Spring 2026
The Brunswick Trust Sharing Experiences, Building Relationships
Summer is here , bringing new opportunities to find time for cherished connection with family and friends — a welcome respite after an especially lively spring season. Just as it always does, the May calendar filled up with an actual whirlwind of activity, all of it coming to a swift conclusion with end-of-school exercises. Throughout the year, Brunswick boys built relationships — with themselves, with their classmates, with Bruins in other divisions, and with the larger community. Boys cultivated the kind of respectful relationships that reflect the values of the Brunswick Trust and the school, creating bonds that will help them continue to grow into thoughtful, compassionate, healthy, and responsible young men.
Character & Leadership
Brunswick families are invited to create a shared experience this summer by listening to, instead of reading, this year’s Brunswick Trust Summer Read.
The selection for the 12th annual community read is Malcolm Gladwell’s The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, A Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War.
Brunswick Trust Coordinator Kate Duennebier said the book details grisly details of the U.S. attack on Tokyo during World War II and lends itself to reflection as it explores the “morality of technology and the slip of advancement beyond our control.”
“It is the backstory and precursors to what is called ‘the darkest night of the Second World War’ that distinguish Gladwell’s account,” Duennebier wrote in a letter to parents.
The Bomber Mafia book had an unusual beginning; it started as an audiobook and then went into print.
“By listening, we not only get access to Gladwell’s signature podcast style with original interviews and archival footage, but families also can enhance the community experience by listening together,” Duennebier said.
Faculty in all divisions and students in grades 9-12 and their parents are invited to join in the experience of this shared “read.”
“We find that the official follow-ups in the fall merely supplement the organic conversations that ensue when people are digesting the same information and experiencing the same piece of art,” Duennebier wrote.
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Character & Leadership
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A first-ever eighth grade Lip Sync Battle kicked off Middle School Field Day this spring, a fitting culmination of a year that saw eighth graders often deputized in leadership roles.
Organized for the second time by Houses and Dens, Field Day is, of course, the spring tradition that sees boys leave the classroom behind for a day of games and team-building. Eighth graders in each House rehearsed and performed a song for a rousing Lip Sync Battle that set the stage for a day of fun and sportsmanship.
“They brought the spirit right from the start,” Duennebier said.
Last fall, eighth graders helped kick off the second year of the House and Den program during Opening Ceremonies. Tasked with greeting and welcoming new Middle Schoolers, they introduced new students and included at least two things they had learned about their new classmates.
The House & Den program was created to maintain and ultimately enhance connections in the Middle School. The four Houses are Grizzly, Kodiak, Sun, and Polar.
About 14 specially selected sixth graders visited first grade classrooms in the Lower School to work with their younger schoolmates in a variety of roles mainly chosen by teachers. To be considered for these leadership roles, Sixth Grade Readers submitted a paragraph describing why they would make a great candidate to work with younger students. They visit classrooms about seven times a year, working with first graders on reading and other tasks for about 40 minutes.
The eighth annual Brunswick Union debate took place in April in Baker Theater. The debate, led by the Upper School Debate Club with advisor and English teacher Lia Mehos, has been
sparking respectful conversations around hot-topic issues — and promoting civil discourse — since 2018. This year’s topic was: Should America Enact an Isolationist Foreign Policy in the 21st Century?
“Paramount is the ability to be informed, to speak from a place of knowledge, and to listen and be able to reason back — and not always agree,” Duennebier said.
“This is more about process than product.”
The Lower School Student Council had a busy spring, with fourth grade ambassadors visiting classrooms to speak the language of The Brunswick Trust to their younger schoolmates. Lessons included:
• Greeting, Courage, Honor, and Truth: Boys spoke about the importance of a strong first impression, the Brunswick motto, and about representing the school well while on spring break.
• Kindness and Self Control: Ambassadors checked in about the schoolwide kindness challenge, encouraging all 216 boys to participate in and share the kindness they are seeing at school. Each classroom played Brunswick Trivia, practicing self-control by stopping and thinking before answering questions.
• Challenge Accepted: The final ambassador visit featured conversation around all 18 Lower School Brunswick Trust words, reminding boys to keep them in mind as they head into summer. Ambassadors also discussed the individual and class challenges boys accepted throughout the year and set a goal or challenge for the summer.
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The Student Council also partnered with Welcome Baby for a second year in a row. The Student Council packed 35 boxes with essential items for newborns; the boxes were delivered to local hospitals to give to low-income moms.
Lower School boys developed some definite “can-do” muscle this year, as shown by their success organizing themselves, by grade level, into the letters W, I, C, and K on Robert L. Cosby Field this spring.
Boys completed the task in a special Field Day challenge in very impressive time of one minute and 38 seconds — a huge improvement over their efforts last fall, when they struggled over three separate tries to complete it in five minutes or less.
“Victory!” Lower School Head Katie Signer exclaimed.
Last fall, this special undertaking helped kick off the Challenge Accepted! theme of the 2025-26 year at the Lower School.
Lower Schoolers took it up a notch this spring; they not only spelled out the word ’WICK in a snap, but they also added the challenging numerals “2026” in an impressive display of teamwork.
“Clearly the boys had learned to listen, look around, and recognize that they are a part of something bigger than themselves,” Signer said.
Manners are the focus of an afterschool Little Gentlemen’s Club for Pre Schoolers. Now in its third year, the club was created by Liz Fessenden. Boys practice how to interact with others in a polite, kind, and respectful manner. Topics include table manners, active listening, greetings, sportsmanship, thank-you notes, and gratitude.
“This club sets manners into motion through creativity and fun!” Fessenden said.
The Brunswick Trust
Diversity & Inclusion
Upper School Diversity in Action hosted its end-of-the-year barbecue on the Maher Avenue lawn, celebrating seniors who are graduating as they also took stock of the hard work and bravery that have brought courageous conversations to the school community.
The club meets on Tuesday evenings and plays a key role in planning and supporting campus programs, including the annual “A Global Brunswick” event, Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations, and other initiatives that promote community, belonging, and cultural awareness.
This year’s barbecue served as an occasion to visit with recently retired founding advisor Marianne Barnum and also announce the new DIA student leadership for 2026-27: Joshua Greene ’27 and Caden Tate ’27 will serve as co-presidents; Miles Gregory ’28 as vice president; Gavin Kirsch ’28 as treasurer; Matias Salazar ’29 as sophomore representative; and Theodore Simon ’28 as junior representative.
Upper School DIA also partners with the Sacred Heart Greenwich Diversity Club to discuss topics related to community and belonging, and to support community projects during the fall and spring semesters.
In April, DIA members visited Sacred Heart to participate in a community service project benefiting underserved children in nearby Port Chester. Students organized and packed backpacks filled with supplies for summer camp, which were donated to the Don Bosco Community Center. As faculty advisor Alecia Thomas noted, “This is such an incredible partnership.”
Brunswick lacrosse players hosted athletes from Bronx Lacrosse and Harlem Lacrosse for day-long mini-clinics complete with pizza and refreshments.
In both sessions, Brunswick seventh and eighth graders scrimmaged Middle School teams from the Bronx and from Harlem. After both scrimmages, boys ate lunch and then watched a ’Wick varsity lacrosse game together.
In addition, ’Wick families donated sticks, gloves, and cleats to a Bronx Lacrosse equipment drive.
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The Brunswick Trust
Bronx Lacrosse and Harlem Lacrosse use the game to build community and improve opportunities for underserved middle school and high school students.
“Both events were a success and a celebration of lacrosse and of community,” coach Thomas Brill said.
Director of Diversity and Inclusion Alecia Thomas was joined by nine Brunswick faculty members and administrators at the REACH Prep Spring Luncheon at the Westchester Country Club in April. The luncheon is an annual celebration of the achievements by REACH Prep scholars and also served as a place to introduce a new cohort of scholars, including one young man who is entering Brunswick in the fall.
Eighth graders visited Washington, D.C., in April, when they spent a jam-packed four days visiting monuments, museums, and memorials that memorialize World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, as well as Martin Luther King, Jr., Thomas Jefferson, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Boys also visited the National Museum of African American History & Culture, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. Capitol, and the Lincoln Memorial.
“Boys describe The Holocaust Museum as particularly arresting, impactful, and a lifelong memory, while the other museums are also memorable touchstones for the content and facts they’ve been taught, giving tangible substance to their classroom learning,” Class Dean Anthony Fischetti said.
“Needless to say, the camaraderie and brotherhood shared by the boys on this final Middle School trip, away from campus together as the Class of ’30, is also a crowning divisional takeaway.”
Brunswick celebrated Cinco de Mayo with special luncheons featuring Mexican cuisine. At the Upper School, the luncheon was held outside, with a Mariachi band and an extensive menu of Mexican food lovingly prepared over a period of days by the chefs and staff of Brunswick’s food service provider. Menu
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items included pozole soup with pork, chicken and hominy corn, cilantro citrus braised chicken tamales, guajillo pepper roasted chicken and cheese enchiladas, and much more.
“It was amazing,” said Herberth Melgar, food service director. “We made 600 pounds of brisket! It was lovely to do everything outside. When everyone is happy, nothing feels better.”
Fifth graders wrapped up their 2025-26 Trust Time lessons by exploring the concept of sonder, which connects the many lessons discussed throughout the year.
“Sonder is the profound realization that every person is living a life as vivid, complex, and detailed as one’s own,” said Sean Stanley, associate director of diversity and inclusion. “While each individual is the main character in his own story, he is simultaneously a background figure in countless others.”
Stanley said the concept encouraged boys to reflect on the importance of empathy, perspective, and human connection, reinforcing the themes of understanding and compassion emphasized throughout the year.
Members of the new Middle School club LEAD collaborated with other student leaders to create a wrap-up video that highlights student growth through Trust Time experiences and engagement with The Brunswick Trust.
Students from each grade level shared lessons they learned through their Trust Time themes and provided examples of how they applied those lessons during the school year.
“The video concluded with messages from faculty members expressing hope for the future as the boys continue to grow into thoughtful, compassionate, and responsible young men,” Stanley said.
The project was filmed and edited by Jack O’Hara ’30.
Library Trust Time in the Lower and Pre School featured books and lessons to mark Asian American Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, and themes of grit, determination, and inclusion.
Lower Schoolers enjoyed the storybook Magic Ramen: The Story of Momufuco Ando by Andrea Wang. The book tells the story of food lines and hunger in Japan in the aftermath of World War II and how Momufuco Ando worked diligently to create a quick and convenient food to help feed people.
“He failed multiple times,” Thomas said. “The book was a way to highlight Asian American Heritage Month and also determination to never give up.”
Trust Time for Lower Schoolers also featured a lesson in Jewish American heritage and another lesson that showcased the book Rainbow Shopping by Qing Zhuang. The book details the life of a first generation Asian American child who explores her heritage through a trip to the grocery store.
Trust Time for Pre Schoolers featured Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems. It’s the story of Elephant and Piggie, who make sure a new friend does not feel left out even though he is different from them.
Pre and Lower School boys in CUBs (Culturally United Bruins) finished off their year learning about the power of words, especially how they connect and unite us. Boys and their families gathered on the Lake Avenue Campus for a CUBs event, at which boys painted kindness rocks and decorated smooth stones with uplifting words and colorful messages. They learned about the power of words after hearing The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds.
The Brunswick Trust
Health & Wellness
Two scientists and experts in the field of gut health and the gut microbiome spoke to students in Baker Theater this spring.
Robert Baldassano, M.D., and Joseph Zackular, Ph.D. were introduced by Marco Sethi ’27, who took the time to remind his classmates about a lesson from biology class. Serving as a Health & Awareness Ambassador, Sethi described the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and, especially, how simple prokaryotic microbes in the gut far outnumber the more complicated eukaryotic cells in the human body.
“Here’s the twist: these smaller cells might actually be running the show!” he said.
Baldassano is a professor of pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and a board-certified pediatric gastroenterologist at the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP). Zackular is an assistant professor at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania; both he and Baldassano are also co-directors of Center for Microbial Medicine at CHOP.
The two took the stage in Baker Theater to explain that many studies have shown how the microbiome plays a role in everything from anxiety to cancer to athletic performance, and experts are working to bring the promising science around it directly to patient care.
Baldassano also told the boys about his 10 years of medical training and that he has a personal interest in his career choice — he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease while still in his 20s.
It was his mom who first put the notion of finding a cure in his mind — she offered the idea that somebody, somewhere would be working on a remedy.
“I thought, maybe I could be one of those somebodies,” Baldassano said, adding as he looked around Baker Theater: “Everybody in this room could be one of those somebodies.”
Baldassano and Zackular gave a separate evening talk for parents. Their visit served as the second installment of the 2025–26 ’WICK Center Speaker Series, now in its fourth year.
Health & Wellness Director Marcie Molloy, meanwhile, brought the science of the gut-brain connection to seventh graders in two lessons this spring. She taught two science classes on the gut/digestive system biome. The first class included lectures and discussions on the anatomy and physiology of the human digestive system. The second class focused on how the balance of gut bacteria is important for health, well-being, disease prevention, mental health, and performance.
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The Brunswick Trust
Upper School Health & Wellness ambassadors and students created videos to share, featuring tips and tools for stress management, mental fitness, and performance. The tools included things like box breathing, body and environment scans and check-ins, journaling, listening to music, mantras, object grounding, meditation, humor, positive self-talk — and being “like a goldfish” with short memory of failings. The videos were shared with Upper School students prior to exams and will also be shared with Middle School students.
“This is a great way for Upper School students to mentor younger students from afar and make a big impact in less than two minutes,” Molloy said.
Brunswick nutritionist and boardcertified registered dietician Gianna Masi offered a nutrition workshop in April aimed at fueling growing boys of all ages.
Clarity Over Confusion: Simple Nutrition for Busy Students was presented by the Brunswick Parents’ Association. Masi addressed common nutrition myths, including energy and protein needs, supplement safety, timing of meals, and what “healthy eating” actually looks like for active, growing boys.
The talk was structured around five topics:
• Gut Health & Microbiome: The goal was to translate the science into actionable steps.
• Growth & Development: Masi introduced the concept of Low Energy Availability, which she said can be significantly under-recognized.
• Fueling Foundations: This topic included how to estimate energy needs and how to recognize a fueling gap before it becomes a problem.
• Practical Application: Masi covered the Plate Method for different activity levels, pre- and post-activity fueling timelines, what makes a balanced snack, and how to build one.
• Supplement Safety: Masi covered popular topics such as protein powder, creatine, caffeine thresholds for adolescents, and electrolytes — with a framework for evaluating any supplement: is it necessary, is it safe for this age, and is it third-party tested?
The talk ended with a question-and-answer session, with many parents lingering for more conversation.
“My goal was to give families a framework they can actually use, not rules or restrictions,” Masi said. “Brunswick’s investment in bringing this level of conversation to parents is something I think genuinely sets the school apart.”
First graders put their Health & Wellness knowledge into action as they brought home their Health & Wellness teddy bears to practice the skills they learned in Trust Time Care for the Bear received their very own stuffed bears as Pre Schoolers; the bears have been used in Trust Time lessons since then to help students digest some of the fundamentals of self-care, including things like hand-washing, eating healthy food, exercise, and sleep. First graders got to bring the bears home. They wrote about their caregiving and submitted pictures of their Health & Wellness skills in action. The photos were put in a slide show and shared with all the first grade classes.
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Health & Wellness
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The overall goal of Care for the Bear is to use the bear to discuss a boy’s physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual, intellectual, and social needs.
Trust Time in the Pre and Lower School featured lessons on the power of words, especially kind ones. Trust Time teacher Joey Zannino opened lessons by asking boys the simple question: What Do Words Do? Students were asked to think of a time someone said something that made them feel really good — or really bad — and then identify that feeling on the class Mood Meter.
“This activates prior RULER knowledge and sets the emotional context for the lesson,” Zannino said.
A read-aloud book, Enemy Pie by Derek Munson, followed.
The Pre School, along with Little Cubs Early Learning Center, hosted its 2nd annual Little Bruins Safety Day with a visit from Greenwich Emergency Medical Service, “Trauma Teddy,” and a paramedic who gave boys a tour of an ambulance and discussed basic first aid. Two Greenwich police officers also attended, bringing their police car and electric bike. The Bear Hugs after-school Community Service Club presented the officers and paramedic with brownies to thank them for all their time and patience.
“We are excited to offer an incredibly fun, interactive, and age-appropriate event designed to help keep our Little Bruins safe while building confidence and important lifelong safety skills,” said Sue Costello, Brunswick Pre School nurse.
Topics also covered street crossing, identifying street signs, and when and how to call 911.
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David Perlmutter, M.D. and Kristin Loberg
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Service & Sustainability
’Wick artists are featured at the Greenwich Audubon Center art gallery this summer in an art show inspired by Connecticut’s diverse landscape and wildlife.
Environmental Ethics in Art: A Celebration of Connecticut’s Native Flora and Fauna runs through September. Freshmen students from both Brunswick and Greenwich Academy were invited to showcase their artwork.
“The show depicts nature in the classical sense, both in realistic and abstract interpretations, and as infographics catered to visitors seeking an educational experience,” teacher Gabby Sia said. “The featured works are paintings, drawings, pastel renderings, and ceramic sculptures that are inspired by photography and digital research.”
Students honed their observation skills on nature walks guided by Kenneth Nalley, Audubon conservation program manager. The show was developed in collaboration with Brunswick’s Sustainability Council and the Audubon, where Kim Gregory P ’24 serves as chair of the Board of Directors.
Community service was the focus as Middle and Upper School jazz ensembles performed at a first-ever Jazz Fest for Cancer Awareness in April in Baker Theater.
The concert featured Brunswick musicians from fifth grade through Upper School. Students were joined by two acclaimed New York City musicians, Will Anderson and Joe Boga. Anderson is a saxophonist and clarinetist, while Boga is a trumpeter; the two spent the day at Brunswick, rehearsing with the boys and then playing in the concert.
Ryan Anthony, a victim of cancer who himself put together a famous concert series to raise money for cancer research. Holsberg was helped by junior Magne Sogaard-Srikrishnan ’27, a talented Brunswick guitarist who has started a new Upper School Music Service Club to organize boys for performances, including the Jazz Fest.
A Brunswick father spoke to AP Environmental Science students on the topic of renewable energy.
Robert Tichio, father of Luca ’29 and Parker ’26, is the CEO of Fortescue Capital. He spoke to boys about the topic of Environmental Science Technology, Policy, and Investment.
“He did a fantastic job showing students that environmental science is more than counting birds and trees,” teacher Katie Hertzmark said. “He explained how investing in renewable energy is the key to the future. He explained how change happens at a different rate for each country and that policy and innovations determine the speed of change.”
Upper and Middle School boys answered a call for help by forming a band to play at the annual Hope Day celebration, held in April at the YMCA Greenwich. Run by Greenwich Together in collaboration with the Yellow Tip Project and Kids in Crisis, the goal of Hope Day is to smash the stigma around mental health. Musicians included Kiran Behringer ’28, CJ McCreath ’28, Benjamin Burgess ’28, and Luke ’28 and Jake Spada ’33. The boys practiced for several months and performed songs by The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Elton John, and Electric Light Orchestra.
Music teacher Peter Holsberg said he was inspired to put together the festival after learning from Dallas trumpet player continued on page 11
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About 20 eighth graders offered up their time on a chilly and rainy Saturday morning for the Live Like Luke Spring Beach Cleanup at Greenwich Point Park. The cleanup is held each year in remembrance of Luke Meyers, a Greenwich High School student and environmental activist who died of cancer in 2019.
Fourth graders and their families visited the Bronx on a Saturday in April to help sort and pack high quality produce for distribution to those who need it most. About 30 volunteers from both Brunswick and Greenwich Academy lent some muscle to the Grassroots Grocery event, which sees community members rescue fresh, surplus produce and get it into the hands of people who would not otherwise have access to it.
“We will definitely be building on this in the future,” Director of Service Leadership and Sustainability Courtney Spada said.
About 70 seventh graders from Brunswick and Greenwich Academy got together for a combined community service and social event organized by the BPA, which has been looking to create more opportunities for co-ed socializing.
“Service is a great way to do that!” Spada noted.
Parents Jen McCarroll and Jen Shannon started the BPA partnership between Brunswick and GA last year. The two, along with some faculty members, helped organize the gathering that saw students make blankets for Happy Life Animal Rescue. The blankets were donated the very next morning at the dog adoption event held on Edwards Campus.
To wit, for the second year in a row, Brunswick hosted a Happy Life Animal Rescue adoption event. The group brought 25 puppies to campus in May, and a handful were adopted into their forever homes. Brunswick’s own Jessica Love helped coordinate the event, along with the Middle School Animal Service Club and Lower School boys who used their Trust Time to create a skit to spread awareness about the event, performing it in Monday morning assembly.
The BPA donated extra copies of the bestselling book Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be, by Dr. Becky Kennedy, to the Family Centers of Greenwich medical practice. Dr. Becky spoke to the BPA this year, and BPA rep Katelyn Dyson contacted Spada with the idea of donating the extra books.
“This was very thoughtful of the BPA,” Spada said.
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The Brunswick Trust
Service & Sustainability continued from page 11
Upper School students fanned out to organizations across Fairfield and Westchester counties to help those in need on Community Service Day on Friday, April 24.
More than 400 boys stepped out of the classroom and spent the morning hours at over two dozen locations — including Person to Person, Neighbor to Neighbor, Filling in the Blanks, Abilis, Mothers for Others, and the American Red Cross.
Others visited town parks and community gardens in Greenwich and Pound Ridge to put their hands to work, while many also participated in the Live Like Luke beach cleanup at Tod’s Point the next morning.
The Lower School continues its partnership with Horizons at Brunswick; boys learn about Horizons throughout their time at the Lower School. They complete grade-level projects, Trust Time activities, and of course, sell pies to support Horizons Giving Day. Boys made welcome cards to give to boys who are beginning their Horizons experience this summer; also lending a hand this year was eighth grader Dash Silverman ’30, who created a video about Horizons that was shared with students for Giving Day.
Second and third grade students got the chance to meet Rico Cosby up close and personal this spring thanks to special classroom visits during Trust Time. Rico Cosby is, of course, the retired landmine sniffing Belgian Malinois dog whose training with the Marshall Legacy Institute CHAMPS group was sponsored by Brunswick.
“They just had the time of their lives,” Spada said. “It was a special Trust Time lesson, for sure.”
Pre School boys in the Bear Hugs after-school community service club worked to spread happiness to babies and families
in need of cleft surgery through Operation Smile.
Boys learned about the organization, which provides free cleft surgery to babies and children around the world, got to work designing colorful bibs for babies, and created inspiring cards with uplifting messages.
The mission of the Bear Hugs community service club, created by teacher Deb Schwartz, is as follows: “We change the world one paw print at a time!” Each week has a different theme: Helping at School, Helping our Family, Helping Animals, Helping Our World.
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