Happy 85th, Browne Academy!

Happy Birthday, Browne Academy! Today marks the 85th year our community has opened its doors to a new school year—an anniversary that invites us to celebrate a rich history while leaning into all that’s ahead. Our mission has evolved with the times, but our core values—Excellence, Diversity, Character, and Community—remain the steady throughline. They were ahead of their time at inception and still feel timeless today, shaping a place where students are known, challenged, and inspired.

All summer long, the work of getting ready for day one happened in two parallel tracks. On the ground, teams turned campus from summer camp to classroom-ready—resetting rooms, refreshing bulletin boards, organizing materials, and making sure every learning space signals warmth, purpose, and joy. At the same time, our academic preparation focused on giving teachers shared tools and language so students experience consistent, research-based instruction across grade levels.

A centerpiece of that academic work was Orton-Gillingham (OG) training. Thanks to the generous support of the Kaskela family, six Team Leads and Director of Studies Katie Rasmussen completed intensive OG training this summer. They then partnered with each division to introduce the foundational principles of this structured, multisensory approach to reading and spelling to teachers and support staff. The goal is simple and powerful: when faculty share a common framework for how children learn to read, students encounter clear routines, coherent language, and steady support as they grow—no matter which classroom they’re in.

That literacy focus dovetails with our ongoing work on vertical alignment, mapping the skills and concepts that build from year to year so each step of a student’s Browne journey prepares them for the next. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes effort that reflects who we are: a community that invests in excellent teaching so students can do their best work, discover their strengths, and develop confidence as learners.

This year is also a celebration of leadership. Under Head of School Peggy Otey’s steady guidance, Browne has continued to honor its traditions while embracing thoughtful growth. As we mark our 85th year, we do so with deep gratitude for Peggy’s vision and care for this community. Next school year will bring a new chapter as our next Head of School begins; this year, we celebrate the milestone and the leader who has helped us arrive here.

None of this happens alone. It’s the combined effort of faculty and staff who prepared classrooms, the families and friends who support our mission, and partners like the Kaskela family whose generosity helps us invest in what matters most. Together, we begin this anniversary year with a shared purpose: to make learning come alive, to center our values in daily practice, and to ensure every student is known and challenged in meaningful ways.

Here’s to a year of growth, discovery, and community. Here’s to the wisdom of our values, the strength of our people, and 85 years of Browne Academy—with bright years still to come.