prairie memories

Memories

The 7th/8th grade musicals. Watching the kids grow into young

adults. Hosting a foreign exchange

student.

- Kevin Orlowski

The outstanding musicals and

plays so professionally

done.

- Beth Shelton

Having lockers without locks.

- Tom D’Orazio • Class of 1982

My Interim trip to Spain with Mr. Butler, an Interim trip to England with Mrs. Stanton and the 8th grade trip to

Washington D.C.!

- Ann-Elise Henzl • Class of 1983

Our daughters in tennis and watching

the plays in the Lower School gym.

- Dr. Rafi Rafiullah

The ducklings crossing through the Middle School from

the inner circle to the big outside world

every year.- Jennifer Popowski • Class of 1992

The wonderful people, especially Bonnie

Benes, Kathy Boero, Kevin Will and Pat

Wagner!

- Rob Bissegger

I really enjoyed being able to kayak

at the Willow Reservoir!

- Tarah Patzke • Class of 2006

Sam Johnson "Eating his hat" when the original

building was finished in time for the initial school opening

50 years ago.

- Terry Malone

Building gingerbread houses as a

family.- Dr. James Toniolo

All of Jerry Buck’s little chemistry jokes (many of which I already knew from my older siblings' stories).

- Johnathan Johnson • Class of 1986

The Art Department fire. I remember that Winnie

Johnson and I were goofing around in their observatory

and saw smoke coming from school.

- Diane Szumowski • Class of 1976

Grandparents’ Day!

- Dave Rowland • Class of 1975

My stage debut in ‘Design for Murder.’

- Thomas Navratil • Class of 1978

Soaking up the sunshine

on the patio!

- Madeline Henderson • Class of 2012

Bob Sagadin, after I'd hit my finger with a hammer: "Don't do that. It hurts." To this day, it's a phrase I use with my kids. My

daughter even wrote me a poem for Christmas quoting it!

- Nate Warner • Class of 1991

One of my fondest memories of Prairie

was glassblowing with Mrs. McCombs!

- Mara Hagopian • Class of 2005

I was the Girls' Junior Varsity Basketball Coach

for a short time. Coaching was a dream I had fulfilled at Prairie -

one of many.

- Peggy Wielenberg

Finding out in calculus class that there are shapes with infinite surfaces and finite

volumes, so you can fill 'em but you can't paint

'em. - Thomas Navratil • Class of 1978

Showing Sam Johnson how to use the

electronic library search station at the library

open house.

- Peggy Wielenberg

Getting a terrible rash after wearing

‘burr’ sweaters with Lillian Waisman at my 10th grade Biology camp trip in

1979!

- Meg Daniels • Class of 1982

Coach Swanson's Bermuda hat and Mrs. Spinks'drama

productions!

- Kanwar Singh • Class of 1985

I grew up at Prairie, I attended the school for 15 years. It was and always will be my home away from home! The teachers and other faculty watched me grow and became extended members of my family. I know that I always have

a place to come back to.

- Ashleigh Mohrbacher • Class of 2012

Playing in the 1982 basketball State Championship.

- Terry Chapko • Class of 1984

Attending the musicals at Prairie! Feeling a part of the

"Prairie Family."

- Tom Addison

My great collection of Mother's Day

plates.

- Tom Issacson

Class of 1996 — first senior class in the new Upper School

building.

- Benjamin Issacson • Class of 1996

Serving as the President of the

Student Council was an honor as well as a

challenge.- Sara Walker • Class of 1979

The school and teachers really care about you and your future. That is something that is hard to

find other places. The Prairie School community is

like no other and I am proud to be a part of it!

- Ashleigh Mohrbacher • Class of 2012

Winning the soccer State Championship with great friends in

2004!

- Andrew Spinelli • Class of 2005

The openness and freedom allowed to students! I never realized until

later how special it was to not have bells, and to leave the lunchroom when you finish eating with the

option to CHOOSE where you would spend the rest of that time.

- Cassandra Vite • Class of 1996

Loved being a part of the theatrical productions with Mrs. Benson. My

favorite was ‘A Midsummer's Night

Dream.’

- Martha Tubini • Class of 1976

Winning the 1982 Basketball State Championship

highlighted 12 great years at Prairie.

- Billy Walker • Class of 1983

My husband going to Caitlyn's Kindergarten class and telling the

children how to become a doctor.

- Karen Ayres

Field Hockey was great fun! Some of the teachers were real

characters: Jim Corsica, Al Hagopian & Stoyan Topalof come to mind. They always

kept things interesting.

- Toni Alicia Smith • Class of 1984

All the artwork & beautiful architectural

features throughout the campus and building.

- Everett McKinney

Seeing the ducks every year in the courtyard.

- Janet Trimble • Class of 1981