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Former Prairie parent (and NBA superstar) Caron Butler returned to campus last fall to promote the release of his new young adult novel, Shot Clock. Joined by co-author and bestselling writer Justin Reynolds, Middle and Upper School students came together in the John Mitchell Theatre to listen as the authors discussed the book’s themes of friendship, mentorship, and community.

In July of 2022, Milwaukee Magazine recognized Prairie as The Face of College Preparatory Education in its annual Faces issue. 2022 Student Government officers and college-bound seniors Charlie May (Drake University), Reya Babu (Cornell University), Joey Scumaci (University of WisconsinMadison), and Camden Perry (Howard University) were highlighted. “The teachers are incredibly supportive,” said Perry, who is currently studying to be an orthodontist. “They aren’t just teachers. They’re mentors. They want to see you succeed. No student is left behind.”

Call it a return to regularly scheduled programming with a twist. In March, Prairie once again welcomed Kindergarten parents to campus for a familiar rite of (early) spring: the annual Robot Reception. Long a favorite of students and parents alike, the project was rewired this year to include yet another level of learning: the programming and operating of KIBO robots by, in our humble opinion, the savviest 5-year-old coders around. Eager parents got comfortable in the Leipold Johnson Early Childhood Center (LJC) as they worked side-by-side with their children to pilot the robots across the floor.

1,000 individual points scored is rare when it comes to high school basketball careers. So imagine what it means to hit that mark as a sophomore. That’s exactly what J.J. Glass-Barnes ’25 did on February 24th in the Hawks’ WIAA regional semifinal victory over Horicon in the Johnson Athletic Center. The Hawks again made an impressive postseason run before falling to eventual Division 4 State Champion Laconia in a sectional final. For the season Glass-Barnes averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game en route to being named to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association All-State Team.

Turning 100 is always an excellent reason to celebrate. In February, Early School students and their teachers marked 100 days of school by dressing as, what else, centenarians. Think gray mustaches glued above lips and reading glasses perched on heads. Are we able to confidently say life in Early School is awesome? Yes, we cane.

A music style rooted in innovation deserves a day focused on the same. In February, Instrumental Music teacher Jamie Breiwick and the Upper School Jazz Club hosted the school’s annual Jazz Day. A unique celebration of the brilliant art form that is jazz, the annual event brings students from various schools to campus along with the Milwaukee Jazz Symphony Orchestra for a day of learning, and jamming, together. The brainchild of Breiwick, Prairie hosted its first Jazz Day in the spring of 2018. It was just one of many memorable opportunities for Prairie’s artists in a year that also saw the Jazz Club perform a set at the popular Saint Kate Arts Hotel in Milwaukee.

In February, Dr. Nat Coffman, Head of School, delivered his annual State of the School address to a full house in the newly-renovated Leipold Family Recital Hall. This year’s address focused on People, Program, and Place. “We represent Mrs. Johnson’s vision and commitment” said Coffman. “Prairie is different than every other school I’ve ever been part of, because it’s more than just a school. It’s a community.”

Sophie Lawler ’23 got some big news in March – she’d been named a 2023 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Scholar Athlete of the Year state finalist. 841 seniors were nominated for the honor by over 450 schools. Only 32 scholar-athletes were chosen. Lawler was honored May 7th during a ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn in Wausau.

Earlier this spring, the Middle School fielded its first MathCounts team in years. This year’s Mathletes – Rohan Peddamallu ’27, Cate Vaccaro ’27, Luca Castellano ’29, and Jillian Anders ’29 – qualified for State after winning the local chapter competition. The coolest part? It all happened because students demonstrated initiative. “Rohan (Peddamallu) and his teammates are the ones responsible for bringing this back to Prairie,” says Kelly Christensen, 6/7 Math Teacher and Mathcounts Advisor. “It wasn’t my idea or the Middle School’s idea. It was the kids’ idea.” of the

Last October, Prairie appeared on CBS 58 Milwaukee’s popular “Hometowns” segment. Featured alongside the Wind Point Lighthouse and Wingspread, visiting reporter Bill Walsh called Wind Point a “hidden gem” because of its sights and sounds, its beauty and excellence. We could not agree more, Bill.

We know college is a fast track to success, but this is taking metaphors to a whole other level. Once again this spring, College Counseling hosted their annual College Fair with over 40 schools and universities filling the upper track in the Johnson Athletic Center. “Prairie’s College Fair has become a wonderful school tradition and we are very proud of its success,” said Jim Zielinski, Co-Director of College Counseling. “The fact that we had colleges from 21 states attend is a testament to the outstanding reputation TPS has in the higher education community. It was a great day for all and our Upper School students and parents really took advantage of this wonderful and unique opportunity.” Word is starting to spread as well. Students from Brookfield Academy and Divine Savior were welcomed to the event, as well as counselors from Marquette High School.

There were many facets of Prairie life forced to take a hiatus during the pandemic, including the school’s service hours requirement in Middle and Upper School. While students still found ways to make an impact during COVID, everyone on campus was happy that the program is back in its original form for the 2022-23 school year. Partnerships this year have included Ronald MacDonald House Charities of Southeastern Wisconsin, Woofgang Dog Rescue, Shorelight Memory Care, and Frank Elementary School (Kenosha), among others.

Any given moment, on any given day, you can walk around campus and discover an example of something that sets a Prairie education apart. For the last 20 years or so, students in 1st Grade have provided us with an obvious, smock-covered example. Shark dissection day, the culmination of the students’ shark unit, has become a time-honored tradition for the division. Perhaps the event’s biggest fan? Susan Holum, Head of Primary School, who still participates in – and this year led – the dissection she once started as a classroom teacher.

In recent years, Prairie’s annual Diwali celebration, a festive, school-wide affair during which the entire student body gathers outside for speeches, fireworks, and dancing, has evolved into one of the most beloved traditions on campus. This Hindu festival celebrating light over darkness and good over evil was held on a beautiful late October day in Wind Point. “I hope you all realize what a privilege we have to be The Prairie School,” Dr. Coffman told the students. “Our families have come from all over the world to create a unique, inclusive community built on respect and trust.”

In 2018, the Admission Office launched its Mini Masters Program, a slate of age-appropriate courses for one to three-year-olds and their parents, taught by Prairie educators. The classes have always proved popular with a dozen or so families attending the monthly Saturday morning sessions. This year, however, interest skyrocketed as Mini Masters grew to two sections (36 students) with plans already in place to add a third next fall. To learn more about Mini Masters, visit www.prairieschool.com/mini-masters.

The 2023 State Spanish Pronunciation Contest was music to Dr. Maria Fiocchi’s ears. While Doctora’s students always perform well in the competition, this year was one for the books. 32 Middle and Upper School students represented Prairie by either memorizing a poem or narration. The goal? To present the piece with a perfect Spanish accent. The result? 32 gold medals. In Doctora’s 15 years of teaching Spanish at Prairie, this year, her last, was the first time such a feat was accomplished by TPS students.

In April, Prairie’s annual Multicultural Festival saw students, parents, and faculty representing 27 different countries set up shop in the SRC. A tutorial on sushi making, a live mariachi band, and a Mexican coffee and espresso bar were just a few of the highlights.

In May, a different kind of carnival visited campus – a Carnival of Engineering presented by the Science Museum of Minnesota. After attending various museum-facilitated assemblies throughout the day, students and their families had an opportunity to attend the carnival that night, an event that featured a flying frog flinger (say that three times fast), the cantilever building challenge, and a crane game. The result? Over 300 registrations. Score one for science.

In March, Riley Saenim ’26 did something no other freshman in Wisconsin state history has ever done – she was crowned the Wisconsin champion for Poetry Out Loud. She beat out 716 participants to take the Wisconsin crown and earn the right to represent the state at the national Poetry Out Loud event in May. In the winning recitations, Riley presented: Rain of Statues by Sarah Lindsay, The Seekers of Lice by Arthur Rimbaud, and Siren Song by Margaret Atwood.

DID YOU KNOW?

SQUIRREL NESTS ARE KNOWN AS DREYS