​This week we chatted with Lia Berezka-Zuniga, a third-grade teacher whose first year at Waters found her leading her class pandemic-style—oddly, something she’s done once before! Prior to Waters, she taught 2nd and 3rd grade in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood—and before that, she spent 2 years teaching English to elementary school kiddos in Daegu, South Korea. Remember the MERS outbreak?
 
Waters Today: We can’t believe this is your second time teaching during a pandemic. What are the odds of that?! Can you compare the two experiences?
Mrs. Berezka-Zuniga: The biggest difference is most definitely the mask culture. Many people in South Korea wear masks even when it is not a pandemic. For example, many people prefer to wear masks in the spring while walking outside when there is lots of allergens and pollution in the air. Others wear masks when they have the common cold to prevent them from spreading it. I was living in Korea for at least a year before the MERS outbreak hit. Since I had seen masks being worn all around me for quite some time, I was very comfortable wearing one. It was so important to me to protect others and myself there while I was a guest teacher. 
 
Pandemic aside, what's the biggest difference between teaching here vs. in Asia?
Schools in East Asia are really formal. The students bow to their teachers before class begins and when class ends. That was really new for me! Students must call their teacher by their title, so I wasn’t called Ms. Berezka, I was called 선생님 Lia (Teacher Lia.) Finally—as my class knows— I have to talk about FOOD! School staff, teachers, and students eat the same meal at the same time in the cafeteria. I loved learning about new food and dining traditions along with my coworkers and students. I miss the long table filled with students and the silver trays full of delicious 반찬 (side dishes).
 
It sounds like you've traveled pretty extensively! If you could take your students on a field trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
My class loves adventure and life science so I would take them to one of my favorite islands: Palawan, Philippines. We could explore an underwater cave, find macaques Monkeys hanging from trees, get spooked by a monitor lizard, snorkel to see beautiful coral, and still have time for a freshly grilled fish lunch with mango! 
 
That sounds amazing—we’ll chaperone! Did you grow up somewhere far-flung? 
Although my dad is from Poland and my mom is from the Philippines, I was actually born in Chicago and am a product of Chicago Public Schools! I went to an elementary school that is extremely diverse—lots of my classmates spoke a second language. Maybe that is where my love for international food and language came from! I really have to give my elementary and high school CPS teachers my respect and appreciation. Their practice most definitely inspired me to become a teacher myself. THANK YOU, TEACHERS! 
 
Is it safe to assume you’ve always wanted to be a teacher? 
Yes! And what I love most about teaching at Waters is the connections I’ve built with students, families, and staff. I have never physically met anyone at Waters...yet! However, I feel that we’ve built incredibly strong relationships despite all the challenges. It is clear that Waters is a community with strong collaborative relationships and I am honored to be a part of that! Special shout-out to my students and families for being there every step of the way!
 
Sounds like you have a lot of catching up to do when we’re all back together in person! If you could give your third graders one piece of advice, what would it be?
One of my teaching mentors gave me a poster I love to hang in my classroom every year. It says: “In this class, mistakes are expected, inspected, and respected.”  Mistakes mean you tried, you took a risk, and you learned. That is a beautiful thing. I think we need to appreciate our mistakes, too!

 
We love that so much. What do you like to do when you're not teaching?
You can find me spending time with my daughter and husband, hunting for vintage treasures, cooking up a storm, reading about my next travel adventure, or watering my house plant collection. (It is slowly turning into a jungle in here!) 
 
Anything your students would be surprised to learn about you?
I’ve spent more time behind the wheel of a motorbike than behind the wheel of a car! Also: I may or may not sometimes play “Animal Crossing.” :)
 

Fun! Thank you so much Mrs. Berezka-Zuniga—we can’t wait to meet you in person!

Scouts BSA Troop 894 (boys and girls) is hosting a fundraiser to help both our scouts AND our neighbors through the Friendship Center. Lou Malnati's Pizzeria Pizza coupons may be redeemed at any area Lou Malnati’s location for one 9” FROZEN pizza (sausage, pepperoni, cheese, or spinach). When you buy a coupon below, you can decide who gets a Pizza in their pantry: you or the Friendship Center (a neighborhood food pantry) or both! Get 1 for $13 or 2 for $25.

Troop 894 receives a portion of the proceeds, which will go toward upgrading camping equipment and deferring camping expenses for our scouts. Many in our troop attend Waters!

​Go to https://tinyurl.com/pizzas4pantry to place your order! Thank you!

It’s the moment so many of you have been waiting for: Amy Vecchioni’s Teacher Feature! Our much-beloved visual art teacher has been doing her thing for 20 years, all of them at Waters. Super fun fact: She’s never driven a car, but she does have an adult tricycle!
 
Waters Today: Where did you grow up? Has art always been a big part of your life?
Ms. Vecchioni: I grew up on Big Blue Lake in Michigan. My front yard was a lake! It was a wild place. I learned so much from observing plants and animals. I was in and out of the water all day and would only go inside at dark. Most of my early art experience came in the form of making lakeside seaweed and mud pies. If I played in the woods, it would be elaborate fairy houses out of old stumps, flowers and stones. In winter, there was plenty of snow and ice to make stuff with. A life-sized snow unicorn with an icicle horn was a favorite…I was always making things as a child—but  did not have formal exposure to art until high school. That said, art is a huge part of my life and always has been. Most of what I created as a child was ephemeral. I was always remaking it, so I never was too attached to the finished product. That starting over and over again is what I think draws me to art—I have a lot of energy!
 
That’s an understatement! So if for some reason you couldn't teach art, what would you do instead?
I don’t know! I learn so much and have so much fun teaching art!  When I was little, I wanted to be an archeologist at Giza—I was a huge fan of the then-famous King Tut exhibition. I’d like to make a picture book series for children or create art adventure camps, so maybe that? I also think it would be cool to be a folklorist or oral historian too…I love listening to stories. Brené Brown says she’s a researcher storyteller, and that sounds fascinating. 
 
What kinds of things do you create at home?
I work a lot in 3D media and have a good-size copper enameling kiln set-up in our laundry room. I feel like a modern-day Hephaestus sometimes! Teaching is my favorite art form though, always!
 
We suspect you have other hobbies, though we can’t imagine how you find the time…
Yes, I grow orchids and cactuses, I love to garden., I knit and enjoy board games…and I’m thinking our new Milkweed & Monarch Club is becoming a favorite hobby too.
 
You do such a great job showing kids that art is about creativity and self-expression, not perfection or even talent. Why is that so important?
My favorite visual art concept is wabi-sabi. Imperfection, impermanence and incompleteness are what make beauty in art. A crack in pottery is painted gold and celebrated! I share with the children that there isn’t a prescribed perfect, but a perfect for you. Creativity is a life skill we all use every day! I think talent is often mislabeled hard work, study or practice. I avoid praising product and focus on effort and intention. I love listening to students express themselves and explain their choices in a project. As students talk and share, they create a safe space for self-expression together. (I just keep track of the time!) Ultimately, I always go back to nature: there isn’t any perfect existence, there are just unending interpretation. We take risks in the art room and celebrate every iteration. 
 
Love that so much. Lots of people think that fostering a love of art in their kids requires having an entire room filled with art supplies, which is expensive and intimidating! What do you recommend having on hand?
I think it’s best to ask your child what kind of art they like and/or would like to create. Often, we can build an art kit from those questions. A lot of youth are interested in new illustration media and have specific requests. Younger students may need some suggestions and/or options. 
 
Some Quick Tips: 
 
Paper: One thing that I think is always important is a lot of good paper. It needs to be heavy stock (thicker than printer paper) and matte finish. 
 
Wet Media: My favorite watercolor paint set is 24 Washable Colors by Crayola. Great colors!
 
Dry Media: Crayons are really the best media for most of us---such range of color and mixing potential. A black marker or Sharpie is great for any form of definition and a set of markers is a great option. Older students often enjoy illustration markers and watercolor pencils.
 
3D: I like cardboard, scissors and 3D adhesives such as clear tape, glue stick and other tapes. A couple other great supplies for 3D construction are brass fasteners and tempera paint sticks. 
(Our next Cardboard Challenge: 01.29.21!)
 
Great tips, and the challenge is on our calendar! What advice would you give to your 10 year old self?
Be YOU. 100%.
 
And now for the Art Teacher Quickfire Round! What's your favorite...
 
Museum: NEUE Galerie: Museum of German and Austrian Art, NYC, Gli Uffizi, Florence, Italy, Peggy Guggenheim Museum, Venice, Italy. 
 
Artist: Oh My! I have so many…Three artists that are always inspiring to me: Yayoi Kusama, Frida Kahlo and Wassily Kandinsky. 
 
Work of art: 3AGAIN…Lady with Ermine, Leonardo da Vinci and Tree of Life, Stoclet Frieze Gustav Klimt, and all of the many biomorphic installations of Ruth Asawa!
 
Color: GREEN!
 
Place to travel: Santa Fe, Italy & the Yucatán! 

Band or musician: Jorja Smith (current), Johnny Cash (classic) and Billie Holiday (all-time favorite)

​Movie: Bladerunner (Ridley Scott)
 
Book: I love Russian literature--The Idiot, Fyodor Dostoevsky. And I still love my first favorite book too--Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell… Right now, I’m reading We Make the Road by Walking by Miles Horton and Paulo Freire—Excellent!
 
PHEW! Thanks so much Ms. Vecchioni! We’ll take some of that boundless energy to go, please! 

​This week we caught up with Jessica Collins-Gonzalez, a 6th grade teacher who’s currently on maternity leave with her baby girl, Helena. She’s been teaching for 14 years, 4 of them at Waters—and she’ll be back next fall! 
 
Waters Today: Maternity leave in the middle of a pandemic! What’s that been like?
Ms. Collins-Gonzalez:  It’s been wonderful so far. We are blessed to have a happy, healthy baby girl. The good thing about having a baby during the pandemic is that everyone is staying home these days, so you don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything staying home with your little one. 
 
What’s the biggest thing that’s changed now that you’re a mom? 
The super mom senses!  Moms can hear and see everything. I never believed it before, but it’s true. 
 
As fellow moms, we totally agree! When Covid is over, what's the first thing you'll do that you can't do now? Take my baby girl to meet all of our friends and family.  There are so many aunts, uncles and cousins that she hasn’t been able to meet yet.  
 
Aww. Where did you grow up and go to elementary school?
In Waukesha, Wisconsin—I loved my elementary school!  Some of the things that stick out as highlights of my grade school years were my awesome teachers, playing the flute in our school band, and going camping with my 5th grade class. 
 
What's the best thing about teaching middle school?
The thing that I like about teaching the intermediate grades is that you really get to know your students’ personalities and sense of humor. It’s kind of a pivotal point where students are discovering who they are and who they want to be. 
 
If you couldn't be a teacher, what would you be? 
I think that I would like to be a travel journalist. It would be so fun to see the world and write about my adventures. 
 
What’s the coolest place you’ve ever been?
The Amazon Rainforest!  I lived in Ecuador for a year and taught English with a volunteer organization called World Teach. When my parents came to visit me we went on a week long vacation to the Amazon. It was a dream come true. We stayed in a little hut and spent our days exploring the jungle, with a guide of course. Our incredible guide lead us to 8 different types of monkeys, pink river dolphins, sloths, poison dart frogs and so much more. 
 
That’s awesome—speaking of animals, what’s your spirit animal?
Probably an elephant. A few years ago I visited and elephant sanctuary in Thailand and fell in love with these gentle giants. 
 
You’ve traveled a ton! What else would your students be surprised to learn about you?  That my first job was working as a farm hand. I would ride my bike to the farm early in the morning to pick melons and vegetables from the fields. It was super hard work! The  corn fields were wet and muddy in the morning and the stalks cut you up as you walked through. Plus for all my mud stains, cuts and sore muscles I only made $4.24 per hour. It was a tough job, but it really made me appreciate all the work that goes into the delicious food we eat. 
 
Best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten?
I would have to say, “Be a leader not a follower.” My dad always told me this growing up and as an adult I still believe it’s true. 
 
Great advice! Thank you so much Ms. Collins—see you in the fall!

IT’S A PHYS ED DEPARTMENT TAKEOVER! This week, our favorite PE teachers, Bradley Kurz and John Archer, teamed up for a special edition of Teacher Feature. Here’s how it went down…
 
FIRST, MR. KURZ INTERVIEWED MR. ARCHER:
 
MR. KURZ: So, how long have you been a PE teacher? How long have you been teaching at Waters? 
 
MR. ARCHER: This is my 2nd year at Waters and my 6th year as a teacher. I have taught PE for 5 years. I also spent a year as a High School Drivers Education Instructor. Teaching both the classroom phase and the Behind the Wheel phase. I attribute my patience as a teacher to sitting in the passenger seat of a car with a 15 year old who has never driven a car before or taking that student on the highway for the first time. 
 
Where did you grow up? 
I grew up in the Carol Stream in the Western Suburbs. 
 
What sports did you play in school?
In middle school, I played basketball. In high school, I played basketball for 3 years and ran Varsity Cross Country and Varsity Track and Field for 4 years. At Lewis University, I competed in Cross Country and Track and Field for all 4 years.
 
As an adult, what’s your favorite sport to watch? 
My favorite sport to watch is probably Basketball. However, I could also sit down and watch any type of endurance race like a marathon, Tour de France bike race, or any track and field meet. There is something amazing about runners who push their bodies to achieve goals deemed impossible by so many people. 
 
What about to play?
I have played basketball for most of my life. For a few years after college I played in a few different adult mens leagues, however that stopped after I had 3 major ankle surgeries. I am still very active as a runner. I have completed the Chicago Marathon a few times, and I was supposed to run the 2020 Chicago Marathon until it got cancelled . I also love to run local road races, trail races through the woods, and Spartan obstacle races. This year has been rough with all the races being cancelled, however, it gave me a chance to train and build my base mileage up. Hopefully there can be races next year. 
 
If you could meet three people, dead or alive, who would they be?
1. Michael Jordan: I grew up in the 90's, and everyone wanted to "Be like Mike!" 
2. Steve Prefontaine: American runner who competed in the Olympics. Changed the American running scene in the 70's. Was also one of the first Nike athletes.
3. Jim Ryun: First American to run faster than 4 minutes in a mile. 
 
What's your favorite way to spend a free Saturday?
I love to spend time outdoors, unplugging from technology and the world for a bit. I usually spend time going on walks with my wife and our dog, going on bike rides, or going to her parents’ lake house. I also love going for long runs to enjoy the weather. 
 
THEN IT WAS MR. ARCHER’S TURN:
 
Mr. Archer: How long have you been a PE teacher? How long have you been teaching at Waters?  
Mr. Kurz: 16 years—and I’ve been at Waters the whole time.
 
If you could time travel, where would you go?  
I would just go back to the 90's. It was an exciting time to be alive.  Music was great, and the Bulls were actually good!
 
What's the one thing you couldn't live without? 
Pizza. For nostalgic reasons, I would have to say Aurelio's always brings me back to my childhood.  
 
Would you rather hit a world series winning grand slam or a NBA finals clinching three-pointer?  
I would pick the three-pointer. I was always into basketball more than baseball. I enjoyed watching The "Last Dance" documentary.
 
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Always put your family first and never forget where you                 came from. 
 
Thanks guys! We appreciate all that you’re doing to keep our kids as active as possible!

Next up: Olga Nunez-Johnson, a beloved first grade teacher who’s taught at Waters for, as she puts it, “eight amazing years!” She’s been with CPS for 26 years—23 as a teacher, and three as a paraprofessional.
 
Waters Today: You’re pretty famous—Waters famous, that is—for your love of reading aloud to your students. You have the best reading voice! What's your favorite book for first graders?
Mrs. Johnson: I have so many favorite children’s books and children’s authors and would never be able to pick just one! However, I can share a Thanksgiving tradition that does include a favorite story: Every year I make homemade butter with my students and we read Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’ by Eileen Spinelli. After we make our butter and read the story, we share what we are most grateful for. It is a very special tradition! As we speak, I am trying to figure out how I will weave this into virtual learning.
 
That’s the best! It sounds like you are definitely in the right profession. Did you ever want to be anything other than a teacher?
I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was in Kindergarten and can’t imagine myself in any other profession. As a child, I would play school with my brothers and sister. They would always get mad at me because my dolls would get all the right answers and they would not.
 
Sounds about right! Where did you grow up?
I grew up just a few blocks from Waters in Lincoln Square. I always tell my students that this is the BEST neighborhood in all of Chicago. It still has all the wonderful things I remember from my childhood: Diverse neighbors, a rich history, Wells Park, Sulzer Library, great eats, and the list goes on.

[Fun fact: That adorable child in the picture is Mrs. Johnson in 1977 at McPherson school!]
 
Did you have a favorite teacher as a child?
My favorite teacher was my Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Willis. She was strict but I loved her! I remember she was very fashionable, had a smile for everyone, and her laughter was infectious. For my first teaching job, I had the privilege of working with Mrs. Willis. Yes, my first teaching job was at my elementary school! That’s when I found out the truth: Teachers don’t actually live in the school… LOL! Working with her made me realize that what made Mrs. Willis so special was the motto by which she taught: If we, as educators, set the bar high, there is no child who cannot reach his or her full potential. 
 
That’s so lovely. If you could be a student in any Waters teacher's class for the day, who would you choose? 
Mrs. Vecchioni’s art class! She is such an incredible artist. If you look up the word “art teacher” in the dictionary, you will see a picture of Mrs. Vecchioni. Every time I see her, she has a smudge of paint or ink somewhere on her. That tells you she doesn’t just teach art to her students, she lives art. 
 
She really does. [Editor’s note: Mrs. Vecchioni, we’re coming for you!] What do you like to do for fun?
My family and I love to take long drives. It's a great way to connect and catch up on what’s going on in our lives and in the world. Recently we drove the entire Northshore admiring the fall colors. It was spectacular! We also LOVE trying new restaurants. With the recent pandemic, we have learned to create dishes from around the world in our own kitchen. When I say WE I am referring to my husband Jerry, and my daughter Athena, they are the true chefs in the Johnson household. Love and laughter are the key ingredient in any recipe. That is why our family motto is; “Our kitchen is made for dancing”!

 
We’ll be right over! Kidding, but only because of the pandemic. Does your family have any pets?
We don’t—I am allergic to almost everything! I am also quite scared of animals. If a dog gets too close to me I immediately lose all senses and start running and screaming. It’s an awful sight. I can’t believe I just shared that. 
 
Oh no! Ok, we’ll distract you with a random one: Would you rather live in a house made of cheese or a house made of cookie dough?
I would rather live in a house made of cheese—Gouda cheese, please. I love cheese and I often tell my daughter the stinkier the cheese, the better! 
 
Us, too! What about your superpower? If you could have one—besides teaching, that is—what would it be?
To have everyone get along! It has been my lifelong wish since I was a little girl. Is it foolish? Perhaps it is. But it is my superpower and I am the superhero so anything is possible.
 
Yep: If everyone got along and shared stinky cheese, the world would indeed be a better place. What’s the bravest thing you've ever done?
The bravest thing I have ever done was volunteer to be a week-long counselor at camp Timberlee in East Troy, Wisconsin. The reason I volunteered was because my daughter, who was in 1st grade at the time, could attend the camp if I volunteered. Now, if you know anything about me, you know that I am the least outdoorsy person you will ever meet. I love taking long walks and low-intensity hikes, but that's about it. 
There were so many activities each day: horseback riding, canoeing, archery, crafts, and something called blobbing. You are probably wondering, What is blobbing? Well, blobbing is an outdoor water activity in which a participant sits on the end of a partially inflated airbag and is launched into the water when another participant jumps onto the airbag from a platform on the opposite side. 
I thought, why not? You start off in a curled up position, and as you ascend into the air you need to straighten up. I failed to follow the directions and ended up doing a somersault and landed headfirst into the water. Thank goodness I was wearing a life vest. Risky? Yes! Worth it? Absolutely!
 
Ok, so you’re not an outdoors person…what else would your students be surprised to learn about you?
I think my students would be surprised to learn that school did not come easy to me. I struggled a lot in elementary school, and being a bilingual student—I spoke both Spanish and English—in a monolingual class was difficult at times. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, and so I had to work that much harder to achieve my goals. I truly believe that my struggles in school are what helped me get through not just my academic career, but life in general. 
 
Words to live by. Thank you so much, Mrs. Johnson!

Four of your favorite Waters teachers will be modeling the latest styles from Genevieve Thursday night at our Virtual Fashion Show. Check out favorites modeled by Ms. Walsh, Mrs. Frieswyk, Mrs. Ramos, and Mrs. Novak starting at 7 p.m! Twenty percent of sales at Genevieve now through Sunday will be donated back to WatersToday when Waters is mentioned at checkout or promo code WATERS is used online.

Today is a great day to get a jump on holiday shopping at the Waters Maker Fair! Check out Gerri Whitley Photography for amazing holiday cards or buy one-of-a-kind gifts from shops owned by Waters parents, grandparents, and friends, including Mike Sebanc, Folk That, Scott Ray Designs, and Heather Clara. 10% of all purchases goes back to WatersToday!

This week we talked to Brandon Orlov, a 5th grade teacher who’s been an educator for 12 years, 11 of them spent at Waters. He’s taught Kindergarten, 2nd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and middle school writing, and as of this summer he can add one more thing to his resume: proud new dad to baby Chase. (Congrats!)
 
Waters Today: Let’s start with that adorable kid—what’s the best thing about being a dad?
Mr. Orlov: The love that I feel for my son and my family. It really is indescribable, the love you feel for your child.
 
It must be so strange to have an infant during the pandemic. When it’s over, what's the first thing you'll do that you can't really do right now?
I will let my Chase meet all the people he hasn't been able to yet and get together with family and friends.
 
Hopefully it will be relatively soon! Where did you grow up? 
I was born in Tucson, Arizona—that is where my love of all things University of Arizona started.  We moved here when I was 2 for my dad's job with Medline. I grew up in Buffalo Grove, which is a northwestern suburb of Chicago.  I would say that my middle school experience was similar to our Waters kiddos. I enjoyed hanging out with my friends, playing sports, and definitely went through all the drama of those years.  Being Jewish in a heavily populated Jewish community was awesome because my 7th grade year was filled with Bar/Bat Mitzvah parties.  
 
Did you always want to be a teacher? 
Actually, the dream was always to do something in sports.  Unfortunately, I did not become the next Michael Jordan.  
 
Besides dominating the NBA, what else is on your bucket list? 
I would say traveling to other countries is at the top.
 
So if you had the opportunity to take an all-expenses-paid year-long break from reality anywhere in the world (with your family!) where would you go and why? 
I would choose Tucson so I can go to all the U of A sporting events and enjoy the 300 days of sunshine.
 
You weren’t joking about the Arizona obsession! What else would your students be surprised to know about you?
I think the students would be surprised that I have broken 10 bones in my life.
 
Ouch. Let’s end on a random note: What's one song that you'll always remember the words to?
Mr. Brightside by The Killers


Thanks Mr. Orlov!

There are some awesome weekend shopping events starting today! Visit these retailers and a portion of your purchase goes to WatersToday. Don't forget to mention Waters. And donate to the Pledge Drive by today at 5:30 p.m. and be entered to win a SoloStove!