Upper School

Breck Upper School is an energetic community of students, faculty and administrators working together both inside and outside the classroom.

Our students are busy people balancing challenging academic classes and a wide range of athletic and co-curricular activities. They are in a nurturing environment that encourages them to find their talents, passions and friendships with peers and mentors and take advantage of the school's many opportunities for intellectual, physical and spiritual growth.

Upper School faculty, supported by small classes and great resources for professional development, are encouraged to further their own excellence in teaching. They value the conversations they have with the students in their classes, at their service sites and in co-curricular activities they coach, guide and direct. And they are dedicated to both challenging and supporting students in the development of their intellectual capacities, their values and their independence.

Breck Upper School has been named a "Blue Ribbon School" by the U.S. Department of Education, recognizing it as an "exemplary" school.

 

Research Opportunities for

Upper School Students

In Upper School, seriously interested science and history students have the opportunity to engage in real-world research through two innovative programs. Breck believes that the stimulation of doing research and working with mentors will encourage talented students to pursue careers in science or history. Advanced research benefits both our entire history and science curriculums and the lives of all of the students involved by creating excitement and interest that is shared by all. Students receive two AP credits for successfully completing the program.

Advanced Science Research

In 2007-08, nine students (four seniors, four juniors and a sophomore) participate in this program, whose aim is to "enable the gifted/seriously interested science student to participate in an actual scientific research experience." The scientists worked in university and corporate labs on a wide variety of projects designed to introduce them to the thrill of discovery. After completing the research component of the course over the summer, students wrote a publication-quality research paper in the first semester and presented a formal seminar during the second semester. Their work was submitted to contests including the INTEL Science Talent Search, Seimens Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition and Minnesota Science and Engineering Fair where they received numerous awards at state, regional and national levels. The science department has a website: http://realscience.breckschool.org/upper/research/default.html

Advanced History Research

In the Advanced History Research class, students delve into the world of original research through many forms of historical inquiry about local topics in the Minneapolis area. In the past students have participated as historians in urban archaeological digs and analyzed the "sense of place" in a geographical analysis of Minneapolis suburbs. The students have been both nationally and locally recognized as Save Our History Scholars and Minnesota Scholars of Distinction. In 2007-08, the class is analyzing the roles of festivals and fairs in developing community and "sense of place" throughout Minnesota. Through oral interviews, research at local historical societies, ethnographic analysis and participation in festivals, students have pieced together the components of festivals that create a culture of memory for community residents and visitors.

 

Upper School Faculty

The Upper School faculty serves the student body as academic advocates, advisors and mentors. From time to time faculty members are profiled in Breck's quarterly newsletter, Today at Breck. Click here to read about some of our previously featured Upper School faculty members.