Breck School

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 School
Location
Golden Valley
,
Minnesota

USA
Coordinates44°58′52″N 93°20′35″W
Information
TypePrivate
MottoPerpetually learning
Religious affiliation(s)Episcopal
Established1886
Head of SchoolNatalia Rico Hernández, Ed.D.[1]
Faculty106
Enrollment1,189
Average class size16
Student to teacher ratio10:1
Campus1 campus, suburban setting
Color(s)Blue and Gold
        
AthleticsIndependent Metro Athletic Conference (IMAC)
MascotMustang
NamesakeJames Lloyd Breck
Websitebreckschool.org

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 the Rev. James Lloyd Breck. The school moved to 2095 Commonwealth Ave in Saint Paul under the direction of the 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 that 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 C. Littleford was succeeded by interim headmaster Kathryn C. Harper. Sam Salas served as headmaster from 1987 until retiring in June 2007. Edward Kim succeeded Salas as Head of School in July 2007. In January 2017, Natalia Rico Hernández was named 16th Head of School, beginning her tenure in July 2017.

Academics

Breck has enjoyed particular success in science, history, language, and the performing arts. 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]

Advanced Research programs

Breck features Advanced Research programs in its Science, History and Mathematics 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 Norman Borlaug, the 1970 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.[4] The new science research program has a website which has all the student research projects are accessible at their official website.

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]

The Community-Based Research in Mathematics Program, new in 2011, combines sophisticated quantitative research with service. Students work at a nonprofit or government agency on problems that benefit society. In its first year, students worked with the City of Golden Valley on questions related to housing assessment and with a nonprofit agency that serves Iranian-Americans.

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] Most Breck classrooms are equipped with Smart Board technology that enhances the learning environment.

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

Community involvement

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 Party candidate 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 television. Barkley won.

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. The students spend two hours of the day helping the elderly and the inner city youths of Minneapolis and the surrounding areas. Middle school students go to service sites once a month.

Athletics
The Breck School Anderson Ice Arena is located a short distance north of campus and hosts Varsity and JV teams for both boys and girls hockey. During the off-season, it is open for non-school events.

Breck School is part of the Independent Metro Athletic Conference in the Minnesota State High School League and has won 25 state championship titles in 11 sports. Several players from the hockey and football programs have gone on to play for Division One programs. The boys hockey team won the state championship in 2000, 2004, 2009 and 2010. The girls' hockey program was established in 1994; it won the Minnesota state consolation tournament in 2007, and second place in the state tournament in 2008 and 2010, and won the state championship in 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020.

SeasonSportState ChampionshipsYear(s)
Fall(B) Cross Country0
(G) Cross Country0
(B) Football21996, 2003
(B) Soccer12005
(G) Soccer0
(G) Swimming and Diving0
(G) Tennis21996, 2013
(G) Volleyball0
Winter(B) Alpine Skiing0
(G) Alpine Skiing0
(B) Basketball0
(G) Basketball12004
(B) Hockey42000, 2004, 2009, 2010
(G) Hockey42012, 2018, 2019, 2020
(B) Nordic Skiing0
(G) Nordic Skiing0
(G) Gymnastics0
(B) Swimming and Diving - co-op with Blake School42009, 2010, 2017, 2018
Spring(B) Baseball0
(B) Golf12004
(G) Golf0
(B) Lacrosse0
(G) Lacrosse0
(G) Softball0
(B) Tennis71995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016
(B) Track & Field0
(G) Track & Field21996, 1997
Total28

Awards
SchoolAwardYear
Lower SchoolU.S. Department of Education "School of Excellence"[11]1988
Middle and Upper SchoolsU.S. Department of Education "Blue Ribbon School"[11]1993

Notable alumni

References
  1. Archived February 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  2. College Profile Archived April 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Students are Semifinalists at Intel Science Talent Search" Archived April 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Nobel Prize Winner Visits Breck" Archived November 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Upper School Information Archived April 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Upper School Laptop Program
  7. Middle School Laptop Program Archived August 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Upper School Curriculum Guide Archived November 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. Lower School Curriculum Guide Archived August 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. Star Tribune, 10/16/06
  11. Awards Archived February 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  12. R.T. Rybak Archived May 17, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  13. Wayne Wilderson on IMDb
  14. Erik Stohlanske on IMDb
  15. Espeland, Pamela (February 1, 2008) "Keyboardist Craig Taborn surfaces with Underground" MinnPost.
  16. Marisa Coughlan on IMDb
  17. Adam Herschman on IMDb
  18. Panthers Roster on http://panthers.nhl.com
  19. Jets Roster on http://jets.nhl.com
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