School News

On October 29, the Grytte student newspaper staff enjoyed a luncheon in the Cook Room with alumnus David A. Callaway ’82, editor-in-chief of USA Today. Prior to starting at USA Today in 2012, Mr. Callaway was editor-in-chief of MarketWatch; before that, he worked at Bloomberg News and The Boston Herald. In 2012, Browning honored both Mr. Callaway and his brother, John P. Callaway ’84, with the Charles W. Cook '38 Alumnus Achievement Award , the Alumni Association’s highest distinction. 

Grytte advisor Jeremy Katz '04 reports, "Mr. Callaway offered a number of interesting anecdotes and 'words of wisdom' to the Grytte staff, and they, in turn, asked many intelligent questions of him. He shared his experience as a reporter and editor, gave insight on the evolution of journalism and offered invaluable advice to the next generation of budding journalists." 

Form III student George Grimbilas '18 added: "The meeting was inspiring because Mr. Callaway was a member of the Grytte staff when he was a student at Browning. The Grytte staff is very thankful that Mr. Callaway took valuable time from his day to come and speak with us about his career." View photos.

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On October 31, the third grade boys visited the American Museum of Natural History's creepy, crawly, "Spiders Alive!" exhibit. Julia Kingsdale, science teacher, reports: "The exhibit featured 16 of the most interesting and dangerous spiders of the world alive on display, including the enormous Goliath Bird-Eating Spider, one of the largest spiders in existence, and the elusive Trapdoor Spider, which makes a trapdoor in the soil and catches its prey by jumping out at them. The boys were also lucky to observe a demonstration with a live tarantula hosted by one of the museum's arachnid experts."

Ms. Kingsdale added, "In preparation for their visit, each third grader researched one particular spider from the exhibit, including its habitat, how it catches its prey, its markings and more, and shared his findings with his classmates. At the museum, the boys had the opportunity to ask the exhibit experts questions about their species to supplement their research. The boys (and their teachers!) loved the exhibit, and we are grateful for this wonderful resource to complement our classroom study of spiders and insects!" View photos.

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The fourth grade boys recently spent the morning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in conjunction with their study of Ancient Egypt. As they explored the Egyptian wing of the museum, they were able to point out many gods, pharaohs and artifacts they recognized from their readings. Art Department Chair Nik Vlahos spoke to the students about drawing the sarcophagi from observation, advising them to focus on the major parts first and the details later. He asked them to pay special attention to the overall shape, face and placement of the hands. They will use these drawings as reference to make a more detailed drawing in the classroom. After that, they will build a sarcophagus using clay. View photos.

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The sixth grade boys, along with teachers Zack Williams, Emilie Wolf and Head of Middle School Chris Dunham, spent two days in the Delaware Water Gap forest at Camp Greenkill. Mr. Dunham notes, “We were treated to wonderful fall foliage and brisk but invigorating temps. The boys studied birds of prey, hiked, constructed survival/emergency shelters and did lots of team-building on ropes course elements. As in prior years, we enjoyed a terrific group bonding trip!” View photos.

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On October 24, the third grade boys headed to Teatown Lake Reservation, a nature preserve and education center in Ossining, N.Y. Teacher Susan Kehoe reports:

The boys were immersed in the culture of the Eastern Woodland Natives. Specifically, they learned about their history at the period of contact with Europe. The boys enjoyed the opportunity to view what daily life in a Native American village might have been like. They visited a replica of a wigwam, allowing them to feel like they really stepped back in time. Replicas of items such as deer skin leggings, moccasins and native tools were shown and explored. The boys were allowed to touch and interact with each one. Traditional games were played, so each boy had the chance to practice his hunting skills! It was a great learning experience and one which complimented our studies quite nicely!

According to the reservation's website, "the name Teatown dates back to 1776 when tea was scarce due to British taxation. A man by the name of John Arthur moved to the northern Westchester area hoarding a chest full of tea with thoughts of selling it at a huge profit. A group of women called found out about the tea and demanded Mr. Arthur sell the tea at a reasonable fee. After refusing, the women laid siege to the farmhouse. Mr. Arthur finally agreed to sell the tea at a fair price in exchange for a peaceful withdrawal. Hence, the area became known as 'teatown.' " View photos.

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First grade boys were fortunate to spend the better part of Friday in Queens at the Queens County Farm, a 47-acre working farm that dates back to 1697, complete with farmhouse, greenhouse, windmill, barns and a shop where fruits and vegetables are sold. Their teachers, Chelsea Rossman and Julianne Rowland, as well as Taylor McKenna, associate teacher, accompanied the boys along with parent chaperones who had as much fun learning about the farm as the boys did. Director of Publications Melanie McMahon accompanied the group and offers this report:

This historic site and working farm, which attracted 17th century European settlers, offered Browning’s first graders a first-hand look at how food is grown, as well as the chance to see many of the animals they may have only heard or read about. The boys saw steer (“Jethro” and “Dexter”), alpacas (“Salt” and “Pepper”), sheep, goats, chickens, pigs and honey bee hives. They learned that each hive contains more than 1,000 bees, that hens lay only one egg per day, and that the fur on just one alpaca is worth about $800!  They also learned that by shaking a container of cream for about 15 minutes, they can make butter. The color, either white or yellow, is a result of the kind of grass the cows ate…that produced the cream…that made the butter! Their guides, Mr. Marty and Ms. Renee, also explained how cows consume their food by chewing their “cud” and gave the boys handfuls of alfalfa to feed to the friendly, ever-hungry goats.

In addition to its livestock, the farm boasted a wonderland of produce and flowers, including many of the foods served in Browning’s dining hall, such as quinoa, lettuce, radishes, squash, pumpkins, tomatoes and various herbs. Many of the boys and adults were surprised to see how quinoa looks before it’s harvested – a combination of corn stalks and cat tails. Mr. Marty and Ms. Renee encouraged the boys to see, touch and taste the garden’s bounty; the chives and mint were pungent and fragrant, while the lamb’s ears plants were so soft! They also learned they could eat the large yellow flowers of the squash plants.

A hayride gave the boys a chance to see the layout of the farm, including fields of corn and compost piles – quite a sight when juxtaposed with the high-rises of the city in the far background. One of the Browning boys provided an impressive explanation of how compost is created and what its purpose is. Due to just the right weather conditions, the compost at the farm was actually “steaming” that morning! That’s because carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and water provide beneficial bacteria that work with the nutrients to heat up the pile; water is released as vapor or “steam.”

In the course of the morning, the guides showed the boys posters of various types of fruits and vegetables, particularly those they could expect to see there. Before heading to the pumpkin patch (the grand finale and favorite part of the day) to pick one of these colorful orbs, the boys discussed various ways to prepare and serve this food. Their guides passed out photos of the growing stages of a pumpkin and asked the boys to put them in the proper order. The boys were proud to show their knowledge of how a Halloween classic is “created – from seed to jack o’lantern! View photos.

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For the second consecutive year, Browning Middle School boys participated in a marathon sponsored by Save the Children to raise awareness of World Food Day. The event promotes the urgent need to fight childhood hunger and malnutrition.

While inclement weather forced this year’s race to take place in the Upper Gym, the switch to an indoor venue could not dampen the boys’ enthusiasm. They succeeded in raising $7,750 for this most worthy cause! Coached by members of the New York Road Runners, the boys ran laps around the gym, finishing in 2:25. Head of Middle School Chris Dunham was pleased to note, “The enthusiasm to help Save the Children effort was incredibly inspiring for us all. I am SO proud of our boys.” View photos.

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Tickets are now on sale for the Browning-Brearley fall play, "A Bright Room Called Day." The drama will be presented tonight through October 25 at The Brearley School beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets can be reserved by emailing dramainfo@brearley.org

"A Bright Room Called Day," one of Tony Kushner's first plays, is the story of Agnes and a group of artists living in pre-World War II Berlin just as the Nazis are coming into political power. Director Michael Baldwin notes, "As is Kushner's style, the play is fiercely political and imaginative, at times surreal, very human and relatable. The young men from Browning have been wonderful and are turning in stellar performances." Mr. Kushner also wrote "Angels in America" and "Lincoln." View photos.

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Form I boys journeyed to the Metropolitan Museum's Greek and Roman galleries for the first time as Latin students with Classics Department Chair John Young who reports as follows: Armed with sketchbooks and pencils, the boys learned about and sketched architectural artifacts to reinforce their lessons about Roman monuments. The highlighted pieces were the Ionic column from Sardis, the frescoes from Boscoreale, and the mosaic floor from near Antioch. The trip was made possible by our chaperones Ms. Witt, Ms. Chernoff-White, Ms. Obeid and Mr. Katz, who documented our trip in photos. Click here to view photos.

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Fourth grade Browning boys, along with science teacher Emilie Wolf, took a field trip to Central Park recently to collect water samples from the pond. Ms. Wolf explained, "The boys will continue their experiment back in the lab, where they will use compound microscopes to determine the nature of the invisible organisms that live in pond water."

Science teacher Julia Kingsdale also took the Pre-Primary boys to Central Park. As she explained, the purpose of their trip was "to collect information 'in the field' for their study of trees. She added, "We gathered leaf and bark rubbings and estimated the age of a tree by measuring its circumference." View photos.

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On Thursday morning, October 9, Form III boys pulled away on a coach bus from the curb of East 62nd St. on their way to Greeley, Pa., for the annual two-day Form III Pine Forest trip. Leading the boys were Head of Upper School James Reynolds, Classics Department Chair John Young and Michael Cohn, Browning's newest PE department member. Two hours later, the group arrived at the Pine Forest Camp for a day of canoeing and high-rope, zip-line and rock-wall experiences led by a team of outdoors facilitators from the Mountain Workshop.

Mr. Reynolds reports: The first day, activities focused on team building and personal challenges, and the boys had a great time on the lake and climbing elements. Evening events included a hilarious Win in in a Minute-style competition in which the boys were divided into teams and given challenges to complete in 60 seconds, which might help explain the photograph of students with Oreos on their foreheads! The boys had to get the cookies from there to their mouths without using their hands. The evening ended with a bonfire and S'mores.

Day two was dedicated to rafting down the Delaware River. The boys, most in wet suits, broke into groups of four to five and paddled six miles down the river. The weather was beautiful, and the surrounding riverbank cliffs of New York to the east and Pennsylvania to the west were spectacular. A highlight of the trip was the opportunity to see a bald eagle perched on a tree limb overhanging the river before it launched itself into full flight. The group returned to Browning in the late afternoon on Friday and headed off to the long weekend. The trip was a great success for all! View photos.

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The morning of October 9 was geared to ensuring Lower School boys are both healthy and wise. Two separate assemblies featured School Nurse Maureen Linehan and Kathryn Trentacosti, the nutritionist from Cater to You, Browning's food service provider.

Browning boys learned how to prevent germs from spreading during the upcoming cold and flu season, as well as how they can stay healthy all year long. Good nutrition, knowing all the colors that should be on one's plate, what comprises a healthy meal, hydration, exercise and sleep were but a few of the topics covered during these information sessions. View photos.

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On October 7, Browning parents attended an information session at the School on the subject of “cyber safety” and what they can do to be sure their sons are safe.

The topics covered included the online dangers children are susceptible to and what to be aware of; teens and “sexting,” popular apps and how to use them safely; quick and easy settings to increase child safety online; how to set restrictions on iPhones, iPads and iPods, and cell phone monitoring. View the Parental Controls Checklist.

Presented by Liz Repking, founder of Cyber Safety Consulting (cybersafetyconsulting.com), the program addressed these issues in such a way that parents who might have been uncomfortable and even intimidated by the technology their sons use came away with a better sense of understanding and control.

PA President Ken Metz commented, "I think what I took away from the presentation, and what I hope most of the attending parents took away as well, is that there is no silver bullet in regard to this issue of cyber safety. There is no master website we can employ to keep our children safe in the cyber world. It will take knowledge, commitment and real work to stay involved with, and to stay ahead of, the constantly developing technology that our children are exposed to and use daily. It will take real effort on our part as parents."

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History Department Chair Dr. Gerry Protheroe, who teaches world history and advanced European history at Browning, along with advising the Model UN, is an assistant professor at NYU’s Center for Global Studies. His keen knowledge of world history and current affairs was evident as he addressed the Upper School boys at their October 3 assembly. Director of Publications Melanie McMahon reports:

While his presentation covered the gamut, Dr. Protheroe's main focus was the important legacy of World War I as we face issues in the 21st century. He explained that while WWI and the Cold War seemed easy paradigms for older generations to grasp, today’s students are often unclear as to what is happening globally. Furthermore, back in the 1990s, “everything looked good.” “There was a great feeling of optimism,” said Dr. Protheroe. “Now that’s disappeared, so understanding the history of our past is essential to grasping the present state of global affairs.”

In respect to the Middle East situation today, Dr. Protheroe noted that back in 1918, there were one million soldiers in the Middle East because Britain thought it must destroy the Ottoman Empire. The British, he explained, hoped to get the Arabs on their side against the Ottoman Empire. He discussed the Sykes-Picot Agreement of May 1916, a secret agreement that was concluded by two British and French diplomats, Sir Mark Sykes and Georges Picot, as well as the Balfour Declaration of November 1917, which led the Jewish community in Britain and America into believing that Britain would support the creation of a Jewish state in the Middle East. In short, to better understand the Arab-Israeli conflict, he advised the boys to first study those two topics.

In turning to the threat of ISIS, Dr. Protheroe talked about Iraq in terms of its creation and historical figures Winston Churchill (Britain’s colonial secretary at that time), T. E. Lawrence (better known as Lawrence of Arabia) and Gertrude Bell (sometimes referred to as the “female Lawrence of Arabia.”) He called Iraq “Churchill’s folly,” referring to the creation of this monarchy after World War I that forced three “unfriendly” groups to live under a single ruler.  Christopher Catherwood’s book, “Churchill’s Folly” explores the creation of Iraq which consisted of Sunni Muslim Kurds and Arabs, and Shiite Muslims under the imposed Hashemite king Faisal.

Adolph Hitler and Vladimir Putin were also discussed and assessed by Dr. Protheroe in regard to their aggressive moves into Czechoslovakia and the Ukraine, respectively. The hostile actions of both men, according to Dr. Protheroe, were “products of perceived humiliation.” “Putin is not interested in a Soviet Union, he said, “but rather, a Czarist Russia.” He mentioned the destruction of Malaysian Airlines flight 17 in Ukraine this past July as an act of terror and an example of the serious crisis faced by Ukraine under Putin’s threat. “Just how far is Putin prepared to go?” he mused.

Before a final Q and A segment with the Upper School boys, Dr. Protheroe addressed the continuing dispute over the group of East China Sea islands called the Senkakus by Japan and Diaoyu by China. These islands are controlled by Japan but claimed by China and Taiwan as well.

With so much strife going on globally, Dr. Protheroe recognizes it is difficult to make sense of the world as it is right now. He mentioned New York Times columnists David Brooks and Thomas Friedman who cover politics and foreign affairs, which led to this advice to the boys: The key to understanding all that’s happening in the world is to study history and read newspapers as closely as we can, especially as U.S. political parties and their leaders ultimately affect and, indeed, can hamper solutions to many of the world’s crises. View photo.

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Second grade boys, accompanied by teachers Rachel Gerber and Jackie Pellenberg, associate teacher Hallie Fischberg, and parent chaperones, took a bus to the Brooklyn Bridge on October 2. With the East River below, the group walked across the pedestrian promenade of this iconic feature of the New York City skyline. A link between the two boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Bridge, which serves approximately 150,000 vehicles and pedestrians every day, was the longest steel suspension bridge of its day when it opened in 1883.

Every year, Browning’s second grade class pays a visit to the bridge, learning about it beforehand as part of their year-long study of all the city’s boroughs. Just recently, Ms. Gerber educated the boys on the history of the bridge, including its creator, John Augustus Roebling, and the fact that his son, Washington A. Roebling, took over as chief engineer upon his father’s death. (In 1869, just before construction began, J.A. Roebling was injured while taking some compass readings across the East River and died of tetanus three weeks later. Washington's wife, Emily, assisted her husband to see the bridge completed.)

Thanks to a stipend from the Parents Association, Ms. Gerber traveled to San Francisco this past summer to study the Golden Gate Bridge (Read related story here). Because of that opportunity, she was able to share what she learned with the boys. She noted, “I asked them to compare and contrast the Brooklyn Bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge as part of this social studies lesson. They learned, for instance, that both are suspension bridges; each one spans more than 4,000 feet.”

The boys carried clipboards with them to record what they saw during their crossing of the Brooklyn Bridge.  According to Ms. Gerber, the boys are always enthusiastic about their study of bridges, and this particular trip still proves to be one of their favorites. View photos.

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On Wednesday, September 17, Forms V and VI, accompanied by College Guidance Counselor Sanford Pelz, Head of Upper School James Reynolds, Dean of Faculty Michael Ingrisani and history teacher Stephen Jasikoff boarded a coach bus for the School's annual College Trip. Mr. Reynolds reports as follows: After leaving the curb on East 62nd Street at 7:40 a.m., the group traveled to Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., for an information session, tour and lunch. While at F&M, Browning students and faculty were able to catch up with Ani Akpan '14 during the dining hall meal. The next stop on the trip was Gettysburg College, where the boys heard from admission sessions, toured the campus and ate dinner. Farouk Oni '13 dropped by the dining hall to say hello to all and was greeted warmly by members of Form V, many of whom remember his contribution to their Browning experience as a Peer Leader of their Form III class.

Day two took us to the beautiful campuses of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and the University of Richmond for admission sessions, tours and meals. At Richmond the students were very pleased to catch up with Aaron Parisier '14 and Anthony Builder '13.

Our final day on Friday, September 19, included visits to Johns Hopkins University and Loyola University Maryland, both in Baltimore. Kyle Johnson '13, a junior and mechanical engineering major at Hopkins, joined us for lunch. Our last campus visit was paid to Loyola where the boys toured the campus before boarding the bus to return to Browning.

As intended and choreographed by Mr. Pelz, the trip exposed the forms to small liberal arts colleges, large research universities, and schools in between. The students represented Browning admirably and made the trip a pleasure for all. View photos.

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Again this year, the fifth grade boys enjoyed a class trip to Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Conn. This historical port, once a whaling community, has been painstakingly preserved. Accompanied by Messrs. Lisciandrello, Ragsdale and Dunham, the boys also visited the Mystic Aquarium and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. Mr. Dunham noted, "The boys were incredibly invested in learning and made their teachers proud with their thoughtful questions and curiosity." View photos.

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Last week the boys in Grade 6 and Form I enjoyed a Middle School Assembly consisting of a team-building challenge in Central Park. The boys worked together in small groups to successfully complete nine challenges hosted by their teachers. Teachers devised their own unique challenges for the boys, including a rap game, tag, speed charades, “Squares are Fun,” simile challenge, Ping, “Heads Up,” “Human Knot” and the possible uses for a napkin. By participating in physical contests, as well as ones requiring more cerebral problem-solving skills, the boys tested their patience, leadership and team spirit, celebrating with a well-deserved donut treat at the games’ conclusion. View photos.

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The September 18 Lower School Assembly provided an opportunity for Assistant Headmaster/Lower School Head Laurie Gruhn to introduce none other than the Panther mascot and a new birthday tradition. As always, the Panther plays a starring role in giving a handshake or high five to Browning boys celebrating birthdays. When September celebrants were recognized that morning, they chose to come forward or not, with shyness setting in for the youngest boys. Regardless, Ms. Gruhn announced each boy’s name, his birthday date, and presented him with a gift. This year the boys received a badge to adhere to a backpack, etc., in lieu of the pencils given last year.

Ms. Gruhn asked the boys to volunteer what they have been reading lately. She requested that they state the author’s name as well. One boy, who had read the entire series of “Magic Tree House” books by Mary Pope Osborne, explained that while he didn’t like the first one, he loved the last one, as it was “full of adventures.”

Another highlight of the morning was hearing from three Grade Four boys who each provided a synopsis of a current event. Perhaps they were partly inspired by Head of Upper School Jim Reynolds’ advice during Opening Assembly on September 8 when he said, “You are the future of this country and the leaders of tomorrow. Become engaged in the world around you.”

The first news item discussed by the fourth graders concerned an accomplishment many Browning boys might relate to based on their own experience with 3-D printers in technology class. Local Motors, a Phoenix, Arizona-based company, recently introduced the electric Strati car, built from a 3-D printer onsite at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago. The name of the car means “layers” in Italian, giving a nod to the fact that most 3-D printers work by repeatedly layering and building up material to achieve the final product.

The second item highlighted news that California intends to ban disposable plastic bags. In fact, the state is the first to recently pass a bill banning these bags. If signed into law, grocery and retail stores will be prohibited from providing single-use plastic bags and required to charge at least 10 cents for paper bags, compostable bags and reusable plastic bags. The Browning School’s Green Team has been involved with a similar initiative by New York City Council members.

The final current event discussed at the assembly was Microsoft’s expansion of its video game empire. Microsoft recently paid $2.5 billion for Mojang, the company behind the immensely popular building-block video game Minecraft.

Lower School boys can look forward to many more informative assemblies, including Ms. Warner’s discussion of the ever-popular Composer of the Month. Stay tuned! View photos.

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On the first Friday of the school year, College Guidance Counselor Sanford Pelz and Upper School Head James Reynolds accompanied Form VI boys on a retreat to the Sal J. Prezioso Mountain Lakes Park in northern Westchester County for a day of activities, including low- and high-ropes challenges. Mr. Reynolds reports: "The weather was gorgeous, and the boys were enthusiastic and fully engaged with both the activities and each other. Under the guidance of facilitators from the Mountain Workshop, the ropes challenges gave the boys the opportunity to operate in teams as well as to challenge themselves individually. The class worked cohesively on the low-ropes courses and fully supported each member as he pushed himself to try to complete the high-ropes elements."

Mr. Reynolds added, "It was a perfect start for what we all hope will be a very successful year for the Class of 2015. The boys demonstrated all of the qualities that have made this class standouts already: courage, ambition, empathy and 'grytte'. " View photos.

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