USM Today - Spring/Summer 2019-20

| a magazine for the usm community

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TODAY

SPRING/SUMMER 2019–20

feature

Students and Teachers Come Together in Distance Learning

Going Out with a Bang “And now, time for something fun,” said Head of Upper School Stuart Cushman, as the sun set over Don Forti Stadium and the last graduate crossed the stage. With that, a spectacular fireworks show lit up the night sky and signified the end of a challenging, although memorable, school year. University School was given special permission by the Village of River Hills and the North Shore Health Department to hold the outdoor ceremony, where guests wore masks and maintained social distancing. In her last Commencement address as head of school before her retirement, Laura Fuller encouraged graduates to approach others with empathy and compassion. Graduates also heard from Rahul Mullick ’20, valedictorian; and alumnus Lafayette Crump ’91, who gave the Commencement address.

On the cover: This photo mosaic of USM’s iconic tower is a compilation of headshots of students, teachers, and staff from the 2019–20 school year—including the senior outtake photos taken on Upper School picture day, a much-loved 12th grade tradition.

in this issue Learning in the Time of Coronavirus USM students, teachers, and parents share their experiences with USM@HOME, the school’s distance learning plan.

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Helping Others The USM community joined together (virtually) in creative ways to support others amid COVID-19.

8 | Global Viewpoint During the Parents’ Association’s Global Enrichment Fest, students traveled the world without leaving campus.

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Tower Project Turns 5 We take a look at where USM’s seminal capstone experience has been, and where it’s going.

cover to cover

04 | view from the tower

20 | in focus

22 | spotlight

24 | locker room

26 | beyond usm

USM TODAY STAFF

2019–20 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

Stephen B. Guy

ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN

HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

PRESIDENT, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

McDill

Stuart Cushman

Andy Gordon ’98

ONLINE EDITOR

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

PRESIDENT, PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Eric Schad, Marketing and Digital Communications Manager

Elaine Griffin

Debra Pokel

PHOTOGRAPHY

Jeffrey Phelps Visual Image Photography Jennifer Wisniewski

CORRECTION: In the Fall/Winter 2019–20 issue we referred to Susan Bolly, assistant head of Upper School, as Mrs. Bolly. She prefers Ms. Bolly. 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.

A Final Farewell All-school community activities definitely rank amongst my most joyful memories: Commencement, opening day ceremony, all-school pep rallies, senior send-off, holiday sings, Arts Live, ground-breaking ceremonies, etc. A close second would be the times I have been able to connect directly with students: mentoring capstone projects, athletic events and arts performances, surprise visits from the Preschool, etc. The moments of connecting and the friendships formed with my administrators, faculty, and staff have provided relationships I will treasure always. It is a wonderful gift to work with smart and dedicated, not to mention funny people.

Dear USM community, It is with a complex set of emotions that I write my farewell to all that is USM. This finality is a bit surreal as the chaos of COVID-19 completely changed what would otherwise have been a spring filled with personal good-byes and the opportunity to thank each and every one of you. Instead, I will try to express in words how grateful I am, but fear I may fall short. Many of you know that USM provided the opportunity for me to come home to Wisconsin, live and work in a large co-educational school once again, and actually live in the same place as my husband and children! This gift alone is one I have not forgotten as it has meant so much to our family. Returning to Wisconsin was more comforting than I had ever anticipated. It was amazing to reconnect with the traditions of my youth, and there is something about your roots that is familiar and stabilizing in ways that are almost unimaginable. Layer on the ability to lead this tremendous school and the perfect opportunity was created for us early in the summer of 2011. One paragraph is not enough to reflect on the myriad events that have been my touchpoints over the past nine years. When I try to get my brain to coalesce around something significant, there is just another situation that comes to mind and pushes its way in.

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USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

Working with the Board of Trustees—especially the relationships I forged with Board Presidents Mike Roth, Dick Seesel, Andrew Petzold, and Steve Guy—was the most stimulating opportunity of my professional career. These people, especially in problem-solving mode, are literally inspirational. Their dedication to and stewardship of this school and the number of hours of energy they selflessly provide are truly remarkable. Most recently, I am grateful for the many hours of conversation I have had with our new head of school, Steve Hancock. We have tried to discuss everything related to USM and, in the process, have gotten to know each other as educators and personally through this process. We are truly blessed to have recruited such a thoughtful, kind, and qualified head of school. USM will surely flourish under Steve’s leadership. I am confident that he is inheriting the best administration, faculty, and staff in the country. They will guide and teach Steve, as they did me. As I say farewell to all of you, I would like to say that there is no other place I would have chosen to spend the last years of my career, and with no other people. Respectfully,

CLAYTON HANCOCK

from the head of school

Respect. Trust. Honesty. Fairness. Kindness. When I first read these words on the USM website, I was immediately drawn to the school. These qualities have been the foundation of my personal belief surrounding education for decades. As I read more, I learned that the Common Trust ignites a passion for learning, leading, and serving throughout an extraordinary community. Six months after hearing about the head of school opportunity at USM, I found myself in front of the search committee learning even more about the school’s mission and philosophy, and sharing the story that led me to that moment. I grew up in Waukesha, just a 40-minute drive from the gates of our school. My beginnings were humble, as my dad worked second-shift operating a printing press, and my mom worked in the mailroom of an insurance company. We led a simple life. Yet, like most parents, they sacrificed for me to experience life to the fullest. They encouraged me to study the violin, play competitive tennis, and serve my community. Fishing, camping, canoeing, and hiking filled many of my weekends. Trips to Milwaukee for violin lessons and youth symphony filled my weekdays. Above all, education was the highest priority in our home. I felt a true call to the education profession during my senior year of high school. My path led me to Lawrence University, where I studied both violin performance and music education. I started my teaching career as an orchestra director. Over the past 30 years, I have taught and led thousands of students in Naperville, Atlanta, Princeton, and Memphis. I expanded my teaching “repertoire” to

include music theory, humanities, and math at some of the most influential independent schools in the nation. Each experience has taught me a great deal about myself and others. I am certain the opportunity at USM is the perfect fit for my family and me. We can’t wait to be a part of this inclusive community and re-engage with the fantastic people of Wisconsin. Over the past nine months, I have learned so much about the rich history of USM and the tireless efforts of those who have led this school. I would not be here if it were not for the stellar leadership of the Board of Trustees. These men and women love USM like no other, and they have looked out for the school by being fiscally responsible for generations. Now, USM is the envy of schools around the country. The transition committee has worked tirelessly to help our move to Milwaukee be smooth and easy. From dog groomers to biking trails, they have provided answers to everything. Finally, Laura Fuller has led USM with vision and passion for the past nine years. She has been available to me to answer questions, both big and small. She loves this school and wants to see it continue to thrive. I now get to stand on the shoulders of giants as I take the reins of USM, and Laura and the trustees have helped at every step of the way. I look forward to starting a new chapter for both my family and this extraordinary school, and I am so thankful for this opportunity.

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USM Students Help to Bring Relief During Wisconsin’s Safer at Home order, University School of Milwaukee students developed creative ways to support the Milwaukee community amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPLY DRIVE

FIGHTING HUNGER ONE BAGEL AT A TIME

With schools and libraries closed, Thomas Wright ’21 knew that it would be difficult for many Milwaukeearea families to continue scholastic work at home. Wright, along with other Upper School student council members, established a book and art-supply drive to benefit students and families in Milwaukee Public Schools. The students sought donations of gently used materials and then took them to the MPS central office. In total, they collected more than 50 boxes of supplies.

When a group of Upper School student council members took over selling bagels as part of the organization’s Conference Café last fall, they could not have guessed they’d be raising funds to help fight a global pandemic by spring. But thanks to the students’ efforts, they raised more than $1,400 to donate to Feeding America to support families facing hunger.

“I’m hoping these supplies can help supplement the students’ learning and also maybe provide some relief to the parents,” said Wright. “There’s been such a huge response, which I’m most happy about. I think the school community at USM can really empathize with these families and hopefully make a difference.”

From left Lauren Glusman ’21, Joseph Gozon ’21, and Thomas Wright ’21.

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Every Wednesday when school was in session on campus, members of Conference Café sold fresh Einstein Bros. bagels and cream cheese during flex time. After USM transitioned to distance learning, the group sold T-shirts to continue their fundraising efforts. “Sitting at home, we realized a lot of people are in desperate need and we wanted to help,” said Neil Dogra ’21. “We designed a long-sleeve T-shirt and we’re adding that money to the profits we made from selling bagels to support Feeding America.”

From left Thomas Wright ’21, Joseph Gozon ’21, Rahul Mullick ’20, Kala Siddalingaiah ’21, Divya Pandey ’22, and Neil Dogra ’21.

Celebrating Dr. MLK Jr. Day

New Athletic Director Named

In observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, USM hosted an on-campus service project in which attendees made, bagged, and labeled approximately 700 sandwiches to benefit the Guest House of Milwaukee.

Tim Williams is USM’s new athletic director. Most recently, Williams served as the director of upper school athletics at Princeton Day School in New Jersey, where he has worked since 2011.

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

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USM COMMUNITY DONATES MORE THAN $27,000 TO RIVERWEST FOOD PANTRY On Tuesday, June 9, University School of Milwaukee teachers and families visited Riverwest Food Pantry to present a check in the amount of $27,923.50 to the organization. The money was raised through a combination of efforts by 3rd grade students and USM parents to support the organization, which has remained open through the COVID-19 pandemic despite reduced manpower and funding. As part of their USM@HOME curriculum, 3rd grade students were challenged to create something that would make a difference for others during the pandemic, and several students focused on projects that supported Riverwest Food Pantry specifically. James Reimer ’29 developed the Riverwest Ride for Charity event, during which he rode his bike on Fratney Street in Milwaukee for six hours and raised an impressive $923.50 for his efforts. Meanwhile, Coughlin Mellowes ’29 and his older sister, Murphy, prepared “kid’s corner” packages that were distributed to families during food distribution, and Katerina Kostopoulos ’29 delivered fresh chocolate chip salt cookies. Third grade students have partnered with Riverwest Food Pantry for several years on various projects. “It is these experiences in our Milwaukee community that can help students learn about injustices that are very real, while also building compassion, generosity, and the skills needed to take action and make a difference,” said 3rd Grade Teacher Brita Willis.

From left: Morgan Woods ’08, 3rd grade teacher; Coughlin Mellowes ’29, Owen Dupee ’29, Brita Willis, 3rd grade teacher; Vincent Noth, executive director of Riverwest Food Pantry; Katerina Kostopoulos ’29, Samantha Vosters, Riverwest Food Pantry team form director; James Reimer ’29, and Louise Reimer ’32.

In addition to the students’ projects, many USM parents supported the Riverwest Food Pantry by forgoing their lunch program food credit at the end of the school year. The money was pooled together to support the food pantry and the USM Parents’ Association Wildcat Thank You gift (for USM faculty and staff). Many thanks to all who helped support Riverwest Food Pantry and its critical mission!

Childhood Development

Robotics Wins Chairman’s Award

In partnership with REDgen, USM welcomed author and clinical psychologist Dr. Michael Thompson. He spoke to students and parents about managing college admissions expectations, developing friendships, and the importance of play in childhood.

USM’s Wildcats robotics team earned the prestigious FIRST Robotics Chairman’s Award, based in part on an essay the team submitted, which described the work the school has done to expand FIRST Robotics programming, and the team’s work with Operation DREAM in Milwaukee.

Visit www.usmtoday.org/newsbrief for more news stories.

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Four USM Seniors Earn Perfect ACT Scores Students attribute their success to practice, perseverance, and preparation.

When they took the ACT in 2019, University School of Milwaukee seniors Athena Borca, Rahul Mullick, and Afiya Quryshi had no idea how they did. But they all agreed: there would be no more retakes. “I had taken it once before and knew I wanted to do better,” said Borca, “but I wasn’t expecting to get a 36 at all. And if I hadn’t gotten a 36, I wouldn’t have taken it again.” Added Mullick, “My goal was, ‘Okay, I’m trying so hard and putting so much preparation into it, I really want to get that 36.’ But after I took the test I didn’t think I got it. I thought, ‘If it’s in the range that I want it to be in, then I’m done.’” For the three seniors, plus a fourth who wished to remain anonymous, their years of dedicated school work and months of test-specific preparation paid off: all four earned perfect scores on the ACT. And while the outcomes were fantastic, the celebrations were decidedly low-key. “I asked my sister, who lives in Atlanta, to log in and check it for me,” said Mullick. “So she told me the news and then I went out for ice cream with my parents.” Added Quryshi, “I was in the kitchen with my mom. We were excited, but that was it. It was kind of chill.” Obtaining a perfect 36 requires knowledge of the material, but it also requires an understanding of what the questions are asking. To improve their performances, each student spent weeks taking practice exams and focusing on areas that they felt needed the most improvement. “These standardized tests are essentially a reading exam,” said Quryshi. “If you’ve done enough practice you’ll know what the answer will be.” Added Mullick, “There are hidden tricks. I’ll look at the four

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answers and think, ‘The language for A is too strong, so that’s out. D is totally off topic, so that’s out. Now it’s between B and C, so 50/50.’ But if you keep on doing practice problems, it’ll become clear and you can get really picky, like, ‘Here’s why C is the right answer because B has x, y, and z flaw.’ And that only comes with doing a ton of practice.” The students all agreed that USM’s curriculum also helped them to prepare. Their experiences back that up as well—Borca and the anonymous student started at USM in prekindergarten and junior kindergarten, respectively; Quryshi began her USM education in 1st grade; and Mullick joined at the start of Middle School, in 5th grade. “I think the curriculum at USM has been a huge help because it helps us to pick out the things we need to,” said Quryshi. “Especially in English class, reading at a higher level allows us translate the skills we’ve learned to these standardized exams. I would say USM definitely, throughout all my years here, has been gearing me up for this.”

From left Athena Borca ’20, Rahul Mullick ’20, and Afiya Quryshi ’20.

March to Memorials

USM Hosts Milwaukee Dialogues

In May, 8th grade students and faculty hosted the ninth annual March to the Memorials virtually. Participants marched more than 800 miles and raised more than $4,000 for Stars and Stripes Honor Flights.

The Global Youth Leadership Institute (GYLI) held a Milwaukee Dialogues event on campus in February. Students from Milwaukee-area high schools joined USM students for workshops in cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, and more.

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

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Virtual Games Yield Tangible Skills University School’s newest club, Wildcats Esports, fosters communication, collaboration, and sportsmanship through video games. face-to-face, they still gained all of the benefits of being on a team. “We’re constantly communicating with each other, giving call-outs, directions, etc.,” said Kevin Hildebrand ’22, a student leader for the team. “It’s better than just playing alone because we’re getting a lot of community interaction. We’re also developing our time management skills and we help each other with homework questions, too.” Like any club at USM, students must maintain a certain grade point average to participate. Xavier Barth ’22 played Minecraft.

The days of video games getting a bad rap may be numbered. Following in the footsteps of area universities, USM has established the Wildcats Esports club in which Upper School students play team-based and individual competitive video games. In its first year, the club had more than 20 members and maintained practices and competitions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The club competes against high schools around the country in a variety of games, including Minecraft and Counter-Strike Global Offensive, and all Upper School students are invited to participate regardless of skill. “The club is very multi-level,” said Dr. Laurie Walczak, Upper School English teacher and club faculty advisor. “We have kids who have been playing together for years, and other kids who have never played before. We welcome every student.”

The club is a great opportunity for students who may not enjoy physical sports, or who may only do sports for a portion of the school year, to participate in a competitive, team setting. “As their coach, I observe all of the games,” said Walczak. “And I can tell you their communication skills, collaboration skills, sportsmanship skills, leadership skills, are really amazing. All of the things we talk about with traditional sports—the teambuilding, character development, sportsmanship—all of those qualities absolutely apply here.”

Because the club does not yet have a dedicated space on campus, students met virtually to practice and compete. And while they were not able to meet

Quryshi ’20 Named Coca-Cola Scholar

USM Dominates Stock Market

Afiya Quryshi ’20 is part of a select group of 150 high school seniors named 2020 Coca-Cola Scholars, who each receive a $20,000 college scholarship. Less than one-sixth of 1% of applicants were chosen to receive this extremely competitive award.

In this year’s annual Wisconsin Stock Market Simulation game, nine of the top 10 spots in the junior high/middle school division were held by USM teams. Of the more than 1,200 teams total, USM’s top team finished in an incredible eighth place overall.

Visit www.usmtoday.org/newsbrief for more news stories.

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Window to the World During Global Enrichment Fest, students sampled global cuisine, learned about different cultures, and enjoyed traditional customs without ever leaving campus. COVID-19 may have disrupted many special events at USM, but thankfully it did not impact the annual Global Enrichment Fest, held in February. Sponsored by the Parents’ Association, the event featured booths—many staffed by USM parents— that represented countries from around the globe. Students learned about different customs and traditions and sampled many types of cuisines. Many thanks to all who volunteered, and especially to Meg Hernandez, Renee Mondano, and Isabela Sardas-Trevorrow, co-chairs of the PA’s Global Enrichment Committee.

Photos courtesy of Martin Staples Photography.

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Chisholm Visits USM

Tower Project 2020

John Chisholm, Milwaukee County’s district attorney since 2007, spoke to students who are pursuing the Social Issues and Service Distinction transcript designation about challenges facing the criminal justice system, and shared his thoughts on reform.

Nearly 90 students in 4th, 8th, and 12th grades participated in Tower Project capstones. While the format this year was virtual, students still completed exceptional work. Read more about Tower Projects on page 20.

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

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Having Success Down to a Science After many months of research and testing for their projects, Amogh Bhatnagar’s ’20 and Neil Dogra’s ’21 efforts paid off when they earned prestigious awards for their hard work.

AMOGH BHATNAGAR ’20

NEIL DOGRA ’21

Amogh Bhatnagar ’20 was one of just 40 high school seniors nationwide to be named a Regeneron Science Talent Search Finalist in January. For his project, he used statistical models to compare data from more than 50,000 laparoscopic appendectomies and open appendectomies in pediatric patients. Bhatnagar was able to compare the cost-effectiveness of both procedures while controlling for demographics like age and gender.

Neil Dogra ’21 received first place in the Wisconsin Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), held in late January, and he also earned recognition as a Presidential Scholar. For his project, Dogra studied the corrosion properties of ductile iron piping, which is commonly used by water utilities for potable water transmission, and identified which chemical composition allows for optimal corrosion resistance.

“What I found is that, in pediatric patients at least, the laparoscopic method shortens hospital stays by only about one half of one day, and costs patients about $4,000 more on average,” said Bhatnagar. Open appendectomies, therefore, often yield similar results as laparoscopic ones, but for a lower cost to patients and hospitals. Bhatnagar is the second USM senior in a row to be named a Regeneron Finalist. Last year, Aayush Karan ’19 was named a finalist and traveled to Washington, D.C. to present his work.

Dogra worked with Dr. Pradeep Rohatgi, a Wisconsin Distinguished Professor and the director of the UWM Composite Center at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee, on his research. “I failed a lot at first, but Dr. Rohatgi gave me the independence to grow as a researcher and to gain the confidence to run my own experiments,” said Dogra. In 2019, Dogra earned the Grand Award Recognition, Best of Fair at the Badger State Engineering and Science Fair, and he also earned the First Award in Engineering for his project.

Taft Wins National Award

National History Day Winners

Chuck Taft, 8th grade American history teacher, was named the Patricia Behring Junior Division Teacher of the Year as part of the National History Day finals. Taft was one of only two national award winners for this prestigious honor.

Of the five USM projects that advanced to the National History Day finals in May, three were honored with recognition at the national level in June. Congratulations to August Neumann ’24, Srikar Mudili ’24, and Ellie Leverett ’21 for their outstanding work.

Visit www.usmtoday.org/newsbrief for more news stories.

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Adventure Awaits for Newest Retirees After many years of hard work and dedication to University School of Milwaukee, Marlene Connor and Tom Fuller are off to see what adventures await them in retirement. We will miss them!

MARLENE CONNOR Advancement Database and Information Manager Marlene Connor began her career at USM in 1987, with a background in teaching. She started her USM career in the Business Office and transitioned to her current role, where she has expertly served for 25 years. As database and information manager in the Advancement office, Connor manages all aspects of the highly segmented gift and constituent database. She expertly generates complicated reports, analytics, and mailing lists related to communications, contributions, gift recognition, and events for the advancement of the school. Over the course of her USM career, she has produced an estimated 360 sets of monthly reports, nametags and attendance lists for 30 reunion weekends, and processed and acknowledged upwards of 50,000 gifts to the school. In recognition of her decades of dedication to the school, Connor was awarded the CASE 2020 Independent School Support Staff Distinguished Service Award after being nominated by her colleagues. The award honors long-term service as a dedicated member of an independent school’s advancement team and is a tremendous honor. Connor has much to look forward to in her retirement. “My husband and I are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary this year, which—combined with retirement—seems to be the start of another adventure,” she said. “I look forward to sitting outside on nice days with my coffee and crossword puzzle and not worrying about what time it is! I am also looking forward to spending more time with our grandson and friends.” As a vital member of USM’s Advancement office, Connor will be greatly missed. “Marlene is the glue of our team, providing the vital institutional memory that schools like ours rely upon,” said Chief Advancement Officer Patrick Tevlin. “We are honored to work with her.”

TOM FULLER Director of Transportation As USM’s director of transportation since 2012, Fuller has led an active role in ensuring the school’s ability to offer bus service to students in surrounding communities. Because USM owns and operates its own fleet of buses, Fuller managed the mechanics and operations of the buses, ensuring the integrity of the vehicles in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines. Prior to his role at USM, Fuller served as a senior key account manager at PepsiCo for nearly 17 years. “I was blessed with a very dedicated and loyal group of transportation employees who have a true passion for what they do,” he said. “That made my job not only easier, but rewarding and fulfilling as well.” Fuller has no plans to slow down in retirement. “I look forward to continuing to nurture our rather substantial family base as well as welcoming new additions,” he said. “I also look forward to spending time in the winter and spring at our home in Florida.” The USM community is grateful to both Tom and his wife, Laura, (USM’s former head of school, who retired on June 30) for their many years of dedicated service to the school, and we wish them the best of luck.

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USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

LEARNING IN T HE T I M E O F C O R O N AV I R U S In March, the University School of Milwaukee community went from anticipating a relaxing spring break to preparing for self-isolation amid a global pandemic—all in a matter of a few days. Although teachers and students had to dramatically change how they taught and learned, everyone rallied together to implement the school’s USM@HOME distance learning plan. On the following pages, you’ll hear from members of our community who shared their various school-related COVID-19 pandemic experiences.

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On Friday, March 13, the day before USM’s spring break, Gregg Bach, assistant head of school, made a peculiar announcement to the entire school over the loudspeaker: “Good afternoon boys and girls,” he said. “Before you leave today, please clear out your lockers and bring everything home with you that you might need after spring break.” Although many in the school community were preparing for at least some changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, it came as a bit of shock when, later that same day, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers mandated the closure of all K–12 schools for (what would become) the remainder of the school year. COVID-19 is not the first crisis USM has faced and, in fact, it’s not the first pandemic. All three of USM’s predecessor schools—Milwaukee Country Day School, Milwaukee Downer Seminary, and Milwaukee University School—existed during the devastating influenza pandemic of 1918. Our school has persevered through depressions, recessions, wars, mergers, political and social upheaval, and massive cultural shifts. USM’s mission has always remained the same—to provide an exceptional PK-12 independent school education. But how it delivers on its mission has changed and adapted over the years. One important change occurred in 2012 when the school adapted its 1:1 technology program, which provides students in grades 3 through 12 with their own dedicated personal computing device. It took years of planning to implement the program, which has proven to be an invaluable resource and essential to the success of USM@HOME, the school’s distance learning plan implemented as a result of COVID-19. “Had we not done all that work to implement the 1:1 program back in 2012, we would not have been able to flip the switch to online learning as quickly as we did,” said Bach. “Because faculty are

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USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

so good on their computers, and because kids had devices and were using many of these platforms already, we were able to jump right in.” While we don’t yet know with certainty what the future will look like for USM or the broader community, school administrators are working hard throughout the summer to develop a back-to-school plan that will be shared with the school community in the coming weeks. “No matter what happens at the state level, working to make sure all students and employees are safe—including those who are at higher risk of severe illness—that’s our main priority right now,” said Bach. “Even though we have shown that we can make distance learning work, we operate best when we can come together as a community. We will do everything we can to make that happen safely.”

Learning in the Time of Coronavirus

NIKKI LUCYK As USM’s Director of Academic Technology, Nikki Lucyk placed a key role in developing the school’s distance learning plan, USM@HOME. By studying independent schools abroad, as well as using knowledge gained from our previous school closing days due to snow and cold, she and her team devised a plan that worked for all grade levels while also maintaining students’ safety and privacy. By early March, my colleagues and I were paying close attention to leading independent schools in Europe and Asia, who were already a month into a virtual learning environment and sharing their best practices. They advised other schools to choose one online platform and mitigate the amount of time students spend in front of a computer screen. Realizing this was not going to be a short-term situation, we had to carefully balance instructional goals with the health of our community. By March 13, we had developed a comprehensive technology learning plan that, we felt, was as simple and clear as possible for students, teachers, and parents. After careful research, we decided to use Google Meet as our primary tool for virtual classrooms. USM students and teachers were already familiar with Google tools, which are free. But, as we navigated uncharted waters, we knew our students’ safety was the number one concern. Google’s privacy, security, and sheer infrastructure made it an obvious choice at that time for our PK–12 environment. As other programs beef up their security abilities, we will continue to evaluate them for potential use in the future. Typically, students don’t get a USM email address or access to school-owned iPads until 3rd grade, but this is clearly not a typical situation, so we distributed iPads to 1st and 2nd grade students on March 13 containing

the applications they would use with their teachers. We also created USM-issued Gmail accounts for all prekindergarten through 2nd grade students so that we could verify who was attending our virtual classes.

“In my 25-plus years in education, I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

This situation has been difficult. It challenged us to network globally, and think creatively and critically about effective instruction that would empower all of our students to achieve the high educational outcomes we strive to meet while on campus. In my 25-plus years in education, I’ve never experienced anything like it. However, I know that, through the support of our families and our ubiquitous use of technology prior to the virus’ existence, we have made a tremendous difference in how relatively smooth the transition was to distance learning. That said, striking a balance between prepared videos and synchronous learning is something we’re continuously working to achieve. Whatever the future holds, I know we will be prepared to mitigate any challenges and meet them head on.

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CHERYL BAIR The 5th Grade English teacher and Middle School English Department chair was faced with overhauling her curriculum and learning an entirely new digital delivery method in a matter of a few days. We were told to bring enough materials home to be able to teach one month virtually. I brought everything home with me, five huge binders, all the books the students were reading, and I started thinking, “How can I make this work?” None of us had used Google Meet before. So, Amy Norman [6th grade English teacher] and I practiced with each other, and I practiced with her kids. Then the 5th grade

team did a practice together. Right now, it’s so easy, but I was a nervous wreck for that first online class. I realized, though, that the kids are so savvy. If I didn’t know something, we could figure it out. Once I got through that first class, I thought, “Okay, this is going to be fine.” One of the first things I learned is if we don’t set a timer in our virtual small groups, we’re not coming back together as a big group. So I created a list of norms and assigned specific students tasks like setting the timer, leading the small group discussion, etc. That worked really well and I was able to help other teachers do the same thing in their classes. I was really proud that I figured that out and was able to help others. Distance learning is not my preference, but I feel like I’ve done a really good job of keeping the integrity of my curriculum. For me, that’s a giant win.

JAYIN LAZZARO ’28 When the Preschool and Lower School added a flexible afternoon time slot to their distance learning schedules in April, numerous students jumped at the chance to host sessions for their classmates, including Lazzaro, who hosted a virtual, 30-minute LEGO club. I didn’t think school would actually be canceled. I was sort of shocked when they said we’d be doing online learning for the rest of the school year. After a few weeks of distance learning, my teacher [4th Grade Teacher Leandra Zdrojewski] asked me if I had any ideas for a virtual club. I had a bunch of ideas, but my favorite was LEGO club because I really like LEGOS. 14

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

At the beginning of each session I would introduce myself, because there were usually new kids every day. I explained what LEGO club was and gave the challenge for the day. Then at the end we’d share what we built, and I made sure everyone had a turn to share. I was nervous on the first day of the club because I didn’t know what it was going to be like. I didn’t know if people would like the challenges I came up with, and I was nervous that I wouldn’t be doing a good job. But it was actually really fun, not just me leading it, but working with all the kids who joined each day. They would ask questions and they had great ideas on what to build. Leading the club taught me good leadership skills and how to help kids if they have problems. I liked distance learning, but it will be nice if we can go back to school [in the fall]. I miss my teachers and my friends.

Learning in the Time of Coronavirus

KRISTEN MORGAN Parent to Charlie Dawn ’32 and Colby Ann ’34 Morgan, Kristen and her husband, Colleston ’03, made the most of their distance learning experience. Distance learning has provided numerous benefits for me as a parent, as I now have a chance to observe how my children interact and respond to teachers and peers. I’ve been impressed by my kindergartener’s bravery to lead a call and response, and respond confidently to questions. She could now follow her calendar to log on to all classes on her own and complete her daily lessons. On the flip side, distance learning with my 3-year-old has been challenging. Her teachers have designed high-quality and engaging

lessons, but ultimately, she had a hard time focusing on small screens. Our experience is that early childhood, understandably, has its own set of challenges that we have yet to overcome. As a former educator, I am grateful for the ability to supplement provided curriculum with lessons of my own. We built consistent structures and routines in our homeschool—and their USM teachers knew not to call for check-ins during their 11 a.m. outside recess! We are all diligently working to address our children’s needs—both families and educators alike. I believe we must use this time to identify strategies with maximum impact as we face the realities of what next year might bring. As I look forward, perhaps the only thing I am certain of is that the USM community will be there alongside me to face the challenges head on together.

MOLLY JANSSEN ’22 A varsity girls’ lacrosse player, this rising junior— like all spring student athletes—missed out on her season, and the chance to help her team bring home a championship after falling one game short last year. The first day of online learning [March 31] was crazy. I had chemistry as my first class, and the students didn’t know how to use Google Meet that well and we all had our cameras and microphones turned off, so my teacher was basically teaching to a wall. She didn’t know if people were there or not. And I remember, after being online for 60 minutes, I was like, “I have to do this three more times today.” At the end of the day, my head

was killing me and I was like, “How am I going to do this for the rest of the year?” But over time, it became more flexible and we all started feeling better about it. For me, missing lacrosse was the worst part. Knowing this was our year to win state, and having that crushed on us, really sucked. We did team Google Meet sessions, and coach [Samantha] Adey posted workouts on Instagram, but we went from playing lacrosse five days a week for an hour and a half to nothing, and it was hard. When we’re out there playing it’s so fun because we’re winning and we’re doing it as a team. I missed that. I missed the feeling of winning those huge games, like that conference championship game, and knowing that all of our hard work that we put in together has paid off. It just stinks knowing that could be us right now but we’re stuck at home.

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EIBAR ROBLEDO ’20 Distance learning was especially hard on seniors, who missed out on many cherished end-of-theyear traditions. Here, prefect Eibar Robledo ’20 shares his experience. My senior year was cut short—no senior prom, no senior send-off, delayed commencement. My family dynamic also changed. I now had younger siblings at home who were also adjusting to online learning and needed support. My mindset was always geared towards bringing comfort and satisfaction to me and my siblings. As a prefect, I spent endless hours on Google Meets and late-night group chats brainstorming projects that would mitigate our lost senior traditions. We created

a Class of 2020 Instagram page (@usmseniors2020) to celebrate college acceptances; collaborated with the Alumni Association to give seniors a Class of 2020 hoodie; and jump-started a senior tree project. Yes, we did all this during USM@HOME! COVID-19 had no match on our strong work ethic, determination, and collaboration! As for life at home, the USM@HOME schedule for the Upper School allowed much time for me to help my siblings with their coursework. We were able to find a system where I had my personal “office hours” for them to ask me any questions they had. Though the negativity of COVID-19 is immense, I have to say that the quarantine experience allowed me to focus on myself and build on skills that allow for unity through distance. But, would I go through another quarantine like this one again? Absolutely not!

TRACY HUFFMAN Lower School music teacher Tracy Huffman had to get creative with how she delivered her lesson plans. In the process, she discovered that even online learning has its benefits. When we found out that school was going to be online, I was thinking more about emotional well being than advancing my curriculum. I felt that there was a grieving process of not being in school and having pretty much every aspect of our lives changing. I think music is something we all turn to in times of need, as well as so many of the other specials courses, like exercise, dance, and art. We turn to creative outlets when we’re facing hard times. So the specials team got together and we thought 16

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

we could really shine and be creative in how we wove our curriculum into that bigger picture of emotional wellbeing. For me one of the biggest challenges was that I rely so heavily on singing in my classroom and now I suddenly had to approach it in a completely different way. We did a whole lot more creating using “found” instruments in the house. We also did a lot of listening and describing, which are super important but sometimes take a back seat to the performance aspect. And it’s been really rewarding to see how this virtual environment allows students who are shy about performing to use different tools, for example, recording themselves and then playing the video later, which took the performance pressure off. Even just the aspect of time, that they didn’t have to immediately produce something, gave them time to be thoughtful. So it’s been kind of a blessing because I’ve been forced to think differently, and so have students.

Learning in the Time of Coronavirus

ERIN HEANEY Teaching chemistry and AP Chemistry to Upper School students in a distance learning model required Heaney to find new and creative ways to show experiments and ensure that her students were engaged and understanding the material. Like several USM teachers, she is also a parent to students who were doing their own online learning in their classes—Aydin ’29 and Ayla ’34— giving her a unique perspective. In the beginning, distance learning was great for Aydin. He’s a homebody, so he loved the fact that he never had to leave the house. However, when his teacher [3rd Grade Teacher Brita Willis] started introducing more challenging lessons, we went through a struggle. Aydin was used to learning face-to-face, where he could ask a question subtly, without the whole class knowing. But when you’re sitting in a Google Meet, if you unmute and ask a question, everybody knows because everybody hears it. And even though his classmates would not have cared in the slightest, to him it was mortifying to have to show weakness. As a result, we had a lot of emotional struggles over how hard school was online, and how he didn’t like it. This broke my heart, because Aydin has always loved school. Luckily, Brita, being the tech-savvy genius that she is, found a Google chat app that allowed the students to send her questions privately and directly. That was a game changer for Aydin. He felt empowered knowing he could contact her at any time during class when he needed her help. School had once again become a place of excitement and pride for him. As a teacher, I recognized that if my 3rd grade son struggled to ask questions on Google Meet, some of my high school students might struggle, too. I followed Brita’s example and set up one-on-one private Google

Meet sessions for me and my students. This made a huge difference in the dynamics of many conversations; students were noticeably more comfortable asking questions. I also made my cell phone number available to my students, so they could easily reach me to set up online sessions during office hours. Allowing them the ability to text me helped me balance my obligations as a teacher and a parent much more effectively.

“I recognized that if my 3rd grade son struggled to ask questions on Google Meet, some of my high school students might struggle, too.”

It enabled me to be intentional with the time I spent in either role. I’m grateful that I was able to observe and learn from Aydin’s struggles. In many ways, they helped me to better support the needs of my students in this new distance learning environment.

For the latest information on USM’s fall reopening, visit www.usmk12.org/reopeningplan.

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Thank you! Our Common Bond exceeded goal, closing on June 30th with more than $30 million in gift commitments from our school community. On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff of University School of Milwaukee, thank you for your commitment to our collective future—we are extremely grateful. Following years of planning, and rooted in the school’s culture of generosity, the Board of Trustees kicked off this $27 million comprehensive campaign in July of 2015 with goals of $15 million in support of capital projects, $6 million in endowment support, and another $6 million in annual support for the USM Fund. The numerous outcomes of Our Common Bond have a direct and positive impact on our students’ daily lives: • New and improved facilities provide state-of-the-art learning spaces and long-lasting value to the school, while fostering community • Growth in the school’s endowment, resulting from the campaign, provides resources for mission-focused priorities and strategic initiatives • Collectively, all gifts to the USM Fund during the five years of the campaign totaled more than $6.8 million—the single largest contribution to Our Common Bond. The USM Fund is the greatest source of dependable and flexible funding for the school and enhances all aspects of our students’ educational experiences Each and every donor who made a gift between July 2015 and June 2020—2,105 in total—participated in the campaign’s successes.

www.USMOurCommonBond.org Of those, 206 donors directly supported specific campaign initiatives, and 57 families contributed $100,000 or more. Additionally, Our Common Bond welcomed 100 new campaign donors. USM shares its gratitude as we celebrate this significant accomplishment. Together, we have raised more than $30 million to transform the future of education at University School of Milwaukee, and we thank you for your important role in these successes. Find additional information, including stories and videos, at www.USMOurCommonBond.org. All campaign donors and outcomes will be recognized more extensively in the Our Common Bond impact report, available this fall.

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USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

For the Love of Liberal Arts John “J.S.” and Carolyn Stephens’ long-time support of liberal arts education in Milwaukee inspired a gift that ensures their message will continue to impact lives for years to come.

Carolyn and John “J.S.” Stephens.

Retired teacher and administrator John “J.S.” Stephens’ six-decade career at USM began inauspiciously. After graduating from Amherst College and earning his master’s in teaching from Harvard University in 1957, the Vermont native taught for one year at a public high school in Topsfield, Massachusetts. The experience left him underwhelmed, so he began to look for a job at an independent school. In 1958, he was contacted by Warren Seyfert, then-headmaster of Milwaukee Country Day School, which had an opening for a history teacher. Despite having never been to Milwaukee and not knowing a soul there, Stephens accepted. “I thought, ‘Oh what the heck, it’s only one year and they have a baseball team,’” he said. “It was a good decision, as it turned out.” J.S. has held numerous roles over the course of his USM career, including history teacher, economics teacher, director of admissions, head of Upper School, coach of the National Champion Federal Challenge team, as well as many other coaching and advising roles. J.S. met his wife, Carolyn, during his first year at MCDS while she was studying English and theatre at Milwaukee Downer College. (USM’s predecessor school, Milwaukee Downer Seminary, was the high school division of MDC before it became an independent

institution in 1910.) They married in 1961 and the first of their four children was born in 1963. Although neither J.S. nor Carolyn were from the area, the thought of leaving Milwaukee never persuaded them. “University School is so wonderful; why would we leave?” said Carolyn. “All four of our children were USM students from ages 3 to 18, and we were both very happy with our careers and work.” Carolyn held a variety of careers, including managing the adult education program at Alverno College; executive director of the Milwaukee Ballet; running her own business; and teaching at Concordia University Wisconsin, while she earned her Ph.D. In the 1970s, Carolyn spearheaded the efforts to preserve the Milwaukee Downer College and Seminary buildings by completing the process of having them listed in the National Register of Historic Places, thus saving them from demolition. As J.S. and Carolyn approached their retirement years and beyond, they began thinking about how they could give back to their alma maters that shaped their lives and which they valued. “When we started examining our lives, we felt that liberal arts education is what we’ve worked for all our lives, and that developed our deep roots at USM and Milwaukee Downer College,” said Carolyn. Working with USM’s planned giving advisor, J.S. and Carolyn established a charitable remainder uni-trust (CRUT) to support their four children while also benefiting USM and three liberal arts universities, as well as their church. Upon maturation, the Stephens’ gift will establish an endowed fund that will provide a new scholarship for qualifying Upper School students. Two other funds named in honor of J.S. are already in existence at USM, established through the generosity of other community members. One is a full-tuition scholarship and the other supports professional development for faculty. “We feel that by supporting these causes, while supporting our children—three of whom teach at independent schools—our influence can continue long after we’re gone,” said J.S. “We will help fund the schools, the schools (and our children) will educate future students, and those students will go forth and bring light to the world. That’s how we will spread our message.”

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in focus

Tower Project Turns 5 USM’s Tower Project turned 5 years old this spring. We take a look at where the program has been, and where it’s going.

T

he he Tower Tower Project Project at at University University School School of of Milwaukee Milwaukee embraces embracesaasimple simplebut butvery verypowerful powerful idea: idea: that that students students direct direct their their own own learning, learning, based based on on their their own interests. When it was implemented in in the the 2015–16 2015–16 school school year, year, teachers teachers knew knew they they were were launching launching aa unique unique program. program. Today, Today, it’s it’s clear clear that that the the program program isis here here to to stay. stay.

Tower Tower Project Project utilizes utilizes experiential experiential learning, learning, which which is is a cyclical a cyclical process process of research, of research, application, application, andand reflection. reflection. It It gives gives students students autonomy autonomy and and choice, choice, encourages encourages risk-taking, risk-taking, and and provides provides flexibility. flexibility. USM’s USM’s program program is is unique unique inin that that students students inin allall three three divisions divisions (grades (grades 4, 4, 8, 8, and and 12)12) participate participate inin these these capstone capstone experiences. experiences. “The “The project project is is their their opportunity opportunity toto telltell meme what what they they feel feel is is important important forfor them them to to learn, learn, ” said ” said Laura Laura Blanchet, Blanchet, 4th4th grade grade teacher teacher andand oneone of four of four Tower Tower Project Project mavericks mavericks (original (original founders founders of USM’s of USM’s program.) program.) “And“And that that ownership ownership is is what what drives drives this this project project forfor thethe kids. kids. That’s That’s why why I think I think wewe seesee such such success success in in their their projects, projects, because because thethe students students want towant invest totime invest and time effort andinto effort them. into” them.” “The “The students students areare thethe experts experts in the in room, the room, ” said” said KateKate Gay, Gay, Upper Upper School School English English teacher teacher andand alsoalso a maverick. a maverick. “They “They might might bebe surrounded surrounded by by adults adults butbut theythey know know wayway more more than than anybody anybody else. else. They They cancan answer answer questions questions withwith poisepoise and and just just be be thethe expert. expert. It’sIt’s a really a really coolcool experience experience for kids for kids to to have have that that much much confidence confidence andand thatthat much much background background onon a topic a topic that that doesn’t doesn’t fitfit inin any any curricular curricular box. box. ” ” The The experience experience is valuable is valuable forfor students, students, andand oneone thatthat serves serves them them well well after after they they leave leave USM. USM. For For her her Tower Tower Project, Project, Anne Anne Havlik Havlik ’17’17 built built a solar-powered a solar-powered computer computer that that fitfit inin a backpack, a backpack, combining combining portability portability with with aa renewable renewable power power source source forfor use use inin areas areas where where reliable reliable power power is is unavailable. unavailable. It It was was anan ambitious ambitious project, project, one one that that required required her her toto navigate navigate many many hurdles, hurdles, setbacks, setbacks, and and redesigns, redesigns, butbut ultimately, ultimately, sheshe successfully successfully completed completed it. it. Today Today sheshe is aisbiology a biology andand neuroscience neuroscience double double major major at at thethe University University of Chicago, of Chicago, where where sheshe stillstill relies relies on the on the skills skills gained gained from from herher Tower Tower Project. Project. “I was “I was interviewing interviewing forfor a position a position as as a research a research assistant assistant in in a computational a computational neuroscience neuroscience lab,lab, andand mymy Tower Tower Project Project is one is of one theofthings the things I talked I talked about about in in mymy interview, interview, ” she ” she said. said. “Tower “Tower Project Project is is thethe best best example example ofof project-based project-based learning learning because because it it

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USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

in focus

shows, if you have persistence, you can actually achieve something that’s maybe outside your skill set and makes you uncomfortable at first. I’ve built several computers for my laboratory, just by using the knowledge that I gained through my project. The Tower Project is one of the highlights of my time at USM, for sure.” A key component of the success of the Tower Project is the volunteer project mentors who are paired with students to provide guidance, feedback, and serve as a sounding board. They commit many volunteer hours each year to their mentees, establishing relationships and helping them find outside resources when necessary. “The power of mentorship is really important, which is something I learned

through the Tower Project,” said Havlik. “You need a good mentor who you can trust and communicate openly with. That’s something that I use even today in college.” Since its launch five years ago, the Tower Project program has largely remained unchanged, save for a few small tweaks. As the program’s leaders look toward the next five years and beyond, they hope to expand it outside of USM’s walls. “One thing we’d like to see happen is getting Tower Project out in the community more, having more mentors from outside of USM, and having the projects being presented out in the Milwaukee community, not just in the school,” said Gay. “We’d like to start leveraging the expertise of our alumni network, too. The more we can get students in contact with these experts in their fields, the better.” Many thanks to the following teachers who originally implemented Tower Projects at USM: Laura Blanchet, Kate Gay, Rebecca Schwartz, and Dr. Laurie Walczak.

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spotlight

Under One Roof In March, Upper School thespians presented the classic musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” in which the main character, Tevye, (played here by Calaway Swanson ’20) struggles to maintain his religious and cultural traditions amongst societal changes.

Inset Anna Fitzsimmons ’21 (left) played Tevye’s wife, Golde, and Lauren Glusman ’21 played Yente.

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The Show Must Go On

Omoloja ’22 Earns Third Place

Despite a worldwide pandemic and some technical difficulties, a cast of 40 Middle School students delivered a rousing virtual performance of their play, “Peter and the Starcatcher” in May. Visit www.usmtoday.org/peter to view the recording.

Dara Omoloja ’22 earned third place at the Poetry Out Loud state competition in March. Omoloja advanced to state after competing at regionals in February. Lauren Glusman ’21, Lexi Lee ’22, and Margaret Rankin ’21 also competed at regionals.

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

spotlight

The Arts Shine at USM From earning gold medals at national awards to personifying a cheeseburger, USM students honed their creative expression through the visual and performing arts.

ANYAH JACKSON ’20 NAMED NATIONAL GOLD MEDALIST Anyah Jackson ’20 (pictured below) won a national gold medal at the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for her submission in photography, titled “Will They Think He is Angry?” The piece won a Gold Key at the state level and then advanced to the national competition, where it was judged by industry experts on originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. A USM record-setting 27 students won a total of 48 state recognition awards in art from the competition, while five students won a total of four awards and three honorable mentions in the writing portion of the competition.

AN EVENING OF COMIC PROPORTIONS The 6th grade ComicCon event, held in March, was a success on a grand scale. The annual event is the culmination of a collaborative unit amongst English, theatre arts, and visual arts classes where students write monologues and create superhero drawings focused on body proportion, muscle structure, and costume design. Students then performed their monologues in costume in front of guests. Sam Eason ’26 (pictured below) used the opportunity to celebrate his love of cheeseburgers. His artwork and costume were inspired by the writing and performance work he did in his English and theatre classes.

Award-winning Songwriting

Hall-of-fame Inductee

Fiona Hernandez ’25 earned first place in the vocal solo category of the WSMA 2020 Student Composition Project for “Sail the World.” Hernandez wrote the lyrics, composed the music, and digitally created all of the sounds in the piece, including the instrumentals.

Mark Edwards, Upper School drama teacher, was inducted into the Whitefish Bay High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame. Edwards, a 1992 graduate of the school, was recognized for his continuing professional achievements in the fine arts.

Visit www.usmtoday.org/newsbrief for more news stories.

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locker room

1,000 Point Club

Aidanne DePoy ’20 joined an elite group of student athletes while playing a sport she learned to love.

As a senior, Aidanne DePoy ’20 reached a record milestone: she scored 1,000 points during her varsity basketball career at University School of Milwaukee. Which is ironic, because she didn’t even like basketball all that much when she first started playing it. “I love sports,” she said. “I’ve been playing soccer since I was 6 and volleyball since I was 10. I started playing basketball for USM in 5th grade, but I didn’t love it.” But DePoy is not one to shy away from a challenge, and as her skills grew, so did her appreciation for the sport. “My freshman year, I scored like 120ish points,” she said. “But then [during] my sophomore year, I started getting rebounds and layups, and I’m tall, which helped.” DePoy scored more than 300 points that season and was named MVP, bringing her point total into the 400s. “At that point, my dad mentioned that getting 1,000 points was a possibility.” DePoy is a leader in more ways than scoring points. She has served on the Student Athletic Leadership Team (SALT) since her freshman year, and was elected SALT president her senior year. She also served as a team captain in soccer, volleyball, and basketball, served on the student council and class board, and was the co-president of the feminism club at USM. But she has found her leadership positions in sports to be her most challenging. “For me, it’s learning that there’s totally different things you need to do as a leader depending on the team,” she said. “Sometimes, I need to be more of a positive force and try to keep people happy; other times, I’ll need to be more of a motivator and kind of pull the team together. It’s just a very different experience depending on the coach and players. It’s been a great learning experience.” DePoy ultimately scored her 1,000th point during an away game in Madison, Wisconsin. When she scored the point, there was a small celebration on court. “Coach [Jason] Strains had given the refs one of our balls to play with, so when I scored the point they gave me the ball to keep. We had a time out and all hugged and everything, and then went back to playing.” Although being at an away game wasn’t ideal, DePoy’s sister, who attends UW-Madison, was able to be there.

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USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019 -20

DePoy’s name will be the first added to the “Girls’ 1,000 Point Club” banner hanging in the Upper School gym, next to the “Boys’ 1,000 Point Club” banner, which has five names listed. “It’ll be weird to have my name up there—but also cool, because basketball was never my favorite sport. It was something I always kind of feared I wasn’t as good in, but then it slowly became my favorite sport. So it’ll be nice to be like, ‘Okay, I was good enough. I was tall enough.’ I’m just happy that there’s a name up there now and it’s finally like, ‘Yeah, girls can compete at this, too.’”

locker room

A

USM Athletes Compete at State Championships A

Although the season ended with a loss to Green Bay Notre Dame in the WIAA Division I Boys Hockey State Tournament semifinals, the players earned many accolades. The team earned the 2020 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association team sportsmanship award, which is the first time USM’s boys’ hockey program has earned the award. Winners are determined by the conduct and sportsmanship displayed by athletes, coaches, cheer and support groups, mascots, bands, and spectators. In addition, several players were recognized for their performance: Alex Thundercloud ’20 was named defenseman of the year and named to the state tournament second team; Tyler Herzberg ’20 was a player of the year finalist and named to the state tournament second team; and Noah Eghbali ’21 was named to the state tournament first team.

B

Caleb Saffold ’20 took 16th place in the 100-yard breaststroke at the WIAA State Swimming Championships in February.

C

After winning sectionals in the 152-pound class, Connor Dyke ’20 (far right) became the first USM wrestler to compete at the WIAA 2020 state tournament. He was also the 2020 recipient of the Nathan Potter Heart Award, presented annually to the USM-Whitefish Bay co-op wrestler who best reflects Potter’s commitment, persistence, effort, and grit.

D

Porter Westveer ’21 competed in the Wisconsin High School Ski and Snowboard Championships in February. In addition, he earned the Midwest High School Athletic Achievement Award First Team All-Conference for 2020, and second place in the Midwest Alpine Racing Second Boys U18 for 2020.

B

Saffold ’20

C

Dyke ’20

D

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Westveer ’21

beyond usm

Class Notes

’50s

’70s JOHN SCHEINFELD ’71

became an internet sensation when a video of her singing and playing her ukulele while sheltering in place at home in Naples, Florida, was shared by her granddaughter Maggie Schroeder ’12 on Facebook, and picked up by Milwaukee Magazine. Check out the video at www.usmtoday.org/patsy.

wrote and directed “The Happy Days of Gary Marshall,” which premiered on ABC in April. Scheinfeld is a critically-acclaimed documentary filmmaker, writer, director, and producer with a broad range of subjects and productions to his credit, including “Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary,” “The U.S. vs. John Lennon,” and “Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)?”

’60s

’80s

ROB WATSON ’67

STEFFIANNA (MAJOR) BAKER ’83

PATSY (STRATTON) SCHROEDER MDS’59

wrote, “A photo of me and Sandy Lanier-Thompson ’81 meeting one of our sports heroes, the great Oscar Robertson, at Fiserv Forum in November 2019. Sandy and I played on the USM basketball team for two years. I was junior varsity and she was varsity. Sandy was the bomb—she had THE MOVES. We’ve enjoyed attending Bucks games together the past few years.”

MARGARET (GREBE) LIDSTONE ’89 won the 70–74 age group division for the 2019 Ironman Barcelona with a time of 12 hours and 10 minutes. The event consisted of a 2.4-mile swim in the Mediterranean Sea, a 112-mile bike ride, and a full marathon (26.2 miles). His finish qualified him for the 2020 Ironman World Championship in Kailua Kona, Hawaii (postponed to February 2021). Five weeks after Ironman Barcelona, he won his age group at the Long Course Aquabike National Championship (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride) in Miami, which qualified him for the 2020 Aquabike World Championships in Amsterdam. 26

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

has been named vice president and chief development officer for Vivent Health in Milwaukee. Lidstone is responsible for Vivent Health’s nationwide fundraising and philanthropic partnerships.

beyond usm

DIPAK MAHATO ’89

is the founder and CEO of SeaChange Technologies, which won the 2020 Global Change Award for “Zero Sludge” technology, which separates and cleans wastewater to eliminate toxic sludge in landfills.

MARC BALCER ’92

spoke at the National Association of Independent School’s Annual Conference in Philadelphia in February. His topic was “How to Meditate When You Don’t Have Time.” Balcer is the Upper and Middle School SEED teacher at The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

’90s LAFAYETTE CRUMP ’91

AMY DUCHELLE ’93

served as USM’s Class of 2020 Commencement speaker, and is also the 2020 recipient of USM’s Alumni Service Award. In addition, he was recently appointed the commissioner of city development by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Crump is managing member of Crump Law Firm, chief operating officer of Prism Technical, adjunct professor of law at Marquette University, and the deputy chief of staff and chief diversity, vendor and engagement officer for the Milwaukee 2020 DNC Host Committee. He also served on USM’s Alumni Association board, is a USM Fund donor and former phone-a-thon volunteer, and served as USM’s career services networking and mentorship advisor.

was recently recognized as one of “16 Women Restoring the Earth” by the Global Landscapes Forum, which is the world’s largest platform on integrated land use dedicated to achieving the Paris Climate Agreement and sustainable development goals. Duchelle is climate change team leader and senior scientist at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). “This international recognition is not only a tribute to my work with CIFOR, but also to the exceptional formative education that I received at University School many years ago,” she said.

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beyond usm

(pictured here with Charlie Housiaux ’02, dean of students) visited Upper School students in February to talk about the health risks associated with vaping. Amos is a pediatric pulmonologist with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and assistant professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

CHRISTINA (WILSON) BERGER ’96

launched a GoFundMe campaign, in partnership with friend Preetha Kurudiyara, called Feed Our Frontline Hospital Staff MKE, on March 28. The campaign collected donations to purchase meals from local restaurants that can be delivered to various hospital staff in Milwaukee during the COVID-19 crisis. As of mid-June, it had raised more than $36,000 and provided more than 5,000 meals to local hospitals.

MAAYAN SILVER ’96

visited students in Upper School English Teacher Katherine Zilka’s Digital Journalism class to discuss her career as a reporter with WUWM 89.7. Silver, who previously served as a criminal defense attorney before pursuing a journalism career in 2016, spoke with students about the challenges of radio reporting and condensing content, and also shared best practices for interviewing subjects, obtaining audio, and editing stories.

ALLISON KRAUSEN ’98

completed the California International Marathon in 2 hours and 41 minutes on Dec. 6, 2019. The time qualified her to participate in the Olympic team trials in the marathon category on Feb. 29 in Atlanta. Krausen finished the team trial in 2 hours and 46 minutes, placing her 321st out of 565 participants. “It’s a huge honor to be a part of that race; just getting to toe the line with all the top runners in the country is pretty special,” she said. Krausen and her family live in Edwards, Colorado.

’00s CHRISTOPHER CHAN ’00

UWM PHOTO / TROYE FOX

DR. LOUELLA AMOS ’95

was recently profiled in “UWM Report” for his extensive knowledge and love of Agatha Christie novels. After discovering her as a Middle School student at USM, Chan now writes for AgathaChristie.com and serves as an international goodwill ambassador for the website. Chan earned a master’s degree in library and information studies from UW-Milwaukee, a doctorate in history from Marquette University, teaches courses online, and substitute teaches at USM.

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beyond usm

Members of the Class of 2008, David Havens, Sanjay Hariharan, Andrew Seter, Ryan Khanna, and Andrew Nelson, met up over the holidays in December 2019.

Members of the Class of 2008 (from left) David Havens, Sanjay Hariharan, Andrew Seter, Ryan Khanna, and Andrew Nelson, met up over the holidays in December 2019.

HISONNI JOHNSON ’01

co-wrote and directed an independent film called “Take Out Girl,” which had its world premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival in March. Johnson studied with acclaimed Chicago photographer David VanderVeen, and amassed an impressive portfolio of commercials, along with an affinity for still photography and film. He has worked professionally in nearly every crew position there is in both television and film, and created two original television pilots, “Fight Night Legacy” and “Olympia,” and a pilot sixepisode season called “Grayson: Earth One,” which takes on the origins of the DC comic hero, Nightwing.

DR. CHRISTIN REMINGA ’04

accepted a position as criticalist, emergency and critical care DVM manager, at DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Reminga finished her three-year veterinary residency in emergency and critical care medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 2016, and is proud to be one of 600 veterinary critical care specialists (criticalists) in the world. After earning her doctorate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she completed an emergency medical internship in New York City. She then began her specialty career in private practice with a focus on department development, creating a state-of-the-art ICU in Seattle, prior to her work with DoveLewis. She credits USM with helping her develop a foundation for collaboration, motivation, and investigative learning.

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beyond usm

Alumni Visits The USM Alumni Association had a great time catching up with alumni this spring, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure to visit www.usmk12.org/alumni for dates of upcoming events. We hope to see you soon!

LUNCH WITH STUDENTS

USM alumni Doug Erlacher ’69 and Karen Spinti ’84 returned to campus in February to talk with Upper School students during lunch in the Jack Olson ’67 Commons.

ATLANTA

Alumni who live in Atlanta, (from left) Merlina and Demetrius ’92 Patterson, Candace Walther ’17, Vanessa Nerbun, John Ladky ’70, Leah Wabiszewski, and Rawlings Joerres ’10, enjoyed meeting up and sharing memories from their USM days.

’10s

BENJAMIN JURKEN ’06

and his wife, Abby, welcomed daughter Genevieve Anne Jurken, on April 11.

CRISTINA COSTANTINI ʼ07

co-directed a new movie, “Mucho Mucho Amor,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. The film explores the life of extravagant Puerto Rican astrologer, psychic, and gender-nonconforming legend Walter Mercado, and will stream on Netflix this summer.

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USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

(From left) Lucy Bartlett ’11, Jenna Seter ’12, Djdade Denson ’14, and James Shovers ’11 joined members of the USM Board of Trustees for an off-site meeting in early March, where they provided insight into the benefits of their USM education and their USM connections as alumni, and how they felt the school prepared them for success in life after college. The panelists also had round-table discussions with trustees, where they answered additional questions.

beyond usm

JUSTICE KELLY ’16

plays as a defensive end with the North Dakota State University football team, which finished the first 16-0 season in modern college football history in January. It was NDSU’s eighth national title in nine seasons—the most championships by any school in Division I FCS history. Kelly will be a senior majoring in business administration.

HANNAH ENGEL ’17

is the recipient of Marquette University’s Diederich College of Communication scholars award for corporate communication, which is given to the junior with the highest GPA in his or her major.

BENNETT HUFFMAN ’18

helped to develop an app called NOVID, which is a tool to help anonymously trace user’s exposure to both direct and indirect carriers of COVID-19, and alert them well before they are symptomatic. It is available on Android and iOS, learn more at www.novid.org.

’20s MIA BUCHBAND ’20

served as the international vice president of BBYO, a global Jewish leadership organization serving over 80,000 teens annually in more than 50 countries. Buchband served as one of two teen coordinators for BBYO’s International Convention, which brought together over 5,000 teens, alumni, educators, and philanthropists for a weekend in February.

ADAM MALIK ’20

was named the 2020 recipient of USM’s Frank S. Spigener Service and Leadership Award, which recognizes a graduating senior for outstanding service and leadership. Malik has worked on a variety of projects, including teaching English to children in an orphanage in Pakistan, tutoring with Our Next Generation, volunteering with SEA Literacy, and becoming a member of the Borgen Project, which addresses global poverty.

USM REUNION WEEKEND REUNION 2020 HAS BEEN

POSTPONED & SUPERSIZED SAVE THE DATE: JUNE 18-19, 2021 Due to COVID-19, Reunion Weekend 2020 was postponed. We will be DOUBLING UP Reunion 2021 by bringing together the classes of 0s, 1s, 5s, and 6s!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR USM REUNION WEEKEND 2021 TODAY! “Next summer’s event will be more memorable due to the delay and more meaningful and appreciated given what we have all been going through,” said Mike Williams ’70. “We hope to see you there!” Please visit www.usmk12.org/reunionweekend or email alumni@usmk12.org for more details.

USM Connect Our connections with each other have become more important than ever. Join USM Connect to stay in touch with fellow alumni, act as a mentor to graduating students, or expand your professional network. Visit www.usmconnect.org today! 31 31

beyond usm

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 Lawrence M. Vandervelde MUS’38 July 6, 2015 Green Lake, Wis

Edward G. Frawley MUS’48 March 26, 2020 Milwaukee

Robert G. Rediscke MUS’55 Aug. 15, 2018 Kameula, HI

Mary Margaret Grignon Tormey MDS’49 Jan. 25, 2020 Houston

Wendy Kurth Wrean MDS’55 Dec. 11, 2019 Weston, Mass.

1940s Meredith Davis Hart MDS’41 October 2019 Madison, Wis. Elizabeth Cook Smith MDS’42 July 16, 2013 Thiensville, Wis. Olive “Cissy” Van Dyke Bryson MDS’43 March 11, 2020 Milwaukee Carol Stock Gutenkunst MUS’44 Oct. 15, 2019 Grafton, Wis. Helen Merker Williams MDS’44 April 5, 2020 West Bend, Wis. Arthur J. Laskin MCDS’45 Jan. 3, 2020 Milwaukee Charles A. Cahill MCDS’47 March 1, 2020 Waukesha, Wis. Valerie Stacy Terris MUS’47 Dec. 2, 2019 Sarasota, Fla. Herbert C. Wuesthoff MUS’47 Feb. 10, 2020 Mequon, Wis.

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1950s Robert D. Fitzgerald MCDS’51 Nov. 11, 2019 Lake Forest, Ill. Judith Lyle Harrison MUS’51 Jan. 4, 2020 Cedarburg, Wis. Douglas H. Lenicheck MUS’51 Oct. 14, 2019 Wauwatosa, Wis. Peter F. Wegmann MCDS’51 Oct. 27, 2019 Hartland, Wis. Robert G. Schutt MUS’54 Nov. 23, 2019 Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Sandra Shafrin Chabert MDS’55 July 7, 2007 Lafitte, La. Marguerite Morsell Kinney MDS’55 Aug. 2, 2019 Edwardsville, Ill. David Y. Redford MUS’55 January 2019 Denver

William C. Meyer MUS’56 Dec. 4, 2019 Pewaukee, Wis. Dr. Robert Miles Schmidt MCDS’56 April 10, 2020 Bayside, Wis. Charles M. Boesel MCDS’57 Oct. 17, 2018 Milwaukee G. Frederick Kasten MUS’57 Dec. 12, 2019 Vero Beach, Fla. Robert F. Ackerman MCDS’58 April 8, 2020 Deephaven, Minn. Frank T. Boesel MCDS’58 April 1, 2020 Milwaukee Val A. Luljack MUS’58 Dec. 4, 2018 Bradenton, Fla. Thomas L. Miller MCDS’58 April 5, 2020 Los Angeles Brett Y. Pabst MDS’58 Aug. 26, 2016 Oconomowoc Lake, Wis.

beyond usm

1960s

2010s

Karen Usinger Schnetzky MDS’61 Dec. 6, 2019 Mequon, Wis.

Charles M. Burton ’15 Dec. 15, 2019 Fox Point, Wis.

James E. Conley MCDS’62 March 20, 2020 Tucson, Ariz. Stephen R. Silberman ’66 November 2019 Galena, Ill. Darby K. Upham ’68 March 29, 2020 Milwaukee

1970s Katherine Michael Dale ’72 June 14, 2017 Baltimore Tod J. Maclay ’77 Nov. 12, 2019 Milwaukee Christopher Schelble ’79 May 1, 2020 Mequon, Wis.

2000s Benjamin D. McDougall ’06 May 13, 2020 Waukesha, Wis.

Friends George Grenville Cuyler Feb. 1, 2020 Hightstown, New Jersey USM English teacher and theatre director from 1965 to 1971 Nancy Kendall Feb. 12, 2020 Milwaukee Mother of Robert Kendall ’78; grandmother of Sam Kendall ’18 Virginia Krikorian Nov. 28, 2019 Mother of Gary Krikorian ’71, Rand Krikorian ’73, and Stacy Krikorian Daniel ’78 Richard Smallbrook McKinley III Nov. 26, 2019 Walnut Creek, Calif. Former headmaster, see page 35 for details Mildred Pack Feb. 28, 2020 Mother of Brian Pack, former faculty member; grandmother of Spencer Pack ’97 Dr. Thomas C. Pagedas March 23, 2020 Father of Elizabeth Anne Pagedas ’91, Mike Pagedas ’93, and Connie Pagedas Soves ’96

Helen Reilly Dec. 22, 2019 Mequon, Wis. Spouse of Paul Reilly MUS’39; mother of Paul Reilly Jr. ’70, Julia Burke ’74, Nancy Chase ’76, Jane Segerdahl, and David Reilly ’83; grandmother of Andrew Segerdahl ’01, David Segerdahl ’03, Peter Burke ’04, Charles Segerdahl ’05, Catherine Burke ’06, Edward Burke ’09, and Julie Chase ’09 Anne (Youngclaus) Stratton Jan. 1, 2020 Shorewood, Wis. See page 35 for details on her connections to USM Margery Holley Uihlein April 17, 2020 Mequon, Wis. Spouse of the late David V. Uihlein MCDS’38; mother of Barbara Kuehn Frank MDS’62, Gregg Kuehn ’65, and Jack Kuehn ’68; grandmother of Charlie Kuehn ’96 and Andy Kuehn ’99; step-grandmother of Sarah O. Zimmerman ’92 and John U. Olson ’95 Kent Terrence Wakefield March 4, 2020 Mequon, Wis. Father of William Wakefield ’09 Diane Ruth Wenzel Nov. 3, 2019 Wauwatosa, Wis. Mother of Susie Bach, junior kindergarten teacher; mother-in-law of Gregg Bach, assistant head of school; grandmother of Emily Bach ’13 and Matthew Bach ’16 Updated as of May 15, 2020. 33 33

beyond usm

In Memoriam (cont.) Charles “Charlie” Michael Burton ’15 passed away peacefully at home in Fox Point, Wisconsin, on Dec. 15, 2019, after an eight-year battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a pediatric bone cancer. Burton was a USM lifer, beginning in prekindergarten and graduating cum laude in 2015, and USM is where he made many lifelong friends. In Lower School, Burton excelled in competitive chess. In Middle School and Upper School, he competed in soccer, basketball, and golf. He also enjoyed participating in both concert and jazz bands. He was elected prom king his junior year, and prefect his senior year. Burton received The John A. Stephens Freshman Citizenship Award and as a senior was awarded the Roseanne Lyons Pearl Award, for outstanding perseverance. Following graduation, and despite ongoing health challenges, he was thrilled to become a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as a fourth-generation Badger. He achieved academic success and was accepted into UW’s School of Business and was a proud and active member of Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity, through which he engaged in numerous philanthropic activities, including supporting others with cancer. In recognition of his dedication and stellar academic record, Burton was awarded a posthumous Bachelor of Business Administration degree from UW-Madison in May 2020. A highlight of Burton’s life was traveling to Spain—first for a two-week exchange during Upper School, and then for a semester during his junior year of college. Undergoing chemotherapy in Spain did not slow him down. Burton is survived by his loving parents, Mike and Carrie, and older sister and best friend Emily ’13, along with other family and friends. In his memory, Burton’s family established the Charlie Burton ’15 Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund. USM is honored to maintain Burton’s legacy with the granting of this annual scholarship to deserving students, and is grateful for his family’s wonderful gift.

G. Frederick Kasten MUS’57 passed away peacefully on Dec. 12, 2019 at his home in Vero Beach, Florida, after a courageous fight with Parkinson’s disease. He was surrounded by his loving wife and four children. Kasten represents a fourth generation of bankers and philanthropists deeply committed to building community in Wisconsin. His father, George Kasten, was president of First Wisconsin and supervised the construction of the First Wisconsin Center. Fred Kasten carried on this legacy, becoming president of Robert W. Baird & Co. in 1979 at the age of 39. His love for family and friends was inspirational and his values were deeply rooted. He was a sports enthusiast and avid gamesman, whether on the golf course, tennis courts, or with a deck of cards. He engaged heavily within the community, serving on the board of directors for many local organizations, including United Way of Greater Milwaukee and United Performing Arts Fund, among others. He served as a trustee of Lawrence University and the Medical College of Wisconsin, which awarded him the Warren P. Knowles Humanitarian Award in 2004. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Susie Woodland MDS’60; their children, Rick Kasten ’85, Jenny Perkin ’87, Ted Kasten ’89, and Julie Art ’91; and many grandchildren, including Lucy ’23, Willy ’26 and KK ’30 Art.

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beyond usm

Richard Smallbrook McKinley III, former headmaster for Milwaukee Downer Seminary and University School of Milwaukee, passed away on Nov. 26, 2019, at his home in Walnut Creek, California. He was 93. McKinley led a rich and varied life and career. After graduating from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1944, he served in the Navy during World War II. After graduating from Haverford College in 1950, marrying his first wife, Ellen in 1951, and welcoming their first two children, the family moved to Washington, D.C., where McKinley taught English at St. Albans School, later becoming head of the English Department. In 1962 the family, which now included two more sons, moved to Mequon, Wisconsin, where McKinley served as headmaster for Milwaukee Downer Seminary before and during its merger with Milwaukee Country Day School and Milwaukee University School. After the merger, he continued on for one year as head of the newly formed University School of Milwaukee’s Downer campus. In 1965, he joined the national educational consulting firm of Engelhardt, Engelhardt and Leggett. The following year, the family moved to Greenwich, Connecticut. The travel necessitated by consulting proved challenging for the family and his marriage to Ellen ended in 1977. In 1979, McKinley married Alexandra Voorhees Barrett. Both held esteemed positions in independent schools in Arizona and California before their retirements. In 2003, they returned to Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and in 2005 they moved to the Rossmoor Walnut Creek senior living community. After Alex’s death in 2011, McKinley continued to maintain important relationships with friends and neighbors. McKinley leaves three children, Richard, Graham, and Edward (T), as well as grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Anne (Youngclaus) Stratton died peacefully on New Year’s morning, Jan. 1, 2020, after a six-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Soon after graduating from Brookfield High School, she met Fred Stratton MCDS ’57. They were married after she graduated from Vassar College, and stayed married for more than 55 years.

Stratton, pictured above and also on the television (far left), joined three other Vassar College students on NBC’s Today Show in January 1961 to publicize the school’s centennial birthday.

After teaching post-college, Stratton turned to raising their three children and writing articles for local publications. She was the proud author of two published novels, “Buried Heart” and “Buried Secrets.” She loved serving the Milwaukee community through her work on the boards of Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, the United Performing Arts Fund (first woman board president), and the Pabst Theater Foundation. At USM, she served on the Board of Trustees, co-chaired the USM Fund with her husband, and volunteered with the Parents’ Association. She was a big fan of the Milwaukee Brewers and could often be seen in the stands wearing her bright yellow Brewers hat.

Stratton was known for her charm, quick wit, lively sense of humor, friendly and welcoming personality, compassion, openness to people and ideas, and leadership ability. She is survived by her husband and their three children: Margy Stratton Norman ’84, Diane Stratton Ballou ’87, and Rick Stratton ’92; and nine grandchildren: Ellie ’19, Mimi ’21, and Annie Norman ’25; Charlie, Lucy, and Henry Ballou; and Beckett ’25, Jocelyn ’27, and Cameron Stratton ’30. 35 35

a look back

Moving Forward at USM By Kathleen Roebber

W

en I look back on my 15 years as one of h the school nurses at USM, I can’t help but appreciate the changes that have been made at the school during this time. The nurse clinic work, such as health forms, visit notes, doctor’s orders and parental consent, used to all be done on paper. For around 1,100 students each year, it was often a paper nightmare! It was also difficult to track whatever weekly illness was going around the school. With about 4,600 clinic visits in every school year, it was especially hard because I worked alone most of the time! We’ve made many changes over the years, including adding two skilled, part-time nurses, an electronic health records system, annual employee training on emergency medication administration and specific medical conditions, as well as a medical response team in each division, just to name a few. We now have student medical, contact, and consent information electronically, close at hand, and can more easily track the spread of illnesses. These changes help us to keep students safe, whether they are on campus or on a school trip. None of these improvements would have happened without the support of all our administrators, teachers, and staff, who always keep student well-being in mind. Looking ahead to this fall in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it might not be as easy as it has been during past years. As a team, we are looking at a variety of 36

USM TODAY | SPRING / SUMMER 2019–20

ways to make USM as safe as possible. We are keeping up with federal, state, and local health department guidelines. There are many areas to consider, such as disinfecting the school, circulating more fresh air indoors, creating an isolation room for individuals with potential symptoms, maintaining social distancing while still being together, wearing face coverings, establishing handwashing stations, and eating lunch. We know for sure that “back to school” this fall will not look like it has in the past, but that is okay. USM takes student health very seriously, and I feel confident that with the plans we have been working hard to develop, children’s health, safety, and emotional development will be at the forefront of our thinking. We are starting from a solid foundation on many levels including great technology, excellent teachers, strong ancillary departments, and a supportive administration. School nursing can be a lonely job, as it was when I started at USM so long ago. However, there is nothing like a pandemic to realize the amount of team work it takes to implement mitigating changes and realize how much support there is in our community. Kathleen Roebber is USM’s head school nurse. She has served on the North Shore Health Department’s COVID-19 task force since March.

LEAH WABISZEWSKI

a look ahead

The USM campus underwent a dramatic change in February, when dead ash trees and invasive plant species like buckthorn and honeysuckle were removed from approximately 45 acres of campus property as part of the woodlands restoration project. While the land looks barren now, it will be replanted with native species to restore and redevelop habitats. The project will take three to five years to complete, and will yield new environments and attract wildlife for students to study and explore.

Save the Date!

Homecoming Week | Sept. 28–Oct. 3 www.usmk12.org/homecoming

2100 W. Fairy Chasm Road Milwaukee, WI 53217 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 1025

During the inaugural Middle School Chef Challenge in January, four students were partnered with seasoned chefs to cook meals that were judged by a panel of faculty members in front of a live audience. Here, Lucy Grady ’26 prepared an Asian-inspired dish, which included a maki roll with red pepper, cucumber, avocado, and daikon radish with the help of Dan Hoye, USM’s director of dining services.