March 28, 2025
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Second graders hit the books for the annual Read for Seeds Read-a-Thon!
Opening Message
Parent Education & Engagement: Opportunities Bloom This Spring
Brendan Largay, Head of School
Post Date: March 21, 2025
Clear your calendars, Belmont Day has plans for you this spring.
We are in the latter half of the decision-making month for newly accepted families. They have until April 10 to choose a school for their child. As you might expect—and as many of the readers here once did when they were prospective parents—these folks have questions. The choice of where to send a child for their formative educational years is consequential, so the questions are certainly warranted.
One question that many families ask stands out: “How involved are parents at BDS?”
At a prospective parent event, the answer provided by a current parent whose family has been at Belmont Day for several years was, “If you’re not careful, Belmont Day could set your entire social calendar for you.” Parent engagement opportunities abound and play a critical role in fostering the community Belmont Day is known for.
Fostering community at BDS includes learning, celebration, and appreciation. Last week, we gathered for Iftar to celebrate Ramadan and hosted an appreciation evening for donors and volunteers. Over this past weekend, the parents’ association hosted a screening of Inside Out 2 at the Capitol Theater in Arlington for BDS families, with more than 80 folks in attendance.
While our primary purpose is your child’s education, we are also committed to parent education, with a particular focus this spring on the influences that impact the world in which your children grow up. It is a commitment encoded into the DNA of our founding by parents who sought something more for their children’s education, and the school has honored that partnership ever since.
Before April break is upon us, we have several opportunities to bring parents together.
On Tuesday, April 1, an evening presentation for parents by SafeBAE will focus on healthy boundaries, consent, and safe relationships for middle and high school students. On Wednesday, seventh grade parents will gather for an introduction to high school placement. On Thursday, all parents are invited to a panel discussion with our mental health team, and on Saturday night, the Barn will be transformed for The Baash.
Not bad for the first week of April, and we’re just getting started. The following week brings Ruth Whippman, author of BoyMom, to campus. BoyMom is a deep dive into the complexities of raising boys in our fraught political moment. And before we know it, our eighth graders will take the stage in the Palandjian Arts Center to share their expertise on a wide range of compelling Capstone topics.
Opportunity abounds! I know that not all of you can make it to campus for every event, but I hope you will take advantage of some of them before the year is done.
Happy spring, everyone!
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
Orchestra Concert
Thursday, April 10 from 6 to 6:45 p.m.
Palandjian Arts Center
The orchestra concert that was postponed due to a snowstorm in February has been rescheduled. Join the BDS Orchestra, led by teacher and conductor Meghan Carye ’91, for an evening of beautiful music and community.
All families are invited to attend and celebrate our students’ passions for learning and performing music!
Parent Education
Consent, Healthy Boundaries, and Safe Relationships
Tuesday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m., Coolidge Hall
We are excited about the return of the Braiding Different Strands community program, which will resume with a presentation by SafeBAE on consent, healthy boundaries, and safe relationships. As part of our seventh grade relational health curriculum, SafeBAE representatives recently met with students; they will return to speak with and answer questions from parents.
SafeBAE is the only survivor-founded, student-led national organization working to prevent sexual violence exclusively among middle and high school students in the United States.
All parents are invited to attend. To attend, please RSVP below.
Lunch & Snack Menu
March 31 to April 4
Monday
Snack: fruit cups; Fritos
Lunch: chicken tikka masala; vegan curry with garbanzo beans; basmati rice; naan bread; steamed broccoli; cucumber romaine salad
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Goldfish
Lunch: beef stew; vegan stew; buttermilk biscuits; warm rolls; seasoned green beans; spinach salad with sherry vinaigrette; cranberry, and pumpkin seeds
Wednesday
Snack: clementines; pretzels
Lunch: Greek chicken; Greek tofu; rice pilaf; basmati rice; roasted Mediterranean vegetables; Greek salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, onions, and feta
Thursday
Snack: Popcorners
Lunch: cheese pizza; pepperoni pizza; vegan cheese pizza; gluten-free cheese pizza; peas; 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
COMMUNITY EVENT
Countdown to The Baash Catalog Opening Is On!
Be on the lookout for our email announcing the opening of the online Items and Experiences Catalog on Sunday, March 30. You’ll find over seventy amazing offerings ranging from a guided timberdoodling excursion in Rock Meadow to specially curated class gift baskets, and everything in between! Enjoy the fun of bidding as an individual or as a group. Either way, we know you will enjoy participating in this special online effort and supporting the BDS Annual Fund at the same time.
If you have any questions, please contact development@belmontday.org.
LIBRARY NEWS
Visiting Author: Birds, Animal Habitats, and Writing
Acclaimed non-fiction author Melissa Stewart will visit Belmont Day in April. She’ll meet with pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students in sessions on Tuesday, April 29. The second through fifth grade sessions will focus on birds and their adaptations in time for migratory bird season and our school bird data collection project. Pre-kindergarten will learn about animals and habitats, and kindergarten and first grade will learn about how an idea turns into a book, focusing on examples of animal nonfiction.
A selection of her books is available from Belmont Books. If you want to order a book to be signed and personalized, please order from this link no later than April 23. Include the name for personalization in the order comments. Titles include her newest release, Meet the Mini-Mammals: A Night at the Natural History Museum, and Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-floor Ecosystem. The school will pick up the orders from Belmont Books. After being signed by the author, books will be delivered to the student’s cubby after the visit. Please consider supporting this local author and finding your next great non-fiction read! We will also have a selection of her books available in the Erskine Library and classrooms for students to read.
– Amy Sprung, school librarian
BUSINESS OFFICE NEWS
Invoices Available for Eighth Grade Families
The Southwest Trip invoices are now available on the Parent Portal.
To review your account and initiate a payment, please log in and use the “Invoices & Payments” button on the right side of the screen. Payments may also be submitted by mailing a check to the attention business office.
All payments are due by Tuesday, April 15, 2024. For those who use AutoPay, payments will be processed on Tuesday, April 15, 2024. Please plan accordingly.
If you have questions about trip charges, please contact Jen James. If you have questions about payment processing, please contact the business office.
SUMMER AT BDS
Think Summer—Join the Swim & Tennis Association
Dreaming of summer? Yes! Then consider membership to our summer Swim & Tennis Association (STA). STA membership grants use to the pools, tennis courts, fields, and the Big Blue play structure on weekdays after camp (4 to 8 p.m.) and weekends (10 to 11 a.m. lap swim, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. open swim for families). During the last week of summer (before Labor Day), the pool is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. STA membership is a fun and convenient summer option for families and individuals in the Belmont area.
Click the dropdowns below to learn more about the STA summer amenities and membership options:
Pool
We have two pools:
- A large 50-foot-long pool with a depth of 3 feet to 9 feet
- A wading pool that is 2 feet deep. Please note that the wading pool is only for children who are not yet tall enough to stand in the shallow end of the main pool.
We emphasize a calm, relaxing vibe focused on family fun and a safe pool experience. The pool is guarded by our staff lifeguards, who receive extensive training in addition to their certification classes during summer camp. Because the pools are not open to the general public without a membership, they are generally not crowded like the town pools in Belmont, Arlington, and Watertown.
Tennis/Basketball Courts
Our two tennis courts, which also have basketball courts on them) are available on a first-come, first-served basis. They are hard courts (cement) and in great condition. We keep a squeegee roller on the courts that members can use following rainstorms when there may be puddles. Members are responsible for bringing their own balls and racquets.
Big Blue
Our amazing playground structure is available for STA members. During the week, the camp extended day program, which runs through 5:30 p.m., may also be using Big Blue.
Athletic Fields
All fields on our campus—Claflin Field, Far Field, and Archery Field—are open to STA members for evening/weekend casual use. If you would like to rent a field space for organized team use, please email Anderson Santos. The camp extended day program may use Claflin Field through 5:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Membership Options
Family Membership – $800 for 4 people, $150 per extra member
The family membership is based on a family of four with the ability to add more people. Family membership includes a guest pass which allows you to bring up to two individual guests per visit. Caretakers who will not be swimming can bring children to the pool without being added to the membership.
Individual Membership: $260 per member
Individual membership includes access to the adult lap swim on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 11 a.m. before the pool opens to families.
Short-Term Memberships: $180 for 2 weeks, $220 for August 18-September 1
This year we are offering short-term memberships to families looking to use the pool. These are two weeks long and go from Monday of the first week through Sunday of the second week (giving access to two full weekends). At this time this membership can only be added by contacting us in the camp office at summer@belmontday.org.
Need more information? Check out the STA page on our website, or email us at summer@belmontday.org.
To register, visit the CampInTouch registration page. Registering for STA is just like registering for our summer camp–you create a profile for either yourself or your child and register for the program. Please note: if you are already enrolled in camp sessions, you’ll need to create a separate profile for STA.
Learning Updates
Second Graders Read to Fight Food Insecurity
On Wednesday, you could hear a pin drop in second grade. How is this possible, you might ask? We were holding our 18th 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 then 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: Middle School Students Learn Costume Design
One of the most exciting moments leading up to a performance is when actors step into their costumes for the first time. Have you ever wondered how a costume designer brings a director’s vision to life? In Ms. Dempsey’s seventh and eighth grade arts elective, From Sketch to Stage, students explore this question as they delve into costume design. Throughout the class, they discover how costumes define individual characters and communicate relationships, time period, and place.
In the initial days, students learn how a costume designer uses texture, pattern, color, and shape to convey the world of the show. Students gain insight into the design process by watching videos of professional designers discussing their processes and engaging in hands-on activities. They research and sketch their costume ideas for a variety of characters.
Looking at the accompanying photo from our recent musical production, The Little Mermaid Jr, students can see how the design elements—texture, pattern, color, and shape—work together to reveal the personalities of the characters, their relationships with each other, and how their costumes complement the overall style and concept of the production.
– Susan Dempsey, theater arts teacher
Athletics Update: Record Numbers for Mountain Biking
The mountain biking program rostered 13 athletes this spring, the most in the program’s short but successful history. Returning riders Altay Jomazer, Eyan Morales, Clark Rutherford, and Ewan Wheeler highlight a team with mixed experience on bikes. From beginner riders to talented shredders, this year’s team will work together towards a common goal of conquering the trails, respecting nature, and creating community through this lifelong sport.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- First-year players Santi Aguerreverre and Rubin Xiao have shown up well during practice and will be counted on for minutes during boys’ lacrosse’s first game next week.
- Returning players Abigail Chang, Sophie Cutie, and Harper Treisman will need to step into expanded roles for the girls’ varsity lacrosse team this spring.
- The girls’ junior varsity lacrosse team rostered 17 players this spring, including returning players Anna Bantham-Livermore, Sylvie Fry, Mame Gensler, and Nihka Linhart.
- Sixth grade classmates Jacob Jarbeau and Max Kishlansky earned spots on the highly competitive varsity tennis team. The duo will be battling for ladder position this week.
- Nuria Kumar-Warikoo and Colby Schneider are returning for their second year of junior varsity tennis. The seventh grade classmates are primed for a successful season.
- Zoe Bantham-Livermore, Bea Stevenson, and Reema Wulfsberg joined the track & field team this spring and will provide some serious firepower on the track.
- Seventh Graders Joshua Harriette, Colin Parry, Murilo Santos, and Noah Yang will provide depth to the ultimate program this spring building both a junior varsity and varsity schedule.
French Students Gather in Song
Students in seventh and eighth grade French classes have been enjoying an exploration of sixteen songs from around the Francophone world. They have been learning lyrics, discussing and debating in French, and creating found poetry and artwork. They’ve also been making responses to what they are learning, including podcast episodes, instrumental sharing, and choreography. Check out the accompanying video for an example of the students’ work.
– Jennifer Friborg, French teacher
Parents’ Association News
Parent Education Series
Panel Discussion on Youth Anxiety and Technology
Thursday, April 3, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Coolidge Hall
Thank you to all who attended the screening of Inside Out 2. We hope that it was a fun experience. The next event in the series is a panel discussion with BDS Mindfulness Director Alex Tzelnic, School Psychologist Arlene Silva, School Counselor Josh Sussman, and representatives from InStride Health.
To help frame the discussions, we would like to understand how BDS students use technology outside of school. To that end, we kindly ask that you fill out this anonymous survey, regardless of whether you plan to attend the events. Thank you for your participation!
PA Meeting
The parent education series on youth anxiety and technology will conclude with a parent panel discussion at the April parents’ association meeting. This meeting will be held on Friday, April 11, at 8:30 a.m. in Coolidge Hall. All parents are invited, and coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Cradles to Crayons
We’re excited to announce the return of our Cradles to Crayons Drive and Sorting Event, so clean out your closets to help us make an impact. The clothing drive will run from March 24 to April 13, culminating in a sorting event at BDS on Sunday, April 13, from 2 to 4 p.m. We’ll collect new and gently used clothing, shoes, and books appropriate for children up to 12 years old. Keep an eye out for a collection bin that will be placed on campus soon.
For more than a decade, Belmont Day has proudly served as the Belmont community’s primary collection site, and through this partnership, BDS has provided clothing and vital supplies to countless children throughout Massachusetts. As the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to addressing children’s clothing insecurity, Cradles to Crayons equips children with the essential items they need to thrive. Your participation and donations can make a significant difference in the lives of many!
If you have questions, please contact event co-chairs Carolyn Atinizian and Adrienne Mugar. The flyer on the Parent Portal has more information and a QR code to sign up to volunteer for the sorting event.
Please be sure to only leave items for Cradles to Crayons in the designated bins and not in the textile recycling bin next to the Barn.
Volunteer Opportunities for 2025-26
The parents’ association is looking for volunteers to fill a variety of roles and committees for the 2025-26 school year. Whether you’re interested in being a grade parent, helping with the Pumpkin Patch, organizing the Family Fun Event, or supporting other initiatives, there are plenty of opportunities with varying levels of commitment to fit your schedule.
A full listing of committees and volunteer opportunities can be found on the parents’ association page on the Parent Portal. Click here to view the list. If you’re interested in getting involved, please complete the volunteer sign-up form.
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
COMMUNITY EVENT
Fundraising Run & Walk To Honor Legacy of BDS Alum
The Belmont Day community is invited to participate in the inaugural Dana Chang Foundation 5K for Heart Anomalies—an event dedicated to raising awareness about congenital heart conditions. The race honors Dana Chang ’21 who loved running and competing as a member of the BDS cross country and track and field teams.
In partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital, this race will take place on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 8:30 a.m., starting and finishing at Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick. There will be both a 5K race and a 1K walk. Click here for more information and registration.
This isn’t just a race—it’s a community coming together to make a difference. Whether you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, your participation will help fund life-saving early detection programs and spread awareness about a condition that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late.
The Dana Chang Foundation was created in loving memory of Dana, an exceptionally gifted young artist and musician who passed away suddenly in April 2024 from an undiagnosed heart condition.
Return to the Parent Portal
