Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

August, 2016

Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

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Barbara Eash antiques column Page 3B MON-THURS 4:00PM-CLOSE • FRI-SUN 11:00AM-CLOSE WWW.SALOONONCALHOUN.COM • 262-783-0222 17000 W. CAPITOL DR., BROOKFIELD, WI 53005 In the US Bank parking lot on Calhoun & Capitol LOOK WHAT'S NEW INSIDE OF SALOON! AN UPSCALE EXPERIENCE OFFERING SMALL PLATES AND CRAFT BOURBON COCKTAILS! 250093200 2 Now Serving SUNDAY BRUNCH 11:00 AM-2:00 PM HAPPY HOUR SPECIAL Monday - Friday FREE BACON & $1 OFF ALL DRINKS 4:00-7:00 PM DAILY EVENTS MONDAY PUB QUIZ TRIVIA 7-9pm; 75¢ Wing Night 4pm-Midnight TUESDAY FREE POOL open to close; LIVE MUSIC 7-10pm FEATURING TOP ARTISTS WEDNESDAY "Beer and Ballad Night" featuring $2 PINTS and $6 PITCHERS 7- 10pm; Karaoke 8pm-12:30am THURSDAY Taco Thursday 4-10pm, $10 for 3 authentic tacos & 5 Coronita beer buckets FRIDAY FISH FRY 11am-10pm; LIVE MUSIC 8:30pm-12:30am SATURDAY LIVE MUSIC 9pm-1am The FREEMAN INSIDE PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WAUKESHA, WI PERMIT NO. 3 Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WaukeshaFreeman Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WaukeshaFreeman Brookfield & Elm Grove T H I S M O N T H AUGUST 2016 AUGUST FOCUS Looking ahead to school year Classrooms going high-tech Get kids ready for school before bell rings Page 1B Portillo's brings Chicago flavor to Brookfield Page 2B Taking care of business all year long By Chris Bennett Special to The Freeman ELM GROVE — "S" stands for sec- retary, but it might as well stand for Superman. Leaping a tall building in a single bound is among the few tasks left undone by the typical school sec- retary at day's end. The modern school secretary func- tions as a clerk, accountant, nurse, receptionist and more. They respond to emergencies on the playground and organize field trips. They often handle dispensing medicines, and probably know every child in their school by name, and also know the name of that young- ster's parents. They play as pivotal a role in operating a school as the prin- cipal, reading specialist, janitor or teacher. "We just laugh when we go to Target or Trader Joe's," said Michelle Kiese, the principal's secretary at Tonawan- da Elementary, 13605 Underwood River Parkway in Elm Grove. "There's never been a time when I go out and don't see one of the kids. I love it." Marcene Korpela is sometimes mis- taken for Swanson Elementary School Principal Kori Hartmann. Both wear their hair short. Korpela is the prin- cipal's secretary at Swanson, at 305 N. Calhoun Road in Brookfield. Korpela is in her 10th year at Swan- son. She started at the central office of the Elmbrook School District. In her previous role she worked as a liai- son with the bus company, and with student databases, open enrollment and tuition waivers. "At Central Office, I heard really good things about Swanson and the staff," Korpela said. "A lot of that was the reason for me making the change." Kiese's worked several careers. She's spent time with Visit Milwau- kee, worked previously at Waukesha West High School as a study hall teacher, and earned a degree with the intention of becoming a lawyer. She is in her fourth year at Tonawanda. Both Kiese and Korpela said the schedule affords them time with their children. Korpela worked a 10-month schedule when she first started, but the demands of the position changed and she now works a 12-month sched- ule. Kiese is also in the building dur- ing the summer months. "Even in the summer, from the minute I come in, it's nonstop," Kiese said. "It's the doorbell, it's the teach- ers, it's the phone. "I like it because it's so fast-paced," Korpela said. "I'll blink, and it's lunchtime, and I'll blink again and it's time to go home." Both Korpela and Kiese admit chil- dren make their jobs enjoyable. Tonawanda and Swanson are home to students starting in kindergarten and going through fifth grade. Kiese said her office is bordered by windows on either side, and she spends much of her day getting waves and salutations from passing stu- dents. "They're so adorable – just the things that the kids will say," Kiese said. "(They'll say) 'There's some- thing in the toilet,' and I say, 'OK. Just flush it.'" Korpela said a young girl came to the office once and, with straight- faced candor, announced her friend locker herself in her locker. "How in the world did she get in the locker?" Korpela said. "I was new here, and it was one of the first things that happened that I'll always remem- ber." Working ahead In late July and early August the buzz returns to school as the end of summer draws sadly into sight and the return of the academic calendar draws closer. Both Korpela and Kiese worked much of the summer to ensure the beginning of the school year starts smooth. Kiese, who also coaches and admin- isters Brookfield Central's Junior Lancer cheerleading program, is working with the school's budget. Tonawanda's fiscal year recently rolled over. Korpela is charged with scheduling School secretaries find juggling many tasks rewarding Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Marcene Korpela in the office at Swanson Elementary School. See SECRETARIES, PAGE 2A Page 2A SPORTS Multisport star Swittel keeps smiling Page 4B Sunset Playhouse to begin its 75th season Page 3A

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