February 17, 2023
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PEAK athletes finished their season this week climbing at the Boston Bouldering Project.
Opening Message
Community
Brendan Largay, Head of School
Post Date: February 17, 2023
At Belmont Day, two celebratory assemblies kick off each new calendar year–the MLK Assembly and the Lunar New Year celebration. These joyful and dynamic assemblies included guest speaker Matt Ferrer of Pine Street Inn, our faculty of color reciting Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The Hill We Climb,” and a Lion Dance performance by both our pre-kindergartners and the Calvin Chin Martial Arts Academy dancers. We honored the legacy of Dr. King with respect and service and welcomed the Year of the Rabbit with an abundance of joy and wonder.
The 2023 MLK Assembly was the first time we had gathered to honor Dr. King’s legacy since the winter of 2020, just two short months before COVID shut things down. Since then, gathering as a community has become more complicated and concerning than we could ever imagine. Even as we gradually moved from 6 feet to 3 feet distance between us, from shielded desks to open spaces, from grade-level classrooms in the Barn to everyone’s return to the Schoolhouse, the question of when and whether we could gather as a community remained.
There is evidence that the question still hangs in the air, at least for some. The number of families present for these recent assemblies hardly rivaled pre-pandemic attendance. Last week, fewer than 15 people engaged in a thoughtful and robust community discussion about spirituality and belief systems hosted by our equity, inclusion, and belonging office.
Then Friday Night Hoops happened.
This past Friday night, the Barn was, in a word, rocking. We welcomed our friendly rival, The Meadowbrook School, for the winter leg of our athletics showcases—this time, boys’ and girls’ basketball games—the gym was at SRO (standing room only) capacity. The games were joyful and competitive and ushered in a welcome return to what community looks like at BDS when students, faculty, and parents gather for an event.
The home-school partnership at Belmont Day is pivotal, and we are eager to reinforce it. In a phrase, there’s a difference between being welcome and being invited, so please consider this your invitation to return and attend Sharing Assemblies, Capstone, home games, and any other community event that strikes your interest. Community matters at Belmont Day, and you are an essential part of it.
I look forward to seeing you on campus soon. Have a joyful and restful February break!
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
After School and Enrichments: Enrollment Now Open
Enrollment is now open for both enrichment classes and After School for the third trimester which begins on March 13. Program descriptions and registration can be accessed on the Parent Portal. Space often fills up quickly so please consider registering soon. If you have any questions, please contact Blair Fross.
Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Book Group
Thursday, March 2 at 7 p.m via Zoom
Join us each month for an informal, parent-led EIB book group focusing on books written from the perspectives of marginalized communities. All parents/caregivers and faculty are welcome, and the books are chosen democratically.
The book for the next meeting is Diary of a Misfit: A Memoir and a Mystery by Casey Parks. The group will continue to meet on the first Thursday of every month via Zoom. The link is available on the Parent Portal.
Please contact Danielle England or Christina Cosman if you have any questions.
Save the Date!
Parent Education Forum: Singapore Math
Lower school parents are invited to join us on Wednesday, March 15, from 7 to 8 p.m. for a parent education forum with our Singapore Math consultant, Dr. Kevin Mahoney.
Kevin has been a teacher of elementary mathematics since 1989 and currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Education at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. In 2011, he became the first American to investigate Singapore’s elementary teaching methods at the doctoral level, publishing original academic research on the effects of Singaporean pedagogy on American math students. He consults and coaches in schools across the U.S. as well as in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and India, specializing in the unique challenges facing administrators, teachers, and students as they implement Singaporean elementary mathematics curricula.
Lunch & Snack Menu
February 27 to March 3
Monday
Snack: fruit cups; tortilla chips
Lunch: tortellini with marinara; pasta with marinara; gluten-free pasta with marinara; roasted cauliflower; greens with balsamic; crusty bread
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Simply Cheese Puffs
Lunch: chicken tenders; vegan nuggets; gluten-free chicken tenders; roasted red bliss potato wedges; green beans; garden salad with tomatoes and ranch
Wednesday
Snack: clementines; NutriGrain bars
Lunch: pork and vegetable fried rice; teriyaki tofu and vegetable fried rice; steamed broccoli; Asian greens with scallions and peppers; fortune cookies
Thursday
Snack: apple slices; Lay’s Chips
Lunch: chicken and cheese quesadilla; dairy-free cheese quesadilla; chicken and cheese gluten-free quesadilla; guacamole; sour cream; salsa; seasoned corn; Caesar salad
Friday
Snack: apples; Sunchips
Faculty Lunch
For a more detailed and updated weekly menu, please click the button below.
BDS News
FACULTY NEWS
Departures
Kurt Robinson, assistant director of innovation and IMPACT lab
After eleven years at Belmont Day, Kurt Robinson will be leaving the school in June. An important and valued member of the technology and innovation department at the school, Kurt has been instrumental in moving our program forward as we have sought to integrate the instruction of technology, coding, and making throughout the Belmont Day curriculum. Kurt was a key voice in the creation of the school’s new maker space and he is singularly responsible for its name–the IMPACT Lab–an acronym that captures the way Kurt views education: imagine, make, play, adapt, create, and tinker. Over his time at BDS as a colleague, coach, teacher, and innovator, Kurt has worked to embody those same IMPACTful goals, and we wish him well in the years ahead.
Dario Azzone, school nurse
Arriving to Belmont Day in the middle of a pandemic and providing critical care at a time of true need for our community, Dario Azzone filled an invaluable role as our second school nurse. As we move on from that position at the end of this school year, we do so with nothing but appreciation and respect for Dario and the role he played in helping Belmont Day stay healthy and safe as we navigated the most difficult days of the pandemic. We wish Dario well in his next adventure.
BUSINESS OFFICE NEWS
2023-24 Re-enrollment Wrap Up
We want to thank all of our families for making the 2023-24 re-enrollment process a smashing success. The vast majority of families completed the process by the February 10 deadline. For the few families who still are wrapping up loose ends, please complete the process as soon as possible. The Re-enrollment Portal will remain open until Friday, February 24.
Did you download a copy of your contract?
We encourage families to download a copy by February 24. Please log in to the Parent Portal and click the red “Access the Re-enrollment Portal” button.
From the “Enrollment Contracts” section, click the purple “Download Completed Contract” button. If you have more than one child at BDS, each contract must be downloaded separately.
For families who selected the Ten-Payment Plan, the first payment is due on May 1, 2023. The 2023-24 invoice will be available by mid-April. For all other families, the first payment is due on July 3, 2023, and invoices will be available by mid-June.
Should you have any questions, please contact Jen James, the school registrar, or me at fcolson@belmontday.org.
– Fred Colson, chief financial officer
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Guidelines for School Devices Over Break
- If you are traveling, remember that devices cannot leave the country, and you should email techgroup@belmontday.org to let us know if student devices will be leaving the state.
- School-issued devices are intended for school work and should not be used as personal devices.
- Please be sure to fully charge your device before we return to school on Monday, February 27.
Thank you, and have a safe and enjoyable break!
– Annie Fuerst, director of technology & innovation
AUCTION NEWS
Join Us for an Auction Information Session
Friday, March 3, 8 to 8:45 a.m.
Coolidge Hall
The biennial auction is an important and exciting event that relies on the talents of our parent community. It’s a chance to cultivate new friendships, have fun, and contribute to the school in a meaningful way while helping to raise funds for our school.
Please join members of the auction planning committee to learn more about the auction including event night details and ways to get involved. Committee members and staff will be available to answer general questions, give guidance on potential auction donations and sponsorship opportunities, and can help you register your donation or sponsorships onsite. You can also sign up to solicit local vendors for gift cards and receive helpful tips on how to do this. Your support makes this auction a success so please join to learn more about ways to get involved!
Save the date—we’ll ‘Come Together’ on Saturday, May 6. Coordinated by Belmont Day’s Auction Planning Committee, Parents’ Association, and development team, the auction is a night of celebration and support of our mission of excellence in education. More details and excitement are to come in the weeks ahead. If you have any questions related to the auction, please reach out at auction@belmontday.org
KITCHEN NEWS
Always a Good Time for Chili
Okay, maybe this winter hasn’t called for too many of the warming classics we typically love at this time of year, but assistant chef Vlad Hucko’s delicious chili is always in season!
Recipe for BDS Chili
Turkey or Beef Chili Recipe with Corn Chips
(good for 10-12 people)
Ingredients
- 5 lb ground beef, or 5 lb turkey
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- ½ a large onion, small dice
- 4-5 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 red pepper, small dice
- 1 lg. carrot, peeled, and small dice
- 1 stalk celery, small dice
- 1 Tbsp cumin
- 1 Tbsp taco seasoning
- ½ tsp. cayenne
- 1 can garbanzo beans 14 oz.
- 1 can red kidney bean 14 oz.
- 1-1/2 cups tomato sauce
- 1/2 bag(6 oz) frozen corn
- 1/2 bunch of cilantro, chopped fine
- 1 jar salsa 10 oz.
Directions
- Brown the meat and remove from the pot. Drain any fat.
- Add olive oil to the pot with onions. Saute at medium heat until soft and translucent.
- Add the garlic, peppers, carrot, celery, cumin, taco seasoning, and cayenne. Let this cook until the spices smell aromatic.
- Add the meat back into the pot. Cook for 5-10 minutes.
- Add the beans, tomato sauce, frozen corn, and salsa. ring to a boil then turn it down and allow to simmer for 1 hour.
- When you are almost ready to serve add the chopped cilantro.
- Serve chili with corn chips, shredded jack/cheddar cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and scallions.
SUMMER CAMP
NEW! Magic: The Gathering at BDS Camp
Pre-Camp Week, June 20-23
Rising fourth through eighth graders are invited to enroll in “Magic: The Gathering Deck Masters” during the pre-camp week—June 20-23. (Camp will be closed on Juneteenth.) Experienced Magic: The Gathering camp staff members Casey and Sam will lead campers through four days of exploring the Planes of the Magic Multiverse. Children at all skill levels of Magic: The Gathering are welcome.
Participants will explore different game modes, including Modern, Draft, and Commander, and have opportunities to practice and improve preconstructed decks and build their own. BDS will provide cards for this week. Campers are welcome to bring their own cards to play with during designated times.
Click here for more information and registration. If you have any questions, please contact Zach d’Arbeloff, director of summer programs, at summer@belmontday.org
Learning Updates
Athletics Update: Wrestling Out Muscles Fay and LCA
In their final meet of the season, the Blue & Gold wrestlers took on a pair of opponents at home in the Downing gym. Kavi Kumar-Warikoo got the action started with a last-second win, the first of his BDS career. With momentum on their side, Belmont Day turned to Caleb Frehywot for a match-up with the reigning Fay Invitational champion. Frehywot fought hard and ended up securing a huge win in OT for the home team. Soon after, Ellis Anderson followed with a dramatic two-point win, finishing his career on a high note in front of the home crowd. Belmont Day’s remaining wrestlers followed suit, highlighted by dominant pins by Jun Murakami and Quinn Clark. When the dust settled, the Blue & Gold walked away with a pair of victories (24-12 vs Fay / 8-0 vs LCA) and improved their season record to 7-2-1 in tri-meets. After the match, second-year head coach Andrew Bolte was asked about the season. “Over the course of a long and demanding wrestling season, our team embraced challenges, banded together, and had a whole bunch of laughs along the way. I was incredibly proud to represent Belmont Day with these wrestlers on our corner and look forward to continuing to grow the program (and the sport) next year.”
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- Andrew Green’s 33 points propelled Belmont Day to a huge 50-32 win over Meadowbrook at Friday Night Hoops. Eike Kiecza, Nebiyou Elias, Liam Brodeur, and Rami Flummerfelt outrebounded the visitors 43-9 on the night.
- Quincy Treisman scored a game-high 18 points during girls’ varsity basketball’s 33-30 loss to Meadowbrook at Friday Night Hoops. Avery Schneider and Ilana Brauner played courageously in front of the largest crowd in school history.
- The girls’ JV basketball team completed their undefeated (8-0) season with a dominant win over ISB this week. Team captains Liv Dawson and Kalkidan Shiferaw kept the team focused and motivated throughout the campaign.
- Eighth graders Oliver Gottesman, Quinn McCaffrey, Anurag Mujumdar, and Ezra Wolfson left it all on the floor during boys’ JV basketball’s win over ISB. The team finished the season with an impressive 6-2 record this year.
- Congratulations to our volleyball and fencing teams who finished their seasons on high notes with an exciting tournament (volleyball) and lopsided win (fencing) this week. The two teams rostered 58 athletes combined this year.
- PEAK athletes traveled to the Bouldering Project this week to hit the climbing wall. Maraki Shiferaw and Zazoue Marsan made it all the way to the top of the auto-belay for the first time. Lucy Walther and Julia Street crushed the bouldering wall.
- The IMBB team put the finishing touches on their inaugural season with a week full of skill competitions and competitive scrimmages. Sohan Shah and Jack Ward were the team’s most improved players this season.
Fourth Grade Returns to the MFA
The Museum of Fine Arts Arts Boston has opened back up to school groups, and we wasted no time scheduling a visit! The MFA visit is a fourth grade tradition that was put on hold due to COVID so we are so excited to see it come to life again for our students. Returning was even more exciting as it connected to our summer reading book, Juileta and the Diamond Enigma, and our visit with the author, Luisana Duarte Armendariz, in the fall. While at the MFA on Monday, students had a busy and engrossing day. Students sketched in the French Impressionist galleries, searched for artifacts they learned about earlier this year, and looked around the Egyptian exhibit.
– Lana Holman, fourth grade teacher
PE Update: Hide-and-seek Obstacle Course
February break is here and with it much excitement and possibility. But some things are only possible in PE, such as the hide-and-seek obstacle course that our youngest learners in pre-k, kindergarten, and first grade, engaged in this week.
Students were paired up and each pair selected a bean bag stuffed animal. One partner stayed in the circus tent (behind the parachute) while another partner completed the course and hid the stuffie along the way. When they returned to the tent it was time for their partner to complete the course as a seeker. When they found the animal they hid it in a new location and on the game went. It was the ideal way to harness pre-break energy and unleash it on just about every object in our PE closet. Have an active break, everyone!
– Alex Tzelnic, physical education teacher and mindfulness director
Eighth Grade Science Digs into Matter
In the second half of their unit on matter and its properties, eighth graders have been looking at the characteristics of the states of matter, changes of state, forms of energy, forces that are responsible for the states of matter, particle theory, and the relationship between heat and temperature. As a culminating activity for this unit, students completed a lab activity in which they used Bunsen burners to heat a sample of ice from solid to liquid to gas. While applying constant heat, students recorded the temperature of the sample every 30 seconds until the sample was fully boiling for five minutes. Students then used Google Sheets to graph their data. Using their graph students were able to develop an understanding of what a heating curve looks like for any substance. They were also able to use their observations as well as the slope of their graphs to determine when phase changes occurred and when the particles in the water gained kinetic energy. This experiment was a highlight of the month as students learned how to light Bunsen burners, worked with partners to record data, and were able to apply math concepts as well as their understanding of the states of matter to the result they obtained in this activity.
– Sandra Trentowsky, grades 7 & 8 science teacher
French Students Take on Poetry, Food, and Themselves
Our second, third, and fourth grade French classes are constantly working on spiraling writing activities to help build confidence. That confidence is contagious and students are quick to get creative in learning more.
In second grade, the students have been learning and illustrating a poem by Louis Codet. They’re learning a choice of 10 words that they can swap with some words in the poem. They get to choose from that pool of vocabulary to create their own version of the poem and illustrate it.
In third grade, the students have been learning a song about a sandwich and playing games during which they sort foods according to mysterious rules that they have to figure out (food groups and noun genders). The pool of vocabulary is bigger, about 30 words. Each student then creates a healthy sandwich and writes a song for their sandwich. It is an opportunity for them to get creative with the tune!
In fourth grade, the students engage in a year-long endeavor. After learning a song about the daily activities of a bunch of skeletons, the students illustrate a book about their own daily activities during their favorite day of the week. For each vignette, they specify the time, and their feelings, using the vocabulary learned in the first trimester. Lastly, the students will put the finishing touch to their book by writing a short autobiography in which they describe themselves, and their likes and dislikes. This project will tie together all the different elements of language that they learned over the year.
– Nathalie Pellenq, French teacher
Parents’ Association News
PA Dues Contest
Thank you to everyone who paid PA dues this week. The three classes with the highest percentage of contributing families are pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and fourth. We hope the students will love their special snacks!
If you forgot the contest, it’s never too late to contribute. These dues help the PA hold fun social events for parents, appreciation events for teachers, enrichment assemblies, and more. The suggested amount is $50 per family, but any amount at all is appreciated. Please consider paying your family PA dues right now, right here. Thank you for contributing to our great community.
Book Group
Our parent book group has enjoyed some great discussions over drinks at Menotomy Grill & Tavern this year and we’d love for you to join us. Our next meeting is Tuesday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. We will be reading Intimacies by Katie Kitamura. Our April book, The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz, is a longer novel so please feel free to get a head-start on that title, as well. Please contact Karla Bays for more information or to join our mailing list.
If you have any suggestions or questions about parents’ association-related activities, please contact us anytime at bdspa@belmontday.org. We hope you have a lovely February break!
Beyond BDS
AUTHOR TALK
Kelly Yang To Launch Book at Somerville Theatre
Friday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Belmont Books is excited to host New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang for the launch of her latest book, Finally Seen. An author talk will be followed by a meet and greet and book signing at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville. Yang’s new book follows her very popular New From Here and The Front Desk series. Admission includes a copy of Finally Seen. Click here for more information and tickets.
COMMUNITY CONCERT
Piano Performance of Songs by Black Composers
The Helen Robinson Wright Charitable Fund invites you to a benefit piano concert featuring songs by Black composers on Saturday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 35 Church St., Watertown. Pianist John Kramer, music director at Winchester Unitarian Society and a member of the faculty at the Berklee School of Music, will perform songs composed by Florence Price, William Grant Still, Nathaniel Dett, Margaret Bonds, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, and others. The suggested donation is $20.
THEATER PRODUCTION
BDS Students to Perform in Shrek: The Musical
A trio of talented seventh graders—Clem Cradick, Brynn Franklin, and Grace Sullivan—will take the stage next month in Menotomy Musical Theater’s production of “Shrek: The Musical!” Tickets are now on sale for the three performances, Friday, March 24, at 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, March 25 and 26, at 4 p.m. All performances will be at at the Marsha Caron Theater, Medford High School, 489 Medford Street. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
SUMMER PROGRAM
Learn From the Land at The Farm School
The Farm School offers students ages 10 to 17 the opportunity to connect to the land and learn from a variety of hands-on experiences on its 400-acre working farm in north central Massachusetts.
Registration for Summer 2023 programs is now open. Click here for more information and registration. Come see what nature has to offer!
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