Mission Moments Blog
Excellence with Civility: Culture Makes Brookfield Academy Special
What makes Brookfield Academy such a special place? Certainly, one has to start with academics. In the forty-plus years I have worked here, academic excellence and rigor have consistently distinguished our school. But of equal, though perhaps less noticed importance, is the deep dedication to kindness and civility, values that define our campus culture.
These two cultural commitments – excellence and civility – shape our daily work. We urge our students to strive for excellence, and we encourage them to measure themselves against high standards. This naturally creates competition for Honor Roll recognition and other academic awards. At the same time, we work intentionally to cultivate cooperation and kindness. The Lower School prayer neatly captures this dynamic: “Almighty God, I begin this day with a cheerful spirit and a willing heart, with the determination to do my best in all I undertake, and the desire to treat others at all times with kindness and respect.” A determination to do one's best coupled with a desire to treat others at all times with kindness and respect is part of the secret that makes this school a great place.This balance does not happen by accident. Kindness and civility are intentionally engineered throughout the school. Every division reinforces these virtues at assembly. In addition, Primary and Lower School students are guided to respect classmates in the classroom and show kindness on the playground. These expectations continue into the Middle School and on to the Upper School, where homeroom and advisor programs provide guidance, discussion, and models for appropriate behavior among students. In the Upper School, students take turns setting up for lunch and cleaning the lunchroom, and are regularly asked to assist with assemblies and to support adults throughout the school. Across all divisions, coaches, club advisors and teachers are hired and trained to promote excellence while nurturing civility and cooperation. Mrs. Albers, Middle School Dean of Students, explains how this all works: “What strikes me most about civility at BA is that it isn’t performative or forced; it’s habitual. Students hold doors, offer help without being asked, and respond respectfully. Even in moments of stress or competition, there’s a shared expectation of respect. This is learned through daily interactions with peers and adults who model care, curiosity, and decency.”
Kindness and civility strengthen the school community beyond academic life. Our students and families represent a wide range of religious, ethnic, and political perspectives. Intentional character formation allows Brookfield Academy to be both richly diverse and consistently courteous. Events such as the Ellis Island recreation and the Heritage Fair celebrate cultural heritage, while patriotic assemblies for Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, and Constitution Day affirm shared civic values. In Middle and Upper School classrooms, students learn to debate challenging issues respectfully under teacher guidance. Civility and cooperation, even when there is difference, is an expectation and forms a quiet foundation for Academy life.
The results might be easy to overlook, but they are central to what makes Brookfield Academy special. Assistant Upper School Head Jessée Tomchek notes that “civility, although often quiet, presents itself in many ways in the Upper School each day. These small moments demonstrate a respect toward the school environment and all the people within it.”
We see this throughout our school community. I do not take it for granted, and remain deeply grateful to those who work diligently to develop and preserve the Star of Character at our school.
