January 9, 2026
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The hiking & climbing team took on the challenges at the Bouldering Project this week.
Opening Message
In A Very ‘Sweet Spot’ to Start the Year
By Brendan Largay, Head of School
Post Date: January 9, 2026
Happy New Year, Belmont Day!
Welcome to the month of promise and promises. Nothing allows us the opportunity to clean the slate and start fresh like January. A walk through the Schoolhouse, observing classrooms and students this week, has carried a unique energy and warmth. A teacher in the Labyrinth reminded me that we are returning to the “sweet spot” of the year when students and teachers have great wind in their sails from two weeks of joyful rest. The learned rhythms of the school year are picked up again with relative ease, and we embrace the natural energy that comes from starting new units, lessons, and projects surrounded by our classmates and colleagues.
As for the promises of the new year, I am ever the optimist, and begin each year with resolutions to guide me. (For those of you who share the practice, let’s defy those who suggest that we won’t make it past MLK weekend!) In fact, I have found a structure for my resolve that both helps me stay on task and caters well to my emotional and bookish sensibilities: a Stoic Challenge. Each day in January, I wake up to a new challenge set by Ryan Holiday, a modern-day Stoic and author of Ego is the Enemy, The Obstacle is the Way, and Wisdom Takes Work. Through his blog, “The Daily Stoic,” Holiday offers the “New Year, New You” challenge, and as someone who often looks to the Stoics for inspiration, the challenge inspires both head and heart.
To get things started, on New Year’s Eve, the challenge was to write a list of everything I would consider a hardship or challenge from 2025, then throw that list into the fire as an act of cleansing and physical release of yesteryear’s difficulties. This fiery act clears the deck for a fresh start in 2026. Good thing, too, because the first Stoic challenge of 2026 was an ice bath—a chilly way to bolster the immune system and stimulate the nervous system, and, apparently, just punishing enough to be stoic, too. The remaining challenges have continued to oscillate between intellectual and physical—everything from getting your workplace in order to visiting a local cemetery to be inspired by lives already lived. Perhaps to emphasize the point, today’s challenge is to commit to a “year-defining experience” (another antidote to the list I burned on New Year’s Eve).
With each passing day, and with each new Stoic challenge, I am realizing that for as much as the goal of each day is to do or try something new, challenging and inspiring, it is the larger sum of all of the days—the resolve to try something each day for 31 days, whatever those things may be—that results in more lasting change. This brings me back to my classroom visits and the realization of those ‘sweet spots’ my colleague described.
January in schools is sweet because we have already put so many of those systems of lasting change in place, and now we have the shot in the arm that is Winter Break to propel us further forward. We have already taken our proverbial ice bath and organized our workspaces, and we are ready for that year-defining experience. Consider that in 2026, your child will move from one grade to the next. For our eighth graders, this year will bring the wonders of high school and a new community to discover. For our fifth graders, 2026 will bring the move into middle school. For our kindergarteners, a move to Coolidge for lunch as a first grader. For our third graders, a transition to become an elder cross-graded partner. I would offer that all of these moves are already ‘year-defining.’
For me, I will be defining my year and concluding my tenth year as head at Belmont Day by joining AISNE (Association of Independent Schools in New England) colleagues for a professional development experience on the Salmon River in Idaho this summer. Five days in the wilderness, drawing inspiration from the experience of roughing it alongside fellow heads of school, with a leadership coach who will be helping me to bring the lessons learned there back to Belmont Day in the fall.
So, whatever you’ve resolved to do this year, I hope it is not as cold as an ice bath, but if it is, I hope that you have the resolve to stick with it long enough to find that sweet spot. Welcome back, BDS. Happy New Year.
P.S. – If you’re looking for a quick resolution, consider this my challenge: find a child-sized coat to donate to our Cradles to Crayons coat drive. Officially, it closes today, but we’ll be extending the donation window for those who haven’t yet had the chance to participate.
Upcoming Events
Monthly Calendar
Reminder: School Closed On Tuesday, January 20
Please note that school will be closed on Tuesday, January 20. Our admissions team will be running assessments for prospective students on that day.
Upcoming Assemblies
Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly (All-School)
Friday, January 16 at 8:45 a.m.
Barn Gym
Lower School Sharing Assembly
Friday, January 23 at 8:45 a.m.
Palandjian Arts Center
Middle School Open Meeting
Friday, January 23 at 11:50 a.m.
Palandjian Arts Center
Parents, please join us for these community gatherings!
Mr. Largay’s 2025 Alphabet Contest Winners
Happy 2026, everyone! I hope you all had a fun and relaxing winter break. It has been wonderful to get back to school and into the swing of the new year.
My New Year’s message and alphabet book included a contest. Thank you to all who submitted your A-to-Z answers. We drew randomly from all of the contest submissions, and our winners are … [drumroll, please] … the Inzana family and Georgina Lee! Congratulations! We’ll be in touch with your prizes ($50 gift cards to the BDS school store). We’ll also be drawing a winner from our faculty submissions at tonight’s faculty party.
Thank you for playing, and for greeting 2026 with community and joy!
– Brendan Largay, Head of School
Save The Date: Winter Morning in Erskine Library
Saturday, January 31
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The parents’ association is hosting a special weekend morning event with Amy Sprung, school librarian, in the Erskine Library. Families are invited to browse, read, and warm up with hot cocoa and good company. Stop by for fun, community, and great books!
Lunch & Snack Menu
January 12 to January 16
Monday
Snack: apple sauce; tortilla chips
Lunch: chicken tikki masala; yellow curry with tofu; basmati rice; naan bread; seasoned green beans; romaine lettuce, cucumber, mint, and cilantro salad
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Tiger Bites
Lunch: bowtie pasta and beef meatballs; bowtie pasta with vegan plant-based meatballs; gluten-free pasta with gluten-free beef meatballs; marinara sauce; breadsticks; seasoned broccoli; Italian salad with artichoke, peppers, and olives
Wednesday
Snack: apple slices; Pita Chips
Lunch: coconut-crusted redfish; vegan Italian sausage; citrus roasted fish; sweet potato fries; roasted Mediterranean vegetables; spinach salad with roasted tomatoes and cider vinaigrette
Thursday:
Snack: clementines; Popcorners
Lunch: soup of the day; cheese pizza and pepperoni pizza; vegan cheese pizza; gluten-free cheese pizza; peas; Caesar salad
Friday
Snack: craisins; chocolate chip muffins
Faculty Lunch
Please click the button below for a more detailed and updated weekly menu.
BDS News
STAFFING NEWS
Departures
Bill Hamilton, sixth grade science teacher
This June, we will bid a fond farewell to Bill, grade six science teacher, advisor, and grade-level coordinator. During his four years at Belmont Day, Bill has created a dynamic, rigorous, and inspiring classroom for students, where they have had the opportunity to develop the critical skills involved in the scientific and design thinking processes, as well as their own voices and hypotheses as young scientists. Bill was also one of the key faculty members involved in designing the curriculum for and executing our inaugural middle school STEAM Expo.
Bill also served as the grade-level coordinator and team lead on our grade six fall orientation trip to Cathleen Stone Island each year. Working to extend and integrate the outdoor education concept of “expedition behavior” to the communal work of the grade six student and faculty community, Bill helped to build an inclusive and meaningful grade six program as the important transition and entry year into middle school at BDS. We wish Bill the very best as he embarks on his next adventure.
Brittany Ryan, sixth grade math teacher
At the end of this academic year, Brittany will be moving to the Seattle, Washington area to continue teaching there at a new school, as her husband, after graduating this summer from Harvard’s Orthopedic Surgery program, begins a fellowship at a Seattle hospital. Since joining BDS in the fall of 2022, Brittany has devoted herself to delivering rigor and excellence in the grade six math classroom and providing a joyful, welcoming, and inclusive space for each of her students. Brittany imbued all of her work at BDS with strong teaching expertise, a bright spirit, and endless enthusiasm.
Brittany also expanded her professional work to start the middle-school-wide AMC 8 math competition and a special celebration of Pi Day, as well as to help with the BDS admissions application process. Also a devoted athletics coach, Brittany led her athletics teams with deep conviction and care, and provided her athletes with new opportunities to attend events like college-level games to reflect on their own practice. In addition, Brittany served in the leadership role of grade six grade-level coordinator. BDS also benefited from Brittany’s thriving cookie business, which provided customized treats for major school events. We wish Brittany and her husband, Easton, all the very best as they embark on their next adventure.
Amy McCann, first grade teacher
We are sad to bid farewell to Amy, whose last day is today. Amy was a long-term substitute for Geoffrey Fox in first grade during his parental leave this fall and winter, and also served as our science specialist at the Belmont Day Summer Camp this past summer.
Despite her short tenure at BDS, Amy made a positive and lasting impact on both the students she encountered as well as her fellow colleagues. Amy is moving on to another leave position in the Watertown Public Schools in a fifth grade classroom for the remainder of this school year. We wish Amy well in her upcoming role and look forward to welcoming her back in the summer at camp.
HEALTH NEWS
Protecting Your Family, BDS Community Against the Flu
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is reporting very high and rising levels of influenza activity statewide as we move through peak flu season.
We request that all members of the Belmont Day community do their part to keep everyone healthy during this time. Please keep your students home when they are ill. Students who present ill at school will be sent home, so please confirm all contact information is up to date in Magnus/Veracross.
The best ways to prevent the spread of respiratory illness include:
- Receiving an annual flu vaccine
- Avoiding sick contacts
- Isolating when ill
- Covering coughs and sneezes
- Frequent handwashing, avoid touching the face
- Cleaning surfaces often
It is essential for students to remain home when ill. Students may return to school once symptoms have resolved or are much improved. A student must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication to return to school. All students must wait 24 hours after vomiting and diarrhea to return to school.
Please visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s website for more information on respiratory viruses, as well as a helpful flu symptom checklist.
Parents should contact the Belmont Day School Health Office at 617-932-3901 with questions about illness or with any questions about returning to school after illness. This allows us to monitor your child’s progress and potential exposures within the school community.
– Lauren Connors and Maren Coniglione, school nurses
ICYMI: Video of Board Of Trustees Information Session
This morning, the Board of Trustees held an information session covering nonprofit governance, how our board operates, and what role the board plays in the school. Thank you to all who attended. If you were not able to attend, the session was recorded. Click the image above to view the recording.
GOVERNANCE NEWS
Nominations for Board of Trustees Due January 23
We invite you to participate in the nomination process for the Belmont Day School Board of Trustees.
The BDS Committee on Trustees asks members of the community to submit nominations (including self-nominations) to be considered for service on the BDS Board of Trustees or on one of the board’s committees as an ad hoc member. Trustees and ad hoc committee members may be parents/guardians of current students, parents/guardians of alumni, alumni, and/or outside educators and experts.
Just as Belmont Day School seeks strength in the diversity of its students and faculty, the board of trustees aims to represent a wide variety of identities and perspectives through diverse board and committee composition. Community nominations are particularly valuable in this regard, as they help to ensure that we consider the broadest possible pool of candidates.
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As the governing body of the Belmont Day School Corporation, the board of trustees is entrusted with the overall stewardship of the school to ensure its long-term health and sustainability. The board is responsible for establishing the school’s strategic direction, ensuring that necessary resources are in place for programs and infrastructure, supporting fundraising efforts in myriad ways, and providing oversight of the school’s management. Trustees play a critical role in ensuring that BDS continues to provide the best education possible for current students and for generations to come. This includes staying well-informed about the school’s programming and policies, making supporting BDS a philanthropic priority, and serving as positive ambassadors within the BDS community and beyond. Of course, the most important qualities for every trustee to possess are a deep affection for Belmont Day School and a commitment to devoting the time and effort necessary to further the school’s mission. For an overview of trustee responsibilities, see the BDS trustee job description linked below.
Board committees, composed of trustees, ad hoc members, and faculty members, perform critical work that informs decisions made by the full board. These committees delve deeply into their respective areas of focus and provide the full board with informed perspectives and recommendations. Current board committees include advancement, audit and risk, committee on trustees, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), finance, operations, and strategic planning.
Members of these committees serve at the discretion of the board president. Often, trustees begin their service in school governance as ad hoc members of one of these board committees or by having dedicated their time and talents to the school in other exemplary ways. Trustees serve at least one three-year term on the board and are also required to serve on at least one committee each year. Ad hoc members serve on only one committee and have a one-year term. The board of trustees meets formally about every other month during the academic year, in addition to convening for several other board-related events. Committee meetings generally align with the board meeting schedule but may occur more or less frequently, depending on each committee’s unique objectives. At this time, we are especially seeking committee members with expertise in law, financial audit, DEIB, architecture, real estate development, or construction.
If you know someone, including yourself, who you believe would be an asset to the BDS Board of Trustees and is interested in serving either as a trustee or as an ad hoc committee member, please:
- Obtain permission from the person whom you wish to nominate.
- Send a letter of nomination to me at ccosman@verizon.net.
- Ensure your letter arrives no later than Friday, January 23, 2026.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any of the members of the Committee on Trustees (listed below), who will be happy to speak with you.
Thank you for your help with this important process.
– Christina Cosman ’91 P ’24 ’26 ’28, Chair, Committee on Trustees
Learning Updates
Athletics Update: Back In Action After the Break
As students returned to campus, our winter teams wasted no time getting back to work, jumping right into practices on Monday and picking up exactly where they left off before the break. That momentum carried into Wednesday, when we hosted a full slate of contests against BB&N.
The girls’ varsity basketball team welcomed BB&N in a competitive matchup, ultimately falling 35–28. The team hung with BB&N through the first half, showing strong energy and execution before the visitors pulled away in the second half. Etta Perkins led the offensive effort with an excellent performance, running the floor and consistently looking to score. Harper Treisman delivered a strong defensive performance and provided important leadership, setting the tone with her effort and intensity throughout the game.
The girls’ JV basketball team also took the floor against BB&N, doubling their previous scoring output in a spirited 18–10 loss. After falling behind early, the team found its defensive stride and played evenly with BB&N in the second half, but was unable to overcome the early deficit. Sixth grader Alexis Franklin returned from injury and brought great defensive intensity, while eighth graders Rowan McCoy and Reema Wulfsburg provided strong leadership, with Wulfsburg leading BDS in scoring.
The boys’ varsity basketball team traveled to BB&N for an intense and tightly contested game, ultimately falling 46–30. The team competed with great energy and physicality throughout the matchup. Evan Bae led the way, playing aggressively on both ends of the floor and pacing the team in scoring. Lee Piechota made a strong impact on the glass with excellent rebounding, while Murilo Santos showcased outstanding hustle and toughness.
The boys’ JV basketball team faced a strong BB&N squad, ultimately falling 44–11. Despite the scoreline, BDS competed with great effort on both ends of the court. As a team, the group continues to focus on improving communication, ball handling, and confidence in game situations. It was a strong collective effort and an important step forward as the team continues to grow and develop as basketball players.
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The fencing team also faced BB&N in a competitive match, earning 12 of 27 bouts overall. The epee squad led the way with five wins, while sabre recorded four victories and foil added two. Aidan Su continued his impressive debut season by winning all three of his bouts, while sabre captain Raphael Hsia earned two wins. Foil victories came from Simon Bays and Des Van Wesep, and Chris Baker, another new fencer this season, picked up a strong win in epee. It was a total team effort and a strong showing against a tough opponent.
Beyond competition, our non-competitive options have been enjoying exciting off-campus experiences. Both racquet sports groups have been traveling to Picklr in Burlington, where students have been learning and playing pickleball while having a blast. Our hiking and climbing group has also been heading off campus to the Bouldering Project, giving students the opportunity to challenge themselves, build confidence, and enjoy the experience in a fun and supportive environment.
Overall, it has been an energetic and productive return from break, highlighted by competitive performances, growth across programs, and plenty of fun along the way. We are excited to see our teams continue to build momentum as the winter season moves forward. And as always … GO BDS!
– Stephen Marks, director of athletics
Parents’ Association News
Baby Books Collection
Help us celebrate Middle School Learning Specialist Devan Reddington’s baby with a donation of a favorite children’s book! Books may be dropped off at the front desk between January 13 and 27. The Baby Welcoming Committee will assemble the gifts into a basket for delivery. Thank you for helping us welcome the newest member of the BDS family! If you have any questions, please contact Carolyn Atinizian at 617-460-5399.
Parent Book Group
Our next gathering will be on Tuesday, January 13, at 7:15 p.m. at Menotomy Grill and Tavern in Arlington. We will discuss Heart the Lover by Lily King. We hope you will join us! If you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact Karla Bays.
Parents’ Independent Schools Network Meeting
The Parents’ Independent School Network (PIN) will hold its Annual Meeting over Zoom on Wednesday, January 14, at 12 p.m. In addition, there will be a Heads of School Panel with Milton Academy, Roxbury Latin, and The Chestnut Hill School. Click here to pre-register and receive the Zoom link.
BDS Connections Walk
Our next BDS Connections Walk will take place on Thursday, January 15, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Join fellow parents and school administrators for a fun, casual walk through the woods surrounding campus after morning drop-off. We’ll meet at the exterior entrance to Coolidge Hall to start the walk. We’d love to see you there!
Casual Coffee
We invite the parent community for some casual mingling over coffee in the Barn lobby before the Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly on Friday, January 16, from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m.
Next PA Meeting
Our next PA meeting will be held on Thursday, January 29, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., in Coolidge Hall. Our guest speaker will be Trinity Johns, assistant director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. All parents are invited, and coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Save The Date: Family Movie Event
Join us for an afternoon of fun, friendship, and popcorn on Saturday, February 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. We will be hosting a private screening of Lilo & Stitch (2025 film) at the historic Capitol Theater in Arlington. Bring the whole family along for this special event!
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
FILM FESTIVAL
Family Films from Around the World Set to Premiere
Belmont Day is proud to sponsor Belmont World Film’s 23rd Family Festival, which features some of the world’s most imaginative live-action and animated films for and about children ages 3-12. Screenings will take place on Saturday and Sunday, January 17 and 18, at the West Newton Cinema, Monday, January 19, at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, and Sunday, January 25, at the Regent Theatre in Arlington. There will also be related activities for kids on Saturday, January 24, at the Belmont Media Center.
This year’s lineup includes mostly North American premieres, with more than half of the films adapted from or inspired by classic and contemporary children’s books—a longstanding festival hallmark. For young readers and those who struggle with reading, a professional voice-over will read subtitles aloud for films in languages other than English, creating an experience much like story time.
Your children can also engage in hands-on workshops–including “Learn to the Draw the Minions and Hotel Transylvania Characters” and “Introduction to Storyboarding for Animated Films”–with this year’s Artists-in-Residence, story artist and director Dave Feiss and story artist and writer Paul McEvoy, both of whom have most recently worked on The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, as well as the Minions and Hotel Transylvania franchises and many others.
For the complete line-up, tickets, and passes, visit www.belmontworldfilm.org/family-festival
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Help Local High School Senior Create ‘Eco Bricks’
On Saturday, January 17, from 1 to 3 p.m., join fellow MyRWA volunteers to upcycle single-use plastics by making Eco Bricks. Eco Bricks are made by stuffing single-use plastics into disposable water bottles! Iris, a local high school senior who is pursuing her Girl Scout Gold Award, will lead this session. She plans to build a raised garden bed out of the Eco Bricks. At this stuffing party, learn about Iris’s project and different ways to upcycle single-use plastics. Click here to RSVP for this event.
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