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

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

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.

by

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

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!

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

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.