Meeting the Needs of Every Student
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WINTER 2021 FiresideA magazine for alumni and friends of Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School Meeting the Needs The Future of Social Emotional of Every Student BT’s Campus Learning more on page 5 more on page 14 more on page 17 Notes from Worthington Hall This issue of Fireside highlights the many ways in Lower School playground were still made (although which the BT community embraced the “challenge” I hope we are done with the cold and snow for this aspect of the school’s mission, overcoming school year!). disappointment and fear caused by the pandemic, to realize a semester of learning marked by ingenuity, Our success in providing an exceptional educational innovation, and fun. At BT a learner’s mindset is experience in the midst of a pandemic has allowed a given, but we often rely on our tried and true us to stay on course with many of our strategic plan practices to guide our ways. The complexity of this initiatives that will impact BT’s future and solidify our year’s problems presented new opportunities to position as the leader in global education in Nebraska. refocus on our learner’s mindset to set priorities, test We have an amazing community of students, families, and rework solutions, and seek out joy in even the faculty, staff, trustees, and alumni who have been smallest of victories. instrumental in helping chart this course and keeping us moving forward. Thank you for all that you do to This mindset enabled us to set ourselves apart in our help BT fulfill its mission of knowing, inspiring, and ability to provide continuous in-person instruction on campus; enrich education through virtual challenging every student, mind, and heart! collaborations and new technologies; celebrate long- Sincerely, standing traditions like Homecoming, Grandparents and Special Friends Week, and the Holiday Program; and introduced some fun new activities like pep rallies on the football field and the BT Santa Stop. Kristi N. Gibbs, Ed.D. And cherished memories like sledding on the Head of School 1 IN THIS ISSUE 1 Notes from Worthington Hall 2 Table of Contents 3 What’s Happening on Campus? Page 7 5 Meeting the Needs of Every Student 7 Grandparents and Special Friends Week 9 Champions of Change 11 BT Fund 12 2021 Gala: Masquerade 13 Special Gifts Page 9 14 The Future of BT’s Physical Spaces 15 BT’s Legacy Students 17 Social Emotional Learning in a College Prep Environment 18 Alumni Spotlight: Julie Buscher Brummer, ’85 19 Alumni News and Notes 21 A Page in Time Page 14 Fireside is published for alumni, parents, and friends of Brownell Talbot College Preparatory School. Send story ideas and comments to Brownell Talbot, attn: Renae Mackender, 400 N. Happy Hollow Blvd., Omaha, NE 68132; email [email protected]. Editor: Megan Hunter Contributing Writers: Shannon Gilroy, Megan Hunter, Renae Mackender, Melissa Rider Designer: Tony McGowan Photographers: Jason Bartz, Shannon Gilroy, Megan Hunter, Tony McGowan, and Casie Schlueter 2 Page 21 WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS? 1 1. Raider Pride Shines During Homecoming Week still honored traditions with the crowning of Homecoming king and queen during halftime. Like so many things in 2020, this year’s Homecoming was unlike any other in memory. Upper School students moved the Homecoming Dance to the courtyard under white lights where fresh air and space to social The Chili Supper became a virtual event with most families distance made for a perfect and safe end to Homecoming Week. dining on chili prepared by BTPA at home. Seniors were invited to dine and watch the presentation on the east lawn. 2. BT Garden Bears Fruits of Students’ Labor The Unity Walk took place on a beautiful September Friday With an added focus on maximizing classroom time spent followed by a pep rally on Skutt Field! outdoors, the BT garden has become a source of learning Although spectators were limited at the Homecoming game, BT and nourishment for BT students age 3 through grade 12! BT NOW 3 2 3 4 6 3. Santa Stops by BT 4. Paying Tribute to RBG Because Santa made fewer in-person appearances this year, the Halloween provided the perfect opportunity for several of school wanted to create a safe place for BT families to visit with BT’s Lower School teachers to honor Supreme Court Justice him before the holidays. BT’s Santa Stop included one-on-one Ruth Bader Ginsburg following her passing in September. conversations with Saint Nick in front of the chapel and cute cookie decorating kits from Crum Cakes Bakery for families to 5. Election Talk with Megan Hunt take home. In November, Senator Megan Hunt, who represents the eighth legislative district in Omaha, joined a Zoom session with fifth grade students to serve as a guest expert for their elections project! 4 BT NOW MEETING THE NEEDS of every student School life during a pandemic is anything but The BT community has worked hard to ensure that predictable. Through many months of planning, BT was social distancing does not mean emotional distancing. able to start the school year early, giving families the Pep rallies have taken place on Skutt Field, the choice to learn in person or online. Both educational Homecoming dance was moved to the courtyard, and paths come with a unique set of challenges, and the student ambassadors welcome a new student before school has demonstrated flexibility and ingenuity to their first day with Zoom lunch meetups. Faculty make sure each experience meets the needs of the and staff formed community circles to promote BT community. cross‑department socializing online that previously took place in teacher work rooms. And, when the stands For students, while the learning is as inspiring and were closed to everyone except immediate family, challenging as ever, the mechanics of the school athletic competitions were streamed live so Raider fans day are very different from a normal year. Families could cheer on student athletes. are asked to complete home health checks and take temperatures before arriving on campus. Students line up at entrances every morning to confirm their home NEW ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES health check has been performed. Once in classrooms, BT’s faculty have done an amazing job ensuring each desks are socially distanced by at least six feet and student feels known and supported during a time all students, faculty, and staff wear masks at all times, marked by uncertainty and constant change. Although except during lunch, which is also socially distanced not an ideal teaching setting, all BT teachers have with students facing the same direction as they eat, become adept at teaching simultaneously to students and during designated mask breaks outside. Transitions in the classroom and students remoting into class from between classes are minimized, with Lower School home. To support this effort, BT created new positions students having classes like music, art, and science including a full‑time substitute teacher who works in their home rooms and Middle and Upper School across all grades levels, a multi‑age classroom teacher students following a four‑block schedule. for grades 1‑3, and a full‑time facilities employee BT NOW 5 dedicated to sanitizing high‑touch surfaces multiple students are better positioned to engage their times a day. The school also had to reassign roles classmates who are learning from home. for some faculty and staff to better support teachers “Our students have had experience with both learning and students in a learning environment where some environments,” said Vetter. “Because they understand students are in‑person and some are online. the challenges of learning at home, they are giving Fourth grade teacher Cassie Grant went from being grace and compassion to their peers who are a full‑time classroom teacher last year to a hybrid of distance learning and helping ensure those students a part‑time math teacher and a liaison for distance feel involved.” learning families and teachers. In this role, she When not working on implementing technology, Vetter converts classroom materials to digital formats, keeps spends a lot of time researching new ways to provide schedules for every student in distance learning, variety in distance learning opportunities to prevent manages all communications with families regarding monotony that can sometimes happen in the distance distance learning, gathers materials for families to pick learning space. up, and provides as much assistance as she can to Lower School teachers. “My favorite part about all of this is the shift I’ve witnessed with our faculty and staff,” Vetter added. “I know what teachers are going through but I am not “As a group we consistently have shown a desire to living it fully, so I really want to support them in any learn and grow and a willingness to try something new way I can,” said Grant. “This position requires being and different. The experience has moved our teaching comfortable with inconsistency and adapting to it. It staff from amazing educators to phenomenal.” would be a lot harder of a job if BT teachers weren’t so amazing and committed to working together to make this hybrid in‑person and online teaching and learning work for families.” Know a student who would Learning and curriculum coordinator Angie Vetter benefit from phenomenal fulfills a role similar to Grant for Middle and Upper School. Vetter spends a good portion of her day teachers in a small school setting? working with teachers on new technologies the Visit brownell.edu/advantages school implemented to teach distance learners and to connect with students in the classroom simultaneously. She is also instrumental in making sure distance learning students BT’s Admissions Office.