October 13, 2023
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Second graders give the thumbs-up to learning the violin in music class this week.
Opening Message
Belonging at the Center
Connie Yepez, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Post Date: October 13, 2023
You may have noticed that what we used to call equity, inclusion, and belonging is now, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at BDS. While it would be easy to think of this as a small change, it’s important to note the why and the impact of adding “diversity” as an important element of the school’s approach to creating and cultivating community. If we begin by unpacking the meaning of each individual term, a clear vision of what it means to belong in a community emerges.
Diversity. Simply put, this term describes the “who” of our community. What are the identities represented as we look at our students, parents/caregivers, faculty, and trustees? Ideally, we actively strive to have many identities represented in our school because we understand that being part of a diverse community adds value to our life and learning. It provides us with opportunities to see the beauty in our unique qualities and to celebrate our common humanity. This is why we choose to name diversity as an important element of our approach. Equity. This term means that we apply an identity-conscious lens to our approach and actions that enable every person to thrive. Being identity-conscious means that we understand that identity impacts our experiences and that people may need different types of support, access, and systems based on factors like race, gender expression, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, etc. Inclusion. At its core, inclusion is about ensuring that all members of our community are seen and heard. It means that the voices, perspectives, and needs of everyone are important and considered as we navigate daily life together.
If we create a Venn diagram of diversity, equity, and inclusion, we can place belonging at the intersection–at the center. Belonging means that all members of our community feel seen, heard, and valued in a way that unlocks their potential and sets them up for success as fully engaged and integrated individuals. The collective impact for our students cannot be understated as having a sense of belonging creates a safe space where they can explore their identities, take risks, be innovative, think critically, and be empowered in their learning.
A few weeks ago, I spent time with our pre-kindergarten friends reading a book called, Shades of People. This prompted students to look at their own skin and draw connections to the images they saw in the book. The students delighted in comparing their hands to each others and we decided to take a picture of all of our hands together. This photo displays the range of shades that can be seen in this class and is a wonderful representation of the way we all made diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging tangible and meaningful for everyone in that space. It was just one way that we walk in our purpose together and create a foundation for connection, empathy, and celebration. Onward!
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
Save The Date: Garden Workday
Saturday, November 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
As we wind down our harvesting for the season, please join us for the fall garden workday. Parents with their children are invited, and middle school students can come with a parent or on their own. We’ll work together to put the school garden to rest for the winter. Help rake, clear, mulch, and more! Please contact Kathy Jo Solomon with questions or if you plan to attend.
Friday Night Lights
Friday, October 27
7 p.m. – Boys’ Varsity Game
8:15 p.m. – Girls’ Varsity Game
Jordan Field, Harvard University
Friday Night Lights returns to Jordan Field at Harvard University. Our boys’ and girls’ varsity soccer teams will face off against our friendly rival, The Meadowbrook School. The boys’ team will match up first followed by the girls’ team. Join students, faculty, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and friends to fill the stands and show Meadowbrook how much spirit we have!
Parent Conference Days and Childcare
Fall parent conferences are scheduled for the following days and times:
- Friday, October 27, from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 1, from 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
- Friday, November 3, from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
The school will be closed except for parent conferences on Wednesday, November 1, and open for the normal school schedule on the two Fridays, October 27 and November 3. Childcare will be available during conference hours on all three days. Please note that childcare for all three days will be in the Erskine Library not the Barn gym.
Faculty will be in touch directly to offer conference sign-up times.
Childcare information:
- Sign-up is not required
- Join us in the Erskine Library
- Coverage is only available during the time of conferences–please do not drop off earlier or pick up later than the end of your conference
- All children of school age are welcome (even if they are not BDS students)
- Children should bring a book or activity; some activities will be provided
- Children should not bring electronics, including iPads, phones, or other devices
- No food will be provided
Lunch & Snack Menu
October 16 to October 20
Monday
Snack: craisins; Popcorners
Lunch: spaghetti with marinara and meatballs; spaghetti with marinara and vegan meatballs; gluten-free spaghetti with marinara and meatballs; crusty rolls; vegetable blend; kale salad with roasted corn, tomato, and citrus vinaigrette
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; whole-grain Sunchips
Lunch: chicken tenders; vegan tenders; gluten-free chicken tenders; mashed potatoes; steamed broccoli; spinach salad with mandarins, pumpkin seeds, scallions, and Asian vinaigrette
Wednesday
Snack: clementines; banana oatmeal rounds
Lunch: crusted baked white fish; vegan Italian sausage; roasted white fish; white rice; green beans; garden salad with Roma tomato ranch dressing
Thursday
Snack: apple slices; whole-grain Cheez-Its
Lunch: roasted butternut squash soup; Monster Bagels with cheddar; Monster bagels with vegan cheese; gluten-free Monster bagels with cheddar; seasoned corn; Caesar salad
Friday
Snack: apples; apple muffins
Faculty Lunch
For a more detailed and updated weekly menu, please click the button below.
Dining In Coolidge Hall
Along with the main menu, students have access to a hot bar with the “hot veg of the day,” as well as a salad bar with fresh vegetables, fruit, deli meats and cheese, roasted tofu, hummus, organic yogurt, greens and a salad of the day. They also have access to cereal, bread, bagels, cream cheese, Wowbutter, and jellies. 1% milk and soy milk are available.
Each table is set with the entrée of the day. There are plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options for those who follow a specialized diet. We also ask that any children with allergies introduce themselves to the kitchen team so that we can make sure that everyone enjoys a safe meal.
BDS News
COMMUNITY NEWS
School Photos Now Available to Order
The 2023-24 student and class photos are now available to order! To sign in to see and/or order photos, please go to Porter Gifford Photography. You will need to enter your email address and the password that was shared by email with all families earlier today.
Porter is offering a complimentary 5×7 class photo to families that place an order of at least $30. The coupon code is classphoto and can be entered at checkout. Since changes to orders cannot be made after the fact, it is important to use this code prior to finalizing your order.
Please note:
- Photos are organized by grade. Scroll down to just beneath the all-school collage for the menu bar where you can select your child’s grade. Students are not identified by name.
- Click on a photo’s shopping basket to see the sizes available and their prices.
- You may purchase just one or an assortment of your child’s/children’s photos. Digital versions are also available.
- Purchased photos will be mailed directly to the address you provide during ordering.
- If you have any questions, please contact porter@portergifford.com.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Belmont Day Starts AISNE Self-Study Year
Under the leadership team of Nicole Buck, Jen James, and Abbey Nyland, Belmont Day has entered an AISNE (Association of Independent Schools in New England) self-study year in 2023-24. AISNE’s self-study process, which takes place approximately every ten years, includes a rigorous self-evaluation across thirteen different standards for the school. These 13 standards include such areas as governance, finance, program resources, enrollment management, and development, to name a few. The process culminates in a multi-day visit from a team of teachers and administrators from a variety of AISNE schools where they meet with various stakeholders, observe classrooms and activities, and write a report featuring commendations for the school and recommendations for improvement.
Read More
AISNE’s accreditation process is vital to independent schools across New England; it provides an independent and responsive evaluation that results in recommendations to guide the school’s continuous improvement that is aligned with the school’s unique mission and culture. Additionally, the accreditation process strengthens the school’s commitment and congruence to its mission, requires institutional reflection and self-evaluation, and helps the school identify areas for improvement.
Through the accreditation process, the faculty is working in committees based on the 13 standards. These committees meet bi-weekly and will produce a report for their standard, based on questions from AISNE. During their work together, the faculty (teaching and non-teaching) will collaborate, discuss, evaluate and analyze all aspects of BDS. This work proves to shine a careful and critical lens on the school, its policies, and practices, all with the goal of identifying strengths and finding areas for improvement.
If you have any questions related to the AISNE self-study, please reach out to a member of our AISNE leadership team.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PE Team Host Peers from Park
It was a true meeting of the minds (and bodies). Two physical education departments gathering to observe, share games and best practices, and talk about all the ins and outs of life on the move.
On Thursday, the Belmont Day PE team was honored to host Michelle Young and Tonnis James, physical education teachers from The Park School in Brookline. They toured the campus, led a delightful “head, shoulders, knees, and cone” warm-up, and then observed classes focused on soccer and parkour. It was a pleasure to exchange ideas and to enrich both our programs through purposeful and playful collaboration. We look forward to more opportunities to open our doors and share with and learn from our fellow PE teachers!
– The Physical Education team
ADMISSIONS OFFICE
Sibling Applications for Pre-k and Grade 6 Due by October 31
We welcome parents of current Belmont Day students who have a child who is eligible for pre-kindergarten or sixth grade admission (for pre-k, students must turn four by September 1, 2024) to participate in our early admissions process for siblings. The preliminary application must be submitted by Monday, October 30, 2023, for your child to receive this priority consideration. If you submit by this early deadline, you will also receive early notification of admission.
Families should visit Ravenna, create an account, or add an additional student to an existing account, and then add Belmont Day School. You will see detailed information about the necessary steps and things you must complete for your application. The deadline for submitting all supplemental application materials is Monday, December 4, 2023. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Liz Parfit, director of admissions, by email or 617-932-3884.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Trunk-or-Treat
Saturday, October 21, from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Our auxiliary programs department hosts this event and will bring our summer camp community back to campus to enjoy an afternoon of fall fun alongside our After School Program students. Everyone in the school community is invited to join us!
There will be trunk-or-treating, scavenger hunts, snacks, drinks, music, and other fun activities. There is no need to RSVP, and you do not have to decorate a trunk to attend. We hope you can join us in your favorite costume or outfit to gather with the auxiliary programs community to share in some fall joy.
SIGN UP to decorate your trunk! If you would like to decorate your trunk and reserve a parking space, please sign up here, as space is limited. Please reach out to Denali Kikuchi with questions.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Book Group
Join us each month for an informal, parent-led DEIB book group focusing on books written from the perspectives of marginalized communities. All BDS parents/caregivers and faculty are welcome!
The next meeting will be next Thursday, November 9, from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. via Zoom.
This month we will be discussing Failures of Forgiveness by Myisha Cherry.
Please reach out to Danielle England or Christina Cosman for more information. The Zoom link is available on the Book Groups page on the Parent Portal.
Learning Updates
Athletics Update: Cross Country Stays Unbeaten With Dominating Win Over Carroll
The cross country team improved to a perfect 4-0 following a dominating 20-59 win over Carroll this week. On a beautiful afternoon in front of the home crowd, Belmont Day recorded 12 PRs! You heard right, 12 of Belmont Day’s 18 runners ran their best times ever on the 2.2-mile home course. Highlighting these impressive times were a trio of veteran eighth graders who have put in the work over the years and are now reaping the rewards. Brynn Franklin, Simon Wright, and Jovana Zivanovic all dropped nearly half a minute off of their previous bests, each finishing in the top 12 overall with times under 17:15. Joining the talented eighth grade trio in the PR column was a pair of seventh grade classmates, Edwin Voiland (17:19) and Emmett Mack (17:26) who finished in 12th and 13th place respectively. Also chipping in with a strong performance was Sohan Shah who recorded his fastest time of the season. With all of the PRs and overall team success, another first place finish from Sam Leviton almost seems ho-hum. In what has become an expectation, Sam recorded his fourth consecutive first place finish, coming in at a blazing 12:51, his second sub 13:00 in a row. The team now sets their sights on the first invitational meet of the season and will take their undefeated record to Brookline for the Larz Anderson Invitational next week.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- The varsity volleyball team improved to 3-1 following a 2-0 win over Beaver. Noah Yang controlled the service line while Isla Smith chipped in with some solid play.
- The field hockey team is struggling to find offense, losing their third consecutive game, 4-1 to Nashoba. Lucy Walther was active on the ball and Veronica Wang played well for BDS .
- Noor Khan scored the equalizer off of Abigail Chang’s free kick during girls’ JV soccer’s 1-1 tie at Nashoba. Maren Whitman was strong in net and Fatoumata Bah helped control the pace.
- Kaden Flummerfelt was under center for the majority of varsity football’s big win over Carroll. Highlights included Henry Kiraly’s interception and Calum Dunbar’s touchdown.
- Boys’ JV soccer stayed unbeaten with a 4-1 win over Park. Ewan Wheeler provided lots of offensive pressure while Graham Chisholm tallied two more goals (four for the season).
- The varsity soccer teams swept Carroll, both notching their second wins of the season. Luke Brenneman and Rhys Kaplan played well for the boys. Kailkidan Shiferaw and Josie Stevenson shined for the girls.
- The JV football team lost a hard fought game to Carroll this week. Deniz Kas and Sophie Cutie had some good flag pulls and Lee Piechota provided an offensive spark.
Lower School French Students Build Vocabulary, Confidence
- In kindergarten, after learning farm animal names in a song, the students designed their own farm using stickers and presented it to the class in French, some independently and some using the teacher’s support.
- In first grade, the students learned a weather song and added choreography to their singing. Later in the year, they will decide how to sing a song about body parts and present their idea to the class.
- In second grade, the students have started learning a traditional round about the weather that will serve as a voice warm-up throughout the year. Later, we will recycle this vocabulary and dive into poetry writing.
- In third grade, the students are tackling their first project of the year. They visited the BDS garden and made observations and are now learning the French vocabulary they will need to describe a garden that they will design. The sentence starters will be all about senses: I see, I smell, I touch, I hear, I like (taste).
- In fourth grade, after learning how to talk about feelings, the students are about to create a “show”. They are creating sentences using the verb “to be” and different feelings. With their group, they will decide how to present their skit to the class: they could sing it to a tune of their choice, act, dance, or say it with expression. They will be working hard on the delivery. For example, can we hear the agreement of the adjectives? Later on, they will build on this knowledge in their “Book Of My Routine”. Stay tuned for an update on that!
There are many steps to getting the students ready to learn any language and one of them is equipping them with soft skills. Choice, delight in trials and errors, and peer support all contribute to building their confidence and ability to take risks.
Parents’ Association News
Fall Flower Fundraiser
LAST DAYS! The sale ends at midnight on Sunday, October 15! Planting bulbs is easy, fun to do with kids, and will help the BDS community! Bulbs purchased during the Fall Flower Fundraiser will be shipped directly to your home in time to plan this fall and enjoy beautiful flowers come spring! 50% of the profits will go toward the PA’s Faculty and Staff Appreciation Fund. Click here to place your orders.
Calling All Knitters!
It is a PA tradition to welcome BDS faculty and staff babies with a basket of books and a cozy lamb hat. If you would like to contribute your knitting skills to the latter, please contact Jeana Colangelo for the pattern and logistics. Thank you!
Fall Socials
Fall parent Socials are underway and not to be missed. They are a wonderful opportunity to meet and spend time with the parents in your grade and to build our BDS community. The socials run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and are adults-only. This year, catered food (heavy appetizers) and desserts will be served, along with alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.
We welcome your attendance, even if you cannot stay the whole time. Grade parents are hard at work planning these lovely events, so please contact them with any questions. The two remaining dates are:
- Thursday, October 19 – grade 4, grade 6
- Thursday, November 2 – pre-k, kindergarten, grade 7
Woodland Walk with BDS Connections
The parents’ association BDS Connections committee will host a woodland walk on Tuesday, October 24 at 8:15 a.m. Connect with old friends and make some new ones while enjoying the fall color and exploring the trails in the nearby Lone Tree Hill conservation land. The walk will take approximately 45 minutes. Please gather outside the Coolidge/PAC entrance. Dogs are welcome. (The rain date is Wednesday, November 8.)
Coffee Before Sharing Assemblies
The PA will host an informal coffee starting at 7:45 a.m. before all Sharing Assemblies this year in the Barn lobby. The next Sharing Assembly will be on Friday, October 27. We hope to see you there!
Parent Book Club
The Parent Book Club will meet on Tuesday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Menotomy Grill & Tavern to discuss Stay True: A Memoir by Hua Hsu. The paperback is a quick 208 pages and the audiobook is only 5 hours and 28 minutes. We hope you will join us! Please contact Karla Bays if you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list.
PA Contacts
At any time and for any reason, please feel free to email the parents’ association executive team at bdspa@belmontday.org:
Beyond BDS
COMMUNITY EVENT
BDS Students to Exhibit Their Work at Zine Fest
TOMORROW! Saturday, October 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Teen Room, Watertown Library, 123 Main Street
Zine Fest is a fun and creative event for artists, makers, and enthusiasts of all ages to come together and showcase their self-published works known as “zines.” These small, handmade publications express various viewpoints, interests, and ideas through words, drawings, and collages. A number of our middle school students have worked to craft their own collection of zines and will have their work displayed at the festival. These zines are a testament to the creativity and unique perspectives of our BDS students (and faculty!), and we can’t wait to share them with you.
In addition to exploring the zines made by BDS community members, attendees will have the chance to discover the remarkable works of other local makers covering a wide range of topics and themes. You might find zines about art, music, literature, current events, and many other intriguing subjects.
We hope you will join us for an inspiring day filled with creativity, self-expression, and an appreciation for the many incredible zines that will be showcased.
– Brittany Conroy, innovation coach
ROCK CONCERT
Kenna Schneider ’21 to Play The Burren With Band
Saturday, October 21 at 3:00 p.m.
The Burren, 247 Elm Street, Somerville
Catch alumna Kenna Schneider ’21 as she hits the stage with her band, Crash Course. Crash Course features Schneider on guitar and vocals along with six bandmates, all fellow students at The Winsor School, where Schneider is a junior. Playing both originals and covers, the band incorporates genres from pop to rock to jazz. With an all-new set featuring new originals, this will be their fourth Burren show. This is an all-ages show. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
PARENT EDUCATION
Bestselling Author To Speak On Child Development, Mental Health
Tuesday, October 17, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Dana Hall School
Dr. Damour is a psychologist, teacher, speaker, consultant, and author of three New York Times bestsellers: Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. She co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, collaborates with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Dr. Damour maintains a clinical practice and speaks to schools, professional organizations, and corporate groups worldwide on the topics of child and adolescent development, family mental health, and adult well-being. The presentation is free and open to the public. Click here for more information and to register for the event.
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