Margaret '15: September@USM

Nerd day during Homecoming Week!

USM’s homecoming week was full of dress up days and celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the school. My personal favorite dress up theme was nerds, greasers, and preps. I dressed up as a nerd (pictured below with freshman, Mia). Other dress up themes included twin day/dynamic duo, pajama day, homecoming t-shirt day, and blue and gold day. On the Wednesday before homecoming, we had an upper school pep rally, where each sports team did a performance or an activity. The swim team’s activity was particularly entertaining; they picked people from each grade and had faculty members do a relay race on scooters, lying on their stomachs to simulate swimming. On Friday we had an all school pep rally in our blue and gold, where each grade did their own spirit cheer, faculty members participated in the ice bucket challenge, and more. 

Senior Retreat

At the end of September, there were a few days where the juniors went on a college trip, the sophomores did service, and the freshmen and seniors had respective retreats. Senior retreat totally changed the element of the senior class. We were all separated into groups where we didn’t know each other very well. After three days of activities and getting to know one another, our group has now become very close and is now planning on going to a trampoline park together. Not only do I feel closer to the eight other people who were in my small group, but I also feel as if our grade is closer as a whole. Since I am afraid of heights, I was very nervous going on the high ropes course. The first activity I got through, but barely. The second, however, I climbed a ladder with a partner, and having a friend there with me made me much more comfortable. Through large and small group conversations, we shared our struggles and how we have overcome them, and the best memories that we have shared. The month of September has made me even more excited for my senior year and I can’t wait to make the most of it. 

Chris '15: September@USM

Student section at the Homecoming football Game!!!

The many late nights of finishing homework and staring at a computer screen have begun. The homework load is bigger than ever, and it’s a grind, but I’m still enjoying every bit of my senior year. Many “lasts” have happened already like my last back to school dance and last homecoming week. School is insanely different this year too. The schedule is different, lunches are different, senior speeches are different, the list goes on. It’s a lot to get used to, but it didn’t take long to get the hang of it. And last but not least: college applications. There are so many awesome colleges out there, it’s really hard to decide where to apply to or how many schools to apply to. But I am certainly praying that I will be done and have sent my apps out by the time I write to you next. It should be interesting waiting in anticipation for months.

Before the Homecoming dance...

Turquoise '16: September@USM

Spirit Week!!!

It has been a fantastic first month of school! September is a busy month at USM.  One of the best parts of September is Homecoming and the dress up Spirit Week dress up days. My favorite day, aside from pajama day, was “Preps, Nerds and Greasers”. My friends and I had a blast dressing up as 1960s Greasers, along with the majority of the Upper School. Besides going to Homecoming, competing in JV Tennis matches, and watching late night soccer and football games, I also enjoyed going on the junior college trips.

I was on Trip B, which visited to Loyola University Chicago, University of Chicago, Beloit College, and University of Madison. While I did enjoy certain aspects of each individual university or college, like the large, urban feel of UW-Madison and the “Hogwarts-like” and Gothic atmosphere of the University of Chicago, I was also able to identify facets that I didn’t like as much, which is just as important when looking into colleges. We even got to see a few USM alumni, who told us a bit about their college experience so far.

I found the tours and information sessions very helpful. I have always wanted to go to a school outside of the Midwest. After visiting the colleges, I gained a better understanding of certain qualities and programs schools have to offer, and which kinds of universities or colleges may work for me. Of course, this is only the beginning of the grueling college process, but I am excited, and am looking forward to take the next steps towards my education.

Campus of the University of Chicago

Meet our Bloggers: Chris '15

Name: Chris

Grade: 12

Hometown: Germantown

Hobbies: hockey, reading the dictionary, working out, eating, drawing, netflixing

Favorite foods: Qdoba burritos, Taco Tuesdays at USM

Hello all, my name is Chris and I am a senior at USM this year. So far, it’s been pretty awesome I must say. Anyways, I came to University School my sophomore year and I absolutely loved it. I am involved in a wide variety of things such as hockey captain, co-leader of spirit club, co-founder of movie club, student ambassador, Habitat for Humanity, and many others. 

I’m pretty pumped for one more year of high school. With all the essays and applications and many different colleges to choose from, I have no doubt I'll be having a few anxiety attacks in the near future. Anyways, the year starts out pretty fun with the back to school dance, homecoming, and senior retreat. Then after all that, the next thing to look forward to will be hockey season. I have been on skates and in the rink since I was about 2 years old. With our insane rink and locker rooms, hockey at USM is one of the things I love most about it. I look forward to a wide variety of things this year and I have no doubt I will enjoy it and I will be excited to receive that USM diploma in May.

Meet our Bloggers: Turquoise '16

Name: Turquoise

Grade: 11

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Previous School: Milwaukee Montessori

Activities: Track and Field, Tennis, Global Scholars, Admissions Student Ambassadors, Drawing 

Hi, my name is Turquoise and I will be a junior this year at USM. Before coming to University School, I attended a small school in Brookfield, Wisconsin. That school had been my home since I was five years old, which made the thought of moving away from that closely-knit community exciting and nerve-wracking. However, after meeting other students and teachers during the freshman orientation, and new teammates at tennis practices, I was reassured that getting used to USM would be much easier than I thought. There were many opportunities to meet new people, whether it was through the senior-freshman families, spirit games, or House Cup Challenges. Within the first few weeks of school, I felt like I had a place in the community.

With challenging academic curriculums, fantastic extra-curricular activities like Global Scholars and FED Challenge, great athletic teams, and incredible theater programs, USM offers something for everyone. This is one one of my favorite things about the school. I’m hoping to take advantage of as many opportunities as I can this from improving my drawing skills in 2D-Portfolio and learning more about anthropology in Psychology, to defending our Track Conference title for the 4x400 meter relay. The past two years at USM have been incredible, and I am looking forward for another exciting year!

Meet our Bloggers: Adam '15

Name: Adam
Grade: 12
Hometown: River Hills, WI
Activities: Editor-in-chief of the yearbook, Fall Play, Winter Musical, Spanish Honors Society leader, Global Scholars, JV Tennis team, and Admissions Student Ambassador

Hi, everyone! My name is Adam and I’m a senior(!) this year at USM. This is my second year blogging as an Admissions Student Ambassador, and I’m so excited to be able to take you all through my last year at this fantastic school. Seeing as I’ve been attending University School since second grade, this is going to be a pretty bittersweet time. I’ve changed and grown so much since starting here, and I’ve been fortunate enough to witness the school undergo a similar transformation.  A lot has happened since we’ve blogged last, and we’re all looking forward to sharing with you!

It’s going to be a busy year, that’s for sure. In addition to taking many challenging and fascinating classes, I am already in rehearsals for the fall play, working as the editor-in-chief of our school’s yearbook, and planning a fun filled year of Spanish Honors Society as one of the group’s leaders. I am also participating in our Global Scholars Program, as well as looking forward to being in future productions and playing tennis in the spring. Oh, and applying to college! But the truth of the matter is that at USM, I can be an active member of the student body, juggling everything and having fun doing so.

There is so much that I love about being a student at University School. The academics are fulfilling and the teachers are wonderful. Though I can’t give a laundry list of reasons as to why I chose USM (I was only seven years old when I started!) I can say that one thing that has been a constant throughout my years is a caring atmosphere. I was readily embraced upon beginning my education here, and since then, my teachers, advisors, and peers have continued to push and support me. I don’t think I’d be happier elsewhere. If you’re looking for a place to study interesting subjects, meet great people, and be involved in a vibrant school community, then USM may just be the place for you. And if you have any questions, hopefully our bloggers can answer them. 

So, I invite you to keep checking back for more posts, and I hope to see you soon—maybe as a new Wildcat!


 

Meet our Bloggers: Sydney '15

Name: Sydney

Grade: Senior

Hometown: Bayside, WI

Activities: running, babysitting, waterskiing, cross country skiing, german club, zumba, hiking

Hey there, my name is Sydney and I am a senior at USM. While I am originally from Illinois, I have lived in Bayside, WI for the past two years. Being a student at USM has been a blast. My favorite parts of school are eating new treats in German club meetings and having discussions in Spanish class.

Over the summer I spent my time waterskiing and waitressing in northern Wisconsin. It was a lot of fun; however, I missed my friends here in Milwaukee and I am glad to be back! Because it is senior year, I was able to have a choice in all of the classes I am taking; therefore, I am excited to begin first semester. Additionally, I am looking forward to spending time with my Senior-Freshman family and going on the Senior retreat this fall. 

Go wildcats!