Today at Breck
Spring 2017
LIVING HISTORY
Looking back at 60+ years of sixth-grade D.C. trips / PG. 18
HEALTHY MINDS, HEALTHY BODIES RECOGNIZING HEAD OF SCHOOL EDWARD KIM UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPLORE A LIVING WAGE MOVING AHEAD AND GIVING BACK
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Spring 2017
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Today at Breck
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FEATURES 18 / Living History
COVER STORY Take a look into the more than 60-year tradition of sixth-grade journeys to Washington, D.C.
24 / Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies Changes to preschool and kindergarten lunch usher in increased healthy food options.
28 / Recognizing Head of School Edward Kim After a decade of leadership, Head of School Edward Kim leaves Breck at the end of the 2016-17 school year.
30 / A Living Wage Upper School students explore the meaning of a living wage in a new addition to the Precalculus curriculum.
35 / Moving Ahead and Giving Back The Breck Alumni Association works to keep grads connected.
DEPARTMENTS
2 / 20 Questions
5 / 123 Ottawa
40 / Alumni News
51 / The Pursuit of Knowledge
On the cover: Breck sixth graders visit the Vietnam Memorial on June 2 during their visit to Washington, D.C. Photo by Karyl Rice
This issue of Today at Breck marks my last as Head of School. For the past 10 years, I have had the pleasure of sharing with you stories from in and around our community, highlighting our excellent teaching, incredible accomplishments, and historic milestones. I have been honored and fortunate to work for and beside dedicated faculty and administrators, loyal alumni, thoughtful students, and committed leaders throughout my tenure, and this magazine has allowed me to share a small glimpse of the incredible things I see every day. In this issue, the tradition continues. Here you’ll find insight into our Middle School sixth-grade trip to Washington, D.C. It’s a trip that began more than fifty years before I joined the Breck community and remains a valued tradition to this day. You’ll also read about a new piece of our Precalculus curriculum, where students explore their philosophy of a living wage as well as the budgets and math required to “make ends meet” for so many families. Finally, you’ll learn about changes to our preschool and kindergarten lunch program, where we continue our work to provide healthy and nutritious meals to all students at Breck. But most importantly, this issue of Today at Breck highlights the true meaning and value of Breck: community. I often speak about the importance of being a “mission-driven school.” There’s no better example of this than in the stories of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Just a few weeks ago, I had the honor and privilege of presiding over the commencement ceremony for the Class of 2017. This was an especially poignant time, as my own daughter is a member of this class. During my commencement address, I shared how impressed I was with their individual accomplishments but even more, with their dedication to community. This same message is true for so many at Breck. I have watched individuals demonstrate courageous leadership and work to transform our school into the caring and generous community that it is today. I will always be proud to know Breck as the mission-driven school that we’ve worked so hard to maintain. Breck will always be with each of you and I know it will be with me, too.
EDWARD KIM HEAD OF SCHOOL
Today at Breck
Spring 2017
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Questions
Tyrone (Ty) Thayer ’90: PRESCHOOL TEACHER 1 What music are you listening to lately? Cloud Cult, the Replacements, and Sigur Ros 2 What’s one of the last books you read? How Children Succeed by Paul Tough 3 What’s your favorite time of year? That’s easy, WINTER! 4 What’s one of the most adventurous things you’ve ever done? I moved to Taiwan after graduating from college without knowing how to speak Chinese ... yet. 5 What’s your favorite Breck lunch? Baked potato bar 6 What’s your dream job? I have it, but I wouldn’t turn down being a time-travelling Jedi that wanders the Earth fighting zombies. 7 What’s one of the best decisions you’ve ever made? Asking my wife to marry me
8 What advice would you give to your younger self? The same advice Tom Hegg gave me as a student, “It won’t get better, but you will get better at how you handle it.” 9 What do you remember from kindergarten? That I annoyed my teacher. Let’s just say my name was called out frequently. 10 What is the most important room in your home? Kitchen. It’s an easy place to gather, and food just brings people together. 11 What’s your favorite place on the Breck campus? Meditation Rock Garden 12 Favorite comfort food? Food? I pick a drink — coffee. 13 Favorite treat: salty or sweet? Salty. Serving size of any bag of potato chips is one! 14 If you had a theme song, what would it be? Movin’ Right Along by the Muppets. My eighth-grade choir class at Breck sang it at Orchestra Hall.
15 Favorite line from a movie? “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” – Fellowship of the Ring 16 Favorite website? Twitter. It is a great resource for professional development. 17 Three people — living or dead — you’d want to have dinner with? As a history major, this one is hard! How about Oliver Cromwell, Michael Collins, and “Henry” Pu Yi? 18 If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Antarctica 19 What’s your pet peeve? People driving while texting 20 What keeps you up at night? Easy! I have a toddler.
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Questions
David Roddy ’19: BRECK SOPHOMORE 1 What music are you listening to lately? Right now I’m listening to lots of Post Malone and Travis Scott.
8 What advice would you give to your younger self? Stay humble and keep working hard.
2 What’s one of the last books you read? Slaughterhouse Five for my English class
9 What do you remember from kindergarten? Playing “Ships Across the Ocean” at recess with my classmates
3 What’s your favorite time of year? The summer because of the activities and the free time
10 What is the most important room in your home? The family room downstairs
4 What’s one of the most adventurous things you’ve ever done? After competing in a tournament in South Carolina, my teammates and I were trying to find food (at 4:00 am). We couldn’t find anything for a long time until we stumbled across a Waffle House. When we walked back, the sun was already coming up. 5 What’s your favorite Breck lunch? The chicken wings 6 What’s your dream job? To be a
professional athlete
7 What’s one of the best decisions you’ve ever made? Coming to Breck instead of other schools because of the great community here
11 What’s your favorite place on the Breck campus? The 150 floor, which is the main hallway at Breck in the Upper School 12 Favorite comfort food? Mashed potatoes with gravy 13 Favorite treat: salty or sweet? Sweet 14 If you had a theme song, what would it be? Congratulations by Post Malone 15 Favorite line from a movie? In Space Jam a golfer walks up to Stan Podalak and asks about what he is doing. He replies, “Uh, I’m fixing a divot.” The golfer turns around and yells to his friend, “He’s fixing a divot.” The hole was about four feet deep at the time.
16 Favorite website? YouTube 17 Three people — living or dead — you’d want to have dinner with? Jesus, Reggie White, and My Uncle Nute 18 If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Somewhere in Europe 19 What’s your pet peeve? When someone cuts you off during a conversation 20 What keeps you up at night? It’s either my dogs barking at nothing or my cat trying to crawl over me to get food even though he was fed already.
Today at Breck
Spring 2017
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Questions
Matt Bartel ’02: CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER AT
HELPNOW, LLC, A SOFTWARE COMPANY THAT HELPS HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS COMMUNICATE WITH THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE. 1 What music are you listening to lately? Audiobooks and podcasts to keep my mind off politics, a lot of sci-fi and mysteries lately 2 What’s one of the last books you read? Relic: How Our Constitution Undermines Effective Government. It is a well-articulated critique of our outdated political system, with a reasonable, if not realistic, proposal for modernizing it. 3 What’s your favorite time of year? Baseball season 4 What’s one of the most adventurous things you’ve ever done? I moved to Spain on 12 hours’ notice and lived there for a year. 5 What’s your favorite Breck lunch? Snickers bar and a Coke from the vending machine 6 What’s your dream job? I’d love to work with my wife. Not exactly sure what the work would be, but something in the public service realm.
7 What’s one of the best decisions you’ve ever made? Online dating. It’s a great exercise in asking yourself what you want from your life and what kind of person you want to share it with. Plus, the Breck gene pool is a little small. 8 What advice would you give to your younger self? When you make a big decision, ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen?” If you can live with it, go for it. Fail early, fail often. 9 What do you remember from kindergarten? Peregrine falcons are way faster than cheetahs. 10 What is the most important room in your home? The kitchen. The best thing in the world is sharing food with friends and family. 11 What’s your favorite place on the Breck campus? Second base on the varsity baseball field 12 Favorite comfort food? Tempranillo, manchego, jamon iberico, sitting on a plaza in Spain
13 Favorite treat: salty or sweet? Cheetos 14 If you had a theme song, what would it be? Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers 15 Favorite line from a movie? “When you get in a fight with a drunk, don’t hit ‘em with your pitching hand.” – Crash Davis, Bull Durham 16 Favorite website? Nytimes.com 17 Three people — living or dead — you’d want to have dinner with? Thomas Jefferson, Barack and Michelle Obama 18 If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Argentina wine country 19 What’s your pet peeve? The electoral college, gerrymandering, and state-level bi-cameral legislatures 20 What keeps you up at night? My 10-month old son, Arthur. And Donald Trump.
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Today at 123 Ottawa Avenue North
BRECK ACADEMIC WORLDQUEST TEAM PLACES 7TH IN NATIONWIDE COMPETITION ADVANCED SCIENCE RESEARCH STUDENTS EXCEL IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION Four students from Breck’s Advanced Science Research program competed at the 10th Annual International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering, Environment Project Olympiad (ISWEEEP) held in Houston, Texas, on May 3 through 8. High school students representing 62 countries competed this year. Cole Maxwell ’18, Archana Murali ’17, and Maggie Scott ’17 received ISWEEEP’s top honor, the Gold Medal Winner recognition, accompanied by a cash award of $750. Genevieve Weiler ’17 was named a Bronze Medal Winner, a distinction accompanied by a $150 cash award.
Four Breck students participated in the 2017 Academic WorldQuest National Competition at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on April 29. Brett Schoppert ’19, Jack Weinstein ’19, Cole Maxwell ’18, and Darlene Radichel ’19 won the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., after winning the Minnesota WorldQuest championship February 2. On April 29, 47 teams competed for the national title, which tests students’ knowledge of international relations, current events, and foreign policy issues. The competition is based on 10 topics and students are quizzed on 10 questions for each topic. The 2017 topics included: Current Events, Great Decisions, Peace and Conflict in Today’s World, Combating Infectious Disease, European Union, Countering Violent Extremism, Turkey, Global Megacities, China, and Women in Technology. Breck’s team placed seventh in the nation and received an experience that will last a lifetime.
Today at 123 Ottawa Avenue North
TWENTY-ONE BRECK STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOLARS OF DISTINCTION AWARDS Twenty-one Breck students were named 2017 Minnesota Scholars of Distinction or Meritorious Performers in the areas of STEM, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, and Leadership on May 11. The Scholars of Distinction program is the Minnesota Department of Education’s highest honor and awards are given annually to students from across the state. This year, 49 awards were presented with 22 coming back to Breck, including all students enrolled in the Advanced Science Research program. Elena Berman received the distinguished honor of being named in both the Mathematics and Leadership categories. Scholars of Distinction and Meritorious Performance Awardees in STEM, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Leadership include:
Science Scholars of Distinction: Maya Czeneszew ’18, Addison Gleekel ’18, Karthik Papisetty ’19, Samuel Rex ’17, and Melinda Samaratunga ’18. Meritorious Performance recognition: Jyotirmya Kumar ’17 and Hyunsoo (Brian) Song ’18.
Mathematics Scholars of Distinction: Elena Berman ’17, Raunak Vijayakar ’17, and Genevieve Weiler ’17. Meritorious Performance recognition: Samuel Aronson ’18, Siyuan Ma ’18, and Archana Murali ’17.
STEM Meritorious Performance recognition: John Dempsey ’17, Emma Carr ’18, Jiaheng He ’17, Sung Wan Huh ’17, and James Williams IV ’17.
Social Studies Scholars of Distinction: Gigi Gunderson ’17. Meritorious Performance recognition: Warren Van Lundsgaard ’17 and Emily Pluhar ’17.
Leadership Meritorious Performance recognition: Elena Berman ’17.
LOWER SCHOOL CHESS TEAMS FIND SUCCESS IN STATE TOURNAMENT Twenty-nine students represented Breck during the annual Elementary/Primary Chess Tournament held at Breck on April 8. Nearly 360 students participated in the event, bringing together some of the greatest chess minds in grades K-6 from across the state.
Breck students were very successful with the following results: Breck’s Primary Team (K-3rd Grade) tied for 4th place, resulting in a 5th place finish out of 27 teams (after tiebreaks were calculated). Participants included Jonah Getnick ’28, Ryan Cavanaugh ’28, Theo Artemiuk ’28, Reese Melnick ’28, Adam Fischbach ’28, Jack Wade ’28, Luke Moga ’28, Thomas Setterberg ’28, Henry Childs ’28, Kelly Armstrong ’28, Yuki Gilbert ’27, Sara Rosenman ’27, John Winston ’27, Julia Rosenman ’27, Grier Julkowski ’27, Max Opperman ’27, Joshua Melnick ’26, and Truman Conner ’26. Breck’s Elementary Team (4th-6th grade) finished in 3rd place out of 32 teams. Participants included Liam Cavanaugh ’25, Colin Mitchell ’25, Michael Setterberg ’25, Edward (Teddy) Koch ’25, Ben Moga ’25, Jack Drawz ’25, Jax Julkowski ’25, Arav Saksena ’24, Emily Lin ’24, Jas Czeneszew ’24, and Kevin Armstrong ’24.
Individual awards were also presented to: • Jonah Getnick ’28 for winning the top prize as the best player in the state for 1st Grade • Liam Cavanaugh ’25 for winning the runner up trophy as the second best player in the state for 4th Grade Students also earned merit points for every winning chess game. Breck students receiving individual medals included Liam Cavanaugh ’25 (silver), Truman Conner ’26 (bronze), Colin Mitchell ’25 (bronze), and Ben Moga ’25 (bronze).
• Simren Samba ’21, Nell Ganley ’21, and Abigail Coval ’21 received 1st place as well as the Broadcom MASTERS Award. Their topic was, “What is the effect of font type on reading comprehension?” • Alex Iliarski ’22 and Ishan Nadkarni ’21 received 1st place and the Best in Show Award. Their topic was whether students could tell the difference between natural and artificial fruit smells. • Maeve Katics ’22 received 1st place. Her topic was the decomposition of processed and unprocessed foods by soldier fly larva.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE RESEARCH TEAM EXCELS AT REGIONAL, STATE FAIRS The new Middle School Science Research Team participated in the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair February 24-25 at the University of Minnesota. The following students and their projects advanced to the Minnesota Academy of Science State Engineering and Science Fair and were awarded for their research:
BRIEFLY NOTED
Students advanced to the state competition and participated in the fair March 25-27 in the Minneapolis Marriott City Center. • Alex Iliarski ’21 and Ishan Nadkarni ’21 received Best of The Fair Silver Medal, Institute of Technology 1st Place ($500.00 award), and Land of Lakes 2nd Place award. • Maeve Katics ’22 was awarded a Broadcom MASTERS invitation, the State Fair Second Grand Silver Medal, as well as the Wolfram Alpha Research Award. • Nell Ganley ’21, Simren Samba ’21, and Abigail Coval ’21 received a Broadcom MASTERS invitation.
After winning the Breck Middle School Geography Bee in January, Ethan Richter ’22 qualified for and represented Breck at the state level competition of the National Geographic Bee on March 31. Wyatt Birdsong ’23, Chloe Chu ’23, Henry Gaillard ’24, and Spencer Perez ’23 were all selected to participate in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) State 4-5-6 Boys’/Girls’ Honor Choirs. More than 2,400 students auditioned for a place in one of the six special honor choirs. There were 800 selected to participate.
Patrick Ganley ’17 was awarded the Consistency of Excellence award and Jordan Johnson ’17 received the Dedication of Service award during the annual Theater Awards Banquet April 27. Established in 2016, these awards are given to the two students (9-12) who best represent qualities most important to theater arts.
Breck seniors Genevieve Weiler ’17, Elena Berman ’17, and Connor Ott ’17 were named as finalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. They went on to compete for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million. As of the publication of this magazine, Connor Ott was awarded a $2,500 National Merit Scholarship, but all finalists will be eligible for an award through July.
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Spring 2017
/9 Susan Graham, college counselor, was awarded the Chuck Howard Outstanding Counselor Award from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
FACULTY NEWS Barbara Jacobs-Smith, Lower School instructor, was awarded the Presidential Service Award at the Annual Gathering Partners Conference banquet on May 19 for her work with the Minnesota Master Naturalist Program. The award is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service and celebrates individuals who have made a significant impact in bettering our communities and the world.
In January, Michal Sagar, Visual Arts department head, exhibited work in the America 2017: Paperworks art show at Hartnett Hall Gallery on the campus of Minot State University, ND, as well as the Form + Content Gallery 10th Anniversary Exhibition in Minneapolis. Ty Thayer ’90, Lower School instructor, was elected to be the incoming chair of the Minnesota Association of Independent Schools. He will serve as co-chair in 2017-2018, and become the chair in the fall of 2018. Emily Brisse, Upper School English instructor, had essays published in the Atticus Review, Tribe Magazine, The Fourth River, and River Teeth.
FOUR FACULTY MEMBERS AWARDED SUMMER GRANTS FOR STUDY AND TRAVEL. • Memry Roessler (US English/multicultural education) will travel to El Paso, TX, where she hopes to learn more about life along the border. She will apply this information to her multicultural education curriculum and will infuse these stories into her May Program course called “Border Stories”. • David Birrow (MS/US performing arts) will complete an in-depth statistical analysis of the rhythmic language of bebop saxophonist Charlie Parker. Using the help of a software engineer to code rhythmic patterns, Birrow hopes to reveal probabilities, relationships, and patterns in Parker’s music. • Leah Malec (MS/US Spanish) will travel to Costa Rica to expand her firsthand knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world as well as attend the Visiting Educators Program at the La Paz Community School, where she hopes to gain new ideas for teaching and assessment in her classroom. • Kat Corrigan (LS visual art) will travel to Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire, England, where she will create and perform in the Hebden Handmade Parade, which is similar to the Minneapolis Mayday Parade known for its handmade puppets from Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. Corrigan plans to incorporate more collaborative parades and performances like the handmade parade in her future classes.
Today at 123 Ottawa Avenue North
FACULTY MEMBERS RECEIVE END-OF-YEAR AWARDS A number of faculty members received special recognition during the Staff Appreciation Day chapel on May 9. Awardees included: Faculty and staff recognized for ten years of service include: Joan Baer, Michelle Carlson, Risa Cohen, Tara Feeney, Charlie Grossman, Alexis Kent, Jon Martin, Matt Mendes, Marie Murphy, Katie Peterson, Kelly McCool Rebhorn, Patti Roby, Jerry Shoults, Carey Sirianni, Brian Wright, and Edward Kim. Faculty and staff recognized for twenty years of service include: Brett Bergene, Claire Blanchette, Peggy Fifield, Carrie Jensen, Evan Jones, Carrie Lennox, Dale Siewert, Marcy Wegner, and Claudette Laureano. Faculty and staff recognized for thirty years of service include: Carol Grams and Julie Madden. Four distinguished faculty awards were also presented during the chapel, including: • Kim Schafer, Lower School instructor, was awarded the Lee and Penny Anderson Family Foundation Breck Faculty Chair. • Michelle Jones, Middle School dean of students, received the Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Breck Faculty Chair. • Carey Sirianni, Upper School academic strategist, was awarded the Jean Wigley Teaching Excellence award. • Tom Hegg, Upper School Drama instructor, was awarded the Ernest Campbell award. During the Trustee Day Chapel on April 24, members of the senior class dedicated this year’s yearbook to Gretchen Scherer, Upper School English instructor.
HONORING OUR RETIREES Head of School Edward Kim recognized retiring faculty and staff members during a special faculty gathering June 7. Retirees include: Nancy Dohr, College Counseling Administrative Assistant (12 Years); Peggy Fifield, Physical Education instructor (20 Years); Tom Hegg, Middle/Upper School Drama instructor (34 Years); John Iserman, Upper School Mathematics instructor (34 Years); Julie Madden, Substitute Teacher Coordinator (30 Years)
GENTRY, SCHMIDT SELECTED FOR 2017-18 SABBATICALS Head of School Edward Kim announced that two faculty members were awarded sabbaticals for the 2017-18 school year. Upper School Math instructor Mary Gentry will spend the year learning about 21st century math education. She hopes to dive deeper into the current work being done around activity-based learning using an online platform called Desmos. Mary will also use her time on sabbatical to further her exploration of the connection between math and the arts. She will attend the 2017 Bridges conference in Toronto, where she will meet with mathematicians, artists, writers, musicians, and architects. She hopes to explore how these seemingly disparate disciplines come together in beautiful and inspiring ways. Upon her return to Breck, Mary hopes to use this knowledge to develop interactive explorations specific to Breck’s math curriculum and to become our multi-divisional Desmos guru. Upper School Modern Language instructor and community engagement coordinator Frederique Schmidt will spend her year exploring the nuances of the opportunity gap, both broadly as it affects our country and specifically as it plays out in the Twin Cities. The opportunity, or achievement, gap is defined as the disparity in academic achievement between low- and high-income students, as well as students of color and white students. Fred plans to participate in internships,
interviews, and professional learning opportunities, as well as “shadow” policy advocates and educators. She hopes this sabbatical will deepen her own understanding of social issues, strengthen relationships with our community partners, identify new opportunities, and create more meaningful collaborations for Wednesday morning community partnership visits.
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LOWER SCHOOL CLOSING
Celebrating the End of the School Year
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MIDDLE SCHOOL CLOSING
The Class of 2021 was honored during the Middle School closing ceremony June 5. Each year, four special awards are presented that are voted upon by the faculty. These awards are for effort, sportsmanship, leadership, and academic excellence. Awardees included Bristol Engelsma and Josh Furman (Effort), Lucas LeWin-Mills and Sydney Putnam (Sportsmanship), Jaren Morton and Melanie Oden (Leadership), and Benjamin Rex, Britt Helgaas, and Maeve Lichtenberg (Academic Excellence).
Photos by Karyl Rice
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Spring 2017
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Honoring the Graduates
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Special recognition for the Class of 2017 includes Samuel Rex (valedictorian), Genevieve Weiler (salutatorian), Sarah “Gigi� Gunderson (Haupt Cup), Archana Murali (Christin M. Mead Memorial award), Seyade Tadele and Reuben Stately (Robert J. Aarthun award), and Dalton Weigel (Citizenship award).
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David Akinola Lehigh University Maryam Ali Occidental College Emerson Allen Eckerd College Evan Beniek Bentley University Elena Berman Stanford University Julian Bieganski University of Puget Sound
Matthew Carroll University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Sophia Cherian Bates College Jack Childs Antioch College Olivia Chutich The University of Tampa Kelton Clarke Washington University in St. Louis
Jack Fowler College of St. Scholastica Henry Gamble University of St. Andrews Patrick Ganley Skidmore College Ivy Garvis Emory University Reed Goldstein Babson College Sarah Gunderson Dartmouth College
Anna Bigley Hamline University
Nypree Compton Minnesota State University, Mankato
Lauren Bilcik University of San Diego
Sophia Cousineau Texas Christian University
Davis Harrington Union College
Melanie Blazar Mount Holyoke College
Emma Cowan Augsburg College
Raegan Hasselbring University of Denver
Maggie Bradley Kenyon College
John Dempsey University of Denver
Jiaheng He University of Michigan
Carter Breitenfeldt Junior Hockey
Jon Ekberg Occidental College
Austin Heidemann Junior Hockey
Halcyon Brown Middlebury College
Avishai Eller Columbia University
Eva Heinen Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences
Lacey Budniewski Northeastern University
Boniat Ephrem Brown University
Jackson Hilde High Point University
Pilar Burgess University of Michigan
Quinlan Faeth Marquette University
Kip Holmes Colorado State University
Elena Cameron Boston University
Maxwell Feather Syracuse University
Alan Horstman Case Western Reserve University
Madelena Caron New York University
Samuel Fernandez Boston University
Sung Wan Huh University of California, Berkeley
Adeline Hardten University of San Diego
Class of 2017 Future Plans Nathan Jackson Loyola University Chicago
Nikolas Olson Bemidji State University
Catherine Schmoker Southern Methodist University
Isabella Jennings Yale University
Nicole Oppenheimer California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Margaret Schmoker Texas Christian University
Kajsa Johansson Hillsdale College Jack Johnson University of Pittsburgh Jordan Johnson Gustavus Adolphus College Anne Johnston Washington University in St. Louis Vivek Kaul Fordham University Amira Kazeminy University of Miami Helene Kim Dartmouth College Lauren Kozikowski University of Wisconsin, Madison Jyotirmya Kumar Whitman College Daniel Kuntz Washington and Lee University Brandon Leitz Junior Hockey Henry Louris Boston University Hans Lundsgaard Colgate University Van Lundsgaard Middlebury College Mitchel Machlitt Junior Hockey Seth Madson Syracuse University Regina Markert Gap Year Margaret McMillan Washington University in St. Louis Renelle Mensah Cornell University Lauren Miller Whitman College Lily Moen Georgetown University Archana Murali Columbia University Samantha Nelson University of Michigan Liam O’Neill Colgate University
Garrett Opperman Northwestern University Connor Ott University of Notre Dame Hayden Parkhill University of Notre Dame Hunter Parkhill Middlebury College Grant Parrish Gap Year Nkau-Zoua Pha University of La Verne Allyssa Phelps Columbia University Isabella Pittinger McGill University Emily Pluhar Brown University Jack Pohlad Miami University, Oxford Sydney Powell Colorado College Thornton Powell III Howard University Andrew Quay Denison University Samuel Rex Princeton University Olivia Richards Loyola University Chicago Abby Richardson Northwestern University Ronnie Richardson-Matthews Bradley University Abigail Riskevich Trinity College John Rudd Connecticut College Lillian Russick American University Soren Salveson St. Olaf College Madeline Sargent Denison University Gabriella Scarpa Northeastern University
Maggie Scott Rhodes College Rikhard Sehested-Preetzmann Loyola University Chicago Hannah Shin University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Ema Smith Colorado College Conrad Smits University of San Diego Chameer St. Urbain Bethel University Malisha Stevenson St. Catherine University Jordyn Stillman Indiana University at Bloomington Joshua Strom University of North Dakota Isabella Surucu University of Southern California Seyade Tadele Yale University Grace Taylor Swarthmore College Ben Turner Colgate University Raunak Vijayakar University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Dalton Weigel Junior Hockey Genevieve Weiler Harvard University Isabel Wellik Denison University Samuel Willey Miami University, Oxford James Williams Creighton University Kendall Williamson Colgate University Stacy Yuan University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Cassidy Yueh Scripps College Grace Zumwinkle University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
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Spring 2017
Living History
REFLECTING ON MORE THAN 60 YEARS OF SIXTH-GRADE TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
For many Breck alums, there is one Middle School event that is often recalled when remembering their Breck experience: the sixth-grade trip to Washington, D.C. “I have fond memories of being a kid in Washington, D.C.,” says Sarah Flotten ’85 and Middle School instructor. Flotten not only attended the D.C. trip as a child in the 1978-79 school year, she returned to Breck as a faculty member where she led and/or attended the trip for 16 years. The tradition of the D.C. trip started long before Flotten ever landed for the first time in the nation’s capital, however. Breck historical records indicate the trip may have first occurred as early as the 1950s. It’s the only surviving class trip for the school, one with deep historical roots and tradition, placed at a perfect time for the developing Middle School child. “The sixth-grade year is a good time to go,” says Sky Fauver, Middle School director. “It has tied in really well with the history curriculum for the past 35 plus years and marks an important milestone in growing up for Breck students.” Byron Rice, Middle School instructor and D.C. trip co-leader, agrees. “For many kids, this is the first time they’ve been away from home without mom and dad, and that’s a great thing to do before the seventh and eighth grades when students start to do athletics and social activities where their parents aren’t
present,” says Rice. “When we are on the trip, we are all on a team high—we know they’ve got this. But it is really neat to watch them come home and travel down that escalator. They nearly disappear into their parents arms. The trip is a nice segue into the last two years of Middle School where students are in charge of taking care of themselves.”
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING The trip also comes at an excellent time because the sixthgrade English and History curriculum covers U.S. and Minnesota history, including the famous D.C. reports, a project that can be recalled almost as vividly as the trip itself for some Breck alums. The D.C. reports are completed by each student and cover historical facts and information on the monuments and museums they will see on their D.C. trip. “The key skill we are trying to develop is ‘Can you read about something and then put it in your own words and tell a story about it?’ Students then take that into their experience in D.C.,” says Rice. Peter Hodne, who taught grades 5/6 History at Breck from 1980-1988, recalls the D.C. reports as being integral to the overall trip experience. “History can be cool and academic but when you actually go see it—you see where Washington lived, you see the
Potomac, you walk through the Supreme Court—the chance to actually be there is amazing,” recalls Hodne. “History is happening every day in Washington, D.C., and it really comes alive for the kids.” Today, D.C. reports are just as relevant as they were for students 30 years ago, teaching the history that is found in Washington, D.C. The biggest difference for the reports today, however, is the amount of available resources students can use, thanks to improved technology. “I did ten Washington, D.C., reports, without computers of course,” recalls Flotten. “I hand-wrote my reports, and I drew pictures of the monuments. Each year, we collected brochures from every monument and brought them back for the next year’s class to use, which meant the D.C. reports were largely based on the National Parks brochures.” Today, students must use a variety of resources to construct their reports. This extensive research done prior to the trip allows for an enriched experience for each student. “It was great that when you arrived in D.C. you already knew so much. When you got to a certain monument or memorial and realized where you were, you already knew so much about it and were able to share that with a friend or a teacher,” recalls Joe Ginsburg ’11 and teacher assistant at Breck. “I thought that was one of the coolest aspects of the D.C. trip because you’re actually studying something relevant and then seeing it in the real world.” This type of student participation is what makes the trip most valuable, especially for the faculty chaperoning the trip.
After joining Breck in the 7th grade, Natalie Clark ’10 was never able to experience the D.C. trip like so many of her classmates. Even though she missed the trip, however, she claims to have lived the trip through stories and memories of her Breck peers. This year she met the trip at the Capitol for a tour inside. “It was exciting for me to finally see the trip in action, and to reflect on how similar Breck moments (like the Panama trip with Dr. Jake Miller and Jil Franke during my junior year) had building impacts on my future decisions. I can imagine all of the 6th graders on the 2017 trip will keep these experiences—whether it’s a reflection on the Washington Monument or a recap of the dinner schedule — through community and frequent conversation (even with “new kids” like me). And who knows, they might find themselves back in D.C. 12 years later, living a mile down the road.” “There’s no better experience than walking up the steps of the Jefferson Memorial and having five kids who did an extensive research report on it conduct a tour with their 12 closest peers, explaining different things about what they learned so that the others may have a better experience, too,” says Tod Dungan, Middle School dean. “That’s why we go. The history actually comes alive in a way that it can’t unless they are experiencing it.”
about the research they’ve done; it’s not just about the opportunities that they’ve had to pair with various students throughout the year to work on projects; but it’s really about what have they learned about themselves over the course of the year through the curriculum that the sixth grade has provided that allows them to be the best they can be and make the best decisions they can make when it matters. I think it epitomizes what we want our kids to have as an experience at Breck.”
A MAGICAL JOURNEY
22 / “Kids crave relevance in what it is they are doing,” says Fauver. “When you can physically show students what they’re learning about and have them feel and hear why it’s important, you get greater buy-in from them. Their experiences and knowledge base are broader, and this sets the stage for what they will see in the seventh- and eighth-grade history curriculum.” Flotten, who now teaches eighth-grade history, uses the D.C. trip as a way to reinforce lessons in her classes as well. “When you go to the Holocaust Museum in sixth grade and then we talk about the Holocaust again in eighth grade, many of them can remember the feel of the building and the effect it had on them. That’s memorable for them,” explains Flotten. These experiences allow the history lessons to become more impactful for the students.
FULFILLING THE BRECK MISSION In addition to the curricular benefits, the Washington, D.C., trip allows the students to further develop relationships at an important time in their Breck experience. “The more opportunities we can provide for our various constituencies at Breck to interact, the better,” says Fauver. From the students sharing hotel rooms, to getting to know a teacher they might not have experienced yet, the trip allows for improved relationships and personal development. “As far as the Middle School experience is concerned, the D.C. trip is pivotal in the process of self-identification and coming into one’s own.” The trip also instills the values Breck hopes all children learn as students. “It allows us to provide lessons that we could only hope that our kids, as sixth graders, would have the chance to learn,” explains Dungan. “It’s not just about the history; it’s not just
While there are many great elements of the Washington, D.C., trip, it is truly the wonder and magic of the city that sets this experience apart from many others. “As the plane is descending, you can usually see the Washington Monument on the left and the Pentagon on the right,” says Rice. “At that moment, you can hear a ripple of excitement through the plane. It is a magical city.” Chelen Johnson, Upper School Science instructor and former leader of the D.C. trip, agrees that it is the experience of the city that makes this trip unique. “There’s so much history there and it just keeps evolving,” says Johnson. “ From the history of spaceflight, to dinosaurs, to modern history, the trip remains relevant for students because there’s such a great collection of history there.” Flotten recalls the many unique encounters she experienced during her time on the trips. “It’s magical to walk through and see the Lincoln Memorial and know who Lincoln was and all the symbolism in the monument.” From visiting with Paul Wellstone at the Capitol, to listening to Ted Kennedy speak into the record, to going behind the scenes of the Supreme Court and meeting with the Solicitor General, every trip is unique and different. But there’s one thing that holds it all together: the members of the sixth-grade team. This year’s trip leaders included Byron Rice, Mary Jane Curran, Annalisa Tester ’10, Michelle Bonderer, Matt Mendes, Dan Ratliff, Oscar Diaz, and Michelle Jones. Over the years, countless members of the Breck faculty have joined as well, all contributing to the successful tradition that is a benchmark for the Middle School experience. While the origins of the trip still remain unclear, the future is quite defined: the Washington, D.C., trip will continue to be an important part of the Middle School experience and one that is remembered for years to come.
EACH YEAR, MEMBERS OF THE SIXTH GRADE WRITE BLOG ENTRIES ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES DURING THE TRIP. HERE IS ONE EXCERPT THAT IS PARTICULARLY TELLING OF HIS JOURNEY TO WASHINGTON, D.C. “I look out the window. There it is, the Washington Monument. I had seen it in pictures online, sure. As soon as I see the tall white obelisk, I know I am going to have a great day. At the World War II Memorial, laid out was every state that had participated in the war. As we were having fun, little did I know that we were about to see a very emotional memorial. As sad as many other memorials were, from first glance I could tell how emotional it was. It was unlike anything I have ever seen. People who are young or old come to the Vietnam War Memorial to remember their loved ones who died in the war. You see
veterans coming to remember their friends who had perished. Yet little children at the age of five are waddling around to find a deceased grandparent. I know I sound like a broken record player talking about D.C. in this way. But I am being honest, D.C. is truly this amazing. A lot of people say that Disney World is where the magic is, but I disagree. To me, Washington, D.C., is truly magical. From the reflecting pool to the great variety of people, Washington, D.C., is one of the most amazing places in the world.” —Logan ’23 (pictured above far left)
Today at Breck
Spring 2017
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Cheng Vue ’29
BRECK BRINGS IN HEALTHY-EATING INITIATIVES TO PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN LUNCH PROGRAM On any given day there are can be more than 60 different items available for students to choose from during lunch at Breck. From the salad bar to the main course line, the options and combinations can be nearly endless. So many options, however, can be daunting for young children and decisionmaking. “Too many choices can mean chaos,” says Lower School Director Peg Bailey. “But sometimes in that chaos we find what is actually best for students.” After listening to parent ideas and consulting with faculty, staff, and dining services representatives, a new goal was established: to give our youngest children more options for healthy choices at lunch. “We noticed that lunch served in preschool and kindergarten wasn’t always what the rest of the school was getting,” remarks kindergarten teacher Kerry Marshall. Fewer options on certain days meant children who didn’t prefer to eat the hot lunch had limited alternatives to choose from. Preschoolers and kindergartners, who are served by the third and fourth grade students family style, known as the “biddying” tradition at Breck, were previously only given the food brought to their tables. A salad bar, deli sandwiches, and/or soups separate from the regular hot lunch option were not typically part of this service. “We wanted to respond to and support our families by getting more healthy options in front of the students,” adds Marshall, “so we started asking how to make the salad bar and soup options available for even our youngest students.” Educators know when children are properly fed, they are more ready to learn. When lunch contains a variety of healthy options, children are not only learning healthy eating habits, they are preparing to be more focused for the
remainder of the school day. But finding the balance between food choice and healthy options wasn’t easy. “I just kept asking, ‘What is our goal?’” says Marshall. “We wanted them to have more choices but then we needed to give them choices they were actually going to eat, things like cucumbers, carrots, other raw veggies and maybe some kind of dip. They also love cottage cheese and yogurt.”
SIMPLER IS BETTER With this goal in mind, the new preschool and kindergarten salad bar, soup, and deli sandwich options became available this year. “We decided that simpler is better for our younger children,” says Bailey. The salad bar for preschool and kindergarten students contains fewer options than a normal salad bar but is filled with options the children usually prefer. “There are carrots, tomatoes, sometimes peaches, and cucumbers,” says Ruby Olson ’29. “Sometimes they have cottage cheese, too.” Other choices on the salad bar may include broccoli, cauliflower, fresh peppers, hummus, or yogurt, to name a few. With so much of the food at Breck made from scratch, there was added flexibility in options for the salad bar than what might be available at another school. “We’re manipulating everything,” says dining services director Bob Miles. “We’re cutting all the vegetables ourselves. We’re making our hummus, ranch dressing, pico and guacamole all from scratch. All of those things are made right here in our kitchens. We’ve seen that getting more and more of these familiar, from-scratch items in front of these young students has been huge.”
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Today at Breck
Spring 2017
Sienna Szerda ’29
“It’s working out really well,” adds Marshall. “I’ve definitely noticed their energy level is more consistent. They don’t seem as tired in the afternoon because everybody has something for an option at lunch.” And the students agree. “I like it because you get to choose what you get,” says Case McLay ’29. “Even if I eat all of my seconds on everything, I would still want to go up to the salad bar because I eat a lot of stuff.” “I like it because it’s fun,” adds Rigby Mallery ’29. “You get to choose what you want to eat.”
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PARENT-STAFF COLLABORATION In addition to meeting the needs of the students, the salad bar, soup, and sandwich option is an important example of parent-staff collaboration to improve the Breck community. “We are fortunate to have families who trust us so much that they bring their questions, concerns, and good ideas to us,” adds Bailey. “We work hard to respond to parent feedback, and are grateful to have their input and partnership in their child’s education.” “I like [the salad bar] because it’s all healthy. It’s like the healthy bar,” adds Ruby. “I go to it pretty much every day, but sometimes if I don’t know what’s up there, then I just peek.” In addition to fresh vegetables, dips, and composed salads, a soup option is also available.
Throughout the rest of Lower School, healthy eating changes can also be found in the snack program. “Lower School students receive fresh fruit for a snack three of the five days of the week,” says Miles. “On the other
“We try to offer kid-friendly soups that are also made from scratch every day,” says Miles. Examples of kid-friendly soups include chicken noodle, vegetable, and tomato basil. “On less popular hot lunch days, we also offer a deli sandwich, just to get protein in front of them,” says Miles. All sandwiches are made on whole-wheat bread and are only offered a few days each week. “Having the sandwich option on specific days is purposeful. Part of the reason we eat family style is to get the students to try new things,” says Marshall. “Some children might only eat the turkey sandwich every day if given the option. We want to make sure there are a variety of healthy choices at each lunch.”
CREATING SUCCESSFUL HABITS All of these options have turned out to be successful for the students as well.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? Breck’s Dining Services works hard to utilize organic and local foods. Take a look at a few of the local farms where food is sourced currently. This list is ever-evolving but can be accessed by talking with Bob Miles, Dining Services Director.
days, children may get organic crackers, bagels and cream cheese, string cheese, or yogurt, but fresh fruit is mainly what they are getting for snack.” Students in grades 1-4 may also walk to the dining room during snack to pick up a piece of fresh fruit. “We are seeing a lot more traffic to the dining room for fruit than ever before,” adds Miles. “It is great. I love that. It is their space; we want them there.”
CHANGING THE DISCUSSION In addition to providing additional lunch and snack options for students, classroom teachers are also looking at ways to encourage healthy options for all Lower School students. “Teachers aren’t just reading the lunch menu anymore,” says Bailey. “They are talking about what a healthy plate looks like. As a result, students are taking ownership of their eating habits, and we’ve seen an increase in the amount of salads and vegetables consumed on a daily basis.”
Dining services staff are also trained regularly on portion sizes and appropriate serving utensils for each type of food. “We have specs on the serving size for each food. If we know you’re suppose to get a four ounce serving of rice, we train on what that size looks like and what utensil you should use. We work hard to monitor those sizes,” adds Miles. Another change for the dining services staff is the language they use in the serving lines. “We’ve changed our verbiage. Instead of saying, ‘Would you like a vegetable?’ we are now saying, ‘Which vegetable would you like?’” says Miles. But like so many things at Breck, it seems to all come down to relationships. “The Lower School food service staff members get to know the kids so well,” remarks Miles. “If a child comes to the line asking for another serving of pizza after they’ve already had two, the staff will suggest they find something off the salad bar first. The food service staff are proud to feed these kids each day and, during lunch, I don’t think there is anyone who cares about what the children eat more than they do.”
FROM MAPLE SYRUP TO GREEN BEANS, CARROTS TO PARSNIPS, BRECK DINING SERVICES WORKS HARD TO SOURCE FOOD FROM LOCAL FARMS.
See the entire list online at breckschool.org/blog.
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RECOGNIZING HEAD OF SCHOOL EDWARD KIM’S DECADE OF LEADERSHIP In June 2016, the Breck community learned that the 2016-17 school year would be Edward Kim’s last year as Head of School at Breck. In his letter announcing the news to the community, Kim remarked, “I take pride in our collaborative work to advance the mission at Breck. It has taken teamwork and the individual sacrifice and effort of many to bring us to our current position of strength. We should feel confident in moving forward. We have established innovative programs, nurtured our faculty through professional development opportunities, strengthened our endowment and financial aid budget, increased diversity on campus and created a strategic vision for the future. We have been true to our Episcopal foundation in the work we do to instill a strong sense of social responsibility.
And we have built a school to last.”
“The supreme quality of leadership is integrity.” Dwight Eisenhower
When I was younger I saw Mr. Kim get up and speak in front of the whole school. I saw Mr. Kim doing this, and I said one day I will do that. At that age I would never expect to be here right now speaking in front of the whole school. But it was Mr. Kim who showed me that if you try you can do things that you thought you could never do. Kate Austrian ’25
From his kind hello’s in the hallway to sincere speeches in chapel, one of the things that shows through is how much he cares about each individual student at Breck. Anders Dean ’22
Ed’s leadership is profound. He is thoughtful and balanced. He challenges when it’s most appropriate, supports when it’s most needed, and gives us tremendous room to grow and learn. Peg Bailey, Lower School Director
Mr. Kim is thoughtful, caring, always there, and always smiling. He has left a lasting impact on this school and on the student body. Julian Bieganski ’17
Mr. Kim was a mainstay at all of Breck’s concerts, theater performances, athletics events, art shows, research presentations, and everything in between to show his support for Breck’s faculty and students. I will remember the joy he displayed in Breck’s successes and the agony he revealed in our defeats. His passion and love for this community are unmatched. Brian Wright, Upper School instructor
Today at Breck
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Spring 2017
A Living Wage A new addition to Precalculus curriculum challenges students to think beyond the right or wrong answer Multicultural education is an important — and unique — piece of what makes Breck, Breck. It is applied across every division and department and often times blends seamlessly into the everyday curriculum. Breck maintains multicultural understandings for each department, such as math, history, and English, which are meant to help faculty incorporate broad social ideas into their classrooms. Each understanding is unique and differs depending on the division. For Upper School math, Breck believes that: Math is a body of socially constructed knowledge and techniques developed to satisfy human needs and interests. But for two math faculty members in the Upper School, finding a way to incorporate this piece of multicultural education into their Precalculus course didn’t seem like an immediate fit. “It started out as just a conversation,” says Upper School math instructor Stacy Tepp. “We wanted to see how we could expose students to some issues of social justice.”
After attending a workshop, Stacy’s fellow math instructor, Laura Berdine, was inspired when she heard a presentation on the Kiva microloan program, where individuals can donate $25 or more to fund projects and/or entrepreneurs throughout the world. This sparked a new idea for the Precalculus class, a project called The Living Wage.
Discovering a Living Wage
“We started out by watching a documentary called ‘Living on One Dollar,’ ” says Taylor Phillips ’18. “Then we spent the next few weeks figuring out what went into a living wage.” The documentary featured two young men who traveled to rural Guatemala to live on one dollar a day. Their story is inspiring and challenging. “After watching the documentary, students reflected on some of the issues people living in poverty face both locally and globally,” says Tepp. “Students worked through some
simulations and had the opportunity to do some further reading. Based on their research, we then asked them what questions they still had.” The students generated a long list of questions — what they could do as a class, how they could find more information, details about what’s happening locally — leading Tepp and Berdine to develop a new portion of their curriculum focused on analyzing and understanding what influences a living wage.
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“The students seemed really hungry for information,” says Berdine. “That’s when we stepped back and said, ‘Before we can get to the step of what we want to do as a class to help those living in poverty, we need to understand the problem first.’” Berdine and Tepp then divided their classes into groups, with each group studying different segments of the economy that affect cost of living such as housing, transportation, utilities, and savings. Groups also had to determine costs for those living in rural, suburban, and metropolitan areas. “This whole project was a bit of an experiment,” says Tepp. “We had to be okay with taking a risk and seeing where it led. We kept reflecting on the mathematical aspects of the project and what we wanted students to get out of it in the end.” They kept the project student-driven and built the curriculum around students’ questions. Students then had to research their portion of the living wage, which would later come together into a final project and presentation. “Instead of us doing the research, we sent them out to do it,” Tepp adds. “The best thing that came out of this was the opportunity to read and interpret statistical data and interpret graphical information.” “It’s one thing to read a graph for you,” says Berdine, “but now they are really looking at complicated topics that they don’t have as much familiarity with as high school students. It was a good challenge but they did well.” Students worked in groups to develop their own philosophy of a living wage and compared that to the federal poverty level. Their results were astounding. “Our final wage was noticeably above the poverty line,” says Phillips. “We compared our numbers to other living wage studies out there such as the studies at MIT and the University of Minnesota and then looked at how we compared on that spectrum.”
“We found that it wasn’t really a living wage, it was a survival wage,” says Brooke Samaratunga ’18. “We didn’t have room to do fun activities with the family. It was really fascinating that we weren’t really living at all, we were just surviving with the bare bones and bare minimum that we could.”
Alumni Review
Students then presented their work to alumni representatives with experience working in the fields of healthcare, nonprofits, government, and economics. “We wanted the students to feel some responsibility to really back up their responses,” Tepp remarks. “We wanted someone to challenge and pressure them a little bit, and we felt like we couldn’t push them far enough on some of those things.” “We also wanted them to have to defend their answer,” adds Berdine. “They had to show us their data and statistics. That kind of proof is important for future skills in terms of whatever job they go into.” Matt Bartel ’02, Chief Technology Officer at HelpNow, LLC; Mike Freiberg ’95, State Representative, District 45B-Golden Valley; Alicen Burns Spaulding ’95, Scientific Investigator at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota; and Allison O’Toole ’89, CEO of MNsure, tested student knowledge and provided insight based on their experiences.
Today at Breck
Spring 2017
“It was cool because we talked with these people who are in the real world with unique experiences,” says Phillips. “Everyone’s perspective was different, and it was really great to get that.” The students learned that finding the answer to this math problem wasn’t as easy as an everyday equation. “Students are used to mathematics having a right answer,” Tepp remarks. “It’s a step-by-step process. In this case, you didn’t know the right answer. There wasn’t a right or wrong answer. The answer was based on their philosophy of a living wage and what they believed that should encompass. I think this grayness is what real-life math is like.”
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Berdine and Tepp’s overarching goal was to have students think about math and social concepts together. “It was really great for me to have the chance to come back to campus and listen to the students present their proposals on all the factors that go into having a livable wage,” says Spaulding ’95. “The students really took the time to consider how they would go about living, given the various family scenarios they were given, and it was clear to me that they had given thought to both the financial and emotional impacts each decision would have on their hypothetical family.” O’Toole agrees, adding, “I love coming back to Breck. It was my pleasure to listen and critique the student presentations. I was impressed at the depth of the students’ knowledge and their ability to present the information effectively. And, the teaching staff is always top notch. I’m so proud to still be a part of all of it!” The proud alums were pleased to see the inclusion of a project like this in the classroom at Breck. “I was very glad to see that this was part of the current curriculum at Breck, because I think it’s more important than ever to help students learn to become understanding and compassionate members of society, and I feel working on a project like this helps add to that learning,” says Spaulding ’95. The alumni representatives made sure they challenged the students following each presentation. “[Matt] and all the other teachers in the room asked really tough questions, which was hard but it also really made us think,” says Samaratunga.
“I feel like their eyes were opened a bit more about why it is so difficult for people to pull themselves out of poverty and what goes into that,” says Tepp. “I had several students say that it was very surprising to see how far their dollar goes, or doesn’t go, in the real world.” “We saw that there’s a huge gap between being really, really impoverished and receiving a lot of aid, and then all of a sudden being out of aid but still living paycheck to paycheck and unable to pay all the bills you need to be able to pay,” says Phillips. And if the math wasn’t challenging enough, students learned that sifting through need-based aid, policy, and regulations required a significant level of education as well. “One student commented in his reflection that this exercise was hard enough for him to wade through, and, depending on your level of education, all of these things can be really complicated. There was an increased appreciation for that, immigrant families, and all of those layers,” says Berdine.
Creating Curriculum
While this addition to the curriculum is still in its infancy, there are still many opportunities yet to be explored. “I think we learned a lot in terms of where we want the project to go,” Berdine remarks. “We are really glad we did it, took the risk, and got the students thinking about this topic.” The students agreed. “I’m really glad Ms. Berdine [and Ms. Tepp] took the initiative and exposed us to it,” says Samaratunga. “We didn’t know the housing laws or anything about utilities. I thought I
knew it but I really didn’t. This exposure, even though we are only in high school, is just good to have in the future.”
and for whatever reason, it’s here, and I’m just happy to be part of it.”
For Tepp and Berdine, who have been teaching math collectively for nearly 33 years but whose combined tenures at Breck equal less than four school years, this experience also showed them the value Breck places on trying new things in the classroom.
It’s this kind of attitude that is also seeing its way into the lives of the students.
“We’re supported and encouraged to try something new,” remarks Berdine. “I’ve been impressed with the number of conversations, even with other faculty and staff in the dining room. The students are talking, the teachers are talking, and I think it’s that cross-curricular education that’s starting to happen more and more. It’s great to be in an environment that encourages innovation. It’s very organic
“We could learn precalc at any school,” says Phillips. “But Breck isn’t just concerned that we can take a test or do well on an AP. Breck wants us to apply what we are learning to something that’s really a philosophical issue that’s plaguing our nation. It’s helping us not just learn, but it’s teaching us how to think and be better people and better students at the same time.”
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MOVING AHEAD AND GIVING BACK:
THE BRECK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION KEEPS GRADS CONNECTED By Jill Field
Dick Myers ’64 would be the first to admit that co-founding the Breck Alumni Association was an unlikely addition to his resume. “I wasn’t ever warm and fuzzy about high school,” he laughs, “but I was back in the Twin Cities after college at Stanford and knew how important it was for Breck to encourage networking and fellowship among graduates.” So, in 1970, together with a “brain trust” including Chip Chapin ’65, Kerry Freund ’68, Charlie Hicks ’77, the late Spike Hicks ’47, the late Rob McCampbell ’47, and Tom Thiss ’47, he approached then-headmaster Canon Henderson with the idea. Henderson, he says, was skeptical but supportive. After drawing up bylaws, the Alumni Council leadership group’s initial efforts focused on hosting an annual holiday party, selecting a representative for the Breck Board of Trustees, and encouraging alumni support of the Annual Fund. “We knew we had to help raise money to assure our viability,” Myers explains, “but of course it was the job no one wanted. I wanted to see that it was done right, so I did it — and kept the job for 16 years!” Throughout his time as one of the Alumni Association’s most extraordinary volunteers, Myers has appreciated the
support of his fellow alumni as well as Breck faculty and staff. First and foremost, he credits his “very cohesive” class, among whom he still counts several of his closest friends. Canon Henderson’s one-time assistant Dorothy Rader (whose son is a classmate) was especially effective at keeping the administration and alumni connected, as was former Director of Alumni Relations Vicki Ronald, who helped keep former Headmaster Sam Salas aware of alumni accomplishments and concerns. Tom Thiss (“He knew everyone and genuinely cared about them all”) and the late Spike Hicks (“He’d pick up the phone and call everyone he knew!”) were particularly active Annual Fund volunteers. And he has greatly appreciated the opportunities to work with outgoing Head of School Edward Kim and Director of Alumni Relations Michelle Geo Olmstead. “I think the school is doing better at listening to suggestions, encouraging interaction, and understanding the importance of our heritage,” he says. “The direction is a positive one.”
STRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS “Today’s Breck alumni range in age from 18-90+ and attended school on three different campuses,” says Director of Alumni Relations Michelle Geo Olmstead. “We have alumni of an
all-male military institution and a nationally known coeducational school, people at all different stages of family and career life. The one thing that ties them together is Breck, and I’m always amazed at the connections they form.” Tracey Thayer Breazeale ’84, a past president who got involved with the Alumni Council upon her return to the Twin Cities after 18 years away, says it was a natural place for her to reconnect, and one of the things she most enjoyed was the opportunity to meet alumni from other eras. She observes, “We come from so many different environments, but our values are always more similar than they are different.” Molly Cronin Clark ’90, another past president, has a similar view: “What I remember most is how much I enjoyed being a part of a group that connected over one common bond … being a Breck alum, even though we were all from different decades and each of us had such different experiences at the school. I personally had an amazing experience at Breck. I wanted to give back to the school and to the faculty that gave me so much and do what I could to make sure that Breck would continue to be a great place.” Of her time on the Alumni Council, M.E. Head Kirwan ’01 — who has chaired most of the group’s committees — says, “Honestly, I love all the relationships I’ve made through the Council. The alumni that are involved have always been so nice and welcoming. People show up — even for the less fun stuff! Through the years, I continue to encounter alums professionally, and it’s so amazing to have this existing foundation and shared experience (even if we didn’t know each other at Breck!).”
Woody Rash ’88, a past president, puts it this way: “To me, the Alumni Association serves as a catalyst for connection — online, in person, and professionally. Being a Breck alum means I will always have friends and colleagues who will make time for me, take my call, and help me network. It allowed me to also give back via internships, and I met some talented students when I was in my 20’s who have gone on to successful careers. It has been meaningful to watch their progression, knowing I was a very small part in their journey.”
LIVING HISTORY It probably comes as no surprise that all the people we talked to for this article admitted they had little knowledge of Breck alumni back when they, themselves, were students. Through their involvement in the Alumni Association, they all feel they’ve raised awareness for today’s Upper School students. They feel good about helping current students understand what a proud tradition they carry on — and what opportunities will be available to them in the future. Says Clark, “When I was a student at Breck, I have no recollection of any alumni involvement. The only thing I remember was every fall having the distinguished alumni recipient come and speak at Chapel. I don’t even remember if there was any big event for the homecoming football game that involved alums or not. I feel like we have come a long way.” Kirwan agrees, and adds a personal connection. “I wasn’t very aware of alumni when I was a student, honestly. The occasional alum would come in and give a talk or present. But when I was growing up I didn’t realize the diversity of
professions available. I thought everyone had to be a doctor or lawyer. Turns out there are millions of things a person can do! I wish I’d had more exposure to other professions at Breck so I could have tailored my education and internship experience.” Olmstead notes that the Alumni Association is increasingly looking at ways to provide meaningful contact between past and current students. One example is efforts coordinated with Upper School Dean of Students Chris Ohm to bring young, college-aged alums back to campus to talk to seniors about what their immediate post-Breck experience is really like. Another is alumni participation in the May Program CEO (Career Exploration Opportunities) class championed by the Parents Association, in which students learn about a wide variety of occupations and fields. “Our alumni are so generous about sharing their time and experience with current students,” she says. “It’s wonderful to see them make connections and know that Breck is the catalyst for bringing them together.” Kathy Anderson Groethe ’88 started another program that brings alumni of different ages together: the first-year college student care package. She also co-chaired the school’s first Blue & Gold Bash, the successor to the annual Applause auction. She feels strongly about retaining the blue and gold school colors and original shield, noting that they are enduring symbols of a school that has grown and changed so much over the years. “131 years of tradition,” she notes, “is something to be proud of!”
ENCOURAGING ALUMNI SUPPORT As members of the Breck community, alumni are an important source of support for the Annual Fund. This year’s efforts are being coordinated by the Alumni Chair of the Annual Fund, Alicia Luther ’99, who also serves on the Alumni Council’s Executive Committee as Secretary. They follow a strong tradition established by Myers when the Alumni Association was first formed. “It’s our duty and our responsibility,” says Myers. And how do you start the habit of giving back? During his time on the Alumni Council, Tony Jewett ’94 along with his classmate Jimmy Beltz ’94, came up with a plan to engage Breck seniors with an event called the Tour de Breck. “One of the biggest stereotypes we have to deal with is the perception that students leave after graduation and only hear from the school when we’re asking for support,” says Jewett. “I thought it would be worth a try to talk to the seniors about the importance of giving back to the school. Thus came the idea for the Tour de Breck runt bike race.” While funds raised are now designated for the senior class gift instead of the Annual Fund, 13 years later the race still raises both class spirit and awareness of supporting the school. A relatively more recent effort, spearheaded by four-time Alumni Annual Fund Co-Chairs Matt Bartel ’02 and Michael Proman ’99, is the James Lloyd Breck Day of Giving. It’s a special campaign encouraging alumni participation scheduled on or near the April Feast Day of Breck’s namesake, the Rev. James Lloyd Breck. This year, $17,000 was raised.
HONORING ALUMNI WHOSE LIVES HONOR BRECK
THE HOLIDAY PARTY: A CELEBRATION WITH PURPOSE
Another one of the Alumni Council’s roles is to coordinate three types of annual recognition:
Something all alumni share is the invitation to gather together for the annual holiday party, an especially longstanding tradition.
• Alum of the Year, recognized for his/her leadership of alumni affairs presented at the Association’s annual meeting in June • Distinguished Alum, someone who has achieved notable success in career or volunteer work, invited to speak to students as part of Homecoming week • Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame, an honor for both individual athletes and teams, bestowed during Homecoming week Past recipients comprise an impressive group and set a meaningful example for current students. “It provides such a large injection of pride,” observes Myers. “It’s so good for students to get to see scientists, playwrights, athletes — the whole spectrum of pursuits in which Breck alumni are involved.” And the recognition is meaningful to the honorees as well. Groethe, who has served on the Alumni Council and is on the current Breck Board of Trustees, considers her 2015 Alum of the Year Award to be one of her proudest accomplishments.
In the early days, the party was held on campus and was a low-key and not particularly well-attended affair. Under Myers’ leadership as the first president of the Alumni Council, the event was moved to the now-razed Thunderbird Motel on 494 in Bloomington, where it remained for many years. Attendance grew exponentially, and the event endures to this day. The 2016 holiday party was held at Stella’s in Uptown and attracted over 150 attendees. Myers says efforts to encourage attendance at the holiday party paid off — both for alumni who enjoyed the time together and for the Alumni Association, which often used the event to recruit future volunteers. It continues to serve as an effective awareness builder over time. Says Rash, “When I moved back to Minnesota after college, I knew I wanted to stay involved with Breck and was fortunate to have the chance to do so via the Alumni Association. When I was in college and attended the holiday party, I didn’t fully grasp the true power of lasting friendships, but as a graduate, it became more clear. Being a college grad back in my hometown was both exciting and intimidating as the social circle was vastly different and the professional chapter was just beginning. Having the Alumni Association gave me a sense of community and a tie back to a special chapter in my life.”
And building on the holiday party tradition, the Alumni Council has been able to grow its Homecoming and reunion efforts as well as expand programming to other areas of the country where there are large concentrations of Breck graduates, such as New York City.
ADAPTING, GROWING, CHANGING The Alumni Association has continually worked to assess its programs and events in an effort to serve its constituency well. Breazeale, who helped to revise the first-ever strategic plan coordinated by Rash in 2009, says the goal has always been twofold: to help alumni support one another and to help encourage them to support the school. “It keeps getting more sophisticated,” she observes. Olmstead says that she’s been heartened to see increased involvement by alumni across a range of class years. “I think the strategic plan has been especially helpful in providing specific roles for volunteer leaders. Alumni volunteers feel good about taking on roles that are meaningful for them — and practical for the amount of time they’re able to give. The result has been a greater willingness for alumni to get involved — and everyone benefits.”
WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON? An increasing focus for the Alumni Council is providing opportunities for meaningful service for alumni and their families. The relatively new Service committee of the Council partners with the Parents Association Family Community Outreach committee to encourage alumni family participation in events such as the annual fall leaf-raking day and the Special Olympics poly hockey tournament.
Networking and career-related pursuits, such as the Breck Networking and Speaker Series, will also continue. During the 2016-17 school year, the series, which provides a showcase for alumni and parents to give breakfast talks on a wide variety of contemporary topics, featured Dr. Murisifu Raiku ’93, actress Sara Marsh ’98, and current parents Chris ’90 and Mary Welsh. And providing opportunities for alumni who don’t live in the Twin Cities to stay connected to each other and to Breck is a priority as well. Fundamentally, though, the founders’ original goals remain the most important. “There’s such unlimited potential,” says Myers. “I know that not everyone wants to stay involved. But Breck has had such an impact on so many lives — including mine. It’s important to provide ways for alumni to stay connected at whatever level they can.” Forty-seven years after Myers became the Alumni Association’s first president, its current leadership shares his enthusiasm, and the group is still going strong. Current President Kirstin Erickson Wilson ’88 says her job is a gratifying one. “The experience of growing up with Breck is a thing that makes alumni feel universally proud, honored, grateful, and bonded to each other across years. I think alumni also secretly feel like kids again when they return! There’s nostalgia and connection, but also energy and inspiration in how Breck continually improves without losing its familiar foundation. The Alumni Council has steadily increased alumni participation and support of the school over recent years, and many more alumni stay connected and return to play a role at Breck now than they ever did when I was a student. It’s wonderful to see this and to be a part of this dedicated bunch!”
Today at Breck
Spring 2017
1960 The latest book from Howard Petschel, Robbing the Post Office, is now available on Amazon.
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alumni news 1964 Rusty Nelson awarded Anthony Palmer the Borlaug Science Award from the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota on Friday, May 5.
1967 The Class of 1967 will be welcomed at the Golden Mustangs Luncheon on September 15 in recognition of their 50-Year Reunion.
Class of 1976
1977 Charlie Hicks, Tim Kennedy, Sandy Muschenheim, Paul Hovla, Debbie Finney, and Sally Butwin are planning on a fun weekend of activities on September 15-17 in celebration of their 40-Year Reunion.
The Class of 1976 celebrated their reunion in the summer of 2016.
1982 Elizabeth Powers Dempsey, John Adams, Amy Binning, Charles Horowitz, Kris Simonson, and Kim Murphy are leading the committee for the 35-Year Reunion for the Class of 1982 at homecoming.
1981 Spencer Reece is an acclaimed poet and Episcopal priest, known for his work with the Our Little Roses orphanage in Honduras. His story is the subject of a new documentary, Voices Beyond the Wall: Twelve Love Poems from the Murder Capital of the World and was also covered in the Washington Post.
1984 Breck parent and Golden Valley Police Commander Steve Johnson was on KARE 11 news in December as part of Toys for Tots. The Golden Valley Police Department has been a part of the effort for 20 years.
1987 Mary Morrison and Katie Lund McKenna will be leading the efforts for their 30-Year Reunion.
ARE YOU LinkedIn? Over 873 Breck alumni and parents are members of the Breck School Community Group on LinkedIn. Are you?
Visit breckschool.org to connect.
Class of 1987 Mary Morrison presented the newly established Carolyn GlasoeBailey ’87 Artists Award at the Upper School Awards Ceremony on June 6.
1987
Tasha Marvin and her three boys — Quinn (9), Hayes (11), and Earl (13) — are launching their first annual Camp Downward Dog this summer July 16 -20 up on Madeline Island, located on the shores of beautiful Lake Superior, Wisconsin. They have created a unique retreat for families to unplug, plug into nature, and make lasting memories together. There will be fun family activities, daily yoga, three nutritious meals a day, and plenty of open space to rest and relax. Guests will enjoy swimming, stand-up paddle boards, and kayaks down by the lake. For more information visit: tasharaeyoga.com. The family currently lives in Ojai, California.
Class of 1990 The Breck Alumni Association hosted its Spring Networking and Speakers Series on May 24. Chris ‘90 and Mary Welsh shared their experience in the CIA.
1988 Internationally acclaimed photographer Alec Soth is featured in Mpls. St. Paul Magazine’s My North: A Weekly Web Series. The episode documents how his travels have given him a new perspective and appreciation of life in Minnesota.
Alums Gathered Matt Bartel ’02 (pictured), Alicen Burns Spaulding ’95, Mike Freiberg ‘95, and Allison O’Toole ’89 were on campus hearing the Precalculus presentations on a living wage on April 25 and 28.
1988 Craig Taborn was featured on the cover of the March 2017 issue of Downbeat Magazine. He has a new album out and is doing amazing things in the music industry.
1989 This winter Andrew Mullin wrapped up eight years of serving as an elected city official with the City of Wayzata.
Today at Breck
Spring 2017
Adam Hegg ’97
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alumni news
Adam came back to campus to honor his dad, Tom Hegg, at the Middle School Musical, The Wizard of Oz — marking Tom’s last performance at Breck.
1992 Caryn Mead Kelly and Cally Morrison Norris are planning the reunion for the Class of 1992. Look for details soon!
1998 Molly Varecka Sackett and her husband, James, welcomed Jemma Maureen Sackett on December 14.
1997 Jennifer Newsom Carruthers served as this year’s Cum Laude Speaker.
Alums Gathered Madi Lommen ’15, Jenn Fabian ’15, Michael Mooney ’10, Nicole Miller ’15, Emma Luten ’15, and Cecily Nordstrom ’16 (not pictured) served as panelists at the 2017 Senior Preparedness Day. The day allows Breck seniors to learn more about the college experience.
1999 Alumni Council Secretary and Alumni Chair of the Annual Fund, Alicia Luther, was honored as the 2017 Alumna of the Year.
2004 Christy Piotrowski Leintz ‘04 and her husband, Jeff, welcomed Winston Joseph Leintz into their family on March 29. He weighed 7lb 10oz and measured 21 inches and is a happy and healthy little champ!
1999 Alumnus and architect William Wells shared his talents and time with a fifth-grade math class taught by alumna Madison Styrbicki ‘07. After his presentation, the students were assigned a homework project to measure and diagram a room in their house, including windows, doors, ceiling, and height using the symbols used by architects.
2001 Jon Septer is joining the Alumni Council. He will start serving his first term on July 1. Jon served as the Co-Chair of the 2016 Homecoming Barbecue and Carnival. After graduating from Breck in 2001, Jon went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado in 2005. He lived and worked in Santiago, Chile, from 2005-2006 and started law school in 2006 at William Mitchell. He clerked for Judge Robert Tiffany of the Hubbard County District Court in Park Rapids, Minn., from 2010-2011 and currently works at Messerli & Kramer. Jon previously served on the young professionals board of YouthLink in Minneapolis, an organization serving teenagers experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities. Jon and his wife Kathryn live in Chanhassen with their two boys— William, 2.5 and Jacob, 1.5.
2004 Breck Mock Trial Coach, Wynne Reece, received the Volunteer of the Year award from the Minnesota State Bar Association.
2007 Quinn Shadko ’05 Quinn surprised drama director Tom Hegg at Saturday night’s performance of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.”
2005 Alex Frecon traveled to North Korea in March of 2017 to play the North Korean men’s national hockey team through the Howe International Friendship League. Visit us online for details.
Peter Burwell returned to Breck in May to catch up with Coach B and Mr. Ohm.
2009 Anne Whiting ’09 debuted her first fashion line, Anne James New York, during New York Fashion Week this February at the Adalinda Fashion Show, a showcase of designers committed to social and environmental progress through conscious fashion. Lelah Childs ’10 was one of her models.
2009
Matt Cosgriff, Liz Dunlap, and Charlie Rybak are planning the 10-Year Reunion for the Class of 2007. Save the date for Friday, November 24.
Elori Kramer was guest speaker in Memry Roessler’s class on February 10. Elori is a filmmaker and musician living in New York. She shared some of the amazing music videos she’s created and answered questions about the filmmaking process.
2007
2009
2007
CBS Sports Reporter and Breck May Program instructor, Jamie Erdahl, got engaged to her boyfriend, Sam Buckman.
2011 Mayyadda Major performed at All School Chapel on March 7. She was also featured in a Twin Cities Daily Planet article, “Singer-songwriter Mayyadda explores new sound and shows Black musicians are not a monolith,” in January.
Hannah Erickson ’09 and Reid Herd ’09 were married last fall.
2012 Alumni Class Representatives Josh Luger and Halle Gustafson are busy planning a reunion for the Class of 2012. The event is set for Friday, November 24.
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Today at Breck
Spring 2017
Alums Gathered Alums gathered for events in Washington, D.C., and New York City. Events were hosted by Michelle Geo Olmstead, director of alumni relations; Chris Ohm, Upper School dean of students; and Dulcenée Walsh, retired faculty member.
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alumni news
Breck Alumni Association The 2017 Annual Meeting of the Breck Alumni Association occurred on May 1. Led by Alumni Association President, Kirstin Erickson Wilson, M.D. ’88, the evening provided a review of the year, welcomed new council member Jon Septer ’01, thanked exiting members Michael Proman ’99, Molly Varecka Sacket ’98, and Chris Welsh ’90, and honored Head of School Edward Kim for his ten years of service to Breck.
Alums in Georgetown Breck alums currently attending Georgetown University, Peter Metzger ’14, Patty Zhao ’14, and Nicole Miller ’15, met up with Michelle Geo Olmstead, Chris Ohm, and Dulcenée Walsh for breakfast on April 21.
2007 & 1988 Alums Addie Gorlin ’07 and Rob Melrose ’88 tag teamed to honor Tom Hegg at the Middle School musical on May 19.
2017 Class Lunch
2017 Receives Gift
Mr. Kim hosted a special lunch for the Class of 2017 in the Head of School Courtyard on June 7.
The Class of 2017 received their gift, a Breck laundry bag, from the Breck Alumni Association on May 11.
Tour de Breck 2017 The 13th annual Tour de Breck was held on April 18. Mr. Bell’s team: Sophia Cousineau, Maggie Schmoker, and Kendall Williamson were the fundraising champions. A special lunch was held on May 8 to honor the team. Mr Taylor’s team — Matt Carroll, Liam O’Neill, and Conrad Smits won the race. Money raised goes toward the class gift for the Class of 2017.
IN MEMORIAM
2015 Jenn Fabian interned with the CEO Experience during May Program and with Breck Communications for the summer.
2015 Bryce Johnson won the Dan Jones Male Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year award at Lewis & Clark College.
2017 Distinguished Alumni Committee Colin Brooks ’97, Executive Chair of Recognition Leah Lussier Sixkiller ’03, Chair Molly Cronin Clark ’90 Brad Clary ’68 Elizabeth Dunlap ’07 Charlie Hicks ’77 Allison O’Toole ’89 Tim Rosenfield, Upper School history instructor Chas Simcox ’00 Michelle Geo Olmstead, director of alumni relations
2017 Athletic Hall of Fame Committee Colin Brooks ’97, Executive Chair of Recognition Matt Cosgriff ’07, Chair Molly Cronin Clark ’90 Evan Jones ’86 Dick Myers ’64 Allison O’Toole ’89 Michael Proman ’99 Byron Rice, Middle School instructor Jon Septer ’01 Chas Simcox ’00 Brett Bergene, athletic director Michelle Geo Olmstead, director of alumni relations The 2017 Distinguished Alumni Committee and the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee met on May 15 to review nominations for both awards. Awards will be presented at ceremonies on Thursday, September 14.
Thanks to Our Alums for Coaching this Spring Baseball Joe Ginsburg ’11 Graydon Kulick ’15 Whitney Clark ’02
Shayne Ciernia ’11 Tyler Lindstrom ’15
Track & Field Patrick Phillips ’87
Lacrosse Annalisa Tester ’10 Michael Mooney ’09
Madison Styrbicki ’09
Golf Tom Smolenski ’08
Bernie Reisberg ’91
Middle School Baseball Matt Bartel ’02
1946 Amos Rosenbloom ’46 passed away on April 19. Amos was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War; a visionary and mentor in the insurance industry; champion racquetball player; an inductee in the State & National Racquetball Halls of Fame; and a member of Breck’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He is survived by loving wife of 21 years, Marsha McDonald; children Jody (Joel Kaminsky), Susan (Joe Black), and Philip (Tammie Singer); grandchildren Eli, Elana, Maya, Eden, and Ethan; former wife, Reva Rosenbloom; families of sisters-in-law Mary Karkela and Theresa Nelson; and many loving relatives and friends. A memorial service was held on May 7.
1947 Archie Black ‘47 died peacefully with family on March 19. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, son, and brother. After graduating from Breck, Archie received his BA from the University of Minnesota. He was a veteran, volunteer, and entrepreneur. He is a former St. John’s Church Trustee, volunteered for decades with Meals on Wheels, and was a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. He is survived by loving wife of 63 years, Patricia, and children, Mary Lou Scheid, Bonnie Jackson (Robert), Archie Black III (Jane), nine grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. He was remembered at a service on March 22.
1975 Thomas Staples ’75 died unexpectedly on February 6. After graduating from Breck, Tom earned his BA at Lewis and Clark and then settled in Afton, Minnesota, where he lived with his wife, Lisa, and son, Cole. He was a news junkie and became an avid bicyclist, twice biking across the country. In addition to Lisa and Cole, Tom is survived by his step-daughter, Madeleine Harkness; his mother, Emily Anne Staples Tuttle; sisters, Missy Staples Thompson and Kate; and brother, Greg. A memorial service was held on February 10.
2002 Chris Frame ’02 passed away on March 20 due to complications from pancreatitis. He is survived by parents, Rick and Denise Frame; brothers, Richie (Cassie), Gary (Wendy), and Brian (Summer); and many family members. After graduating from Breck, Chris earned his BA degree from Augsburg College. His joys in life included all things sports related. He was an avid Vikings fan, loved Twins baseball, Wild hockey, Timberwolves basketball, and he loved fishing on Gleason Lake. He loved comedy and used this gift to inspire those around him with his witty charms and lighthearted personality. Chris was a wonderful, kind, and caring person who was always willing to help those in need. He loved life, family, and friends and will be missed by those whose life he touched. He was remembered at a service on March 30.
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Colin Bynum ’21
Girls Hockey
BRECK ATHLETES WRAP UP SUCCESSFUL TEAM-BUILDING SEASON Highlights: Breck/Blake Boys Swim and Dive takes state title; Boys Alpine Ski brings home 3rd place at the state meet; Boys and Girls Hockey teams; Boys Basketball falls in the Conference Section Final game Zumwinkle recognized with Athena Award Grace Zumwinkle ’17 received the Breck Athena Award for 2017. The Athena Award recognizes female student-athletes in their senior year in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region who excel in both athletics and academics. Grace was a three-sport athlete for five years. In that span of time she won a total of 15 Varsity letters, 10 All-Conference awards, three All-Conference Honorable Mention nominations, eight team MVP awards, two team MIP awards, and two All State awards. Grace will spend her collegiate career playing Women’s Hockey for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Boys Swim and Dive The Breck/Blake Boys Swim and Dive team had an excellent season this year. The team won the Hutchinson Invite, took 2nd at True Team State, and beat St. Thomas Academy in a dual meet, which was STA’s first dual loss in multiple years. The team also won the Section 2A meet and qualified 23 swims, three relays, and a diver for the state meet. Davis Harrington ’17 was nominated as the Section 2A Diver of the Year. The team won the State Meet with a score of 349.5, which was 61 points ahead of St. Thomas Academy. Head Coach Kris Rosenberg was named Coach of the Year. Dominic Frerichs ’20 won the team MIP award. Dylan Brown ’19 was named team MVP, and Anderson Breazeale ’20 won the team Mustanger award. All-State selections included: Anderson Breazeale ’19, Julian Frerichs ’18, Luke Hamlin ’19, Dylan Brown ’19, and Davis Harrington ’17. The Breck captain for the 2017-2018 season is Julian Frerichs ’18.
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Today at Breck
Spring 2017
Boys Alpine Ski Team
Girls Basketball The Girls Basketball team won games against Washburn, Cristo Rey, Brooklyn Center, and MPA. Although behind at the half of the MPA game, the team pulled together for the victory, defeating MPA by seven points. All-Conference Honorable Mention honors went to Lauren Bilcik ’17 and Paige Olowu ’18. Isabella Surucu ’17 won the team MIP award. Lauren Bilcik ’17 was named team MVP, and Taylor Phillips ’18 won the team Mustanger award. The captains for the 2017-2018 season will be Keely Conroy ’18 and Terrina White ’18.
Boys Hockey
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Alpine Ski The team did very well this year in a strong Conference and Section. The boys won the IMAC Conference championship and took second at the Section Championship, which allowed them to qualify for the State Meet where they took third. The girls’ team took second place in the IMAC Conference. Louis Weiner ’19 and Deirdre O’Neill ’19 both won the Individual IMAC Conference Championship and qualified for the State Meet. All-Conference Honors went to Deirdre O’Neill ’19, Kendall Riskevich ’19, Lindsey Fernandez ’19, Louis Weiner ’19, Liam O’Neill ’17, Matthew Ahrens ’18, and Cade O’Neill ’18. All-Conference Honorable Mention awards went to Sam Fernandez ’17, Van Lundsgaard ’17, Josie Fernandez ’19, and Katherine Clark ’18. Jennie Ehlert ’20 and Max McKoy ’20 won MIP honors and Van Lundsgaard ’17, and Anna Mikestikova ’18 won the Mustanger award. The captains for the 2017-2018 season are: Matthew Ahrens ’18, Adam Danielski ’18, Cade O’Neill ’18, and Katherine Clark ’18.
Boys Basketball The team went 19-8 and defeated strong teams throughout the season including a difficult Holy Angels team in three overtime periods. The team trudged through the season and competed at a high level to make it to the section final game. All-Conference awards were given to David Roddy ’19 and Kerwin Walton ’20. All-Conference Honorable Mention honors went to Quinlan Faeth ’17 and Josh Roddy ’18. Josh Roddy ’18 also won the team MIP award. David Roddy ’19 won the team MVP award, and Quinlan Faeth ’17 won the Mustanger. Captains will be named at a later date.
The team went 22-4-2 in the season, won the IMAC Conference, and defeated St. Michael-Albertville in a shootout for the Schwan Cup Silver Division Championship. They won the first two games in the Section tournament before losing in the Section final. The boys worked hard throughout the season and defeated challenging opponents such as Wayzata, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, and then tied Moorhead. All-Conference winners included Carter Breitenfeldt ’17, Mitch Machlitt ’17, Austin Heidemann ’17, Nick Strom ’18, and Dalton Weigel ’17. All-Conference Honorable Mention awards went to Grant Parrish ’17, Will Torgerson ’18, Justin Paschke ’18, and Evan Beniek ’17. Grant Larson ’18 won the MIP. Dalton Weigel ’17 was nominated MVP, and Grant Parrish ’17 won the Polly Cavanaugh and Mustanger awards. Captains for the 2017-2018 season are: Justin Paschke ’18, Brendan Madson ’18, Nick Strom ’18, and Will Torgerson ’18.
Girls Hockey The Girls Hockey team went 17-5-3 for the season and defeated strong teams including Edina in overtime to win the Walser Cup championship. The team also defeated St. Paul United, Cretin-Derham Hall, and Hill Murray. Grace Zumwinkle ’17 was named Ms. Hockey 2017 and was also named the USA Today All-USA Girls Hockey Player of the Year. Grace Zumwinkle ’17, Kendall Williamson ’17, Nicole Oppenheimer ’17, and Gabby Billing ’18 were named All-Conference. Carly Beniek ’19, Ally Frantzick ’19, Olivia Mobley ’20, and Abigail Riskevich ’17 were named AllConference Honorable Mention. Ally Qualley ’20 won the team MIP, while Grace Zumwinkle ’17 won MVP, and Luci McGlynn ’18 won the team Mustanger award. Grace Zumwinkle ’17, Kendall Williamson ’17, and Nicole Oppenheimer ’17 won All State honors, while Gabby Billing ’18 was nominated All State Honorable Mention. Captains for the 2017-2018 season are Gabby Billing ’18, Luci McGlynn ’18, Julia Murphy ’18, and Carly Beniek ’19.
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Jon Ekberg ’17
Nordic Ski The Nordic Ski teams did well this year in a difficult Conference. Halcyon Brown ’17 took second place, and Zack Levy ’18 took fourth place at the IMAC Conference meet. Both qualified for the State meet at Giant’s Ridge. All-Conference honors went to Zack Levy ’18 and Halcyon Brown ’17. Gennie Weiler ’17 and Gigi Gunderson ’17 were awarded All-Conference Honorable Mention. Josh Goh ’22 and Eloise Cherian ’19 won the team MIP awards. Zack Levy ’18 and Halcyon Brown ’17 won the team MVP awards, and David Ahrens ’18 and Gennie Weiler ’17 won the team Mustanger awards. Captains for the 2017-2018 season are Louise Kim ’19, David Ahrens ’18, and Maya Czeneszew ’18.
Gymnastics The Gymnastics team competed at a high level with a young team this year. They were 3-4 and participated in a few invites. The Breck Luau was once again a success with high-level teams. The team had the high score of the season at the Breck Luau with a 133.8. Saylor Hawkins ’19 qualified as an All-Around competitor for the State meet at the U of MN Sports Pavilion. Saylor was also nominated as an All State Honorable Mention honoree. Aviva Milgrom ’19 won the team MIP award, Saylor Hawkins ’19 was nominated team MVP, and Katie Schmoker ’17 won the team Mustanger award. Captains for the 2017-2018 season are Saylor Hawkins ’19, Katie Raffel ’18, and Kiwi Sundeen ’18.
Saylor Hawkins ’19
Today at Breck
Spring 2017
Max Anasari ’21 and Jess Detor ’21 as the Tin Man and Dorothy in this spring’s Middle School Musical, The Wizard of Oz.
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Pursuit of
Knowledge
This feature is the first in a new series in Today at Breck entitled the Pursuit of Knowledge, featuring life lessons learned from our Breck community members.
AFTER SERVING 35 YEARS AS THE DRAMA INSTRUCTOR AT BRECK, TOM HEGG SHARES LIFE LESSONS HE HAS LEARNED ALONG THE WAY.
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RELATIONSHIPS TAKE WORK. Life is all about relationships—about developing them, and tending them, and nurturing them, and guarding them, and making sure they are healthy. That is whether you are thinking about yourself as a teacher, or as a spouse, or as a father, or as a grandfather, or as a colleague. They all take an enormous amount of work, and some take more than others.
BUILD A TRUST BANK ACCOUNT. I like what Dr. Stephen Covey says about building a “trust” bank account in his Seven Habits for Highly Effective People. He says one of the most important things that you can possibly do is make a promise to yourself and fulfill it. You need to get the idea that you are believable and trustworthy to yourself because if that is not in place, all your other relationships are surely going to suffer.
WRITE YOUR OWN MISSION STATEMENTS. For every aspect of my life I have a mission statement. Again inspired by Dr. Stephen Covey, he says make a mission statement for yourself in all of the roles that you play in your life. All of my mission statements are subject to constant revision because things change. Seven years ago I didn’t have a mission statement as a Grandpa, and now it’s the most important one I have.
IT TAKES TIME TO FIND YOUR DIRECTION.
I was very, very confused and unhappy as a child. It was the eighth grade before I got an idea that I was strangely comfortable on a stage. When I was on stage, all the anxieties that I dealt with went away for a little while. Giving of myself in performance was somehow what I was supposed to do.
SPEND YOUR LIFE WITH THE RIGHT PERSON. My wife tells me the truth. She is not my “amen corner.” When I come home all fired up about something, she’s able to tell me very quickly, “This is merely injured pride, and you need to get past this. You’re better than this.” She doesn’t let me get away with anything.
RESPECT DOESN’T COME WITHOUT EARNING AND TENDING. As a teacher, my ambition has always been to be the most predictable person in my students’ lives. I don’t want them to be in the slightest doubt over where I would come down on a particular issue. I think that’s very important. If I say something is going to happen, it better happen.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. I think Breck is the kind of school that every child deserves to have. And I think it’s our responsibility to work toward that end.
TO READ TOM’S TEACHING PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION STATEMENT, VISIT US ONLINE AT BLOG.BRECKSCHOOL.ORG.
Synapse Shots
Brought to you by the Peter Clark Center for Teaching & Learning
Research-Informed Parenting — Seven for Summer 52 /
1. Change it up. The brain is challenged by a change of pace and experiencing things from multiple angles. Pay attention to what your child reads about or wants to watch on television and find a new way to get at it. For example, if they are into airplanes, see if a local airstrip offers tours. If they love to read about dystopian worlds, check out some of the youth art programs that would allow them to express it in color. 2. Get moving! Research has shown again and again that movement is good for the brain and good for cognitive performance. Studies have shown that regular exercise improves our ability to regulate emotions, pay attention, think clearly, think creatively, and use our memory effectively. Make movement fun by getting outside as a family. 3. Mind wander. There is interesting research that reminds us that we rarely have the opportunity to let our minds simply wander and explore. From a neurological perspective it is suggested that in mind wandering, we find creativity, escape, and problem-solving. Spend some time this summer intentionally creating the context for mind wandering. (Think of car trips of our youth when there was no CD or DVD and we just looked out the window and wandered in our minds.) 4 . Be here. Now. It is clear from more than two decades of research that focused practices such as yoga, meditation, mindful walking, rock climbing, mindful eating, focused breathing, and deep listening help the “whole brain” — the central nervous system — calm down, restore, and rejuvenate. Find a mindful activity that fits your family and try it out. 5. Family book club. Reading should continue over the summer. Summer offers a wonderful opportunity for kids to read what interests them, and we know interest and engagement drive attention, memory, and learning. Have your child select a book that you both read (accept their choice — yes, graphic novels are just fine!). Set a plan for an official family book club meeting outside of the house, preferably including delicious snacks and at a new location for your family. 6. Let your child lead and let them struggle. Higher-order cognition is encouraged when we ask our children to take the lead in planning something and carrying it out. Most importantly, they develop important neural pathways when they struggle through problems. Let the summer be a low-stakes opportunity. How elaborate you do this is up to you. It might be as simple as having them decide how you will tackle a visit to a local museum or as complex as planning and building a backyard structure. The key is to let them take the lead, let them get stuck, struggle, and work through it. 7. Put on your own oxygen mask first. There is compelling research that shows a reduction in markers of anxiety,
attentional, and behavioral issues among children and adolescents when their parents reduce their own stress and anxiety. The summer can feel like a long haul so take good care of yourself while you are taking good care of your children.
Look for future versions of Synapse Shots in upcoming issues of Today at Breck.
Today at Breck Spring 2017 Today at Breck is a publication of Breck School, 123 Ottawa Ave. N., Golden Valley, MN 55422 email: communications@ breckschool.org
HEAD OF SCHOOL Edward Kim
EDITOR AND CHIEF WRITER Stacy Glaus
DESIGN
Brenda Janisch-Hoban
WRITERS
Thank YOU for supporting the 2016-2017 Annual Fund.
Your gift to Breck’s Annual Fund helped craft awesome stories about success in the classrooms, life lessons on the playing fields, and friendships made in our community.
Jill Field, Tina Fourniea, Stacy Glaus, Michelle Geo Olmstead, Daisy Pellant
PHOTOGRAPHERS Stacy Glaus, Michael Goh, Lauren Kiesel, Michelle Geo Olmstead, Byron Rice, Karyl Rice, Sara Rubinstein
PRINTING
Bolger Vision Beyond Print
Thank you for helping us write a “happily ever after” ending to this year’s Annual Fund. We look forward to your support next year!
MISSION
Breck is an Episcopal, coeducational, college-preparatory day school enrolling students of diverse backgrounds in grades preschool through twelve. Breck’s Mission is to:
Prepare each student for a college whose culture is compatible with the individual’s needs, interests, and abilities. Help develop each student’s unique talents and potential to excel by nurturing independence and self-worth. Instill in each student a deep sense of social responsibility.
Breck School is committed to environmental stewardship. This publication is printed on paper manufactured with electricity in the form of renewable energy (wind, hydro, biogas) and a minimum of 30% postconsumer recovered fiber.
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
123 Ottawa Avenue North Golden Valley, MN 55422
PAID
Permit No. 2995 Twin Cities, MN
Parents of Alumni: Please forward this publication if your daughter or son no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, or please notify us (763.381.8129 or alumni@breckschool.org) of their new mailing address.
A FOND FAREWELL Thank you to Head of School Edward Kim for the past 10 years of leadership at Breck School.
Photoby byKaryl Karyl Rice Rice Photo