New School Year Begins with Unity & Promise

After members of the Class of 2023 processed hand-in-hand with first graders into Dann Gymnasium on Edwards Campus — a longtime First Day tradition — Head of School Thomas W. Philip opened Brunswick’s 120th year by addressing the faculty and student body. 

Philip’s message at the ceremony — the first to be held indoors and without masks since September 2019 — acknowledged the challenges of the last two years while looking ahead to the promising and united future of Brunswick. 

 

Philip suggested that this year should be one of special attention to the “little things” that naturally ease the way for the “bigger things” to take care of themselves. 

“We need to appreciate that we're all part of something greater than ourselves — and attempt to fulfill our lives by contributing to the greater good,” Philip said. “And, of course, we need to strive to live lives marked by Courage, Honor, and Truth.” 

 

Philip also paid tribute to a handful of faculty members — all who have been at the school for 30 years or more — who have quite literally dedicated their professional lives to Brunswick. Their distinguished ranks include Mr. Bracchitta, Mrs. Foyle, Mr. Benjamin, Mr. Burdett, Mrs. Andersen, Mrs. Dobbs, Mr. Ostrye, Mrs. Hurd, Mr. Fraser, and Mrs. Meloni.

 

He also brought to the stage those seniors beginning their 14th year at Brunswick — boys who have spent nearly 80 percent of their lives as Brunswick students.

 

“The most important point, though, is that whether you’ve been a part of Brunswick for 47 years or 14 years or 14 minutes — as has been true for each of the school’s 120 years — we are going to focus on making ourselves and our school better by doing both the little things and big things as well as we possibly can to make this year a great one.”