November 7, 2025
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Students in the After School Program wrote letters this week to send to veterans for Veterans Day.
Opening Message
What Sets Belmont Day Apart: Leadership & Public Speaking
Liz Parfit, Director of Admissions and Institutional Advancement
Post Date: November 7, 2025
Each fall, as admission season begins, one question inevitably arises from families considering our school: What sets Belmont Day apart?
To refine our answer this year, we looked not only inward but outward. First, we reviewed survey data from the past several admission seasons, examining what drew prospective families to Belmont Day, and ultimately, what inspired them to enroll. The responses highlighted several aspects of the school that families consistently find most compelling in their school search: the balance of high expectations with deep support, the focus on leadership development and student agency, a public speaking curriculum woven into every grade level, a strong innovation program, and our pre-kindergarten to grade 8 co-educational model.
We know the value of “showing not telling,” and our campus tours are an important way for visiting parents to experience our approach to learning, which offers rigor with care —a balance of intellectual challenge and nurturing guidance that defines how students grow and develop here.
Another way that we tell the story of Belmont Day is through video. I am excited to share a brand new video that highlights our approach to leadership development, student agency, and public speaking.
At Belmont Day, leadership takes many forms. It can be bold and outspoken, or quiet and rooted in listening. Leadership is not reserved for a few; it is nurtured in every child. It is also not something students wait to grow into. It’s a daily practice of finding one’s voice and sharing it with others.
Perhaps most distinctively, our students learn to speak—and to be heard. Public speaking is not a single milestone but a consistent thread woven through their years here. Teachers often describe these moments as among the most rewarding in their work, as they watch students discover not just what they want to say, but also how to say it with clarity and conviction.
At its heart, a Belmont Day education is about connection and balance, between challenge and support, between individual voice and collective strength, between innovation and enduring values. It’s a community where children are known, nurtured, and inspired to lead lives of purpose and joy. That spirit of connection is what makes Belmont Day truly exceptional and, in my humble opinion, doesn’t just set us apart, but puts us ahead of the pack.
I hope you enjoy this new video about Belmont Day. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
After School & Enrichment Registration Opens Monday
Registration for trimester two of After School and enrichment classes will open at 7 a.m. on Monday, November 10. Enrollment will remain open for three weeks until the morning of Friday, November 28. Enrollment, if available after the three weeks, will incur additional fees. For program questions, please reach out to Blair Fross, director of school year and specialty programs, and for enrollment or waitlist questions, please contact Denali Kikuchi, auxiliary programs coordinator.
Visit the Parent Portal to learn more about our auxiliary programs.
School Communications Survey
Yesterday morning, all Belmont Day School families were emailed a brief, two-minute survey asking for their assessment of school communications so far this year.
Our goal is always to effectively inform and engage, and foster community with care. We hope you will take a few minutes to find that email and complete the survey—your input is invaluable to us. Thank you!
Save the Date for Pajama Day!
Monday, November 24
We will close out our penultimate day of learning before the Thanksgiving break joyfully!
Students in all grades are invited to wear their coziest, comfiest, school-appropriate pajamas for Pajama Day on Monday, November 24. Slippers are fine, but please send in a pair of sneakers and essential outdoor gear (coats, hats, gloves, etc.) with students for recess.
Lunch & Snack Menu
November 10 to November 14
Monday
Snack: applesauce; granola bars
Lunch: beef tacos with corn shells and flour tortillas; vegan quinoa and butternut squash tacos; salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and cheese; fiesta cron blend and beans; taco salad with romaine, plum avocado, avocado, corn, and chipotle ranch dressing
Tuesday
School Closed for Veterans Day
Wednesday
Snack: bananas; Smartfood
Lunch: crispy cheesy chicken; vegan Italian sausage; garlic roasted chicken; herb roasted potatoes; seasoned broccoli; spinach salad with sherry vinaigrette, goat cheese, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds
Thursday
Snack: apple slices; pretzels
Lunch: lentil soup; turkey BLT sub; turkey sub; cheese sub; vegan cheese sub; warm gluten-free turkey BLT sub; herb roasted cauliflower; Caesar sald with foccacia croutons
Friday
Snack: clementines; chocolate chip oatmeal rounds
Faculty Lunch
Please click the button below for a more detailed and updated weekly menu.
BDS News
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER
Annual PA Online Book Fair Starts November 14
The parents’ association will partner again with Belmont Books for the annual book fair, which will be held online from November 14 through November 21, with an in-store shopping event at Belmont Books on the afternoon of Friday, November 21. Reading lists will be available by grade level, and wish lists will be available for contributions to the Erskine Library.
Stay tuned for more details and get ready to enjoy some new books! Here’s a sneak peek of the fun planned for the in-store shopping event at Belmont Books:
- Literary scavenger hunt
- Arts and crafts
- Refreshments
- Middle School raffle (1 to 2 p.m.)
- Lower School raffle (3 to 4 p.m.)
COMMUNITY EVENT
Shakespeare Festival: Reserve Your Tickets Today!
Thursday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m.
The Palandjian Arts Center
Hark! Gather ye, noble families and curious minds! The Palandjian Arts Center shall echo with verse and valor as Belmont Day School proudly presents its first-ever Shakespeare Festival! Prepare yourselves for an evening of most wondrous entertainment. Students from Mrs. Dempsey’s, Mr. Largay’s, and Mr. Parsons’ seventh and eighth grade classes will take the stage with scenes of comedy and tragedy, dazzling swordplay, heartfelt monologues, merry puppetry, and sonnets sweet enough to make the Bard himself swoon. Come forth and witness the timeless magic of Shakespeare brought to life by young scholars full of fire and fancy. Click the button below to reserve your tickets today!
GARDEN NEWS
Fall Garden Workday Set for Next Saturday
Belmont Day School parents, students, and staff are invited to put the garden to rest for the winter on Saturday, November 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers will be mulching, clearing, organizing, and having fun. 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. Lower school students must be accompanied by an adult. Middle school students can be dropped off, but must be picked up by 12:00 p.m.
For questions and RSVP, email Kathy Jo Solomon at ksolomon@belmontday.org.
– Kathy Jo Solomon, visual arts teacher and sustainability coordinator
CAPSTONE NEWS
Eighth Graders Seek Interviewees
We are still looking for folks who can share their expertise with our Capstone students. Please take a moment to check out their research topics in the dropdown below.
Eighth grade students are hard at work on the research and writing phase of their Capstone journeys. After the Thanksgiving break, students will embark on the second phase in which they will design a project. One aspect of the project phase is an interview, and this is where YOU come in! If you have contacts who could prove useful to students, please be in touch with me at jfriborg@belmontday.org. The eighth graders thank you in advance for your interest and support.
– Jennifer Friborg, French teacher and Capstone coordinator
Capstone Research Topics
- Incarcerated Youth
- Women Fighting Climate Change
- History of Baking
- Stem Cell Therapy
- How Dogs Can Detect Cancer
- Food Allergies
- Adelie Penguins
- The Use of Music Therapy in the Clinical World
- Ethics of Cloning
- Subversive Crafts
- The Path to Presidency: Political Strategy
- Motivation in School
- The New York Five Families
- Popularity of Podcasts
- Fast Fashion
- Disney World: Is the Magic Worth the Price?
- How Smartphones and Cell Phones Work
- The Fast Food Industry
- The Twin Mars Rovers
- Positive and Negative Effects of Video Games
- Whistleblowing
- Illicit Use of Medical Drugs
- Elephant Cognition
- Consciousness from the View of an Animal Lover
- Decision Making in Adolescence
- Biomechanics
- Identifying and Treating Diseases in Aging Animals
- DNA Typing and Its Relation to True Crime
- The History and Significance of the Olympic Games
- Basketball Coaches’ Influence and Mentorship
- Music, the Brain, and Emotion
- Comparing Safety in Football and Rugby
- The Rogue Shark Theory
- Panama Canal
- Rowing: Mental, Emotional, and Physical Strength
- Food Waste
- Psychological and Physical Effects of Method Acting
- Presidential Campaigns with Female Candidates
- The Evolution of Lute Family Instruments
- Unique Frogs
- Train Robberies, Then and Now
- Oral Health and Overall Health
- Warships: Hull and Power Innovations
ADMISSIONS NEWS
Virtual Open House
Saturday, November 15
9 to 10:30 a.m.
The Virtual Open House is coming up soon. Please tell your friends, neighbors, and family members who may be interested in learning about independent school education.
Our knowledgeable and expert faculty will share their unique approaches to engaging students. They will provide a glimpse into how they guide each student on their educational journey—from overall skill development, research, public speaking, and more—that ultimately culminates in each eighth grader’s Capstone project and presentation. Attendees will also hear from our head of school and administrators, and a panel of student and alumni speakers. Pre-registration is required.
Learning Updates
Sixth Graders Learn to Calculate An Object’s Density
– Bill Hamilton, sixth grade science teacher
Athletics Update: Every Team Adds To A Week Packed With Excitement
What an unforgettable conclusion to the fall season. From state titles and thrilling finishes to packed gym victories and inspiring efforts, our student-athletes displayed resilience, teamwork, and heart all week long. A heartfelt thank you to all athletes, coaches, families, and supporters who made this season so special.
The cross country team finished their exceptional season with a standout performance at the State Meet. Zoe Bantham-Livermore won the eighth grade girls’ race to become a state champion! Alana Brown placed 12th in the sixth grade girls’ division and Reema Wulfsberg finished fourteenth among eighth grade girls, both earning medals. On the boys’ side, Simon Bays placed sixteenth in the seventh grade division. Several runners achieved personal bests, including Mika Elsner, who dropped nearly 30 seconds from last year, Stuart Sun, who improved by over a minute, and Bella Tan, who finished almost a minute faster than her previous State Meet performance. First-time State competitors Cyrus Listz, Raphael Hsia, and Gwenn Chen all ran strong and finished proudly. Just days later, the team earned a 26–30 victory over Lexington Christian Academy in their final dual meet, led again by Zoe Bantham-Livermore, Simon Bays, Alana Brown, Kevin Zhou, and Maren Whitman. A standout improvement came from Emma Katz, who ran nearly two and a half minutes faster than in the same meet last year. Other notable contributors included Jacob Jarbeau, who improved his Park course time by more than 30 seconds, and Catherine Brady, who, despite a season-ending injury early in the year, attended every practice and embodied the spirit of commitment and team support.
On the field, the varsity flag Football team wrapped up their season with two big wins to finish with an impressive 8–1 record. Against Rashi, they showed resilience after giving up a 20–6 lead; with minutes remaining, Evan Bae scored a go-ahead touchdown to make it 26–25 and also led the team in the huddle with confident play-calling. Key contributions came from Suryavir Nallari-Jhala and Robin Stine, who made critical catches, and “Joshua the Jet” Harriette, who broke free for a long touchdown run. The defense held strong to secure the win. Their final game against Park was another success, a 22–16 victory in which the team controlled the game from start to finish. Suryavir Nallari-Jhala scored again, Fergus Fagenholz came up big defensively with important flag pulls, and Robin Stine delivered clutch catches throughout the match.
Athletics Updates Continued
The JV flag football team traveled to Brookline to take on Park on a cold Tuesday afternoon. Led by captains Jack Hargrove and Dez Van Wesep and their infectious upbeat attitudes, team morale was soaring. Resiliency was on full display from the BDS squad, especially Isaac Luo and Isaac Holbert! The collective efforts of Sebastian Mora and Ben Fucci on the defensive end, grabbing flags despite frozen hands, were tremendous!
The boys’ varsity soccer team also finished their season strong, beginning the week with a dominant 6–1 win over LCA. In their season finale against a talented Park team, they fought hard but ultimately fell 2–1. Clark Rutherford scored the lone goal for BDS, while Noah Yang and James Shields continued to be rock-solid defensively with physicality, hustle, and consistency all season long. Henry Mallet stepped in at center back for the first time, allowing Clark Rutherford to push forward offensively and help generate scoring chances, including the team’s goal.
The girls JV soccer team capped their season with a spirited effort in a tough 5–3 loss to Park. Rosie Smith scored twice and Etta Perkins added a goal, while Marina Hubbard recorded a fantastic assist. Defensively, Elena Lin, Indira Yeshwant, Olivia Hu, and Vivie Inzana anchored the back line all season, playing with toughness, smart positioning, and determination.
The girls’ varsity soccer team ended their season with two home games and celebrated the return of eighth grader Noor Khan, who had been out with an injury. They opened with a strong 3–1 win over LCA, playing impressive possession soccer. Emily Wang anchored the defense alongside standout sweeper Violet Hancock, while Bea Stevenson scored two goals, and Colby Schneider, stepping out of goal due to injury, scored within the opening seconds of the game to set the tone. In their season finale against Park, the girls fell behind 1–0 early but fought back to tie the game at 1–1 off a beautiful combination from Serena Rosenfeld to Lucy Rodriguez. Despite conceding a late goal in the final minute and losing 2–1, the team played one of its best games of the season. A special shout-out goes to sixth grader, Anna Paulsson for supporting her teammates all season as she was out with an injury.
The field hockey team also finished their season in dominant fashion with two shutout home victories, defeating LCA 2–0 and Park 6–0. Against LCA, Ella Kamenski and Josie Goldstyn scored early, supported by strong forward play from Sylvie Fry and Nuria Kumar-Warikoo, who kept constant pressure in the offensive zone and assisted on both goals. Defensively, Lara Ulukan, Jeremy Pan, and Helen Brady shut down LCA’s attacks and protected the goal with confidence. In their season finale against Park, the team exploded offensively, with Ella scoring within the first two minutes before goals from Rowan McCoy, Josie Goldstyn, Frankie Dowers, Leah Zhang, and Sophie Cutie. Ashley Fleming led the midfield all game, assisting on every goal. Captains Ella Kamenski, Frankie Downing, Sophie Cutie, and Ashley Fleming played with intensity and leadership, guiding the team to a 6–0 win and securing a final record of 8–1 for the 2025 season.
On the volleyball court, varsity volleyball finished the season on a high note with two impressive wins and a new look in their sharp uniforms. They defeated Park in straight sets, 25–22 and 27–25. Sofia Clark-Quintanilla stepped in as an impromptu setter despite recovering from a finger injury and ran the offense with composure, while Elsie Yang added creative and timely plays that helped secure key points. They followed with a dominant home win over Shady Hill in the Downing Gym, winning 25–10 and 25–17 to avenge an early-season loss. Annika Cash delivered consistently reliable serves all week and was a key contributor to their success.
The JV volleyball team had a breakout year as well, transitioning from a traditionally intramural sport to playing two official matches. They ended the season with a thrilling win against Park in a packed Downing Gym. After dropping the first set, they fought back to win the second and take the match. Standout performances came from Celine Li and Olivia (Oli) Yang, who made crucial plays under pressure. The full roster: Chris Baker, WiWen Bilien, Maltreyee Bonhapally, Ahna Charka, Christine Deng, Caroline Frost, Catherine Hunt, Celine Li, Kayla Li, Zoe Masozera, Eyen Morales, Eva Moy Truong, Jaya Patel, Cora Stack, Olivia Yang, Nick Yu, and LeMay Zhang stepped up to welcome the challenge of interscholastic competition with enthusiasm and teamwork.
This final week, and the fall season as a whole, highlighted what truly defines BDS athletics: character, perseverance, community, and joy. Congratulations to all of our student-athletes on an incredible fall season. We are proud of everything you accomplished and excited for all that lies ahead.
And as always…GO BDS!
– Stephen Marks, director of athletics
Arts Update: Third Graders Create Wooden Robots
In their woodworking class, third graders finished up a unit in which they created, designed, and built a wooden robot. Each student developed a unique design and then used a variety of hand tools to craft the parts for their robots. To create the ability for movement in their new robot, the students added an elastic string to allow the body parts to move independently. Third graders will now begin to explore how to shape wood and create curves. Stay tuned for more creations!
– Bill Smith, woodworking teacher
Parents’ Association News
Casual Coffee
We invite the parent community for some casual mingling over coffee in Coolidge Hall on Friday, November 14, 2025, from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., before the Lower School Sharing Assembly.
BDS Connections Walk
Our first two walks of the year have been a blast, and we can’t wait to keep the momentum going with our next BDS Connections Walk on Thursday, November 13, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. After morning drop-off, we’ll gather outside Coolidge Hall and take a casual stroll through the woods, sharing laughs and good company with fellow parents and school administrators. It’s the perfect chance to connect with friends, new and old, and enjoy some fresh air. Don’t miss out—we’d love to see you there!
BDS Book Fair
The parents’ association will partner again with Belmont Books for the annual book fair, which will be held online from November 14 through November 21, with an in-store shopping event at Belmont Books on the afternoon of Friday, November 21. Reading lists will be available by grade level, and wish lists will be available for contributions to the Erskine Library. Please mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details.
Next PA Meeting: Date Change!
Our next PA meeting, which was originally planned for November 21, will be held on Thursday, November 20, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in Coolidge Hall. Our guest speakers will be Annie Fuerst, director of innovation, and Sarah Merrill, director of high school placement. All parents are invited, and coffee and light refreshments will be served. The original date was rescheduled due to a conflict with the Fall Sports Sharing Assembly.
PA Contacts
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 – Manish Patel
- Clerk – Jeff Wang
Beyond BDS
COMMUNITY THEATER
See Wonka Kids at Belmont Day!
The stage is set, the golden tickets are ready, and excitement is building as A Broadway Kids Company–Arlington/Belmont prepares to bring Roald Dahl’s classic story to life in their upcoming production of Wonka Kids. Featuring a cast of talented young performers from across the community, this family-friendly musical promises music, laughter, and plenty of pure imagination as audiences are invited into Willy Wonka’s fantastical chocolate factory.
Performances will take place on the Palandjian Arts Center stage at Belmont Day School, with four shows scheduled: Friday, November 14, at 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, November 15, at 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. Families are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to secure the best seats and support these young performers as they take the stage. Click here to get your ‘golden’ tickets!
MEDICAL RESEARCH
Lab Seeks Participants for Adolescent ADHD Study
The Arnett Lab at Children’s Hospital is seeking participants for a clinical study on youth ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). With pilot funding from the Life Course Translational Research Network (LCT-RN), the Arnett Lab is developing a preventative intervention aimed at reducing substance use in youth with ADHD. The goal of the study is to strengthen protective factors of the child and family, including parent-child communication, interpersonal skills, and adherence to ADHD treatment. The lab seeks participants who are 11-13 years old or 15-17 years old with an ADHD/ADD diagnosis, and have a caregiver who is willing to participate. Click here for further description of the study, the criteria for participation, and compensation.
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