Form VI boys, their families and the entire Browning community gathered to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2017 during graduation exercises on June 14 at Christ Church. Head of School John M. Botti, President of the Board of Trustees Valda M. Witt, and Head of Upper School James E. Reynolds presented diplomas to each member of the graduating class. Conor P.D. Harkins ‘17, president of the Upper School Student Council, offered parting remarks and best wishes to his fellow graduates. He was pleased to note that members of the senior class reached 100% participation in their class gift effort, raising a total of $7,691.13 and setting a record for Form VI fundraising. These funds have been allocated toward the renovation of the Cook Room. Click here to read more details and view photos.

Form VI boys annually participate in Senior Projects during the last three weeks of the school year, volunteering with nonprofit organizations across the city. After a welcome from their advisor, Janet Lien, who is director of Middle and Upper School admission, the boys reported on their work to members of the Browning community, including the faculty and Form V boys, on June 12. Click here to read more details and view photos.

Tradition calls for Lower School Closing to take place at Christ Church, where the end of the school year is celebrated in song, dance and parting remarks. This year’s event took place on June 9, a beautiful sunny day for the boys’ stroll to and from Browning.  Head of Lower School/Assistant Head Laurie Gruhn welcomed the community and congratulated the boys on their accomplishments throughout their Lower School years. Click here to read more details and view photos. 

Director of Athletics Andrew West '92 spoke on behalf of the entire Browning community in praise of the Panthers! All of our Browning athletes are to be commended for their dedication, hard work and sportsmanship during this past spring season. Highlights as reported by Coach West are as follows:

Varsity Baseball:
2017 NYCAL Postseason Champions for second consecutive year
2017 NYCAL Team Sportsmanship Award (as voted on by opposing coaches)

Varsity Tennis:
2017 NYCAL Regular Season Champions
2017 NYCAL Postseason Tournament Champions

Varsity Track:
First Place Overall for Boys at the NYCAL Track Championship Meet

Click here to view photos and individual reports for Varsity Baseball, Varsity Tennis, Varsity Track, Varsity Golf, 7th & 8th Grade Baseball.

Third graders celebrated their writing and research achievements with the third annual Dutch Day and a publishing party of stories they wrote.

June 6 was a celebration of that grade's third annual Dutch Day, with parents and members of the Browning community on hand to admire the boys' research describing life in Colonial New Amsterdam.

The prior morning, the third graders rejoiced in the completion of the stories they had written using the famed author, Chris Van Allsburg, as a mentor. Click here to read more details and view photos.

As the school year is drawing to a close, Lower School boys have been showcasing their acting and spelling skills. 

The Lower School Drama Club staged “Cast Aways” under the direction of Sarah Murphy, who described the play as follows: “It’s ‘Gilligan’s Island’ meets ‘Endgame’ in a post-climate-catastrophe future.” 

Pre-primary boys proudly presented a play inspired by the book, ‘One,’ by Katherine Otoshi. The play conveyed a wonderful message about kindness and working together, which aligns with the Pre-primary curriculum.

Lastly, the Laura P. Muhlfeld Lower School Spelling Bee included finalists from Grades Two, Three and Four. A majority of the finalists held out longer than in any previous competition. Click here to view photos and more details.

Browning’s technology department proudly showcased its education program to parents and community members in the Kurani Gym on May 31.  Tech Expo 2017 featured interactive projects and demos from each grade, as well as solo projects by the Upper School boys. Guests had the opportunity to learn first-hand how computer science, engineering and design are used creatively for expression and function. Click here to view photos.

According to Coaches Lauck Blake and Matt Brown, the Lower School boys worked together and competed with their classmates in a variety of sporting activities at this year’s Lower School Field Day in May. They offer the following report:

Heavy rains caused Randall’s Island fields to be closed, therefore providing the opportunity for the boys to enjoy an indoor field day in the Kurani Gym. Each grade level wore the same color shirt, and each boy was provided with a wristband of blue, orange, yellow or green. The final score of the games had little value, as the spirit of the day was to spend time competing and having fun playing games. Click here to read more details and view photos.

The final Parents Association meeting of the school year began with the joyous sounds of the Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi's music performed by the Browning Ovation Orchestra. Music Department Chair Lucy Warner reports: "With Jonathan Ragonese, director of the orchestra, conducting, it was obvious to all in the audience that this orchestra has made great strides since its debut six years ago as a small string ensemble of five musicians. Now featuring 18 instrumentalists, the Ovation Orchestra includes woodwinds and percussion in addition to a vibrant strings section of violinists, cellists and a guitarist. With the enthusiastic applause and cheers that followed the performance, one word in particular brought a smile to the musician's faces: 'Bravo!' " Click here to view photos.

Parents and Lower School boys spent the first hour of their day on May 23 in the cafeteria, where they hosted their parents, siblings and other family members for the annual Lower School Science Exhibition. The boys and their science teachers, Julia Kingsdale and Sam Keany, had set up an impressive array of science projects, which the students were eager to explain in exacting detail. This morning of scientific discovery and sharing of knowledge represents a culmination of experimentation and modification. Click here to read more and view photos.