March 22, 2024
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Jeff Grantz of Illuminus showed off their cool projection-based digital artwork during Friday’s enrichment assembly.
Opening Message
At Belmont Day, the FOMO Is Real
Brendan Largay, Head of School
Post Date: March 22, 2024
As a head of school, you learn that when you take a bit of time away, there is never a “perfect” week for your travels. Something is always happening at school, something special that you will miss, a moment of learning, sharing, caring, and joy that you wish you had experienced firsthand. The school is in more than capable hands, that’s not what I’m talking about here. This feeling is a little more … selfish, I guess. Okay, let’s just call it what it is … it’s FOMO.
And, of course, this morning, from the numerous reports I’ve received from campus, I definitely missed out on a wonderful and inspiring enrichment assembly. Today, the Belmont Day community welcomed Jeff Grantz from Illuminus, a projection-based digital arts production group that empowers local emerging creatives to transform their neighborhoods within the city of Boston. Through a combination of exciting audio and colorful visuals, he taught our students and faculty about the work, the artsy, and, most importantly, the mission of Illuminus.
Our enrichment assemblies have a long history now of not just “Wow!” moments, but of truly expanding our learning and inspiring our community. As a complement to our beloved sharing assemblies, in which students learn from each other, enrichment assemblies cast a wider net to find experts in a huge variety of fields. In the past few years alone, we’ve ventured to the outer reaches of space with an astrophysicist, danced with a hungry lion for Lunar New Year, sung with young musicians from The Loop, and learned about the intersection of art and science through the medium of bacteria (you read that correctly). And who could forget the kangaroo?! Hopping around the Barn introducing itself to students and faculty as we learned about protecting endangered species and habitat conservation.
For each of these moments of amazement, joy, and education, we have our parent community to thank. Each school year, in partnership with Chris Parsons, our theater teacher and assembly coordinator, a small group of volunteers through the parents’ association to imagine, research, and book the speakers, performers, and organizations. And the costs associated with bringing them here to BDS are all covered by the parents’ association through the support from all of you. As investments go, this is one that you can see growing directly on the faces of our students as their eyes grow wider and their worlds expand.
So while I missed out on this morning’s enrichment assembly, I’ll take comfort in knowing two things. One, there will be great joy in hearing all about it from our students as soon as I’m back on Monday. And two, I know that there are more unexpected, inspiring, meaningful, and fun enrichment assemblies on the way. Thank you to everyone who makes these moments possible and for filling me with a very special sense of FOMO at Belmont Day.
Have a great weekend, everyone, and I’ll see you next week!
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
School Closed Wednesday for Parent Conferences
Parent conferences started this afternoon and will continue on Wednesday, March 27, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday, March 29, from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
The school will be closed on Wednesday, March 27, except for parent conferences, and open for the normal school schedule on Friday, March 29.
Conference Childcare Information
- Childcare will be available during conference hours on all three days in the Erskine Library
- Sign-up is not required.
- Coverage is only available during conferences–please do not drop off or pick up earlier or later than the end of your conference.
- All children of school age are welcome (even if they are not BDS students.)
- Children should bring a book or activity; some activities will be provided.
- Children should not bring electronics, including iPads and phones.
- No food will be provided.
ICYMI: Performance Video of “Bringing Down The House” Available
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported the performances of “Bringing Down The House. Our young performers delighted the sold-out crowds who packed the Palandjian Arts Center. For those who were unable to attend, or if you just want to see it again, click here to see a recording of the show.
Parent Casual Coffee
Friday, March 29, from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m.
The Barn
If you plan to attend next Friday’s sharing assembly, come a little early and enjoy a coffee with fellow Belmont Day parents. The parents’ association hosts this casual get-together and will have caffeine and some treats to share. Hopefully, if the weather is spring-like, parents can gather outside the Barn entrance. We’ll be just inside the Barn lobby if it’s chilly or rainy. This is a great way to meet or catch up friends, new and old. Please join us!
Community Education – Parent Forum
Wednesday, April 3 at 6 p.m.
Coolidge Hall
Please join us as we welcome Karyn Cohen Leviton, P ’24, and One8 Foundation’s vice president, for a parent presentation and discussion. Karyn leads the foundation’s work in Jewish life, Israel, antisemitism, and special US projects in non-Jewish-related issues.
All Belmont Day parents are welcome to attend.
RSVP for Ramadan Dinner
Tuesday, April 2 from 6 to 8 pm
Coolidge Hall
Please join us for a Ramadan Iftar (a traditional meal to break the daylong Muslim fast) hosted by Muslim families and sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. This event is open to everyone in the BDS community.
As Ramadan is based on the lunar year calendar, the start of the month changes each year. This year, it will be observed from March 11 to April 9.
Muslims break their fast at sunset, which on April 2 will be at 7:15 p.m. Please RSVP for this event so that we can order the appropriate amount of food. The RSVP will close on Tuesday, March 26.
Lunch & Snack Menu
March 25 to March 29
Monday
Snack: fruit cups; Smartfood
Lunch: chicken tikka masala; vegan chickpea curry; basmati rice; green beans; mixed green salad with grape tomatoes and balsamic
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; banana oatmeal rounds
Lunch: beef burgers; vegan burgers; beef burgers with gluten-free buns; Ruffles potato chips; green beans; garden salad with Roma tomatoes and honey mustard
Wednesday
School Closed for Parent Conferences
Thursday
Snack: clementines; Fritos
Lunch: BDS butternut squash soup; turkey and cheese panini; vegan cheese panini; gluten-free turkey and cheddar grilled sandwiches; roasted corn blend; Caesar salad
Friday
Snack: apples; pita chips
Faculty Lunch
Please click the button below for a more detailed and updated weekly menu.
BDS News
STAFFING NEWS
Departure
Mike Marroquin-Castillo, assistant director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and grade 7 social studies teacher
After two years at Belmont Day, Mike will move on at the end of the school year to join Beaver Country Day as its first director of middle school engagement and inclusion. The news is bittersweet as Mike has had a great positive impact on both students and colleagues here at BDS. We celebrate the step Mike is taking in advancing his career and leadership in the DEIB space and appreciate all he has contributed to our community.
Mike’s work during his time at BDS has been focused on providing education, support, and thought partnership to members of the community. He has been instrumental in re-establishing affinity and ally groups for middle school students, leading the planning for our Gratitude and MLK Day assemblies, and organizing BIPOC faculty gatherings at school and at the National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference. He also serves as a co-coordinator and teacher of the growth, development, and belonging curriculum and coordinates and chaperones middle school students’ diversity conferences.
We thank Mike for his thoughtful teaching, creating safe spaces for students, and so much more.
New Hire
Emma Alexander, grade 8 social studies teacher
We are thrilled to announce that Emma Alexander will be joining us in the fall as our next grade 8 social studies teacher.
Emma comes to BDS most recently from the Lincoln School in Providence, RI, where she has been a history teacher and class dean for the past six years. Previously, she was a history teacher, department chair, and dean of students for four years at the Island School in the Bahamas, and a college counselor for two years at the Leysin American School in Leysin, Switzerland. Emma holds a bachelor of arts degree in anthropology from Bates College and has completed graduate coursework in social anthropology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Please join us in welcoming Emma to BDS in the fall.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Volunteers Needed for Spring Fest
We invite our current families, students, and recent alumni to participate in Spring Fest on Saturday, May 4 to help make this event a rich representation of our community’s cherished traditions for all to enjoy. Please join in leading an activity, game, story, dance, or craft, and invite your students and BDS friends to join in the fun. To date, volunteers have registered to represent the following countries:
- Armenia
- Ethiopia
- Germany
- India
- Sweden
- Vietnam
Click the button below to sign up to join one of the existing groups listed or form your own team to make this a wonderful celebration for all! Please email development@belmontday.org with any questions. Thank you!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Teachers Participate In Workshop at The Advent School
Seven Belmont Day faculty–Betty Chu Pryor, Emily Crawford, Josh Sussman, Kim Edwards, Leigh Twarog, Mike Marroquin-Castillo, and Ana Maria Restrepo–attended last week’s workshop organized and hosted by The Advent Collaborative at The Advent School in Boston entitled “Courageous Conversations: Why Talking with Children Matters.”
The day started with a panel of early childhood, elementary, and high school educators who discussed the importance of meaningful conversations with young students on topics of diversity, identity, and justice. Afterward, participants engaged in two interactive workshops to continue the theme and deepen their learning.
After School Teachers Attend National Conference
After school teachers Sam Staples and Presley Leighton attended the National AfterSchool Association’s annual convention this week in Dallas, Texas. Sam and Presley joined hundreds of their peers from across the country for workshops that centered on the theme of belonging. The workshops offered strategies for creating inclusive experiences, centering equity and joy, and strengthening the pillars of social-emotional learning in after school programs. We are thrilled to have them back on campus to share their experience and takeaways!
Learning Updates
Second Graders Host ‘Read For Seeds’ Read-a-thon
On Wednesday, you could hear a pin drop in second grade. How is this possible, you might ask? We were holding our 17th annual Read-a-thon! The second graders spent all day reading to raise money in support of Gaining Ground, a local nonprofit that grows and distributes 100 percent of its fresh produce to people experiencing food insecurity. The students have spent two weeks tracking their reading in order to collect money from sponsors, as part of a program called Read for Seeds. This program culminates in one exciting day where we put change into action by doing one of our favorite activities: curling up with a good book! We are grateful to our BDS community members who supported our changemakers by stopping by the classroom and reading alongside us. We will soon get to see the direct impact of our efforts when we visit Gaining Ground during Community Service Day in May. We are so proud of our second graders!
– The Second Grade Team
Arts Update: Sixth Graders Design, Create Chalk Mosaic
In the IMPACT lab, one section of sixth graders in innovation arts engaged in a design charette to create a chalk mosaic outside on the pavement nearest the lab. Collaborating on the initial sketch, the students then taped off sections and applied chalk to bring their vision to life. Through experimentation with chalk application techniques and the strategic use of water to enhance colors, the group honed their creative and collaborative skills. Reflecting on their work, the students will provide feedback to the other sixth grade innovation arts cohort who will further iterate on the chalk art which will be installed once this mosaic fades. Come check out their work before it’s gone!
– Brittany Conroy, innovation coach
Seventh Grade Math Puts Updated ChatGPT 3.5 To The Test
This week, seventh grade mathematicians set out to see how ChatGPT’s math capabilities have improved over the past year. Following in the footsteps of last year’s seventh graders, the students completed a problem set thinking through various solution pathways and then turned to ChatGPT to see how it approached solving these same complex problems. Equipped with the transcripts and tips from last year’s iteration of this activity, students wondered whether the updated GPT 3.5 would show improvements over GPT 3.0 in its creative thinking and mathematical reasoning. After entering the prompts word-for-word to compare GPT’s responses, students experimented with prompt engineering to see if they could lead the chatbot to the correct answer. The verdict? While the updated model of ChatGPT shows improvements in its formatting, mathematical notation, and explanation, it still needs the collaboration of our seventh graders’ creative minds, careful eyes, and flexible thinking to reach a solution!
– Sarah Pikcilingis, seventh grade math teacher, and Annie Fuerst, director of innovation
Pre-kindergartners Grow, Harvest, and Taste Mushrooms
Pre-kindergarten has been having fun with fungi! A few weeks ago, Ms. Solomon came to our class with special mushroom-growing kits. We sprayed them diligently with water and kept them out of direct sunlight, and slowly the golden and pink oyster mushrooms started to sprout. Then, all of a sudden, our mushrooms got very big and were ready to harvest! We brought our mushrooms to Chef Lightbody who then prepared them for a very special tasting. “After receiving the mushroom harvest, I prepped them by chopping the much larger pink oyster mushrooms and simply separating the golden mushrooms,” Chef Lightbody said. “I tossed them in olive oil, salt, pepper, and some thyme. The golden mushrooms were as crunchy as popcorn kernels. They were quite delicious. Thank you, pre-K, for inviting me to be a part of this fun project.”
– Nicole Siverls and Kim Edwards, pre-kindergarten teachers, Kathy Jo Solomon, art teacher and sustainability coordinator, and Tara Lightbody, food program director
Athletics Update: Eighth Graders Headline Varsity Ultimate Team
The varsity ultimate team returns eight players from last year’s squad including five eighth graders. Giddy Borisy, Luke Brenneman, Zach Cash, Theo Kelman, and Jaden Park are all back for the second and final season on the pitch. The team will look to improve on their 4-5 record from a year ago and will rely heavily on their experience to do so. Coaches Zach d’Arbeloff and Kathy Jo Solomon feel like the team is off to a good start and are eager for their first game, which is still two weeks away on Thursday, April 4.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- Aman Singleton, James Shields, and Sam Doyle have been quick studies on the boys’ lacrosse team and will be counted on for some minutes on the attack this season.
- Classmates Mame Gensler, Sylvie Fry, and Fatoumatah Bah are new to girls’ lacrosse, but the sixth grade trio has brought great energy to the junior varsity team this spring.
- Junior varsity tennis fields one of the deepest teams in program history with 13 athletes, including 3 sixth graders; Nuria Kumar-Warikoo, Henry Mallet, and Colby Schneider.
- The track & field team welcomes six sixth graders to the program. Christine Deng, Frankie Dowers, Pippa Ellner, Violet Hancock, Colin Parry, and Lee Piechota are all running strong.
- Eleanor Stine has set a great tone for the JV ultimate team so far and will be counted on for her leadership this season. Newcomers Annika Cash and Noah Yang are off to great starts.
Parents’ Association News
Jonathan Todd Book Launch & Author Talk
Join us on Friday, April 5, to celebrate the publication of cartoonist, graphic novelist, and BDS enrichment teacher Jonathan Todd’s first book, Timid. This event is for students in grades 1 to 8. Please RSVP here.
Note: This is not a drop-off event; students must be accompanied by an adult or enrolled in After School. You may email Denali Kikuchi to request After School enrollment for the event before April 1.
The schedule will be as follows:
- 1:30 to 2 p.m.: Presentation “From Kid Cartoonist to Graphic Novelist” in Palandjian Arts Center
- 2 to 2:15 p.m.: Q&A in PAC
- Snack break outside the PAC
- 2:15 to 3 p.m.: Group 1 (students with their grownups): Cartooning activity stations and book signing with the author in the Erskine Library
- 3 to 3:30 p.m.: Group 2 (students enrolled in After School): Cartooning activity stations and book signing with the author in the Erskine Library
You may pre-order a copy of Timid online through Belmont Books (please indicate in the order comments that the book is for pick-up by Belmont Day School and include the name to whom you would like the book personalized) or come with your own copy (Belmont Books will have copies for in-store purchase beginning April 2).
Parent Book Group
Our next book group meeting will be Tuesday, April 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Menotomy Grill & Tavern in Arlington to discuss Kiley Reid’s novel Come and Get It. We hope you will join us.
Cradles to Crayons Sorting Event
Join us to sort donations for Cradles to Crayons on Sunday, April 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. It is a fun, active way to come together as a community to support a worthy cause. Cradles to Crayons is the largest national nonprofit focused on ending children’s clothing insecurity. Its mission is to “[support] children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive–at home, at school, and at play.”
Beyond BDS
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT
Tan Scores Bronze at National Fencing Competition
Seventh grader Aidan Tan traveled to our nation’s capitol this past weekend and came home with a bronze medal from a national fencing competition. Tan competed in the cadet event for athletes 17 years old and under. As a 13-year-old, Aidan was the youngest competitor to make it to the top eight medals out of a field of 145 fencers. Congratulations, Aidan!
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Save The Date: Lone Tree Hill Volunteer Day
The Belmont Citizens Forum in conjunction with Judy Record Conservation Fund will be conducting its 10th Annual Volunteer Day on April 27, from 9:00 am to noon, at Lone Tree Hill, Belmont.
The Volunteer Day activities will include planting white pine saplings along the Meadow Edge Trail and picking up trash and removing invasives at the South Pleasant Street/Coal Road and Mill Street areas. In a few years, this year’s tree planting will be a greenery screen for the houses on Summit Road.
Click here for more information and meeting locations.
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