October 10, 2025
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Seventh grade Spanish students dig into their research.
Opening Message
Teaching, Learning, and Living Our Commitment to Sustainability
Betty Chu Pryor, Lower School Head
Post Date: October 10, 2025
You may have noticed from the dismissal queue this afternoon, some exhausted yet spirited fifth graders, their teachers, and chaperones as they disembarked from a bus near the front circle. This hardy crew had just returned from the fifth grade’s annual three-day excursion to The Farm School–a working farm and non-profit organization out in Athol, Massachusetts. The farm sits on 130 acres of beautiful fields and woods, and this journey to them is a landmark lower school experience and a stepping stone to further adventures and development in middle school.
Time at The Farm School affords students the chance to bond with their classmates and teachers away from campus, and the opportunity to connect deeply to nature. The work and care of the farm is a central component of The Farm School’s visiting school program. Students (and their faculty chaperones) learn about and participate in many of the farm’s necessary activities, such as harvesting crops, collecting eggs, milking animals, and tending to the fields, orchards, garden, and forest. Participants also help prepare the food served at all of their meals. In the process, they learn about where their food comes from and how composting their food scraps will further enrich the soil on the farm. The students also learn about how the farm serves its surrounding communities by distributing produce to local organizations that help fight food insecurity.
Visiting The Farm School is just one of many ways that the students and faculty at Belmont Day School connect to the environment. Tucked beyond Archery Field, we have a thriving campus garden that is part of the curriculum of various grades. The garden is maintained throughout the year by volunteer parents, faculty, and students under the leadership of Kathy Jo Solomon, art teacher and sustainability coordinator. Having a school garden motivates students to become stewards of the earth. Our garden provides some of the produce that the children and adults at school consume in their lunches. This allows students to understand where their food originates from and to take an active part in planting and tending to these vegetables, such as potatoes, tomatoes, and squash. And in the summer, when classes are not in session, any surplus of food that is harvested from the garden is donated to local food pantries, such as Food Link in Arlington. As the year unfolds, you will hear about how the second grade partners closely with Gaining Ground, a nonprofit organic farm in Concord that grows vegetables and fruits, and similarly provides this food to nearby meal programs and food pantries in need.
Our school’s commitment to sustainability and our responsibility to learn from and evolve that commitment continue with other daily practices. Our campus events utilize compostable plates, cups, and covers, napkins, and flatware whenever there is a need for disposable items. Every classroom has recycling and compost bins, and bins are also located in central spots around the campus, such as in Coolidge Hall, the faculty room, and office areas. Belmont Day partners with Black Earth Compost, a local company that takes all food waste from meals and snacks off-site and converts it into organic soil matter. The school has a single-stream school-wide recycling program, and our middle school students collect recyclables from all spaces throughout the school.
Last year, we added a textile recycling bin to our greening efforts. The large white bin, located next to the Barn, is provided in partnership with Bay State Textiles and accepts clothing, footwear, linens, and even used stuffed animals to prevent these items from ending up in a landfill. Internally, a faculty member created a Buy Nothing BDS program, which is an online group where faculty and staff can donate unwanted objects to other colleagues to be reused or repurposed and to prevent items from ending up in a landfill.
While learning is happening every day within our classroom walls, the experiences created beyond them at The Farm School, in our garden, at Gaining Ground, and elsewhere further our lessons to be good and active stewards of the Earth. I suspect that after our fifth graders get some rest over the long weekend, they will return with tales of intimate interactions with Mother Nature and a vision of how they will play a part in Belmont Day’s commitment to sustainability.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
Third Grade Play
Third graders will take the stage this fall with Mr. Parsons’ original adaptation of Shell-Shocked!, a lively retelling of the classic tortoise and hare fable set in the heart of the Belmont Glenn. Performances will take place on Thursday, October 16, at 1:40 p.m. for middle school students and faculty, and again on Friday, October 17, at 8:45 a.m. for lower school students, faculty, and third grade family and friends.
In this playful and over-the-top production, a cast of colorful animal characters—from race announcers and eager spectators to the determined Team Tortoise and overconfident Team Hare—prepare for the most talked-about race in animal park history. Along the way, they discover lessons about perseverance, teamwork, and what it really means to win.
Featuring six upbeat songs and plenty of comedic moments, Shell-Shocked! promises to be a joyful and entertaining performance that celebrates creativity, collaboration, and the spirit of storytelling.
Play performance will be video recorded and shared with the community.
Attention Middle School Families
Grades 7 & 8: Trimester 1 Interim Grades Available Next Week
Interim grades for Trimester 1 for students in grades 7 & 8 will be available on the Parent Portal next Wednesday, October 15.
Parent Conference Days and Childcare
Fall parent conferences will be held on Thursday, October 30, and Friday, October 31, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.
The school will be closed on both days except for parent conferences. Childcare will be available during conference hours.
Faculty emailed conference sign-ups to families today, Friday, October 10, at 8:00 a.m.
Childcare Information:
- Sign-up is not required
- Join us in the Barn Gym
- Coverage is only available during the time of conferences–please do not drop off earlier or pick up 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, phones, or other devices
- No food will be provided
– Liz Gray, middle school head, and Betty Chu Pryor, lower school head
Lunch & Snack Menu
October 13 to October 17
Monday
School Closed for Indigenous Peoples Day
Tuesday
Snack: applesauce; granola bars
Lunch: spaghetti with meat sauce; pasta with marinara; gluten-free pasta with meat sauce; crusty rolls; seasoned steamed broccoli; mixed greens with shaved carrots and balsamic dressing
Wednesday
Snack: bananas; pretzels
Lunch: grilled Greek chicken; falafel; harissa potatoes; roasted Mediterranean vegetables; Greek salad with Romaine, tomato, cucumber, feta, olives, and red onion
Thursday
Snack: apple slices; Smartfood
Lunch: black bean soup; warm turkey and cheese subs; warm vegan cheese subs; warm gluten-free turkey and cheese subs; herb roasted cauliflower; Caesar salad
Friday
Snack: clementines; assorted dry snacks
Faculty Lunch
Please click the button below for a more detailed and updated weekly menu.
BDS News
ADMISSIONS NEWS
Sibling Applications for Pre-K, Kindergarten & Grade 6 Due October 30
It’s hard to believe that with the school year now hitting its stride, we are already looking far ahead and planning for 2026-2027.
As part of that planning, we open the admissions process early for siblings of currently enrolled Belmont Day students. We welcome parents of current BDS students with a child eligible for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, or sixth grade admission (for pre-k, students must turn four by September 1, 2026) to participate in our early admissions process for siblings.
The preliminary application must be submitted by Thursday, October 30, 2025, and supplemental materials by Thursday, December 4, 2025, for your child to receive this priority consideration. If you submit by this deadline, you will receive an early admission notification during the first week of February.
Please be sure to review the sibling application process and timeline detailed here. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Liz Parfit by email at lparfit@belmontday.org or call 617-932-3884.
The admissions team looks forward to working with your family again!
– Liz Parfit, director of admissions
STAFFING NEWS
New Hire
Dara Galtman, Building Substitute and Substitute Coordinator
We are excited to announce the hiring of Dara for the vital and versatile role of building substitute and substitute coordinator. Dara joins us after substitute teaching at Lexington Montessori School and as a long-term sub in the Winchester Schools. Previously, she taught in the Philadelphia and New Jersey public schools as a certified secondary English classroom teacher for grades 7-12. Dara earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Purdue University in English with minors in communications and women’s studies.
A Philadelphia native and Philly sports fan, Dara and her family moved to Massachusetts about two years ago. She is the mom of five children, ranging in age from 26 to 12, and in her “limited free time,” she enjoys cooking, reading, and hiking.
Welcome to BDS, Dara!
CLUBS NEWS
Middle School Students Represent BDS at Model UN Conference
On Saturday, October 4, ten Middle School students took part in the Greater Boston Model UN Conference sponsored by the United Nations Association of Greater Boston. They participated with about 400 other middle school students from around New England, who came together to discuss the topic of girls’ access to education worldwide. The conference took place at Suffolk University.
Our students represented either Brazil or Cuba and took part in a debate over how to craft solutions. What should the priorities be with our global solutions? Model UN conferences around the globe are dealing with important topics, and students get the opportunity to think deeply about how to build a better future.
Our students were active and engaged, and they gained a solid foundation for the other conferences that will come up later this year. Our Model UN club participants at the conference were: seventh graders Bella Tan, Olivia Hu, Leah Zhang, Marina Hubbard, Elsie Yang, and LaMay Zhang, and sixth graders Zoe Masozera, Celine Li, Nick Yu, and Noah Woreta.
– Jennifer Friborg, Capstone coordinator and Model UN club advisor
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Help Us Connect with Grandparents and Special Friends
The support from our community’s grandparents and special friends greatly enhances the Belmont Day experience. Whether attending Grandparent and Special Friend Visit Days in the spring, or cheering our athletes and musicians on from the sidelines and audience, your extended family’s involvement is treasured.
If you would like your child’s grandparents or special friends to receive communications from the development office–including a 5×7 refrigerator magnet with their grandchild(ren)’s school picture and details of our next Visit Day, please complete this short form to provide their contact information.
If you have provided contact information on behalf of a grandparent or special friend in prior years, no action is required at this time.
If you have any questions, please contact Katie Wallace, manager of development data, operations, and research, at kwallace@belmontday.org with any questions. Thank you!
KITCHEN NEWS
Soups Are On at BDS!
As fall settles in and we start to use up the last of the harvest from the Belmont Day garden, we are serving up some of our favorite BDS soup recipes for students and faculty. Over the past two weeks, we have enjoyed two of our signature soups, tomato soup and butternut squash soup. The butternut squash soup uses the squash planted by the pre-kindergarten class last year and harvested by the current second-grade class.
Check out the recipes for both soups below! As the days get cooler, we hope you will try these recipes at home.
– Tara Lightbody, food program director
Recipe: Tomato Soup
BDS Tomato Soup
Makes 1.5 gallons
Ingredients:
- 1 stalk celery, small dice
- 1/2 onion, small dice
- 1 large carrot, small dice
- ½ red pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup of red wine
- 1.5 tsp. Dried thyme, or the leaves from 4 fresh sprigs
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups diced tomatoes
- 2 cups crushed canned tomato
- 3 cups water (if too thick after blending, add more to thin)
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Sweat the onion, carrot, and celery until soft.
- Add the red wine and reduce.
- Add garlic, thyme, crushed tomato, and diced tomato. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Add water and cook for 25 minutes until everything is soft.
- Puree with the immersion blender or in batches in the regular blender.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup
BDS Butternut Squash Soup
(This recipe is adapted from a recipe in Chop Chop magazine.)
Approximately 1 gallon
Total cook time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped into large pieces
- 4 whole garlic cloves
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 2 tbsp. curry powder
- 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1-½ lbs butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed, or 1 (20-ounce) package pre-cut squash
- 2 tart apples, cored and cubed
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 4 cups water
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Toss the squash with onion, apple, celery, curry powder, brown sugar, and oil.
- Bake in the oven at 350 until it has a nice roasted color for 1 hour or till all vegetables and apples are soft.
- Put all the roasted mixture in a large pot with the vegetable stock, garlic, dry basil, and water.
- Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 15-20 minutes on medium heat.
- Use a blender or immersion blender to puree the soup.
- Serve immediately.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Trunk or Treat
Saturday, October 18
4:30 to 6 p.m.
Belmont Day School
This annual event brings together our after-school and summer camp communities for an autumnal celebration. Everyone in the school community is cordially invited to join us. There will be trunk-or-treating, scavenger hunts, snacks, drinks, live music with our very own Mr. Staples and his band, and other fun activities. Wear your favorite costume or outfit and gather with the auxiliary programs community to share in some fall joy.
We need volunteers to decorate trunks—please sign up here. For additional questions regarding trunk sign-up up please reach out to Denali Kikuchi at dkikuchi@belmontday.org. We hope to see you there!
COMMUNITY NEWS
Share Your Expertise! Capstone Students Seek Interviewees
Would you like to be involved in the Capstone Program? Take a moment to check out our eighth graders’ research topics in the dropdown below. You’ll be amazed by the variety! Do you or someone you know have expertise or experience in one of these areas? If so, we’d love to hear from you!
Eighth grade students are hard at work on their Capstone research and writing. The research and resulting papers represent the first part of the “triathlon” that is the Capstone experience. After concluding the research they began last spring, eighth graders have begun outlining their papers. They are showing lots of determination and pride as they refine their research into thoughtful papers.
Starting after Thanksgiving break, students will embark on the second leg of the triathlon. They will design a project that grows out of the knowledge they have gained during the research and writing phase, as well as what they still want to learn. In this phase, students take charge of their own active learning. One aspect of the project phase is an interview, and this is where YOU come in! If you have contacts who could prove useful to students during the project phase, please be in touch with me, Jennifer Friborg, Capstone coordinator. The eighth graders thank you in advance for your interest and support. Hope to see you at the students’ presentations in April.
– Jennifer Friborg, Capstone coordinator
Capstone Research Topics
- Incarcerated Youth
- Women Fighting Climate Change
- History of Baking
- Stem Cell Therapy
- How Dogs Can Detect Cancer
- Food Allergies
- Adelie Penguins
- The Use of Music Therapy in the Clinical World
- Ethics of Cloning
- Subversive Crafts
- The Path to Presidency: Political Strategy
- Motivation in School
- The New York Five Families
- Popularity of Podcasts
- Fast Fashion
- Disney World: Is the Magic Worth the Price?
- How Smartphones and Cell Phones Work
- The Fast Food Industry
- The Twin Mars Rovers
- Positive and Negative Effects of Video Games
- Whistleblowing
- Illicit Use of Medical Drugs
- Elephant Cognition
- Consciousness from the View of an Animal Lover
- Decision Making in Adolescence
- Biomechanics
- Identifying and Treating Diseases in Aging Animals
- DNA Typing and Its Relation to True Crime
- The History and Significance of the Olympic Games
- Basketball Coaches’ Influence and Mentorship
- Music, the Brain, and Emotion
- Comparing Safety in Football and Rugby
- The Rogue Shark Theory
- Panama Canal
- Rowing: Mental, Emotional, and Physical Strength
- Food Waste
- Psychological and Physical Effects of Method Acting
- Presidential Campaigns with Female Candidates
- The Evolution of Lute Family Instruments
- Unique Frogs
- Train Robberies, Then and Now
- Oral Health and Overall Health
- Warships: Hull and Power Innovations
COMMUNITY EVENT
Zinefest Returns!
Saturday, October 18, 2025
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Watertown Public Library
Belmont Day Makers are heading back to the Watertown Public Library for the third consecutive year to take part in Zinefest, an annual celebration of creativity, collaboration, and DIY publishing. Right now, students across campus are busy designing their own zines and planning our Belmont Day Maker display.
At Zinefest, you’ll find the Belmont Day Maker table in the Teen Room, where local artists, educators, and students come together to share, trade, and create zines; small, self-published booklets that capture personal stories, artwork, and ideas.
Belmont Day students are invited to come distribute their original zines, create new ones, and trade work with other creators from the community. This ongoing project continues our beloved tradition of amplifying student voice and celebrating creative expression beyond the Belmont Day School Campus.
– Brittany Conroy, innovation coach
Learning Updates
Soaking Up A Lesson On the Water Cycle in Seventh Grade Science
In seventh grade science, we are learning about the water cycle. More specifically, we are focused on watersheds, which are areas of land that act as a road for rainfall, streams, and small rivers that flow into large bodies of water, including the ocean. To further understand watersheds, our classes crumpled up pieces of paper and flattened them out, still leaving large bumps or ridges in the paper. Then, we drew with a blue marker on all the ridges (the highest points on the paper) and sprayed the paper with water. The water caused the marker to drip down the ridges, and we discovered that water always finds a way to the bottom of the paper. The marker dripping resembled water trickling down mountains and into valleys. We then drew houses, factories, and farms in different colors on another piece of paper and repeated the experiment. We observed that the colors from the houses, factories, and farms mixed with the blue-colored freshwater runoff and caused the freshwater to become polluted. This was an impactful, fun, and hands-on way to understand watersheds. We all had a blast!
– Mika Elsner, seventh grade student
Fourth Grade Rolls Through an Experiment on Energy
What is energy? Where does the energy in roller coaster cars come from? Does the height of a coaster have anything to do with its speed? These are some of the questions fourth graders are asking in science class. To answer these questions, students have been making “bumper coasters” and carrying out a series of experiments with marbles that explore how changing the height of a coaster’s starting point or changing the number of collisions on the tracks affects how far a coaster’s cars travel. The next time a fourth grader visits an amusement park, they will have a new understanding of the science behind some of their favorite rides.
– Emily Crawford, fourth grade teacher
Athletics Update: Big Wins & Big Hearts for BDS
The fall season is in full swing! Our teams have settled into their routines, working together and continuing to embody the BDS core values each day. This past week was filled with effort, energy, and plenty of highlights across the board.
Girls’ JV soccer showed tremendous determination and teamwork in their 0-3 match against Shady Hill. Despite the score, the team played with grit and discipline, maintaining strong defensive pressure throughout. Anahita Stuti-Bala was outstanding in goal, making several key saves, while the defense stayed organized and composed. On the attack, Etta Perkins fired off several impressive shots on goal, and the team’s hustle and resilience never wavered; an inspiring effort all around!
Varsity volleyball faced a talented Carroll squad and played with heart despite the loss. Lucie Mora showcased her consistent overhand serves, proof of her hard work in practice, and a special thank you goes out to Zach Xue for stepping up as team manager to help with setup and scoring, keeping everything running smoothly.
Cross country had another strong showing at their spirited home meet victory against Carroll, 19-36. Personal records (PR’s) were set by Boya Yun, Simon Bays, Penelope Wong (in her first meet back from injury), and Ashwin Balakrishnan. The top five finishers were Zoe Bantham-Livermore, Simon Bays, Alana Brown, Reema Wulfsberg, and Kevin Zhou. A fantastic performance by all!
Varsity Flag Football continued its dominant run with a big win over Carroll. Deniz Kas led the way at quarterback, delivering an incredible dart to Robin Stine for an early touchdown to set the tone. The team’s chemistry and confidence continue to grow throughout the game.
JV Flag Football dropped a close one at Carroll, but showed steady improvement and teamwork throughout the game.
It was another strong week for BDS Athletics with our athletes representing the school with pride, sportsmanship, and spirit. We’re back at it next week and ready for more great moments ahead! GO BDS!
– Stephen Marks, director of athletics
Middle School Spanish Students Celebrate Hispanic Culture
We started the year in a festive spirit as middle school students in Spanish classes honored the legacy of Hispanic people and culture. Sixth graders learned about Hispanic countries, capitals, flags, and Latinx contributions to the United States. Seventh graders worked on Latinx biographies, and eighth graders researched events and local news to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Each of the grades shared their work on the bulletin board as you enter the BARN. Be sure to check it out on your next visit!
Many of our Spanish students will also be participating in the 5th Annual Watertown Zine Fest on Saturday, October 18. The students are creating zines on the theme of Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead). Join us next week at the Watertown Library to see their great work!
– Ana Maria Restrepo, Spanish teacher
Parents’ Association News
Baby Books Collection
Help us celebrate first grade teacher Geoffrey Fox’s baby with a donation of a favorite children’s book! Books may be dropped off with Barbara Carey at the front desk between October 13 and 24. The Baby Welcoming Committee will assemble the gifts into a basket for delivery. Thank you for helping us welcome the newest member of the BDS family! If you have any questions, please contact Carolyn Atinizian at 617-460-5399.
Fall Socials
Thank you to all who have attended the recent BDS Fall Socials. A cherished tradition in our community, the socials are a wonderful opportunity to connect with parents and guardians of children in your grade. All Fall Socials are held on campus. The remaining socials are:
- Wednesday, October 15 – 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – Grade 6
- Wednesday, October 29 – 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – Grade 1 & Grade 4
Parent Book Club
Our first Parent Book Club gathering will be on Tuesday, October 21, at 7:15 p.m. at Menotomy Grill and Tavern in Arlington. We will discuss Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson. 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.
Spirit Day & Friday Night Lights
Please join us on Friday, October 24, from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. for coffee and refreshments leading into the Spirit Day festivities, including the annual Spirit Day Parade.
And then join us to cheer on the Blue & Gold that evening at Harvard’s Jordan Field for Friday Night Lights starting at 6:00 p.m. The event showcases our middle school varsity soccer teams in action, and is a terrific community event. We encourage all students, faculty, alumni, and families to attend. In addition to watching our awesome athletes, we will also have pizza/drinks available during the event. So be sure to wear your BDS gear and show your Blue & Gold spirit as we fill the stadium in support of our athletes!
Beyond BDS
COMMUNITY THEATER
Tickets Now On Sale for Wonka Kids
The stage is set, the golden tickets are ready, and excitement is building as A Broadway Kids Company–Arlington/Belmont prepares to bring Roald Dahl’s classic story to life in their upcoming production of Wonka Kids. Featuring a cast of talented young performers from across the community, this family-friendly musical promises music, laughter, and plenty of pure imagination as audiences are invited into Willy Wonka’s fantastical chocolate factory.
Performances will take place on the Palandjian Arts Center stage at Belmont Day School, with four shows scheduled: Friday, November 14, at 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, November 15, at 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. Tickets are expected to sell quickly for this joyful, high-energy production, which celebrates creativity, collaboration, and the magic of live theater. Families are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to secure the best seats and support these young performers as they take the stage. Click here to get your ‘golden’ tickets!
BOOK EVENT
Equal Justice Book Group to Meet in October
Join the Equal Justice Book Group, presented by Belmont Against Racism (BAR) and Belmont Public Library, which will next meet on Monday, October 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the All Saints Episcopal Church’s parish hall, 17 Clark St, Belmont. The group will be discussing Colored Television by Danzy Senn. The book is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that challenges our understanding of race, identity, and media.
Click here if you plan to attend. We encourage you to read Colored Television before the meeting, but everyone is welcome to join the conversation, whether or not you’ve finished the book. Copies of the book are available at the library’s Circulation Desk at the Beech Street Center.
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