Brookfield Academy Weekly Newsletter-February 1, 2023

Volume U Number 21 February 1, 2023

2022-23 School Theme: 60 Years - A Tradition of Excellence

At the conclusion of the fateful events of Antigone, the chorus instructs the assembled characters and the audience alike that “wisdom is by far the greatest part of joy, and reverence to the gods must be safeguarded.” When asked, “How can we achieve this wisdom and its joys?” the Greeks responded unabashedly: Love wisdom and pursue it through education. The word wisdom can seem somewhat vaunted nowadays, but it need not intimidate us. Wisdom is that virtue by which we order our lives and govern them well, knowing what is needful to choose and to act well. Why, though, connect this to joy, and how might study bring about this highest joy, this reverence? Can the Greeks still guide us?

An education, at its best, is the shared pursuit of fundamental questions, and it aims at discovering the truth. It encompasses questions about mathematics, scientific inquiry into the nature of things, and moral questions like, “How might I live well?” It invites us, as Immanuel Kant put it, to know the “starry heavens above us, and the moral law within us.” Everyone has a natural desire to know these things. It is very strong in children, whose limitless series of “why?” questions show the delight we all feel in understanding. An education sharpens the sensibility of children, focuses their attention on what is worth knowing, and because it is shared with others, encourages children to develop into compassionate souls. Although it requires study and dedication, the inevitable late night or disappointing grade, an education orients a life around the best things for the best reasons. So, it is reported by the ancient biographer Diogenes Laertius that Aristotle said, “The roots of education are bitter, but its fruits are sweet.” The sweetness of wisdom is the goal of an educated person, and so prepares one for life. Since wisdom is the flourishing of our deepest natural desires to know, it is more than a tool. If we make bold to connect the Stars of Intellect, Character, and Truth, as the Greeks would have us, the love of wisdom is the culmination of a life lived well.

~ Dr. Mark Bullio, Head of Middle School

Welcome! Phinieas "Phin" (Level 4) and Phoebe (Level B) Metzler and parents Mr. Bob and Mrs. Chantra Metzler; Dilimire "Dilimira" Aikeremu (Level 9) and her host, Ms. Justine Christopherson.

Congratulations Latin Scholars! The Wisconsin Junior Classical League (WJCL) Convention was a resounding success for Brookfield Academy; 44 BA students competed. Six of the top 10 sweepstakes winners in the State were from BA, including 1st overall by Krish Sharma. BA earned the most sweepstakes points (10 points for 1st, 9 for 2nd...) overall and per student. BA won 1st place in Certamen at levels II, III, and IV. The team won the overall spirit competition, and four BA students were elected to State Office. Click HERE for a full list of results for BA.

Congratulations! Scholastic Writing Awards-Wisconsin has recognized 12 Upper School students who earned 35 awards in all. Leo Chen Gold Key & American Voices Award nominee-Short Story, Honorable Mention-Poetry; Gabriel Fernandez-Tyson Honorable Mention-Flash Fiction; Olivia Greipp Gold Key-Critical Essay; Anvesha Guru Silver Key-Journalism; Max Hong Gold Key-Poetry, Gold Key-Writing Portfolio, Silver Key-Poetry, Silver Key-Writing Portfolio, Honorable Mention-Poetry; Leah Johnson Silver Key-Writing Portfolio, Honorable Mention-Critical Essay;

Isabelle Jurgens Silver Key-Short Story, Honorable Mention-Humor, Honorable Mention-Poetry; Madison Kob Silver Key-Poetry, Honorable Mention-Short Story; Marina Matson Honorable Mention-Poetry, Honorable Mention-Personal Essay & Memoir; Maranda Montgomery Gold Key-Poetry, Honorable Mention-Flash Fiction, Honorable Mention-Personal Essay & Memoir, Honorable Mention-Short Story; Claire Tian Silver Key-Poetry, Honorable Mention-Science Fiction & Fantasy; Adrian

Yin Silver Key-Critical Essay, Honorable Mention-Journalism.

Congratulations to our Spelling Bee Winner! Amina Khazi-Syed (Level 8) placed first and the runner-up was Kirtan Pansheriya (Level 6). Thank you to all the students who participated; it was an exciting competition. Both students will represent BA at the regional online spelling bee in March.

Tuition deposits are due February 15. Secure a spot for your student(s) for the 2023-24 school year by submitting your deposit, along with the enrollment commitment online through the MyBA portal. Space is guaranteed in class for all students whose deposits are received by February 15. Please contact Joan Doble in Admissions or email tuitionhelp@brookfieldacademy.org if you have questions.

Parents: If your child is moving to a new division and you'd like a tour or have questions, we'd be happy to help. If your child is moving up from Primary School to Lower School, contact Mindy Morrissey. Contact Joan Doble for transitions from Lower School to Middle School and from Middle School to Upper School.

Most Families Hear about BA from Friends or Family Members: If you know someone who is interested in sending their students to BA, please invite them to our Open House on Wednesday, March 1, from 4 - 6 pm. The new, BA After Hours, format will give students an opportunity to experience the BA community, teachers, and students through a range of engaging and fun activities.

Yearbook Order Deadline - The deadline for ordering yearbooks is Sunday, February 26, and the cost is $75. Visit jostens.com to place your order if you haven't done so already.

Summer Days 2023: The Summer Days 2023 catalog is coming home and available online today! Check it out and plan your classes. Registration opens on Wednesday, February 15, for BA families and will open to the broader community on Wednesday, March 1. The catalog provides an excellent overview and guide to Summer Days. Should changes to classes or schedules be required, the online catalog will be updated and is the best place to find the most current information.

Summer Days Assistants: Working at Summer Days is fun and looks great on college applications. Both volunteer and paid positions are available for this summer. In order to apply, you must be a BA student or alum. Boys and girls who are rising to Level 9 and are at least 14 years old on June 5, 2023, may apply to volunteer. Students rising to Level 10 and above, who are at least 14 years old by June 5, may apply for paid positions. Interviews will be conducted after Spring Break. Questions, please contact Rebecca Wilson.

Little Knights Applications: Brookfield Academy’s Little Knights, an enrichment program for future Level A students, is open to children turning three years old by September 1. Currently, we are full with a lengthy waitlist for the 2023-24 school year. Applications are now being accepted for the 2024-25 school year. If you have a young one at home who will be eligible for the program in 2024, apply in your MyBA portal account now. Contact Mindy Morrissey with questions.

Parents: Please join us for a presentation titled, Anxiety: What It Is, How It Works, and What to Do About It, on Wednesday, February 8, from 6:30-7:30 pm in the Freedom Hall Library. Our speaker, Melissa Nelson, PhD, LPC, NCC, will talk about anxiety and share tangible ideas for evidence-based interventions at home, school, and beyond. Space is limited, so an RSVP to Linda Pryor is appreciated.

All-School Parent Presentations 2023: Join us for the final presentation in The Classical Heritage Series:

Friday, February 24, 8:30 am, featuring Dr. Angel Parham, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia.

More information on these presentations can be found HERE. Contact Linda Pryor to RSVP.

The Parent Resources section of the MyBA portal is a great place to start if you're looking for information on a broad range of parenting and educational topics. It includes book lists and links to articles, as well as a list of local counselors. If there's a topic you'd like to see that isn't included there, please let us know.

SPORTS REPORT

Congratulations to Tyler Riederer (winner), Kendra Dehne (runner-up), and all the Upper School students who participated in the English-Speaking Union (ESU) Shakespeare Competition. Tyler will advance to the Chicago branch competition in February.

Parents: Time to schedule conferences! Upper School conferences are Thursday, February 9, and Tuesday, February 14, 3:30-7:30 pm. Conferences may be held in-person or virtual. Please email Mary Fenelon for an appointment.

TODAY is the Deadline for Senior Yearbook Ads: Parents wishing to place an ad in the yearbook for their senior student must do so by Wednesday, February 1. To place an ad, login to jostens.com and select Yearbook Recognition Ads from the menu. If you have additional questions, contact Laura Koepp.

Career Exploration Series: Monday, February 20, during periods 5 and 6, students can come to the College Room to meet our speaker, Mr. Paul Dieck, and learn about a career in engineering. Students should bring their lunch.

Patriots Heritage Society Wine & Bourbon Tasting: The Patriots Heritage Society will be hosting its annual Wine & Bourbon Tasting on Saturday, February 18, 7-10 pm, in the Patriots Hall Library. Parents of juniors and seniors - this event is for you! Come celebrate Patriots Hall with alumni parents from the Classes of 2010-2022. The Patriots Heritage Fund supports the capital needs of Patriots Hall. Register HERE to enjoy the wine and bourbon tasting, mocktails, and hors d’oeuvres! If you have any questions or have an interest in becoming a member of the Patriots Heritage Society, please contact Susan Jeide in the Advancement Office.

Field Trips - Students were excited as they prepared for their overnight field trip to the Capital and Kalahari Resort.

Level 8 - Students departed this morning for a tour of the Wisconsin State Capital. They will spend the night at the Kalahari Resort and will return to BA on Thursday in time for regular dismissal.

Levels 6 & 7 - Thursday, February 2, students will go to The Rock Sports Complex for snow tubing. They will leave shortly after the beginning of school and return in time for regular dismissal.

Spring Sports Registration is Now OPEN: The registration period for the 2023 MS spring sports season is now open. Please click this LINK to register your child for a spring sport. All pertinent information for each sport can be found within the registration link.

Spring Team Gear: Our spring team gear stores are now open and will be available through Monday, February 13. Please use the links below to order apparel for each sport. Please note that orders are completely optional. For those who do purchase gear, all items will be shipped to Brookfield Academy and will be distributed thereafter. Typical turnaround time from date of close is 4-6 weeks.

Baseball: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/UEmPeSEMSS

Soccer: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/qzABwvGsCK

Softball:https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/3meyetsGVm

Tennis: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/bThYBdQjt5

Track and Field: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/NoUegZczDo

Annual ERB Tests for Levels 6 and 7 will be today, Wednesday, February 1, and Tuesday, February 7.

Middle School Poms Performance: Middle School students are invited to join the Upper School Poms team for two practices and a performance at the boys varsity basketball game on Friday, February 10. Practices will be held Thursday, February 9, from 3:30-5:30 pm in the Middle School gym and Friday, February 10, from 3:30-5:30 pm in Room 113 at the Upper School. The performance will start at approximately 7:40 pm on Friday. Dinner will be provided on Friday between the end of practice and the game. Register HERE by Thursday, February 2, to participate.

Advisor Conferences: Please take a moment to schedule your child's advisor conference. At this conference, you will meet one-on-one with the student and his or her advisor. Each conference is 20 minutes in length. During this time, students make a brief presentation of achievements and goals to the advisor and parents. Conferences are held from 3:40-7:00 pm on Wednesday, February 8, and Thursday, February 16, in Freedom Hall. Please schedule this with Mrs. Monica Ostdick.

Congratulations! Primary School Handwriting Contest Winners – Level B: Bishesh Thapa, Evelyn Adams, Jason Wamsley (Level B Winner), and Teddy Kuehn (Most Improved). Level 1: Cora Schoonenberg, Maanya Narayan, Siena Wyderka (Level 1 Winner), and Enzo Jimenez (Most Improved). Level 2: Marin Kraus, Brooke VanCronkhite, Sahana Bucaro (Level 2 Winner), Callan Tomchek (Most Improved).

Congratulations! Lower School Handwriting Contest

Winners - Level 3: Rohit Singh, Charley Honkamp, Grace Gorniak (Level 3 Winner), and Clara Posnik (Most Improved). Level 4: Langston Luttkus, Sophia File, Audrey Klein (Level 4 Winner), and Tuqa Alqwasmi (Most Improved). Level 5: Ellie Zimmermann, Nicholas Otto, Harper Spaeth (Level 5 Winner), and Amelia Buckley (Most Improved).

Spring Sports Registration is Now OPEN: The registration period for the 2023 spring sports season is now open for students in Level 5. Please click this LINK to register your child for a spring sport. All pertinent information for each sport can be found within the registration link.

Baseball: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/UEmPeSEMSS

Soccer: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/qzABwvGsCK

Softball:https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/3meyetsGVm

Tennis: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/bThYBdQjt5

Track and Field: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/NoUegZczDo

Little House Day/Pioneer Day is Friday, February 10, for our Level 3 students. Students dress in period clothing, churn butter, and give a recitation as a culmination of their Wisconsin unit.

After-School Enrichment: Spring classes are just around the corner! Flyers have been sent home, and you are able to register for classes through the BA website.

Primary School and Lower School Review and Exams: Thursday, February 9, through Friday, February 17.

ADVANCEMENT & VOLUNTEER NEWS

Dinner Auction, April 29, 2023

Downtown Hoedown

Planning continues for the 2023 Dinner Auction, Downtown Hoedown, and we have updates to report!

1. Last year's “Tickets to Paradise," always popular with the kids, are this year’s “Pony Express Telegrams.” Please click HERE to read more and to purchase one, or all three, for your favorite BA community member - student, staff, or faculty. The first delivery is just in time for your special Buck-a-Roo on Valentine’s Day - February 14.

2. The “Gold Rush 50/50 Raffle” is back with an option to support BA and buy a chance for the big money prize. State law does not allow for online purchase, but the BA Advancement Office can help you place your order over the phone, visit the BA web page for a paper order form, pre-order your tickets online, or come to the Advancement Office and order them in person.

3. Hoedown Level Baskets - Silent Auction Fun! Keep your eyes peeled for the release of the Amazon Wish List Registry of items for each level. Support the Silent Auction, and your student’s grade, by purchasing items to fill the baskets through Amazon. Items are shipped directly to BA! Cash donations toward items also are gratefully accepted. Get ready - the “store” will open soon. Thanks in advance for your help!

4. Sponsorships are still available! If you or your company are interested in supporting the students of BA, we have several sponsorships available, or you can place an ad in the program book. Visit the auction website for details or contact Peter Grossman in the Advancement Office.

Other Auction questions? Contact the Co-Chairs Rory Foley or Stephanie Rushing.

Mothers Night Out: Thank you to all the volunteers and participants who made this celebration of BA Moms a tremendous success!

SAVE THE DATE: Father/Daughter Dance

Saturday, April 1, at Oconomowoc Lake Club. Dress in your finest and celebrate an unforgettable night with your daughter, including dinner and dancing. See VolunteerHub for opportunities to help. Questions? Co-Chairs Jared Masters and David Nygro are happy to provide more event details. Shortly after Winter Break, look in your email or your PS/LS child's Wednesday folder for the invitation to arrive.

Plan a Level Social: Many Levels have been organizing parent-run socials to connect parents and/or children with one another. These activities help to create a cohesive BA community. While they are not BA sponsored, Advancement can assist with these events. Please contact Mary Ricci to discuss details.

ALUMNI NEWS

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