Assembly Shake-up
Dean of Student Life institutes new assembly format
Member of the Student Council introduce themselves during an Upper School assembly, Oct. 11, 2019. This year students have been given more autonomy in developing and organizing assemblies in Upper School. (Jose G. ’22)
Dean of Student Life Sam Permutt is making changes in his first year, transforming the Upper School’s weekly assembly into a space where the voices of every student can be heard.
“We have such a variety of stories, interests, ideas, and experiences contained in one room,” Mr. Permutt said. “I hope that, through assembly, we can truly celebrate and reflect on who we are as a school.”
In order to increase student engagement with assembly, Mr. Permutt has given students an increased role in developing their content and organization. In the past, assemblies were often periods in which presenters lectured the students with limited opportunities for interaction. The new assembly format, however, enables students to make announcements, plan conversations, and lead the community in important discussions about issues that impact their daily lives.
A variety of student-led activities have also become a part of the new format. Kabir K. ’22 believes that these activities help to bring the student body closer together.
“The activities we’ve done, such as the advisory flag design and the online interactive Kahoot game, have done a great job in creating a feeling of community,” Kabir said. “Through these activities, we got to learn more about our friends and faculty, which I believe will generate closer connections in the future.”
“Through these activities, we got to learn more about our friends and faculty, which I believe will generate closer connections in the future.”
In addition, Mr. Permutt has offered a chance for seniors to speak during each assembly to discuss their feelings about their experiences both within and without the Browning community. The first senior to speak at one of these assemblies, Ryan E. ’20, asserts that the experience was important, albeit uncomfortable.
“To get up in front of the student body and a group of kids who have preconceived notions on what I’m all about was very hard and nerve-wracking,” Ryan said. “But I think it was a great opportunity for growth for me to find the words that describe how I feel, and to push through the uncomfortableness of sharing these feelings with the broader community.”
Mr. Permutt trusts that the new assembly format will be a significant asset to the Browning community going forward.
“The people in our community have been together for so long and know each other so well, and I am very excited to see them come together and celebrate their connections.”
Ryan believes that the new method will impact students in a positive way.
“I want assembly to provide a more open space within the school,” Ryan said. “I see it as a space in which students can feel comfortable sharing their feelings of happiness or sadness, their hardships or achievements, with other students and faculty. If students feel free to express themselves openly, certain ways of thinking within the school may be changed for the better.”
Mr. Permutt hopes that assembly periods will become an important, relevant aspect of the Browning culture.
“I believe that our assembly periods should be more than just a meeting,” Mr. Permutt said. “They should be a representation of the different people and values that make up our community. As energy builds and I get to know more people here, I hope that students will become more comfortable with sharing their experiences, promoting their interests, and highlighting their successes and challenges during assembly.”
