Opening Day: “A New Beginning”

After members of the senior class continued with tradition and escorted first graders into Dann Gymnasium, Headmaster Thomas W. Philip began Brunswick’s 112th year by addressing the student body.

“Here we are on our first day of school — the end of summer and a new beginning,” Philip said. “I bet that when you look back on the summer just passed, there’s probably one highlight, one event, one trip, or one experience that will mark the summer in your memory.”

 

Philip explained that for him and his family, this summer would be remembered as the one they moved to the new Headmaster’s house on Patterson Avenue.

 

He and his wife, Lela, along with their three children, lived in the yellow house across from the Maher Avenue school building for 15 years.

 

The move was a difficult, and at times emotional, experience for all of them, he said.

 

“When we were finally done — going through what to keep and what to give away — it felt like a new beginning.”

 

He asked the audience of Lower, Middle, and Upper School students and faculty to think about why he was telling them about this.

 

“Education, it seems to me, is nothing, if not about new beginnings,” he explained.

 

“All of us, but especially you boys, need the time that summer provides to experience new things and try on different approaches to life.”

 

As Philip thought about his summer and about change, however, he couldn’t help but think about Brunswick’s 112-year history.

 

“What’s unique and special about Brunswick isn’t so much the things that have changed, but rather the things that haven’t,” he said. “What has always served our school and our boys well has never changed.”

 

Specifically, Philip focused on Brunswick’s motto — Courage, Honor, Truth — and asked students think about what those three words actually mean before offering some examples himself:

 

Having the courage to move on after a disappointment.

 

Having the honor to value your reputation.

 

Telling the truth in all things, big and small, even if you’re tempted to lie.

 

“Here’s the beauty of it: To be truthful and honorable takes courage,” Philip concluded. “With those words as your guide, you can achieve anything. Without them, you’re certain to fall short.”

 

And, with that, another school year began — all 962 Brunswick students joined together in an effort toward making it a great one.

For more photos, visit http://www.wickpics.org/p1015274524.