Thank You, Parents

Last week, I attended my first Parents’ Association Annual Meeting. The reports and volunteer recognition only served to reinforce what an amazing, committed parent body we have here.

I appreciated the opportunity to stand before the group and express my personal appreciation for all that the PA does to build community. To borrow a phrase from the PA Mission Statement, parents here truly “collaborate and share their time and talents to enhance the University School experience for students, parents, faculty, and staff.”

Other members of the school community used photos and video to express their appreciation. Watch the video below.

Commencement 2012

What a wonderful afternoon it was! The warmth of the community gathered in the Middle School gym for Commencement matched the high temperature outside, where the seniors had gathered earlier for the formal class photo. 

As I looked out on the overflowing crowd assembled for this important occasion, I was caught up in the excitement of the moment. Commencement may be defined as a ceremony at which diplomas are conferred and students acknowledged for having successfully met the requirements for graduation, but of course this heady time for graduates is also transition point. Commencement exercises serve as a rite of passage as members of the class moves on to institutions of higher learning.

I am delighted to report that, despite the exponential increase in college applications, 82.2 percent of our graduates will be entering their first choice of school this fall, with another 11.11 percent heading off to their second choice. This is truly remarkable at this time of increased competition for the very best schools. 

To view the video of Commencement on the portal, click here (and click on the link found in the Announcements channel), or to read the Commencement Address by local business man and philanthropist – and proud grandparent – Sheldon Lubar, our Valedictorian’s speech, and mine, click here.

   

Celebrating Our Retirees

If I could teach you, teacher,

I'd teach you how much more

you have accomplished

than you think you have.

I'd show you the seeds

you planted years ago

that are now coming into bloom.

― Excerpted from “If I Could Teach you, Teacher” by Joanna Fuchs

Certainly, the faculty members who are retiring at the end of this school year have produced an abundant crop of well-educated young people. They have been more than teachers; they are role models and friends. They have cared deeply about the success of each individual child and done their utmost to ensure that, every time students leave the classroom, they depart with more knowledge and self-confidence than when they entered. 

The time is fast approaching when we will also say farewell to several longtime, committed staff members who have played important roles ― both individually and as members of the USM community ― in the day-to-day life of the School, helping to ensure that all areas, from the kitchen to the school store, run smoothly.

   

Every summer as the senior class graduates, so some of our USM faculty and staff members also move on to the next stage of their lives. This year, as has happened from time to time in the recent past, USM offered a retirement package across the board to individuals who met certain criteria based on their age and years of service. The package was offered to 36 school employees and several decided to accept USM’s offer. As in any given year, in addition to individuals who are retiring, there are others who will move on to other opportunities, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

We will miss all these committed individuals and the difference they have made to our community. Please refer to your May 11 email invitation for the list of individuals we will honor on May 23, as we celebrate their many years of service and contributions to this School. We hope you will join us.

Schools of the Future - and Today

I have been asked to share the following video (see below) with you.

Patrick F. Bassett has been the president of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS www.nais.org) since August 2001. NAIS, a membership organization for more than 1,800 independent (private) schools and associations of schools in the U.S. and abroad, is the "national voice for independent schools and the center for collective action on their behalf."

While all NAIS schools set high standards and emphasize values, they are wonderfully distinct from each other, so some of what you view may not exactly apply here but, for the most part, I believe it helps everyone who was educated at a different time understand how children learn today and summarizes key trends in independent school education.

It’s 27 minutes long but worth the time. Click here to watch the video. I hope you find it interesting and informative.

Community Treasures

Remember the old adage: “One man's trash is another man's treasure?” Far more, however, than an opportunity to de-clutter and recycle discarded or outgrown clothing or domestic items, Rummage at the Rink has come to represent a key community-building opportunity for USM.

In addition to Rummage at the Rink’s purpose as an important Parents’ Association fundraiser, the event brings many members of the USM community together and also gives back to the greater Milwaukee community. (At the end of the sale, all remaining items are donated to a variety of local charities.) 

As explained by the PA, “There is a role for everyone to play, and it's the group effort that makes it a success.” Examples include: 

• Current school and alumni families, faculty and staff donate items to sell 
• Volunteers (again both current and alumni parents) sort and arrange items and staff the sale 
• Older students are involved to set-up of merchandise and help during the event 
• Faculty and staff have a preview date day to shop before the sale opens to the public. 

I’m told that in preparation for this weekend’s sale, more than 50 volunteers came last Saturday to help clear out the containers (where the donated items had been stored). All of the Upper School spring athletics teams, many of our Middle School students, and several other groups of volunteers did an amazing job. This teamwork resulted in the containers being unloaded in about 2.5 hours. As donations are running roughly 50 percent ahead of last year, this was an amazing effort.

I’m looking forward to attending my first USM rummage event this weekend. Perhaps an item will catch my eye, but mostly I’m anticipating the occasion to see this wonderful community in action. I was bowled over by Holiday Shops, which far exceeded my expectations, and no doubt Rummage at the Rink will offer another outstanding example of a dedicated community at work.