Breck School
Community
Location
Golden Valley, Minnesota, USA
Coordinates	44°58′52″N 93°20′35″W / 44.98111°N 93.34306°W / 44.98111; -93.34306Coordinates: 44°58′52″N 93°20′35″W / 44.98111°N 93.34306°W / 44.98111; -93.34306
Information
Type	Private
Religious affiliation	Episcopal
Patron saint(s)	James Lloyd Breck
Established	1886
Head of School	Edward Kim [1]
Faculty	106
Enrollment	1,189
Student:teacher ratio	11:1
Campus	1 campus, suburban setting
Color(s)	Blue and Gold
Athletics conference	Tri-Metro Conference
Mascot	Mustang
Website	www.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. Breck is known for its high academic standards and strong arts programs.

[edit] 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 the 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 Littleford was succeeded by interim headmaster Kathryn Harper. Sam Salas served as headmaster from 1987 and recently retired in June 2007. Edward Kim began his tenure as Breck's Head of School in July 2007. For the school's complete history, see the Breck History article at its website.

[edit] Academics

Breck is an academic institution, excelling particularly in science, history, language and the performing arts. In the classes of 2002–2006, 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]

[edit] Advanced Research programs

Breck features Advanced Research programs in its Science and History 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]

[edit] 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 SMARTBoard technology that enhances the learning environment.

[edit] 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 kindergarten 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 Minnesota Star Tribune, which states that "Wong has been the most influential figure in developing and spreading Chinese language education in Minnesota."^[10]

[edit] Extracurricular activities

The Breck School Anderson Ice Arena is located a short distance north of campus and hosts Varsity girls' hockey, JV girls' hockey, Varsity boys' hockey and JV boys' hockey in addition to non-school events in the off-season.

[edit] 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 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Student newspaper

Breck's high school newspaper is The Voice. In 2004, it received 3rd Place in the Star Tribune/Minnesota State High School League Newspaper Challenge. The Voice is a 12-page quarterly publication. Breck's middle school also has a newspaper, The Middle School Banner.

[edit] Other

Breck is home to one of the top Mock Trial teams in the State. In their second year, the team got 4th place in State (2007). Breck School also has Breck Summer Programs [1], which begin during the first week of summer vacation.

[edit] Community involvement

[edit] 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 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 TV.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Athletics

Breck School is part of the Tri-Metro Conference in the Minnesota State High School League. Several players from the hockey and football programs have gone on to play for Division One programs. The boys took the state championship in 2009. 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. For a complete list of athletic accomplishments see the Breck Trophy Case at the school's website.

[edit] Awards

[edit] Notable alumni

• Frank Mars 1901, creator of the Milky Way and other candy bars
• Walter Bush '47, former owner of the Minnesota North Stars, member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and recipient of the Olympic Order
• Richard Proudfit '49, founder of the non-profit, Feed My Starving Children
• Stanley Hubbard '51, Chairman and President, Hubbard Broadcasting
• Bradford Parkinson '52, inventor of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology
• Paul Johnson '53, gold medal Olympian and member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame
• Jim Pearson '67, coach for European opera vocalists
• Hugh Roberts '69, retired EVP and President, International Commercial, Kraft Foods, Inc.
• R.T. Rybak '74, Mayor of Minneapolis^[12]
• Alice Goodman '76, poet
• Spencer Reece '81, author and poet
• David Williams '83, Olympic athlete in Judo and NBC commentator, 2008 Summer Olympic Games
• Wayne Wilderson '86, television actor ^[13]
• Mike Mattison '87, lead singer, Derek Trucks Band
• Erik Stolhanske '87, actor/comedian.^[14]
• Alec Soth '88, photographer
• Craig Finn '89, frontman of the band The Hold Steady
• Marisa Coughlan '92, actor ^[15]
• Adam Herschman '94, actor ^[16]
• Charlie Korsmo '96, former actor^[17]
• Dominique Byrd '02, tight end, Arizona Cardinals
• John Curry '02, goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins
• Blake Wheeler right wing for the Boston Bruins ^[18]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Breck School website
• Breck School Alumni Association
• Breck School History at the City of Faribault Heritage Preservation Commission
• Breck School's page at the Minnesota State High School League