December 16, 2022
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Pre-kindergartners had fun telling and acting out some stories this week!
Opening Message
A Winter Poem & The Story of Lenny and Lino’s Tree
Brendan Largay, Head of School
Post Date: December 16, 2022
Dear Belmont Day,
What follows here is the Mary Oliver poem I read to our students this morning to send them off into the winter break with joy. May you all “fall into the feathers of some unimaginable bird that loves you.”
Have a happy and healthy break, everyone. See you in the new year.
White-Eyes
by Mary Oliver
In winter
all the singing is in
the tops of the trees
where the wind-bird
with its white eyes
shoves and pushes
among the branches.
Like any of us
he wants to go to sleep,
but he’s restless—
he has an idea,
and slowly it unfolds
from under his beating wings
as long as he stays awake.
But his big, round music, after all,
is too breathy to last.
So, it’s over.
In the pine-crown
he makes his nest,
he’s done all he can.
I don’t know the name of this bird,
I only imagine his glittering beak
tucked in a white wing
while the clouds—
which he has summoned
from the north—
which he has taught
to be mild, and silent—
thicken, and begin to fall
into the world below
like stars, or the feathers
of some unimaginable bird
that loves us,
that is asleep now, and silent—
that has turned itself
into snow.
________________________
You may have noticed driving into campus any evening recently, a tall evergreen lit up beautifully with red and white lights. There’s a special story to that tree that we like to share each year before winter break. It’s the story of Lenny and Lino’s tree and their friendship.
A STORY OF FRIENDSHIP: THE L & L TREE
by Jill Becker P ’14, reprinted annually since the February 16, 2008, Friday Notice
I first noticed the sweet, colorfully decorated Christmas tree near the Belmont Day School garage last winter. I asked some of the other moms in the pick-up line if they knew anything about it. None of them knew for sure, but one offered, “I think it has something to do with (former Maintenance Director) Lenny Corso.” And then, after the holiday break, the decorations were gone.
This year, again, the decorations returned! Still, I had no explanationand I wondered. One day last week, I was in the pick-up line earlier than usual. Mr. Medeiros came over to my car, and we started chatting. I asked him if he knew about that tree and he told me the story:
It had been Lino Medeiros who had discovered the little tree, somewhere amongst the trails behind Belmont Day School. Later, he told Lenny Corso about the “beautiful little tree” that he had found, and he asked Lenny to help him move it. Lenny agreed.
Lino described the location of the tree to Lenny. He then rode one of the pieces of the school’s heavy machinery out to the location of the tree, where he waited for his colleague and friend. He heard Lenny, on the Gator, driving around in the woodsclose to, but not at, the location of the little tree. Lino waited as Lenny made his way through the woods and, eventually, to him. The two men dug up the tree together. They brought it to a place near the spot where it now grows. Lino told Lenny, “This will be the L & L tree, for Lino and Lenny.” He then asked Lenny where they should plant the tree. Lenny said, “You’re the boss now. You decide.” This was to be Lenny’s last day at Belmont Day. Mr. Corso passed away in May 2006 after a five-year battle with multiple myeloma.
Every year now Lino and other faculty and staff decorate the tree in Lenny’s honor. I thought each of you would like to know this beautiful story. Thank you, Lino, for sharing it with us. Middle school students planted another tree in Mr. Corso’s honor that flourishes in the front circle to this day.
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
PA Gratitude Board
Help the parents’ association fill up the bulletin board by the front desk with words of gratitude for teachers, staff members, or even the whole community. You can also submit artwork from your children. The gratitude board submission form will stay open during and after Winter Break—it is never too late to express words of gratitude! Use the Google Form, and we will print them and add them to the board for all to read and appreciate.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Winter Collection Drive in Support of Pine Street Inn
When we return to school on January 4, you’ll find collection bins in the Schoolhouse and Barn circles for items we are gathering to donate to those facing the winter without secure shelter. As identified by our partners at the Pine Street Inn, the most needed items include:
- warm socks and gloves
- hand and foot warmers
- underwear and T-shirts
- individually packed snacks (sweet and salty)
- travel-size deodorant
- $5 gift cards for McDonald’s or Dunkin’
As Dr. Martin Luther King observed, “All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality.” We hope that while you enjoy the holiday season with your family and friends, you’ll remember Dr. King’s work and words, and find time to collect and contribute what you can.
Donations will be accepted through the end of January, with deliveries to Pine Street about each week. Matt Ferrer from Pine Street will join us at our Martin Luther King Jr. assembly on Friday, January 20. We will keep everyone informed if particular items are more urgently needed.
Thank you!
Lunch & Snack Menu
January 2 to January 6
Monday
School Closed for Winter Break
Tuesday
School Closed to Students for Winter
Professional Development Day for Faculty
Wednesday
Snack: apples; Simply Cheesy Puffs
Lunch: cheese ravioli with marinara; pasta with marinara; gluten-free pasta with marinara; crusty rolls; broccoli; mixed greens with balsamic; fresh fruit; canned fruit; yogurt; milk and water
Thursday
Snack: clementines, granola bars
Lunch: BDS butternut squash soup; turkey and cheese paninis; cheese paninis; gluten-free turkey and cheese; sweet corn; Caesar salad; fresh fruit; canned fruit; yogurt; milk, cider, and water
Friday
Snack: craisins; Kettle Chips
Faculty Lunch
For a more detailed and updated weekly menu, please click the button below.
BDS News
HEALTH NEWS
Safeguarding Against the Flu Over Winter Break
This is a friendly reminder that influenza (flu) is very much present. Please watch for signs and symptoms of the flu when deciding to gather in groups or attend social events over the next few weeks.
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. Flu is spread through droplets when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or talks. A person can also get the flu by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, eyes, and nose. Flu is different from a cold and usually comes on suddenly.
Flu symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, tiredness, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children). Not everyone with the flu will have a fever.
Read More
If flu is suspected or confirmed, it is important to get plenty of rest and drink enough fluids. Reach out to your primary care physician (PCP), as antiviral drugs can be used to treat the flu and work best within the first 48 hours of illness. Tylenol and ibuprofen can be used to manage fevers as well as aches and pains. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu. If you are concerned about symptoms, call your PCP immediately.
The first and best way to protect against flu is to get a yearly flu vaccination. Everyday actions should also be taken to prevent the spread of influenza—stay away from people who are sick as much as possible, cover coughs and sneezes, practice diligent handwashing, and avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth. Surfaces that may be contaminated with flu viruses should be cleaned often.
People with flu may be able to infect others from one day before getting sick to up to five to seven days after. If you or your child has been diagnosed with influenza or you suspect you may have flu, stay home and rest. Individuals with flu should remain home until their symptoms are resolved or much improved and they have been without fever for 24 hours or more without using fever-reducing medicines.
Wishing you all a healthy and restful holiday season.
– Belmont Day School Health Office
COVID Rapid Tests Sent Home Today
The Health Office sent COVID-19 rapid tests home with students today. These tests are for families to use over winter break if they are not feeling well and want to rule out COVID infection. The expiration date has been extended, and they are now valid through the end of January 2023. Please note students do not need a negative COVID test to return to school after Winter Break. We do ask that students that are not feeling well upon our return to school in January remain home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication and symptoms of illness are much improved.
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Thank You for a Fantastic Giving Day!
On Tuesday, this community came together on our fourth annual BDS Giving Day and rose to the occasion, demonstrating our strength and love for BDS! With participation as the focus of the day, for 24 hours, we turned to one another to inspire and challenge. I am grateful to the many parent volunteers who supported the development team throughout the day. The collective effort to prepare, participate, and help was instrumental in the day’s success, allowing us to exceed our goals and unlock impactful challenges.
Our development team would also like to offer a sincere thank you to our community as a whole—current families, alumni, parents of alumni, trustees, faculty, grandparents, and friends—who supported our mission to inspire and challenge every student. Below you will find a recap of the success we accomplished together on Giving Day.
We wish you all a joyous, healthy, and peaceful holiday season with your family and friends!
– Kyle Beatty, assistant director of development
Giving Day 2022
BECAUSE OF YOU …
- We not only met our goals, but we surpassed them! Over 250 gifts and pledges will move the BDS mission forward.
- Our full community of current families, alumni, past parents, grandparents, faculty, trustees, and friends participated, and we feel the love! Thank you for continuing to prioritize the future of BDS.
- We unlocked a generous gift of $75,000 to the annual fund. This challenge was not easy to achieve in less than one day, but you did it! The BDS values are present in each gift received. The day raised over $290,000.
In 24 hours, we increased current parent participation up to 85%. Current class participation is:
Pre-kindergarten: 85% | Kindergarten: 92% | Grade 1: 89%
Grade 2: 85% | Grade 3: 87% | Grade 4: 91% | Grade 5: 90%
Grade 6: 79% | Grade 7: 80% | Grade 8: 76%
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING
An Appreciation of Family Style Dining
As the school counselor, I am honored to be tasked with supporting the social and emotional well-being of our 334 students. Thankfully, I am far from alone in this endeavor. One of the areas at BDS of support, community, and growth is family-style dining, which Food Program Director Tara Lightbody and the kitchen team provide.
Every day our community gathers in Coolidge Hall for fresh, nutritious, and delicious lunches. Adults serve the youngest students, and as they get older, they learn to serve themselves. A constant around the tables is everyone is talking and engaging with one another. There’s chatter and laughter intermingled with pleases and thank yous. Adults and children are getting to know each other and forming community. There’s even applause when teachers make announcements.
In this delicious environment, we, as educators, observe how students practice many of the skills we constantly strive to teach them. They are working on patience as they wait to clean up their dishes or go to the salad bar. They take responsibility for going to the kitchen to refill the plates of entrees when they take the last serving. They are leaving their comfort zones by trying new foods. They are learning the value of composting and recycling and thinking about where their waste goes at the end of each meal. They are doing their part by stacking chairs and helping to clean up. They also appreciate the work that goes into feeding them, where their food comes from, and how it fuels their bodies. Beyond the pleasure of our tastebuds and full stomachs, there is so much good happening during these meals.
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The family-style dining is a very real example of the BDS core value of excellence. Chef Lightbody and the kitchen team achieve this by establishing practices that emphasize three intentions:
- to foster a sense of community
- tp promote social development
- to encourage responsibility and respect for the good food we are fortunate to enjoy and for the people who prepare it
The varied menus also reflect cultural diversity and inspire curiosity about customs, flavors, and the joy that food brings to people around the world. Behind the scenes, I am impressed with the thoughtfulness and preparation that goes into making this happen. Every day the kitchen buzzes with energy and creativity, and children get to witness this process and receive warm greetings from the kitchen staff when they walk by.
How and what we eat is so central to our overall well-being and the social and emotional growth of our students. I am incredibly grateful for how this is seen and addressed each day when we sit together for lunch at BDS.
– Joshua Sussman, LMHC, school counselor
COMMUNITY NEWS
No Idling Magnet Design Contest Winners Announced
The initiative to help end car idling on campus and beyond was enthusiastically embraced by many of our students. They produced a myriad of imaginative and carefully rendered designs. There were so many creative ideas, well-crafted imagery, and powerful statements that the judges, Mr. Largay and Ms. McQuilton, chose one winner from lower school and one from middle school.
We are happy to announce that the designs created by third grader Frances Meredith and eighth grader Kamila Ruiz were chosen as the winners. Every student and faculty member will receive a magnet soon. Thank you to all the wonderful artists and environmentalists out there; well done!
– Kathy Jo Solomon, visual arts teacher and sustainability coordinator
SUMMER CAMP
Registration for Returning Campers and BDS Families
Registration for Belmont Day Summer Camp is now open for all returning camp families, as well as all Belmont Day families. Our summer camp fills the ten weeks that follow graduation in June. Campers come from many surrounding towns and cities to swim in the pool, shoot bullseyes on the archery range, hit winners on the tennis court, and much more!
Registration is also now open for our Swim and Tennis Association, a summer pool and tennis membership that runs Monday to Friday from 4:15 to 8:15 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Returning camp families can click here to register.
Belmont Day School families who have not attended camp before should email the camp leadership team, Zach d’Arbeloff, and Denali Kikuchi, at summer@belmontday.org, and we will get the information we need to get your weeks of camp booked. If you’re unfamiliar with our camp program, please visit the Summer Programs page of the BDS website for more information.
Feel free to reach out to us by email if you have any questions about registration or our program. Thank you!
– Zach d’Arbeloff, director of summer programs
Learning Updates
Kindergarten Learns About Holiday Traditions
With the winter holidays quickly approaching, kindergarten students have been exploring a variety of celebrations, including Kwanzaa, Christmas, and Hanukkah. We have noticed that many of the winter holidays integrate similar themes: lights and candles, big feasts with family and friends, and singing special songs. To help us learn more about the ways in which our class community celebrates Hanukkah, we invited two parents to share their traditions with the class. Amelia, Clara Lake’s mom, and Morgan, Mira Reddy’s mom, came to talk about some of the festive food eaten at this joyful time and do a fun activity around latkes. Chag Sameach (happy holidays) to all who celebrate!
– Missy Hartvigsen, kindergarten teacher
Athletics Update: Wrestling Opens Season with Big Win over Milton
The wrestling team traveled to Milton Academy this week for their first meet of the season and jumped all over the Mustangs with three decisive victories in the first three matches. Ken MacDougall, Caleb Frehywot, and Jun Murakami got things going for the Blue & Gold with the early wins before Milton battled back to even the score. With the balance of the meet hanging on the results of the final matches, sixth grader Wyatt Baker came up with a huge win in a nail-biter to solidify the team win for Belmont Day. Shoutouts to Jun, who won both of his matches in his first interscholastic meet, and to Ken, who also took home a pair of wins thanks to all of the hard work he put in during the off-season. Coach Andrew Bolte recognizes that the team has a long way to go but is proud of how the squad competed in their first match.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- The boys’ varsity basketball team nearly doubled up Charles River (44-25) this week. Team captains Brendan Bandar and Liam Brodeur played excellent D, while Petros Samuel and Nebiyou Elias provided strong minutes off the bench.
- Annika Vittal and Cassie Greiner sparked a relentless Belmont Day attack during girls’ varsity basketball’s 20-point win over Charles River. Perin Fine contributed on both ends of the floor and Quincy Treisman scored a game-high 13 points.
- In a back-and-forth game against Meadowbrook, the boys’ JV basketball team eventually came out on top (24-20) thanks to strong play from eighth graders Oliver Gottesman, Quinn McCaffrey, Anurag Mujumdar, and Ezra Wolfson.
- Team captains Liv Dawson and Kalkidan Shiferaw led the way for girls’ JV basketball’s dominating win over Meadowbrook. Dawson led all scorers on the offensive end while Shiferaw controlled the boards and protected the paint defensively.
- The fencing team fell 15-12 against Beaver in their season opener. Gabriel Burd and Carter Bradshaw each won both of their bouts while Zach Cash, Hughy Marsan, and Ariel Duan all chipped in with victories of their own.
- Volleyball had another solid week of practice heading into the break. Isadora Eiref, Kali Owens-Schwartz, Clive Sutton, and August Wilmot have all improved tremendously over the course of the first three weeks.
- PEAK athletes were back at Community Rowing for their second session this week. Despite missing last week’s trip, Zazoue Marsan was a natural on the erg machines.
- The intramural basketball crew wrapped up their “pre-season” skills and drills this week. Zeke Fine and Kiernan Patel have been leading by example on the court, while Henry Kiraly and Calum Dunbar have made some targeted improvements.
Second Graders Research Environmental Changemakers
Second graders have been working diligently over the past several weeks to learn about various environmental changemakers. This unit began with reading and discussing several picture book biographies. Students continued their research by using the PebbleGo Biographies database and taking notes. This collaborative project combined research skills, the exploration of exciting and vibrant nonfiction texts, and artistic expression. During the project, students learned about people who have overcome challenges, persevering toward the goal of finding solutions to problems facing themselves and others. The connection to our social competency curriculum also allows students to see themselves reflected in the work of their changemakers. Ultimately, each second grader created a bookmark to inform the BDS community about a changemaker. Pick up one of these bookmarks in the Erskine Library in 2023 to keep your spot in your book while admiring a beautiful and inspirational design and potentially learning something new. In the spring, the second graders will be participating in their own service learning project, empowering them to “be the change they wish to see in the world.”
– The Second Grade Team
PE Update: Winter Sports for the Win
In physical education this week, our younger grades got to try some indoor winter activities, including speed skating (on pinnies), igloo building (with mats), and snowball rolling (with paddles and balls). Also, with the first snowfall of the season, we offered some crucial winter reminders:
- Sneakers are essential! We had many students wearing boots this week, but having a pair of sneakers for PE not only keeps feet and ankles safe, but it also preserves our gym floors and ensures they aren’t slippery.
- In addition, just because it is cold out doesn’t mean we won’t take advantage of all the outdoors can offer for winter movement opportunities. We will still go on hikes, and when the conditions are right, each grade takes a whirl at sledding on Claflin hill. So jackets, boots, hats, gloves, and snow pants are needed both for recess and for those winter days when we want to take our program outside.
- Hydration is no less important in the winter. We might not be as sweaty and thirsty as we are on those hot fall and spring days, but a water bottle is still needed to ensure we are healthy and fueled up for strenuous effort.
We look forward to launching into new adventures in the new year!
– Alex Tzelnic, physical education teacher and mindfulness director
Eighth Graders Share Their Knowledge of the Constitution
Each eighth grade social studies unit ends with a unit response project. For this project, students are encouraged to choose any topic related to the unit that they want to learn more about and extend their learning. They use credible sources and make good use of their time. Last week, students created a product to share with their peers some of the learning from their unit on the United States Constitution. Many have displayed their artistic talents with drawings, watercolor paintings, and even a digital comic strip. Other students have created posters or infographics to share their learning. On Monday, they shared this work with their peers in a gallery walk format.
– Kate Burns, grades 7 & 8 social studies teacher
Arts Update: A Week Filled With Song
This week was filled with many musical moments. Students thought about a song’s purpose in a songwriting class, played chord progressions on the keyboards, learned new songs from the school musical as an ensemble, and rehearsed (and performed) for our annual Winter Concert. Music served as a thread that connected us to one another and provided a soundtrack to this exciting week before break. Thank you for joining us on Thursday evening at our Winter Concert. It was wonderful to be together as a community and celebrate so much of the musical learning that has happened this fall.
– Kassie Bettinelli, music teacher
First Graders Run Circles Around This Challenge
In Mr. Fox’s first grade class, students were tasked with the challenge of turning a square into a circle. Inspired by Mac Barnett’s book, Square, first graders were given a blank square piece of paper and were told they had to turn it into a circle. Mr. Fox did not answer any questions, he did not make any suggestions, he offered no feedback or confirmation, and he did not say yes or no to anything. He let first graders solve this problem independently.
After a few minutes and clever problem-solving, all 14 students could successfully and independently turn their squares into circles. First graders crumpled their paper up into a circular ball, rolled their paper into a circular tube, drew a circle with a pencil and cut it out, cut a circle using scissors, and folded their paper in half to cut a half-circle and unfolded it. First graders showed a wide variety in their circles, and they discovered that there were many different ways to solve this problem.
When asked by Mr. Fox, “How did it feel to solve this problem on your own, knowing I wouldn’t answer questions or give you any help?” students reflected, “I felt … determined, confused, creative, worried, fine, and excited when I realized I could do it alone.”
– Geoffrey Fox, first grade teacher
Sixth Grade Latin Learns of Saturnalia
With the arrival of winter comes many holidays and festivals throughout history and the world. Ancient Rome, not to be left out, celebrated the winter season with the festival of Saturnalia. Before heading off to their own winter celebrations, sixth grade Latin students learned about this important and popular ancient festival. Through song, a podcast, and a temple craft, students honored the Roman god of Saturn, just as the Romans did, in the hopes of an easy winter and a fruitful spring harvest. During the Saturnalian feasts, societal roles were reversed, parties and joy became the norm, and all Romans, no matter their social status, experienced a reprieve from the typical experiences of the day. Join the Latin students in celebrating Saturnalia with a festive cheer of “io Saturnalia!”
– Nicole Buck, Latin teacher
Parents’ Association News
PA Winter Hats
For all those who did not get to buy the coveted PA striped pom-pom hats on spirit day or today at the Send-off Assembly, don’t worry; we will have them available for sale again in January.
Book Group
The next parent book group is scheduled for Tuesday, January 17, at 7:30 p.m.–location TBD. We are reading Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. We have had some lovely gatherings this fall, and we hope you will join us this winter. Please contact Karla Bays for more information or to join our mailing list.
Friendraiser
Thank you to everyone who joined us for a woodland walk this fall. It was great to see new connections being made. Walks will resume in early spring of 2023, so please stay tuned for the dates.
If you have any suggestions or questions about parents’ association-related activities, please contact us anytime at bdspa@belmontday.org.
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