January 20, 2023
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Sixth graders started a new geology unit in their science classes this week.
Opening Message
Celebrating the Lunar New Year
Betty Chu Pryor, Lower School Head
Post Date: January 20, 2023
“What is your favorite holiday?” While Halloween, Independence Day, or Valentine’s Day are likely favorites for many children and adults, my answer has always been “Lunar New Year.” Growing up, I never fully understood the significance behind some of the traditions that accompanied the holiday, but I can remember the sights and sounds quite vividly. The events and tasks leading up to the holiday always invoked a sense of excitement, anticipation, and change that differed for me from the celebrations on January 1.
The preparations my parents made and the traditions we celebrated were extensive. My parents always took great care to clean the house to “sweep away the bad luck from the previous year.” My siblings and I would help decorate with red couplets featuring messages—with Chinese characters we didn’t fully understand—that we knew were granting our household good health and prosperity for the coming year. Haircuts were always imminent before the new year arrived. So was going to pick out new Chinese New Year outfits so that the bad spirits would not recognize us! The new clothes were a thrill as they frequently featured bright colors such as gold that were rare in our everyday clothing. And we would always receive some “lucky money” in red envelopes from our parents and relatives.
The delicious smells wafting from the kitchen as my parents prepared a large Chinese New Year’s Eve feast filled our home and were irresistible. As children, we were ecstatic that eating candy was also an annual tradition. The candy guaranteed a sweet start to the new year! (We even tried to convince our parents that consuming more candy could only bring us more good fortune in the months to come. They didn’t buy it.) The feast was one of a few rare occasions in which my Mom would take out her ornate serving and rice bowls in addition to special pairs of red chopsticks that were stored away during the rest of the year. While my parents worked hard to make ends meet and provide for the four of us on a daily basis, we indulged in foods on this day that we knew were expensive to procure and time-consuming to prepare. We always felt very fortunate as we shared this special meal together.
As I raise my own children now, it is important to me to maintain and pass along many of these traditions. While our feasts are nowhere as extravagant as those that my parents were able to pull off, and my children opt to shop for their special outfits at the mall instead of Chinatown, it is rewarding for me to explain why our new year begins on a different day than the new year on the Gregorian calendar. And why we decorate our house together and read the numerous books about the holiday that did not exist when I was growing up.
While my family is Chinese and the traditions I associate with the holiday are Chinese in origin, the upcoming Lunar New Year is an important holiday that is celebrated throughout East Asia in countries such as Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Mongolia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Philippines, and Indonesia just to name a few. Thus, it is one of the most celebrated holidays in the world, and we are delighted to bring one aspect of these cultural celebrations to campus next Friday, January 27, during the sharing assembly, which begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Barn gym.
We invite you to join us as we welcome back the lion dance troupe from the Calvin Chin Martial Arts Academy of Newton. Calvin Chin and his troupe have performed at BDS in the past but took a hiatus during COVID. Thanks to the efforts of the enrichment committee of the parents’ association, they will return to perform and answer questions. The lion dance is usually performed during Lunar New Year celebrations to banish the bad luck of the last year and to usher in good luck. The vibrant costumes, the upbeat drumming, and the acrobatic feats of the martial artists never cease to amaze me, no matter how many times I witness them. I hope that you will be able to experience the lion dance with us firsthand next Friday.
The Lunar New Year begins this Sunday, January 22, and lasts for 15 days. Happy Lunar New Year to those that celebrate the holiday in our community, and may we all be blessed with good health and prosperity in the upcoming year!
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
Admissions: Parent Volunteers Needed
SAVE THE DATES – EIB Parent Engagement Events
We look forward to hosting parents/guardians for a series of evening events to build community, engage in discussion about equity, inclusion, and belonging-related topics, and provide education and resources. Details and an RSVP form will appear in The Scoop in the weeks leading up to each event.
- Tuesday, February 7
- Tuesday, March 21
- Tuesday, May 2
Personal Growth Reports + Trimester 2 Interim Grades Available Soon
Believe it or not, we are getting to the midpoint of the academic year. On Tuesday, January 24, middle school families will be able to view on the Parent Portal:
- The first of two Personal Growth reports that you will receive this year for your child, written by your child’s advisor. The personal growth report will provide an overview of your child’s academic and social-emotional growth at school over the first half of the year. We hope that it offers you a window into how your child is developing in their many roles as a middle school student at BDS. Please note that the next personal growth report will be available at the end of the year, along with Trimester 3 academic subject reports and grades.
- Trimester 2 Interim Grades serve as a snapshot of your child’s current standing in each class; they are not final and will not appear on your child’s transcript. They also may change over the course of the rest of the trimester as additional information is introduced and assessed in each class.
Lunch & Snack Menu
January 23 to January 27
Monday
Snack: fruit cups; Goldfish
Lunch: cheese lasagna rolls; pasta with marinara; gluten-free pasta with marinara; roasted cauliflower; greens with balsamic; crusty rolls
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Simply Cheese Puffs
Lunch: Asian beef teriyaki with broccoli; Asian tofu teriyaki with broccoli; basmati rice; steamed broccoli; Asian slaw with sesame dressing; fortune cookies
Wednesday
Snack: clementines; granola bars
Lunch: chicken tenders; gluten-free chicken tenders; vegan nuggets; roasted red bliss wedges; green beans; garden salad with tomatoes and ranch dressing
Thursday
Snack: apple slices; Lay’s chips
Lunch: chicken and cheese quesadillas; gluten-free chicken and cheese quesadillas; dairy-free cheese quesadillas; all the fixings (sour cream, salsa, guacamole); fiesta corn blend; Caesar salad
Friday
Snack: apples; Sunchips
Faculty Lunch
For a more detailed and updated weekly menu, please click the button below.
BDS News
FACULTY NEWS
Betty Chu Pryor, Lower School Head
From the moment we hired Betty as the interim lower school head last year, two things have been clear: the first, the lower school has been in incredibly good hands; the second, we were committed to a robust and national search for Belmont Day’s next lower school head this fall. That search, which began in earnest after Thanksgiving break, resulted in an impressive pool of candidates that included heads of school, other lower school heads, and school administrators from across the country. Even as we went through the semifinalist round of interviews, we realized time and time again that the strongest candidate in our pool was, in fact, already occupying the office of the lower school head. And so, on behalf of the hiring committee, and with a great deal of excitement, joy, and optimism for the future of our lower school, it is my great pleasure to remove the ‘interim’ tag and invite you all to join me in celebrating our lower school head, Betty Chu Pryor.
BUSINESS OFFICE NEWS
2023-2024 Re-enrollment Is Coming Soon
With February right around the corner, we are about to launch our re-enrollment process for the 2023-2024 school year using Veracross. We hope you will find it easy to access and use.
Please watch your inbox on the weekend of January 27 for an email to start the process. When you receive the email, you’ll be asked to:
- Review and sign the contract for your child(ren).
- Review and approve school policies relating to your child’s enrollment.
- Choose a payment plan for the year:
- Single payment option
- Two-payment option
- 10-payment plan
- Pay this year’s deposit.
- Update your family’s contact and demographic information.
If your family will receive financial aid in 2023-2024, your financial aid award letter will be included with your contract.
Information about using VC Pay to schedule online payments for tuition, incidentals, and more will be included with your contract. VC Pay provides parents with an easy, secure online payment experience using your existing Veracross login. Parents must re-register for VC Pay each year.
Your signed contract and deposit must be received by Friday, February 10. Please note that all parents/guardians must sign the contract.
If you have any questions, please contact Jen James, assistant to the head of school and registrar.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
MLK Donation Drive Update: Can BDS Pick Up the Pace and Beat the Weather?
“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This week marks the midway point of the collection drive to help our partners at Pine Street Inn provide needed items for people without shelter here in Boston this winter. Matt Ferrer, a volunteer coordinator at Pine Street Inn, joined us at our assembly honoring Dr. Martin Luther King today to speak with students about the importance of this work and picked up several bags of hand warmers, gloves, sox, hats, and other supplies that have already been donated by BDS families.
Faculty member Dean Spencer, who has been helping coordinate the collection, notes that donations are coming in a little slower than last year at this time.
“We’re off to a solid start, but maybe because of the warmer weather we’ve had this month, we are running behind what we were able to donate last year. I know the generosity of the BDS community. With colder weather and more snow projected for the end of the month, it would be great if we can rally to provide another full load of donations in time to beat those storms.”
Collection bins are waiting in the Schoolhouse and Barn circles through the end of January.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Lost & Found Items to Be Donated February 17
Our lost and found collection continues to grow this winter, and we’re now preparing for the next donation of unclaimed items. Please check the stash in the entranceway to Coolidge Hall. In addition, there is also a Google photos album posted on the Parent Portal so that you can see the items there. Three times a year, we will donate to a non-profit organization that supports children in need of clothing and other resources—our second donation will be on Friday, February 17. If you have questions, please contact Caroline Gray. Thank you!
COMMUNITY NEWS
Last Chance to RSVP for Parent Sharing & Shadow Days
Please join us NEXT WEEK for our Parent Sharing and Shadow Days. Parents will enjoy a glimpse into their child’s academic and social learning at BDS and the work that goes into fostering inspiring, bold, and remarkable learners and leaders. Please click here to RSVP if you plan to attend.
- Monday, January 23: grades 4 and 5
- Tuesday, January 24: pre-k, grades 1 and 6
- Wednesday, January 25: kindergarten, grades 2 and 7
- Thursday, January 26: grades 3 and 8
Please see the schedules for lower and middle school visits in the dropdown below.
Sharing & Shadow Days Schedules
Lower School Schedule of Events
7:45 a.m.
Registration
Coffee and Pastries
8:15 a.m.
Welcome
Betty Chu Pryor Lower School Head
8:30 a.m.
Classroom Visits
10:00 a.m.
Visit Concludes
Middle School Schedule of Events
8:00 a.m.
Please accompany your student to their first two academic classes
9:30 a.m.
Coffee and Pastries
Coolidge Hall
Remarks
Liz Gray
Middle School Head
10:00 a.m.
Visit Concludes
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Sponsorships & Donations Sought for 2023 Auction
A longstanding Belmont Day tradition, our biennial auction brings together our community to celebrate the school and raise vital funds for our programs. Planning for the 2023 Auction on May 6 is well underway! Wondering how you can help? We are seeking sponsorships and auction item donations. Do you have something of value or great interest to donate? Think of sporting tickets, outings or experiences, specialty items, and more. Please keep an eye on your inboxes for a donation form next week. In the meantime, you can reach out to Tania Chamlian, events and community outreach coordinator, with any questions at tchamlian@belmontday.org
AUXILIARY PROGRAMS
Vacation Camps: Let’s Hit the Slopes!
There are spaces still available for students in grades 3 to 8 in our February off-site ski/snowboarding program. You can find program and pricing details on the Parent Portal.
Please reach out to Denali Kikuchi if you would like to be put on the waiting list for the February or April on-campus vacation camps, as those are now fully enrolled. If you have any programmatic questions, please reach out to Blair Fross.
Learning Updates
PE Update: Athletic Identity Project Launches in First Grade
One of our physical education mottos is that every student is an athlete. To reflect and celebrate that message, PE teachers are collaborating with our library and technology and innovation faculty to launch the Athletic Identity Project.
First, students read a couple of books in the Erskine Library about what it means to be an athlete. Then, in PE, we discussed the idea that every student is an athlete and what that might mean. We introduced sports trading cards to show students one way to represent our athletic identities and mapped out what our cards would look like. During the next class, students explored various equipment and poses that would appear on their cards. Lastly, students will make their cards during their library time. Be on the lookout for these sure-to-be collector’s items, and remember that we can all shine and be athletic in different ways.
– Alex Tzelnic, physical education teacher and wellness director
Digging into the Rocks in Sixth Grade Science
Students in sixth grade have started a unit on geology. They are learning to define and explain the idea that geology determines biology, one of what Mr. Hamilton refers to as his four “Nursing Home Messages” (feel free to ask a sixth grader for clarification).
Having learned a bit about Earth’s layers and the ways in which they occur as a result of changes in temperature, density, and pressure, students went on to develop an understanding of the rock cycle and the three major rock types. Along the way, they had a chance to explore and closely observe a variety of rocks and minerals from around the globe to better understand how different locations, landscapes, and geological processes can impact the formation of crystals. From here, they will dive deep into plate tectonics and the ways in which Earth’s constantly moving plates sculpt and reshape the landmasses we call home.
– Bill Hamilton, sixth grade science teacher
Arts Update: First Grade Ribbon Dancers
After watching the fourth grade play, Imagine!, first graders were inspired to create their own ribbon dance performances. Emphasis was placed on both freestyle and synchronized segments. Students learned that fluidity and big arm motions helped create the most drama in their dance. This concept connected perfectly with their current unit on physical theater and how the use of body movement and facial expressions further elevated their acting. We videotaped all the performances, watched them back, and critiqued them. Everyone walked out the door energized and excited, with a little extra pep in their step!
– Christopher Parsons, theater arts teacher
Fifth Graders Unlock Understanding of Others
In fifth grade, students worked on their “Key to Understanding the Beauty of Others.” In chapter two of The Arrival by Shaun Tan we see the main character insert a key to unlock his new home and attached to this key is a symbol. In this activity, students constructed a physical symbol of the “key” to understanding others. The symbol represents an idea, concept, or behavior which they feel is the “key” to understanding the unique beauty of others.
– Vaniecia Skinner, fifth grade teacher
Athletics Update: PEAK Athletes Shine Off Campus
Launched last year as an alternative athletic offering during the winter season, PEAK (Physical, Education, Adventures, and Knowledge) was reimagined this year. Under the leadership of Abbey Nyland, physical education teacher and athletics coach, PEAK athletes have participated in fun cooperative games on campus and exciting adventures off campus. The team began their season with a pair of trips to Community Rowing in Cambridge, where they were introduced to the sport on indoor erg machines. Following Winter Break, the team traveled to Boston Bouldering Project in Somerville for back-to-back weeks, where they learned how to climb on belay, boulder without support, and perfect some parkour skills. Highlights from the recent trips include Eva Peregudov’s skilled climbing, Christian Atem’s quick moves through vaulting challenges, and Lavinia Frazzoli-Cassi’s precision landings. Still to come to the team is a couple of trips out to the Weston Ski Track for some cross country skiing! It’s been quite the winter for this dedicated group of middle school athletes.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- Giddy Borisy and Leeul Miteku had a great week of practice for IMBB and were able to translate their skills to the full-court scrimmage on Thursday afternoon. Zeke Fine and Kiernan Patel were elected captains of the non-interscholastic offering.
- It was another successful week for volleyball. Highlights included Audrey Chuang’s excellent serves, Siri Paulsson’s successful points off of volleys, Louis Cantor’s overhand, and Lydia Scharer’s clutch play during her team’s win.
- The wrestling team showed up strong against Fenn and Fessenden this week with a handful of impressive pins. Zach Kromah and Caleb Frehywot each had two, while team captain Ken MacDougall used his technical prowess to secure the fifth.
- The girls’ varsity basketball team improved to 3-1 on the season with a 29-23 win over LCA this week. Julia Casey and Alex Kadnar set the tone defensively, while Sara Colangelo and Quincy Treisman filled up the basket, combining for 27 points.
- The boys’ JV basketball team stayed unbeaten (3-0) with a 41-35 win over Rashi. Theo Kelman was a monster on the boards, Luke Brenneman hit a clutch three, and Sam Leviton was everywhere on defense. A great team win all around.
- Lila Green led all scorers in girls’ JV basketball’s 24-16 win against Rashi. Penny Gottesman chipped in with a sweet buzzer beater in the third and Kalkidan Shiferaw played incredible defense. The win kept the team undefeated (3-0).
- The boys’ varsity basketball team lost a heart-breaker to LCA, 32-31. Struggling to generate offense, the team missed five free throws down the stretch and missed a desperation three at the end. Andrew Green and Rami Flummerfelt combined for 24.
- The fencing team lost to Beaver (8-19) for the second time this season. Joshua Flanagan was undefeated in his three bouts, Zach Cash chipped in with a pair of victories, and Vatche Balikian had a great win. BB&N is next on the schedule.
Third Graders Present Their Animal Adaptations
The third graders have been learning about the physical and behavioral adaptations of animals. As their culminating project, students designed and constructed an animal using their knowledge of adaptations as well as their own creativity! Some criteria included structural adaptations that allowed for an offense or defense against predators, instinctive behavioral adaptations, place within a food chain, and a habitat suited for its biome. Over the past few days, our third grade zoologists have been presenting these new species to their classmates in person as well as family members near and far via Zoom.
– Leigh Twarog, third grade teacher
Parents’ Association News
The next PA meeting will be on Friday, February 10 at 8:30 a.m., in Coolidge Hall. Jen Friborg will join us to speak about the eighth grade Capstone presentations.
PA Dues Contest
Please consider paying your family PA dues quickly and easily via the Parent Portal. From now until February break, we will be keeping track of PA dues that have been paid, and the three classes with the highest percentage of families who contributed will all get special treats at recess. Right now, first grade is in the lead, followed by fourth grade and pre-kindergarten.
These dues help the PA hold fun social events for parents, appreciation events for teachers, special enrichment assemblies for students (like the recent presentation on astrophysics), and more. The sooner in the year families contribute their PA dues, the more great events we can plan. The suggested amount is $50 per family, but any amount is appreciated. Thank you so much for contributing to our great community.
Gratitude Board
The submission form for the PA gratitude board is still open so help us fill the board with words of gratitude for teachers, staff members, or even the whole community. We will print them and add them to the board for all to read and appreciate. You can also submit artwork from your children if that is how they would like to express their gratitude and spread kindness.
Book Group
Our next parent book club will be on Wednesday, February 15, at 7:30 p.m. at Menotomy Grill & Tavern. This month we are reading Small World by Laura Zigman, which is hot off the press. We hope you will join us. Please contact Karla Bays for more information or to join our mailing list.
If you have any suggestions or questions about parents’ association-related activities, please contact us anytime at bdspa@belmontday.org.
Beyond BDS
LOCAL ART SHOW
Gallery To Highlight Belmont Teachers’ Artworks
The new show, Off the Clock, opens at the Belmont Gallery of Art on January 26 and will run through February 26. This vibrant show features the work of nine art teachers, Steve Berson, Danette English, Avery Kallas, Amanda Lamoretti, Milo, Nicole Pond, Meghann Remick, Andrew Roy, and Kim Tolleson, all from the Belmont Public Schools. The Belmont Gallery of Art is located on the third floor of the Homer Building at 19 Moore Street. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, February 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Gallery hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Virtual show and more information at www.VirtualBGA.org/off-the-clock
SUMMER PROGRAM
Registration Open for UNAGB Summer Institute on Global Leadership
Registration is open for all UNAGB Summer Institute in Global Leadership programs for 2023. Learn about global issues, meet inspiring guest speakers, build public speaking and negotiation skills, and collaborate through Model UN.
For 2023, there will be a wide range of in-person programs for students. These programs will take place in the Boston-Cambridge Area, as well as a week-long session based on Cape Cod. Click here for more information on programs, schedules, and pricing.
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