Values that guide our community
The University School of Milwaukee community is guided by a deeply held set of core values—what we call our Common Trust. We commit to and practice five values that comprise the Common Trust—respect, trust, honesty, fairness, and kindness—and these values also are at the core of the school’s mission and guiding principles.
A shared understanding
Previously these five words were known as the tenets of the Common Trust. Moving forward, they will be known as the values of the Common Trust, to better connect with all ages in our community. While the five Common Trust values are well known, they lacked agreed-upon definitions, and strategic plan feedback from our community indicated there was an opportunity to clarify them to ensure a shared understanding among all members of the USM community—both in concept and in practice. Following are the newly established definitions, shown in the Common Trust pledge.
Commitment to, and practice of, our values
In addition, the group of faculty and administrators charged with this work also saw an opportunity to address one small but important piece of the Common Trust pledge. Rather than asking the community to passively “accept” the Common Trust, as the previous pledge read, it has been modified to ensure everyone will both “commit to and practice” these values.
Our values, in our students’ own words
Every year, the specific Common Trust value being celebrated that year is introduced at USM’s Opening Day ceremony, highlighted by short speeches from the Upper School Prefects about that value. Moving forward, each year’s featured value will be even more intentionally integrated into learning activities for students in all grades throughout the school year.
View Prefect speeches about the Common Trust values
Strategic Plan Commitment 2, Goal 1:
“Defining the Common Trust” Committee
Charlie Housiaux ’02
Committee Members: Charlie Housiaux ’02, Upper School Dean of Students (chair); Sasha Deveaux, Lower School Dance Tteacher; Alison Dupee, Lower School French Teacher; Joe Eason, Upper School History Teacher; Jen Keppler, Preschool Coordinator; Amy Norman, 6th Grade English Teacher; Lizzy Perry, Upper School Counselor
Charlie Housiaux ’02
Committee Members: Charlie Housiaux ’02, Upper School Dean of Students (chair); Sasha Deveaux, Lower School Dance Tteacher; Alison Dupee, Lower School French Teacher; Joe Eason, Upper School History Teacher; Jen Keppler, Preschool Coordinator; Amy Norman, 6th Grade English Teacher; Lizzy Perry, Upper School Counselor
“As our committee worked to define the Common Trust values, we came to understand just how important these definitions are for our community. We look forward to these values becoming even more impactful than they already are as we put this shared understanding into practice.”