickly to spackle before our mortar dried.

Our other job was to fill a ditch with dirt so that it could be walked over. But where’s the dirt? Spencer was handed a large pick and was shown the answer. Create the dirt. So he swung away at the land and I shoveled the dirt five feet to the left to fill the ditch. Manual labor in Ghana is hot, not attractive but blazing… literally. Randomly, our Ghanaian supervisor started a brush fire in the area directly between the house and me. Random fires I found through the many bus rides are actually quite frequent. There is much garbage, but who is going to come to this jungle village and come get it? So here and many other places they just light the garbage on fire- no big deal. Careful where you throw your trash.

We sat in the shade and ate lunch that the village people provided for us. Missy and I laughed at the nonchalant fashion that chickens, baby goats, and children ran around the area. We decided to pass on the chicken dish. After lunch a local boy stopped me asked to see some of the pictures I had on my camera. He laughed when he saw a picture of himself. I wondered if this was the first time he had seen one. He was delighted when I allowed him to play photographer. All of his friends came out and posed for him. He directed them and gave them props. It was fun to watch and even more fun to look through his artwork alongside him.

In the end we had only added a few layers of brick and done odd jobs, but it was a nice to think we contributed to someone’s home. Wow, how my definition of what a home can be has changed.

I Am Free!

2010-02-23T10:12:00.005-06:00

"Liberty" is more than the name of a campus building for Elfie and Ned Gallun, long-time supporters of Brookfield Academy. It is a tangible concept that makes even the air smell sweetly different.

As a teenager in 1951, Elfie Gallun made an incredible and courageous journey from communist East Germany to the free West. To this day, she and her husband, Ned, do not take personal or political liberty for granted.

Ned and Elfie have embraced Brookfield Academy for its philosophical focus on the precious, priceless, and perishable nature of freedom. Their son, Martin, graduated from BA in 1988, and Ned served on the Board of Directors from 1986-1988. Over the years, the Galluns have continued to generously support the school. To recognize their exceptional commitment to the ideals of Brookfield Academy, an informative display honoring Elfie Gallun's escape to freedom has been installed in the Liberty Hall foyer.

This educational exhibit uses pictures and narrative to tell the story of Elfie's remarkable journey during World War II and the years following from Danzig, Poland to the United States of America, where she was awestruck by her first sight of the Statue of Liberty.

Read Elfie Gallun's full story in the upcoming issue of Knights Notes.

A Letter Home

2010-02-17T14:18:00.002-06:00

Dear BA Community,

I am writing this “letter home” to give a brief update on life post-BA. I am in my fourth year at the University of Chicago, majoring in economics and international studies. Usually, students with these majors go on to do graduate work or pursue a career in finance. I have been thinking about doing a mixture of the two—possibly in a development context.

In a lot of ways, I think that the path my college career has taken was the next step in a process that started back at BA. After all, spending a week studying in the library is normal for anyone who ever took AP Bio. My BA economics courses still rank among the most enjoyable and thought-provoking I have ever had, even in a university department known for its Nobel prize winners. I believe BA trained me well and I am grateful to all my teachers there who worked so hard to do so.

During the past four years, I have had the chance to observe students from a large variety of educational backgrounds and I am convinced that the people who have the most success are the ones whose education will allow them to pursue whatever field they like. This is to say that, upon arrival at University, the students who are most prepared by their high schools have the greatest advantage with regard to their course of study.

While my own career at the U of C has not been without challenges, I think that the success I’ve had is due to the preparation I received at BA, and I am very grateful for that.

All the best,

Robert Reavis ’06

The Future Is Bright

2010-02-11T13:30:00.012-06:00

On Jan. 31, the new Upper School home, Patriots Hall, was officially dedicated with much fanfare and celebration.

As has been the case since Patriots Hall opened on Jan. 4, we all felt joy and pride in the accomplishment of so many "dreamers" who made the dream a reality. Today, our Upper School is housed in a magnificent building that permits us to deliver an education second to none.

We have the classroom and lab space to provide a high quality college prep experience; we have extensive art and computer graphic art rooms; we have a spacious and beautiful library with room for quiet study; we have a state-of-the-art fitness and weight room and field house providing complete support for all our athletic programs; we have a very large music and drama room for practice and future performance; we have an inviting and spacious cafeteria/student commons area for relaxation and conversation. In short, we have a wonderful, secure home for Upper School programs.

But the dedication, and the mission of the Upper School, is much more than the steel and bricks and mortar of a new facility. The building houses the people who deliver a special program with passion and enthusiasm. Our programs intend to take all students and guide, teach, and direct them to achieve personal excellence and prepare them to make a positive change in our world.

Our graduates are doing that now, and many have come back to tell us about what they are accomplishing. This is a special time for the Upper School and for Brookfield Academy as a whole and the future remains very bright for all of us fortunate enough to be part of this enterprise.

Dan Davis, Head of Upper School

A Dream Come True

2010-01-06T14:19:00.017-06:00

If you think watching the ball drop in Times Square is the best way to start the new year, you should have been at Brookfield Academy on Monday, Jan. 4 when everyone was having a ball celebrating the opening of the new Upper School, Patriots Hall.

Upper School students - genuinely excited to return from a two-week vacation - met in Freedom Hall for a final assembly.

Then they took a brisk, ceremonial walk to their new home in Patriots Hall, passing between throngs of Lower and Middle School students waving American flags and cheering them on.

Upon entering Patriots Hall, students experienced their first assembly in the new field house.

Bob Solsrud, Head of School, welcomed them by sharing some impressive facts about the amazing new Upper School facility:

* At 110,000 square feet, Patriots Hall is double the size of Freedom Hall
* More than 1,000 donors contributed to the capital campaign that funded the construction
* The campaign raised $12.5 million, plus another $2.5 million in estate gifts
* More than 250 volunteers gave of their time and effort to serve on committees and to solicit gifts

Most importantly, Dr. Solsrud told the students, Patriots Hall symbolizes the goodness and determination of the human spirit, accomplishing this worthwhile endeavor for others regardless of the sacrifices involved. What is clearly evident, more than a beautiful building, is the enthusiastic and committed philanthropic spirit that made this dream a reality.

What a glorious way to begin 2010.

Happy New Year!

You can find more photos from this historic event on Brookfield Academy's Flickr account.

Truly A Remarkable Person

2009-12-16T09:12:00.015-06:00

Dear Friends of Brookfield Academy,

I regret to inform you that after a long and courageous battle against cancer, Brookfield Academy’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, W. Stewart Davis III, died on December 13, 2009. Stew was elected Chairman of the Board in 1989.

Stew Davis was the son of Brookfield Academy founders Walter S. Davis and Betty Grede Davis, husband of Sandy Davis, and father to Brian Davis ’94 and Cynthia Davis ‘98. Stew was one of 33 students in attendance when Brookfield Academy, then The Academy of Basic Education, opened its doors on September 10, 1962.

Stew will be remembered for many admirable qualities exemplifying the Academy’s Five Stars, but none more than his unabashed love and commitment to the school’s ideals and vision. His vision and determination to turn dreams into realities were the driving force behind the Academy’s many successes.

I was blessed, as Head of School, to partner with Stew for 17 years along this glorious path of Brookfield Academy’s expansion and achievements. He was truly a remarkable person whose passion for the school was evident in his voice when speaking of the school and in his eyes when proudly walking the campus. Addressing the faculty and staff each year before school began, Stew always concluded his remarks with great conviction, saying, “I promise you this will be the best year ever in the history of Brookfield Academy.”

Sadly, Stew will not be here for the Patriots Hall ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 31, 2010, an event he so wanted to experience. When we celebrate the opening of the building, Stew’s presence will be seen and felt in the enthusiasm and pride we will share, along with our gratitude for his unparalleled and selfless efforts to raise the necessary funds to construct this impressive Upper School building.

As I spoke with him last week, I mentioned that Patriots Hall is nearing completion and will be ready for classes in January. He struggled to form a response. His daughter, Cindy, asked, “Dad, did you say, ‘Dreams come true’?” With a smile on his face and a glint in his eye, Stew gave me the thumbs up sign.

Funeral arrangements are scheduled with visitation on Friday, December 18th, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., at the Becker Ritter Funeral Home, 14075 W. North Ave., Brookfield, and the memorial service on Saturday, December 19th, 3 p.m., at the First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa, 1511 Church St., Wauwatosa. A reception will follow at the church.

Yes, Stew, thanks to you, this will be the best year ever in the history of Brookfield Academy. We commit ourselves to doing everything in our power to advance the good name of Brookfield Academy as Stew so often challenged us to do. We ask that you please keep the family in your prayers at this difficult time.

Bob Solsrud, Ed.D.
Head of School

http://www.jsonline.com/news/obituaries/79373252.html

Two Gold Medals

2009-12-01T09:18:00.002-06:00

Junior Kelsey Hojan-Clark stole the show at the girls state swim meet, setting two Division 2 state records. Hojan-Clark won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:49.13, breaking the record of 1:49.94 set in 1996. Then she won the 500 free in 4:50.19, once again breaking a 1996 record of 4:53.94. Her time in each race also ranks second all-time in Division 1. Her spectacular races brought the entire crowd at the UW-Madison Natatorium to their feet.

Signed and Delivered!

2009-12-01T09:07:00.003-06:00

In a ceremony at the Upper School on Friday morning, November 13, senior Troy Huff signed an official letter of intent to play basketball for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Huff is the first BA student to be offered a full scholarship to play for a Division 1 college basketball program. Congratulations Troy!

Ready, Set, Go!

2009-11-24T08:29:00.004-06:00

The 2009-10 Annual Fund Appeal

This is an exciting time at Brookfield Academy. Patriots Hall is set to open to students in just 42 days! Next year, Middle School students will move up the hill and into Freedom Hall. Lower School students will spread out in Constitution Hall (levels A-2) and Liberty Hall (levels 3-5). Space for every student will double! With these exciting moves come needs to get these buildings READY! Your generous support for the Annual Fund will help get everything SET, so they can GO!

Brookfield Academy's annual fund appeal was delivered a little differently this year. Instead of the traditional brochure, letter and pledge envelope being sent through the mail, we opted to try a more cost effective, twenty-first century approach. The annual fund appeal was sent to all current parents electronically. Three short videos on the BA web site illustrate the capital needs in all three divisions. Things like desks and tables, classroom renovations and improvements, books and playground equipment are all on the list. Annual fund gifts can be made quickly and securely online or more traditionally by printing a gift form and mailing a check. Please take a few minutes to look at the videos and learn more about what students will need next year when they move into their new buildings. Then, consider how you can help and make your gift to this year's Annual Fund!

A Tribute to J. R. Drez

2009-11-10T11:30:00.008-06:00

Written by BA Board Chairman Stew Davis '64 and printed in the 2009 Annual Report

Dr. Solsrud’s selection of the theme for the 2008-09 school year presented the opportunity for me to reflect upon the nascent days of Brookfield Academy and inspired me to compose the following message:

When the Academy of Basic Education (ABE) opened its doors for the very first time to admit new students on September 10, 1962, yours truly, at the ripe “old” age of 13, was one of the lucky handful of “guinea pigs” who comprised the Upper Form (7th and 8th grades) of this recently launched experiment in independent education. Our classroom, as were all ABE classrooms, was located in the building we now call Founders Hall. In preparation for opening day, our small second-hand student desks along with the over-sized used desk of our teacher were neatly arranged in the easternmost room of the original Risney home— the very same room that now serves as the school’s business office (there was no interior partition wall in those days).

Following the inaugural all-school assembly around the flagpole at the top of the hill, including recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance (“stand tall”) and the Academy Prayer (a near verbatim replica of the New York State Regents’ Prayer, which had been declared “unconstitutional” by the United States Supreme Court just a few years earlier), we were introduced to our teacher— the one and only, incomparable, avuncular Mr. J. Robert (“Bob”) Drez, who hailed from “Nawlins” (Louisiana) and who had been educated in the Jesuit tradition of the Roman Catholic Church.

Having demitted priesthood in favor of teaching, Mr. Drez was a man who possessed close to zero tolerance for the bitter cold of Wisconsin winters (which he had yet to actually experience at that time) and who suffered from an extremely severe case of dipterophobia that instantly transformed him into a totally non-functional human being by the mere presence of an ordinary house fly. No, the back door to the outside in the middle of the east wall close to the fly-infested woods was never left open “intentionally” by any of his students. Even so, on those (not so) rare occasions when an unsuspecting dipteran displayed the audacity to violate restricted airspace, it very quickly was perfunctorily obliterated by a lethal strike from a lightening swift swatter, wielded by the ever vigilant erstwhile cleric. Only after all unwelcome intruders had been eliminated could academic instructional activity be resumed in the Upper Form classroom of ABE. (In all fairness to Mr. Drez, at some point, I did come to understand the source of his peculiar dislike for nature’s two-winged pests - in the more tropical climate of New Orleans, flies were associated with disease and decay and were to be avoided and/or eliminated whenever possible.) Except for math (which he readily admitted he didn’t know) and French (which he did know and probably could have easily taught), Mr. Drez instructed all subjects in the Upper Form, including U.S. History, English, and of course, everyone’s favorite, Latin. Every day, we learned something new from Mr. Drez: how to diagram English sentences, how to conjugate Latin verbs and decline Latin nouns, as well as his thoughts on the reasons behind the “War of Northern Aggression,” as he called the American Civil War . My closest personal association with Mr. Drez occurred between my ages of 13 and 15 when I was a student in his classroom for two years before leaving in 1964 for high school elsewhere. (Brookfield Academy did not yet have an Upper School.) Mr. Drez continued teaching at ABE, then BA, for many years before retiring and returning to his beloved “Nawlins,” where he resided until his death several years ago. A memorial fund was established in his honor and memory and continues to provide scholarship support to worthy Brookfield Academy students.
Today, nearly five decades since my first encounter with Mr. Drez, I finally realize what an uncommon person he was. The longer I live, the more I appreciate what he did for me and for so many other Brookfield Academy students over the years. For my part, it may be too little too late, but “Here’s to you, Mr. Drez! You taught so many of us to appreciate, to aspire, and to accomplish. And for that, we will be eternally grateful.”

Community Building

2009-09-14T08:55:00.019-05:00

The excitement surrounding the construction of Patriots Hall is at least partially tied to that fact that we have been able to see with our very own eyes a building grow before us.

From the initial site preparation to laying the foundation, to the erection of walls and installation of windows, to the current concentration on internal drywalling and painting, we have been able to visually watch as Patriots Hall takes shape.

While construction has been challenging and complex for those actually involved in the building project, the greater Brookfield Academy community interprets the building in a much different way. The BA community is not so much focused on the process, but derive their excitement from the building itself. Reality in this context is derived from what they see every time they pass Patriots Hall.

However, Patriots Hall and Brookfield Academy in general are the result of a far more complex kind of building, the building of the Brookfield Academy community. The spirit, unity, shared values, and common commitment to excellence are built over time and through a myriad of processes. The "school" is much greater than merely walls and buildings; it is the culmination of historical events, stories, anecdotes, myths, and people. All of these less observable and measurable factors combine to "build" the authentic essence of Brookfield Academy.

The opening week of school serves to more fully develop this concept of building. On Sept. 10, the school community came together to celebrate Founders Day, the anniversary of the opening of Brookfield Academy in 1962. It is perhaps one of the most important days in the school year because it offers us the opportunity to reflect on the rich history surrounding the school. Held on the very same spot where the first students assembled on that day 47 years ago, we hear about the pioneers who founded the school, those first students and teachers, and most importantly the values and beliefs that continue to serve as the foundation for the school community. The powerful images and symbols that accompany the various speeches are part of the "building process," nowhere near as tangible as the brick walls of Patriots Hall, but equally important and just as strong.

It was the Academy's great pleasure to welcome as this year's Founders Day speaker, class of 1998 alum Ryan Law.

Ryan's presentation reflected a genuine appreciation for the values and beliefs that Brookfield Academy taught him, made even more poignant by the fact that Ryan's grandparents were part of the founding families of Brookfield Academy and Ryan's grandfather was one of the intellectual architects of the Brookfield Academy philosophy of freedom. Ryan conveyed the fact that his personal and professional life are manifestations of the Five Stars and that there is a fundamental relationship between hard work and success.

Following in the tradition of Founders Day is the recently established Founders Fest event. While Founders Day is perhaps characterized as a bit melancholy and reflective, Founders Fest is a good old fashioned all-school cookout to celebrate the beginning of the school year. Food, rides, music, fun and fireworks are all part of the night's festivities. Founders Fest is an opportunity to assemble the Brookfield Academy community for camaraderie and celebration. With a record turnout of parents and students from across all three divisions, Founders Fest is achieving its purpose of creating community and unity throughout the school.

Whether through bricks and mortar or shared values and experiences, Brookfield Academy takes seriously the concept of "building" a community.

Pardon Our Dust

2009-09-03T11:21:00.026-05:00

Over 300 donors took advantage of a special invitation to tour the new Patriots Hall Upper School building project. Although the building is still four months away from completion, the event offered supporters self-guided tours and a behind-the-scenes look at the magnificent new building. Faculty and staff were also there to answer any questions about the building.
Accompanying the event was a special announcement that the campaign recently achieved its $12 million dollar goal necessary to receive the $500,000 challenge grant. The four year, $12.5 million dollar campaign was the largest in the history of the school. A special thank you to co-chairs Dan and Carol Geenen, Jeff and Cynthia Harris, and Greg and Shobha Warren, and their volunteer team who worked diligently on behalf of the campaign. Over 1000 people donated to the campaign and many of those donors made the largest gift in their personal giving history. To all the donors and volunteers, Brookfield Academy salutes you for your generosity and commitment to the school.

As Stew Davis, Board Chair, has stated, the building of Patriots Hall and the other campus-wide initiatives associated with the Soar With The Stars...A Stellar Opportunity capital campaign are second only to the founding of the school in terms of importance and impact. While there are many additional needs that will arise as a result of the building project, all affiliated with the campaign can take a few minutes to celebrate this milestone in the history of Brookfield Academy. You can view more photos from this special event on Flickr.

Golf With Your Friends

2009-09-03T10:18:00.022-05:00

Throughout the history of Brookfield Academy, there have been many attempts to organize a golf outing. The latest edition started thirteen years ago when a diverse group of 30 people ventured out to Willow Run Golf Club for a day of golf and camaraderie. Following golf, all participants were treated to a hot dog and limited refreshments. That was all the budget would allow! Over the years the outing has been played in oppressive heat, during biblical rain storms, in chilly August conditions. At the conclusion the golfers have been treated to a myriad of food options, both good and lousy.

Despite those fledgling first outings, the Academy golf outing has become a highly anticipated event, one that now attracts a loyal group of golfers who understand the reality that golf outings in Wisconsin offer all sorts of weather-related surprises. They willingly accept this reality in order to take part in the hi-jinks and whimsical foolishness that are trade marks of this particular outing.

The most recent outing was held Monday, August 24th, at Chenequa Country Club. Blessed with perhaps the nicest weather in the history of the outing, all who attended had an extraordinary time. Over 125 golfers and 150 dinner guests were treated to a great day of golf and fellowship. And, the food was terrific!

Eight years ago the outing was renamed the Wally Davis Memorial Outing, in honor of founder and avid golfer Wally Davis. Wally was one of those loyal participants, always appearing just prior to the shotgun start and sticking around for the awards ceremony and lousy food afterwards. One year later the outing name was expanded to include Wally's compatriot Bill Law, an equally avid golfer and also a founder of the Academy. Given their love of the Academy and golf, naming the outing in their memory was both most appropriate and quite logical.

Tradition is important to the BA outing. Every year the outing recognizes Mary Law and Betty Davis, the matriarchs of Brookfield Academy and the resolute women behind Bill and Wally. Their attendance and support for the outing makes it a very special event. It is always a highlight when Mary and Betty are introduced and recognized for their support of the outing and the Academy in general.
Four years ago it was decided that outing proceeds would benefit the Five Stars to Success Scholarship program. The scholarship program was established in order to provide city of Milwaukee students with an opportunity to attend Brookfield Academy. It provides tuition, transportation, and additional needs to worthy students. Thanks to the generous support of golfers and sponsors, the outing has generated almost $100,000 in support for this program.

Mark August 23, 2010 on your calendar and be sure to get in on the fun! You can view all the photos from this year's golf outing on Flickr.

Get a Hole-in-100 and Win!

2009-07-14T12:32:00.008-05:00

Brookfield Academy, and the Davis-Law Memorial Golf Outing, are pleased to introduce the first ever Hole-in-100 Raffle! Win a one-week stay at the five diamond luxury Greenbrier Resort in Sulphur Springs, WV. One lucky winner will enjoy spectacular mountain views from a beautiful 2,600 square-foot Greenbrier Cottage with four bedrooms that sleep eight. The three 18-hole championship golf courses are more than enough reason to lure golf aficionados to White Sulphur Springs. Only 100 tickets will be sold so your odds of winning are 1 in 100 or better! Ticket price is $100 each and you can buy more than one ticket.

The drawing will be held at 7:00 pm on Monday, August 24 at the Davis-Law Memorial Outing, Chenequa Country Club, Hartland, WI. Need not be present to win. For more information and to purchase your Hole-in-100 Raffle tickets, visit the Davis-Law Golf website and click on Hole-in-100 Raffle. Good luck!

$300,000 = $800,000

2009-07-09T10:16:00.004-05:00

Is this new math?

No! It is real math and you can be part of the equation.

Patriots Hall is really starting to take shape. The project survived a harsh winter and is on schedule to open sometime in early 2010. While the Soar with the Stars...A Stellar Opportunity campus-wide capital campaign has raised more money, from more donors, and with more volunteers than any other fund-raising effort in school history, our work is not finished. Brookfield Academy has always been a back-to-basics school, and this is as basic as it gets:

We have raised an incredible $11.7 million for the Soar with the Stars campaign

We need $300,000 to reach $12 million, at which point a generous supporter will add $500,000

This challenge match gift will be given only if we raise the remaining $300,000

We cannot afford to let $500,000 walk away - so we need your help!

We are calling on all parents, alumni, alumni parents and grandparents to help finish this campaign. With everyone joining together, we can raise the remaining $300,000 and put the final star on this campaign. If you need persuading, contact Bob Solsrud and he will personally take you on a hard hat tour of Patriots Hall.

Be a part of the future at Brookfield Academy!

Business...As Usual!

2009-06-16T10:25:00.013-05:00

While schools are generally portrayed as fairly inefficient and financially mismanaged, one particular school has recently been recognized as a "top ten small business" by the Waukesha Area Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Times of Milwaukee. That school is Brookfield Academy and it earned the award for its entrepreneurial spirit, its commitment to mission, and its ability to grow in a difficult economic climate. Especially impressed with the school's successful capital campaign activity, the panel that evaluated over 60 applications also appreciated the school's independent ethos and philosophy of freedom. Although BA is not a business in the traditional sense, like the other nine businesses recognized by the panel, BA is a professional organization with a commitment to quality. The school truly understands that competitive market forces greatly influence consumers and it knows that the only way to ensure success is through a commitment to excellence in program, people and facilities. To be a "top ten small business" is to validate the hard work and effort of all associated with Brookfield Academy, both past and present. Brookfield Academy thanks the Waukesha Area Chamber and the Biz Times for its recognition of the Academy's hard work and effort to be the best.

The award was presented to Dr. Solsrud on June 11 at a luncheon held at the Country Springs Hotel and Waterpark. Several alumni were in attendance and recognized at the event.

Tom Boyce, Doug Bayerlein '74, and Tim O'Malley '79

Sandy and Stew Davis '64

Evan Zeppos and Larry Pesch

Blair Witch BA Style

2009-05-08T12:22:00.004-05:00

Not long ago, some BA students went searching for library books. What started out as an innocent search for books turned into a night they will never forget. While the whereabouts of the kids remains a mystery, the following video was recently discovered at the exact location of the new Patriots Hall library....

When Patriots Hall construction is finished and building transitions take place, there will be four libraries on campus that will need to be filled with plenty of age-appropriate books, resource materials, furniture and storage systems. This was the need presented during the "Raise the Paddle" portion of the Live Auction at last weekend's Dinner Auction. A group of Upper School students made this short video to help convince donors to raise their paddles high It certainly did scare the donors into action as they contributed over $85,000 to the libraries! And, happily, a search party found the students in the Beyer Construction trailer, going over building blueprints with Patriots Hall Project Manager Leonard.

Project Manager Leonard

Auction Action

2009-05-07T10:54:00.014-05:00

With the Patriots Hall building project generating genuine excitement, the BA community again demonstrated its generosity by making the 2009 Dinner Auction an unbelievably successful night. The 250 attendees enjoyed a terrific evening of fun and camaraderie while never losing sight of the fact that the evening was designed to generate support for the campus-wide needs that Patriots Hall will create. Held for the first time at the Pfister Hotel, this year's theme, "Under Construction," truly captured the buzz that is surrounding Brookfield Academy.
Some of the highlights of the evening included an appearance by one of the world famous Milwaukee Brewer racing sausages, the unveiling of two videos: the student-produced Patriots Hall Library project video and Peter Eggert’s always excellent “Thanks, Mom and Dad!” video, not to mention an astounding $87,000 in "Raise the Paddle" for BA libraries.

The night culminated with a dance where guests truly showed that they are better bidders than they are dancers. There is no truth to the rumor that BA is going to replace the auction with a "Dancing with the Stars-type" event. Some of the revelers took "cutting a rug" a bit too literally. Fortunately there were no broken bones and all made it home safe.

When people ask how Brookfield Academy can continue to put together such an extraordinary auction, the answer is quite simple. The role played by our volunteers in organizing and executing this event is unequivocally the most important reason for its success. Led by co-chairs Amy Strong and Judi Balistreri, the volunteers are responsible for every facet of the event and they leave no stone unturned. Blogger joins with the rest of the BA community in thanking the co-chairs and the volunteer staff for their selfless effort. Not surprising, Blogger has heard that the volunteers are already busy planning the 2010 Dinner Auction, but strongly suggests they take a well-earned few days of vacation.

Blogger also thanks the many student volunteers who provide essential assistance to the auction.

Blogger and the students thank all who attended Under Construction for their enthusiastic support of Brookfield Academy. As Dr. Solsrud said in his opening remarks, "It doesn't get much better than this...."

Beam Me Up

2009-04-06T11:23:00.010-05:00

With the Patriots Hall building project moving along at a rapid pace, the signed beam was recently lifted and placed in the southwest corner of the building. Over 800 people signed their name to the beam that was carefully lifted to its final location, where it will become part of the history of Patriots Hall. This was the last beam to be placed in Patriots Hall.

The building is really beginning to show progress. Although the rough winter put the construction schedule behind by almost three weeks, the builders have already made up all that time and are back on schedule. Walls are beginning to go up around the academic wing and the outer brick is being placed on the gymnasium. Blogger is amazed at how big the building is!

Be sure to check out the webcam for the latest look. BA Blogger recognizes Eggert Farm Productions for the photos of the beam placement.

Leaving A Mark

2009-03-11T09:22:00.026-05:00

In a celebration of the future, BA students from Level A to Level 12, along with their teachers and staff, journeyed across the street to sign what will be the only beam in Patriots Hall, the new Upper School, not covered by bricks, dry wall or other building materials. Academy students, faculty and staff created a little history by signing their name and including some rather unique messages on one of the Patriots Hall 30' steel beams. And, of course, because this may be the only time BA students were allowed to write on school walls, over 800 people took full advantage of the opportunity! Throughout the course of the day students not only signed the beam, but were given an orientation on Patriots Hall. Despite the rather harsh winter, there has been great progress on the building project and students began to envision the location of the academic wing, the library, the student commons and the gymnasium. Students were especially surprised by the fact that the building will be double the size of the existing high school. When asked who could lift the 1200 pound steel beam, one student enthusiastically shouted "Chuck Norris" and all agreed that Chuck Norris was a worthy choice. "My mom," "my dad," "Superman and Superwoman," "Arnold Schwarzengger," and "me" were some of the other individuals presented as capable of lifting the large beam. Ironically, "Chuck Forklift" was not mentioned in the list of people capable of lifting the beam, but at the end of the day, this Chuck came and put the beam inside the job site. It is scheduled to be placed in the building sometime before spring break.
With the signing of the beam, students leave an indelible mark on their school and one that will live on far beyond their years at the Academy. When they return to visit campus, one suspects they will inevitably visit the beam and remember the day they left their mark on BA.
This was one of many activities planned to engage the students in the Patriots Hall building project. It is an exciting time for BA and the goal is for all to feel a part of the excitement. From the looks of the many smiling faces, putting their stamp on the future certainly accomplished that goal. To see pictures of each class signing the beam on this historical day, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/brookfieldacademy/sets/72157615033436960/ or watch live action of the day's events in this short video.

Cookies for the Construction Crew

2009-02-25T15:06:00.004-06:00

Level A students in the Peter Rabbit program baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies and personally delivered them to the Patriots Hall construction site today. Before entering the job site, the kids checked in at the site manager's trailer to pick up their hard hats. Tromping through the wet and muddy conditions did not deter Brookfield Academy's youngest students. They happily presented their gift to a group of steel workers who had just finished their lunch break. The men were most appreciative of the tasty homemade treat! More photos from the construction site can be seen on Flickr

A Party For The Rest Of Us!

2009-02-24T12:06:00.020-06:00

Six inches of snowfall didn't keep all the BA Alums from the 70s, 80s and 90s from partying last Saturday night!

The BA Alumni Association hosted the first ever "Party For The Rest Of Us" as an alternative to the traditional December Christmas party that attracts many college-aged alums.

The evening at Western Racquet Club in Elm Grove kicked off with cocktails and conversation as alums stretched their memories to answer trivia questions submitted by their classmates. (The complete list of questions can be found at the end of this post.)
During the fabulous Italian dinner, alums were treated to a power point showing the construction progress on Patriots Hall, the new Upper School, and prizes were awarded for the most correct trivia answers.

If you weren't able to attend this year's alternative party don't despair...it is likely to become an annual event! The full album of photos from the party can be seen on Flickr.

Trivia Questions - to play, submit your answers to baalumni@brookfieldacademy.org or ask for a list of answers if you're just curious.
1960s and 70s
1. Where did BA’s first basketball team practice at first?
2. What was Mr. Drez so afraid of?
3. What car did Mr. Hunt drive (’63-’64)?
4. What was Mme. Lugassy’s favorite punishment?
5. How many headmasters did BA have in 1977?
6. What was the Middle School building before BA bought it?
7. What was the first musical presented by BA drama?
8. Who was the girls’ JV basketball coach from 1977-78?
9. In which play did Bob Solsrud appear?

1980s
1. Who broke the glass backboard?
2. Who burped the alphabet live on WTMJ and on the PA system?
3. What was Mr. Hahn’s sports cheer?
4. What senior prank ended all senior pranks?
5. What was the name of the group that gathered for varsity basketball games?(Hint: led by a guy with a saxophone.)
6. What is the 100 gun salute? Who performed it?
7. What was the theme song for Sadie Hawkins in 1986?
8. In what class did we read Beowulf?
9. What famous music singer’s father directed plays at BA in the 80s?
10. Class of 83 – Who was our physics teacher?
11. What movie paralleled the 1985 ski trip punishment?

1990s
1. What BA teacher skateboarded during class?
2. Name three of the French teachers at BA from 1994-98.
3. When travelling to a sporting event on the team bus, what was the protocol to follow upon encountering a set of railroad tracks?
4. How does Mr. Rottman get to school?
5. Where did the BA van break down on the Heritage Club trip to Glacier Park?

Blogger Loves The Sound of Pounding Steel in the Morning

2009-01-27T14:56:00.013-06:00

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

2009-01-27T14:44:00.005-06:00

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

2009-01-13T12:52:00.008-06:00

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

2009-01-05T15:30:00.013-06:00

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.

Building Their Future Today

2008-12-10T11:38:00.008-06:00

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.

Two Down, Six To Go

2008-11-19T14:32:00.013-06:00

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.

Toiling in Successful Anonymity

2008-11-10T14:53:00.028-06:00

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.

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.

Concrete Flows!

2008-11-05T14:09:00.028-06:00

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

2008-11-05T10:47:00.010-06:00

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.

The Thrill of Victory...

2008-10-30T14:06:00.022-05:00

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.

Homecoming Festivities

2008-10-13T14:53:00.000-05:00

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.

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.

Grandparents Rock

2008-10-10T13:31:00.000-05:00

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.

Homecoming Fun

2008-09-29T08:46:00.000-05:00

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!

BA Tradition

2008-09-17T08:44:00.000-05:00

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.”

BA's First Blog

2008-09-11T14:16:00.000-05:00

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.