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Studio Week provided eighth graders with time and support for working on their Capstone projects.
Opening Message
Reflections On the Sledding Hill
By Brendan Largay, Head of School
Post Date: February 13, 2026
You definitely hear it before you see it. From my office, I get only a tiny peek at the top of our beloved and historic Sledding Hill. But what may be lacking in visuals from this vantage point is more than made up for by some rather awesome audio–the sounds of our students taking joyous revolutions down and up and down again across that snowy escape.
Our Sledding Hill, so named (I assume) for its most obvious winter glory, is a place for both being fully in the moment and, as I found on a recent visit, an excellent pinnacle for reflection. I offer these rather random thoughts as an appreciation of our Sledding Hill and its place in our community and in our hearts.
Low-tech/no-tech at its finest. We will always help our students explore, understand, critique, and master new technologies. You’ll see that on display later this month at the STEAM Expo. With that, as we well know, comes the growing need to be grounded in the joys, knowledge, and appreciation of simple things as well … like a humble plastic sled. Our children have a vast capacity and appetite to unplug. Just go sledding with them, and you’ll see.
Change your view once in a while. The Sledding Hill is a tale of two vastly distinct perspectives. Standing at the top, you see students going away, facing the other way. Off they go! The value, from that perspective, lies in seeing the huffing and puffing and smiles as they trudge back up the hill. You get to see the effort involved. Standing at the bottom of the hill, you see the reward–faces full of fun, and maybe even a bit of managed fear and risk.
You don’t know you’re doing hill training when you’re having the time of your life. Educators can be so sneaky sometimes. This is probably no better seen than on the Sledding Hill when Abbey Nyland and Alex Tzelnic bring out one of their physical education classes. The students are all in for the fun, but what they might not realize is that they’re getting one awesome workout going up that hill countless times in a class period. Don’t tell them, please.
Teamwork makes the scream work. Or we all need a push sometimes. From the bottom of the hill, you see another wonderful thing on almost every run down the hill. Students are constantly teaming up to help each other reach maximum velocities. They take turns pushing their classmates down the hill or ride together, likely with images of bobsledding gold medals in their minds. Learning about sharing and the power of collective effort is profound.
If only Sisyphus had a sled instead. Okay, maybe this one is a bit out there, but my visit to the Sledding Hill had me thinking about some scholarship on the Myth of Sisyphus, and that he may have actually enjoyed the repetitive nature of rolling that boulder up that hill over and over and over again. In life, there is definitely something to be said for coming to terms with and dealing with repetitive tasks and activities. Not everything we do at Belmont Day is as fun as sledding, and we strive to equip our students with the abilities and life skills to face and finish work that may seem like just one more trudge up that hill.
Our students today are part of an incredible legacy. Finally, a visit to the Sledding Hill is a form of time travel. The Sledding Hill transports you back across the decades at BDS. The snow gear has changed, and so have the sleds. Our community has changed significantly as well. Through our evolution these 99 years, the thrill of a great run and an epic wipeout on the Sledding Hill has remained the same, and I suspect it will for the next 99 and beyond.
Happy sledding, everyone. I wish you a very safe, restful, and fun February break.
Upcoming Events
Monthly Calendar
After School & Enrichment Registration For Trimester 3 Opens Soon
The three-week registration period for trimester three will open on Monday, February 23, at 7 a.m. Enrichment class descriptions and schedules are available on the Parent Portal. The current trimester ends on Friday, March 13, and trimester three begins on Monday, March 16.
Save The Dates! 7th & 8th Grade Play
Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14, at 7 p.m.
The terminal is buzzing, and excitement is in the air. Tickets for the seventh and eighth grade play Thirty Minutes Till Boarding will become available after February Break, so mark your calendars now for the performances. Seating will be limited, and tickets will be free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Set in the organized chaos of an airport on the brink of departure, Thirty Minutes Till Boarding is a fast-paced, funny, and sharply observed look at what happens when travelers, tensions, and ticking clocks collide.
More information about ticket release and availability will be announced soon. Until then, keep your boarding pass handy and prepare for takeoff.
Fourth Annual STEAM Expo
Thursday, February 26, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Join us in the Barn for an exciting evening of hands-on learning and discovery at our STEAM Expo. Bring your family and explore the world of science, technology, engineering, art, and math in a fun and interactive way. Our sixth and seventh grade students will showcase projects and demonstrate how BDS approaches teaching and learning science through experimentation, exploration, and an iterative process.
Interactive activities and exhibits will highlight how this style of learning lives beyond the science classrooms and is woven into the BDS experience.
There will be activities geared toward all grade levels, and this event is open to all families and students. Participate in the learning process with our BDS scientists—we hope to see you there!
Please Check the Lost & Found
These recent cold and snowy weeks have certainly helped to grow our Lost & Found. There are many items waiting to find their way home, including jackets, sweatshirts, gloves, water bottles, and other personal belongings. We encourage you to stop by the Lost & Found (just off the sixth grade hallway, just past Liz Parfit’s office) soon to check for any items your child may be missing. To help us return items more easily in the future, please label your child’s belongings with their name. Thank you!
Lunch & Snack Menu
February 23 to February 26
Monday
Snack: applesauce; Popcorners
Lunch: cheese tortellini with marinara; penne with marinara; gluten-free cheese tortellini with marinara; breadsticks; seasoned steamed broccoli; mixed greens with balsamic and grated carrots
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; granola bars
Lunch: chicken dumplings; vegan dumplings; gluten-free chicken dumplings; veggie fried rice; bok choy and peppers; soy ginger spinach and greens with pepitas and scallions
Wednesday
Snack: apple slices; Cheez-Its
Lunch: turkey chili; vegan squash, bean, and quinoa chili; corn chips; corn fiesta blend; taco salad with tomato, cheese, and chipotle ranch dressing
Thursday:
Snack: clementines; pretzels
Lunch: steak and cheese sandwiches; vegan sausage sandwich; gluten-free steak and cheese sandwiches; peppers and onions; herb roasted cauliflower; Caesar salad
Friday
Snack: apples; chocolate chip muffins
Faculty Lunch
Please click the button below for a more detailed and updated weekly menu.
BDS News
DEIB OFFICE NEWS
Middle School Students Attend Annual DEI Event
Twelve middle school students attended the annual AISNE Middle School DEI Conference at Regis College. Students heard from keynote speakers Arshay Cooper and Dariana Guerrero. They attended workshops such as “How To Create Systemic Change When You Are Too Young To Vote or Drive” and “Magical Floor Decoration Artform of India,” and participated in affinity groups. Belmont Day had one of the largest groups of student participants, and our students embodied our core values of respect, honesty, responsibility, caring, joy, and excellence. We thank our families for allowing our students to participate in this meaningful weekend experience. A special thank you to school counselor Josh Sussman for joining us as a chaperone.
Parents Plan, Host Lunar New Year Celebration
We welcomed the Year of the Horse together at our annual Lunar New Year Festival. A huge thank you to our parent planning committee, our volunteers, and everyone in attendance for making it a joyful community event. If you’d like to provide feedback about our Lunar New Year Festival, please use the link provided below to share your thoughts.
– Trinity Johns, assistant director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
COMMUNITY NEWS
Family Partnership Policies: Data Privacy & Artificial Intelligence
In the rapidly evolving AI landscape, Belmont Day strives to keep pace and update our school policies and procedures accordingly. As an update to our policies and a reminder to our community, please review the excerpts below from the Family Partnership Guide on the school’s AI policies and rules for household information and data privacy.
If you have questions about these topics, please contact Annie Fuerst or Hilary Berkman.
– Hilary Berkman, chief financial officer, and Annie Fuerst, director of innovation
Student and School Data Privacy
As part of their enrollment at Belmont Day School, families are granted access to the Parent Portal on Veracross. Veracross is a secure system accessible only to Belmont Day families and employees. Information in Veracross is intended solely for use within the Belmont Day community and may not be extracted, stored, or shared outside the platform.
This includes, but is not limited to, information found in the Student, Household, and Faculty and Staff Directories, such as student names, parent and caregiver names, employee names, phone numbers, email addresses, and home addresses. This information may not be shared externally or entered into third-party systems, including but not limited to generative AI tools, chatbots, or AI-powered applications.
Family Partnership Guide: Veracross and Directories
AI Use and Academic Integrity
Belmont Day School’s student AI policy states that artificial intelligence tools are not to be used for school assignments unless explicitly directed by a teacher. We ask families to respect this guideline and to refrain from encouraging or modeling the use of AI for school-related work outside of teacher guidance.
This approach supports the school’s commitment to balancing emerging technologies with the development of essential learning skills and to ensuring that students engage with AI in safe, developmentally appropriate ways. When AI tools are used at school, Belmont Day uses MagicSchool, which includes additional privacy safeguards to prevent student data from being stored or used to train AI models and provides the school with appropriate visibility into student use when needed.
Family Partnership Guide: Belmont Day School Generative AI Mission Statement
Recording Conversations
Massachusetts law requires that all parties to an in-person conversation, meeting, or parent conference consent before any recording may be made. In addition, the school declines permission for parents to record online conversations, meetings, or parent conferences using AI-assisted technology. This includes the use of AI assistants and note-taking tools.
CLUBS NEWS
Students Address Industrialization of the Arctic at Model UN Conference
Eighteen middle school students participated in a Model UN conference at Tufts University’s Fletcher School. The conference focused on the industrialization of the Arctic. Students played the roles of representatives of Finland, Germany, the Aleut people, and the Gwich’in nation. They worked with delegates from 20 area schools to reach compromises and resolutions on environmental and cultural concerns. To start the conference, we heard a short presentation by Dr. Rockford Weitz, Professor of Practice and Director of Maritime and Arctic Studies at the Fletcher School.
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Dr. Weitz emphasized the importance of Indigenous peoples in Arctic policy decisions. He also reminded us that the Arctic Council remains a functioning international organization, with a strong mandate for sustainable development and environmental protection. Our students were excellent representatives of Belmont Day, thanks to their determination to learn more and the joy they brought to the event. The participating students were: sixth graders Kevin Zhou, Ben Fucci, Jack Hargrove, Noah Woreta, Isaac Luo, Zoe Masozera, Kayla Li, Zade Wulfsberg, and Nick Yu; seventh graders Simon Bays, Ben Bradshaw, Dalia DiCrescenzo, Elena Lin, Rubin Xiao, Bella Tan, and Leah Zhang; eighth graders Eileen Luo and Reema Wulfsberg.
– Jennifer Friborg, Capstone coordinator and Model UN club advisor
ADMISSIONS NEWS
Volunteers Needed! Two Opportunities To Help Welcome Admitted Families
We have two upcoming opportunities to help us welcome admitted families as they make their decisions for the 2026-27 school year.
1 – Prep Acceptance Mailers for Admitted Families: We need four more volunteers to join us on Wednesday, March 4, to help assemble mailers for admitted families! If you can pitch in (even for a short while), please complete this brief survey, and Judy Bright will follow up to confirm details.
2 – Make Welcome Calls to Admitted Families: Over the course of a few days in early March, our admissions team needs a crew of current parents to reach out to newly admitted families with congratulations and an offer to connect if they have questions. We need parent volunteers across all grades (especially pre-kindergarten and grades 5 and 6), so we hope you’ll consider joining us! Please complete this brief survey to learn more and more specific dates.
We truly appreciate your support!
– Judy Bright, admissions and outreach program manager
BUSINESS OFFICE NEWS
Re-enrollment Contracts Due TODAY!
You can access your 2026-27 contract via the Parent Portal. Please follow the steps below to complete your re-enrollment.
- Review and sign the contract for your child(ren).
- Review and approve school policies relating to your child’s enrollment.
- Choose a payment plan for the year:
- Single payment option
- Two-payment option
- 10-payment plan
- Pay this year’s deposit.
- Update your family’s contact and demographic information.
- If your family will receive financial assistance in 2026-27, your award letter will be included with your contract.
If your family will receive financial assistance in 2026-2027, your financial assistance award letter was included with your contract.
VC Pay can be used to schedule online payments for tuition, incidentals, and more. You may register for VC Pay at any time. Please note that the system requires that parents re-register for VC Pay each year.
Your signed contract and deposit must be received by 5 p.m. TODAY, Friday, February 13. Please note that all parents must sign the contract in order for it to be complete.
If you have any questions, please contact Jen James, chief of staff and registrar.
Learning Updates
First Graders Start Writing Poetry
In first grade, students are beginning their poetry unit, which is the foundation for their curriculum showcase in March. First, the students explored poetry as art and a style of writing, and now they are examining different forms such as haikus and free verse poems. For their free verse poems, first graders are working on showing the reader what the poem is about with descriptive language instead of telling the reader directly. Later, students will try their hand at cinquains, I Am poems, shape poems, and acrostics!
– Julia Fox, first grade teacher
Fifth Grade Learns About the Phases of the Moon
In the current fifth grade science unit, students are studying aspects of our planet and its relationship to the Sun and Moon. Through lessons examining the changing seasons, shortening of daylight hours, and how the Earth both rotates and revolves, fifth graders are learning more deeply about how and why the world around them changes with such steady regularity. One such regular occurrence is the monthlong cycle of the phases of the Moon. Using styrofoam balls as a model of the Moon itself, and a small flashlight as the source of sunlight, students paired up to mimic the orbit of the Moon around the Earth to observe a facsimile of the Moon’s phases. From new Moon to half Moon to full Moon, using the flashlight and styrofoam ball, the fifth graders slowly rotated through each phase in turn. Our Moon mimics had a great time and will put similar skills to good use in future experiments!
– Patrick Murray, fifth grade teacher
Sixth Graders Read, Analyze, Discuss The Giver
For the bulk of trimester two, sixth graders read The Giver by Lois Lowry. Often considered the first dystopian novel written for a young adult audience, The Giver provides an exciting but accessible text on which to practice our large group discussion skills. Students were taught explicit “talk moves” in order to share ideas and theories of their own, as well as build upon or disagree with the ideas and theories of others. For some students, speaking in front of the whole class provides a challenge in itself. For others, sharing the floor with other (potentially opposing!) ideas proved to be the real challenge. Students navigated our daily discussions with increased grace, awareness, and appreciation of each other’s perspectives.
– Rebecca MacKillop, sixth grade English teacher
Eighth Graders Enjoy Productive Studio Week
This week was our annual Capstone Studio Week for our eighth grade students. They had several hours each day in which to work on their Capstone projects. The students were assigned to small groups across campus, supporting one another with ideas and positivity. Throughout the week, our arts and technology teachers were on hand to answer questions and offer guidance and suggestions. Mentors checked in with their students’ progress. We closed out the week of productivity and excitement with a prototype exhibit this morning. Our students will put the finishing touches on their projects soon, and when we return from break, they will start preparing their presentations to share their learning journey with the whole community.
Capstone presentations will be held in the Palandjian Arts Center the week of April 13. Don’t miss this chance to learn about topics such as penguins, opioids, gene therapy, baking, and many, many more from our wonderful eighth graders.
– Jennifer Friborg, Capstone coordinator
Second Grade Visits the BPL for Lesson in Cartography
Do you know what a tombolo is? Ask a second grader! This week, the students visited the Leventhal Map and Education Center at the Boston Public Library. Students had an opportunity to meet with map educators and learn about the current exhibit, Terrains of Independence, and examine revolution-era Boston maps. They also got to redesign maps of Boston Common to learn about the role of a cartographer.
While analyzing maps, students learned that maps can tell us what people care about because cartographers have a perspective. For example, what did the cartographer choose to place at the center of the map? What features does it include? Where did the cartographer choose to end the map?
– The Second Grade Team
Athletics Update: Winter Game Schedule Comes To a Close
As we wrap up the final week of the competitive portion of our winter season, we want to congratulate all of our student-athletes on their effort, growth, and commitment throughout the winter. While games and matches have concluded, our teams will gather the week after vacation to celebrate the season, reflect on their progress, and recognize the many accomplishments across our programs.
The boys’ varsity basketball team closed out the season with two road games this week. On Tuesday, they traveled to Carroll and, despite an inspiring effort, fell 52–30. Murilo Santos led the team on both ends of the floor with 10 points and tenacious defense, while Ethan Antipov stepped in at point guard and delivered a strong all-around performance. On Thursday, the team traveled to Dedham Country Day shorthanded as the flu made its way through the roster. Even so, the group delivered another gritty effort in the season finale. Joshua Hariette, Noah Yang, Murilo Santos, and the return of Woody Evans from injury sparked the team with their energy and determination.
The girls’ varsity basketball team also wrapped up its season this week, dropping a hard-fought 27–11 contest to Dedham Country Day before finishing on a high note with a rousing 39–4 victory over Nashoba. In the DCD matchup, Violet Hancock and Sofia Clark-Quintanilla anchored a terrific defensive effort. In the win over Nashoba, captains Harper Treisman and Sophie Cutie proved to be a dynamic duo, leading the team with strong scoring and passing, while Fatoumata Bah provided an additional offensive boost.
The girls’ JV basketball team, fielding only six players due to injuries, gave a deep Charles River School team a solid and well-fought game. Effective help on defense and numerous breakaway opportunities kept the contest close, but in the end, Charles River prevailed 28–17. Eighth grade co-captains Reema Wulfsburg, Rowan McCoy, and Eileen Luo shared the scoring load. Their energy, resilience, and leadership will be greatly missed.
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The boys’ JV basketball team also wrapped up its season with two games this week. On Tuesday, they faced a large and athletic Veritas Christian Academy team whose roster ranged from a smaller fifth grader to several six-foot-tall eighth graders. Despite the size mismatch, BDS remained competitive and played with great effort in a 43–15 loss. Every player maintained a positive attitude, worked hard, and continued to show meaningful growth as basketball players. On Thursday, the team competed against Charles River’s experienced seventh and eighth grade squad. While BDS fought hard throughout, Charles River’s experience and cohesion ultimately led to a 33–8 result. The Charles River team displayed outstanding sportsmanship and was one of the most cohesive and skilled opponents BDS faced this season, making for a valuable and competitive learning experience.
The fencing team hosted the International School of Boston on Thursday in its final match of the season and finished with a strong performance. BDS secured the overall win by taking 18 of 27 bouts. Sabre delivered a dominant showing, winning all of its bouts, while foil also earned a team victory. It was an excellent way for the team to close out the competitive season and showcase the growth they have made throughout the winter.
While competition has come to an end, the spirit of our winter teams remains strong. We look forward to gathering after vacation to celebrate the season and reflect on the hard work and accomplishments of our student-athletes.
Following the break, middle school students will embark on our two-week Mud Season, where they will choose from a variety of engaging offerings led by our coaching staff during the first two weeks of March. These sessions provide a fun and active bridge between seasons before the spring athletics season officially kicks off on March 16.
Thank you to all of our families and supporters for a fantastic winter season.
Go BDS!
– Stephen Marks, director of athletics
Parents’ Association News
Next PA Meeting
The next parents’ association meeting will be held on Friday, February 27, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in Coolidge Hall. Our guest speakers will be Divya Muralidhara, assistant head of school, Arlene Silva, school psychologist, and Josh Sussman, school counselor, who will present on “Nurturing Social and Emotional Growth in Our Children.” Their discussion will include CASEL’s five social and emotional learning competencies, how our classroom educators teach and reinforce these competencies, and how parents can support their children’s social and emotional growth at home.
If you have any questions that you would like our speakers to address, please email them to Divya at dmuralidhara@belmontday.org by Wednesday, February 25. All parents are invited, and coffee and light refreshments will be served. Thank you, and we hope to see you there!
PIN Informational Meeting
The Parents’ Independent School Network (PIN)—all Belmont Day School parents and guardians are members–hosts informational meetings throughout the school year. The next meeting will be held over Zoom on Tuesday, March 3, at 12 p.m. The topic of this meeting will be “Harnessing Your Emotions for Growth,” featuring Ethan Kross. Click here to pre-register and receive the Zoom link.
Middle School Parent Gathering
Middle School parents are invited to an informal gathering during the Middle School dance on Friday, March 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. We are finalizing the restaurant location and will share it after the February break. The parents’ association will provide shared appetizers. Mark those calendars and stay tuned for more details!
Supporting Parent Connections
As communicated in an email earlier this week, the parents’ association is introducing two new initiatives designed to create more opportunities for parents across all grades to connect, support one another, and build community.
- Parent Connections Network: If you have a specific question or topic you would like to learn more about, please complete the form in this program description, and we will connect you with another parent who may be a helpful resource.
- Breakfast/Lunch Meet-ups: If you are interested in simply meeting other BDS parents in a casual setting, consider joining one (or more) of the following breakfast/lunches we have arranged. Please RSVP through this form.
- Wednesday, February 25 at 8:00 a.m. – Breakfast at Bruegger’s in Belmont Center
- Monday, March 2 at 12:00 p.m. – Lunch at Flour near MGH/Gov’t Center (Boston)
- Friday, March 6 at 12:30 p.m. – Lunch at Rosebud in Davis Square (Somerville)
- Friday, March 20 at 11:30 a.m. – Lunch at Bruegger’s in Belmont Center
Join the PA Ambassador Team
The PA Ambassador Team encourages parents to consider whether they would like to get more involved in the parents’ association next school year, either in a leadership role, as a committee chair or member, or as a grade parent. On the leadership team, we are specifically seeking nominations for the roles of Vice President and Clerk. Please contact us at bdspa@belmontday.org at any time with questions or to express interest. We look forward to working with you!
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 EVENT
Black History Month Concert at Belmont HS
Friday, February 27, at 7:00 p.m.
Belmont High School Black Box Theater
221 Concord Ave, Belmont
In honor of Black History Month, and in collaboration with the Club Passim Folk Collective and Belmont Against Racism, Opening Doors presents a free evening of poetry, music, and conversation with Reggie Harris and Massachusetts Poet Laureate Regie Gibson.
Regie Gibson is the first and current Poet Laureate of Massachusetts, an honor bestowed on him by Governor Maura Healey in May, 2025. He is also a National Poetry Slam champion and the Chicago Tribune Artist of the Year; appeared in “Love Jones,” a New Line Cinema feature film based on his life; was featured on HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam”; and contributes regularly to NPR. Reggie Harris has traveled the world for over 40 years as a songwriter, storyteller, and lecturer using music and the spoken word to make an impact in education, social and racial justice, the environment, faith, and human and civil rights.
Click here for more information and to RSVP for this event.
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