The fourth grade traveled to Citi Field on May 22 to watch the Mets play the Cincinnati Reds. Fourth grade teacher Bill Cantwell reports: The boys got to see the new Mets' pitching star, Matt Harvey, in action. As one boy put it, "It was the best field trip ever!" The boys enjoyed their fill of hot dogs, sodas and cotton candy. Unfortunately, the Mets ended up on the losing end, but a great time was had by one and all!" Click here to view photos.
Form I boys visited the New American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 21. Accompanied by faculty members Mary Boswell, Steve Jasikoff and Elizabeth Cooper-Mullin., they viewed a number of impressive sculptures, paintings and period rooms, including the ballroom in which President George Washington celebrated his last birthday.
Before entering the museum, the boys enjoyed lunch in a shady spot on the front steps, complete with an impromptu serenade by a doo wop group. With clipboards in hand, they later toured the New American Wing (expanded with new galleries added and re-opened in January, 2012) where they discussed what they saw with their teachers and answered a number of questions based on personal observations and prior classroom discussions.
The boys were fortunate to view Gilbert Stuart’s portrait, “George Washington,” as well as one of the best-known works in all of American art, Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze’s 1851 painting, “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” The museum’s website notes that “for the re-hanging of this magnificent work, a large and stately gilded frame has been painstakingly recreated by Eli Wilner & Company from a recently discovered photograph of the painting from 1864.”
The boys and teachers had their group photo taken in the Charles Engelhard Court in the American Wing, a glassed-in courtyard featuring large-scale American sculptures and stained-glass windows. They posed in front of the facade of the Branch Bank of the United States, a neoclassical structure, and viewed Hiram Powers’ adjacent sculpture, “California,” inspired by the California Gold Rush of 1849, before walking to the other side of the courtyard to view the loggia and stained glass windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany for Laurelton Hall, his home in Long Island. Click here to view photos.
Athletic Director Andrew West ‘92 reports on the recent sports season: This spring was once again a very successful one. It all started with an amazing trip to Port St Lucie, where the varsity baseball team was able to practice and play under the beautiful Florida sun. Going in to the season, the coaches and I were worried that we had a large number of freshman and not as many upper classmen. However, soon after the first practice, we were encouraged by the skills of the newcomers! The teams all did very well, mostly finishing in the top half of The New York City Athletic League (NYCAL). Varsity tennis players once again went undefeated in league play and won first place at the post-season tournament. Varsity baseball players finished in third place in the regular season but lost in the first round of the playoffs. Varsity track continued their success by qualifying many boys for the championships and NYSAIS track meet. Speaking of NYSAIS, Browning will once again be represented in track this year in the state meet! All and all, it has been a very special year and one that I, as athletic director, am very proud to have been a part of. Here’s to the Class of 2013 and the rest of the 86% of the Upper School boys who participated on Browning athletic teams in 2012-13. Go, Panthers! Read highlights of the each spring sport: Varsity Baseball, 7th/8th Grade Baseball, Varsity Tennis, Varsity Track, and Varsity Golf. Watch a video slideshow of all of the 2012-13 sports below.
Browning Athletics 2012-13 and Class of 2013 Tribute
Browning Athletics 2012-13 from Browning on Vimeo.
On May 10, the day after Alumni Reunion, Dr. Linton Wells II ’63 graciously spoke to the Upper School boys in an assembly about his work with a division of STAR-TIDES (Sharing To Accelerate Research-Transformative Innovation for Development and Emergency Support). Dr. Wells is interim director of Research at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., as well as interim director of the Institute for National Strategic Studies. He also heads the Center for Technology and National Security Policy and is a Distinguished Research Professor.
Dr. Wells is specifically involved with TIDES, which is part of STAR-TIDES. TIDES is a research effort that promotes sustainable support to stressed populations – post-war, post-disaster or impoverished, in foreign or domestic contexts, for short-term or long-term (multi-year) operations . According to its website, the project “provides reach-back ‘knowledge on demand’ to decision-makers and those working in the field. It uses public-private partnerships and ‘whole-of-government’ approaches to encourage unity of action among diverse organizations where there is no unity of command, and facilitates both inter-agency and international engagement.” In practice, TIDES studies the application of a comprehensive range of technological and social responses to stressed populations, advising military, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGO's) in their efforts to deliver relief.
Sam Keany, chair of the science department and dean of students, reports: Dr. Wells was introduced by Midshipman James Brisotti ‘12, who, following Dr. Wells, is the second Browning graduate to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. Dr. Wells described the approaches taken by TIDES. “The technology must be appropriate for the population. It is no use for a shiny piece of equipment to break in six months if there is no way for the local users to repair it.” He demonstrated how simple devices such as silvered cardboard solar ovens could heat water over a period of hours to cook two meals a day. Rugged “One Laptop per Child” computers could be powered with simple hand crank generators by an active eight-year-old. A big coffee can may be cut into a very efficient stove which reduces the need for scarce firewood. A plastic bubble-wrap bag can serve as an effective water purification device. Dr. Wells emphasized that the technology is only part of the solution. “The sociology is at least as important as the technology.” TIDES discovered that to empower women with efficient LED flashlights, the lights needed to be colored pink so that they would not be stolen by the men! Dr. Wells admitted that TIDES had a small staff and that they seek solutions from many avenues. He would particularly welcome solutions thought out by students, especially Browning students!
Prior to coming to the National Defense University, Dr. Wells served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 1991-2007, serving last as the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense. In addition, he served as the acting assistant secretary and chief information officer of the Department of Defense (DoD) for nearly two years. He has been with the DoD for 49 years. During his 26 years as a naval officer, he served on a variety of surface ships, including command of a destroyer squadron and guided missile destroyer. He holds a B.S. in physics and oceanography from the U.S. Naval Academy, a M.S.E. in mathematical sciences and a Ph.D. in international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He was the first U.S. naval officer to attend the Japanese National Institute for Defense Studies in Tokyo. He has thrice been awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.
Dr. Wells entered Browning in the fall of 1958 with the Class of 1962. In 1960, he left Browning for one year to live aboard the trans-Atlantic liners going back and forth to the Mediterranean. He returned to Browning in 1961 and graduated with the Class of 1963. In 1995, he received Browning’s Alumnus Achievement Award. Dr. Wells most recently served as one of Browning’s 50th Reunion Chairs and was recognized as one of three most outstanding Class Representatives during the Stephen S. Perry ’76 Memorial Class Representative Awards ceremony at Alumni Reunion. Click here to view photos.
At a May 9 Middle School Assembly, Jason Wood of Save the Children spoke to Browning boys about this organization and its efforts. 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.”
Mr. Wood showed the boys two videos, the first of which featured Save the Children’s partnership (in celebration of Mother’s Day) with Carter’s to help less fortunate mothers in America by providing them with “the support and education they need to give their babies a better start on life.” The second video focused on Save the Children’s World Marathon Challenge which raises awareness of World Food Day, held every October, and the urgent need to fight childhood hunger and malnutrition. Head of Middle School Chris Dunham hopes that The Browning School boys will join with other New York City students in organizing an event in conjunction with the World Marathon Challenge.
At the end of the assembly, the boys presented a check in the amount of $2,500 to Mr. Wood to benefit those aided by Save the Children. Click here to view photos.
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