April 1, 2022
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When Ms. Fell takes on her second graders in a word game, the competition can get pretty intense.
Opening Message
Teaching Toward A Place of Belonging
Heather Woodcock, Director of the Associate Teacher Program
Post Date: April 1, 2022
Five years ago, I sat in a packed auditorium of soon-to-be Graduate School of Education master’s students at Lesley University who were all looking for jobs in the Boston area. The mood in the room was palpable: inquisitive fear with a dash of hubris. I looked around the room, remembering the excitement and anxiety-fueled process of trying to land my first teaching job.
A panel of principals and human resource representatives from public, charter, and independent schools was on the stage. They looked powerful and intimidating as they adjusted their papers and ensured their microphones were working properly. I was there to get a read on the current hiring climate in order to help our associate teachers at Belmont Day land their own teaching jobs for the fall.
I will never forget when a representative from a local school district shared what he and his hiring team thought was the essential ingredient of what makes an effective educator. He told those graduate students—who had just learned how to craft detailed lesson plans, create clear objectives, and design hands-on projects—that if they could not explain how they would ensure that every student in their classroom would feel that they belong and had a voice and a “place at the table of learning,” then they will not get hired. Every single panelist nodded their head vigorously.
Increasingly prevalent in public and independent school hiring decisions is how readily and actively an educator can center the identity of each and every child in their classroom and how effectively they can foster empathy and acceptance of others who are both similar and different. Faculty at Belmont Day do this work in so many ways. They choose resources that prompt discovery and inquiry about self and others, and they engage students in conversations about what it means to be equitable, inclusive, and just. Meanwhile, teachers are doing this themselves and with their colleagues. This kind of teaching and learning is essential if we claim to honor our school’s mission and core values at Belmont Day.
This school year, the associate teachers and I have reflected on ways to incorporate the Social Justice Standards into our own practice. These standards help frame our thinking as we design the key understandings and essential questions we hope students will grow from and reflect on. Formerly known as Teaching for Tolerance, and now called Learning for Justice, the organization that designed the Social Justice Standards partners with educators across the country to provide resources for teachers who teach in grades K-12.
It isn’t lost on most that the name change two years ago from Teaching for Tolerance to Learning for Justice was timely and necessary. Striving toward tolerance alone is unacceptable. I would never want to claim that my school community or curriculum implied that people should be simply tolerated. It’s time to move beyond tolerance and embrace acceptance. For when we can accept each other and allow everyone to be fully who they truly are when they enter our school building, then we are better for it and far more ready to learn together and from each other.
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
BDS Love Campaign
Spring Family Socials This Weekend!
Saturday, April 2
- Pre-kindergarten: 9:30 a.m., Big Blue
- Kindergarten: 11 a.m., Big Blue
- Grade 1: 1 p.m., Big Blue
- Grade 2: 2:30 p.m., Big Blue
Sunday, April 3
- Grade 3: 9:30 a.m., Big Blue
- Grade 4: 11 a.m., Big Blue
- Grade 5: 1 p.m., Barn Gym
- Grade 6: 3:30 p.m., Barn Gym
- Grade 7: 2:30 p.m., Barn Gym
Please note—eighth grade will be celebrating next week.
Meet the Candidates:
Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Finalists will each lead a workshop session on issues of diversity, equity, identity, and belonging for the community.
We will welcome our next candidate, Mike Marroquin-Castillo, on Monday, April 4. The community session will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Palandjian Arts Center.
Spring Garden Workday
Saturday, April 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Parents, students, and staff are invited to wake up the school garden for the new growing season. Students with a parent will be clearing, raking, adding nutrients, mulching the pollinator garden, planting, and having fun. Middle school students are invited to come on their own. Bring a pair of gloves and a shovel if you have one (we have them too!), and enjoy being outdoors and working together to maintain our outdoor classroom and community gardens.
Questions and RSVP to Kathy Jo Solomon, visual arts teacher and sustainability coordinator.
Lunch & Snack Menu
April 4 to April 8
Monday
Snack: apples; Goldfish
Lunch: linguini with beef meatballs; linguini with marinara on the side; steamed peas; Sunbutter and jelly sandwiches; crusty rolls; butter; Romano cheese; mixed fruit cup; milk and water
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Teddy Graham
Lunch: chicken teriyaki; teriyaki tofu; veggie fried rice; steamed broccoli; Sunbutter and jelly sandwiches; fortune cookie; fresh fruit; milk and water
Wednesday
Snack: clementines; banana chocolate chip oatmeal rounds
Lunch: crispy coconut fish; grilled chicken; potato chips; carrot coins; Sunbutter and jelly sandwiches; ketchup; tartar sauce; apple slices; milk and water
Thursday
Snack: pears; BBQ Lay’s chips
Lunch: tomato soup; grilled cheese sandwiches; sweet corn; Sunbutter and jelly sandwiches; chocolate chip cookies; applesauce; milk, chocolate milk, and water
Friday
Snack: apple slices; Smartfood
Faculty Lunch
BDS News
COVID UPDATES
Weekly COVID Testing Results
Our weekly PCR testing on Wednesday, March 30, returned negative results for all pools. This week there have been no positive cases reported to the school from at-home rapid tests. Great news, and great job, everyone!
FACULTY NEWS
Departures
Leesa Mercedes, PhD, ABSNP, school psychologist
Dr. Leesa Mercedes will depart Belmont Day at the conclusion of this academic year as she has accepted the role of lower school psychologist at Shady Hill School. An integral part of the community since 2014, Leesa’s keen insights, intentional collaboration, thoughtful leadership, and commitment to excellence have had a deep influence on our school. Dr. Mercedes always centers each individual with supportive kindness and caring, whether working with a pre-k student, a middle schooler, a parent, or a colleague.
Over eight years, Dr. Mercedes’ contributions to our school have been many, and her BDS legacy is secured in the Honoring Differences Seminar, Choices curriculum, Summer Spark, and Belonging at BDS initiatives that she has co-created. She has represented Belmont Day as a presenter at conferences regionally and nationally on curriculum development focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, social-emotional learning, and wellness. And at the heart of it all is her insightful partnership with faculty and families and compassionate engagement with each child to collectively steward them toward their most authentic and courageous selves as learners and community members.
We are eager to keep Dr. Mercedes connected to our community, so we will say “So long for now!” in June rather than a farewell. We expect that she will play an important role in carrying forward our plan to offer the SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) program for parents in the coming school year and wants to continue to serve as a resource to families where she is able.
Frank Toppa, music teacher
After 21 years of filling our halls and our hearts with song, we will wish a fond farewell to Frank Toppa, pre-kindergarten to grade one music teacher, in June. Frank has been involved with most musical aspects of the community, from accompanying musicals to the interludes at sharing assemblies and so much more. An engaged and faithful participant in the community, Frank was a regular at Braiding Different Strands programs; he has attended every Capstone presentation asking thoughtful questions of our eighth grade presenters and was a key member of the arts team. More than anything else, Frank has spent his time here doing what he loves—making music as both teacher and performer with every student at our school. As Frank will tell you, there are two posters in his teaching space that serve as constant reminders of his approach to teaching: “Love the Music.” and “Love the People.” Frank has certainly done both throughout his years here, and we wish him well as he returns to his beloved Cape Cod to continue teaching in the Chatham school district.
On Leave
Blair Fross, director of after school and enrichment programs
Blair Fross will be out on medical leave until early June. She hopes to be back on campus before summer to close out the school year with students. In her absence please reach out to Denali Kikuchi for questions regarding after school, enrichment, or vacation camp programming. For any business-related questions (billing, receipts, invoicing) please contact Dale McGhee.
CAPSTONE WEEK (PLUS)
Learn. Do. Share.
Class of 2022 Set to Present Their Research
Since the 2003-2004 academic year, Capstone has been an educational cornerstone for our eighth graders and a shared learning experience for our entire community. The students’ research topics have known no bounds of creativity and are as varied as the students themselves. The Class of 2022 is enthusiastically continuing this tradition of excellence and we are excited to start Capstone Week (it’s actually stretched over two weeks this year!) next Thursday and learn from their passions and hard work over this past year.
Capstone Week (Plus)—Thursday, April 7 to Friday, April 15—is a community experience and we invite everyone to attend as many presentations as you can. Students have worked hard to share their substantial learning, and a robust audience will be greatly appreciated. Audience question-and-answer sessions are highlights of the experience for students and attendees alike. Online compliment forms will be available immediately following each presentation.
We will invite the eighth grade, presenters’ families and mentors, and, on occasion, selected classes to attend presentations in person in the Palandjian Arts Center. Community members are encouraged to attend Capstone presentations via Zoom. An email will be sent each morning with that day’s schedule of presentations and a Zoom link for the day’s sessions. The only exception is Monday’s which will be sent Sunday evening. The entire schedule, all Zoom links, and a link to the Capstone site will also be available on the Parent Portal.
This is a wonderful chance to encourage our eighth graders and contribute to a meaningful conclusion of their Capstone journey.
We are looking forward to seeing you and know you’ll enjoy what you learn from the Class of 2022!
– Jennifer Friborg, Capstone coordinator
Capstone Projects & Schedule
Thursday, April 7, 8:45-10:15 a.m.
- Eliza Kuechle: Dogs’ noses | Mentor: Minna Ham
- Olivia Zhou: Fast fashion | Mentor: Liz Gray
- Nadia Lomeli: Wolves | Mentor: Ana Maria Restrepo
Thursday, April 7, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
- Kaitlyn Tan: Mental health | Mentor: Larissa Rochford
- Bridget Peters: Ancient medicine | Mentor: Bea Rooney
- Colby Morris: Sharks | Mentor: Ellie Brennan
Friday, April 8, 8:15-10:15 a.m.
- Nora O’Brien: Decision making | Mentor: Brendan Largay
- Alex Foley: Hacking | Mentor: Ellen Brandt
- Sophie Tong: Climate change | Mentor: Jen James
- Ana McEleney: Baking | Mentor: Ana DeVecchi
Monday, April 11, 8:15-10:15 a.m.
- Niamh O’Brien: Athletics-mental health | Mentor: Leesa Mercedes
- Matthieu Small: Cold war spying | Mentor: Dale McGhee
- Olive Kiraly: Video games | Mentor: Kaleen Moriarty
- Alice Guo: Exo-planets | Mentor: Judy Bright
Monday, April 11, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
- Juliana Li : Forensic science | Mentor: Alex Tzelnic
- Peter Kurtz: Alternative energy | Mentor: Tara Lightbody
- Anisah Jordan: Hip Hop | Mentor: Susan Dempsey
Tuesday, April 12, 8:45-10:15 a.m.
- Betel Zewude: Womanism | Mentor: Jen James
- Ella Thompson: Ballet | Mentor: Liz Parfit
- Ruby Kokinos: Space | Mentor: Fred Colson
Tuesday, April 12, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
- Nicky Mattox: Hearing loss | Mentor: Charlie Baird
- Sam Amaratunga: Rockets | Mentor: Leal Carter
- Lucy Targum: Abortion | Mentor: Heather Woodcock
Wednesday, April 13, 8:45-10:15 a.m.
- Marlon Kasse: Malaria | Mentor: Nathalie Pellenq
- Alexander Dainora Cohen: Soft robotics | Mentor: Sandra Trentsowsky
- Emma Kass: Title IX | Mentor: Anderson Santos
Wednesday, April 13, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
- Bella Lightbody: Processing speed | Mentor: Lana Holman
- Asher Sutton: Formula 1 | Mentor: Julia Juster
- Evan Griffith-Ebrahimi: Immunotherapy | Mentor: Elinor Klein
Thursday, April 14, 8:15-10:15 a.m.
- Ben Ashman: Board games | Mentor: Nicole Buck
- Vanessa Musch: Sushi | Mentor: Leigh Twarog
- Bernie Mattox: Lacrosse | Mentor: Abbey Nyland
- Sunday Mitzenmacher: Bees | Mentor: Kathy Jo Solomon
Thursday, April 14, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
- Ella Blecher: Social media marketing | Mentor: Jim Walker
- Nikos Axiotis: Blacksmithing | Mentor: Michelle Weisman
- Tomás Wright-Katz: Politics | Mentor: Anne Armstrong
Friday, April 15, 8:15-10:15 a.m.
- Calder Wilmot: Deep sea | Mentor: John O’Neill
- Finnoula Wheeler: Frances Glessner Lee | Mentor: Amy Sprung
- Wisdom Badgett: Advertising | Mentor: Pati Fernandez
- Lila Abruzzi: Genes | Mentor: Emma Nairn
COMMUNITY NEWS
Save The Date: Spring Potluck for Families and Students of Color
As you may recall, we have been working on creating opportunities throughout the year for new BDS students in all grades who identify as students of color to spend time with one another. We had an event in the fall to welcome incoming students of color. While the Omicron variant prevented us from gathering this winter, we are excited to facilitate another event this spring.
Please save the date for Sunday, May 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a spring potluck. For this gathering in May, all BDS students who identify as a student of color and their families are welcome.
We will provide desserts and drinks. Feel free to bring a favorite nut-free dish to share if you would like! The afternoon will also involve a family-friendly scavenger hunt on campus. Stay tuned for more details in the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, please reach out to any of us with questions. We ask that you RSVP using this form by Monday, April 25.
For more information, contact a committee member!
– Liz Parfit, director of admissions, Lauren McDermott, assistant director of admissions and financial aid, Betty Chu Pryor, kindergarten teacher, and Blair Fross, director of after school and enrichment programs
BUSINESS OFFICE NEWS
Please Review Your Account For Tuition and Other Charges
A reminder to all parents that invoices for tuition and other charges are provided via the Belmont Day Parent Portal. While tuition charges appear on the same invoice throughout the year, you may have one or more invoices on the Parent Portal that are due and payable for things like after school programs, the extended day program, field trips, and so forth. Invoices recently were created for the upcoming eighth grade trip to the Grand Canyon. Payment for the Grand Canyon trip is due by April 15.
If you have registered for VC pay, you can initiate payments online. For those enrolled in autopay for incidental charges, the next autopay batch processing will take place on Apr 15, 2022.
As we are into the final three months of the school year, please take a moment to review your account to make sure your payments are up to date. To review your account, please follow the steps detailed in the dropdown below:
Directions for Reviewing Account
- Go to https://accounts.veracross.com/belmontday/portals/login (We recommend that you bookmark this page if you have not already done so.)
- Your username is your email address.
- If you have any trouble signing in, please click on the “Can’t access your account?” button at the bottom of that screen and follow the instructions.
- Once that’s done, you’ll be on the Parent Portal landing page. At the top of that page, you’ll see a blue button “Invoices & Payments.”
- Click on the “Invoices and Payments” button to review your charges and initiate online payments. Of course, you can always mail a check directly to the school to the attention of the business office. Please make the check payable to Belmont Day School.
With the exception of the recently posted Grand Canyon trip invoices, all other outstanding invoices are now past due. The trimester 3 after school charges will be posted soon. Please check your account to be sure that you are up to date with your payments. Please contact the business office team if you have any questions.
BDS LOVE CAMPAIGN
Save The Dates for These Events!
BDS Spring Fest 2022
Mark your calendar for the BDS Spring Fest on Saturday, May 21. Join us to celebrate the diversity of our community through storytelling, music, dance, art, food, and more. Share and experience the flavors, sounds, and stories of Belmont Day. More information to come. Contact Pati Fernández with questions.
Classroom Sharing and Shadow Events
We can’t wait to host parents on campus in April for classroom sharing and shadow experiences with your children. Click here for the schedule for the visits and to RSVP. Thank you!
Learning Updates
Arts Update: Fifth Graders Explore Character Development
What does my character want and why? What does my character do to try to get what they want? Students in fifth grade theater arts class asked these questions while learning about character objectives and motivations. The students were given different scenarios in which the characters have conflicting objectives. After developing the basic outline of the scene, they focused on incorporating a variety of tactics to help them achieve these objectives. Characters pleaded, cajoled, reasoned, forced, cried, and flattered each other in their attempts to reach their goals. In our next class, the students will apply what they learned to a series of scenes from Alice in Wonderland, and then delve even deeper to discover the motivation behind their character’s actions. The journey of developing a character for a scripted theater work has begun!
– Susan Dempsey, theater arts teacher
Athletics Update: Ultimate Program Unites
With a slight drop in numbers and only 18 athletes playing ultimate this spring, the program has combined forces for practices. Despite splitting into two separate nine-person squads for game days, head coach Zach d’Arbeloff wanted to unite the program for practice to promote a “one-program” feel and to maximize the opportunities for larger drills, skill stations, and scrimmages. Early returns on the structure have been positive as the varsity team gears up for their first game next week. Led by co-captain Quinn McCaffrey the varsity squad will host Shady Hill next Thursday, April 7 on Claflin Field. Accompanying Quinn on the pitch will be seventh grade classmates Braiden Dargon and Eike Kiecza who will both need big performances if the Blue & Gold are going to be competitive.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- Calder Wilmot and Lucy Targum were elected the first-ever captains of the mountain biking team. With the arrival of some dry weather, the team was shredding the trails all week.
- A trio of seventh grade classmates are off to a great start for the JV tennis team. Nina Cohen-Perlmutter, Natalie Jean, and Alden Largay have all shown marked improvement thus far.
- Track & Field will kick off the interscholastic season next Tuesday, April 5 at home against Shady Hill. There are high expectations for Sam Amaratunga, Matthieu Small, and Asher Sutton.
- Sixth grade rookies Andrew Green, William Li. and Jaden Park have been quick studies during boys’ lacrosse practice and will be counted on for significant minutes this spring.
- Despite being relatively new to the sport, Audrey Chuang, Maddie Cutie, Yara Ibrahim, and Lydia Scharer have been working hard to improve their skills for the girls’ lacrosse team.
Third Graders Present Their Awesome Animal Adaptations
The third graders have been learning about the physical and behavioral adaptations of animals. As their culminating project, students designed and constructed an animal using their knowledge of adaptations as well as their own creativity! Some criteria included structural adaptations that allowed for an offense or defense against predators, instinctual behavioral adaptations, place within a food chain, and a habitat suited for its biome. Last week, our third grade zoologists gave detailed presentations of these new species to their classmates in person as well as family members near and far via Zoom.
– Leigh Twarog, grade 3 teacher
PE Update: Mario Kart Delights and Challenges
Talk about nostalgia. Just hearing those electronic tunes brings you right back to the days of Nintendo. And those tunes were rocking in our gym spaces this week as second, fourth, and fifth grade classes played different Mario Kart-themed games.
How? Well, for starters, a scooter course ringed the gym, and making a successful trip around the course earned each rider a coin. However, a group of Bowsers, standing at center court, rolled foam Bowser balls out at the riders, trying to prevent successful laps. Enough coins could earn a student a turtle shell (gatorskin ball) to launch at another rider; a banana peel (bowling pin) to disrupt a rider’s journey; or a star (for a protected trip around the course). Roles rotated constantly and there was even a rainbow road (underneath the parachute). It was a blast and a blast from the past. AND some great exercise!
– Alex Tzelnic, physical education teacher
First Graders Going Big on Small Stories
First graders have begun working on their small moment stories in writing! First graders began this project by thinking of stories in their own lives. They began writing things that have happened to them or things that they’ve done. The students learned what a small moment story is–not a huge story about their lives or even about their whole day, but a true story about a specific event or moment in their lives. First graders have brainstormed important people, pets, places, and objects in their lives. They have also identified small moment story seeds they can pull from their big ideas, and have begun planning how to turn big ideas into small moment stories!
– Geoffrey Fox, grade 1 teacher
Sixth Graders Establish Groot-Based Economy
Walking through the sixth grade cubbies, you may notice some Groot-themed signs for a variety of fun shopping opportunities. Established by a group of sixth graders, Groot is the amazing currency of the sixth grade. Playfully named for the Marvel character, the community of Grootlandia is a thriving one, where classmates can buy, sell, or rent items (as long as it is school appropriate, of course) to one another. There are a variety of “shops” which range from selling drawings on rocks to renting out fidgets. There is also a Groot government, with a Groot court, a Groot congress, and Groot law enforcement that keeps things from getting out of hand. There are many types of Groot bills, including ones, fives, tens, and hundreds. Although it is complicated, the main point of Groot is to have fun and to experiment with and learn about an economic system. So next time you’re passing by the sixth grade cubby room, make sure to check it out!
– The People of Grootlandia (and Matt Segil, middle school math teacher and grade 6 adviser)
Parents’ Association News
Grade Parent Nominations
We are looking for volunteers to serve as grade parents for the next school year. New parents and those with past experience are welcome! If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the nomination form. And if you have questions about the role of a grade parent and wish to learn more, please contact any member of the PA executive team or send an email to bdspa@belmontday.org.
Friendraiser & BDS Love Event
Cooking Class – Tapas
Wednesday, April 13, 6 to 9:30 p.m.
Cambridge School of Culinary Arts
Come release your inner chef and learn to make delicious tapas. Tapas, the Spanish custom of sharing lots of little plates, has dishes for everyone. The food is robust and flavorful, with options for carnivores and vegetarians alike. Recipes for the class will include patatas bravas, stuffed dates, spinach croquettes, albondigas, and churros with spiced chocolate. These innovative and delicious small plates are sure to satisfy everyone!
This in-person event and space is limited. There are a few spots left! Click here to RSVP.
All ingredients are provided and there is no cost to participate. This fun activity is a collaboration by the parents’ association, the friendraiser committee, and the development department. The class will be led by Elise Franklin Bayard (mom of Brynn, grade 6, and Alexis, grade 2).
Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon
Save the date for the faculty and staff appreciation luncheon on Friday, May 6. The committee will send out a sign-up form for food, drinks, and volunteer opportunities next week. We look forward to this opportunity to celebrate our outstanding faculty and staff.
Cradles to Crayons
Clean out those closets! Belmont Day is partnering with Cradles to Crayons to collect new and gently-used clothing for local children in need. Bring your bagged donations to school between April 25 to April 29 to drop off in the bins by the Barn and the Schoolhouse entrance.
Parent Book Club
Our next book will be The Art of Losing by Alice Zeniter. Beautifully translated from French, the story spans three generations of an Algerian family that ends up in France in the wake of the Algerian War of Independence and chronicles the challenges and complexities of their experience. Our next meeting won’t be until Monday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. (via Zoom) so that gives us almost six weeks to read it! We always love to see new faces and hope you will join us! If you have any questions or would like to attend, please contact Karla Bays.
PA Dues
Announcing the spring PA Dues challenge! We are grateful to the families who have contributed dues so far. In the lead is third grade at 82% participation and sixth grade at 80%. Dues are vital to the work of the PA each year, so to add a little fun we are offering a rice crispy treat snack to the class with the highest participation! Dues can be paid via the Parent Portal or by check made out to Belmont Day School Parents’ Association. If you can’t remember if you paid or have any questions, please contact Jeana Colangelo.
Friendraiser Walks
Our next Friendraiser Walks will be held on Tuesdays, April 5, 12, and 26. The weather is slowly getting more spring-like, but you may still want boots as the trails are pretty muddy. Meet at the front circle of the Schoolhouse at 8:15 a.m. and then journey through the woodland trails. Duration: about 40 minutes.
Beyond BDS
FACULTY WRITING
PE Teacher Pens Article on Mindfulness
Can brands and mindfulness merge in ways that are authentic and beneficial to consumers? Or does it all become “McMindfulness” and simply the exploitation of a trend? Alex Tzelnic, Belmont Day physical education teacher and frequent writer, has penned a new article for the online magazine, Tricycle, that explores this phenomenon of brands seeking more zen. Check out his article, “Can a Brand Be a Gateway to Practice?” And some readers may recognize one of his sources in the story, Julia Hanlon ’06, an avid runner and former host of the “Running On Om” podcast.
BOOK CLUB
Museum of Science: Science Fiction Book Club
Third Tuesday of the Month
Do you love reading science fiction? Want to share that interest with others? Join the Museum of Science’s science fiction reading group. The group meets virtually on the third Tuesday of every month. This book club is recommended for ages 18+.
For more information, such as what books are coming up next, and to register, click here.
Return to the Parent Portal
