Executive Update (Winter 2016)

Executive

Update

From Headmaster Tom Philip Winter 2016

Happy Holidays!

Brunswick Executive Update provides former trustees and other especially dedicated members of the School community with a snapshot of our continuing progress.

’Wick Life

❖ NEASC 10-year Evaluation — The NEASC Committee, chaired by Head of Belmont Hill School (Mass.) Richard Melvoin, visited campus from September 25 through September 28. The visit confirmed the results of the School’s self-study, commending Brunswick on its spirit, health, and vitality; the sense of living by and with its motto; the engagement of its faculty; the serious and reflective manner in which the School approached the selfstudy; and the resources available to the boys and the faculty.

Matt Womble ’17 and Christian LeSueur ’17 (foreground) engage their newfound friends while volunteering at the Janada Bachelder Foundation for Children in Tanzania during a summer service trip.

Facilities Update

’Wick climbers, friends, and guides gathered for a celebratory photo on Mount Kilimanjaro’s official summit (19,341 feet) last summer.

❖ Summer Activity — Brunswick’s Summer School Program enrolled more students than ever.

Brunswick Sports Camps also added significantly to activity on the King Street campus. Additionally, Horizons at Brunswick welcomed 60 Greenwich Public School boys to campus for a host of summer enrichment activities. Off campus, a multitude of students traveled to the United Kingdom, Tanzania, Argentina, China, France, and Spain to participate in immersion programs, community service, and cultural exchanges.

Hayden Hoover ’18 and Ryan Kahn ’18, along with Sarah Burdett and Erin Withstandley, helped facilitate the launching of the Sweet Readers Program in the United Kingdom in June.

❖ Completed Projects — The Brunswick School Falco Rowing Center, a 10,000-square foot-facility on a .55-acre lot at 91 River Road, opened in September, on time and on budget. In addition, the Lower School playground was resurfaced, and a new phone system was installed in each division during the summer.

Four faculty housing units on the outskirts of Koszalka Field on Maher Avenue have been completed and are now occupied.

The new faculty housing units closely resemble pre-existing homes on King Street.

A large crowd of students and alumni, past and current parents, and friends turned out for the Brunswick School Falco Rowing Center dedication.

B r u n s w i c k

E x e c u t i v e

U p d at e

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w i n t e r 2016

From the ❖ Annual Fund — The Annual Fund received $4,225,037 million through 1,817 gifts. As the Development community responded so positively to an appeal to Office increase gifts to create a culminating “community gift” to the “Above All Else” Capital Campaign, the fund ran $604,223 ahead of the prior year, with 99 more gifts. Alumni participation, which stood at a record 34% last year, increased to 35%.

million goal! A Campaign Final Report, formally thanking all who contributed, will be mailed to donors in the coming months.

❖ 2017 Senior Fund — The Class of 2017 Senior Fund, entitled “A Window of Opportunity,” has announced an ambitious goal of raising $2 million in support of the major faculty-housing construction on the Upper School Campus.

❖ “Above All Else” Campaign — The current Campaign total is $106.5 million, surpassing the $104

Looking Ahead

❖ External Relations — Plans include concentrating

❖ BPA Fundraisers and Initiatives — This year’s

on continuing strong neighborhood relations and on developing greater community awareness of and support for Horizons at Brunswick.

major fundraising initiatives are the Bi-Annual Fashion Show and Winged Foot Golf Outing, both to take place in the spring. For the first Parent Program, author and parenting expert Dr. Michele Borba spoke to a large gathering of parents on October 18.

❖ Academic Affairs — New focuses include exploring ways in which student preparation for college might be strengthened through independent study. Additional plans include revisiting and updating of older topics, such as the evaluation of faculty and review of the Arts program.

❖ Strategic Planning — Plans focus on looking ahead to the next major (five-year) parent survey, scheduled to take place during the coming year.

Additionally, work will be geared toward reviewing the final report from NEASC and recommending concurrent adjustments to the five-year strategic plan, if necessary.

In closing, as I expressed to students and faculty on Opening Day in September (remarkably more than two months ago), Brunswick is all about community. When all of us are at our best, we all benefit. And when we work together, we are always at our best. My hope for the coming school year is that our boys push themselves a bit further than they originally thought they could go — emerging as stronger young men of character because of their efforts.

I wish everyone the best for a great holiday season!

Sincerely,