School News

The curtain rises tonight, Thursday, January 30, on “Rent,” as three Upper School Browning boys join the cast of the Brearley School’s winter drama performance also featuring students from York Preparatory. This evening’s performance begins at 7:00 p.m., with repeat performances on Friday, January 31, at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 1 at 7:00 p.m.; all take place on Brearley’s stage. Seating is reserved and limited, so if you have not yet secured a ticket, please hurry! 

The cast has been working on “Rent” since mid-November, with one Browning boy reporting, “The production has been going wonderfully. We managed to learn all the songs and stage all of the scenes before our winter break, so we had plenty of time to polish the show. It’s looking great, and I’m very excited for the performances to begin.”

If you are looking for a cozy indoor venue to chase away the winter doldrums, attending “Rent” may be just the answer. Here’s wishing our Browning boys and their fellow cast members the best of luck! Performance photos were taken by photographer Julia Derby.

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The Browning and Marymount Family Skating Party on January 28 at Central Park’s Wollman Rink was full of fun and frivolity. Hot chocolate, mixed with great company and camaraderie between both school communities, made for a warm evening despite the low temperatures!

Highlights of the skating party included Headmaster Clement’s introduction of each boy on the Lower School hockey team. Other guests stepped off the ice so that individual boys could skate to the center of the rink as their names were announced. Afterwards, the hockey team skated ’round the rink to enthusiastic applause from the crowd. Adding to the festive, frosty evening was an appearance by Browning’s panther mascot who joined Headmaster Clement and the Browning skaters in gliding along the ice. What better way to beat the winter blues! 

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Delayed by a snow day on January 22, the 2014 Interschool trip to Frost Valley took place on January 23 and 24. Dean of Students Sam Keany reports: "Form IV boys traveled to the Frost Valley Y.M.C.A. camp in Claryville, N.Y., for a cold two days of activities with the 10th grade students of Brearley, Chapin, Collegiate, Nightingale-Bamford and Spence schools. The activities of this normally three-day event were compressed successfully into a two-day experience whereby our boys met new friends and enjoyed outdoor activities such as broom ball, tubing, square dancing and fire-starting in the snow. Browning's peer leaders joined seniors from the other schools in leading discussion sessions with small groups of 10th grade students. Despite the abbreviated schedule, the trip was very successful, and our boys returned wishing it could have been longer."

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From January 30 through February 2, History Department Chair Gerald Protheroe and a delegation of 20 Browning boys will attend the 30th session of the Ivy League Model United Nations Conference (ILMUNC) hosted by the International Affairs Association at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Kevin Dearinger, English teacher, will also accompany the delegates. ILMUNC is often referred to as “the premier Model United Nations conference for high school students.” Browning boys will gather with students from around the world to participate in a weekend of debate, learning and problem-solving. The boys have been placed on a number of committees with topics as diverse as “Preventing an Arms Race in Space” to “International Regulation of Human Cloning.”

During an Upper School Assembly on January 10, Dr. Protheroe and a number of the boys described the process leading up to their trip, including applying for a seat on the Ad Hoc Committee of the Secretary General, which is a crisis committee and quite selective. Dr. Protheroe noted, “Model UN is a great experience for boys interested in international affairs. ILMUNC is based on the United Nations which was formed in 1945. There are some who argue that it is irrelevant, but one can argue that we’re sitting here safely today because of the UN. And in terms of subject matter, if we were to enter into another world war, it would be important to know why.” He said that a successful Model UN delegate will need to know the issues, have knowledge of Parliamentary procedures and be able to research and write well. Dr. Protheroe said the event is an opportunity to meet all sorts of people from different countries in formal and more casual settings.

At the conclusion of the assembly, Upper School Head Jim Reynolds advised the boys to take their global citizenship seriously and be aware of what’s going on in the world. “Pick up a newspaper and follow an issue,” he said. “Even if you are not part of Model UN, you need to be aware.” He then addressed the boys attending Model UN, stating, “Best of luck, and thank you for your energy and effort in representing The Browning School.”

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Form III boys traveled with Classics Department Chair John Young, art teacher Zack Davis and Greek and Latin teacher Brett Wisniewski to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on January 15 to tour the Greek and Roman galleries. Mr. Young reports on the experience: "The artifacts under particular scrutiny included two marble statues of Hercules, which stood in Nero's baths, Greek ceramics, both red and black figure, and bronze helmets from Crete of the greatest antiquity. The boys practiced their Latin, explored the history and significance of the items, and learned of the processes behind their creation before making drawings of them in their sketchbooks."

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The New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) held its recent workshop, “Design Thinking: A Methodology to Affect Change in Schools/ IMAGINE-DESIGN-CREATE,” in the new technology center at The Browning School on January 10. Browning’s Director of Technology Aaron Grill reports that he and four members of the Browning community attended, including faculty members and division technology representatives Stephanie Seto, Dan Ragsdale and Giurissa Grace, as well as Director of Academic Technology Jeremy Sambuca.

The session, according to its description, “provides teachers and administrators with an eye-opening experience so they might begin to think outside of the box and intertwine their knowledge to conceive innovative solutions for the future of education.”

Attendees learned the design thinking process with a focus on innovation in schools. This workshop challenged the current standards in schools today and the educational methods utilized. Attendees gained a greater understanding of design’s approach to creating innovative and everyday solutions in the educational environment. The workshop emphasized the methodology of design thinking and strategy, rather than the end solutions. Exploring and learning by doing helped ensure that each attendee understood and was able to implement the design thinking process.

Don Buckley, who directed the workshop, has transformed learning spaces so they work for teachers and students and not just architects. His biography notes, “He transformed textbooks so that they work for students and teachers and not just publishers, and transformed new media resources so that they work for students and teachers and not just programmers.” Mr. Buckley earned advanced degrees from leading European universities, is a former industrial chemist, published photographer and former consultant to the Museum of Modern Art’s Education Department. 

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The Browning community joined together on December 20 in Temple Emanu-El for the School’s holiday program, led by Music Directors David Prestigiacomo and Lucy Warner. With “Dona Nobis Pacem” (Grant Us Peace) as its theme, this annual event began with remarks from Headmaster Clement and was filled with holiday cheer, including readings and performances by Form I Hand Chimes, Holiday Strings Orchestra, Starbright Strings, Tick-Tock Orchestra, Encore Performing Arts Group, Ovation Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and Middle and Upper School Choruses.

The printed program cover (seen below) featured a Keith Haring painting created by a group of Browning boys from all three divisions. According to art teacher Zachary Davis, "The image is meant to illustrate the collaborative effort that went into this year's holiday theme project and obviously supports the idea of world peace."

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The last few weeks have been busy and exciting ones for the Grytte newspaper staff. The boys recently enjoyed a luncheon with R. Thomas Herman ’64, former reporter and columnist at The Wall Street Journal and a Browning Trustee for over 30 years. This luncheon followed the latest release of the student newspaper to the Browning community and alumni who attended the Thanksgiving Assembly and Holiday Party.

Mr. Herman, who spoke at the Class of 2000 Distinguished Speaker Series earlier this fall, sat down with the boys to provide a detailed critique of their latest issue. He shared his history as a member of the Grytte staff when a student and gave a PowerPoint presentation concerning “best practices” in journalism.

Grytte advisor Jeremy Katz '04 reported that the boys were eager to soak up Mr. Herman’s pearls of wisdom from his years as a journalist and asked him his opinion on how to overcome certain hurdles when writing a story. Mr. Herman was thrilled to answer the boys’ questions and was quite impressed by the age range of the Grytte staff, with members as young as fifth grade all the way up to Form VI!

The Grytte recently garnered a Silver Medalist Certificate from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) as part of its annual critique of student publications. CSPA is affiliated with the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. Grytte Editor-in-chief Philip van Scheltinga '14 stated that his team hopes to incorporate the advice given to them, such as incorporating a new mission statement in future issues in 2014. 

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In 2011, The Browning School acquired a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic, a 3-D printer that allows our boys to create colorful plastic models of objects. This machine can literally turn a three-dimensional computer model into a physical object. Engineers, architects and other professionals, as well as hobbyists and students, use this machine to make models of designs that they conceive or, alternately, download from the parent company’s website.

Since 2011, even our Pre-Primary boys have learned about Maker-Bot in their technology classes. As part of MakerBot’s series of website stories (on makerbot.com) highlighting how Replicator 3D printers are used in education, The Browning School was pleased to recently welcome Blake Eskin, editor, and Annelise Jeske, videographer. Headmaster Clement and Director of Academic Technology Jeremy Sambuca, along with a number of Browning boys, lent their expertise and commentary for a video explaining Browning’s use of MakerBot and the School’s embrace of technology in recent years. View this segment in the making in the video below.

Visit the Browning Technology website to learn more about the new curriculum and grade level projects.

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Headmaster Clement welcomed all to the annual Thanksgiving Assembly on November 20, which included the traditional singing of “We Gather Together” and “The Browning School Song.” In observance of the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s delivery of the Gettysburg Address, a member of the Class of 2015 read Mr. Lincoln’s stirring speech. The Drumming Circle played “Improvisations from the New World,” the Ovation Orchestra played “Home, Sweet Home,” the Browning Balladeers (grade four) sang “Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal,” and the Form II Handchimes played “An American Medley.” Remarks were also made by the presidents of the Middle and Upper School Student Councils.

Director of College Guidance Sanford Pelz ’71 and the Class of 2014 welcomed young alumni who returned for the annual Young Alumni Thanksgiving Reunion, including a luncheon back at Browning at the conclusion of the assembly. The Grytte staff was on hand to distribute their latest edition.

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On November 26, Browning’s varsity basketball team played a game against The Churchill School on the main court at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Director of Athletics Andrew West ’92 reports: The Panthers were the opening act for the Progressive Legends Classic Basketball Doubleheader featuring Stanford, Pittsburgh, Texas Tech and Houston. The boys played with intensity and showed lots of pride. Before the game we talked about effort and hustle, and the boys really displayed both early on. It was a really cool experience to be able to play on the big court and something I would love to do again someday. Thanks to all those who made it out to the game. Despite it being a huge arena, we could hear you cheering for us the whole game!

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"A Midsummer Night's Dream" was staged by the Middle School boys on November 20, with another performance planned tonight, November 21, at 7:00 pm in the Browning Theatre (a.k.a. The Lower Gym). This year, 11 boys team up with three Brearley girls to present this magical comedy. Melissa House returns this year as the production’s director, ably assisted by Elizabeth Simmons; sets were created by Susan Beaubien.

Ms. House noted, "I chose this play for the Middle School because it is such a fun play, and it deals with a lot of fascinating themes, such as power, love and magic. The set utilizes technology to connect the digital age with the classical language of Shakespeare. Projections on three screens, combined with some smaller specially built set pieces, transport the audience to Athens and the surrounding woods. The costumes will be simplified tunics that blend Athenian and Shakespearean styles of the time."

The boys had this to say about the production:
"My first year in the play has been really fun, and more people should try out!"
"A great experience in working together!"
"It has been really fun, and now this is my favorite after-school activity. Stay Midsummer Night's Dreaming Friends!" 
"Being in the play has been a wonderful experience and I encourage the rising fifth graders to audition." 
"Enchanting and magical." 

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Richard B. “Dick” Stolley, Los Angeles bureau chief for LIFE magazine when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated 50 years ago on November 22, 1963, was a special guest speaker at Browning’s Upper School assembly on November 20, thanks to the efforts of a Browning parent who is the chief executive for Hearst International. Mr. Stolley, author of “The Day Kennedy Died,” spoke to the School community about his purchase on behalf of LIFE magazine of Abraham Zapruder’s film of JFK’s assassination. TIME notes that, five decades later, the Zapruder film is “one of the 20th century’s indispensable historical records.”

Mr. Stolley asked Head of Upper School Jim Reynolds to screen a documentary that explains the events from November 22, 1963, forward. After viewing the video interview he gave during a summer school session for journalists at Yale University, Mr. Stolley entertained questions from the boys and their teachers. Click here to read about his presentation based on that interview. 

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Science Department Chair Sam Keany reports that Browning won its first Science Bowl trophy on November 16: “Browning’s Science Bowl team came out with the intention to win against all eight Interschool teams. With discipline, strategy and great command of science, they made it to the finals with five wins from the eight preliminary rounds. Only Trinity exceeded that record with six preliminary wins. Half-way through the championship round, Trinity was only four points ahead of Browning. In the final questions, Browning surged ahead of Trinity and captured its first Science Bowl trophy. The Browning team erupted with cheers of “STEM, STEM, STEM.” This was a spirited Browning team which had prepared for this moment. Coach and science teacher Melodie Ting is also to be congratulated for her disciplined preparation of the team. Thanks also to Director of Middle and Upper School Admission Janet Lien for enthusiastic support.”

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With over 100 family members, friends and faculty in attendance, Technology Director Aaron R. Grill was honored on November 11 as the first recipient of The Browning School’s STEM Chair. This endowed teaching Chair honors a faculty member who advances the School’s mission in supporting science, technology, engineering and math and was established thanks to a $2 million gift from an anonymous donor.

A video presentation and remarks by Headmaster Clement, Board of Trustees President Jim Chanos, Board member Stuart Ellman, Dean of Faculty and Department of English Chairman Mike Ingrisani, Philippe Laffont and, of course, the honoree himself, made for a celebratory evening in recognition of Aaron’s many accomplishments during his 11 years at Browning. 

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On October 18, the Browning Upper School had one of its most inspiring assemblies ever. Head of Upper School Jim Reynolds reports: Two players and the general manager of the Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball Team (WWAST) came to the School to talk to the boys about their experiences as soldiers and their triumphs over significant adversity. Matthew Kinsey and Zachary Briseno were high school athletes who had a dream of serving their country and were sent to the war theaters of Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively. Mr. Kinsey lost the front half of his right foot to an IED, and Mr. Briseno lost both of his legs below the knees to an anti-tank device that blew up under the Hummer in which he was riding in the passenger seat. The candor with which they spoke of their injuries was moving. You could hear a pin drop in the Lower Gym. But even more compelling were their stories of taking their tragic circumstances and building new lives that have earned them spots on the WWAST. While both wear prosthetic devices to get around, they are mobile, agile and matter-of-fact about their injuries. They were introduced to the Browning audience by the general manager of the WWAST, David Van Sleet, who has been involved in creating prostheses (specifically related to eyes) and a regional manager for the Department of Veterans Affairs for more than 25 years. The exhibition of courage, perseverance and vigor presented by these gentlemen was nothing short of inspirational.

After the assembly, another WWAST player, Joshua Wege, arrived to join his teammates, and the three players and their general manager graciously spent time in the cafeteria talking to whomever wanted to ask further questions or just to thank them for their service. Many fifth graders, in the cafeteria for snack time, warily sauntered over to meet the men, who quickly engaged them in conversation and dispelled any reticence the students may have had regarding their devices. Ms. Cooper-Mullin brought her Civics class down to meet the athletes.

The Upper School is most grateful to Karen and Rob Reuben (P'14) and their son Spencer '14 for their generosity and assistance in making this incredible assembly possible. There is not a person in attendance who will not remember this assembly for a long time and continue to be inspired by the example set by these fine young men. 

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Middle School Head Chris Dunham reports on some exciting news generated by Middle School boys on October 17:

Jason Wood of Save the Children spoke to Browning boys in May about Save the Children’s World Marathon Challenge. The event raises awareness of World Food Day, held every October, and the urgent need to fight childhood hunger and malnutrition. At the time, I indicated that plans were underway for The Browning School boys to join with other New York City students in organizing an event to raise funds as part of the World Marathon Challenge.

Happily, plans came to fruition, and Browning led the way in this initiative. At an assembly in September, Mark Shriver, senior vice president for U.S. programs at Save the Children, accompanied by Mr. Wood, made this exciting announcement, and on October 17, 126 Middle School boys participated, raising close to $9,000! The boys were able to set the North American school marathon record at 2:15:03! The boys marked off a 200-meter race track on the west side of Central Park’s Great Lawn oval. The Browning boys raced like true champions, thanks to the expert coaching of Browning parent and New York Road Runners CEO Mary Wittenberg joined by John Horenkamp, former St. John’s University cross country coach and eight time top-10 finisher at the U.S. Track and Field National Championships, along with running Master’s Hall of Famer and NYRR’s Team for Kids coach Sid Howard.

To kick off the event, the day before the race, Form I boys were honored to conduct a Skype chat with current world record holder, Wilson Kipsang of Kenya. Wilson recently broke the record at the Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:03:23 and is the only man with three marathon performances in the all-time top 20! He was nothing short of inspirational as he spoke to the boys about training, focus, speed and his admiration for Browning’s participation in the World Marathon Challenge. Mr. Shriver, who was also the guest speaker at Browning’s 2013 graduation exercises, is the son of Sergeant Shriver ‘34, founder of the Peace Corps. During the assembly, he spoke about his father’s influence upon him, emphasizing that we must all endeavor, every day, to engage in “small acts of hope,” as his father called them. He implored the boys to remember that everyone has different skills and that we are all capable of goodness. “Be nice to others, including those you might often take for granted. If you see someone on the street who is homeless, consider helping out in a food pantry.”

Browning boys listened eagerly at the September assembly and were pleased to tell Mr. Shriver about their own efforts to perform selfless acts on a regular basis: some work in soup kitchens, while others donate presents to children in need or volunteer to help children with disabilities play a sport, etc. I was also proud to tell him of the food drive the School sponsors at Thanksgiving time. Needless to say, Mr. Shriver was thrilled to hear all this, saying each story was “a fantastic example of how we can help others all year long.”

According to the group’s website, Save the Children is “the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world.”

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Just as the Browning community prepares to attend a festive 125th birthday celebration, more exciting “news” comes their way. In today’s (October 3) edition of The Wall Street Journal, columnist Ralph Gardner, a 1971 graduate of The Browning School, muses on his time at Browning, recalling faculty members who still serve the School today: “Michael Ingrisani, the ever-youthful dean of faculty, may be the only teacher left from my time. Sanford Pelz, a classmate of mine, ably serves as Browning’s director of college guidance.”

Mr. Gardner’s column, “Urban Gardner,” also mentions some of Browning’s well-known alumni. He mentions the fact that the most recent Browning Buzzer magazine and accompanying replica of the inaugural 1920 Buzzer (which he read nearly cover to cover) prompted him to choose Browning as his topic today: “Indeed, the publication in my hand was a replica of the inaugural issue, produced in honor of Browning’s 125th anniversary. The milestone is being celebrated at the School this weekend.”

Click here to read “Still Buzzing About Browning.”

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On Wednesday, September 25, Forms V and VI boarded a bus to embark on Browning's 20th annual college trip, as reported by Upper School Head James Reynolds: Organized and led by Director of College Guidance Sanford Pelz, the boys visited seven colleges or universities in central New York state over three days. Also along on the trip were Mr. Reynolds, English Department Chair Michael Ingrisani, and Classics teacher Brett Wisniewski. On the first day of the trip, students toured and dined at Hamilton College and at Colgate University. Thursday was a busy day as the students visited Syracuse University, Hobart-William Smith Colleges and the University of Rochester. The final day included visits to Ithaca College and Cornell University.

As designed, the trip created a wonderful opportunity for the Form V and VI students to explore a variety of colleges, ranging from a small private institution (Hamilton with 1,800 undergrads) to mid-size schools (Colgate with 3,000 and Ithaca with 6,000) to a large city university (Syracuse with 13,000 and Cornell with 14,000) and to see schools in different settings. The boys also had an opportunity to catch up with several Browning alumni who are currently students at the schools on the trip: Teddy Altman '11 at Hamilton; Wilfred Wallis '13 at Rochester; Harrison Asen '10 at Ithaca; and Ibi Diallo '12, Michael Gabrellian '13, Aleksandr Schiavetta '12 and Nick Stieg '11 at Cornell. The students were attentive and inquisitive as they explored the seven campuses while they begin to make their personal college lists. This trip, which is unique to Browning, provides our students with real experience and information as they look towards their academic futures beyond Browning.

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