May 16, 2025
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This week, we welcomed over 10,000 bees to their new home at the BDS Garden!
Opening Message
Faculty Milestones: Celebrating Years of Service to Belmont Day
Brendan Largay, Head of School
Post Date: May 16, 2025
Each year at this time, we celebrate our colleagues who have reached significant milestones in their years of service at Belmont Day. Please join me in thanking and congratulating Liz, Vlad, Bill, Tara, Bea, and Sarah for all they have shared and accomplished over their years at BDS!
Liz Gray – 10 years
For ten years—nearly half the age of the middle school itself—Liz Gray has made a profound and lasting impact on Belmont Day. From guiding the middle school community through the challenges of a pandemic to leading a transformative shift in enrollment and structure, her leadership has been defined by flexibility, creativity, care, and a clear, steady vision. In her first year here, there were 90 middle school students; today, there are 144. Overseeing this kind of growth, while transitioning from a grades 5-8 to a grades 6-8 middle school model, is no small feat—and Liz has done it with grace, strength, and conviction, even as she ushered her own two sons through her middle school program. Knowing Liz to be a fan of the classics, I’ll end with a quote from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, “Happy are those who dare courageously to defend what they love.” We are deeply grateful for the leadership, courage, heart, and wisdom Liz has brought to Belmont Day over the past decade.
Vlad Hucko – 10 years
If the fastest way to a community’s heart is through its stomach, then Vlad Hucko won ours ten years ago—and has kept it full ever since. Whether firing up the grill at dawn and filling the air with the promise of a summer cookout or coaching middle school athletes in mountain biking, wrestling, and flag football, Vlad has poured his energy, care, and spirit into every corner of Belmont Day. Our hearts—and stomachs—are grateful. Thank you for ten wonderful years of dedicated service, Vlad.
Bill Smith – 15 years
With a craftsman’s eye and a sailor’s wisdom, Bill Smith has confidently and capably led our woodworking program for fifteen years at Belmont Day. Whether helping students imagine the possibility of a cubic foot of wood, designing clocks and lanterns, or helping our youngest learners understand how to use tools safely, Bill’s work on the arts team has been as consistent as it has been creative. The wood shop at Belmont Day has a long tradition, and Bill has innovated and advanced that tradition for his fifteen years in the shop. Congratulations, Bill.
Tara Lightbody – 15 years
Perpetually innovating, leading with conviction, and delivering a food service program that has long distinguished Belmont Day from the rest, Tara Lightbody has fed our school and our soul for fifteen years. An excellent collaborator, flexible thinker, and master chef, Tara has created a program that honors dietary restrictions, provides variety, and helps our students develop good nutritional health and habits. Parent to two BDS alumni, Tara has much to be proud of after fifteen years of excellence in food service at Belmont Day.
Bea Rooney – 20 years
Having worn multiple hats throughout her twenty years–as a director of alumni, director of summer programs, and now as our human resource manager–Bea Rooney is an integral part of Belmont Day, and she has held the community to the highest of standards throughout her time here. Leading summer with a ‘program first’ approach, Bea helped to advance the strength and reputation of Belmont Day Summer Camp, and she has done the same by bringing structure and consistency to our HR systems. It seems there is nothing she can’t do, and after twenty years of excellence, it seems there’s nothing she hasn’t done. Congratulations, Bea, on twenty years of service.
Sarah Merrill – 20 years
If my math is accurate, Sarah has helped to place well over 500 Belmont Day School graduates in public and independent high schools over the course of her twenty-year career at Belmont Day. Highly relational, Sarah has earned the respect of admissions offices throughout New England and beyond, and her reputation has only been strengthened by the strong matches she has helped to facilitate for our students. Guided by a ‘best fit’ mentality, the true ‘best fit’ has been Sarah at Belmont Day where we have benefitted from her strong work over twenty remarkable years. Congratulations, Sarah, on achieving this milestone.
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
Atrium School To Host LGBTQ+ Pride Fair
The Atrium School in Watertown will be hosting its annual LGBTQ+ Pride Fair from 3:45 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20. Belmont Day’s middle school students are invited to attend. Please reach out to Trinity Johns, assistant director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and seventh grade social studies teacher, at tjohns@belmontday.org if you or your student is interested in joining or if you have any questions about the event.
Volunteer Appreciation & Year-End All-School Coffee
Before the school year races to the finish line, we would like to say thank you! Join the the parents’ association and the development and admissions teams on Wednesday, June 4 from 8 to 9 a.m. outside Coolidge Hall for a festive morning of coffee, treats, and heartfelt appreciation as we celebrate the incredible volunteers who have given their time, talent, and energy to make this year unforgettable. From classroom help to events, committees, and everything in between—you’ve made a difference, and we’re so grateful.
This is also a great chance to gather as a community, connect with fellow families and faculty, and toast the year that was (and the summer that’s almost here!). We can’t wait to see you there—and celebrate all we’ve accomplished together!
Friday Night Scoops
TONIGHT! Friday, May 16
The Meadowbrook School, 10 Farm Rd., Weston
Girls’ game at 5 p.m. | Boys’ game at 6 p.m.
Join us tonight for the third annual Friday Night Scoops event at The Meadowbrook School, featuring games between the two schools’ varsity lacrosse teams. The entire Belmont Day community is invited and encouraged to attend. Bring a picnic dinner, some folding chairs, or a blanket.
Friday Afternoon Swings!
Varsity Tennis Match at 3:30 p.m.
BONUS CHEERING OPPORTUNITY: Get to Meadowbrook today at 3:30 p.m. and root for varsity tennis as the team gets the triple-header of great athletics started! See you there!
Lunch & Snack Menu
May 19 to May 23
Monday
Snack: applesauce/fruit cups; Fritos
Lunch: chicken dumplings; edamame dumplings; gluten-free chicken dumplings; veggie fried rice; seasoned broccoli; crunchy colorful slaw with scallions and cilantro
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Pita Chips
Lunch: tomato soup; cheddar “monster” bagels; vegan cheddar “monster” bagels; gluten-free cheddar “monster” bagels; chef’s choice vegetable; mixed greens with shredded carrots and balsamic
Wednesday
Snack: apple slices; Goldfish
Lunch: steak and cheese; gluten-free steak and cheese; Kettle Chips; seasoned green beans; arugula and mixed greens with cranberries, goat cheese, and sherry vinaigrette
Thursday
Snack: clementines; Popcorners
Lunch: Greek grilled chicken; smoky grilled tofu; herbed Israeli couscous; herbed rice; roasted Mediterranean vegetables; Greek salad with Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta cheese
Friday
Snack: craisins; chocolate chip oatmeal bar
Faculty Lunch
Please click the button below for a more detailed and updated weekly menu.
BDS News
PARENT SURVEY
Please Provide Your Feedback by May 30
Since its founding, the relationship between parents and the school has been critical in establishing the high standard of excellence we aspire to. Belmont Day is eager to hear from you to better understand your family’s experience this year and gauge our community’s health. This annual survey is an important tool to help us realize opportunities to improve the school experience for our students and families.
The survey should take approximately 25 minutes to complete. Please participate in the survey by Friday, May 30.
The school administration will review the results during the summer and then provide an overview of and response to the results at the State of the School next fall. Thank you!
TRANSPORTATION NEWS
Registration Is Now Open for BDS Bus Service
Recently parents received an email containing registration information for the Boston and Cambridge BDS Bus Service for the 2025-26 school year. Please refer to this communication for detailed information about routes, stops, costs, and terms, or visit the BDS Bus Service page on the Parent Portal.
Registration will remain open until Friday, May 30, 2025. We may be able to accept late registrations pending availability, but bus routes and stops cannot be adjusted to accommodate them.
If you have questions about registering for the BDS Bus Service, please contact Zach d’Arbeloff, Director of Summer Programs and Transportation, at zdarbeloff@belmontday.org.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Faculty Attend AISNE Health and Wellness Conference
On Thursday, May 8, Belmont Day School faculty members, Alex Tzelnic, Nancy Fell, Katie O’Brien, Zach d’Arbeloff, and Joshua Sussman attended the 2025 AISNE Health and Wellness Conference. With over 200 attendees from peer schools throughout New England, the conference was an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues and learn from pre-eminent experts on many health and wellness-related topics.
Starting with deep listening activities facilitated by the keynote speakers from the Stanley King Institute, there was a running theme of human connection and building resiliency in ourselves and our students. Sessions focused on social media, resiliency, trauma-safe schools, perfectionism, the role of athletics in wellness, and a range of student needs.
Continue Reading
In addition to impactful takeaways from the topic sessions and valuable connections with peer school colleagues, the group brought back a variety of books that they are excited to read and share:
- The Power of Listening: How to Improve Relationships by Becoming an Active Listener by Damian Blair
- You’re Not Listening; What You’re Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy
- The Parents’ Guide to Psychological First Aid: Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Predictable Life Crises edited by Gerald P. Koocher, Annette M. La Greca, Olivia Moorehead-Slaughter
The group returned to campus on Friday buzzing with energy and ideas. While it is never easy to take time away from campus, this was a valuable experience that will enhance the overall wellness of our students and staff here at BDS. On behalf of the team, thank you BDS for this opportunity and we look forward to continuing to share our learning with the community.
– Josh Sussman, school counselor
RECYCLING PROGRAMS
Spring Cleaning? Remember to Recycle Your Used Textiles
As part of our greening initiatives, Belmont Day School hosts a textile recycling bin from Bay State Textiles. This endeavor has added to our sustainability efforts to reduce our impact on the environment and promote awareness of the impact of textile waste. Since January, we have already recycled and repurposed almost 1000 pounds of textiles!
According to Bay State Textiles, “the average person throws away 81 pounds of clothing, shoes, and linens per year, which adds up to about 28 billion pounds of unnecessary waste in landfills.” Furthermore, “45% of these textiles can be reused, 30% can be turned into wiping cloths, and 20% recycled into new products.”
The bin can accept all clothing, footwear, accessories, linens, stuffed animals, and more. All donations need to be put into a bag. Please visit the Bay State Textiles website for more information and a list of items that can and cannot be accepted. We appreciate your participation!
– Kathy Jo Solomon, visual arts teacher and sustainability coordinator
Learning Updates
Arts Update: Special Effects Students Transform Cast for Fifth Grade Play
Students in the seventh and eighth grade special effects makeup elective have been hard at work bringing the characters of the fifth grade play, The Pirates of the Currybean, to life! Over the past few weeks, students in the elective have collaborated to design, test, and perfect the makeup looks for each character in the production. From swashbuckling pirates to quirky islanders, every detail has been carefully crafted by our talented makeup artists.
– Christopher Parsons, theater arts teacher
Mapping the Stars in Fourth Grade
Fourth graders are nearing the end of their preparations for next week’s Greek Storytelling Festival. Part of their preparations include creating a planetarium. In science class, each student is learning about a different constellation, scientific facts about it, and the myth behind it (some of the myths they are already familiar with from writing class.) They also practice drawing the constellation. In math class, we spend a week learning how to graph on a coordinate plane. Students look at star maps from the International Astronomical Union to figure out what the coordinates of their constellations are, and they record those coordinates in a chart. Finally, they plot their stars in the planetarium. They look forward to sharing their work with their visitors next Thursday!
– Emily Crawford, fourth grade teacher
PE Update: Fourth Graders Compete In Greek Olympics
The fourth graders participated in the fifth annual Greek Olympics this week. They studied the spirit of the ancient games, and were assigned to represent a specific city-state team. The teams of Sparta, Argos, Athens, Corinth, and Megara competed with honor and sportsmanship as they participated in the following events: 3-stade race, javelin throw, discus throw, long jump, shot put, meta boxing, and the crowd favorite of the chariot race. Students displayed excellence and joy throughout the day! Hooray!
– Abbey Nyland, physical education teacher
Athletics Update: Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Ready for Meadowbrook
The girls’ varsity lacrosse team will take a 3-1 record into their showdown with Meadowbrook tonight at Friday Night Scoops. The team split a pair of games this week with a tough 12-11 loss to Pike followed by a lopsided 16-4 win over Austin Prep. By all accounts the team is firing on all cylinders and is ready for their biggest game of the season. Sophie Cutie and Fatoumata Bah shined on low “D” in both games, shutting down transition and burying goals of their own on counter attacks up the field. Team captain Julia Casey netted 11 goals on the week, taking the team on her back against Pike (7 goals) and settling the offense against Austin Prep (4 goals). Fellow captain Laurice Bandar has rounded into form on the field and will be counted on to be an impact performer at Meadowbrook tonight. Bandar returned to action this spring following a 10 month recovery from a knee injury suffered last May. She’s stronger, better, and more determined than ever, and will be a force to be reckoned with moving forward. The Blue & Gold is ready.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- Classmates Graham Chisholm (attack) and Evan Bae (defense) have stepped up their games and will be counted on to be impact players at Friday Night Scoops.
- Christian Samuel returned to action for the girls’ JV lacrosse team this week and helped settle the defense during the team’s 5-3 loss to Fay. Melisa Adhikari was excellent at midfield.
- Suryavir Nallari-Jhala had a great week of practice and will step back into a top singles position for the varsity tennis team this week following his return from an ankle injury.
- Olivia Hu continued her strong tennis season with a hard fought loss at #1 Doubles for junior varsity tennis this week. Olivia has been a model of consistency all season on the court.
- The track & field team ran a soggy meet against Fenn and Nashoba this week. Colin Walker stepped up to try the turbo jav and Silas O’Brien persevered through some challenging races.
- The ultimate program improved to 9-1 on the season following big wins for both teams this week. Ethan Antipov and Noah Yang had two scores each for the junior varsity squad.
Sixth Math Puts Order to Rational Numbers
In sixth grade math, students tackled the challenge of ordering more than 40 rational numbers—from fractions and decimals to percents and negative values. While the task seemed daunting at first, they quickly discovered strategies to sort the numbers from least to greatest with confidence. Along the way, students not only strengthened their understanding of rational numbers but also practiced an important life skill: breaking big tasks into manageable steps to achieve success.
– Brittany Ryan, sixth grade math teacher
Parents’ Association News
PA Meeting
The final parents’ association meeting of the school year will be held on Friday, May 23 at 8:30 a.m. in Coolidge Hall. The meeting will feature a discussion of remaining PA initiatives for the year and an update from Brendan Largay, head of school. Light refreshments will be served.
Call for Grade Parents and Committee Volunteers for 2025-26
Thank you to parents for expressing interest in volunteering for the 2025-26 school year. We greatly value your support and partnership! We are still looking for a few more Grade Parents and volunteers for the following committees:
- Book Fair
- Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon
- Family Fun Event
- Friday Night Lights/Hoops/Scoops
- Music and Ensembles
A full listing of committees and volunteer opportunities can be found on the parents’ association page on the Parent Portal. If you’re interested in getting involved, please complete the volunteer sign-up form.
Faculty Appreciation Luncheon
It’s time to show our amazing faculty how much we appreciate them with our long-standing tradition, the Faculty Appreciation Luncheon! On Friday, May 30, the PA will host a special buffet-style luncheon for faculty. This annual luncheon is hosted by our parents, who provide homemade or purchased food contributions.
The PA is seeking donations of main dishes, side dishes, salads, desserts, and beverages. Belmont Day is a nut-free campus, so please keep that in mind when planning your contributions. Please bring your donations labeled with your name and ingredients to the morning drop-off on Friday, May 30. There will be a table in front of the PAC. We are also seeking assistance with setup and cleanup. Please click here to sign up (note that the form contains two pages).
For questions, please reach out to the Faculty Appreciation Luncheon co-chairs Danielle England and Doni McKeever. Thank you!
Parent Book Club
Our last book group meeting of the school year will be Tuesday, June 3, at 7:15 p.m. at Menotomy Grill & Tavern in Arlington. We will discuss The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller. We hope you will join us! If you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact Karla Bays.
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
SUSTAINABILITY EVENT
Free Repair Cafe Happening This Weekend
Have an item at home that’s not working but you don’t want to just chuck it in the trash? Bring it to the Waltham Repair Cafe, this Saturday, May 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation at 154 Moody Street. If it’s broken, the volunteers will try to fix it! Click here for more information on the event and the organization.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Youth Pride March & Celebration Tomorrow!
Massachusetts Youth Pride is the oldest youth-led, adult-supported LGBTQ Youth Pride celebration in the country. The annual Pride celebration will be held on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring a march, festival, community partner resource fair, and a live stage show produced by LGBTQ+ youth.
Registration is now available for the march–you can sign up to march by yourself or with friends and family or choose a group registration to march with a school group. Just interested in attending the festival? Skip registration and meet at City Hall Plaza festival starting at 11 a.m. Click here for more information and registration.
Return to the Parent Portal
