January 28, 2022
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Kindergartners are hard at work creating a veterinarian’s office in their classroom.
Opening Message
A Reflection On Service
Brendan Largay, Head of School
Post Date: January 28, 2022
It was difficult not to see the starkness of comparison last Friday. As I prepared to arrive at school on the morning we would celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a look at my weather app offered a bone-chilling 6-degree forecast. Alas, that required quick thinking by assembly coordinators Pati Fernández and members of the faculty DEI committee to move the event from an in-person gathering in the Barn to a Zoom assembly. That speedy pivot allowed us to stay warm in our classrooms while participating in the morning dedicated to celebrating Dr. King’s life of service.
The assembly’s keynote speaker, Pine Street Inn volunteer coordinator Matt Ferrer, spoke of the organization’s mission to end homelessness. This is our third year working in partnership with Pine Street Inn, and each year has involved a drive to raise resources. This year, we’re collecting hats, gloves, and Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards that the street outreach team will distribute to individuals who likely cannot pivot out of the cold to a warm indoor space at the drop of a winter hat the way we did.
The juxtaposition of the moment was a striking one, and it has stayed with me throughout the week as temperatures remained below freezing and as we brace for the two feet of snow forecast to fall this weekend. I am also thinking about conversations with faculty about the merit of donation drives in the context of our commitment to engaged and active service learning.
Our outreach to communities beyond our campus offers both/and moments. We are both generous in our donations of material support and dedicated to creating opportunities for students to experience the connection between acts of giving and their purpose. The filling bins outside of the Schoolhouse and Barn this week provide a clear picture of the generosity of our community and commitment to help the team at Pine Street Inn make progress on achieving its mission. At the same time, your donations offer some warmth and dignity to those experiencing homelessness.
I began the assembly with a favorite King quote: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’” At Belmont Day, we consider these critical questions: Is our interconnectedness with those we serve visible to our students? Do we see how their warmth is our warmth, their shelter is our shelter?Interdependence is at the heart of our work with Pine Street Inn and the many other organizations we support.
Service done in the name of Dr. King and not revisited until the next time we celebrate the icon’s birthday seems to just ‘check a box’ for a year. Whether it takes the form of collections of essential items or hands-on experiences, our students and faculty engage in service throughout the year, not because we are separate from those in need but because of our shared humanity and certainly never to check a box. Here at Belmont Day, the work is part of our fabric and our mission—the empowerment of meaningful contribution with our six core values in action that lives in all we do.
Have a safe and joyful weekend, everyone.
Upcoming Events
Monthly Calendar
Parent Social Identity Group Meeting
The next meeting of the Asian/Asian American Parent Social Identity Discussion Group will be on Thursday, February 17 from 6 to 7:00 p.m.
At this meeting, the group will be discussing Time magazine’s recent article, “How the Pandemic and Anti-Asian Violence Spurred 2 States to Change History Lessons.”
Please RSVP to Minna Ham, lower school head, at mham@belmontday.org.
February Friendraiser Walks
Tuesdays at 8:15 a.m.
It’s cold out there, but what better way to warm up than a brisk walk in the woods with friends new and old! Starting in February, join us on Tuesday mornings. Hiking shoes or winter boots are recommended as the trails will be snowy and icy. Meet at the front circle of the Schoolhouse at 8:15 a.m. and then journey through the woodland trails. Duration: about 40 minutes.
Donate to Support the Pine Street Inn
Thank you to all who have donated in support of the Pine Street Inn and their mission to end homelessness. Please keep those donations coming! We’ll be collecting items until Friday, February 11.
This year, we are collecting a shortlist of items:
- Winter gloves (adult sizes and new only)
- Handwarmers
- $5 Dunkin Donuts gift cards
Look for the collection bins outside the Schoolhouse and the Barn.
Parent Learning Forum: Approach Coping
Thursday, February 17, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
Dr. Julia Martin Burch from the McLean School Consult Service will give a 90-minute interactive online workshop on how to help your child cope more effectively with anxiety and sadness.
The workshop, entitled “Approach Coping: How to help your child do what they need to do even when they feel worried or sad,” will cover psychoeducation on emotions and a deep dive on what to do if your child avoids activities due to anxiety or withdraws and isolates due to sadness.
Webinar link is available on the Parent Portal.
Lunch & Snack Menu
January 31 to February 4
Monday
Snack: apple slices; Cheez-Its
Lunch: Asian chicken dumplings; Asian vegetarian dumplings; broccoli; soy sauce; Sunbutter and jelly sandwiches; sliced peaches; milk and water
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Nutri-Grain bars
Lunch: crispy coconut crusted fish; grilled chicken; green beans; Sunbutter and jelly sandwiches; chips; ketchup; tartar sauce; applesauce; milk and water
Wednesday
Snack: apples; tortilla chips
Lunch: roasted turkey; roasted tofu; mashed potato; beans; gravy; cranberry sauce; Sunbutter and jelly sandwiches; fresh fruit cup; milk and water
Thursday
Snack: clementines; Nutri-Grain bars
Lunch: butternut squash soup; ham and cheese croissant; cheese croissant; pickles; carrots; ranch dressing; Sunbutter and jelly sandwiches; apple slices; milk and water
Friday
Snack: craisins; pretzel twists
Faculty Lunch
February 1 is the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year! This is an annual 15-day holiday that begins with the new moon. The festivities last until the following full moon. On Monday, we’ll celebrate the start of the holiday at lunch by serving Asian dumplings. Dumplings are an important food during the Lunar New Year and are typically eaten on the eve of the New Year. I hope everyone enjoys the dumplings!
– Tara Lightbody, chef and kitchen manager
BDS News
COMMUNITY NEWS
Program Update for 2022-23: Full-day Pre-kindergarten
As we prepare to send out re-enrollment contracts for the 2022-23 school year (see notice below), we are pleased to announce an important and positive change for our youngest students and their families: starting in September 2022, pre-kindergarten will be a full-day program.
Long a subject of consideration among administrators, faculty, and the board of trustees, and a priority of our strategic plan, extending the day for pre-kindergarten is a key advancement in our educational program and we are thrilled to make this change.
This design offers extended engagement with classroom teachers and curriculum and honors the changing needs of independent school families. Over the past six years, more than three-quarters of our pre-kindergarten families took advantage of the extended day program. A full-length, developmentally appropriate academic day for our youngest learners is desired by many families.
As ever, if you have questions about this change or are interested in discussing our thinking further, we encourage you to contact us.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Re-enrollment Contracts Will Be Emailed to Families on Saturday
The 2022-2023 re-enrollment contracts will be emailed to families tomorrow morning. Once again we are using Veracross for this process which we hope you will find easy to use. When you receive the email, you’ll be asked to:
- 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, or 10-payment plan.
- Pay this year’s deposit.
- Update your family’s contact information.
If your family is receiving financial aid in 2022-2023, your financial aid award letter will be included with your contract.
Information about using VC Pay to schedule online payments for tuition, incidentals, and more will be included with your contract. VC Pay provides parents with an easy, secure online payment experience using your existing Veracross login. Parents must re-register for VC Pay each year.
Your signed contract(s) and deposit must be finalized by 11 a.m. on Friday, February 11. Please note that each of your household’s parents/guardians must sign the contract.
If you have any questions, please be in touch with Catherine David (cdavid@belmontday.org).
COMMUNITY NEWS
Winter Drop-offs and Pick-up Reminders
Now that winter is really upon us in full force with forecasts for large amounts of snow and very cold temperatures, we want to offer a few reminders regarding drop-off and pick-up procedures that will continue to make the process safe and efficient.
- Please do not wait in and idle your vehicle. Not only is idling your vehicle bad for the environment, but it is also illegal in Massachusetts for a duration longer than five minutes.
- Take your time loading and unloading children. And remember that, by state law, all children, until they are 8 years old (or 57 inches tall), must sit in a car safety seat.
- Do not park and wait for drop-off or pick-up times along streets in the neighborhoods close to campus or in the cemetery next to our property.
FACULTY NEWS
Departures
Kate Oznick, pre-kindergarten teacher
So many students and families have had the pleasure of starting their time at BDS in Kate Oznick’s care. Her passion for working with young children and their families showed in the great care she put into fostering authentic relationships and building learning communities that valued the voices and knowledge of young children. Though Kate had planned to return next year after her yearlong maternity leave, she has decided to stay in New York, close to her family.
Kate’s journey at BDS started when she was a graduate student and an associate teacher in our classrooms. Kate continued after graduating and utilized her great knowledge of young children in our kindergarten and then our pre-kindergarten programs. Her work extended out from her classroom and she was an integral part of our health and wellness team as well as working on DEI initiatives. She taught a literacy course in our associate teacher program and served as a mentor teacher to several associate teachers over the years. She and her former pre-kindergarten co-teacher, Alice Henry, created numerous curriculum milestones that marked the first year at BDS for many students. Students will remember woodland walks and being cross-graded partners with eighth graders.
Kate valued the home-school partnership and many parents benefited from her guidance and support as they navigated their child’s first school experience. During Kate’s tenure, the pre-kindergarten program flourished as a Reggio-inspired, outdoor and play-based early childhood program. Kate also maintained relationships with older students as an Orton-Gillingham trained tutor.
Kate will surely be missed. We wish her, husband, and son, Parker, best wishes.
Mary Norman, fourth grade teacher
Mary Norman may have started in our first grade classroom, but she found her sweet spot in fourth grade. Many students will always remember that it was in Ms. Norman’s class that they mummified a hen and made ancient pyramids from recycled materials. We will miss Mary in our fourth grade but we are thrilled she will be able to dedicate all her time and energy to her growing family.
Mary was pivotal in implementing our Singapore Math program in lower school. Her skill in making math both fun and challenging helped create an inclusive learning environment. Mary was a member of the health and wellness team as well as a coach in our middle school athletics program. She also served as a mentor teacher in our associate teacher program.
In addition to math, Mary taught reading and science to fourth graders. Her passion for plants and community service were evident in the seed growing science unit and plant sale. She was able to integrate science, math, and community service in a relevant and meaningful way.
We will miss Mary’s presence in the Labyrinth, but we are thrilled for her and her family.
COVID TESTING
Two Rapid Tests Sent Home With Students
On Thursday, each student was sent home with a rapid test kit containing two tests.
These tests should be used only for back-to-school surveillance testing on each of the next two Monday mornings, January 31 and February 7, prior to your child’s arrival at school.
The kit includes directions on how to administer the tests. No action is needed for negative results—students will come to school as usual. Please report positive test results to covidresponse@belmontday.org and follow the school’s positive case protocols. Thank you.
Weekly COVID Testing
Wednesday’s PCR testing identified two positive pools—one in kindergarten and one in seventh grade.
Students in the affected pools received rapid tests at school this morning, and one student in kindergarten and one in seventh grade were confirmed to have a positive case of COVID-19. The students went home, where they are currently isolating according to the school’s protocol.
AUXILIARY PROGRAMS
Meet the After School Team: Ms. Leighton
Meet Presley Leighton, our new kindergarten after school teacher! Presley joined the BDS community this past summer as a head counselor working with pre-kindergarten campers. Presley is currently finishing her undergraduate degree at Merrimack College where she is studying human development and human services and education. Since she was very young, Presley has been a dancer and musical theater performer and her favorite role she has played is the Queen of Hearts in a production of Alice in Wonderland. She also has a dog named Dwight!
COMMUNITY NEWS
Grandparents’ & Special Friends’s Week Planned for May
Please mark those calendars! We have decided to move the dates ahead for this school year’s Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Week. The rescheduled dates for GPSF Week are May 23-27 (original dates were March 7-11). Invitations will follow in March and we will update the community with more details on the events and whether they will be held remotely or in person.
If you are a new BDS family or have not submitted contact information for your student’s grandparent(s) or special family friend you’d like to invite, please email development@belmontday.org. Please include their name(s), email, mailing address, and relation to the student(s).
– Pati Fernández, director of development
AUXILIARY PROGRAMS
April Vacation Week Camp Registration Now Open
April vacation week camp is back at BDS! And enrollment is now open for current pre-kindergarten through fourth grade students.
During camp, children will discover the secrets to becoming a master Jedi and how to use The Force! They will learn what it takes to navigate the Dagobah system in the Millennium Falcon, how to design a lightsaber and make their own spaceship. Our instructors will lead them on an adventure that includes crafts, sports, art, and more—all focused on the Star Wars galaxy.
This four-day program will take place Tuesday through Friday of April vacation week, April 19-22. Registration can be found at our camp registration site and space is limited. Please reach out to Blair Fross or Denali Kikuchi with any questions.
SUMMER CAMP
Spots Held Open for BDS Families
We’re excited to say that registration for camp is at an all-time high! However, this does mean that many of our camp programs are already full with long waitlists. Due to this very high demand and the speed at which the programs have filled, we are holding a few spots open to accommodate current BDS families who have yet to make their plans for summer camp. We can only hold those spots open until the school closes for break on Friday, February 18.
If you are interested in sending a child to Belmont Day Camp, but the program you want to register for is already full, please email Zach and Denali at summer@belmontday.org. Please indicate in the message that you are a BDS family.
– Zachary d’Arbeloff, director of summer programs
Learning Updates
Arts Update: Third Graders Design and Sew ‘Power Plushies’
Thoughtful * Self Control * Helpful * Adventurous * Creative * Relaxed * Happy
When the third graders were asked to identify ‘real life superpowers’ for a new exploration in the art studio, they generated a long list that included those words. They had no problem coming up with words, as in their classrooms they had just chosen their intention word for the new year, and had added three action steps to help them focus on their intention. In the art studio, students chose an additional intention word–a ‘real life superpower’–as a basis for a power plushie, or unique stuffed creature that they would then create.
To begin the lengthy process, students sketched ideas for their power plushie and sought feedback from their peers; they made adjustments and finalized their design ideas before cutting out a paper pattern, or template for their creature. Students then traced their pattern onto two pieces of felt–one for the front, and one for the back–before tracing and cutting out detail pieces. Next week we’ll begin sewing; students will practice the whip stitch and backstitch on paper first, and then will stitch the pieces of their power plushie together. Look for these colorful and special stuffies after February break!
– Anne Armstrong, visual arts teacher and arts coordinator
Seventh Graders Research Human Traits
In seventh grade science, we are learning what factors give rise to human traits. To investigate this, students identified a trait of interest. There were a range of traits that students were interested to learn more about, from hair color to skin color to height. Next, they did research to identify factors, both genetic and environmental, that give rise to that trait. This led to an in-depth exploration of how genes give rise to traits. Finally, students created posters on the trait they researched and presented their findings to one another. Students were intrigued to learn that most traits have both genetic and environmental components.
– Leal Carter, grades 7 & 8 science teacher
Athletics Update: Elias and Kaplan Net Game Winners for Boys’ JV
The boys’ JV basketball team had a flair for the dramatic this week with a pair of one-point wins at home against Shady Hill and Dedham Country Day. In both games, the Blue & Gold trailed by one point with under 30 seconds to play before receiving game-winning shots from Nebiyou Elias and Rhys Kaplan in back-to-back games. It wasn’t all about the final bucket, however. Seventh grade classmates Petros Samuel and Ezra Wolfson were spark plugs in both games, providing energy, hustle, and grit on the defensive and offensive sides of the ball. With the wins, the boys’ JV team improved to 2-1 on the season and will look to keep things rolling next week against Fenn and Carroll.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
More Athletics News
- The girls’ varsity basketball team improved to 4-1 on the season with commanding wins over SSDS and Rashi. Team captains Ruby Kokinos and Eliza Kuechle were steady on both ends of the court for the victors.
- Braiden Dargon and Andrew Green paced the boys’ varsity team in a pair of hard-fought losses to SSDS and Rashi this week. The duo combined for 75% of the team’s offensive output in both games.
- Annika Vital showed great hustle for girls’ JV basketball this week. The team split their two games with Alex Kadnar dropping 20 in a big win over Shady Hill and Olivia Dawson controlling the boards in a loss to DCD.
Kindergartners Create In-Classroom Vet Office/Animal Shelter
Kindergarten students kicked off their community helper unit a few weeks ago. Every year, we welcome student choice by having an “election” in which the kindergartners can vote for the community helper they would like to learn about most. Although we held separate elections, the results in the two cohorts were surprisingly very similar! The children in Mrs. Hartvigsen’s group wanted to learn about animal shelter workers while those in Mrs. Pryor’s group voted for veterinarians.
This week, we transformed our dramatic play area to be a dual vet office/animal shelter. While some of the items are manufactured ones you can find in a store or online, we are excited to announce that the students have also been instrumental in crafting essential equipment and items from recyclable materials, such as a scale from cardboard and aluminum foil and pet carriers from empty boxes. The children have also been creative and have refurbished items they discovered in our collage or our makerspace, such as making pet collars and leashes from pipe cleaners, beads, string, and scrap paper!
– Betty Chu Pryor & Missy Hartvigsen, kindergarten teachers
Parents’ Association News
PA Dues
Each family’s contribution to the parents’ association supports the work we do all year. Please consider paying PA dues of $50 per family. Any additional amount may be considered tax-deductible. You can make payment conveniently online with a credit card, debit card, or eCheck (ACH) via the secure BDS PA Payment Portal. Although not preferred with the ongoing pandemic, you can also pay by paper check by contacting the PA Treasurer, Jeana Colangelo. Thank you!
Mabel’s Labels
Keep track of winter gear and start prepping for summer camp labeling! Mabel‘s Labels
Classroom Flowers
Classroom flowers are a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the BDS community by brightening the spaces where our children learn each day. To make it simpler for families, we have established an additional donation option. When you sign up, please plan to donate to cover the cost of the flowers (approximately $125/donation will provide flowers to every classroom). Parents Tracy Leng and Grace Wang will then coordinate the purchase and delivery of the flowers to BDS. They can also add a label to each arrangement to honor your family’s contribution. You can also choose this option if you would like to partner with another family or two to make a group donation. Please contact Grace and Tracy with any questions.
Beyond BDS
ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY
Student Calls on Community to Support Campaign to Stop Arctic Drilling
I want to call our community’s attention to a page on the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) website about the oil and gas drilling programs in the arctic. What the WWF is trying to do is to put a long-term stop to oil and gas programs that threaten that area. Stopping the drilling would be beneficial to the wildlife and the indigenous people who depend on the health of that region’s environment. Our community can do to help by urging their Congressional leaders to repeal the Arctic Refuge oil and gas program in the budget reconciliation package that they are now considering. On that webpage, the WWF has asked anyone who is willing to write a letter to their Congress members asking for support. The letter is pre-written and only requires you to fill in the information. I hope you will join me in this effort. Thank you!
– Quincy Treisman, seventh grader
FAMILY FUN
Virtual Storytelling: Funda Fest 24
Looking for some activities for the whole family while you’re snowed in this weekend? Check out Funda Fest 24, a virtual celebration of Black storytelling. Funda is a Zulu word, spoken by the people in South Africa. Long before there were books, the elders and griots and jaliyas—the storytellers–were the keepers of the culture. They passed on stories and songs so the community would learn its history, values, and traditions, in the oral tradition. This completely virtual festival continues that fun and important tradition. Click here to see the schedule of events this Saturday and Sunday.
BOOK DISCUSSION
Analyzing ‘The 1619 Project’
Three Sessions in February
In honor of Black History Month, Framingham State University will host a book discussion group on The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones. The group will meet on three dates, Monday, February 14, Wednesday, February 23, and Monday, February 28. Each session will be held via Zoom from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Each of the three discussion sessions will focus on a particular idea of the book, as opposed to specific essays or works. This allows for more people to participate in the discussion, regardless of whether or not they have read the whole book.
Click here for more information on the sessions and for Zoom links to attend.
ADULT EDUCATION
Learn Kingian Conflict Resolution
Two Sessions: Saturdays, February 5 and 12
Registration is now open for this 16-hour introductory course on how to apply Dr. Martin Luther King’s philosophy and methodology of nonviolence to personal and societal conflicts. The course will take place over two Saturdays, February 5 and 12 at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street. All are welcome.
Click here to register for this course.
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