November 14, 2025
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Ready with answers in fifth grade English!
Opening Message
Educating Great Role Models
By Jen James, Chief of Staff and Registrar
Post Date: November 14, 2025
Last week, I had the great pleasure of helping our After School team during their campus-wide gratitude scavenger hunt. With my group of ten students, ranging from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade, we followed clues that led us through a variety of activities, including finding scary spiders in a “web”, writing what we’re grateful for on colorful autumn leaves, kicking soccer goals, and counting acorns to find the room location of our next clue. Our After School teachers are masters at planning creative and thoughtful adventures, and we had a blast, enjoying all the activities and our time together. Beyond the immediate joys of the scavenger hunt, what stayed with me from the experience was more profound–the power of our cross-graded connections and the responsibility and caring that it builds in our students in a very genuine way.
Over and over during the scavenger hunt, the two oldest students in my group made sure that their youngest friends were included and were safely on their way to each part of the activity. While I was grateful for the added support in chaperoning a group around the school, I was more in awe of the natural leadership that occurs during these intentional cross–graded activities.
I also see these moments of learning and development on display during our Early Birds program, which I help staff several days a week. Monday through Friday, we offer Early Birds as a joyful pre-school-day time when students from pre-k through eighth grade can play in the Barn gym. From fifth graders guiding kindergartners during a game of football to the pre-kindergartners and third graders sharing their imaginations while building with LEGOS, our community is one of collaboration, sharing, and kindness.
What is possibly less visible are the interactions that happen during the school day, when an eighth grader will high-five their pre-k cross-graded partner, when the most joyous cheers and laughs at a play will be from their older friends, or when a kindergartner runs to hug and greet their sixth-grade partner in the hall. These interstitial moments of connection are woven into the fabric of a Belmont Day School. This role-modeling by our older students is a core aspect of a BDS education, and it contributes significantly to the overall sense of community and belonging.
There is a saying that goes “children learn more from who you are than what you teach,” and that could not be more apparent than when our older students are role modelling leadership, care, acknowledgement, and support for their peers.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saturday November 1
1
|
||||||
|
Sunday November 2
2
|
Monday November 3
3
|
Tuesday November 4
4
|
Wednesday November 5
5
|
Thursday November 6
6
|
Friday November 7
7
|
Saturday November 8
8
|
|
Sunday November 9
9
|
Monday November 10
10
|
Tuesday November 11
11
|
Wednesday November 12
12
|
Thursday November 13
13
|
Friday November 14
14
|
Saturday November 15
15
|
|
Sunday November 16
16
|
Monday November 17
17
|
Tuesday November 18
18
|
Wednesday November 19
19
|
Thursday November 20
20
|
Friday November 21
21
|
Saturday November 22
22
|
|
Sunday November 23
23
|
Monday November 24
24
|
Tuesday November 25
25
|
Wednesday November 26
26
|
Thursday November 27
27
|
Friday November 28
28
|
Saturday November 29
29
|
|
Sunday November 30
30
|
Monthly Calendar
No events.
No events. November 2025
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
December 2025
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
January 2026
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
February 2026
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
March 2026
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
April 2026
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
May 2026
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
June 2026
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
July 2026
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
August 2026
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
September 2026
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
October 2026
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Join Us: Open Middle School Meeting
Friday, November 21 at 11:50 a.m.
Palandjian Arts Center
All middle school parents are invited to join us in the Palandjian Arts Center for our “Open Middle School Meetings” this year. The first of these will be held next Friday, November 21. The open meetings are an opportunity for you to be a part of our regular weekly middle school meeting time and to get a glimpse of life in the middle school!
Mark your calendar for these upcoming open meetings. All meetings take place from 11:50 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.
- Friday, January 23
- Friday, April 10
TOMORROW! Fall Garden Workday
Belmont Day School parents, students, and staff are invited to put the garden to rest for the winter on Saturday, November 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers will be mulching, clearing, organizing, and having fun. Bring a pair of gloves and a shovel if you have one (we have them too!), and enjoy being outdoors and working together to maintain our outdoor classroom and community gardens. Lower school students must be accompanied by an adult. Middle school students can be dropped off, but must be picked up by 12:00 p.m.
For questions and RSVP, email Kathy Jo Solomon at ksolomon@belmontday.org.
Save the Date: Winter Concert
Friday, December 12 at 10:30 a.m.
Downing Gym
We look forward to welcoming everyone to campus for our annual Winter Concert! Students in general music classes and ensembles are working hard to prepare for this event. Like last year, this event will be held a week before school closes for Winter Break. After School will run as usual on the day of the concert; if you plan to dismiss your child early please email attendance@belmontday.
Pre-Thanksgiving Break Celebrations
Pajama Day!
Monday, November 24
We will close out our penultimate day of learning before the Thanksgiving break joyfully! Students in all grades are invited to wear their coziest, comfiest, school-appropriate pajamas for Pajama Day on Monday, November 24. Slippers are fine, but please send in a pair of sneakers and essential outdoor gear (coats, hats, gloves, etc.) with students for recess.
Thanksgiving Assembly & Early Dismissal
Tuesday, November 25
Assembly from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
School Closes at 12:30 p.m. | no After School Program
Join us in the Barn gym as we gather before the start of Thanksgiving Break.
The assembly will include reflections and sharings celebrating how Indigenous Tribal Nations honor community and family. On this day, we will engage with Indigenous-centered content, share the ways we show gratitude, and enjoy music before heading off for break. Through our harvest table, which all grades contribute to, we will display ways different Tribal Nations honor the importance of community and the natural world.
We remain intentional about the practice of gratitude and community at BDS. We hope you will join us for this special event!
Lunch & Snack Menu
November 17 to November 21
Monday
Snack: raisins; Tostitos
Lunch: cheese tortellini with marinara; pasta with marinara; gluten-free cheese tortellini with marinara; French rolls; seasoned broccoli; greens with grated carrots and balsamic dressing
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Goldfish
Lunch: BDS beef stew; vegan stew; buttermilk bisquits and warm rolls; mixed veggie blend; spinach alad with apples
Wednesday
Snack: clementines; Sun Chips
Lunch: BDS Thanksgiving: carved turkey; vegan Italian sausages; mashed potatoes; roasted potatoes; cornbread stuffing; cranberry sauce; green beans; argula and mixed greens with roasted grapes and pepitas
Thursday
Snack: apple slices; Popcorners
Lunch: BDS tomato soup; cheddar bagel melts; vegan cheddar bagel melts; gluten-free cheddar bagel melts; 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 FUNDRAISER
BDS Online Book Fair Is Now Open!
The parents’ association annual online book fair with Belmont Books is underway through November 21. Browse and buy books from Belmont Books online and enter the code BELMONTDAY25 in the “coupon code” field (not to be confused with “online gift code”) at check-out.
Also, don’t miss the in-store shopping event at Belmont Books next Friday afternoon, November 21, from 1-6 p.m. There will be a scavenger hunt, arts and crafts, refreshments, and raffles. We look forward to seeing you there!
For full event details, including book recommendations from school librarian, Ms. Sprung, and a wish list of books to donate to our school, please visit the Book Fair website. Thank you for your support, and special thanks to our book fair committee, led by Zhenzhen Zhang, Reema DellaNeve, and Fang Yang, for organizing this wonderful event.
AUXILIARY PROGRAMS
After School Students Honor Our Veterans
As part of our After School program for November, we have been exploring themes of gratitude, thankfulness, and service. Students in grades pre-kindergarten to eighth grade wrote letters in cross-graded groups to veterans connected to the BDS community, under the guidance of Ms. Fross and the After School teaching teams. These letters were then mailed to veterans for a timely arrival this week. The students did an incredible job with thoughtful, expressive, detailed letters that highlight appreciation, recognition, and acknowledgement. The responses from the veterans regarding how meaningful this gesture is to them have been a delight to receive and pass along to the students.
Trimester Two After School & Enrichment Registration Now Open
Registration for the second trimester After School and Enrichment programs will remain open until Friday, November 28. Enrollment, if available after that, will incur additional fees. Please reach out to Denali Kikuchi, auxiliary programs coordinator, for any enrollment questions and Blair Fross, director of school year and specialty programs, for program questions. Visit the Parent Portal to learn more about our auxiliary programs, including After School and Enrichment.
The current trimester runs through Monday, November 24. School closes at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25, and there are no afternoon programs. Trimester two will begin on Tuesday, December 2.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Lost & Found Items Will Be Donated After Thanksgiving Break
Please check the Lost & Found for your students’ missing items as soon as possible. All unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity after Thanksgiving break.
The Lost & Found is located in the hallway between Liz Parfit’s office at the front of the Schoolhouse and the sixth grade classrooms. Check in at the front desk, and you will be directed right to it.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Next Week! First-Ever BDS Shakespeare Festival
Thursday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m.
The Palandjian Arts Center
Prepare yourselves for an evening of wondrous entertainment at Belmont Day School’s first-ever Shakespeare Festival! Students from Mrs. Dempsey’s, Mr. Largay’s, and Mr. Parsons’ seventh and eighth grade classes will take the stage with scenes of comedy and tragedy, dazzling swordplay, heartfelt monologues, merry puppetry, and sonnets sweet enough to make the Bard himself swoon.
Click the button below to reserve your free tickets!
Learning Updates
Fourth Grade Science Lesson Shines Brightly
How do you light a bulb with a battery and a paperclip? This is a question fourth graders explored through hands-on exploration. Along the way, they learned how a paper clip acts as a conductor and how to use it to create a circuit that connects the terminals of the battery and bulb. While this challenge created some frustration at times, it also led to a lot of excitement and new insights. Fourth graders will continue learning about electrical currents through future experiments regarding conductors, insulators, resistors, and series and parallel circuits.
– Emily Crawford, fourth grade teacher
Parents’ Association News
Casual Coffee
We invite the parent community for some casual mingling over coffee in the Barn lobby before the Sports Sharing Assembly on November 21, from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m.
PA Meeting
Our next Parents’ Association meeting will be held on Thursday, November 20, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in Coolidge Hall. Our guest speakers will be Annie Fuerst, director of innovation, and Sarah Merrill, director of high school placement. All parents are invited, and coffee and light refreshments will be served.
PA Contacts
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 – Manish Patel
- Clerk – Jeff Wang
Beyond BDS
MEDICAL RESEARCH
Lab Seeks Participants for Adolescent ADHD Study
The Arnett Lab at Children’s Hospital is seeking participants for a clinical study on youth ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). With pilot funding from the Life Course Translational Research Network (LCT-RN), the Arnett Lab is developing a preventative intervention aimed at reducing substance use in youth with ADHD. The goal of the study is to strengthen protective factors of the child and family, including parent-child communication, interpersonal skills, and adherence to ADHD treatment. The lab seeks participants who are 11-13 years old or 15-17 years old with an ADHD/ADD diagnosis, and have a caregiver who is willing to participate. Click here for further description of the study, the criteria for participation, and compensation.
Return to the Parent Portal
You can share a link to the entire newsletter here—or share individual articles using the icons to the right of each article.