February 9, 2024
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The Lunar New Year was celebrated in many classes and during our all-school assembly this week.
Opening Message
STEAM Learning: A Wonderfully Messy Process
Annie Fuerst, Director of Innovation
Post Date: February 9, 2024
Downstairs from my office in the Barn, what looks like a mess is growing out from the door of our IMPACT Lab. Students sit and work between piles of cardboard and yarn. They reach in all directions for haphazardly folded papers covered in mysterious scribbles. The floor is now an abstract canvas, sectioned off with colorful tape and drawings.
Okay, maybe it’s a bit of a mess at the moment, but learning and innovation are just that—a wonderfully messy process in which ideas come to life.
If you walk through the door of the IMPACT Lab, you’ll see that messy process at a different stage. There’s a 3D model to demonstrate how trees communicate. There’s code written for an AI-powered flight simulator. There’s even a movement zone and cool-down spot for students as they learn about themselves and realize when they need a moment to reset.
In education, we often save our celebrations for finished products like report cards, graduations, and culminating projects. To borrow the thinking of our sixth graders and their pile of cardboard and yarn—we see the beautiful forest landscape, but we don’t see the messy tangle of roots beneath the ground. Learning happens in those tangled roots. It happens in the mess of a rough draft, the initial miscalculations made unlocking a math formula, and the chaotic first rehearsals of a new piece of music.
Our sixth and seventh graders are preparing to share this learning process with the Belmont Day community at next week’s second annual STEAM Expo. With the students, we’ll lift up this mess and acknowledge the plethora of mini and major failures we all go through to succeed. The students will take the lead to teach us what they are learning—how to generate multiple ideas, prototype, fail, and iterate.
In preparing for this year’s expo, alongside innovation coach Brit Conroy and sixth and seventh grade science teachers Bill Hamilton and Maggie Small, I find myself narrowing in on the importance of teaching students to navigate ambiguity (honestly, just another word for ‘mess’).
Students are encouraged to play, explore, and fail in their younger years, and as they get older, they are more confined to the ‘right’ answers and standard processes. When we remove ambiguity and open-ended exploration for students, we make it more difficult for them to meet the challenges and complexities of the future.
Please join us next Tuesday evening for the STEAM Expo and see how we prepare our students to embrace this lifelong mess of learning.
The second annual STEAM Expo will be held on Tuesday, February 8, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Barn gym. Activities will be available for all ages.
Upcoming Events
Monthly Calendar
2nd Annual STEAM Expo!
Tuesday, February 13, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Join us in the Barn for an exciting evening of hands-on learning and discovery at our STEAM Expo. Bring your family and explore the world of science, technology, engineering, art, and math in a fun and interactive way. Our sixth and seventh grade students will showcase projects and demonstrate how the school approaches teaching and learning science through experimentation, exploration, and an iterative process.
Interactive activities and exhibits will highlight how this style of learning lives beyond the science classrooms and is woven into the BDS experience.
There will be activities geared toward all grade levels, and this event is open to all families and students. Participate in the learning process with our scientists—we hope to see you there!
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging 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 parents/caregivers and faculty are welcome, and we choose our books democratically.
Our next Zoom meeting will be on Monday, February 12, from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. We will be discussing Emotional Inheritance: A Therapist, Her Patients, and the Legacy of Trauma by Galit Atlas.
The group meets on the first Thursday of every month via Zoom. The link to attend is available on the Parent Portal.
Please contact Danielle England or Christina Cosman if you would like to be added to the email reminder list.
Be Like Sam: Check the Lost & Found
The Lost & Found is once again overflowing with items waiting to be reunited with their owners. There are dozens of jackets and hoodies, as well as gloves, mittens, hats, and water bottles… so many water bottles! So be like third grader Sam and if you’re missing something, check the Lost & Found! Sam had been “looking everywhere” for his missing coat before finding it hanging on the Lost & Found rack.
If your child is missing an item, please look in the Lost & Found before the February vacation week. The Lost & Found is located just off the sixth grade hallway in the Schoolhouse. Check in with Ms. Carey at the front desk to be directed to it. Thank you!
Lunch & Snack Menu
February 12 to February 16
Monday
Snack: fruit cups; Popcorners
Lunch: pasta with marinara; gluten-free pasta with marinara; garlic bread sticks; green beans; garden salad with Romano tomatoes and honey mustard dressing
Tuesday
Snack: applesauce; granola bars
Lunch: soy braised chicken; teriyaki tofu; basmati rice; steamed broccoli; bok choy and spinach with julienne red pepper and soy ginger vinaigrette
Wednesday
Snack: clementines; special snack
Lunch: Breakfast for Lunch: pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and syrup, vegan pancakes, vegan sausage patties, gluten-free pancakes, spinach salad with roasted tomatoes, goat cheese, and sherry vinaigrette
Thursday
Snack: fruit; pretzels
Lunch: soup of the day; turkey and cheese panini; vegan cheese panini; gluten-free grilled cheese sandwiches; Ruffle potato chips; honey carrot coins; Caesar salad
Friday
Snack: fruit; chocolate chip muffins
Faculty Lunch
Please click the button below for a more detailed and updated weekly menu.
BDS News
STAFFING NEWS
Departure
Cicely Gibson, first grade teacher
After six years as a first grade teacher, we will be sad to bid farewell to Cicely Gibson after this school year. Cicely, currently on parental leave after the birth of her second daughter, Holland, has decided to stay home to spend more time with her children. A Connecticut native, Cicely and her growing family will be moving to West Hartford this summer to be closer to her parents and siblings.
Throughout her years here, Cicely crafted and revised many aspects of the first grade curriculum. She incorporated new writing units that encouraged the unique interests of her students and celebrated their life experiences. Cicely also enhanced the science curriculum to include connections with the first grader’s introduction to dining in Coolidge Hall and using the science lab in the built Barn. She collaborated with her co-teachers to update the social studies curriculum to focus more on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging while maintaining units such as learning about the Wampanoags. She helped reenvision the 100th Day of School celebration, a cornerstone event for first grade. When it could not be held as an in-person and whole group event during the pandemic, Cicely and her co-teacher created digital activities that preserved the shared experience among the students and families. Beyond classroom teaching duties, Cicely also served as an associate teacher mentor, new faculty mentor, Capstone mentor, and tennis coach.
We congratulate Cicely, Rob, and big sister Hailey on the new addition to their family and wish Cicely all the best as she takes on the very important task of full-time parenting. We look forward to seeing her at the Moving Up Assembly so we can say a proper good-bye in person.
AUXILIARY PROGRAMS NEWS
After School: Dismissal at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, February 16
As a reminder, the school will close at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, February 16, as we start the February vacation week. All After School students must be picked up at 3:30 p.m.—there will not be a 5:30 p.m. dismissal.
Trimester Three Registration Opens Next Week
Enrollment for trimester three enrichment classes and After School will open on Friday, February 16, at 7 a.m. Enrichment class descriptions and registration are available on the Auxiliary Programs page of the Parent Portal.
Staffing Update: New After School Teacher
We are thrilled to announce Diego Calderón has joined the auxiliary programs team and will be working with our first and second graders in After School. Diego has worked for Belmont Day summer programs for the last three years and recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Diego is starting a career in education, and in addition to his work with our After School program, he works with a fourth grade classroom team in Lincoln. He is excited to take on this new role at Belmont Day and provide support to students in learning discoveries throughout the afternoons. Please help us welcome Diego to BDS!
BUSINESS OFFICE NEWS
Re-enrollment Contracts Due Monday, February 12
You can access your contracts via the Parent Portal. Please follow the steps below to complete your re-enrollment.
- Review and sign the contract for your child(ren).
- Review and approve school policies relating to your child’s enrollment.
- Choose a payment plan for the year:
- Single payment option
- Two-payment option
- 10-payment plan
- Pay this year’s deposit.
- Update your family’s contact and demographic information.
READ MORE
If your family will receive financial aid in 2024-2025, your financial aid award letter was included with your contract.
VC Pay can be used to schedule online payments for tuition, incidentals, and more. You may register for VC Pay at any time. Please note that the system requires that parents re-register for VC Pay each year.
Your signed contract and deposit must be received by Monday, February 12. Please note that all parents/guardians must sign the contract.
If you have any questions, please contact Jen James, assistant to the head of school and registrar.
New Invoices Issued for After School & Enrichments
The business office has issued invoices for Trimester 2 After School and enrichment classes and for emergency After School in Trimester 1. Payments for these programs are due by Friday, March 1, 2024. For those who use AutoPay, payments will be processed on Friday, March 1. Please plan accordingly.
Please login to the Parent Portal and click on the blue “Invoices & Payments” button on the right side of the screen to review your account and initiate payment. Payments may also be submitted by mailing a check to the attention business office.
Note: If you are not enrolled in autopay for incidental invoices and would like to, go to the Manage AutoPay tab in the parent portal to do so. You will need to assign your bank account to incidental invoice types.
For questions about charges for After School and enrichment classes, please contact Blair Fross, director of school year auxiliary & specialty programs.
Please contact the business office with any questions about the tuition invoices and about payment processing.
Learning Updates
Eighth Graders Share Original Poems
After a week of learning about and experimenting with the Shakespearean sonnet, the modern English ghazal, and contemporary free verse poetry, eighth graders worked hard this week on crafting their poetry portfolios that touch on a theme or subject of their choosing. Students chose to write poems in many different forms and about many different aspects of the human experience. On Thursday, our poetry unit culminated with a class poetry reading, where students shared an original poem from their portfolios. Much courage was demonstrated, and many snaps were received. Bravo, eighth graders!
– Sana Aslam, eighth grade English teacher
Arts Update: Third Graders Craft Unique Boxes in Woodworking
Students in first grade learn how to create a basic woodworking project called a “Hole in a Box.” This involves making a rectangular wooden block with a hole drilled on top and a lid to slide across, which closes the hole. As they progress to third grade, their skills and workmanship improve, allowing them to design and create their unique version of the “Hole in a Box.”
– William Smith, woodworking teacher
Athletics Update: Badminton Team Heads Outside
The badminton team took to the trails this week, taking advantage of some unseasonably warm temperatures. After beginning their season on Harvard’s squash courts, the team returned to campus and shifted their focus to badminton following winter break, competing in a pair of two-week intramural tournaments. This week, however, Coach Nyland knew the team was ready for a change, so they pivoted to a more fitness-heavy practice plan, including a hike to Lone Tree Hill on Thursday. As a whole, the inaugural season of badminton/squash has been a success and has become the winter home for 22 middle school athletes.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- The varsity basketball teams followed up their Friday Night Hoops performances by splitting games against Carroll and DCD this week. Julia Casey and Kaden Flummerfelt brought energy and hustle to their respective teams.
- The varsity fencing team took down ISB 18-9 this week. Carter Bradshaw won all three of his epee bouts, while Zach Cash, Ariel Duan, and Hugue Marsan each won a foil bout. The team will put its undefeated season on the line next week.
- The wrestling team came up short against Nobles this week despite a gritty performance from Colin Parry, two hard-fought matches by Joshua Harriette, and a formidable win by team captain Alexander Meredith. The team has one match left.
- The junior varsity basketball teams will look to cap off successful seasons next week against Carroll. This week, Murilo Santos shined behind the arc for the boys and Samantha Cuming poured in a career-high 17 points for the girls.
- Classmates Siri Paulsson, Sohan Shah, and Lucy Walther have been instrumental members of the inaugural climbing and hiking team. The three athletes have brought positive energy and a steadfast approach to all of the team’s activities.
Courtside Report: Friday Night Hoops Recap
The Girls’ Varsity Game: A Back-And-Forth Affair Until Late
The Belmont Day girls’ varsity basketball team took a tough loss on Friday Night Hoops versus their rivals Meadowbrook with the final score of 46-36. While the final score may look like Meadowbrook was in the lead for the majority of the game, this game went back and forth many times. BDS started down 7-2 but made their way back with great plays on defense by pressuring Meadowbrook’s players before they got to half-court and forcing turnovers. Great job by coaches O’Neill and Skinner for encouraging the team to play with great intensity and hustle throughout the whole game.
The Blue and Gold also forced lots of jump balls. Interestingly, in middle school athletics, instead of playing the jump ball at half court, the possession alternates between the teams. During the second half, a heartbreaking injury happened when eighth grader and co-captain Annika Vittal got fouled and landed awkwardly. She played with lots of energy and determination, trying to help her team win.
Belmont Day took the lead at the end of the first half, and with about seven minutes left in the game, it was a tie game at 33-33. Players, including seventh graders Sara Colangelo and Julia Casey, had some good possessions, knocking in threes and mid-range shots. BDS was in the game the whole time but couldn’t make key baskets down the stretch, and Meadowbrook seized the moment. Meadowbrook went on a 13-3 run after the tie at 33-33 in the ball game which got them the W. Even though BDS took an L, the crowd that night in the barn was filled with high enthusiasm and cheering by the home and visiting audiences.
The girls’ varsity team was undefeated before this game, which took them to 5-1 on the season as of last Friday.
The Boys’ Varsity Game: Focus to the Finish
Belmont Day’s boys’ varsity team put on a dominating performance against their rivals Meadowbrook on Friday Night Hoops winning it with a final score of 54-37. The MVP was eighth grader Andrew Green. Andrew played a phenomenal game, draining 20+ points, forcing turnovers and making blocks, driving for tough buckets, and knocking down 3s.
The boys’ team started the game with a 9-0 run, playing Meadowbrook tight on defense and making great decisions with the ball in their hands.
Great job by coaches Tzelnic and Baird for having good spacing and telling the guys to look for the open man with excellent ball movement and fantastic game planning.
Eighth grader Rami Flummerfelt had some great plays on the defensive side, getting blocks and scoring on the other possession. Seventh grader Sam Rodriquez also had some nice steals and got buckets on the other side of the ball. The Blue and Gold had a ton of blocks on Meadowbrook on the defensive side tonight. Belmont Day was splashing threes all night long, with eighth graders Luke Brenneman and Rhys Kaplan helping make this a lopsided finish. Belmont Day’s biggest lead was 28 points over Meadowbrook during the game.
This was a great statement win for the boys’ varsity, and they improved to 6-1 on the season as of last Friday.
– Suryavir Nallari-Jhala, sixth grade
Capstone Journey Set to Start Studio Week
Next week is Capstone Studio Week for our eighth graders. Students will have 2-3 hours each day to work on their projects throughout the week. Studio week is an opportunity to feel supported by the BDS community as projects take their final forms. Students have access to teachers and materials, and they enjoy supporting classmates. This is a chance to experience sustained, focused work and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. Some of the activities that will be happening around the school next week are designing and building models, creating paintings and sculptures, working on software, carrying out studies, teaching classes to lower school students, and creating books, brochures, and websites. Next Friday, we will have a prototype exhibit where the eighth graders will share their progress on their projects and make plans to put the finishing touches on them based on feedback. Soon, they will be preparing to share their projects and learning journeys at Capstone presentations the week of April 8. Hope to see everyone there!
– Jennifer Friborg, French teacher and Capstone coordinator
Parents’ Association News
Parent Book Group
Our next parent book group meeting will be on Tuesday, February 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Menotomy Grill & Tavern in Arlington. February’s book is the novel The Queen of Dirt Island by Irish novelist and short story writer Donal Ryan. We hope you will join us.
Save These Spring Dates
The parents’ association has some exciting events coming up this spring, and we hope you will mark your calendars for the following:
- Friday, April 5, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Jonathan Todd Book Birthday and Author Talk
- Sunday, April 28, 2 p.m. – Cradles to Crayons Sort
- Thursday, May 16, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Spring Parent Celebration and Corporation Meeting
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
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT
Meredith Earns More Medals On the Mat
COMMUNITY CONCERT
Mystic Gospel 2024
Friday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Cary Hall, 1605 Mass Ave., Lexington
Experience the power of hearing a 175-voice chorale, which includes French teacher Natalie Pellenq, singing gospel music, led by director and composer Jonathan Singleton. Mystic Gospel: Moving Forward, Looking Back charts the progression of gospel from its origin in spirituals and the blues to today’s modern contemporary sound. You’ll be clapping and dancing in the aisles! For more details on the show and to order tickets, visit www.mysticchorale.org.
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