year in review

A YEAR IN REVIEW

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

While the pandemic would ultimately rob high school athletes of a spring season, there was a bit of fortuity involved with the timing of the local and national shutdowns: Prairie’s Boys’ Basketball team (15-10) won their fourth consecutive WIAA Division 4 Regional Championship with a 76-71 victory over Brookfield Academy on March 8th, four days before Governor Tony Evers declared a Public Health Emergency in the State of Wisconsin.

PRIMARY SCHOOL PARADE

Everyone loves a parade. Unfortunately, for the most part those – along with the majority of summertime activities – were postponed this year. But in the interest of celebrating the teachers, students, and parents who made this spring so successful, the Primary School closed the academic year with its own festive, socially-distanced parade. After some initial stormy weather, the clouds cleared and a brilliant, beautiful sun was out to stay. Pictured: Former Early School and current 1st grade Teacher Kelsey Cassidy wishes Rose Svecjar ’34 a happy summer.

IN MEMORY

He loved teaching, he loved tennis, and he loved spending time with his students. For almost fifty years, these pursuits intersected in Wind Point as Harold Swanson became one of the most beloved educators in Prairie School history before his passing in March. The school community was also deeply saddened by the loss of Tracy Waters (p. 48), Dave Drewek (p. 44), and John Kirt (p.50) this past year. All of these individuals dedicated much of their lives to helping Prairie become the place it is today.

A YEAR IN REVIEW

ROBOT RECEPTION

You’ve never seen so many repurposed toilet paper rolls. When 40+ kindergarteners and their families filled the Student Research Center in late February to unveil their creations at the annual Kindergarten Robot Reception, no one yet knew this would be one of the final large group gatherings on campus. Fitting, then, that it was an event centered around some of the things Prairie does best: brainstorming, thinking critically, creating, and collaborating.

VETERANS DAY

Whether it’s a school-wide gathering with traditional food and dance for Diwali, a reflection on Yom Kippur, or the celebration of Kwanzaa, it’s important to Prairie that we stop to learn and consider during these days of great meaning. Following an early Wisconsin snowstorm that saw several inches fall on Halloween weekend, the Middle School gathered around the campus flagpole for a Veterans Day tribute.

“DISNEY’S THE LION KING JR.”

The buzz building in the Performing Arts Circle before the show. The spotlight cutting across the dark Jack Mitchell Theater. The brilliant, mind-blowing costumes. The performances of students eager to follow in the longstanding tradition of captivating theatrical productions here on campus. Over 70 Middle School students and their audiences had the opportunity to experience all of these elements during last fall’s performance of “Disney’s The Lion King JR.”