Beyond the Books – Game Day Prep: ‘Visualization,’ ‘Self-Talk,’ and ‘Focus’ – Care for the Bear

BEYOND

THE BOOKS

NEWS AND NOTEWORTHY EVENTS

GAME DAY PREP

‘Visualization,’ ‘Self-Talk,’ and ‘Focus’

GERRIT COLE OF the New York Yankees and Adam Ottavino of the New York Mets paid a visit to the Middle School in November to discuss their experience as professional athletes.

Boys peppered the famous players with questions: Several students wanted to know how the men prepare for the pressures of game day.

The answers were distinct; since the two pitchers perform different roles on their teams, each prepares in a unique way.

Cole told the boys that as a starting pitcher, he gets to pitch two times a week at most, and so for him, preparation starts a day in advance with a good night’s sleep.

Game day sees Cole wake up “with an edge.”

Middle Schoolers gathered in the outdoor courtyard for a photo with two big-time Major League Baseball players, Adam Ottavino and Gerrit Cole, both of whom live in our local community.

Meditation and a breathing routine allow him to settle down and regulate himself throughout the day, enabling him to stay relaxed and connect with the vibe of the team.

“You want to be a vibe contributor,” he said.

Once at the ballpark, he warms up on the treadmill as he practices self-talk and visualizes how he might handle whatever might come up during the game.

“The visualization is key,” he said. “I think it can be applied to anything. You can probably visualize yourself before you’re going into an SAT.”

Ottavino told the boys his job is a little different; he has to be ready to pitch almost every game, about 9:30 at night, for about 15 minutes. For this, he works to train what he calls his “focus muscle.”

“That intense level of focus — I can do it, but I can’t do it all day long,” he said.

During games, it’s often about the sixth or seventh inning before Ottavino “allows himself to realize” that he might have to compete.

“That usually kicks in that nervous feeling, the fight-or-flight response, which kicks in that high level of focus for me.”

The players spoke with boys following a presentation by history teacher Kyle Miller ’08 on the importance of baseball in American history, and in particular, the return of Major League Baseball to New York City following the 9/11 attacks.

Jamie Cook ’30

Care for the Bear

ATEDDY BEAR has been enlisted to help teach the messages of health and wellness to ’Wick’s youngest.

Emma Eschricht, Pre and Lower School nurse, introduced “Care for the Bear” in October; the initiative has seen boys each receive their very own stuffed bear to help them digest some of the fundamental lessons of self-care. Included are basics such as hand washing and hygiene, changing clothes, eating right, exercise, and brushing your teeth.

First graders were especially excited by the project; they get to keep the bears in their lockers and have made little beds for them to keep them cozy as they also learn about sleep rituals.

The overall goal is to use the bear to discuss a boy’s physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, intellectual, and social needs. These are the five essential elements of health and wellness identified by Brunswick’s new and comprehensive schoolwide initiative — The Center for Wellness, Insight, Courage & Kindness: The ’WICK Center, for short.

“The hope is they will learn to take care of themselves by taking care of the bear,” Eschricht said.

MODEL U.N.

’Wick Students ‘Drive Conversation’

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS took the spotlight for 16 Upper School students who traveled to New Jersey for a weekend forum of diplomatic role playing in

November.

Hosted by Princeton University’s

International Relations Council, the annual Princeton Model United Nations Conference attracts more than a thousand high school students each year to an event billed as the premier Model U.N. symposium for teens.

Brunswick Upper Schoolers represented different countries on committee; cast as delegates, boys were tasked with addressing some of the world’s thorniest problems.

“Many of the boys saw their plans endorsed,” said history teacher Jared Fishman, who serves as advisor to the Brunswick Model U.N. Club. “In a lot of cases, our students were driving conversation.”

ABOVE LEFT Alex Pombo ’26 and Quinn Evans ’26 ABOVE P.K. Karnik ’23 and Tomas Jasson ’23 BELOW Colin Officer ’26, Jared Fishman, Finn O’Sullivan ’26, and Burke Watner ’26

’WICK NORTH

In Vermont, ‘Unplugging’ Continues

AS FALL PROGRESSED, five groups of Upper School sophomores and their faculty advisors ventured north to Brunswick’s campus in Randolph, Vt. As always, journeys to ’Wick North require a complete digital disconnection — bringing even greater meaning to the concept of “face-to-face” interaction.

This year, as pandemic restrictions were relaxed, students were also permitted to travel off-campus for much-appreciated service work in the Randolph community (see page 12).

AUTHOR VISIT

Stories Turn into Books

ADAM GIDWITZ, the author of the best-selling children’s books A Tale Dark and Grimm, In a Glass Grimmly, and The Grimm Conclusion, visited with Middle and Lower School boys in October. “He spoke to the boys about his own life story of struggling a little in school, and having stories in his head that he would act out in play,” said Beth Barsanti, Lower School librarian.

“He didn’t realize until he was a teacher that the stories could become books that kids would love. He had an inspiring message of doing what you love.”

Gidwitz received a 2017 Newbery Honor for The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog.