Talented and accomplished inside the classroom and out
Middle School physical education teacher Sally Barry and her curling team won the 2011 USA Curling Senior National Championships in Bismark, N.D., and competed as Team USA at the 2011 World Senior Curling Championships. Team USA competed against teams from England, Ireland, Scotland, Russia, Canada, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland. During the medal round of competition, Team USA faced Sweden, which prevailed in a very close match and dropped Barry’s team to the bronze medal game against Switzerland. In close competition (the final score was 4-5) Team USA fell to Switzerland and placed fourth overall.
Upper School English teacher Mike Bazzett has had a number of poems published recently including “A Few Things to Consider,” the featured poem at Route 9, “Dropping Roses,” published by Atticus Review, and “The Limb” on The Collagist, which also featured an interview with Bazzett. He will be giving a reading, with poet Baron Wormser, at Magers & Quinn on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Watch Blake's website for details.
Blake Lower School music teacher Jay Broeker’s latest composition was performed for two national choral conferences. In March, the University of St. Thomas Chamber Singers ended their program with Broeker’s piece “Down in the River” and brought the crowd to their feet at the 2011 National ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) conference. Also in March, the National Concert Choir ended their program with the same piece to a standing ovation at the 2011 OAKE (Organization of American Kodály Educators) National Conference. Broeker is well known not only as a music teacher, but as a choral composer. His choral works have been performed by hundreds of choirs across North America.
Blake campus pre-kindergarten teacher Joanne Esser is releasing a chapbook of poems, “I Have Always Wanted Lightning.” The book, published by Finishing Line Press, comes out on Nov. 25. Esser will be reading from her book on Nov. 16 at the Loft Literary Center.
This past summer Upper School math teacher and boys’ varsity hockey coach John Hamre (on leave this year) was invited to coach in the USA Hockey National 16 Year Old Festival. This is a national camp for the best 16-year-old hockey players from the entire country, held in Rochester, N.Y.
Assistant Head of School Rand Harrington won the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers. His book, “Uncovering Student Ideas in Physical Science,” won in the category of professional development/assessment. His next book in the series will be about electricity and magnetism.
Upper School English teacher and service learning coordinator Lisa Sackreiter was one of six Minnesota educational leaders recognized for a new promising educational practice. She was honored at the Minnesota State Capitol in May for her Service Paths of Reflection and Recognition initiative, which recognizes Upper School students for a contribution of 100 or more hours of service. The initiative encourages individual service experiences and reflection; 20 students have received this recognition this year.
Upper School visual arts teacher Bob Teslow’s photograph “Pigenstein” was selected for the Minnesota State Fair’s 100th anniversary fine arts exhibit. The photo was jury selected from more than 1,200 entries and was on display in the Fine Arts Building through the duration of this year’s fair.
