January 12, 2024
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Our middle school athletics teams were back in competition this week.
Opening Message
Honoring Dr. King Through Teaching, Learning, and Philanthropy
Jessica Halton, Director of Development
Post Date: January 12, 2024
“Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.” ― Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words guide us as we strive to nurture a culture of philanthropy here at Belmont Day. While our six core values—excellence, respect, honesty, responsibility, caring, and joy—are embedded in all that we do, giving our students an understanding of why we practice these values is just as essential. We aspire for our students to develop the skills to help them prevent harm and injustice in the world, not simply identify remedies for them.
This morning’s Martin Luther King Jr. assembly commemorated Dr. King’s life. It explored his teachings about collaboration, strength in numbers, empowerment, social change, advocacy, and amplifying marginalized voices. Our students’ ability to receive and internalize King’s teachings in developmentally appropriate ways moved me. Our students are on their journey to acquire the tools they’ll need to dismantle racism and the systems that uphold it. They are on their journey of understanding the power of the collective voice while developing an awareness of when some voices are unheard or unrepresented.
Beyond the assembly, Dr. King’s legacy is honored and celebrated across campus. The MLK Jr. education committee prepared a wonderful and interactive display in the Schoolhouse gallery featuring the work of Dr. King and other changemakers. Our faculty share his teachings through books and engaging students in meaningful conversations and lessons.
The adults in the community are engaging in self-reflection and dialogue, too. Our recent professional development day introduced the principles and practices of Restorative Justice. Connie Yepez, director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and Anthea Lavergne, director of curriculum and the associate teacher program, led the workshop. Our faculty are committed to creating a safe and inclusive I learning environment for all students. The Restorative Justice framework provides meaningful tools to ensure we achieve that.
Lastly, in upholding Dr. King’s commitment to service, we are collecting donations for Pine Street Inn in January of the most needed winter items. It is heartwarming to see our students and their families engage in our culture of philanthropy at BDS by contributing to this worthy cause at drop-off and pick-up.
Additional family-friendly opportunities to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service and learning this weekend include:
The JFK Presidential Library and Museum
A free performance with George Russell Jr. and Friends in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “Listeners of all ages will learn how music inspired and motivated Americans during the civil rights movement and enjoy some of Martin Luther King Jr.’s favorite songs.” (George is a treasured colleague of mine from my time at Berklee College of Music—I cannot recommend him highly enough!)
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Free admission on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “Bring your family and dive deep into the many ways you can show up for your communities as you engage in the many different activities led by educators, organizers, and cultural leaders dedicated to building a better future for all.”
Accepting “Birthday-in-a-Box” supplies this weekend to support two local charities whose missions are to create special birthday moments for children experiencing homelessness or in the hospital on their birthdays.
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
Save The Date: Friday Night Hoops
Friday, February 2
5:30 p.m. – Girls’ Game Start
7 p.m. – Boys’ Game Start
Belmont Day School, the Barn
Get ready for our winter classic basketball matchup against our friendly rivals, The Meadowbrook School. Wear your BDS gear and come cheer on the Blue & Gold as the boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams play the ninth edition of Friday Night Hoops. Our athletes invite the entire Belmont Day community to attend. See you there.
Braiding Different Strands
The next meeting of Braiding Different Strands will be Thursday, January 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Coolidge Hall. Please RSVP by clicking the button below.
Please join us for a presentation and Q&A session regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging priorities and initiatives with Brendan Largay, head of school, Connie Yepez, director of DEIB, and Mike Marroquin-Castillo, assistant director of DEIB. We will discuss how the recommendations from the Hinderlie climate assessment have informed our work and how we believe DEIB will evolve over the next few years at Belmont Day. We welcome and encourage all adult community members to join us.
If you have questions, please contact Connie Yepez at cyepez@belmontday.org.
Keep Those Donations Coming!
MLK Donation Drive Continues Through End of January
“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Thank you to everyone who has already supported our annual community collection of items to help those facing the winter without secure shelter. Donation bins are available in front of the Schoolhouse and the Barn. As identified by our partners at the Pine Street Inn, the most needed items include:
- men’s winter coats, sizes large and up (preferably new, but used if in good shape)
- warm socks, winter gloves, and hats
- hand and foot warmers
- thermal layers – shirts and leggings
- individually packed snacks (sweet and salty, chewy)
- $5 gift cards for McDonald’s or Dunkin’
Your donations will support our Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly themes of collaboration, strength in numbers, empowerment, social change, advocacy, and amplifying marginalized voices while giving back to our communities. Thank you!
Lunch & Snack Menu
January 15 to January 19
Monday
School Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Popcorners
Lunch: chicken tikka masala; vegan chickpea curry; basmati rice; naan bread; green beans; mixed greens with balsamic
Wednesday
Snack: clementines; CheezIts
Lunch: turkey dinner; vegan Italian sausage; mashed potatoes; steamed potatoes; cranberry sauce; gravy; steamed broccoli; arugula salad with pickled onions, goat cheese and sherry vinaigrette
Thursday
Snack: fruit; pretzels
Lunch: lentil soup; “monster” cheddar bagels; vegan “monster” cheddar bagels; gluten-free “monster” cheddar bagels; honey carrot coins; Caesar salad
Friday
School Closed for Admissions Assessment Day
For a more detailed and updated weekly menu, please click the button below.
From the Kitchen: New Vegan Item Added to the Menu
Last week we introduced a new vegan item, kelp meatballs made from Maine sugar kelp, as a lunch option. The meatballs were well received by students and faculty and it was nice to serve a locally sourced vegan option from the sea alongside our popular coconut-crusted fish. Many students said they were delicious, even better than the vegan meatballs we serve when spaghetti and meatballs are on the menu. The kelp meatballs are gluten-free and dairy-free and were served in marinara. The kelp is grown in the fall and winter in Maine. Click on this link to read more. Here is a short video with more information about Kelp farming in Maine.
You’ll see this vegan option on the menu again soon!
BDS News
FACULTY NEWS
Departures
Missy Hartvigsen, kindergarten teacher
After five years of bringing joy to our kindergarten classroom, it is bittersweet to announce that Missy Hartvigsen will be moving on from Belmont Day after this school year. Missy’s husband, Tom, received a job offer from the University of Virginia that was too exciting to pass up. Since the daily commute to Belmont would prove virtually impossible, Missy and her husband will relocate to the southeast this summer.
During her tenure at BDS, Missy has served as a faculty representative on the board of trustees, mentored associate teachers and new colleagues, and was instrumental in bringing ballet to the After School program. She has made a long-lasting impact on each student that has come through her classroom. With her patience, warmth, humor, and keen understanding of young children, Missy has embraced every kindergartner and made them feel safe, cared for, and known.
We congratulate Tom on his professorship and wish Missy the best in the next chapter of her life!
Kate Burns, eighth grade social studies teacher
We will bid a fond farewell to Kate Burns at the end of this academic year. Kate is pursuing opportunities that will allow her to continue using the leadership skills she has developed in her time at Belmont Day as a department chair and grade-level coordinator. Since joining BDS in 2020, Kate has served as an eighth grade social studies teacher and advisor, social studies department chair, grade-level coordinator, athletics coach, inaugural Southwest trip chaperone, and mentor teacher. In every role, Kate has dedicated herself to developing innovative new curriculum and sharing her excellent teaching expertise with students and colleagues alike. Kate has dedicated herself to designing a curriculum that offers multiple perspectives through which students can view themselves, each other, and the world around them, and has encouraged them to discover and relish the power of primary sources in studying history. Over the past four years, Kate has led her students expertly in exploring all things social studies and research and warmly welcomed and fostered a sense of belonging for each student in her classroom. We will all miss Kate’s presence on the middle school team next year and wish her every success in her next professional chapter.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Lunar New Year Celebration
We are pleased to invite you to join us on Tuesday, February 6, at 5:30 p.m. to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
This will be a celebration of the many Asian countries, cultures, and traditions in our community. If you would like to share your Lunar New Year/Spring Festival traditions at this event, please reach out to Wenting Cai at tingting4805@gmail.com or Connie Yepez at cyepez@belmontday.org.
We kindly ask that you RSVP for this event for our planning purposes. Thank you.
AUXILIARY PROGRAMS
Registration Now Open for February and April Vacation Week Camps
Registration for Belmont Day’s February and April vacation weeks camps is now open. If your child has attended summer camp at BDS, you can enroll directly in CampMinder for either vacation week camp. If your child has not attended summer camp at BDS and would like to sign up for a vacation week camp, please email summer@belmontday.org. Enrollment opens to the public on Tuesday, January 19, and we fully expect the programs to fill quickly. If this is a program you are interested in having your child attend, we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible.
Details for both weeks can be found on the Parent Portal on the Auxiliary Programs page. For program questions, please reach out to Blair Fross, and for CampMinder or enrollment questions, please contact Denali Kikuchi.
FACULTY NEWS
Associate Teachers Start 2024 in New Placements
The 2023-24 associate teacher cohort has excelled during the first classroom placements of the school year. Each associate has now moved to a second placement for the winter and spring.
Associates will stay in these placements with new mentor teachers through the end of the school year (from left to right in the accompanying photo):
- Andrew Bolte is in seventh grade with Charlie Baird
- Ian Hacker is in second grade with Katie O’Brien
- Olivia Light is in fifth grade with Vaniecia Skinner
- Madison Dick is in fourth grade with Emily Crawford
- Paige Maguire will be returning in March and will be in pre-kindergarten with Nicole Siverls
Thank you to all of the mentor teachers from the associates’ first placements. And thank you to each of our associate teachers and Anthea Lavergne, director of the associate teacher program, for all you add to our community and the teaching profession.
LIBRARY NEWS
Last Call To Order Books Before Elizabeth Shreeve’s Visit
On Tuesday, January 30, author Elizabeth Shreeve will meet with students in second through fourth grades to talk about her new non-fiction picture book, The Upside-Down Book of Sloths. The book is a deep dive into the world of living and prehistoric sloths and is filled with fascinating facts and pictures. Older students may remember Elizabeth Shreeve from her visit two years ago when she spoke about her book Out of the Blue: How Animals Evolved from Prehistoric Seas.
If you would like to purchase either of these books, please order them from Belmont Books by the end of the day TODAY, Friday, January 12, using these links: The Upside-Down Book of Sloths and Out of the Blue. Please mark your order with “For Pick-up by Amy Sprung for BDS author visit” and indicate who you would like the book personalized for in the order notes. On the day of the event, we will ensure all books are signed by the author. All classes will also have copies of her books in the classrooms, and there will be copies in the Erksine Library for students to peruse.
We look forward to welcoming back author Elizabeth Shreeve later this month to learn all about sloths and non-fiction authorship. Please contact me if you have any questions about this event or book orders.
– Amy Sprung, school librarian
Learning Updates
Eighth Grade Refocuses on Core Values to Start 2024
Returning from a long break always provides an opportunity to refresh and reset routines, mindsets, and relationships in school. The eighth grade class did this together with their advisors on our first day back from break. They gathered in Coolidge Hall and spent time in small groups reflecting on each of the core values: what they have looked like so far this year in eighth grade and what they will look like between now and graduation. Students also discussed and noted the actions they will take to live out these values and the ways in which adults can support the students in these actions. The students gave a lot of thought to this activity, and we look forward to supporting them in having a great second half of the school year!
– Kate Burns, eighth grade social studies teacher and grade 8 coordinator
Arts Update: Rehearsals Underway for Bringing Down the House!
Excitement is reaching a crescendo as our seventh and eighth grade students delve into the captivating world of their play, “Bringing Down The House!” With a talented cast of over 40 students, the rehearsal process is in full swing, currently immersed in the intricate blocking phase. These budding thespians are mastering their stage movements and weaving the rich tapestry of their characters’ backstories into the fabric of the play’s development. Set against the backdrop of a musical writing team racing against time to create a show before their rented theater faces demolition, our young actors navigate the chaos of unexpected interruptions, featuring pushy child actors, demanding Hollywood stars, confused protesters, and even the demolition crew itself. The challenges are mounting, but our resilient actors are poised to deliver a stellar performance that promises to be as dynamic and entertaining as the play’s intriguing premise. Mark your calendars for Saturday and Sunday, March 9 and 10, and stay tuned for more details and ticket information. We promise an unforgettable night of theatrical magic!
– Christopher Parsons, theater arts teacher
PE Update: Biking Curriculum Launched in Pre-k & K
Biking has long been a part of the BDS culture. Whether it’s the beloved pre-kindergarten tricycles, the mountain biking unit in fifth grade physical education, the middle school mountain biking team, or just a method of commuting for many of our students and faculty, this community enjoys navigating on two wheels. Yet not all of our students know how to bike.
Our PE and camp programs wanted to change that and applied for a Lenesa Leana Grant last summer to purchase a fleet of balance bikes from All Kids Bike, a non-profit that helps schools weave biking into their PE curriculum. It is an eight-week curriculum, and the bikes come with pedal conversion kits so that students progress from balancing to pedaling.
We launched our first-ever pre-k and kindergarten biking unit this week, and it was a blast. Students with varying skill levels had fun navigating around the Downing Gym, either with small, balanced steps or by lifting their feet and gliding if they felt more comfortable. When it was time to put the kickstands down and line up, there was some disappointment, but Wednesdays are for biking this winter for these young students, so there will be plenty more opportunities to cruise.
– Alex Tzelnic, physical education teacher
Fourth Graders Dive Into Research on Egypt
Fourth graders will spend the next month researching, writing, and presenting what they’ve learned about ancient Egypt. Students chose a topic of interest (such as magic and medicine, warrior kings, or the Great Sphinx) and are taking a deep dive as they work their way through the research process. They started their work in the Erskine Library, learning about search terms, truncation, and book citations. Once books were identified and located on the shelves, the fourth graders spent time reading and using what they knew about the table of contents and index to assess their books and decide if they had the information they wanted. This week, students are using the books they found to begin the note-taking process in the classroom. They are excited about their topics and look forward to learning from each other.
– Lana Holman, fourth grade teacher
Fourth Grade Hears (and Studies) the Birds Calling
Fourth graders have been learning about sound waves and practicing reading and drawing what different types of waves look like. We have used technology to recreate waveforms, playing with the pitches and volumes of our voices. We have also been introduced to the school’s Haikubox, which records the sounds of birds here on the Belmont Day campus and allows us to see spectrograms of those birds’ calls. This week, we practiced listening to recordings and annotating spectrograms for the calls of the red-bellied woodpecker, northern flicker, black-capped chickadee, downy woodpecker, and house sparrow. We look forward to seeing these birds–and many others–around campus!
– Emily Crawford, fourth grade teacher
Athletics Update: Wrestling Pins RL, Stays Unbeaten
The wrestling team improved to 2-0 in dual meets this season following their hard fought 45-36 win over Roxbury Latin this week. Newcomer Sam Doyle set the tone with a commanding 12-1 win out of the gate. Fellow newcomer Colin Parry kept things rolling in the second match with a 5-1 win of his own. After a pair of losses, Belmont Day got back in the saddle with a pair of pins from team veterans Alexander Meredith and Jun Murakami. A few matches later, Alexander Kiraly’s pin put the Blue & Gold ahead with a substantial lead heading into the home stretch of the meet. RL wouldn’t go away easily, however, and BDS needed a pair of late pins by Quinn Clark and Jun Murakami to seal the win. Murakami’s two pins highlighted an afternoon of great wrestling in the Downing Gym. The Belmont Day grapplers have been working hard in practice and will now prepare for a showdown with Fenn next week.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- Andrew Green dropped a school record 38 points in boys’ varsity’s big win over Shady Hill this week. Luke Brenneman and Kaden Flummerfelt chipped in with a pair of timely buckets.
- Sara Colangelo netted a game-high 21 points in girls’ varsity basketball’s lopsided win over Shady Hill. Roudi Youssef and Jovana Zivanovic rounded into form offensively for BDS.
- Samantha Cuming finished as the game’s top scorer in girls’ JV basketball’s commanding win over Shady Hill. Kalikidan Shiferaw controlled the boards for the visiting Blue & Gold.
- Lucy Yin, Louie Cantor, and Brynn Franklin were elected to serve as team captains for the first round of badminton tournaments. Teams have been battling in the Downing Gym.
- Varsity fencing beat Shady Hill 21-6 this week. Zach Cash, Ariel Duan, and Tadhg O’Sullivan highlighted eight undefeated Belmont Day fencers.
- The boys’ JV basketball team lost a heartbreaker (28-27) to Shady Hill this week. It’s the team’s second one-point loss of the season. Calum Dunbar and Ben Fleming played well.
- Jack Ward has been leading by example on the intramural basketball court this season, and classmates Maraki Shiferaw and Zazoue Marsan have been contributing in scrimmages.
- Reema Wulfsberg, Frankie Dowers, and Abigail Chang have all demonstrated skill on the climbing wall this winter, while Nihka Linhart and Christine Deng have enjoyed the winter hikes.
- Eden O’Sullivan, Maren Whitman, and Bea Stevenson have been active members of the JV fencing team and are improving their technique on the strip.
Parents’ Association News
Inaugural Glow Up Winter Bash
Family Fun Night is back and completely reimagined—join us in the Barn on Saturday, January 27, from 5 to 8 p.m. for dinner, refreshments, music, and a lot of fun.
- A professional DJ spinning
- Musical bingo for all ages
- Fun games and contests
- Prizes
- Glow-in-the-dark tattoos
- Glow-in-the-dark face paint
- Glow sticks, light-up rings, and more
After the musical bingo and games, we will dance and glow the night away!
For our planning purposes, please RSVP here. Thank you.
Glow Up Winter Bash – Call for Volunteers
If you would like to help set up, clean up, apply tattoos, help with face painting, or if you have a special talent that includes making a balloon arch, please reach out to Anita Lieberman. We thank you for helping us make this event a success.
Parent Book Group
Our next gathering will be on Tuesday, January 23. We will read Holding Pattern by Jenny Xie, a “hopeful novel about immigration and belonging, mother-daughter relationships, and the many ways we learn to hold each other” (288 pages). The time and location of the next meeting will be determined soon. We hope you will join us.
PA Contacts
At any time and for any reason, please feel free to email the parents’ association executive team at bdspa@belmontday.org.
Beyond BDS
FILM FESTIVAL
Belmont World Film 21st Family Festival: Where Stories Come Alive!
January 13-21 at theaters in Cambridge, Arlington, and Newton
Belmont World Film presents its 21st Family Festival, a four-day celebration of international culture for children ages 3-12 and their families. The festival includes a carefully curated mix of animated and live-action feature-length and short films from around the world in English and multiple languages, including Chinese, Czech, French, Dutch, Norwegian—even sign language. Subtitles for films in languages other than English will be read aloud through headphones, ensuring an inclusive experience. Most films cannot be seen anywhere else in New England.
The majority of films are based on children’s books, such as the US premiere of Julia Donaldson’s Tabby McTat (with the voice of Doctor Who’s Jodi Whitaker), a celebration of Weston Woods Studios’ 70th anniversary featuring never before seen and classic films based on picture books, a program of short films about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his contemporaries (including the premiere of I Am Ruby Bridges), and films based on Mo Willems books. For the first time, the festival is screening a film featuring deaf actors, which will be followed by a discussion with an ASL interpreter. The closing film, TOTEM, is about a girl whose Senegalese parents are illegal immigrants in The Netherlands, yet they raised her to believe that she was 100% Dutch. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Ghanaian-American filmmaker Menefese Kudumu-Clavell, who will talk about what it’s like to have dual cultural identities.
For a full schedule and descriptions of the films and events, as well as theater locations and ticket ordering, please visit please visit the website. Belmont Day is proud to be a sponsor of the Festival.
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