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The squash team was flying high practicing at Brandeis this week.
Opening Message
The Hidden Menu
Tara Lightbody, Food Program Director
Post Date: February 7, 2025
7 a.m.
I arrive at BDS to the aroma of garlic and tomato wafting from the kitchen. As I walk in, the day’s menu prep is already underway. Music plays, and I check in with the team. Chef Vlad focuses on preparing the main hot meal–a complicated and physical job. It’s “Pasta Monday,” so he’s juggling homemade marinara sauce bubbling in a giant 12-gallon pot, pasta for 350 people, and countless crusty rolls ready for the oven. Out in Coolidge Hall, Ellen buzzes around, greeting and chatting with students and faculty, ensuring everyone starts their day well. She fills and refills the coffee and breakfast items as waves of faculty stop by to fuel their day. Nearby, Isabelle, quietly as always, has already delivered the snack bins and baskets for each class and is preparing the specialty salad of the day.
7:30 a.m.
The dishwasher is running, the fan is whirring, the ovens are beeping, the pans are clanging, and the kitchen team and faculty are chatting. I move to my desk at the back of the kitchen. I check when deliveries will arrive and call any vendors with whom I may need to update orders. It is quieter around my corner, but I can still hear the buzz in the heart of the kitchen.
8 a.m.
Henry arrives with a giant smile, exclaiming, “Buenas Dia!” He sets up Coolidge Hall for lunch and keeps our dishes clean. Henry makes each table look welcoming. He stocks everything and wipes down the tables. He also checks to see if the centerpieces need water. These colorful floral arrangements, generously donated by BDS families each month, add an inviting touch to every table.
9:30 a.m.
With our dining space set up, the team turns back to the menu. Together, we decide how to organize the hot bar, with popular leftovers, vegan or vegetarian options, the chef’s choice of vegetable, and the faculty’s main entree. It is essential to the team that we offer a variety of foods and items that stretch the palates of our community and provide both nourishment and comfort. The key is finding balance. How can we joyfully encourage students and faculty to explore new flavors and foods they might usually not try at home while maintaining healthy stability in their diet along the way?
Isabelle, our scribe with enviable penmanship, writes the day’s menu on the whiteboard in Coolidge Hall for all to see and savor. We include any allergen or dietary information and highlight anything we are serving harvested from the BDS Garden.
Coolidge continues its busy buzz as the refrigerated salad bar cools and the hot bar steams as it warms, waiting for the food pans to fill their wells. Even though lunch hasn’t begun, students come by to pick up protein snacks, and our team starts sorting fresh snacks for the next day, putting them into the classroom baskets. Everything is ready, and there’s a moment of calm before the rush.
11 a.m.
It is showtime. We welcome our first students into Coolidge Hall for the first of four daily lunches. The salad bar is now brimming with colorful fruits and vegetables, and the hot bar is steaming and full of tempting dishes. The entrees are on each table to be shared family-style.
I observe as much interaction as I can in Coolidge. The first graders watch the second graders try new things, prompting them to be curious about different foods. As the faculty member at each table serves the students, they remind them to say “please” and “thank you.” Ellen and Isabelle assist students at the salad bar as they navigate serving themselves. In these moments, the idea of “everyone is everyone’s teacher” comes to life for me.
During each lunch, I circulate among the tables and talk to students, asking them how they like the meal. They reply with signals of “thumbs up,” “thumbs down,” or “in the middle.” I encourage “mouse bites” and inquire about what they like most or how they might balance out their meals with fruits and vegetables by adding color to their plates.
There is a noticeable excitement in the room as the students make choices, chat with their friends, improve their motor skills by using tongs while balancing their plates on the edge of the salad bar, use their manners, and advocate for what they like to eat. The younger students improve their skills with knives and forks while learning to organize their space and manage their time. They learn how to make choices and how to fuel their bodies.
1:15 p.m.
The dining experience for the day is over in what seems like a flash. Middle school students file out of Coolidge after finishing their jobs of clearing, wiping, and sweeping. The chairs are stacked, and the space is quiet again. It is closing time, and the kitchen team begins the day’s final stage. The dishes are piled, separated, and washed, the salad bar is emptied and scrubbed clean, and the last crumbs get wiped from the tables. Cups and cutlery are restocked on the tables, and the compost is emptied. The checklist goes on as leftover hot food cools to be covered and refrigerated.
2:30 p.m.
We prepare for the following day. Music plays again on the radio, mixed with whirring and splashing as Henry runs the last dishes in the dishwasher and cleans the sinks. Ellen preps coffee for a morning event. Vlad is making a marinade and chopping vegetables. Isabelle is in Coolidge, filling the dry snack bins. I am at my desk finalizing any orders for the day, planning new menu items, making calls to vendors, signing off on invoices, checking labels for allergens, researching new food products, and answering emails. I visit one of the classrooms to discuss learning in our dining space. We talk about the “hidden menu” of being in a community and caring for ourselves, our people, and our spaces. I end my day feeling full and satisfied.
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar

Third Annual STEAM Expo
Thursday, February 27, 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 BDS 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 BDS scientists—we hope to see you there!

Save the Date! Grades 7 & 8 Musical
The Little Mermaid Jr. will be making a big splash on the Palandjian Arts Center stage during performances on Friday and Saturday, March 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 16 at 3 p.m.
Tickets are free and will be available online starting Friday, February 28. Seating is limited each night and tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis—so keep an eye on the Scoop for more details and be sure to grab your tickets early. Don’t miss this magical undersea adventure!
Lunch & Snack Menu
February 10 to February 14
Monday
Snack: applesauce/fruit cups; Fritos
Lunch: penne with marinara; gluten-free penne with marinara; breadsticks; seasoned broccoli; mixed greens with shaved carrots and balsamic
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Popcorners
Lunch: soy sesame braised chicken; soy sesame braised tofu; Basmati rice; steamed broccoli; bok choy and spinach with soy ginger dressing, red peppers, and pumpkin seeds; Asian cucumber salad
Wednesday
Snack: apple slices; Goldfish
Lunch: turkey meatball sub; vegan meatball sub; gluten-free meatball sub; chef’s choice veggie; Caesar salad; vegan coleslaw
Thursday
Snack: clementines; pretzels
Lunch: (Breakfast for Lunch) pancakes; vegan pancakes; gluten-free pancakes; scrambled eggs; bacon; vegan sausage; honey carrot coins; mixed greens with pickled onions, parmesan shavings, and sherry vinaigrette
Friday
Snack: craisins; banana oatmeal rounds
Faculty Lunch
Please click the button below for a more detailed and updated weekly menu.
BDS News

AUXILIARY PROGRAMS
Important Schedule & Registration Updates
All families with students currently enrolled in the After School Program should please note that we will close promptly at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, February 14, to start the February vacation week.
Also, the three-week registration period for trimester three will open on Monday, February 24, at 7 a.m. Enrichment class descriptions and schedules are available on the Parent Portal. The current trimester ends on Friday, March 14, and trimester three begins on Monday, March 17.
For enrollment questions, please contact Denali Kikuchi, auxiliary programs coordinator; for program questions, please contact Blair Fross, director of school-year auxiliary and specialty programs.


BUSINESS OFFICE NEWS
Re-enrollment Contracts Due by Friday, February 14 at 5 p.m.
You can access your contract 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:
- Single payment option
- Two-payment option
- Ten-payment plan
- Pay this year’s deposit.
- Update your family’s contact and demographic information.
- If your family will receive financial assistance in 2025-26, the award letter will be included with the contract.
Information about using VC Pay’s AutoPay function to schedule online payments for tuition, incidentals, and more will be included. VC Pay provides an easy, secure online payment experience using your existing Veracross login. Parents must re-register for VC Pay each year.
Your signed contract and deposit must be received by Friday, February 14, at 5 p.m. Please note that all parents or guardians must sign the contract.
If you have any questions, please contact Jen James at jjames@belmontday.org.
– Jen James, chief of staff and registrar

DEIB NEWS
Book Group to Meet Next Week
Join an informal, parent-led book group on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The group will focus on the perspectives of marginalized identities. All parents, caregivers, and faculty are welcome.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday, February 13, at 8:15 a.m. We will meet outside Coolidge Hall and go for a woodland “walk and talk.” If there’s severe weather, we’ll move inside. The book we will discuss is Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of “Latino” by Héctor Tobar.
Our next selection for the March meeting (date TBD) will be Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson.
Contact Danielle England or Christina Cosman if you have any questions or would like to be added to the email list for notifications.

VACATION CAMPS
Space Available for April Vacation Camp
Belmont Day offers two vacation week camps, Tuesday to Friday, during the school vacation weeks. The February camp is at capacity, and a waiting list is available. To be added to the waiting list, please email summer@belmontday.org.
Registration for the April camp is open, and spaces are still available. The camp theme and more information are in the dropdowns below.
If you have any questions regarding these programs, please contact Blair Fross, director of school-year auxiliary and specialty programs.
April Camp
Zootopia: The Wild World of Animals
Dates: Tuesday, April 22 to Friday, April 25
Cost: $625
In Zootopia, children will learn about creatures large and small, discover extinct ecosystems, make an animal foot cast, build like an army ant, and more. They will also enjoy a visit from some real-life animal friends. At this time, extended day is not available, but we hope to offer it if we are able.
Registration Process
For children who have previously attended camp:
- Email summer@belmontday.org with the child’s name, which vacation week camp you would like to enroll in, and whether you need extended day.
- We will process the enrollment in CampMinder and confirm your payment information.
For children who have not attended camp:
- Email summer@belmontday.org with the following information:
– Child’s name, current grade, and date of birth
– Home address
– Phone number to reach you during camp hours
– The vacation week camp you would like to enroll in - We will create an account for you, register your child, and send you a login link.
- Use the login link to set a password.
- Add payment information under “Financial Management.” We will then process your payment.
Please email summer@belmontday.org with registration questions. If you have questions about the programs offered, please contact Blair Fross, director of school-year auxiliary and specialty programs, at bfross@belmontday.org.
Learning Updates

Second Graders Research, Present on Environmental Changemakers
On Wednesday, second graders presented their environmental changemaker research to a captive audience of their peers in the Erskine Library. The presentation was the culmination of a collaborative project combining research skills, the exploration of exciting and vibrant nonfiction texts in our school library, and artistic expression. During the project, students learned about people who have identified problems facing our planet, worked to find solutions, and inspired others to help. The second graders are proud to announce that their changemaker bookmarks are now available in the Erskine Library. Please stop by to pick up a bookmark to hold your spot in a book, admire a beautiful and inspirational design, and learn about people who have helped to make the world a better place.
– The Second Grade Team


Athletics Update: Record Crowds at Friday Night Hoops
With over 500 spectators in attendance, Friday Night Hoops has reached new heights. Event organizers moved the action to the Blue Court (further from the Barn entrance), which created more space for fans to sit, stand, and socialize while watching the action. Families, faculty members, and alumni mingled throughout the evening and were treated to a pair of high-level basketball games that saw each school leaving with a win in the double header action. Our middle school athletics correspondent, seventh grader Suryavir Nallari-Jhala, was at the scorer’s table for both games and recaps the action below.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Friday Night Hoops
Boys’ Varsity Seals the Win in the Last Seconds
At Friday Night Hoops, Belmont Day’s boys’ varsity basketball team took on their rival Meadowbrook in an intense battle that came down to the very end. Meadowbrook headed into this game undefeated, while BDS struggled at 1-4. The game began with Meadowbrook taking an early lead of 14-6 as they out-hustled BDS. But BDS slowly but surely clawed their way back and took a 21-20 lead into halftime. Evan Bae, Kiernan Patel, and Samuel Rodriguez played smart and aggressive to draw fouls and get to the free-throw line.
The defense also shined in the first half. Coaches Alex Tzelnic and Charlie Baird guided the defense to play tight on the Meadowbrook players as soon as they got the ball in their hands. The second half started with an even battle between both teams, and the game was tied 30-30 with 10 minutes to go. Copeland Maier was very active in the paint grabbing offensive rebounds and making points down low. He contributed in key baskets down the stretch of the game. Mylo Rosenfeld and Calum Dunbar provided energy and key contributions off the bench for BDS.
The game was neck and neck in the second half and was tied 40-40 with only one minute to go. Meadowbrook had the ball in their hands, but with a quick move, Evan Bae jumped the pass and stole the ball. At the other end, Bae pump faked and shot a midrange jumper to give BDS the lead 42-4o. Meadowbrook had possession with 25 seconds on the clock, but BDS played tight defense, forcing Meadowbrook to call a timeout. With just 7 seconds left, Meadbrook drew a foul call and went to the free-throw line to tie the game. Meadowbrook’s player missed the free throw, and the rebound was tipped out of bounds, which gave BDS the ball back. Meadowbrook was forced to foul with only 0.4 seconds on the clock. But a BDS misstep over the free throw line gave Meadowbrook the ball and a chance to win it. Needing a miracle now, the ball was inbounded to one of Meadowbrook’s players, who heaved a one-handed shot for the win. The shot sailed off target, and the Blue & Gold sealed to win!
Congratulations to both teams on a hard-fought, well-played, and very entertaining game that was decided with only seconds on the clock.
Girls’ Varsity Take a Tough Loss
The Belmont Day girls’ varsity basketball team suffered a tough loss at Friday Night Hoops against rival Meadowbrook with a final score of 25-43. The team started the first half playing tight defense on Meadowbrook’s players. Coaches John O’Neill and Vaniecia Skinner gave the team a solid game plan and made adjustments to give the team a chance. The game was close before halftime with Meadowbrook leading 20-14. Sara Colangelo, Julia Casey, and Lila Green provided some excellent points and created good looks. On the other end, Samantha Cuming and Harper Triesman played strong defense on Meadowbrook.
However, in the second half, the team struggled from the start. Meadowbrook was a rocket in the second half, going on an 18-1 run and putting the BDS defense to the test every time down the floor. There was no stopping Meadowbrook’s top player for the night who scored at the basket nearly every time she touched the ball. The offense also got clamped by Meadowbrook’s tough D and BDS couldn’t find good shots. Sophie Cutie finally stopped the scoring drought with a great layup, but it was too little, too late. While it was a tough defeat on the home court, BDS improved by the end of the game and made smart decisions with the ball in their hands. With the loss at FNH, the girl’s varsity squad sat at 4-2 and were looking ahead to adding more wins to end the season.
– Suryavir Nallari-Jhala, seventh grader and basketball correspondent
Athletics News
- Team captains Jonathan Laipson and Emmett Mak will look to keep the varsity fencing team locked in for their final meet of the season against ISB. The team is currently 6-0.
- Team veterans Wyatt Baker and Alexander Kiraly wrestled tough during Belmont Day’s quad meet at Belmont Hill. Team captain Jun Murakami had an impressive pin.
- Simon Bays, Sabine Rooney, Indira Yeshwant, and LeMay Zhang have been active participants on the sixth grade badminton team this winter.
- The climbing and hiking team has received great contributions from classmates Sylvie Fry, Mame Gensler and Maren Whitman who bring focus and energy to each and every class.
- Coach Nyland shouted out Pippa Ellner (energy), Noor Khan (serves), Wren Kass (focus), and Noah Yang (footwork) for their standout contributions in badminton this week.
- The junior varsity basketball teams split against Fenn/Nashoba this week. Anna Bantham-Livermore delivered at point guard for the girls (W). Silas O’Brien played strong defense for the boys (L).

Fourth Graders Wrap Up Lesson in Mummification
It’s that time of year: fourth graders are finishing up the annual mummification experiments. This year, students chose to “mummify” fresh foods ranging from hens to watermelon to cake. They made scientific observations and collected data as these foods were preserved, not through refrigeration, but through a mixture of salt, baking soda, and laundry detergent meant to mimic the abilities of natron naturally found in Egypt. Students participated in weekly discussions about what they found, wondered, and predicted. One interesting finding was that, when calculated in grams, radishes lost the least amount of weight, but they also were the food that lost the highest percentage of weight. Next up, students will be designing composters to help speed up the decomposition process.
– Emily Crawford, fourth grade teacher
Parents’ Association News

Thank You!
The parents’ association would like to thank the Friday Night Hoops committee and all the parent volunteers who helped organize a great evening to support our BDS athletes and build community. Thank you!
Parents’ Independent School Network (PIN) Meeting
The Parents’ Independent School Network, Inc. (PIN) is a volunteer group of parents with children who are students at New England-area independent elementary and secondary schools. The group’s next meeting will be via Zoom on Tuesday, February 11, from 12 to 1 p.m. It will feature a panel discussion among field experts exploring key ideas presented in The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (please attend even if you have not read the book). Panelists will include Daniel Crump, LICSW, Alexis Altman, LICSW, and Joseph Casamassima, MA, LMHC. PIN meetings are free, and all Belmont Day School parents and guardians are invited to attend. Click here for pre-registration to receive the link to the meeting.
Parent Book Group
Our next gathering will be on Tuesday, February 25, at 7:15 p.m. at Menotomy Grill and Tavern in Arlington. We will discuss The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. We hope you will join us. If you have any questions or want to be added to our mailing list, please contact Karla Bays.
Family Movie Event
Save the date for a private screening of Inside Out 2 at the historic Capitol Theater in Arlington on Saturday, March 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. There will be popcorn, snacks, and fun for the whole family. Due to the theatre’s capacity limits, we kindly request that you RSVP here as soon as possible and no later than March 3, 2025. We hope to see you there!
Contact the PA
At any time and for any reason, please feel free to email us at bdspa@belmontday.org:
- President – Shanying Zhang
- Vice President – Megan Akkina
- Treasurer – Andy Stevenson
- Clerk – Jeff Wang
Beyond BDS

COMMUNITY EVENTS
Belmont Against Racism Celebrates Black History Month
Belmont Against Racism in partnership with community organizations including the Belmont Public Library and the Belmont Human Rights Commission is celebrating Black History Month with a variety of great opportunities for families to learn, share, and gather. Events and resources planned and offered include a community potluck, a t-shirt design contest, movie screenings, a youth book club, and reading lists for all ages.
Click here to see the schedule of events and learn more about the educational resources and learning opportunities.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Belle of the Ball Seeks Prom Dress Donations, Volunteers
Have a formal dress at home that would be perfect for a future prom? Belle of the Ball is a local program that collects, cleans, and distributes prom dresses and provides related accessories at no charge to high school junior and senior girls who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend their school’s prom. Belle of the Ball is more than a dress collection drive. It is a powerful personal experience for each young woman who attends. The program has grown from outfitting fewer than 100 girls at its boutique day to inviting nearly 1.000 young ladies for an indulgent day of prom “shopping,” beauty tips, and prizes.
Dresses are being collected between February 3 and March 16 at all Anton’s Cleaners locations. Click here to find a location near you. Belle of the Ball is also looking for student volunteers, ages 12 and older, who are accompanied by a parent for the annual Boutique Day on March 22 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. Many volunteer opportunities are available, including personal shopping, alterations, accessories, and more!
For more information on the donation program and volunteer registration, visit the Bell of the Ball website.