November 8, 2019
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Kindergartners learn their numbers through a variety of activities.
Message from Head of School
State of the School 2019
Brendan Largay, Head of School
Post Date: November 8, 2019
Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and via the Facebook broadcast last evening for the presentation of the 2019 State of the School. It was a pleasure to share with all of you a look at where Belmont Day is today and where we’ve challenged ourselves to get to tomorrow. Your questions and feedback are extremely valuable and we wish to keep the discussions started last night rolling into the days and weeks ahead. So please reach out to me at any time.
If you were unable to attend the State of the School or couldn’t view it online, a video of the presentation and the accompanying slides are now available.
If I don’t see you first trying to stay warm under the lights tonight at Harvard, have a great long weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Tuesday! Go Blue & Gold!
It was Election Day in Latin class with candidates presenting their platforms and promises.
This Coming Week at BDS
November 9 to November 16
All School
Saturday, November 9
Cross Country State Invitational
Monday, November 11
Veterans Day: School Closed
Tuesday, November 12
8–9:00 a.m., Grade 8 Parent Coffee, Coolidge Hall
6–9:00 p.m., Parent SEED Group, Coolidge Hall
Wednesday, November 13
8:15–9:30 a.m., Parent Book Club, Erskine Library
Thursday, November 14
Fall Athletics Season Ends
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Teaching White White Workshops
6–7:00 p.m., Parent Learning Forum, Coolidge Hall
Friday, November 15
8:50–9:35 a.m., Enrichment Assembly, Palandjian Arts Center
9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Teaching While White Workshop
6–8:00 p.m., Middle School Dance
Saturday, November 16
8:00–12:00 p.m., Strategic Planning Retreat, Coolidge Hall
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Garden Workday
10–11:00 a.m., STEAM Saturdays 1
7:00 p.m., Grade 8 Parent Social & Class Gift Kick-off, Parent Home Cambridge
BAKE SALE
Tonight at Friday Night Lights, 5:30–8:00 p.m.
Roots & Shoots is holding its annual bake sale at Friday Night Lights this evening. Come join us and buy a delicious sweet treat while you watch the games! All proceeds will go to support underfunded area schools with equipment and supplies. We look forward to seeing you tonight and thank you for your support!
PARENT LEARNING FORUM
Supporting Your Student Through Anxious Moments
Part Two of an Ongoing Series
Thursday, November 14, 6–7:30 p.m., Coolidge Hall
As part of our ongoing partnership with McLean Hospital, we will welcome Julia Martin Burch, Ph.D., to continue the conversation about how to build resilience and use anxious moments as learning/growth opportunities. Dr. Burch is a clinical psychologist at McLean Anxiety Mastery Program (MAMP.)
Childcare will be available. Children will enjoy activities and a pizza dinner in the Erskine Library. If your child cannot eat pizza, please provide an alternate meal for them. To register for childcare, please contact Catherine David.
Garden Workday
Saturday, November 16, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Belmont Day parents, students, alumni, and staff are invited to help put the garden to rest for the winter. Students with a parent 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. To RSVP and for any questions, please contact Kathy Jo Solomon.
Lunch & Snack Menu
November 11 to November 15
Monday
School Closed for Veterans Day
Tuesday
Snack: saltines; fruit cup
Lunch: ravioli with marinara; primavera blend vegetables; whole grain rolls; Italian salad
Wednesday
Snack: chocolate chip cookies; bananas
Lunch: Thanksgiving turkey dinner: carved turkey; gravy; cranberry sauce; green beans; mashed potatoes; spinach salad with goat cheese and cranberry; apple crisp
Thursday
Snack: Kettle chips; clementines
Lunch: ham and cheese panini; soup of the day; autumn vegetable blend; Greek salad
Friday
Snack: apples
Faculty Lunch
Looking Ahead
ENRICHMENT NEWS
Program Details and Registration for New Trimester
Registration for our winter trimester begins this coming Tuesday, November 12. All families should receive an email today with all of the program details as well as registration materials. Our current trimester ends the week of Thanksgiving break and the final day of classes will be Tuesday, November 26. Our winter trimester will begin the first day we return from break on Monday, December 2.
Please be aware that many classes are capped at 10 students and often fill up quickly. We suggest that if you know the class(es) your child is interested in to complete and return registration forms promptly to Barbara Carey at the front desk. The registration period runs from Tuesday, November 12 to Tuesday, November 26. Registration, if available after that, will incur additional fees. Please contact Blair Fross with any questions.
BDS News
ATHLETICS
Boys’ Soccer Finishes at Home with 5-3 Win
In their final home game of the season, the boys’ soccer team toppled a talented Lexington Christian squad by a score of 5-3. Seventh grade classmates Zephy Borisy and Cody Casanave had two goals each, while Issac Frehywot continued his dominant play at midfield. Also chipping in were newcomers Sam Amaratunga, Yafet Ayalew, and Peter Kurtz who have been steadily improving their play throughout the season. The team will wrap up its season tonight against Meadowbrook under the lights at Harvard.
More Athletics News
- The girls’ varsity soccer team received strong defensive performances from Sue Kelman and Margot Klug during their 2-0 shutout win at LCA this week.
- The JV flag football team finished its season with a commanding 33-7 win over Tenacre this week. Ben Rowe was the player of the game with a TD and an interception.
- Field hockey tallied its third win in a row with a 1-0 shutout over LCA this week. Kenna Schneider was excellent on defense and Kendree Chen supplied some offensive pressure.
- With a win over Charles River this week, the cross country team finished the fall undefeated. Asher Sutton ran strong for the Blue & Gold. Calder Wilmot and Lucy Targum both PR’d.
- After battling hard for the first half, the game slipped away from girls’ JV soccer in the second frame against Southfield. Ana McEleney and Nora O’Brien stood out for BDS.
- The varsity flag football team dropped its final game of the season against Shady Hill. Team captains Theo Wallach and Davin Roy did all they could to keep the game close.
ARTS NEWS
Orff to a Good Start in Music!
The Orff approach has many wonderful concepts of music education. The instruments are of a high tone quality which is satisfying to young ears. In our early education music classes, we use the Orff xylophones to learn basic concepts of melody, rhythm, ensemble playing, musical direction, and theory. Carl Orff, along with Zoltan Kodaly and Bela Bartok, was also an important composer of the 20th Century. In September, our focus was on harps and zithers and in October, we concentrated on the Orff instruments. Each month, we have a new theme so please free to check in with Mr. Toppa about what’s up next.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION NEWS
Leading by Example
In PE we’ve been thinking a lot about leadership. What does it mean to be a leader? How many leaders can a classroom have? Our fifth grade students found out through four weeks of teamwork sampling many of the middle school athletics offerings. Through sun and rain and plenty of leaves they have competed and cooperated in soccer, flag football, field hockey, and badminton. In fourth grade, we have been working on team challenges and recently completed leadership reflections, leading to insightful conversations about the various modes of leadership.
Meanwhile, our lower grades have been learning about “leading by example” and finding ways to make an impact without necessarily making a lot of noise. They’ve also been ending class with shout-outs and partner compliments, honoring the efforts of others with thoughtful comments that highlight different ways people add to the classroom dynamic.
After a few weeks of asking for shout-outs, we’ve found that there are often more hands up at the end of class than we have time to call on. When there is that much to celebrate, you know there are plenty of leaders in our midst!
DIVERSITY NEWS
Parent Survey on Social Identity, Bias, and Justice
We’re providing an opportunity to express any wishes parents might have regarding connecting with others who share their experience or interest in matters related to social identity, social bias, and social justice.
Please take a look at this survey, and, if you’d like, share your input.
As always, please feel encouraged to contact me directly.
– Carlos Hoyt, director of equity and inclusion
COMMUNITY NEWS
Alarm Testing at Bentley University
In case your student(s) heard some distant sirens Friday afternoon, there was no reason for alarm. Bentley University in Waltham was conducting a test of its emergency notification system, which included the outdoor sirens, at about 1 p.m. Because of the high decibel level of the sirens this sound may have reached beyond the university area and into Belmont.
LIBRARY NEWS
Visiting Author: Lee Bacon
Wednesday, December 4
Lee Bacon will be at BDS to discuss his latest work of science fiction, The Last Human. Students in grades 4 to 6 will all be attending his presentation. His new book, as well as other titles from the Joshua Dread series, are available through Belmont Books. Please follow the instructions on this flyer if you are interested in having a book signed and personalized for your student on the day of the event.
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Resource for Parents on Gaming
Is gaming affecting homework? Do you have concerns that your child is showing signs of gaming addiction? Here is a great resource for parents and students by Healthy Gamer. It’s a mental health platform for gamers by gamers that also offers family programs, tips, and statistical data.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Shop AmazonSmile to Benefit Belmont Day
If you enjoy shopping at Amazon, enjoy it even more by knowing that your purchases can support Belmont Day. Shop AmazonSmile during the holiday season—or anytime!—and 0.5% of eligible purchases will go to BDS.
AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate a percentage of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice—and we hope you will choose Belmont Day!
CAPSTONE PROGRAM
Share Your Expertise
Thank you to everyone who has already offered to help our eighth grade students in the months ahead by sharing your expertise related to their Capstone projects. We are always looking for more members of the BDS community who can help.
Take a moment to check out the research topics of our eighth grade students. Do you or someone you know have expertise or experience in one of these areas? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact Capstone Coordinator, Jennifer Friborg. Thank you again for your interest and support.
Parents’ Association News
Baby Book Collection
The PA is now collecting baby books for a baby who will soon join the BDS community! Please consider dropping off a new book (unwrapped is ok!) for BDS librarian Amy Sprung. Books are being collected in Pati Fernandez’s office (located opposite the PAC). Please join us in this wonderful tradition of welcoming faculty babies!
Upcoming Events
Parent Book Club
Wednesday, November 13 at 8:15 a.m., Erskine Library
Join us to discuss Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. If you have questions, please contact Nareeluck Stephenson at nareeluck@gmail.com.
Enrichment Assembly
Friday, November 15, 8:50–9:35 a.m., Palandjian Arts Center
Come see Officer Cory Taylor from the Belmont Police Department, and his K9 partner, Grim, demonstrate their canine/human partnership at our next enrichment assembly. Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend!
PA Meeting
Friday, November 22, 8:30–9:30 a.m., Coolidge Hall
Mark your calendars for the next PA meeting. All parents are welcome to join us to learn about the latest updates and happenings at our school while enjoying snacks and refreshments.
Beyond BDS
OrigaMIT Convention 2019
Saturday, November 9
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
If you love origami or just want to learn more about this wonderful creative activity, then you have to check out this year’s OrigaMIT Convention 2019. It will be a day filled with classes, guest speakers, vendors, and exhibits. For more information and to pre-register, visit the convention website.
A Nubian Nativity
Saturday, November 23
Strand Theatre, Dorchester
Under the artistic direction of Andrea Herbert Major, The Roxbury Center for the Performing Arts and the “A” Major Dance Company present a soul-stirring performance — “A Nubian Nativity.” Catch BDS third grade student Kali Owens-Schwartz performing in this inspirational recounting of the birth of Christ through dance, music, and song. For more information and tickets, visit rcpaboston.org
Moms As Mentors
Build Bridges! Mini-Workshop
Sunday, December 8, 2–3:30 p.m.
Dedham Country Day School
Moms as Mentors programs offer interactive team-building and bonding activities for girls and moms. At the Build Bridges! mini-workshop there will be a featured STEM activity. Plus, you’ll leave with resources and practical tips on how you can nurture your daughter’s confidence in the STEM fields. This program is intended for moms and girls ages 4-7. Click here for more information and registration.
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