The Browning School

On September 21, Browning’s Pre-Primary (PP-K) boys met their fourth grade “Buddies” for the first time! Katherine Kummer, who teaches PP-K, and fourth grade teacher Bill Cantwell worked together to team up each of the younger boys with an older boy. Throughout the year, Buddies meet every two weeks. This first meeting was an exciting one, as each of the PP-K boys received an official badge to be sewn onto their Browning blazer, as well as a handshake from their Buddy. Ms. Kummer and Mr. Cantwell explained the significance of the logo emblazoned on the badge, noting that it features the lamp of learning. They also explained the School’s motto of “Grytte” and the fact that it means they should stay determined and never give up.

Ms. Kummer noted, “As Buddies, the boys share many activities, including art projects, reading to one another, outings to the park and play time together. Many of the fourth grade boys were once PP-K boys, too, and still remember their ‘Fourth Grade Buddies’ fondly! The pairing is a wonderful opportunity for the older boys to take on a role of mentoring and leadership, and strong bonds are quickly formed between the younger and older students. We anticipate a year of fun, learning and camaraderie within the 2012-2013 Pre-Primary/Fourth Grade Buddy partnership!” Click here to view photos.

On the morning of September 19, Forms V and VI boarded a coach bus to begin the annual Browning School College Trip. Led by Director of College Guidance Sanford Pelz, who was accompanied by Head of Upper School Jim Reynolds, English teacher Kevin Dearinger and history teacher Steve Jasikoff, the juniors and seniors spent the next three days exploring the campuses of Drew University, Lehigh University, Muhlenburg University, Villanova University, Swarthmore College, Haverford College, Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania.

On September 19 (a gloriously sunny and temperate day), second grade boys, accompanied by teachers Rachel Gerber and Alison Hilton, along with parent chaperones, took a bus to the Brooklyn Bridge. As the East River sparkled beneath them, 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 its history beforehand as part of their year-long study of all the city’s boroughs. In fact, their teachers quizzed the boys a bit before they disembarked from the bus on Wednesday, asking them about 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, 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.)

The boys each carried a clipboard with them to record what they saw during their crossing, including the Statue of Liberty, Williamsburg and Manhattan Bridges, bikers, boats and so on. The boys also sketched what they saw of the New York City skyline from their vantage point on the bridge. With pencils in hand, many of them were still drawing as they ate their lunch in a nearby park. When asked what they found most interesting about the bridge, they noted the length of it as well as the historical markers and dates along the promenade route. Of course, being able to reach out and touch the cables was definitely a bonus! Click here to view photos.