S
TODAY
FALL/WINTER 2018–19
A MAGICAL TRANSFORMATION PAMELA NOSBUSCH TO RETIRE AFTER 41 YEARS STUDENTS REFLECT ON USM’S HOUSE PROGRAM
| a magazine for the usm community
feature
Going Behind the Scenes
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New Look New Year You may have noticed that this issue’s cover looks a little different, but it’s not the only thing that has changed. In addition to new fonts and subtle design tweaks, the magazine itself is bigger, both to give us more room and to differentiate it from the avalanche of items in your mailbox. In some cases, the copy is shorter and the photos are bigger. We added a new section, called Spotlight, to highlight USM’s fine arts programs. And we’re continuing to carefully curate the magazine’s content with stories that focus more on “why and how” and less on “what and when.”
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We hope you like the new look and format, and we welcome your feedback. Email us at communications@usmk12.org with your thoughts, and watch for a reader survey in an upcoming issue. In the meantime, enjoy this walk down memory lane with some of our past covers—proof that change can be a good thing!
On the cover: Working amongst priceless signed guitars, like this one from Dark Star Orchestra, is just one of the perks for Vic Thomas ’74, associate entertainment director at Summerfest. Learn what it’s like to work at the world’s largest music festival—and discover other alumni who lead fascinating lives—on page 10.
in this issue
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What Is It Like? Go behind the scenes with USM alumni. From writing with Stephen King to working on highstakes missions for the United States Navy, our alumni know what it’s really like—and they’re telling us all about it.
feature story
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Au Revoir Pamela Nosbusch, head of Middle School and former French teacher, is set to retire after 41 years.
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Houses United Students discuss the benefits of the house program in the Upper School.
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28 | From Mundane to Magical Hannah Hakami ’18 transformed a lackluster Upper School hallway for her senior Tower Project. 32 |
cover to cover
03 | view from the tower
Putting Fun First Updates to the Middle School football program have yielded big returns among students and parents.
20 | in focus
USM TODAY STAFF
28 | spotlight
31 | locker room
34 | beyond usm
2018–19 LEADERSHIP
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
HEAD OF SCHOOL
HEAD OF PRESCHOOL AND LOWER SCHOOL
Tim Eilbes, Director of Marketing and Communications
Laura J. Fuller
Michael Tauscher
MANAGING EDITOR
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL
PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Pamela Seiler, Communications and Public Relations Manager
Gregg Bach
Andrew A. Petzold
ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN
HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL
PRESIDENT, ALUMNI BOARD
Gwendolyn GaBree, Design and Creative Services Manager
Stuart Cushman
Andy Gordon ’98
ONLINE EDITOR
HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
PRESIDENT, PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
Eric Schad, Marketing and Digital Communications Manager
Pamela Nosbusch
Sara LeBrun-Blashka
PHOTOGRAPHY
Gwendolyn GaBree Jeffrey Phelps Visual Image Photography
USM Today is published by University School of Milwaukee twice per year. USM is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school for students from prekindergarten through grade 12. Our editorial staff has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of information reported, and we apologize for any inadvertent errors that may have occurred. To change your address, your child’s address, or to unsubscribe, please contact the USM Advancement Office at 414.540.3339 or advancement@usmk12.org. PARENTS OF ALUMNI: If you are still receiving your child’s USM Today even though he/she no longer lives with you, please let us know so we can send the magazine directly to him/her.
from the head of school
T
he first half of this school year was highlighted by the opening of several additional new and renovated spaces that have been supported by the Our Common Bond campaign (see next page to read more). These facilities were built out of a need and desire to provide the functional space required to support our growing student body, but they have already proven to be so much more for our community, with the addition of learning environments, gathering spaces, and opportunities to showcase our outstanding arts and athletics programs alongside our academic successes. We are so very grateful to all the donors who have helped make Our Common Bond such a huge success so far, and look forward to thanking and recognizing those who are still considering making a generous gift to the campaign in the near future. As I think about that spirit of giving, especially with the holiday season just behind us, I can’t help but think about the gift of independence we strive to give all of our students, especially our seniors, as they prepare to leave our community and make their mark in the world. The feature story in this issue puts the spotlight on the lives of just a handful of our alumni who have accomplished and experienced some very interesting things in life since their time at University School. It is heartwarming to know that this place, this special community of educators and learners, had so much to do with their successes, and the successes of all of our graduates.
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The common bond that all of us share—whether students, alumni, parents, grandparents, teachers, administrators, trustees, or friends of the school—is that we believe in and support this transformational experience we call a USM education. We strive for excellence for our students, because we want them to have the successes that lead to such incredible stories—and we want them to feel so connected to this community that they yearn to share those stories with the rest of us. We have a shared identity, which strengthens our bonds as a community. Because of those bonds, we share our successes and celebrate them as a community. We never know exactly what path our alumni will take as they move on from Fairy Chasm Road, but one thing we do know is that University School is a school that offers so much more than just the learning that occurs in the classrooms; as importantly, if not more importantly, this is a place where people feel connected during their time here and, hopefully, throughout the rest of their lives. That foundation is a part of feeling a sense of belonging to something bigger than oneself. That we have all had a hand in contributing to that, and that we all continue to benefit from that as part of this community, is one of the most treasured gifts that this place can give us.
view from the tower
Our Common Bond Dedication Ceremony The newest Our Common Bond facilities were dedicated on the afternoon of Aug. 27, 2018, following three years of generous contributions to the capital portion of the campaign from the community, and 15 months of extensive construction. The entire USM community was invited to celebrate the opening of the Jack Olson ’67 Commons, Palermo Hall, the performing arts center, and related spaces, all of which were completed in time for opening day on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, and were fully supported thanks to Our Common Bond campaign investors. “This is an exciting day for all of us,” said Head of School Laura Fuller. “We are grateful to our donors and the leadership of the Board of Trustees in providing these new facilities for our students, faculty, parents, and entire school community.” Members of the families whose significant contributions of time, talent, and treasure to the campaign thus far were invited to cut the ribbon in the Jack Olson ’67 Commons to symbolize the opening of the new spaces. Guests then toured the new spaces and mingled over refreshments and hors d’oeuvres served in Palermo Hall. Student musicians performed in the Stratton Family Orchestra Room and the SardasTrevorrow Band Room for guests to enjoy. See page 22 to learn more about the focus on the endowment and the USM Fund within the final two years of the Our Common Bond campaign, and visit www.USMOurCommonBond.org for more photos, videos, and stories.
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Jaden Jones ’27 proudly showed off his Wildcat spirit sign. Students were invited to decorate the signs and display them at athletic events during homecoming week. The signs were donated by C.D. Smith, which served as the general contractor for the building projects funded through the Our Common Bond campaign.
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view from the tower
A Wild(cat) Homecoming The varsity football victory against Brookfield Academy (31–0) may have been the marquee event of Homecoming 2018, but there were plenty of other fun-filled happenings to build school spirit. From crossdivisional spirit-sign-making activities and a ComedySportz show to the Junior Wildcat Jamboree, Willie’s Fun Fest, and an all-school pep rally featuring some of Milwaukee’s most popular mascots, this year’s homecoming did not disappoint. The entire school community was involved in celebrating USM and cheering on our Wildcat athletes.
Students joined arm-in-arm to sing the alma mater at the conclusion of the all-school pep rally.
Clockwise from left Mascots Bernie Brewer from the Milwaukee Brewers; Roscoe from the Milwaukee Admirals; Bango from the Milwaukee Bucks; and Gill from the Lakeshore Chinooks were on hand to help Willie the Wildcat jazz up the Homecoming crowd.
Top, from left Hannah Reimer, 7th grade English teacher; Michael Tauscher, head of Preschool and Lower School; and Gina Bongiorno, assistant head of Preschool and Lower School, went head-to-head in tricycle races. Bottom Lisa and Ken Nowakowski attended the annual Tessa Nowakowski ’10 varsity field hockey game in memory of their daughter. 5
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Grandparents and Special Friends Day Sponsored by the Parents’ Association, University School of Milwaukee was delighted to host Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Nov. 21, 2018. Grandparents and other family members gathered in the Marion and Verne Read Gymnasium for a short program before enjoying the rest of the morning interacting with students in classrooms. Many thanks to Georgia Dimitropoulos and Sarah Hammes, who co-chaired the event.
A From left Katie Kessler, Dennis LaMontagna, Michael LaMontagna, Jennifer Mell, Ava LaMontagna ’33, and Prekindergarten Teacher Jennifer Wisniewski.
E Grandparents and Special Friends Day Co-chairs Sarah Hammes (left) and Georgia Dimitropoulos.
B Bethany Martin ’26 (left) and Derrick Martin.
F Middle School drama students discussed the importance of warming up one’s mind, body, and voice before performing.
C Capri Oliviero ’23 (left) and Mary Jo Cimbalnik.
G From left Dennis and Keven Lee with Harrison Lee ’31.
D Guests gathered in the Marion and Verne Read Gymnasium for a light breakfast before joining students in classrooms.
H From left Howard Silberman, Skyler Kruse ’26, and Cheryl Silberman.
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view from the tower
Back-to-School Coffee The USM Parents’ Association held a back-to-school coffee reception in the Hammes Family Theatre Lobby and Quadracci Lobby to welcome parents on the first day of school. Guests were also invited to take a tour of the new and remodeled Upper School spaces supported by the Our Common Bond campaign.
Top Andrea Florsheim (left), Michelle Erlich (center), and Melina Marcus. Middle Sandy Uihlein (left), Stacy Ringgold (center), and Angela Vogel. Bottom Rand Wolf ’74 (left) and Jolene Watkins. 7
In a League of Their Own After the success of last year’s Upper School FIRST Robotics team, Lower School and Middle School students were inspired to follow suit and compete in their own FIRST Lego League regional competition in November. Members of USM’s Team Galactic Girls—one of the youngest teams at the competition—won an Innovation Award for their solution to making space food look more appealing to astronauts through the use of augmented reality glasses. Students began programming and building their Lego robots on the first day of school, and spent three hours per week after school working on them. “The students really took the reins,” said Brita Willis, 3rd-grade teacher and team coach. “As coaches, we wanted to make sure they learned the process and understood their robot from the inside out. The judges said they could tell that our students did all of the work themselves, and they were impressed by their knowledge and enthusiasm.” Nicola De Torre, 8th-grade science teacher, also served as a team coach. The students completed some of their work in the school’s Lubar Center for Innovation and Exploration, where Upper School students working on their own robot were available to help. “We hope that getting involved in robotics at a younger age will inspire students to keep up with it as they get older,” said Willis. Top Tara Wallace ’26 (center) and Benjamin Dobre-Chastain ’27 (right) showcased their team’s robot to a competition referee. Bottom Members of Team Galactic Girls won an Innovation Award for their idea of using augmented reality glasses to make space food look more appealing to astronauts. Here, some of the team members are pictured presenting their findings to a judge.
Annual Report of Giving Now Available We are grateful to the many individuals, families, and organizations who supported University School in 2017-18, and who are recognized in the 2017-18 Our Culture of Generosity Annual Report of Giving. We inadvertently omitted the below names from the Blue & Gold Society listing on page 19 of that report. Please view an updated version at www.usmk12.org/annualreport. We sincerely apologize for the error. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey P. Adix; Barb ’81 and Tim Aik; Ms. Rebekah L. Allison; Amazon Smile Foundation; Mr. David Anderson; Mr. Scott Anderson; Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Armour; Artisan Partners; Mr. Geoffrey L. Aster ’95; Dr. and Mrs. Richard H. Aster; Ms. Sharon Austin ’84; Mr. and Mrs. James R. Bach; Ms. Cheryl A. Bair; Mark and Sue Baker; Mr. Marc N. Balcer ’92; and Mrs. Mary Rose Balistreri.
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PHOTOS BY MARTIN STAPLES
view from the tower
view from the tower
A Lasting Legacy University School is proud to have a strong legacy family tradition, and we celebrated their continued connection with the school at a legacy family breakfast in November. Currently there are 172 USM students who have a family legacy of attending USM, meaning one or more of their parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents attended the school or one of its predecessor schools. Colleston Morgan ’03 and his family recently relocated to Milwaukee from New Orleans, and his daughter Charlotte ’32 now attends USM. “I loved it here, so it’s awesome to be back,” he said. “My wife and I knew that USM was the kind of school we wanted for our kids, and we came back to Milwaukee in part to come to USM. It was the only choice for us.”
“ My wife and I knew that USM was the kind of school we wanted for our kids, and we came back to Milwaukee in part to come to USM.”
From left Kristen, Colby Ann, Charlotte ’32, and Colleston ’03 Morgan attended the legacy breakfast event. Bottom 2018-19 legacy family students.
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WHAT IS IT
SUMMERFEST
Ever wonder what it’s like to write with Stephen King? Or to work at the Vatican? These alumni know—and they’re spilling all the details. -as told to Pamela Seiler 10
USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2018—19
LIKE... To run the world’s largest music festival? Vic Thomas ’74 is the associate entertainment director at Summerfest, where he started working in 1974 to earn money for college. Today, he’s responsible for booking acts, negotiating contracts, and coordinating entertainment staff. The annual music festival attracts roughly 800,000 people each year, with more than 800 acts and 1,000 performances on 12 stages. During the 11 days of Summerfest, I typically wake up between 5 and 6 a.m. and get to the office by 7 or 7:30 a.m. After doing some paperwork and checking emails, I’ll go around to every stage on the grounds, which I try to do at least twice a day. During the run of the festival I’m constantly moving. The grounds cover 76 acres, so it’s a lot of walking. There’s a team of people at each stage, and I ask them how it’s going, what they need, etc. There usually isn’t a chance for me to watch the bands perform. If I’m lucky I’ll get to watch a song or two. I also do a lot of things with the street performers and the kids’ acts like jugglers, magicians, etc. I like that we have a wide range of entertainers here and I get to work with everyone—from headlining acts in the amphitheater to Timbo the Clown. 11 11
WHAT IS IT LIKE... Because we have bands going from noon until midnight every day, we supply the lighting and sound equipment to save time between performances. But there are always exceptions. One year we had the Scorpions, who requested additional sound and lighting equipment beyond what we would normally supply. Not only was that an added expense, it required a stage hand call at 6 a.m. to get everything ready for a 10 p.m. show. We always have to make sure that the extra expense is worth it and, in the Scorpions’ case, it was. They’re legends. But I don’t think that’s different from any other business—certain people just have clout. Of course there are some acts that stand out more than others. I love that James Brown played here, but
To co-write a bestselling novel with Stephen King? Peter Straub MCDS’61 is the author of 17 bestselling novels, which have been translated into more than 20 languages. He has won numerous awards and has co-authored two books with close friend Stephen King. Straub also taught English at USM in the late 1960s. He is married to Susie (Bitker) Straub MUS’62 and they live in Brooklyn, New York. By the mid-1970s, I had published three books and my wife and I were living in London. I hadn’t met Stephen King at that point, but I knew of him. One day I wandered into a very good book store and saw “Salem’s Lot” on the main table. If I had known that the book was about vampires, I might not have bought it. But I did buy it, and when I learned that one of the main characters was a vampire, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought, “Oh my God, this guy is working with a very tired, almost exhausted, trope and he’s making something really vibrant out of it.” So I became a huge Stephen King fan on the spot. Later I read “The Shining” and I thought it was one of the best, most beautiful books I had ever read. So I wrote to him and said, “You’re as good as it can get. I hope people notice how exciting your books are.” Little did I know. Eventually, Steve and I met and we got along really well. One day he asked me if I wanted to collaborate on a book, and I said, “Of course; let’s do it.” We wrote the first 50 pages in Westport, Connecticut, where Susie and I had moved in 1979, in an intensely 12
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the two biggest are probably the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney. Those are the kinds of highlights that you’d want to hang your career on. I mean, they’re world icons, right? But one of my favorite shows was actually not at Summerfest, it was at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum where I saw U2. It was very simple, just four guys on stage. You could hear the bass, you could hear the drums, you could hear Edge on guitar, and you could hear Bono’s voice. The place was filled with maybe 100,000 people, but you could hear a pin drop. It was almost intimate, which wouldn’t have been possible if they didn’t have the chops as musicians. Now, of course, their tour is a big, high-tech extravaganza, and I think it’s really good. But there’s a part of me that just likes to see and hear the talent.
collaborative style. I’d sit down at my machine and write a few pages, and then he’d sit down and start banging away on his pages. There was no transition when he worked; he would get a distant look in his eyes and start clacking away. He just dove right in, whereas I generally need a little time to warm up. I was impressed by the ease of his access to his imagination. We tried to make it as difficult as possible for readers to identify who wrote what. Eventually, we were able to successfully imitate each other’s style to the point where there was only one person we knew who could positively identify the correct writer, and that was author Neil Gaiman. After a while Steve went back to Maine and, for about a year, we continued to write the book by sending our pages back and forth using primitive modems and big floppy disks. But to write the ending, my family and I drove up to the Kings’ house in Maine. Steve had a little shed where he set up his computer, and he and I wrote the last 100 to 150 pages there in about a week. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was real collaboration in the most elemental manner, at a very deep level. He could jump into my imagination and I could dive into his imagination; it was really profound. It was so much fun I can’t tell you. On the long drive home I was in a terrible mood because I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to go back to that little shed and keep writing with Stephen King. Their resulting book, “The Talisman,” was published in 1984. Their sequel, “Black House,” was published in 2001.
chosen my path, and focused my academic and professional careers around the Middle East and Turkey. After graduation, I headed to Morocco as a Peace Corps volunteer, where I taught English in a high school and relished the chance to learn Moroccan Arabic. But unlike in Turkey, I did not feel welcome in Morocco. Little boys threw stones at me, reflecting the public disapproval of any single, Western woman who would choose to live in the Middle East alone.
To Live in Perpetual Movement? Helen (Holly) Lovejoy ’68 is a retired Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Department of State and has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in the Center of Middle East Studies at the University of Chicago, and hopes to follow it with a doctorate in Turkic linguistics. In 1967, during the summer between my junior and senior years at USM, I participated in an exchange program and lived in Gaziantep, Turkey. It was very different from any place I had ever been before. The family that I lived with was so warm and welcoming, and I felt very happy and peaceful there. My ears and brain absorbed the Turkish language—still my favorite language to hear and speak. It’s full of beautiful and expressive vowels and is an ideal language for poetry and novels. Looking back, that two-month visit truly reset the focus for my entire life. I continued my study of Turkish and other nearEastern languages at Princeton, where I graduated in 1972 with a degree in near-Eastern studies. I had
My 20s were a decade of travel, exploration, and education—still focused on the Middle East—but I did not give up on my lifelong dream to be a Foreign Service officer. It took me 10 years and three attempts, but I passed the Foreign Service exams (both written and oral) and the interview process, and joined the Foreign Service in 1989 at age 39. For my first tour I was sent to Tel Aviv in the run-up to Desert Storm, an exciting time to be in Israel. I served as a staff aid to the U.S. ambassador to Israel, and was fascinated to observe the buildup of tension in the region before the first Gulf War. I met my former husband, who was sent to Israel as a patriot soldier with the U.S. Army, and married him in Jerusalem in 1991. (My two children are some of the few who can rightly claim that they were born because of Saddam Hussein!) From Israel, my family and I traveled to Turkey, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Turkmenistan, Egypt, and Jordan for various postings until 2013, when we returned to Washington, D.C. My life has not taken an ordinary route—marrying at 41, bearing healthy children at 42 and 44 and raising them in the Middle East—but it has come full circle and brought me back to the Midwest. I turned 65 in 2015, which is the mandatory retirement age for Foreign Service officers, and decided to finish the doctorate I started decades ago. While my career has been challenging, I have experienced life in many countries and have had the joy of making friends with many people of different nationalities. Ultimately, I strongly believe in the goodness of people and the importance of being kind to one another—two beliefs ingrained in me since my childhood in Milwaukee. 13 13
WHAT IS IT LIKE...
To lead in the face of adversity? On Sept. 11, 2001, Jonathan McBride ’88 was 31 and running a start-up media company in New York City. Since then, he’s worked under former President Barack Obama as assistant to the president and director of presidential personnel and, currently, as managing director and global head of inclusion and diversity at BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager. In the mid-1990s, I was living in New York with a buddy from my grad school days. We had this idea, which we initially developed while in grad school, to launch a media company. I had always liked magazines, and there were all sorts of magazines for successful professionals, but we thought, “What about people who are 28 and still have a bunch of student loans? Where is the magazine for them?” So we launched Jungle Media—based on the saying “It’s a jungle out there”—for that market. The company had three partners: one who did all the investor relations and finance, one who did the operations and content, and me, who did everything else. It was tough, because there was a lot of competition. It got a lot tougher, though, when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center. For me, one of the hardest parts about 9/11 was when the Manhattan neighborhood travel restrictions
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were lifted and everybody could go back to the office for the first time. The last time we were in that office, I was standing on a desk giving orders after the first plane had flown into the north tower. As I was giving orders, horror suddenly registered on everyone’s faces when, through the large windows behind me, they watched the second plane hit the south tower. Now here we were, in that same office three weeks later, and my partners and I had our whole staff standing there looking at us like, “Now what?” And if you think things are tough, try to figure out what you’re going to say in that moment. Many of the various experiences I’ve had in my life can be tied back to the foundation I built at University School. I still talk to my best friend from USM on a weekly basis, which is valuable, because those kinds of long-standing friendships tether you to your beginning. As you go through life, your beliefs and character will be tested, but those tethers remind you who you are and what you stand for. President Obama used to keep little talismen, or trinkets, gifted to him by people he met along his many travels. They reminded him of who he worked for, and why he was there. When you’re in certain moments, those connections gird your resolve and clarify your purpose and, if you’re lucky, your choices. You have the confidence to make decisions when there’s no road map because you are not alone—the people and communities who raised you are with you.
To save a life? Graham Baldwin ’95 graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1999 and served as a commissioned officer until 2007. He earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 2008. Currently, he is the director of asset management and operations for Invenergy, a clean-energy company based in Chicago. As a naval flight officer, I served as the weapons systems officer and navigator in the EA-6B Prowler electronic attack jet. In short, I was the Goose to Tom Cruise’s Maverick. Our primary mission was the suppression of enemy air defenses, like surfaceto-air-missile systems and anti-aircraft artillery, using electronic signal jamming and our own offensive missiles.
the leading killer of American soldiers was roadside bombs, most of which were set off by remote control. The enemy would attach a garage door opener or cell phone to an explosive, wait until a Humvee drove by, and push the button. The U.S. Army invested in electronic signal jammers to protect soldiers but it didn’t know much about jamming signals, which is what we had done really well in the Prowler. So as a result, we were pulled off our shore duty and sent to Iraq to help the Army.
I was embedded with an Army cavalry unit operating on the northern edge of Baghdad, assigned to a battalion with about 600 soldiers. My job was to teach them how to use electronic warfare tools, techniques, and procedures effectively. We put jammers in Humvees, backpacks, and stationary spots, and we started “He was about to step flying Prowlers over convoys to Flying in the Prowler is out when he looked jam enemy roadside bombs or really, really, exciting. You’re We also went strapped into a 65,000-pound down and saw a bomb.” communications. on patrols and raids to refine our airplane, and you get shot off tactics and teach them to soldiers headed for the the front end of an aircraft carrier, going from 0 to battlefield. 150 mph in less than 3 seconds. And when you have to land—going from 150 to 0 mph in 3 seconds—it’s One particularly memorable day, a soldier told me on an aircraft carrier that’s pitching and rolling in the that I saved his life. He had parked his Humvee and open ocean. It’s like riding the world’s greatest roller was about to step out when he looked down and saw a coaster. It’s the most incredible job in the world for a bomb—an old Russian artillery shell with a cell phone 23-year-old guy who thinks he’s indestructible. attached to it. He hit the gas and, once he reached the end of the range of our jammers, saw the bomb blow After I finished flying in 2005, I still owed the up behind him. Somebody was trying to kill him, and Navy two more years of shore duty so I took a job my jammer had stopped it from going off. Initially, I as an ROTC instructor at Northwestern University. I was not too pleased being pulled from my comfortable was living two blocks from Wrigley Field, dating the desk job and sent to Iraq. But after talking to that woman who is now my wife, and generally having soldier, I realized how important our work was and I a lot of fun. But unexpectedly in 2006 the Navy sent was happy to stay there for as long as they needed me. me to Iraq for a year-long deployment. At the time, 15 15
WHAT IS IT LIKE...
To work at the Vatican? Madeline Cohen ’15 is a senior computer science major at Villanova University. She lived in Italy for six months in 2017, during which time she held an internship with the Department of Telecommunications at the Vatican City State.
My main job was to create a website for the Vatican City’s pharmacy, which didn’t have one before I got there, just a single web page. The pharmacy is huge; they sell products from all over the world. Since the Vatican is its own country, you can buy things there that you can’t get anywhere else. About 2,000 people per day shop there. In addition to the website I also helped to create an appointment-booking system. Before, it was like a deli where you take a number, but with so many visitors they needed a better system. I learned pretty quickly that, in addition to not speaking any English, my boss didn’t have a clear goal or design for the site—it was more like, “go and create something and we’ll give you advice.” It was intimidating. I did some research to see what other pharmacy sites were doing and created 16
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a design off of that. I showed him a mock up and he didn’t like it at all. Eventually I created a design he liked but I still had to develop the content, which took a lot of time because I had to research everything— from the pharmacy’s inventory and hours of operation to its history. It was one of those projects where it was just me and my creative abilities, I didn’t really have anyone helping me. It came together nicely but it was written in English, and they asked if I could translate
“The whole basilica was empty except for maybe 50 people, mostly cardinals. It was incredible.”
Vic Thomas ’74 Associate Entertainment Director, Summerfest
Peter Straub MCDS’61 Best-selling Author
Helen Lovejoy ’68 Retired Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
Jonathan McBride ’88 Managing Director and Global Head of Inclusion and Diversity, BlackRock
it into French, Spanish, and Italian, which I was able to do thanks to my language classes at USM. I was raised Catholic, and Villanova is very Catholic, so I felt I was well informed going there. But working at the Vatican, I learned so much about the history of Catholicism. I went to a special Ash Wednesday mass just for Vatican employees in Saint Peter’s Basilica. I had never gone before because there was always such a long line to get in. But on that day, the whole basilica was empty except for maybe 50 people, mostly cardinals. It was incredible. Words cannot explain how special it felt to work in the Vatican every day, to literally be in one of the most historic places in the world.
Graham Baldwin ’95 Director of Asset Management and Operations, Invenergy
Madeline Cohen ’15 Senior Computer Science Major, Villanova University
Want to know more? Check out extended interviews with each of these alumni at www.usmtoday.org/WhatIsItLike
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view from the tower
Au Revoir et Bon Voyage Pamela Nosbusch, former French teacher and current head of Middle School, to retire after 41 years at USM.
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s University School’s longest-serving faculty, Pamela Nosbusch is known and loved for many things—one of them being her ability to face challenges head on. Long before starting her 41-year career at USM, Nosbusch was part of the first group of women admitted to the University of Notre Dame, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in French and Italian. “There were 350 women and more than 6,000 men at Notre Dame the first year women were allowed,” she said. “Sixty of us enrolled as sophomores, and we had to work hard. We had to prove that we were serious students.”
While it’s been more than 10 years since she has worked directly with students in the classroom, her important role as a division head affects students in a number of ways, including the hiring and development of great teachers and her oversight and work with committees to design or adopt new programs. In addition, Nosbusch was charged with chairing the school’s 2013–2020 Strategic Plan work, which has now evolved into educational priorities for University School.
At University School, she was integral to the evolution of the Middle School foreign language program, helping it grow from an option only offered to 7th-graders to one that’s become a fixed part of the school’s spiraling curriculum, beginning in prekindergarten and continuing through the Upper School grades. Her incredible career at USM has spanned multiple roles, from French teacher to world languages department chair, academic dean and, most recently, head of Middle School.
For Nosbusch, it was an easy decision to stay at USM, even for 41 years. “During my career, I have been blessed to take on many different roles that have challenged me, strengthened me, inspired me, and validated my decision to become an educator.”
Pamela Nosbusch greeted students at the Middle School entrance, something she has done nearly every day since becoming the head of Middle School in 2008. 18
USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2018—19
view from the tower
“ Thank you for all that you contribute to USM, Pam! You’re a calming and reassuring force amidst the uncertainties of the middle school years. We’ll miss you.” — Laura Shipley, school parent
“ She has that special ability to make everyone in the room feel like she is talking directly to them.” — Ben Bishop ’09
“ Pam guides the Middle School with a service leadership approach that is indicative of the heart she has put into her career at University School. She is an excellent colleague, consummate educator, and great friend—always thinking of others’ needs before her own. I will sincerely miss her.” –Laura Fuller, Head of School “Madame Nosbusch was a wonderful French teacher who made class fun. I still love the language and culture and I think of her every time I have an opportunity to speak French. Merci, Madame, and bon chance!” — Erika (Holz) Pond ’91
“ PAM HAS HAD SUCH A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON USM AND, SPECIFICALLY, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. SHE HAS SHAPED SO MANY OF US WITH HER GUIDANCE, PROFESSIONALISM, VISION, AND HUMOR. SHE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THE LEGACY SHE IS LEAVING BEHIND.” — JEFF BALLENTINE, FACULTY
CELEBRATE MRS. NOSBUSCH! Thursday, May 9, 3:30–6 p.m.
Join us for a special retirement celebration in the Jack Olson ’67 Commons.
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in focus
Houses United By Marja Konkol and Jennifer Mielke House systems like the one established by USM’s Upper School are designed to foster community and build school spirit. Upper School faculty members Marja Konkol and Jennifer Mielke recently spoke with four current and previous house captains—Audrey Engman ’20, Tripp Grebe ’19, Kara Skowlund ’19, and Darby Tevlin ’19—to get their opinions on the role of the house program at USM, and what is has meant to them.
Yale has a house system, and so does Harvard. Perhaps the most famous is the fictional one at Hogwarts Academy. And, since 2010, Upper School students have enjoyed being sorted into one of four houses: Academy, Arrow, Crest, or Ledger (the names are based on the titles of yearbooks and newspapers from USM’s predecessor schools). Each house has two captains and approximately 100 students. Within their houses, students are placed in “families” that consist of two or three members of each grade. USM’s house program builds strong relationships across grade levels and includes friendly competitions throughout the year, which houses use to accrue points toward winning the House Cup in the spring. The program has evolved into an important part of the Upper School culture, as well as an excellent opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills. What do you think the house program brings to the Upper School? Kara Skowlund ’19: It adds a sense of community. The family aspect brings camaraderie with other grade levels.
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From left Jennifer Mielke, Audrey Engman ’20, Tripp Grebe ’19, Kara Skowlund ’19, and Marja Konkol.
Tripp Grebe ’19: It also builds school spirit. The spirit that the house program brings out in people permeates into sporting events and other aspects of school life. Darby Tevlin ’19 (pictured opposite page, far left): It’s cool that the program ties in traditional aspects from the predecessor schools through the names of the four houses. What does the program do to help make freshmen and other new Upper School students feel welcome? DT: When I was a freshman Nabeel Quryshi ’18 was in my house family, and I really respected and admired him. I felt really cool being able to talk to him and say hi to him in the hall, and he even helped me with my homework! You’re inserted into a community from the beginning, which adds to a sense of belonging and inclusion. KS: House captains are familiar faces throughout the year—people know who they are. It’s also helpful that captains can range in age from sophomores to seniors. It’s a group of people who are very approachable for freshmen and new students.
in focus
What motivated you to run for house captain? Audrey Engman ’20: As a freshman I attended the back-to-school dance in the fall [during which houses dress up in different themes], and it was the first time I really felt part of the community. That was really impactful for me. I was really welcomed and I wanted other freshmen and underclassmen to have that same feeling. TG: It’s one of the first leadership positions students can run for, and it has a very prevalent public image. Not only do you have a leadership position, you’re known as a leader, which is a big responsibility. It’s a good stepping stone for people who strive to be prefects their senior year. What leadership skills have you developed as a house captain? KS: Acting as a liaison between the student body and the faculty and administration taught me how to effectively approach adults and accomplish tasks. I learned how to understand and listen to others’ opinions, and also how to assert myself when I need to. TG: Learning how to deal with logistics and planning things was really important for me. It really teaches you how to communicate and be persuasive with your ideas, and how to clearly articulate your ideas. DT: For me, a big lesson was time management—how to be efficient and get things done.
AE: I ran once before and did not win, but in retrospect, I’m not sure I had the leadership skills necessary at the time. I’m glad I put myself out there again. Does the competition aspect of the House program enhance it? KS: The range of activities—from soccer and Quidditch to trivia and drone flying—really touches on many abilities and interests and appeals to many students. For me, though, what it comes down to is the bonding with your house family. DT: Yes. While everyone is cheering for their own house, the competition increases school spirit and makes it more fun. Everyone is rooting for the same result, but it doesn’t create enemies or animosity. TG: It’s unique in that winning the House Cup comes down to competition in many different activities, ranging from academics to athletics, and that people strive to win. Marja Konkol is an Upper School science teacher, and Jennifer Mielke is an Upper School Spanish teacher. They have served as house liaisons since 2015. 21 21
Our Common Bond Supports People and Programs at USM
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As we celebrate the completion of the capital portion of the Our Common Bond comprehensive campaign with gratitude to the donors who contributed to this milestone, we now focus on our two other priority initiatives: the endowment and the USM Fund. Both programs are essential to maintaining USM’s position as a leading educational institution by annually supporting the people and programs that define USM, and especially during the life of a campaign. And while they function differently, both offer opportunities to support the specific aspects of school life that align with your interests and financial goals. Through the remaining two years of the campaign, we encourage members of the community to consider supporting an area that is of interest to you, through gift planning to include outright contributions, five-year commitments, and possibly longer-term giving options. Your philanthropic support is a vital, tax-deductible source for our school’s ongoing successes, and helps to achieve excellence throughout USM.
and all the programs in which our students learn and grow. Building our endowment is the most important investment we can make as a school, to support today’s students as well as future generations of USM students.
USM’s endowment exists thanks to the vision and generosity of our community early in our history with donors to our predecessor schools, with subsequent growth attributed to ongoing contributions and the successful management of investments. A strong endowment helps ensure the school’s longterm financial health, and allows us to strengthen our community while staying true to our mission. The endowment, overseen by USM’s Endowment Board, generates a source of annual revenue with significant growth potential in the future due to the power of compounding interest and prudent investment strategies. The school draws five percent of the endowment’s value annually, using a trailing eight-quarter average. Based on the designation of the endowment gifts, aligning with the wishes of the donor, this annual draw supports our students, faculty,
The Our Common Bond campaign provides numerous opportunities for all members of our community to support the school, to directly benefit our students both now and in the future. To learn how you can support an area of school life with a charitable contribution, please contact Patrick Tevlin, chief advancement officer, at 414.540.3330 or ptevlin@usmk12.org to learn more.
USM TODAY | FALL / WINTER 2018—19
The USM Fund is the school’s number one giving priority, and all members of the school community are encouraged to participate annually. It enhances every area of USM life, including academic excellence, athletics, fine arts, faculty and staff development, and facilities. In essence, contributions to the USM Fund support the annual operating budget and mitigate the difference between tuition and the actual cost of a USM education. All gifts to the school through the USM Fund advance the priorities of the school and the initiatives of Our Common Bond, with five-year commitments being especially welcome during the life of the campaign.
Our Common Bond The Campaign for University School of Milwaukee
Former Teacher Supports Our Tradition of Excellence In 1963, Fengchi Chen began her career at one of USM’s predecessor schools, Milwaukee Downer Seminary, teaching Upper School chemistry. After the merger of MDS with Milwaukee Country Day School and Milwaukee University School in 1964, she also taught Upper School physics, Chemistry Physics I, and AP Chemistry. She led a cooperative venture with the Lower School by teaching a weekly science class for the 3rd-grade students. She served as the senior class faculty advisor and chaperoned more proms, hayrides, and homecoming dances than she can recall. She retired in 1981, but returned often to substitute teach. During her tenure, she served as the first female chair of the Science Department, and her two children—Dr. Leona Chen ’74 and Albert Chen ’78—are alumni of USM. Mrs. Chen has remained a loyal friend of the school throughout her retirement, connecting with former students and colleagues at numerous USM events and gatherings. Mrs. Chen and Leona recently returned to campus to tour the new facilities and visit her original classroom (currently the 8th-grade science classroom), where she shared stories and knowledge from her years of teaching with students.
Throughout her career she has been a strong proponent of independent school education, science, and opportunities for girls and young women. “I wanted to show students, especially girls, not to be fearful of science, of less-than-perfect grades, or of challenges,” she said. “I hope that my students gained the confidence to think analytically in whatever field they chose to pursue. A favorite Chinese saying of mine can be translated as, ‘While your studies may be precise and rigid, your education should be broad and well-rounded.’ That is what I wished for all my students.” Mrs. Chen has been a consistent supporter of USM, and she recently designated her 2018 IRA distribution to the Tom Bergen Fund for Math, Science, and Technology, an endowed fund that provides professional development funding for faculty in these departments. Through this generous gift, she is supporting the teachers who continue the tradition of excellence in her discipline of science and related fields. We are grateful for Mrs. Chen’s enduring friendship and support.
Dr. Leona Chen ’74 (left) and her mother, Fengchi Chen, recently visited Fengchi’s original classroom, currently the 8th-grade science classroom.
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in focus
Lunchtime Probabilities By Fred Lange You don’t need a degree in mathematics to assign Upper School lunch tables—but it helps. Upper School Mathematics Teacher Fred Lange gives us a lesson on the complexities involved with preserving a time-honored USM tradition.
A
s a newbie USM teacher in 1985, jazzed to take on new responsibilities, I volunteered to take over the Upper School lunch rotation duties—to assign students and faculty to specific lunch tables. Having assigned seating at lunch is one of the things I love about USM, and something alumni often tell us they loved, too. It builds community, adds structure to our days, and enhances student-teacher relationships. It is essential to school culture in all three divisions. And, it would be pretty easy to set up the rotation—or so I thought. Back in 1985, my main goal for the lunch rotation was to have new groups at each table every two weeks—shuffling grade levels and genders. To do this I devised an elegant mathematical solution using a computer spreadsheet, with all the tables arranged horizontally on the top eights rows, representing the eight chairs at each table. Faculty would stay at the same tables, and for each rotation I would shift the second chair two tables to the right, the third chair three tables to the right, the fourth chair five tables to the right, the fifth chair seven tables to the right, the sixth chair 11 tables to the right, the seventh chair 13 tables to the right, and the eighth chair 17 tables to the right. With a total of 19 tables in the lunch period, this system of rotation guaranteed that there was always a completely different set of people to talk to in each rotation, because the amount of rotation and the number of tables were relatively prime. It also ensured a balance of gender and grade levels at each table. Over the years, with a few tweaks here and there, the system worked reasonably well. But in 2014, the
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Upper School launched a new schedule that, while distributing classes more evenly, wreaked havoc on the lunch rotations. According to the new schedule, each class period (1–8) met over the lunch period once per eight-day cycle (A–H). In other words, each letter day has a different configuration of students and faculty in the lunch period for that day. In addition, we added an Upper School lunch period, going from two to three. In short, our system of having a fixed lunch table for two weeks would no longer work. The new schedule greatly complicated our lunch rotation and almost led the Upper School to throw up its hands in frustration and drop the tradition altogether (which our consultant recommended), but I, and others, were not willing to give up so easily. We decided that we would have assigned seating in the early lunch and open seating in mid lunch, with faculty as heads at every table in early lunch (because there weren’t enough faculty to go around for all three lunch periods). The late lunch became a hybrid of open and assigned seating, with each day of the cycle having a different theme, including sitting by grade, gender, house, alphabetically by first or last name, etc. In late 2018, we decided to organize both early and late lunches by house to support more camaraderie within the four houses (see page 20 for more information about USM’s house system). With two of the three lunch periods having assigned seating, there is a fair amount of work involved with creating the rotations. I start by downloading each student’s schedule data to a raw spreadsheet, then gather each faculty member’s lunch preference (early, mid, or late), and then check
“The opening of the new Jack Olson ’67 Commons this year enabled us to invite more administrators and staff to head lunch tables along with faculty, increasing the sense of community in the school,” said Fred Lange (pictured in circles).
in focus
“ Organizing the lunch rotations is a lot of work, but it’s a labor of love.” each student’s schedule and fill in the missing periods when they have free periods. The table assignments in early lunch are carefully randomized to avoid excessive repetition of tablemates. Each day, I print out a master assignment sheet and post it outside the Upper School offices so students can check where they’re sitting. Organizing the lunch rotations is a lot of work, but it’s a labor of love. The opening of the new Jack Olson ’67 Commons and subsequent increase in the number of tables enabled us to invite more administrators and staff to head lunch tables along with faculty, increasing the sense of community in the school. For me, while it’s very important to preserve our traditions, I like that our new lunch system combines open and assigned seating. While the assigned seats are important for building community and contributing to a sense of security for new students, the open seating at mid lunch gives students a chance to sit with friends, and encourages them to negotiate the social challenge of finding’s one place at lunch, which is also a valuable learning experience.
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in focus Total proceeds from Holiday Shops 2018 helped earn the school more than
$190,000.
More than
2,500
shoppers attended Holiday Shops 2018.
Holiday Shops 2018 celebrated its 42nd year in grand fashion. In addition to fabulous shopping, the Preview Party offered many one-of-a-kind auction items and experiences for patrons to bid on. The three days of shopping that followed proved fruitful for the vendors, who donated 15 percent of their earnings to USM. Many thanks to all who contributed their valuable time, talents, and patronage.
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More than
150
volunteer parents, parents of alumni, faculty, staff, and students helped make Holiday Shops 2018 possible.
in focus
Preview Party co-chairs Lori Bechthold (left) and Susan Ells posed with a Beastie by artist Dennis Pearson. Additional Beastie sculptures of all sizes were available for purchase.
Save the Dates! Be sure to join us for the 2019 Preview Party on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and continue shopping with us from Thursday, Oct. 31 to Saturday, Nov. 2. Visit www.holidayshops.org for updates and additional information throughout the year.
Cam (Stephenson) Klink ’92 (left) and auction committee member Jackie Darr.
From left Parents’ Association Office Manager Patricia Kauffman, Preview Party co-chair Susan Ells, shop relations lead Renée Rooney, and Holiday Shops coordinator Jennifer Keough.
Past Holiday Shops chairs gathered for a reception prior to the Preview Party. From left Deanna Braeger, Penny Howland, Rose Landgraf, Pamela Shovers, Shelly Seesel, Karen Huffman, Kathy Friedman Dean, Pam Lueken, Linda Mellowes, Ellen Venable, Nancy Roos, Susie Kasten ’60, Renee Fields, Sara LeBrunBlashka, Carla Bartlett ’78.
From left Eric Blashka, Dr. David Gourlay, and Parents’ Association President Sara LeBrun-Blashka.
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spotlight
Turning the Mundane Into the Magical
Last year, Hannah Hakami ’18 spent the better part of her senior year turning an otherwise bland Upper School hallway into a vibrant work of art as part of her senior Tower Project.
F
or her senior Tower Project last year, Hannah Hakami ’18 wanted to create a public mural. But, as is the case with nearly every student’s Tower Project, she had to overcome a few hurdles to achieve her objective.
“I contacted 10 neighborhoods in Milwaukee, explaining who I was and asking for an opportunity to paint an empty space, but no one got back to me,” she said. “I was worried and nervous.” Administrators at USM stepped in and gave Hakami the opportunity to paint a third-floor hallway in the Upper School, which was essentially a blank canvas. “I thought it was an amazing opportunity because it’s an area where I spent a lot of time as a student, and I wanted to leave an impact on the USM community.” Hakami researched the history of public art and graffiti, as well as color history, color theory and psychology, and mural techniques. “I went around and looked at murals in Milwaukee, and the ones in the Walker’s Point neighborhood inspired me the most with their simple designs and vibrancy. I came up with a basic geometric design of triangles, created mock-ups in Photoshop of what the mural could look like, and polled the USM community for feedback.” To develop the vibrant color scheme for the space, Hakami used color theory research to narrow it down to 10 colors. “The colors have different meanings. Yellow is a color of happiness, orange is a color of enthusiasm, red is a color of passion, pink is a color of sensitivity, and purple is a color of imagination. I wanted all of these colors to be represented in the artwork.”
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spotlight
The Illiterati
Once the design was finalized and approved, Hakami spent three days with a ruler and pencil free-forming the triangles on the walls. She then labeled them with a number (one through 10) that corresponded to each color. After taping off the triangles Hakami painted them, which took several weeks to complete, even with help from friends and family. For Hakami, who served as editor of the yearbook and played in three sports during her senior year—in addition to her schoolwork—the Tower Project was a labor of love. “In hindsight, I was maybe a little overambitious with what I wanted to do,” she said, “But you get out what you put in, and I’m really happy with the finished project. It was a great experience.”
For former Middle School Drama Teacher Mark Edwards, an opportunity to take over as the Upper School drama teacher in July was too good to refuse. “I knew I wanted to work with high-school-aged students eventually, and this seemed like a great opportunity,” he said. “They’re older, more mature, and a little bit more cerebral, so you can go into greater depth with the pieces.” In October, Edwards and his students performed “The Illiterati,” a piece Edwards had written seven years ago. The play is about famous literary characters who are dying off because books have been banned, and is meant to highlight the notion that education and access to information can lead to enlightenment. “This group really came together. They were incredibly easy to work with and I was very proud of what we accomplished. In a lot of ways, they affirmed my decision to take on this new role.”
Watch a time-lapse video of Hannah’s project from start to finish at www.usmtoday.org/Hannah.
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spotlight
An Illuminating Experience A group of Upper School students recently visited ETC, a leading manufacturer of lighting equipment, where they learned that you don’t have to be on stage to have a career in the arts.
If you’ve ever been to a live theatre performance— including the ones held at University School—there’s a good chance you’ve seen a stage that was illuminated by lighting equipment designed and manufactured by ETC. The company is a global leader in the manufacturing of lighting and rigging technology, employing more than 1,000 people across 10 countries, and is headquartered in Middleton, Wisconsin. Recently, USM’s Technical Theatre Director Jeremy Woods took students in his Stagecraft course on a tour of ETC’s facility, something he has been doing since 2015. In addition to the tour, students also received a tutorial on how to operate the lights. “It’s an invaluable opportunity for students,” he said. “Not only do they get professional training on these light boards that they’ll be using for class, but they also get to see that you don’t have to be a lighting designer—or really even have any interest in lights or theatre at all—to work for a company like ETC.” “When we were on our tour, we walked down a hallway that showed the history of ETC and all the different lights they have produced, from the oldest to the newest,” said Jacques Blashka ’22. “It was cool to see how the lighting has changed, from big and bulky squares to small cylindrical tubes, and the change from incandescent to LED bulbs.”
ETC’s reception area and offices employ metal scrims, commonly used in theatre productions, to replicate any number of interiors or exteriors depending on how they are lit. “It’s not like your standard factory,” said Alex Coroian ’22. “The CEO’s office looks like the Empire State Building, the finance department was in the façade of a bank, and a lot of the offices have names that mean something special in the company’s history.”
Students received a tutorial on how to operate some of ETC’s lighting equipment, which will be useful as they embark on their final project—developing a lighting show and programming it through the light board. “I like that we got to see how everything was made and constructed, and I also liked being shown how to use their light boards and how to start off our projects,” said Mercy Godfrey ’20 (pictured).
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locker room
WIAA State Champions GIRLS TENNIS
BOYS SOCCER
For the second year in a row, the Wildcats girls’ tennis team won the WIAA Division 2 State Team Tennis Tournament. USM defeated Waukesha Catholic Memorial 5–2 in the tournament finals. It’s the ninth team championship for USM. Veda Sane ’19, who finished third at the individual championships, won her match at No. 1 singles. Zoe Francis ’19 also won at No. 2 singles, and Vanessa Goris ’19 won at No. 4 singles for USM.
The University School boys’ soccer team won the WIAA 2018 Division 4 State tournament finals with a 2–1 victory over the previously undefeated Amery Warriors. Co-captain Matias Dermond ’19 scored the two goals, but it was a full team effort that gave USM the victory over Amery. The Wildcats’ defense, including co-captain Ethan Ford ’19, Branden Hicks-Becker ’19, Tommy Hayden ’21, Jordan Puetz ’20, Kai Prawitz ’20, and Carson Mogush ’19, consistently frustrated the Amery forwards. USM’s goalkeeper Evan Bolton ’19 only had to make three saves as a result. The Wildcats ended the season with a final record of 18-2-1.
USM’s Stephanie Guy ’20 and Audrey Treptow ’21 won their No. 2 doubles match and Kala Siddalingaiah ’21 and Rebecca Daskal ’22 won the No. 3 doubles match for the Wildcats.
Cross Country Competes at State Ishan Kuttickat ’19 and Lexi Keppler ’20 represented the University School cross country team in the Division 2 State Cross Country Championships. Kuttickat placed 53rd out of 152 boys, with a time of 17:23.6.
Kuttickat ’19
Keppler ’20
Keppler’s time of 19:57.3 broke USM’s record, set in 2016, by .65 seconds. She placed 23rd out of 152 girls competing. Only 13 runners ran faster than her in the final 1.1 miles. “We could not be more proud of both Ishan and Lexi,” said USM’s head coach, Eric Pilling. “Their exceptional performances reflect the success of the entire 2018 team.” 31 31
locker room
Putting Fun First Updates to the Middle School football program have proved popular with students and parents alike—and yielded increased participation in other Middle School sports as a result.
Something new was happening on the south fields opposite the Preschool playground this past fall, and you might have noticed it if you happened to be on campus in the late afternoons—it was packed with Middle School students playing flag football. About 40 students from grades 5 and 6 participated. “In previous years we had a co-op football program with Nicolet High School,” explained Will Piper ’96, flag football coach and 5th-grade world cultural geography teacher. “But there was no flag football option, and it wasn’t super popular with parents or students.” So Piper and others decided to re-write the book on University School’s Middle School football program. They started by creating a flag football league for 5th- and 6th-graders from USM and Milwaukee Jewish Day School, with the plan to eventually expand it to other schools. “It’s nice to be able to play with students from other smaller schools where we have more similar competition,” said Piper,
“Our number one goal is to have fun. After that, we want them to learn the game and understand the rules.”
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“which is key to any sport.” The new program has proven popular with students and parents alike. “The flag program is nice because it’s more developmentally appropriate for the younger Middle School students,” said Piper. In addition to the flag program, 7th- and 8th-grade tackle football players are now part of the Greater Milwaukee Metro Youth Football League, which caters to smaller schools with similar enrollments. Mike Sweet, the tackle football coach and 3rd-grade teacher, also received positive feedback from the changes to the tackle program. “The 7th- and 8th-grade tackle program is great for students who are new to football, and parents liked that everyone had a chance to play, so it was definitely positive,” he said. The new league offers students more of a competitive experience, but still emphasizes team building and having fun. Playing sports in Middle School does much more than just give students something to do after school. “For Middle School sports, our number one goal is to have fun,” said Andy Thomson, USM’s assistant athletic director. “After that, we want students to learn the game and understand the rules.
locker room
Boys’ Tennis Team Wins State Award
But learning how to play on a team, how to deal with other kids and have good sportsmanship, those are all skills that will be valuable as they hopefully move into Upper School athletics. In addition, they begin to see how consistent practice and playing time can really impact their ability to play well.” Other sports have benefited from the popularity of the new Middle School football program, too. “When you have a successful fall season like we did, the kids get more excited about sports and all of a sudden you see more students trying different sports,” said Piper. “My daughters (Grace ’26 and Hope ’26) are perfect examples of that. They loved flag football, and now they’re going to try intramural basketball this winter. Once you have that positive experience, it’s easy to keep the momentum going.”
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, in partnership with Rural Mutual Insurance Company, has selected the University School boys’ tennis team as the recipient of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Team Sportsmanship Award for the 2018 Spring State Team Tournament. (The team finished as the state runner-up this spring, falling to Edgewood 4-3 in the Division 2 final.) This is the first time that the USM boys’ tennis team has earned the award, but the fourth time a USM team has received the award overall. The WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Award is presented to one school and community in each of the state team tournaments. The award winners are determined by the conduct and sportsmanship displayed by athletes, coaches, cheer and support groups, mascots, bands, and spectators.
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beyond usm
Class Notes
’60s GAIL KURSEL ’63
recently gifted two ancient American Indian ax heads to University School. The ax heads can be taken off the wooden mounts and held for closer inspection. The mounts were made by Kursel’s father, Arthur Frank MCDS’29, who built an extensive collection of memorabilia over his lifetime.
’70s
ALLISON STEPHENS ’81
is the 2018–19 recipient of the Ammerman Distinguished Teaching Award for Religious & Interdisciplinary Studies from Mercersburg Academy. Stephens has taught at Mercersburg since 1989. She has held the Rumbaugh Chair for excellence in teaching since 2011, and is a graduate of Amherst College and Wesleyan University.
ALEXANDER PALERMO ’86
was recently awarded the title “Marchigiano al Honorem,” which is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the Marche region of Italy. Palermo is dedicated to the reconstruction of the Italian town of Visso, located in the Marche region, following a devastating earthquake there. Palermo’s company, Pizza Romana, is located in Visso.
ELYSE (ERICKSON) DANCKERS ’77
was recently featured in Voyage Chicago’s “Chicago’s Most Inspiring Stories,” about her work with Waukegan to College, an organization that helps students prepare to enroll in, and graduate from, college.
’80s BRUCE K. LEE ’81
is the founder and chief executive officer – wealth advisor of Keebeck Wealth Management in Chicago. Previously, Lee worked at Merrill Lynch in Chicago as managing director, private wealth manager from 2011 to 2018.
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’90s LINDSEY GRADY ’91
and friends from the Class of 1991 recently reunited for dinner. From left Lindsey Canonie Grady, Lafayette Crump, Adam Read, and Liz Pagedas.
beyond usm
MOLLY LIPSCOMB ’95
was recently featured on NPR’s “Planet Money podcast #855: The Poop Cartel,” about the practice of price-fixing sewage removal in Senegal. Lipscomb is associate professor of public policy and economics at the University of Virginia.
BENJAMIN ZELLER ’95
worked as an academic consultant on, and was interviewed for, the 10-part “Heaven’s Gate” podcast, which reached number one on Apple’s podcast chart. Zeller is associate professor of religion at Lake Forest College, and author of “Heaven’s Gate: America’s UFO Religion.”
RAJ CHETTY ’97
has rejoined the Harvard Economics Department as the inaugural William A. Ackman Professor of Economics, after spending three years at Stanford University. Chetty received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard in 2000, and
a Ph.D. in economics in 2003. His research seeks to understand the forces that influence whether ordinary Americans succeed or fail economically. He was also interviewed recently for an episode of NPR’s “Hidden Brain” podcast called “Zipcode Destiny.”
ANDY HOUSIAUX ’97
has been named the next Currie Family Director of the Tang Institute at Phillips Academy. Previously, he was chair of the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department and Tang Fellow. Housiaux holds a master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School and a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University. He first joined the PA faculty in 2007.
RAMI PELTZ ’98
welcomed a son, Kai, on June 20, 2018.
Reunion Weekend | June 21–22, 2019 Mark your calendars for this year’s Reunion Weekend! Catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and reminisce about the good times you had at USM. Visit www.usmk12.org/reunionweekend or call 414.540.3328 for more details.
June 21 | 5:30–8:30 p.m. Summer Soirée at Milwaukee Country Club June 21 | 7 p.m. Class of ’69 50th Reunion Dinner June 22 | 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Joe Lubar ’08 Alumni Baseball Game, Campus Tours, Food & Froth Beer Garden, and Class Celebrations
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Alumna Designs New Outdoor Classroom There’s a new classroom for Preschool and Lower School students—but it doesn’t have books, desks, or even walls. In fact, it’s not a room at all, but rather an outdoor education space adjacent to the Preschool playground. It is the vision of Prekindergarten Teacher Jennifer Keppler and 7th Grade Science Teacher Kip Jacobs ’74, co-chairs of the Outdoor Education Committee at USM, and was supported by USM’s Parents’ Association. It was designed by landscape architect Kareth Tuttle Servis ’72. “I was initially approached by Kip, who is an old friend of mine, to design the space,” said Servis, “but both Kip and Jen had a lot of ideas for what they wanted the space to be.” Servis designed different learning areas within the classroom, including a dry stream that fills with water when it rains; a bridge and log stepping stones to cross the stream; and a teaching area surrounded by stone benches. She also designed an area with
’00s
KELLY CHRISTIANSEN ’01
became engaged to Will Wabiszewski in August. They will celebrate their marriage with close family in Sarasota, Florida in March 2019.
COURTNEY OLDENBURG ’03
married James Holacka on June 30, 2018, at Fox Point Lutheran Church in Milwaukee.
a stage and wooden benches, and a small berm for children to roll and sled down. “We planted a lot of different native and non-native perennials, shrubs, and trees with the idea that there will be interesting plants growing all year long,” said Servis. “We went with plants that the kids would appreciate, like Lamb’s Ears that have soft, fuzzy leaves, and Trumpet Vines that attract hummingbirds. In the spring we’ll plant willow twigs that can be shaped into a hut as they grow.” The space enhances USM’s outdoor education initiative, which has grown thanks to ongoing support from the Storer Foundation and the Crysdahl Foundation. Preschool teachers hosted a fall festival in October to officially open the space, and Servis was on hand to participate in the excitement. “I do a lot of landscape design, but I’ve never designed an outdoor classroom, so this was really fun for me,” she said.
JJ SERVIS ’03
recently completed the requirements needed to earn a Sports Car Club of America full competition license, allowing him to compete in national-level events.
WHITNEY RUSH ’04
married Mark Sirianni on Oct. 13, 2018 at John’s Island Club in Vero Beach, Florida. Siblings (from left) Frank ’98, Peter ’03, and Paul ’11 Martinez were on hand to watch the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 at the National League Championship Series game three in Los Angeles.
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beyond usm
Kareth Tuttle Servis ’72 (left) attended a fall festival in October and officially opened the new outdoor classroom.
Servis ’72 created the above landscape design plan for the outdoor classroom, which features a variety of native and nonnative perennials, shrubs, and trees that will grow all year long.
JONATHAN SMUCKER ’04
married Alissa Ratzsch ’06 in Milwaukee on July 13, 2018 at the Pritzlaff. Among those in attendance were (from left) Peter Humphreys-Loving, Spencer Steffes ’22, Nathan Humphreys-Loving ’05, Chloe Steffes, Sarah Schenck ’05, Natasha Misra ’04, Michael Koss ’02, Jourdan Reinhart ’04, Whitney Rush ’04, Lauren Fredrick ’09, Ryan Collopy ’04, Elizabeth Smucker, Ann Hostetler, Charlie Evans ’04, Matthew Slosky ’04, Elizabeth Evans ’98, and Neil Gandhi ’05. Jon and Alissa live in Milwaukee.
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WILL BARTLETT ’06
CHANEN MICHEL ’07
and his wife, Heidi Pangborn Bartlett, welcomed their first child, Henry Thatcher Bartlett, on Oct. 15, 2018.
married Matthew Lively on Sept., 23, 2017 in Dallas, where they both reside. Michel is a practicing attorney.
MICAELA WHITE ’06
DOUG SCHADEWALD ’07
accepted a position with the options trading team at Jane Street, and became engaged while on safari in South Africa.
is engaged to Pat Bomhack.
GRACE STRATTON ’07
married Peter Kolinski on July 28, 2018 at the Milwaukee Country Club.
ELIZABETH LUCAS ’08
married Mark Armstrong on June 9, 2018 in New York.
HENRY STEWART ’08
CRISTINA COSTANTINI ’07
visited University School in October, where she shared select clips of her award-winning documentary film “Science Fair,” which premiered at the Milwaukee Film Festival that same weekend. “With this film, we wanted to show kids taking up the mantle of science and taking up this important fight in the face of many global challenges,” said Costantini. She was joined by her co-director Darren Foster. In addition, Costantini married Alfie Koetter in Tuscany in 2017. They currently live in Los Angeles with their pug, Harriet.
Stratton ’07
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Lucas ’08
is co-founder of Uniform Teeth, a tech-enabled orthodontic company that uses clear aligners to straighten teeth.
JACK WIGDALE ’08
married Hannah Sugars on Aug. 18, 2018 in Milwaukee.
MAXWELL WERNECKE ’09
married Karina Francesca Manalo on May 27, 2018 at the Milwaukee Art Museum. The couple resides in Evanston, Illinois, where Wernecke is attending the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Manalo works as a software developer at McMaster-Carr in Elmhurst, Illinois, and recently started in the Kellogg program as well.
Wigdale ’08
beyond usm
JOHN MACHULAK ’09
married Courtney Van Maanen on June 23, 2018, at North Point Lighthouse in Milwaukee with the groom’s father officiating.
ELISE BURNS ’10
married Bryan Ferguson on Oct. 6, 2018 in Milwaukee. Jennifer Straszewski ’88 (left) and Marnie Omer ’91 helped to unveil the new Athletic Hall of Fame wall, located in the Quadracci Lobby, during Homecoming weekend. The wall was named in honor of their father, Henry “Chip” Uihlein Jr. MCDS’63.
upcoming events upcoming events upcoming ev Philadelphia | January 29, 2019 NICK SEGEL ’11
currently serves as the dive safety officer for the School for Field Studies in Turks and Caicos. He is responsible for coordinating and implementing safe diving and snorkeling procedures for students in addition to teaching them how to scuba dive in an eco-friendly way. Pictured (from left) is Nick ’11, Holly ’73, and Ian Segel ’14.
Alumni Family Ski, Heiliger Huegel Ski Club, Hubertus, Wisconsin February 9, 2019 Alumni Night at the Theatre University School of Milwaukee March 7, 2019 Alumni Paddle Tennis Town Club, Milwaukee March 8, 2019 Phoenix/Scottsdale | April 18, 2019
For additional details and to RSVP, visit www.usmk12.org/alumni.
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Alumni Visits
NEW YORK
The USM Alumni Association held a variety of events this past summer and fall, including visits in New York City and Chicago. In addition, Cristina Costantini ’07 invited alumni to a private screening of her awardwinning documentary “Science Fair” on campus in November. Be sure to check out our upcoming events on page 39—we hope to see you soon!
MILWAUKEE
JOSHUA BAKER ’12
became engaged to Katy Bjurstrom ’12 in May 2018.
CHICAGO
ANNIE REARDON ’13
is a cast member on the 23rd season of “The Bachelor,” the long-running ABC reality show, which premiers in January 2019.
NABEEL QURYSHI ’18
was named a candidate for the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in healthcare.
To submit a class note, email your news to alumni@usmk12.org. Notes may appear up to six months following submission due to USM Today’s production schedule.
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beyond usm
In June, Clyde Morter ’68 hosted a gathering of alumni at his home in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, to view the Vintage Cars Concours d’Elegance, a parade of racecars. Pictured from left David Morter ’73, Ross Read ’69, David Laing ’74, Paul Stover ’71, Sam Hitchcock Tilton ’03, Clyde Morter ’68, Jeff Servis ’69, Robin Uihlein ’69, JJ Servis Jr. ’03, Chris Wright ’69, Charlie Hauske ’12, Kenny Servis ’12, T.J. Hauske ’08, and Tori (Servis) Lawrence ’72.
Coffee with
coLLeGe KIds Alumni from the Classes of 2014 to 2018 were invited to attend a mini-reunion during Grandparents and Special Friends Day, where they met with classmates and former teachers over coffee, donuts, and bagels.
Alumni Room Now Open The Alumni Board recently met in the relocated and newly remodeled alumni room, generously supported by the Brennan family. It features new furniture with items from USM’s archive collection on display. Alumni are invited to visit campus and check it out!
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In Memoriam We celebrate the lives of the following alumni and friends, whose deaths were recently shared with us. We are thankful for their friendship. 1930s Betty Eastman Peyton MUS’35 June 12, 2011 Minneapolis
Harold T. Bolte MUS’49 April 14, 2018 Florence, Ala. 1950s
Thomas B. Wilson MUS’38 May 14, 2018 Mequon, Wis.
Edward A. Purtell Jr. MCDS’51 Aug. 26, 2018 Milwaukee
1940s
Victor V. Dahl MUS’52 June 22, 2018 Milwaukee
William Krauthoefer MUS’41 May 1, 2017 Carmel, Calif. Dorothy Dickens Mestier MDS’41 Aug. 23, 2018 Mequon, Wis. Mary Ellen Crane Rossiter MDS’41 Oct. 21, 2018 Ithaca, N.Y. Henry S. Jefferson MCDS’44 Sept. 15, 2018 Santa Barbara, Calif. Ann Madden Gales MDS’48 Sept. 4, 2018 Winter Springs, Fla. Gloria Ratzsch Mitchelson MUS’48 Sept. 24, 2018 Cedarburg, Wis. Arthur O. Smith II MCDS’48 Nov. 22, 2018 Milwaukee
Norma Militzer Doner MUS’52 Aug. 1, 2018 Woodruff, Wis. Jane Slichter Allen MDS’53 March 30, 2017 Oxford, England Theodore A. Ray MCDS’56 Oct. 5, 2018 Jackson, Wis. Victoria Krause Mayer MDS’57 Nov. 6, 2018 Mequon, Wis. Allen I. Bernfeld MUS’58 March 18, 2017 Milwaukee Susan Van Dyke Mackie MUS’59 Nov. 6, 2018 Grafton, Wis.
1960s Jeffery Park MCDS’64 Aug. 30, 2018 Ridgefield, Conn. 1990s Dana C. Hoelter Acker ’91 July 28, 2018 Fort Myers, Fla. Carson Simms ’99 October 2018 Bayside, Wis.
Friends Edward Bischoff Jr. Oct. 15, 2018 Sanibel, Fla. Father of Peggy Purtell ’80, Marion MacNeil ’82, and Liza Caputo ’86.
David Eppelsheimer Sr. Oct. 8, 2018 Wauwatosa, Wis. Husband of faculty member Francine Eppelsheimer.
Charles Hansen Oct. 14, 2018 Clayton, Mo. Member, Board of Trustees, 1976–1978; father of Mark Hansen ’74 and Melissa Hansen ’77.
Updated as of Nov. 27, 2018.
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beyond usm
Krause was a major supporter of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and held many different positions at the symphony, including volunteer leader, board chair, interim executive director, and interim vice president of development. To honor Krause, the symphony named its vice president of development chair the “Charlie Krause Chair.” He also was an avid supporter of Kids from Wisconsin and founded the Milwaukee Urban Soccer Collaborative, which makes soccer leagues possible for inner city youth. In 1995, he wrote a book, “Fastrack Business Management: The Minute MBA,” which was aimed at helping company leaders adapt quickly to changing environments.
MIKE DE SISTI
Charles A. Krause MCDS’51 passed away on June 2, 2018 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Krause was an executive at the family business, Krause Milling Co., and later ran the Glendale-based business consulting firm Krause Consultants Ltd. He was a long-standing supporter of University School of Milwaukee, having served as a trustee from 1972–78, and as the corporate division chair for the USM Fund cabinet in 1996. His ties to the school date back to his grandmother, Ida (Winkler) Krause, who was a graduate of the German-English Academy in 1892.
Krause is survived by his wife of 62 years, Roz (Stearns) Krause MDS’52 (pictured above in April 2018) and their four children, Charles A. Krause IV ’75, Kathryn (Krause) Higgins ’77, William Krause ’78, and Timothy Krause ’81; 10 grandchildren including Sarah Campbell-Harris ’05, Jane Krause ’07, Tim Krause ’10, and two great-grandchildren.
Correction: In the “In Memoriam” section of the Spring/Summer 2017–18 issue, the following women were incorrectly listed as graduates of Milwaukee Country Day School, when in fact they were graduates of Milwaukee Downer Seminary: Gertrude Buss Couch, Ph.D. MDS’27; Marion Wheeler Emerson MDS’47; Joan Wendel Ketchum MDS’47; Ann Reckmeyer Kobs MDS’54; and Marjorie L. Hiller Schneider MDS’55. Our sincerest apologies for the error.
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a look back
From Guardian to Guide By Francine Eppelsheimer
W
hen I started at University School in 1990, the Middle School library was all about books. The internet was not commonly used, and we still had the old card catalog. Things changed rapidly from that time forward. I remember in 1993 when Kip Jacobs ’74, who was an 8th-grade science teacher at the time, wanted his students to have an internet experience. But the library was the only room in the Middle School with access to a modem. To solve the problem, we strung up a phone line over the ceiling and across the hall to a computer in his classroom. How times have changed in the 29 years since I came to USM; our days are now filled with Wi-Fi, various devices, and a powerful internet. Throughout my time as a school librarian, I have seen a true information explosion. In my early years, my job was largely to serve as a reader’s advisor and teach students how to retrieve information using print resources. I remember telling students that the most important part of a non-fiction book is the index. Times have definitely changed—as has my job title. I prefer my current title, teacher librarian, because it encompasses my traditional expertise in research tools—whether it be print, e-books, databases, how to search the internet correctly, and how to evaluate sources for accuracy. No matter the job title, my
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mission is still to find the best resources for the students and faculty, only now, those types of resources have changed. One of the best aspects of my job is working in a more collaborative role, co-teaching with faculty, especially for project-based learning. Students need guidance in digging through all the information at their fingertips and I see my role as teaching them how to navigate and filter all of that information. But in many important ways my role has not changed since 1990. I still serve predominantly as a reader’s advisor, I still read stacks of book reviews, I still select and order books, and I still prepare books for check out—all the same tasks I did 30 years ago. I vividly remember my first job interview for this role—held in the beautiful Middle School library—and how ecstatic I was when I was offered the job. I still love coming to work every day and I count my blessings to have found University School. Every aspect of my job has been a true gift. In this information age, I am no longer the guardian of knowledge, but the guide. The information is at our fingertips, I just need to make sure that our users have access to the best material available and have the ability to filter out the rest.
a look ahead
Professional watercolor painter and former Lower School Spanish teacher Jeanne Nikolai Olivieri visited Christina Dresang’s 4th-grade art class, where she hosted a watercolor workshop. She taught students how to carefully wet the canvas and dilute the paint, a method that allows the piece to paint itself. Olivieri’s work, and the students’ finished pieces, will be on display in the Werner Family Art Gallery from Jan. 15 to Feb. 21, 2019 with an opening reception on Jan. 24.
SUMMER I.D.E.A.S. BROOKE WELSH
AT UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MILWAUKEE
HALF-DAY & FULL-DAY CAMPS ACADEMIC & ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS AGE 3–GRADE 12 | JUNE–AUGUST
WWW.USMK12.ORG/IDEAS
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2100 W. Fairy Chasm Road Milwaukee, WI 53217 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
One of the best parts about returning to school after summer vacation is sampling the many fruits and vegetables that have grown in the gardens on campus. Here, Jonathan Klein ’33 proudly held up the fruits of his labor—a ripe, red raspberry—to admire and enjoy. Photo by Jennifer Wisniewski.
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