BRUNSWICK SCHOOL
DECEMBER 2013
MONTHLY MAILING From Where Cometh A Class There are many reasons why parents might be anxious these days. In a Pre K – Grade 12 school such as ours, one issue that can tend to fan the flames of anxiety is the admittance of new students at our various Lower, Middle and Upper School entry points. Parents of boys who have been at Brunswick since Pre or Lower School are often “on the watch” for newcomers whom might displace their son on the Honor Roll or as a contender for some production or team. Clearly, however, excellence is one of Brunswick School’s hallmarks and the addition of new students at our various Middle and Upper School entry points serves both our boys and our school well. Beginning with a Pre K class of 32 boys, over the course of the 14 years until those boys become seniors, each class will literally triple in size to over 90 graduates in senior year. This growth is by design and serves to add strength, diversity and variety to each class as it moves through Pre, Lower, Middle and ultimately Upper School. In a given year, in fact, only about 16% of a Brunswick School graduating class started in Pre K. Yet, no matter when a student enters Brunswick School, their contributions, efforts and talents contribute mightily to the whole. For example, looking at the High Honor Roll for year-end last year, the distribution for a few of our classes was as follows: •
Freshman Year-End High Honor Roll, 2012-2013: 43% entered in Pre School, 13% in Lower School, 19% in Middle School and 25% in Upper School.
•
Senior Year-End High Honor Roll, 2012-2013: 23% entered in Pre School, 6% in Lower School, 25% in Middle School and 44% in Upper School.
And, if we look at athletics for a minute and consider some of the sports that, year after year, seem to cause the most anxiety in terms of team selection, it is worth noting how evenly spread each team’s make-up is in this area as well: • • • • •
Varsity Football, 2013: 23% entered in Pre School, 13% in Lower School, 25% in Middle School and 39% in Upper School Varsity Soccer, 2013: 13% in Pre School, 15% in Lower School, 57% in Middle School and 22% in Upper School. Varsity Basketball, 2013: 60% in Pre School, 7% in Lower School, 7% in Middle School and 27% in Upper School. Varsity Hockey, 2013: 13% in Pre School, 13% in Lower School, 22% in Middle School and 52% in Upper School. Varsity Lacrosse, 2013: 11% in Pre School, 8% in Lower School, 38% in Middle School and 43% in Upper School.
Even more interesting is the following: •
Taking two of the varsity teams that have the highest percentage of players as new students in the Upper School, it is impressive to see how well they perform both individually as well as collectively in the classroom. o o
Varsity Hockey cumulative year-end average: AVarsity Lacrosse cumulative year-end average: B+
Upper school
DECEMBER 2013
From the Upper School Office: December is a notably short and busy month here in the Upper School. While there are actually only 15 days of school this month, each one, seemingly, includes one special event or another. Notes for December: The Brunswick Bookstore has 60 new and slightly used blazers. The size range is from youth size 6 to men's size 44. Please stop by the Upper School Bookstore any day from 8:00-3:00pm to take a look. All blazers are $50. 2nd Interim: The half-way point of the Second Quarter (the 2nd Interim) is Friday, December 6th. As with all Interims, at that time, teachers will write comments for all students who are currently performing at a level below C- in any given course. We are hoping to email those comments home during the second week of December. Dates to Remember in December: 12/2 Christmas Drive begins with delivery on 12/17 12/6 End of 2nd Interim 12/16 Latin Carol Service 7pm Christ Church, Greenwich 12/17 US Holiday Concert 7pm Baker Theater 12/20 Dismissal for Holiday Break 1/6 Classes resume
Latin Carol Service: This wonderfully popular annual tradition will be held this year on Monday, December 16th beginning at 7:00pm at Christ Church, Greenwich. Please join us for an evening of classical readings and song. Upper School Holiday Concert: This year's holiday concert will be held on Tuesday, December 17 at 7pm. The concert will be held at Brunswick’s Baker Theater on the Maher Avenue campus and as space is limited, I encourage all those wishing a seat to arrive promptly!
Holiday Dismissal: Our vacation will begin at the end of classes on Friday, December 20th. Classes will resume on Monday, January 6th. Your sons have worked exceedingly hard since the start of the school year way back in September; they are, of course, looking forward to this well-deserved time away from school. We want to take this opportunity, however, to encourage you to keep time away from school to those days specifically reserved for vacation. Early dismissals and late returns put your son at an academic disadvantage so close to exam time. On behalf of the faculty, we would like to wish you and your family all the best during this special season. Snow Bulletin: If there is a delayed opening or a school cancellation due to bad weather, we will make every attempt to use the Brunswick automated messaging system. Parents may also check the Brunswick School website (www.brunswickschool.org), tune into your local radio stations (WGCH or WSTC), or call the school after 6:00am on the main number (203-625-5800) for cancellation or delay information. Looking Forward: It is worth our emphasizing here how swiftly mid-term exams follow upon our return to school after vacation (please see enclosed schedule). Thus, despite the fact that there is ample time in January for review, it would be wise for your son to reserve some time over the course of the vacation to do some preliminary and well-measured preparation. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!!!!
MIDDLE school
DECEMBER 2013
From Sarah Burdett: The Middle School is in full swing. The boys have worked diligently with final exams and final projects to complete their first trimester. We are already working on goal-setting activities for the new term. In addition, our calendar is full of both musical celebrations as well as special assemblies. We are delighted to welcome author Adam Gidwitz, writer of A Tale Dark and Grimm, to the Middle School in mid-December to share his passion for writing with our boys. As always, we thank you for your support of your boys and our school and wish you a peaceful break. Happy Holidays! Holiday Toy Drive: The Middle School community is busily preparing for our annual Holiday Gift Drive to benefit children and their families in Port Chester, NY. Each homeroom will again “adopt” the same families we reached out to during Thanksgiving and will be responsible for providing gifts for the children. If possible, please encourage the boys to shop for the gifts with you.
Dates to Remember in December: 12/3 FCD 8th Grade Parent/Son Evening 7:00pm 12/5,6 MS Musical 12/6 FCD Parent Coffee Grades 5-7 8:15am 5th Grade Conference Day – No School for 5th Graders Mayfair 12/18 Holiday Choral Concert (5th-8th) – Camuto 7:00pm 12/20 Holiday Break -Regular Dismissal at 1:00pm 1/6 Classes Resume 1/16 Holiday Instrumental Concert (6th-8th) – Camuto at 6:00pm
Reminder: FCD Week: During the week of December 2nd, Glenn Hall - a Freedom from Chemical Dependency representative – will work primarily with 8th graders (although he will spend some time with 6th & 7th graders) and offer an evening session for 8th grade parents and boys, which will take place on Tuesday, December 3rd at 7:00pm in the Camuto Auditorium. We encourage all 8th grade families to attend. For parents of 5th -7th graders who might want to meet with George, we will schedule a coffee at 8:15am on Friday, December 6th in the Dining Hall.
Middle School Musical: We are looking forward to two entertaining performances of Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” on Thursday, th th December 5 at 7:00pm and Friday, December 6 at 3:30pm in the Baker Theater at the Maher Avenue campus. Middle School Winter Concerts: We are once again looking forward to our winter concerts which will give our boys a chance to demonstrate their musical talents. The Choral Concert for Grades 5-8 will also take place in Camuto Auditorium on the evening of Wednesday, December 18th and will begin at 7:00pm. The Instrumental Concert for Grades 6-8 will be performed after the holiday break on Thursday, January 16th , in Camuto Auditorium at 6:00pm. The concerts will last approximately 55 minutes. 5th Graders will be performing only on Wednesday December 18th. Reminder: Cell Phones and I-Pods: Use of cell phones and I-pods is not permitted during the school day. While we understand the need for boys to have phones for coordinating after school plans, they are not to use their phones during the day. Phones must be turned off during school hours. Any communication home must be made from the office. In addition, boys may use I-Pods on the bus to and from school but not during school hours. Holiday Break: Our holiday break will begin on Friday, December 20th with regular dismissal at 1:00pm. Bus service will be available. We will return to school on Monday, January 6th. Please arrange travel plans around these dates. On behalf of the entire Middle School Faculty, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.
PRE
and
LOWER school
DECEMBER 2013
From Katie Signer and Gina Hurd: As the temperature drops, we are encouraging all Pre and Lower School boys to bring a warm jacket, hat and gloves to school. Boys will continue to have outdoor recess time and warm clothes are essential. In addition, we want to remind all Lower School parents that khaki shorts should be put away until after Spring Break. As a reminder, school uniform guidelines require all Lower School boys to wear long pants after Thanksgiving Break. Boys should remember their belts and brown sweaters as well. We were so proud of the 52 third and fourth graders who ran for Student Council offices. Congratulations to our elected officers -President: Warren Klein; Vice President: Charlie Johnson; Secretary: David Walton; Treasurer: Campbell Officer -- and the members at large who will lead the school in our service learning initiatives. Our Student Council advisors, Dr. Das and Mr. Coughlin, noted how pleased they were to see so many boys Dates to Remember in December: run for office, and we commend them for 12/3 Kindergartens to Stepping Stones 9:15-12:15pm delivering their speeches with such courage and 12/4 3rd Gr. to American Indian Studies Museum 8:30-2:15pm poise. In addition to coordinating a successful 12/5 Student Council Meeting 7:40am Food Drive, the Council is now organizing our 12/7 PS/LS Father-Son Breakfast 8:00-10:00am Holiday Giving Tree. Please check out the 12/11 1st Gr. Trip to Nutcracker 9:00-12:00pm Community Service section on the back page of this 12/11 Pre School Holiday Concert 10:00am newsletter to learn more. 12/18 LS Holiday Concert 6:00pm 12/18 Kindergartens to Polar Express 8:45 am -12:00pm Encore Winter Programs: Our winter session 12/19 Student Council Meeting 7:40am of clubs will begin on Monday, January 6th. Please check your son’s Friday Folder on December 6th as 12/19 Encore Ends a description of the offerings should be enclosed. 12/20 All School Holiday Assembly 8:30am All registration forms should be returned to the Lower School Civies Day Lower School office by Tuesday, December 10th. 12/20 Regular Dismissal for Holiday Break 12/21-1/5 Holiday Break Pre Kindergraten Cubs: Our Cubs program is (Classes resume Jan. 6) available to all Pre Kindergarten families whose sons would enjoy an afternoon of stimulating, creative activities, Monday and/or Wednesday from 11:45am dismissal until 2:45pm. If your son is not currently enrolled or you would like to make changes for the second semester, please contact Beth Barsanti at bbarsanti@brunswickschool.org. Father/Son Breakfast at the King Street campus: A great way to start your day! On Saturday, December 7th, all Pre and Lower School dads are invited to our annual Father/Son Breakfast. Come and enjoy a hearty breakfast in the Lower School cafeteria between 8 and 10am. Don’t forget your sneakers, as the Burke Field House and Cosby Field will be available for you and your son to play games and get some early morning exercise. Mitten Tree: Pre School boys are invited to donate mittens, gloves, scarves, hats and warm socks from December 9th -19th. The donated items will serve as tree ornaments, so please feel free to hang them directly on the branches of the tree located in the Pre School Library. We look forward to celebrating the holiday season with all of our families. Under the guidance of Ms. Wamunyu, our Pre and Lower School boys have been working hard to prepare for their holiday concerts. Be sure to mark your calendars and come get in the holiday spirit. All boys are asked to wear long khaki pants and a “festive” holiday sweater. Pre School Holiday Concert : Wednesday, December 11th, 10 am, Baker Theater - Parking will be available in the Pre and Upper School lots. Lower School Holiday Concert: Wednesday, December 18th, 6 pm, Burke Field House Lower School boys should arrive at the Burke Field House between 5:30 and 5:45 pm and will gather in the Wrestling Room. In order to facilitate a smooth dismissal at the end of the concert, we encourage parents to hold on to your son’s coat during the performance. Students will follow a regular Friday dismissal schedule on Friday, December 20th and classes will resume on Monday, January 6th. Please schedule your vacation time accordingly. The Pre and Lower School faculty and staff extend warmest wishes to our families for a joyful, healthy and peaceful holiday season.
BRUNSWICK PARENTS ASSOCIATION NEWS
DECEMBER 2013
President’s Letter December brings to a close the busy fall season and the completion of many wonderful BPA events. I am grateful to the parents, students, faculty, and staff who have spent their time and efforts contributing to the success of these events. Congratulations and a huge thank you to Doreen Griffin, Trisha Dalton and their terrific volunteers for a fantastic Book Fair! I would also like to thank all of the families who have donated to the BPA and our Teacher Appreciation Fund. Your generosity enables us to support and enrich the Brunswick community. Best wishes for a joyful holiday season filled with excitement and delight! Kimberlie Fett, President, Brunswick Parents Association Teacher Appreciation Congratulations to the November raffle winners: Elizabeth Barker, Monica Berisso, Valerie Boyd, David Bruce, Richard Cipolla, Carey Duda, Stephen Duennebier, Tucker Hastings, Deborah Hull, Kevin Landesman, Brett Martell, John Van Atta, and Krista Wynia. Unique prize opportunities this month featured an evening in New York City to see The Late Show with David Letterman including dinner and car service, Yale University Men's Ice Hockey tickets, and an afternoon showing of Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera House. If you are looking for another way to thank our wonderful faculty and staff this holiday season, please consider a gift card to the Teacher Appreciation Committee. Please mail gift cards to Kim Fulton, 13 Anthony Place, Riverside, CT. 06878 or email her at kfulton22@gmail.com. Questions? Contact Kim Fulton (kfulton22@gmail.com) or Barb Baxter (barbbaxter@optonline.net). Bearly Used Closet January sales are everywhere, so the Bearly Used Closet is joining in the fun! During the week of January 13, all sports equipment will be priced at $5 each – including our inventory of ice skates. Come and stock up for the season! Book Fair Thank you to all who came to shop at the “Reading Rocks” Book Fair! We hope you enjoyed the Kickoff Party as well as the talents of “Amazing Andy!!” We especially want to thank all the volunteers who contributed their time and creativity to help make this year's Book Fair a huge success. We could not have done it without our committee chairs: Kickoff Party- Paola Coughlin, Jen Le and Dominique Crosby Set-Up Logistics- Jenny Klein and Jill Weiss Classroom and Library Donations- Maritza Block and Sarah Meindl Technology- Christine Walker, Jackie Homan and Wendy Pilsbury Bookmark Contest- Kristan Saad and Suzanne West Merchandise- Kristen Donovan Decorations – Lisa Charney Treasurer – Kristin Price Special Titles – Nicole Heath Pre School Liaison – Nan Pozios Communications- Lisa Lejdstrom A very big thank you also goes to those who contributed books to enhance our libraries and classrooms. A huge round of applause goes to Rohan Das ’14 and Shane Kirsch who rocked the entrance to the Field House as well as to our parent authors Owen West and Elisabeth Hasselbeck who discussed their works at the fair. Finally, we would like to say a big thank you to Sunil Gupta and his technology team and Chuck Redahan and his maintenance team for the support they give this event year after year. Reading Rocks! Doreen Griffin and Trisha Dalton. Assemblies Assemblies is thrilled to host author and speaker Adam Gidwitz on December 11 at the Middle School where he will conduct a school-wide assembly and workshops for the students. Once upon a time, Adam was teaching second grade in Brooklyn and then, one day his first book, A Tale Dark and Grimm, hit the bookstores. In this deliciously scary novel, Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm tales, fleeing countless ogres and demons along the way. As one reviewer said, "It's easy to imagine parents keeping their kids up late so they can read just one more chapter aloud, kids finishing it off under the covers with a flashlight, and parents sneaking into their kids' rooms to grab it off the night stand and finish it themselves." Adam's debut novel was followed by In a Glass Grimmly and just last month the final volume in the trilogy, The Grimm Conclusion was published. All three are guaranteed to keep your boys reading well past bedtime!
BRUNSWICK PARENTS ASSOCIATION NEWS
DECEMBER 2013
Pre School And Lower School Skate Night Join us Saturday, January 11 from 3:00-5:30pm. Pre School boys have the ice from 3:00-4:00pm at which point they are joined by the rest of the lower school students and siblings. A fabulous Bruins Hockey jersey is available for purchase at http://bwick.org/sk8night14. Beginners are encouraged to come join the fun and skate in a special safety zone. Helmet and gloves are necessary. The Bearly Used Closet will have a table at the event for swapping or purchasing skate items. Volunteers are still needed for food, drinks and help the day of the event. Please sign up online at: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D4FAFAB238-brunswick Contact Kimberly Johnson (kimdelaney67@aol.com) or Tammy Kiratsous (tammy@kiratsous.net) with any questions.
Mayfair - To the parents of all 5th and 6th graders The 5th and 6th grades had their third Mayfair dance on Friday, November 15. It was another successful evening! We had almost perfect attendance in both grades. The boys and the girls learned some new dances and had lots of fun. We look forward to our next Mayfair dance on Friday, December 6, which will be our Holiday Party. Please contact Carol Henderson (cbhend@optonline.net) or Cate Nutting (ccnutting@gmail.com) with any questions. ‘Wickends - To the parents of all 7th and 8th graders Save the Date! Our next joint 7th and 8th grade ‘Wickends event will be held at the Sampson Athletic Center on Saturday, January 11, from 7-9:00pm. There will be skating, basketball, ping-pong, music and much more! Contact Stephanie Hoover (stephanie@hooverfamily.com) or Gail Reynolds (greynolds1@aol.com) with any questions or if you wish to sign up. It is not too late to join in the fun! Middle School Performing Arts Searching for a seat at a Mad Tea Party? Look no further than the ever-popular Middle School Fall Musical. Tickets are now on sale for this year’s production of “Alice in Wonderland,” featuring the talents of 7th and 8th graders from both Brunswick and Greenwich Academy. Performances will be held at Brunswick’s Baker Theater on Thursday, December 5, at 7pm, and Friday, December 6, at 3:30pm. There is also a dress rehearsal on Wednesday, December 4, at 5pm. Tickets can be purchased online at: http://www.brunswickschool.org/tickets. Buy your tickets early – you won’t want to miss it! Upper School Performing Arts November was a busy month for Brunswick's Performing Arts department. "The Real Inspector Hound" ran for three successful performances in Baker Theater. Congratulations to the hard-working and talented cast and crew, and to Seth Potter, Matthew Kirby-Smith, and Abby Redmond for bringing such a fine production to the stage. Brunswick actors were also on stage at Greenwich Academy's Massey Theatre, performing in the production of "Little Women, the Musical." Arts activities will continue through December. We encourage you to attend the School's annual Latin Carol Service on Monday December 16 at 7pm at Christ Church in Greenwich. This event features Brunswick's a cappella group (donned in tuxedos) performing seasonal songs, and special readings by Brunswick Classics Department faculty and students (in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin texts). That same week, the always-delightful Holiday Concert will be held in Baker Theater on December 17 at 7pm. This event is sure to bring some holiday cheer, with instrumental and vocal ensembles performing under the direction of Paul Raaen, Shane Kirsch, and Alexander Constantine. Hernando Alzate, renowned Columbian contemporary artist, will be exhibiting recent work in the gallery outside Baker Theater, from November 11 until December 14. Thank you for supporting the Performing Arts at Brunswick!
From Sue Das and Brian Coughlin, Lower School Student Council Advisors:
Lower School Thanksgiving Food Drive Wrap Up: The Lower School Student Council completed its Annual Food Drive. This year’s donations will benefit the Lower Fairfield County Food Bank. A van from the Bank, eagerly loaded by representatives from our recently formed Student Council, collected the items prior to our Thanksgiving Break. Thank you to all the Lower School boys for their donations. Pre School Holiday Gift Collection: Pre School families are invited to participate in a holiday gift collection sponsored by HappyKidsCare. This initiative is being led by Max Konzerowsky, a Brunswick 4th grader and older brother of Jack in Pre Kindergarten. For those interested, an information flyer will be distributed in Friday Folders. Lower School “Giving Tree” Service Project: This year, the Lower School will host a ”Giving Tree” that will adorn our Lower School atrium. All boys and teachers are encouraged to bring a gift card or an unwrapped gift for a child or teenager and place it beneath the tree. All proceeds will be delivered to the local organization, Kids in Crisis. As we seek to help others in need, we are hopeful this project will focus the attention of our community on the spirit of giving. Donations may be brought to the atrium anytime between December 9th and 13th. Stay tuned for more specific details from our Student Council in the weeks to come.
From Neil Minsky, Director of Middle School Community Service: December is a busy month, yet our commitment to serving others in our community stays strong. Our 8th grade students continue to visit their monthly sites, and the feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Led by our Middle School President, Hayden Hoover and fellow classmate Timmy Kenny, our boys conducted a week-long winter clothing drive for The Children’s Collective, an organization that collects clothes for children and families in need. Later in November, every homeroom collected items for Thanksgiving. The overflowing baskets of food were delivered by members of the Student Council where they will later be given to nearly thirty families so they can have a wonderful Thanksgiving with their loved ones. Many thanks to the boys that came out for Open House on November 10. Not only did they serve as excellent tour guides, they were shining examples of Brunswick boys and perfectly represented our School.
From Johnny Montanez, Director of Upper School Community Service: December promises to be as busy as November! Here are some of the projects Upper School students will be undertaking in the month ahead: Please help support the Pacific House by donating blankets, bed sheets, and/or towels. These donations can be brought directly to the Upper School lobby or feel free to contact Chris Peisch ‘16 for more information. Neighbor to Neighbor food drive donations will be collected the week of December 16th and will be delivered on Thursday, December 19th. Non-perishable donations can be dropped off in the front foyer of the Upper School. Christmas Drive – Advisors and advisees kick-off this annual project on Monday, December 2nd and gifts are due on Tuesday, December 17th. Delivery day will be on Wednesday, December 18th. And items of note from November: The Third Annual Turkey Bowl was a smashing success, collecting more than $2,500 to be donated to student-selected charities and to purchase holiday gifts in December. After putting together food baskets for Thanksgiving, the kids turned out in record numbers for this afternoon of fun! Thank you to all those who participated! Please visit the School’s website to view photos. Congratulations to all of those students who participated in our November Midnight Run! Stay tuned for the next Run, scheduled for the spring.
Brunswick School
100 Maher Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830 ď Ą 1252 King Street Greenwich, CT 06831 (203) 625-5800
December 2013 Sun
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*Classes resume
8th Grade Parent/Son FCD Night, 7pm
MS Play Baker Theater (Maher Ave), 7pm
*MS FCD Week
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*Joint BPA Meeting at GA, 10am *GA/BWK Alumni Holiday Party University Club, NYC 6pm
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Dismissal for Holiday Break
*LS Holiday Concert Burke Fieldhouse, 6pm *MS Choral Concert Camuto Auditorium, 7pm
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Christmas Day
Holiday Break
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*PS/LS Father/Son Breakfast *ERB/ISEE Testing
PS Holiday Concert Baker Theater, 10am
18 US Holiday Concert Baker Theater, 7pm
Latin Carol Service Christ Church, Greenwich 7pm
*End of 2nd Interim (US) *Gr 5 Conference NO SCHOOL for Gr 5 *FCD Grade 5-7 Coffee *MS Play, Baker, 3:30pm *Mayfair at PS
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Holiday Break Classes Resume January 6, 2014