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Breck School

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Coordinates: 44°58′52″N 93°20′35″W / 44.98111°N 93.34306°W / 44.98111; -93.34306
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Breck School
Location
Map
Golden Valley
,
Minnesota

USA
Coordinates44°58′52″N 93°20′35″W / 44.98111°N 93.34306°W / 44.98111; -93.34306
Information
TypePrivate
MottoCommunity
Religious affiliation(s)Episcopal
Patron saint(s)James Lloyd Breck
Established1886
Head of SchoolEdward Kim[1]
Faculty106
Enrollment1,189
Student to teacher ratio11:1
Campus1 campus, suburban setting
Color(s)Blue and Gold
Athletics conferenceTri-Metro Conference
MascotMustang
Websitewww.breckschool.org

Breck School is an independent college-preparatory preK–12 school in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. It was founded in 1886 and is affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The school includes a Lower School consisting of grades preschool through four, a Middle School consisting of grades five through eight, and an Upper School consisting of grades nine through twelve. Breck School is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools.

History

The Chapel of the Holy Spirit on the Breck School campus

Breck was established in 1886 in Wilder, Minnesota and named after Episcopal missionary Reverend James Lloyd Breck. The school moved to 2095 Commonwealth Ave in Saint Paul under the direction of Rev. Charles Haupt, in 1916. In 1920 it moved to 2102 Carter Ave., just a few blocks away in Saint Anthony Park. Then, in the fall of 1922 it moved a few more blocks west to Como and Hendon (now a part of the Luther Seminary). In 1938, the school became an exclusively boys' school, and military curriculum was added. This military aspect was eliminated in 1959. Girls were reintroduced in 1952 in grades one to three, and eventually throughout the school in 1967. A fire destroyed the original Chapel of the Holy Spirit at the school's River Road location in Minneapolis in 1979. In 1981, the school moved to its present location in Golden Valley at the campus of that city's former middle and high school, which were closed after a school district merger. Breck celebrated its centennial in 1986. That same year, John C. Littleford was succeeded by interim headmaster Kathryn Harper. Sam Salas served as headmaster from 1987 until retiring in June 2007. Edward Kim succeeded Salas as Head of School in July 2007. For more on Breck's history, see the Breck History article at its website.

Academics

Breck is an academic institution, excelling particularly in science, history, language, and the performing arts. Numerous students have gone to colleges such as Harvard University, Yale University and Stanford University. Seventeen percent of the classes of 2002–2006 were National Merit Scholars.[2]

Advanced Research programs

Breck features Advanced Research programs in its Science, History and Mathematics departments; these programs offer students the opportunity to do graduate-level work at institutions such as the University of Minnesota and present their results at national and international competitions. In the class of 2007, two Advanced Science Research students were semifinalists in the international Intel Science Talent Search competition; more students have gone to other prestigious events.[3] Advanced Science Research students also have the opportunity to meet prestigious researchers, such as Dr. Norman Borlaug, the 1970 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.[4]

The Advanced History Research Program, the only one of its kind in Minnesota, offers talented History students the chance to conduct cultural research around the Minneapolis metro area; through this program, they gain experience writing publication-quality papers and giving seminars on their results.[5]

The Advanced Mathematics Research Program, new in 2011, combines sophisticated quantitative research with service. Students work at a nonprofit or government agency on problems that benefit society. In its first year, students are working with the City of Golden Valley on questions related to housing assessment and with a nonprofit agency that serves Iranian-Americans.

Technology

Breck School was one of the first schools in the Minneapolis area to adopt a full "one-to-one" laptop program. In the 2006-2007 school year, each student received an Apple laptop computer for use at school and home; these laptops are used on a daily basis in Breck Middle and Upper School classrooms, and to a lesser degree in fourth-grade classrooms.[6][7] Some Breck classrooms are equipped with Smart Board technology that enhances the learning environment.

Language programs

Breck School has one of the most well-established language programs in the state. Breck's language programs, including Spanish, French, and Chinese, extend from preschool to 12th grade.[8][9] The Mandarin Chinese program, the first in the state, was created by Margaret Wong; her accomplishments have received high praise from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, which states that "Wong has been the most influential figure in developing and spreading Chinese language education in Minnesota."[10]

Extracurricular activities

Performing Arts

Breck's Performing Arts program is regarded[who?] as one of the finest in the state. Breck's theater department presents four official shows per year, as well as various student-directed performances. Students from fifth grade and up have the opportunity to participate in Breck's theatrical productions, as well as Breck's music and dance performances. The theater department is run by Tom Hegg, an award winning drama teacher and author of the well-known books A Cup of Christmas Tea and Peef. The department has produced numerous accomplished actors and theater staff including actors Wayne Wilderson and Marisa Coughlan and comedian Erik Stolhanske, a member of the Broken Lizard comedy troupe.

Charlie Korsmo, who starred in movies such as What About Bob?, Dick Tracy (1990 film), Hook (film), and Can't Hardly Wait, was an active member in the Performing Arts Department, and part of the 1996 Breck Class. Korsmo retired from acting while attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and later went on to work for the United States Government in Missile Defense technologies, and also for the Environmental Protection Agency.

Jimmy Stofer, a 2001 graduate, went on to play bass for The Fray for 2 years, and is now a member of the band Rose Hill Drive.

Visual Arts

Breck has a large Visual Arts department, including numerous studios and art staff. Notably, artist Michal Sagar teaches Upper School art at Breck, as does respected potter Jil Franke. Art at Breck begins in preschool and can extend all the way to the 12th grade; Numerous Breck students in the Middle and Upper Schools have been recognized by national art institutions for their work.

Student newspaper

Breck's high school newspaper is The Bugle. In 2004, it received 3rd Place in the Star Tribune/Minnesota State High School League Newspaper Challenge. Breck's middle school also has a literary magazine, The Stampede. This features art and papers from students in the Middle School.

Mock Trial

Breck is home to one of the top mock trial teams in Minnesota. In recent years, they have competed in the state tournament several times, placing fourth in 2007, second in 2009, and winning the state competition in 2010, 2011, and 2012. The 2010 team went on to win the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Philadelphia, PA and remained undefeated while competing against teams from 42 states and six countries. The team continued their success in 2011, where on March 9th Breck defeated Edina for their second straight state title and earning a spot to go to Arizona to defend the national championship, where after losing 6 seniors from the national championship team, finished as the 8th best team in the nation. On March 7, 2012, Breck became the first team in Minnesota mock trial history to win three consecutive state championships.

Other programs

Breck School also has a Breck Summer Program, which begins during the first week of summer vacation

Community involvement

2008 U.S. Senate debate

On Saturday, October 11, 2008, Breck hosted the second debate between U.S. Senate candidates Republican Norm Coleman, Democrat Al Franken, and Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley. The debate was aired locally on KARE-11 TV and nationally on C-SPAN. Several hundred local community members watched the debate live inside the Breck Cargill Theater and more than 200,000 Minnesotans watched the debate on television.

Wednesday service

Upper School students travel to various service sites across the metro each Wednesday. Wednesday service gives students an opportunity to serve the community and gain a new perspective on local issues. The students spend two hours of the day helping the elderly and the inner city youths of Minneapolis and the surrounding areas.

Athletics

The Breck School Anderson Ice Arena is located a short distance north of campus and hosts Varsity and JV teams for both boys and girls hockey. During the off-season, it is open for non-school events.

Breck School is part of the Tri-Metro Conference in the Minnesota State High School League and has won 20 state championship titles in ten sports. Several players from the hockey and football programs have gone on to play for Division One programs. The boys hockey team took the state championship in 2009 and 2010. The girls' hockey program was established in 1994; it won the Minnesota state consolation tournament in 2007, and 2nd place in the state tournament in 2008 and 2010, and won the state championship in 2012. The boys basketball team also took 2nd place in the state tournament in 2006. For a complete list of athletic accomplishments see the Breck Trophy Case at the school's website.

State Championships
Season Sport Championships Year(s)
Fall Tennis, Girls 1 1996
Soccer, Boys 1 2005
Football 2 1996, 2003
Winter Hockey, Boys 4 2000, 2004, 2009, 2010
Hockey, Girls 1 2012
Basketball, Girls 1 2004
Swimming and Diving, Boys (Co-op with The Blake School) 2 2009, 2010
Spring Golf, Boys 1 2004
Tennis, Boys 6 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2009, 2011
Track & Field, Girls 2 1996, 1997
Total 20

Awards

School Award Year
Lower School U.S. Department of Education "School of Excellence"[11] 1988
Middle and Upper Schools U.S. Department of Education "Blue Ribbon School"[11] 1993

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "Edward Kim Appointed Head-of-School-Elect"
  2. ^ College Profile
  3. ^ "Students are Semifinalists at Intel Science Talent Search"
  4. ^ "Nobel Prize Winner Visits Breck"
  5. ^ Upper School Information
  6. ^ Upper School Laptop Program
  7. ^ Middle School Laptop Program
  8. ^ Upper School Curriculum Guide
  9. ^ Lower School Curriculum Guide
  10. ^ Star Tribune, 10/16/06
  11. ^ a b Awards
  12. ^ R.T. Rybak
  13. ^ Wayne Wilderson at IMDb
  14. ^ Erik Stohlanske at IMDb
  15. ^ Marisa Coughlan at IMDb
  16. ^ Adam Herschman at IMDb
  17. ^ Charlie Korsmo
  18. ^ Jets Roster on http://jets.nhl.com
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