Browning’s winter athletic season has just begun, as the varsity basketball team looks to find themselves in the NYCAL playoffs for another year.

The 2024-2025 school year welcomes a new chapter in the Browning community with the Athletic Department’s creation of an official Online Store and Athletics Instagram Account.

From studying in Britain and Germany to teaching physics at Browning, Dr. Viraf Mehta has had a lifelong passion for science which has informed his work not only as a teacher but as a distinguished scientist as well. The Grytte had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Mehta, the newest addition to the science department, to discuss his experience, his teaching philosophy, and vision for inspiring new scientists at Browning. 

With Election Day a mere two days away, the need for respectful and layered dialogue in a country seemingly devoid of nuance remains at an all-time high. 

The once comforting $1.00 pizza sign has been replaced by the daunting $1.50 slice revision; a testament to the deadly role of time on inflation. On a mission to get a cheap slice of pizza, I became thoroughly disappointed to find that dollar slices, once the normal price for a slice, are disappearing from New York city storefronts. All around the city pizza prices have steadily increased: now, at your average pizza restaurant, a slice of cheese pizza can cost anywhere from three to four dollars.

Varsity Baseball, who reached the semifinals of last season’s NYCAL playoffs, kicked off their season on April 5 with a league win over Trevor Day. The game is of increased importance as UNIS no longer has a baseball team, and Grace Church, in its first year in NYCAL, is not playoff-eligible; as such, four of the five teams make the playoffs, and a single loss can impact postseason rankings more than in previous years. 

Grade inflation is ubiquitous in our nation today, highlighting whether high schools in the United States give out too many A’s. Simply put, letter grades do not hold the same weight that they did a few decades ago.

As the community embarks on a new year, the air is filled with anticipation and fresh beginnings. Many community members take this opportunity to reflect on the past and set goals for the future. This article aims to uncover the aspirations and dreams teachers and student alike have for 2024.

Highlights from Varsity Squash’s league matchup against Grace Church on Tuesday, February 6th.

Ben L. ‘24 interviews the captains of the 12-3 Varsity Squash Team about the team’s triumphs. The captains, Nicholas S. ‘24, Neil D. ‘24, and Kyle D. ‘24, also discuss their duties as role models for the younger players, and the lasting impact they have left on Browning Squash.

The stage was set, and on January 25th, 2024, the annual Hewitt Upper School musical and performing arts concert unfolded, bringing together the talents of The Browning School Chorus and Hewitt's choir program. Amidst the carefully rehearsed numbers, the Browning Gentlemen took center stage with renditions of “Bridge over Troubled Water” by Paul Simon and the soulful “A Thankful Heart” by Paul Williams. 

Ben L. ‘24 interviews NHL content creator and former D1 hockey player Jonny Lazarus about his career and the Rangers season thus far. Jonny shares his experiences covering the NHL from behind the scenes. Edited by Kabir D. ‘25.

At a time when the distractions on smartphones for students have increased tremendously, schools have sought ways to limit this interruption in learning. To start the 2023-2024 school year, Browning has implemented the use of Yondr pouches as a potential solution. Yondr pouches allow students to keep their phones physically on them without having distractions. Students can unlock the phones using its magnet system that is set up in the lobby.

Marcos I. ‘25 talks to members of the Browning community about their Halloween costumes. The video also includes a quick view of the annual Lower School Halloween Parade. Produced by Benjamin L. ‘24 and edited by Kabir D. ‘25.

If you ask any high school junior or senior what’s on their mind, chances are college admissions are near the top. It’s hard to blame them––buzz about record-low acceptance rates, test-optional policies, restrictive early action versus early decision versus regular decisions applications, and the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision ending race-based admissions decisions feels constant. Fortunately, they are in good hands with Browning’s Director of College Guidance, Sandy Pelz, who spoke with the Grytte about a number of topics in the college admissions landscape. 

Over the first weekend of October, 100 individuals from across the country embarked on a voyage to Tyler Hill, Pennsylvania, evading storm clouds and a torrential downpour with smiles across their faces to reach the site of 2023’s Riley’s Way Youth Leadership Retreat. From Portland to Frisco, these leaders aged 14 to 18 participated in team-building activities, youth-led seminars, panel discussions, and leadership workshops, all in the efforts of connecting the Riley’s Way community and forging the next generation of leaders.

From his first exploration of pottery as a postgraduate student at a boarding school in New England to teaching six grades of students here at Browning, new art teacher Luke Kelly has been able to apply his passions for both the arts and education to help foster creativity in his pupils. The Grytte had the pleasure of sitting down with Mr. Kelly, the newest addition to the art department, to discuss who he is and examine his artistic influences, teaching methods, and vision for inspiring young artists at Browning.

The school has begun to implement a new system of notetaking called Cornell Notes (sometimes referred to as Two-Column Notes) in an effort to assist students in more effectively retaining information. “If you are actively taking Cornell notes when you're reading, I think you become a better reader because it gives your reading a purpose,” Grade 8-12 Learning Specialist Kristen Sheppard said. “You are literally being a detective as you read asking yourself: What are the main ideas? What are the details that back up those main ideas?”

Highlights from Varsity Soccer’s October 3rd match against Columbia Prep.

Highlights from Varsity Soccer’s matches against Calhoun, Trevor Day, and Grace Church.