News Brief: Fall/Winter 2025-26

New Families Welcomed

The new family carnival, hosted each August by the Enrollment Management office, seeks to minimize first-day jitters. Students meet their teachers and friends, play games, and walk their class schedule in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

Starting Off on the Right Foot 

USM’s revamped orientation program for new employees, designed to be fun and welcoming, introduced newcomers to the people and culture of USM. It also included off-campus opportunities to explore Milwaukee as a living classroom.

An Adventure Worth Exploring

Fifth grade teachers developed Camp 5, a “summer camp” experience that makes Middle School fun and exciting for 5th grade students. It combines practical skills like organizing lockers and navigating a new schedule with creativity and play.

Retreats Build Community 

Annual Middle School and Upper School retreats, held in fall, build community through shared experiences, foster leadership, challenge assumptions, encourage self-reflection, and support USM’s mission.

Fall Cum Laude Inductees

Congratulations to seniors Gianna Cooks, Anand George, Nina Goldberg, Eliana Igwike, Nikhil Lazzaro, Bethany Martin, William Merluzzi-Hitler, Charles Slocum, Read Tuttle, Eshaan Vasudev, Angela Wang, and Anderson Werner, who were named Cum Laude Society Inductees.

Signed on the Dotted Line

Middle School students, teachers, and administrators signed pledges and agreed to uphold USM’s Common Trust values of respect, trust, honesty, fairness, and kindness. The pledges are hung in the Middle School as a daily reminder.

Authors Reveal Hidden Worlds 

Authors Geo Rutherford and Sophie Blackall visited USM in September to promote their respective books, “Spooky Lakes” and “If We Were Dogs.” Both authors were a hit, with their books showing the world in a new perspective.

Journalist on Ice

Award-winning journalist Kieran Mulvaney visited in fall to discuss his work in and around the coldest regions of the planet, as well as his latest book, “Arctic Passages,” which was required reading for Upper School Global Scholars students.

Limited Vision, Profound Insight

Aaron Golub, the first legally blind NCAA Division 1 football player, spoke to students and parents in September. He shared messages of resilience and persistence, along with strategies to create true change and rethink past beliefs.

We’ve Got Spirit

Homecoming week was packed with fun and festive events like the Wildcat Homecoming Jamboree, spirit wear days, an all-school pep rally, and, of course, exciting athletic matchups. 

Working Lunch

USM’s Career Lunch and Learn program, where students eat with professionals, is off to a strong start. The first four sessions represented the medical, finance and wealth management, real estate, and AI fields. 

Parent University

More than 175 guests attended the second-annual Parent University, choosing three sessions from more than 40 options that covered topics like parenting, academic programming, college admissions, and more.

First Grade Timeline Project

First graders explored history through photos and stories from their own families. The photos encompassed a wide range of decades, including some from the 1890s, and led to meaningful insights and discussions.

New Books Build Language Literacy

The Stratton Preschool/Lower School Library has a new collection of French and Spanish books thanks to a collaboration between Dolores Brown, Preschool and Lower School librarian, and World Language teachers Gina Merino and Laith Al-Msaibeeh.

We Have Liftoff

Dr. Amber Bakkum, Upper School science teacher, is one of 12 teachers nationwide selected to participate in the NASA-supported Space for Teachers Program, in which educators conduct research in zero gravity.

Quarters for Change

For many years, 7th grade students have developed arcade games for younger students to play for 25 cents. The money raised—now collectively surpassing $60,000—supports zero-interest microloans through the KIVA organization.

Thanks for Your Service

On Veterans Day, Middle School students gathered to hear from school parents who are veterans themselves: Valerie Duncan, April Miller, and Robert Smith. They answered a variety of questions about their service.

USM Gives Back

In November, USM held several events to give back to our communities, including a hygiene drive, Middle School food drive, and Upper School service trips and Thanksgiving food baskets.
Their Place in History 

Eighth grade American history students started the year by sharing an artifact or photo that related to their families’ histories. They then spoke to their classmates and visitors about how and why they are connected to America’s story.

“Pouring” It Forward 

Upper School REDgen students spread positivity by giving away cups of hot chocolate with inspiring messages written on them. The only catch? Recipients had to decorate an empty cup with their own message for the next person in line.