Mission & Academics

Ancient Language, Modern Minds: Competition, Community, and the Classics

In this episode of Mission Moments, host Linda Pryor welcomes Brookfield Academy freshman William Schoonenberg, who recently earned first place at the Wisconsin Junior Classical League Convention.  William shares how students prepare for the wide-ranging competitions that make up the convention, from language and mythology to geography, history, and even graphic arts. He also gives listeners insight into Certamen, the fast-paced, quiz-bowl style competition that tests students' knowledge of the ancient world. Along the way, William provides a look into the vibrant community surrounding Latin studies and explains why the language is far from "dead." From recognizing Latin roots in English to seeing connections across history and culture.  Beyond the academic competitions, William also shares how creativity and collaboration play a role, whether through art competitions inspired by mythology or teamwork with classmates and teachers as they prepare to compete.  It is fun to note that William also did well on the coop ski team this year, making it to the state competition.  The conversation highlights the curiousity, discipline, and humility that define many Brookfield Academy students. The conversation closes with William offering some advice to younger students who are beginning their journeys in Latin: seek guidance, share resources, and take advantage of the supportive BA communty. Good recommendations for Latin and all students at the school.  If you would like to learn more about what opportunities your child might find at Brookfield Academy, please contact our Admissions team to schedule a visit.

Practice Makes Progress: Building Independence in the Lower School Years

How do students move from relying on adult direction to becoming confident, self-driven learners? In this episode of Mission Moments, host Mrs. Linda Pryor, Executive Director of the Center for Mission & Academics at Brookfield Academy, is joined by Ms. Tanya Schwartz, Head of the Lower School (grades 3-5), for a thoughtful conversation about building age-appropriate independence in young learners.  Ms. Schwartz shares her background at BA - from Level 3 teacher to Head of Lower School - and reflects on how Lower School (grades 3-5) is intentionally designed to support students as they naturally seek greater independence and help them establish a solid foundation of strong study habits, self-awareness, and personal responsibilty.  Listeners will hear practical examples of what independence looks like at this age and how to nurture it, including: * Learning to reflect: "Who am I as a learner? What works for me? What doesn't?" * Developing valuable work habits such as organization, time management, and creating an effective workspace. * Building study skills like note-taking, highlighting, reviewing corrections, and more. * Using choices to promote autonomy while retaining structure. The conversation explores the important role of parents in this process and how the BA Triangle, students, teachers, and parents working together to support student success, makes a difference.  Ms. Schwartz emphasizes that growth is not linear and that mistakes are essential to learning and phrases like, "practice makes progress," "reset, reflect, and restart," and "learn from your mistakes" capture the Lower School's growth mindset and culture. If you like what you hear, we encourage you to follow the Mission Moments podcast and share with friends. Additional Parent Presentations with many great speakers are available in the MIssion section of the BA website.  If you would like to learn more about Brookfield Academy's Lower School - or any Division - please contact our Admissions Office [https://www.brookfieldacademy.org/admissions/choose-brookfield-academy]. You can email admissions@brookfieldacademy.org or call (262)783-3200. They will be happy to answer your questions and schedule a visit. If you've thought a BA education is out of reach, we encourage you to contact us. Many families are happy to see that it is more attainable than they expected.

Growing Minds, Growing Character: Inside the Upper School Experience

In this episode of the Mission Moments podcast, host Linda Pryor is joined by Dr. Mark Bullio, Head of the the Upper School and Mrs. Jessée Tomchek, Assistant Head of the Upper School, for a thoughtful conversation about how academic achievement and personal development are interconnected at Brookfield Academy. They share how challenge - paired with meaningful support - helps students learn from setbacks, strengthen their resolve, and grow into confident, capable young adults.  Listeners will hear how Brookfield Academy's small class sizes, advisory system, and activities like clubs and athletics - provide a supportive environment where students are known as individuals. The conversation highlights how teachers intentionally guide students from adult directed learning toward increasing independence.  The episode looks beyond traditional academic metrics to discuss what success truly looks like: wisdom, integrity, good judgement, and the ability to contribute positively to the world. As Mark and Jessée explain, the ultimate goal is more than college acceptance, it is helping students develop a lifelong love of learning and a sense of purpose grounded in character.  If you like what you hear, please subscribe, download, and share this podcast with a friend. If you are interested in what BA can offer your child, please contact our Admissions Team (admissions@brookfieldacademy.org).

More Than a Game: Exploring the Tremendous Value of School Sports

In this episode of Mission Moments, host Linda Pryor, Executive Director of the Center for Mission & Academics at Brookfield Academy, speaks with Mr. Nick Rechlitz, the school's Athletic Director. Listeners will learn more about Mr. Rechlitz's background and the knowledge he brings to the role, as well as more about the tremendous value that BA places on athletics as an important part of the school's overall program.  Athletics extend important lessons from the classroom and provide valuable opportunities for character development and leadership. Brookfield Academy offers more than 20 sports for Upper School (high school) students and 15 options for students in Middle School. At BA, all stidents are able to participate in athletics. While the "no-cut" policy, may seem unusual, the school's teams do very well and often move deep into playoffs, even earning State titles. Several families have sought out BA, because their children have the chance to make the team and play - where they might not at other schools. This can open doors in the future and even if students don't pursue athletics, the skills - perseverence, teamwork, time management, and more - and the friendships they develop serve them well. For more specifics about our athletic program, visit the Athletics [https://www.brookfieldacademy.org/athletics] page of our website. If you would like to learn more about what BA can offer your child, please contact our Admissions team (admissions@brookfieldacademy.org) to schedule a tour. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to the podcast and share it with your friends.

Much Ado About Shakespeare

In this episode, Linda Pryor, host and Executive Director for the Center for Mission & Academics at Brookfield Academy is excited to welcome Dr. Dan Davis to talk about Shakespeare.  Dr. Davis is a well-recognized and well-respected member of the Brookfield Academy community. He has been a faculty member for more than 25 years including leading the English Department, serving as Head of the Upper School and now leading a Writers Lab and assisting with many special projects across campus.  One of his specialties is Shakespeare. He wrote a dissertation on leadership and Shakespeare. We are excited for him to share the knowledge and sense of humor that he brings to the classroom with special sessions for our parents. Continuing our series that offers parents the opportunity to read and discuss the classics their children are reading at school, this year we are featuring Shakespeare. Today's podcast provides a glimpse into what you can expect from these sessions. If you'd like to participate, you can find more information here [https://www.brookfieldacademy.org/parent-presentations].  As always, if you like what you hear, please consider subscribing to our podcast and sharing it with your friends. If you'd like to learn more about what Brookfield Academy can offer your child, visit the Admissions section of our website [https://www.brookfieldacademy.org/admissions/choose-brookfield-academy] to learn more about the process and schedule a visit.