February 28, 2025
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We enjoyed the 100th day of the school year this week!
Opening Message
Out Like A Lamb: Five Years After COVID Arrived
Brendan Largay, Head of School
Post Date: February 28, 2025
March, as they say, comes in like a lion.
Typically, in the Northeast, that expression is a comment on Mother Nature and her stubborn refusal to move away from winter. As March begins, a slushy mix of snow across our fields and beneath Big Blue reminds us of the lion’s cold roar.
For me, however, ‘the lion’ changed as March arrived in 2020. Five years ago this week, I was among colleagues at the NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) Annual Conference in Philadelphia. The conference has always been an opportunity for educators from across the country to gather, attend workshops on best practices in teaching and school leadership, hear compelling keynote speakers—that year, Jonathan Haidt presented on The Coddling of the American Mind—and build professional connections. In 2020, however, the conference had a noticeably different feel.
Among fellow heads of school who had arrived the evening before the conference, stories circulated about the confusing and mysterious illness that was starting to impact schools along the West Coast. “The coronavirus is coming,” various peers warned us, “and chances are, you’re not ready for it.”
I left the conference a day early to return to school in time for our Friday afternoon faculty meeting. I usurped the agenda and explained that the faculty would need to spend the time building out a two-week remote curriculum just in case. Twelve days later, BDS would move off campus, and despite our belief that two weeks would be enough, we wouldn’t return for on-site learning until September.
Now five years later, while I may be disinterested in dwelling on details such as remaining six feet apart, the difference between a PCR and rapid test, how to effectively share your screen with a six year old, or what the latest COVID updates from DESE (Masachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) might be, I cannot help but look back fondly on the way the Belmont Day community responded.
More than 100 staff and faculty members went to work. Supported by infectious disease professionals within our community, our operations crew created a safe learning environment for our students, and our teachers found novel ways to deliver their lessons. Parents put their trust in Belmont Day as we reopened at a time when many others did not. And our students found the courage during a global pandemic to learn and to support each other.
Though it may be hard to believe, today, it’s easy to forget the lengths to which this community went five years ago. Upon reflection, it served as the ultimate pressure test of our mission. Inspire and challenge? Check. Foster intellectual curiosity? Check. Honor differences? Check. Empower meaningful contributions with our six core values? Check, check, and check.
Belmont Day rose to the moment in every way, and today, as we welcome hundreds onto campus for events like Friday Night Hoops and last night’s STEAM Expo, we continue to feel the positive ramifications of that challenge. Our community is connected and celebrating the whole child experience of students at Belmont Day. Our faculty continues to innovate and respond to the world’s changes. And our students continue to arrive each day ready to learn, play, and find joy as only a child can.
Now I suppose that’s why they say March goes out like a lamb … a Belmont Day School lamb! Baaa! We’re ready for anything. Caring, thoughtful, and as tough as any lion.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. I’ll see you in March.
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
Mark Your Calendar: Parent Conference Days
We look forward to seeing you at parent conferences on Thursday, March 27, and Friday, March 28, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Your student’s classroom teacher or advisor will send an email to sign up for a conference time next Friday, March 7 at 8 a.m.
The school will be closed except for parent conferences on both conference days. Childcare will be available in the Barn during conference hours. More details on childcare will be shared next week.
Parent Forums
Meet the Candidates for Assistant Head of School
Tuesday to Friday, March 4 to March 7
8:30 a.m.
Coolidge Hall
The school is interviewing candidates to be our new assistant head of school. Parents are invited to attend a series of forums with the finalists as part of that process.
We will host four candidates, one each day. Each session will start at 8:30 a.m. in Coolidge Hall and consist of a 20-minute presentation on a current educational trend or topic and its impact on teaching and learning as it connects to Belmont Day’s mission. A 10-15 minute Q&A will follow each presentation.
We value your feedback and hope many parents can attend as many of the forums as possible. Candidate resumes will be available for review for those of you who can participate next week.
Please use the form linked below to let us know if you can come. Thank you!
Lunch & Snack Menu
March 3 to March 7
Monday
Snack: fruit cups; Popcorners
Lunch: chicken tikka masala; vegan curry with garbanzo beans; basmati rice; naan bread; vegetable blend; cucumber Romaine salad
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Goldfish
Lunch: crispy coconut-crusted fish; kelp seaweed falafel; citrus roasted fish; mashed potatoes; steamed potatoes; seasoned green beans; spinach salad with sherry vinaigrette, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds
Wednesday
Snack: clementines; pretzels
Lunch: Greek chicken; Greek tofu; herbed Israeli couscous; basmati rice; roasted Mediterranean vegetables; Greek salad with cucumbers, tomato, olives, onion, and feta
Thursday
Snack: apple slices; Fritos
Lunch: cheese pizza; pepperoni pizza; vegan cheese pizza; gluten-free cheese pizza; steamed broccoli; 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
STAFFING NEWS
Departures
John O’Neill, director of athletics
This June, we will bid John O’Neill a heartfelt and fond farewell. John started as an associate teacher and, from there, took off in the role of athletics director. John has inspired and mentored hundreds of athletes and served as a bedrock of the culture of teamwork, sportsmanship, citizenship, and leadership. John designed and leads an outstanding physical education and athletics program that ensures every student can access the curriculum and identify as an athlete in an inclusive, rigorous, and joyful environment. Thanks to John’s leadership, each of our graduates during his tenure has left Belmont Day feeling proud of their athletic identity.
When the middle school went through its strategic enrollment growth, John spearheaded the expansion of the athletics program to incorporate a larger cohort of students, and added new athletics options once the Barn opened. He expanded the tradition of Friday Night Lights and created the Friday Night Series, adding Hoops and Scoops to the fall soccer event. John also started the BDS Summer Camp sports camps, incorporating alumni into the leadership of these programs.
Eager to extend himself beyond the daily athletics program, John contributed to designing the health and wellness curriculum, taught Growth, Development, and Belonging (GDB) classes and middle school literature, and served as a middle school advisor and trusted Capstone mentor. He also collaborated with colleagues to design a student-led middle school meeting model. John has thrived on exchanging expertise and ideas with various colleagues in these roles.
We will all miss John’s indomitable spirit, leadership, courage, good humor, and vibrant presence on the fields and in the gyms, classrooms, and hallways next year. We wish John and his family the best as he embarks on his next adventure. The Belmont Day community will have the chance to celebrate John’s eighteen-year legacy at an event this spring (stay tuned for details).
Congratulations, John, on an extraordinary run.
Nicole Buck, middle school Latin teacher
At the end of this academic year, Nicole Buck will depart to pursue a role in educational leadership as the middle school assistant principal at Rowland Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah. Nicole completed a master’s degree in independent school leadership from Vanderbilt University while teaching at Belmont Day, and she is eager to begin the next chapter of her career.
Since joining BDS in 2018, Nicole has designed and implemented the first middle school Latin curriculum. She has served as a seventh grade advisor and seventh grade grade-level coordinator. Nicole relishes the opportunity to expand the scope of her professional knowledge, share expertise, and collaborate with a diverse group of colleagues. She was co-chair of the school’s most recent AISNE self-study, coordinated departmental reviews, and prepared a schoolwide curricular scope and sequence document.
In all of her roles, Nicole has brought knowledge, joy, creativity, rigor, and inspiration to the students in her classroom. She models the school’s mission and core values with a deep sense of purpose. We will all miss Nicole’s measured and wise presence, sense of humor, and steadfast thoughtfulness in the community next year.
We wish Nicole all the best as she launches into the next stage of her career. Rowland Hall doesn’t yet know their good fortune. Carpe diem, Magistra Buck!
SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION
2025-26 Bus Interest Survey
Belmont Day offers a Boston and Cambridge bus line to and from campus each day school is in session.
We are changing the registration timeline for the 2025-26 school year so that routes, pricing, and enrollment are finalized by June.
What to expect next:
- You will receive a bus transportation interest survey by email on Monday, March 3.
- The survey will be due on Friday, March 14.
- In early May, we will finalize routes, stops, and pricing.
- Registration will open on Friday, May 16, and close on Friday, May 30.
- Late registration will be permitted pending availability.
Need to know:
- All parents will receive the interest survey, regardless of where they live, as one of the bus stops may still be convenient.
- At the time of registration, a deposit of $200 will be required. Families receiving financial assistance will receive a code that waives the deposit.
- Parents will be invoiced for bus transportation in September.
If you have any questions, please contact Zach d’Arbeloff, director of summer programs and transportation, at zdarbeloff@belmontday.org. Zach will be away from school from March 3 to 10, and will respond to queries when he returns. Thank you!
COMMUNITY EVENT
RSVP for Ramadan Dinner
Tuesday, March 18 at 5:30 p.m.
(Fast will break at 6:54 p.m.)
Coolidge Hall
We are excited to invite the community to our annual Ramadan Iftar, a celebration of community, diversity, and identity. As Ramadan is based on the lunar year calendar, the start of the month changes each year. This year, Ramadan will be observed from February 28 to March 30.
Join us for an evening filled with henna, crafts, books, and fun activities. Dinner will be provided, and we look forward to sharing this special time with you.
Please RSVP by March 8, specifying how many adults and children will be attending.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Get Ready for an Unforgettable Baash
The Baash is coming on Saturday, April 5, and it’s going to be a night full of excitement, laughter, and a whole lot of fun. Our team is working tirelessly to create an unforgettable experience for the Belmont Day community, and we need you to be a part of it.
How can you help make this event a huge success?
- Auction Donations: Got a special item or experience? We’d love to feature it! Please donate by Sunday, March 23.
- Business and Individual Sponsorships: Sponsorships are essential to making The Baash a success. They help offset event costs, ensuring that more of the funds raised directly support what matters most to us—our students, faculty, and school. Business sponsorships, in particular, offer a fantastic win-win: local businesses gain valuable visibility while supporting our community. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, reach out to Tania Chamlian, our events and community outreach coordinator, at tchamlian@belmontday.org. We’d love to have you on board.
- Secure Your Tickets: The Baash is going to be an event you won’t forget! Grab your tickets today and get ready for a fantastic evening full of entertainment, great food, and plenty of surprises. It’s the perfect chance to gather with friends, celebrate, and support Belmont Day. Ticket sales close on Sunday, March 23.
It’s GO time! Let’s come together as a community and make this a night to remember.
Ready to contribute? Visit our website now to make your donation, buy your tickets, and learn more. If you have any questions, email development@belmontday.org.
We can’t wait to see you at the Baash!
AUXILIARY PROGRAMS
Registration Now Open for Trimester Three
The three-week registration period for After School and trimester three enrichment classes opened on February 24. Enrichment class descriptions and schedules are available on the Parent Portal. The current trimester ends on Friday, March 14, and trimester three begins on Monday, March 17.
For enrollment questions, please contact Denali Kikuchi, auxiliary programs coordinator; for program questions, please contact Blair Fross, director of school-year auxiliary and specialty programs.
February Vacation Camp Blasted Off to Space
During the February break, the campus transformed into a space station with all sorts of intergalactic activities. Our young rovers and rockets explored nearly everything the solar system offers. Camp counselors Casey Reed and Dale Armstrong led our astronauts in orbit around Earth, designed robots, created Yoda puppets, learned about aliens and the unknown, and perfected the asteroid hop. We ended the week with a special appearance from Chewbacca and the Millennium Falcon. Be sure and ask a camper about the Mars rover, constellation jars, and lightsaber duels.
After School Students Craft Model of Mars Rover
Led by After School teacher Dale Armstrong, first and second graders designed and built replicas of the Perseverance and Ingenuity space crafts. Perseverance is a car-sized Mars rover that launched in 2020 and landed on Mars in 2021. Ingenuity was a small autonomous helicopter carried to Mars on the underside of Perseverance. The goal was to test if flight was possible in the thin Martian atmosphere. As BDS transformed into a space station for the February vacation camp, these replicas made by After School students welcomed campers as they arrived. We hope that many parents and classmates were able to see this marvelous piece of creativity at last evening’s STEAM Expo.
– Blair Fross, director of school-year auxiliary and specialty programs
ADMISSIONS NEWS
Volunteers Needed to Welcome Admitted Families
Our admissions team is looking for current parents to congratulate newly admitted families and offer to connect if they have any questions. This is a fun and easy volunteer opportunity that welcomes families as they make their enrollment decisions for the 2025-26 school year.
The timeline and duties are simple. After the admissions decisions are released next Friday, March 7, we’ll send volunteers contact information for one to three admitted families. Volunteers will then reach out via email or phone (whichever works for you!) to those families between March 8 and March 11. We’ll provide brief talking points and a template to guide you. All admitted families will make their enrollment decisions by April 10.
If you can help, please complete this quick survey by this coming Monday, March 3. Thank you—we truly appreciate your support!
– Judy Bright, admissions & outreach program manager
Learning Updates
Eighth Graders Compete for Poetry Slam Championship
Eighth grade English students spent January and February studying the poets and poems of the Harlem Renaissance. Before the February break, students wrote essays considering how the writers and artists of the Harlem Renaissance used words, music, dance, and visual art to express pride in their identities and their community. This week, eighth graders took those ideas and studied slam poetry as an art form. They watched countless teen poetry slam champions and then considered topics about which they are passionate to write and perform their own powerful poems. As an extra challenge, our eighth grade poets had to use the “Golden Shovel” format to craft their poems by incorporating a line from a famous Harlem Renaissance poem into the last words of their poem. Students competed Thursday afternoon to be their class champion, and the class champions performed at the middle school meeting to compete for the title of Eighth Grade Poetry Slam Champion.
– Emily Phan, eighth grade English teacher
Arts Update: Diving Into Rehearsals for The Little Mermaid Jr.
Students in our production of The Little Mermaid Jr. have been hard at work. From memorizing choreography to learning how to deliver a heart-wrenching solo, our rehearsals are in full swing. The cast starts every rehearsal with an intentional warm-up routine to get their voices producing full, beautiful tones in a healthy, sustainable technique. With a focus on breath support and resonance, students are learning to expressively deliver the challenging two- and three-part harmony from this classic musical, all while executing choreography and acting their parts.
– Tyler Cotner, music teacher
Athletics Update: Coaches vs Eighth Graders Game Goes Down to the Wire
The most recent chapter in the Coaches vs Eighth Grade tradition took place this week in the Barn gym. In front of a packed crowd, coaches and athletes gave fans an exciting performance on the court, and the final result wasn’t decided until the closing seconds. Student athletics correspondent seventh grader Suryavir Nallari-Jhala was courtside for the action. Here’s his recap …
The coaches vs eighth graders basketball game was a tough battle that came down to the wire. The game began with the coaches getting out to a big lead in the first half. Coach John O’Neill was on fire, scoring 13 points in the first half with a mix of mid-range jumpers and threes. For the eighth graders, Jordan Levine buried a big shot, Vicente Aguerrevere knocked down a three, and Mylo Rosenfeld nailed another three, which swung momentum back to the students as they entered halftime. In the second half, the eighth graders were determined to make a comeback. Sam Rodriguez and Sara Colangelo splashed some threes late to get the eighth graders back in the game and cut the lead to three, 47-44. Coaches Vaniecia Skinner and Charlie Baird played some stingy defense in the closing seconds, and after a barrage of threes by the eighth graders missed the mark, the coaches added one more basket to secure the 49-44 win.
Congrats to both squads on a spirited game and, more importantly, a successful winter season!
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Parents’ Association News
PA Meeting: New Date
Save the date for the next parents’ association meeting on Thursday, March 13, at 8:30 a.m. (rescheduled from March 6) in Coolidge Hall. Guest speakers will be confirmed and shared next week. All parents are invited, and coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Family Movie Event: RSVP Today
On Saturday, March 22, from 4 to 6 p.m., we will be hosting a private screening of Inside Out 2 at the historic Capitol Theatre in Arlington. There will be popcorn, snacks, pizza, and fun for the whole family. Due to the theatre’s capacity limits, we kindly request that you RSVP as soon as possible and no later than March 10. Click here to RSVP. We hope to see you there.
Casual Coffee
We invite the parent community for some casual mingling over coffee in Coolidge Hall before the Lower School Sharing Assembly on Friday, March 7, from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m.
Middle School Parents’ Gathering
Middle school parents are invited to an informal gathering at Savinos, 449 Common St., in Belmont, during the middle school dance next Friday, March 7, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. We have reserved the left side of the restaurant for a relaxed and casual evening. The PA will provide pizza and shared appetizers. We look forward to seeing you there.
School Store
Did you know that there’s an online school store where you can order all sorts of great Belmont Day School gear? With spring right around the corner, there is no better time to refresh your BDS look and show your school spirit! Click here to visit the school store.
Contact the PA
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 – Andy Stevenson
- Clerk – Jeff Wang
Beyond BDS
MUSICAL MILESTONE
Sixth Grader to Perform With Rivers Symphony Orchestra
As the winner of the 2024 Rivers School Conservatory Concerto Competition Junior Division (12 and under), Belmont Day sixth grader Clara Min will be performing the first movement of Dmitri Kabalevsky’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in G minor (Op.49) with the adult Rivers Symphony Orchestra. The piece will be performed at the Fine Arts Center of Regis College on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 7 p.m. as part of the program for the Rivers Symphony Orchestra and Commonwealth Chorale Concert. Congratulations, Clara!
If you are interested in attending the concert, click here to purchase tickets.
Return to the Parent Portal
