October 16, 2026
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Teamwork makes the math work in first grade!
Opening Message
Under the Lights
By Alex Tzelnic, Director of Physical Education and Mindfulness, and Stephen Marks, Director of Athletics
Post Date: October 16, 2026
When our soccer players compete under the lights at Harvard Stadium, it’s a big stage. For some, it might be the largest crowd they play in front of in their athletic careers. For others, it is a preview of what is to come. Either way, they’ll feel the butterflies and sense the magnitude of the moment.
Yet, as Belmont Day middle school athletes, they will also be prepared to represent their community and play their hearts out. Because as much as a pre-kindergarten physical education class might look like an attempt to herd cats to the casual observer, we are planting seeds early that will help them find their athletic identity and flourish on the fields, courts, and trails.
It begins with joy. Our goal is to expose our students at an early age to as many sports as possible, and to show them that the athletic lifestyle exists under a large and dynamic umbrella. Crossing a field of hot lava requires not only great courage and determination, but also the agility and balance one later uses to leave a few defenders in their dust.
It is also about responsibility. How can we exhibit the core values at high speeds? Learning to be a good teammate and a respectful competitor can start with a hula hoop rock, paper, scissors showdown. It can happen when you offer someone a stepping stone to navigate the lava. Or by giving someone a fist bump at the end of a game and walking with them to the water fountain to breathlessly recount the activity’s highlights.
In first-grade PE, students engage in the Athletic Identity Project, reflecting on what it means to say, “Every student is an athlete.” They emerge with a very rare (and no doubt priceless) trading card featuring themselves in an athletic stance of their choosing.
As our students progress in the PE curriculum, they engage in scrimmages where we turn on the scoreboard to give them the feeling of real competition. These can lead to epic, intense, frustrating, and delightful moments, but we build in time at the end to debrief and give shout-outs to the opposing team. The only awards are sweat trophies.
Other big events, like the fourth grade Greek Olympics or the fifth grade cross country run, invite spectators and have real stakes, but within the framework of “coopetition.”
In fifth grade, the curriculum again focuses on exposure. Our students engage in the full scope of athletic offerings during PE, so that they can make an informed selection as middle school athletes. Throughout their time representing the Blue and Gold, our middle schoolers have opportunities to lead, whether as captains, voices on committees shaping the athletic experience, recipients of Core Value nominations, or teammates who understand that as one goes, we all go. Otherwise, we’re just herding cats.
Friday Night Lights is an incredible seasonal example of this trajectory, though it is just a small part of that journey. We feel blessed to have front-row seats for this ride. Go Blue and Gold!
Upcoming Events
Monthly Calendar
Join Us At Zine Fest!
Saturday, October 17
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
Join Belmont Day School at Zine Fest at the Watertown Public Library! Zine Fest is a community event that celebrates creativity and self-expression through zines—small, self-published magazines that cover a wide range of topics and artistic styles.
Stop by the BDS table to say hello and explore some student artwork. This is a fantastic opportunity for young creators to learn about the zine-making process and connect with other budding artists in the community.
See You at Trunk or Treat!
Saturday, October 17
4:30 to 6 p.m.
Belmont Day School
The weather looks perfect for our annual Trunk-or-Treat tomorrow! We’ll have trunk-or-treating, scavenger hunts, snacks, drinks, music, and other fun activities. No RSVP is needed, and you don’t have to decorate a trunk to attend. We hope you can join us in your favorite costume or outfit to share some fall joy with the auxiliary programs community. Everyone in the school community is invited to join us!
Pumpkin Patch Starts Monday
Monday to Wednesday, October 19-21
7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Outside Coolidge Hall
Stock up on field pumpkins, sugar pumpkins, mini pumpkins, and gourds. Add a $5 donation at checkout to help decorate the pre-k and kindergarten courtyard. Students also won’t want to miss the fall contests: guess the number of candy corn or the weight of the ugly pumpkin for a chance at fun prizes.
Our Pumpkin Patch runs thanks to parent volunteers. We need help with morning and afternoon shifts, plus setup and cleanup. Even one shift makes a big difference. Sign up here.
If you’re interested in helping and have questions, please contact Jonathan Rodgers or CuiCui Chen.
Parent Conference Days: Sign-Ups & Childcare
Fall parent conferences will be held Thursday, October 29, and Friday, October 30, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and students will not have school. Childcare will be available during conference hours.
Conference sign-ups are now available. Your child’s teacher or advisor emailed a sign-up link to all families.
Conference Day Childcare
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
Lunch & Snack Menu
October 19 to October 23
Monday
Snack: applesauce; baked potato crisps
Lunch: chicken potstickers; edamame potstickers; crispy hoisin tofu with peppers and mushrooms; jasmine rice; steamed broccoli
Tuesday
Snack: apples; whole grain cereal bars
Lunch: spaghetti with meat sauce; spaghetti with marinara; gluten-free pasta with choice of sauce; breadsticks; seasoned green beans; spinach salad with goat cheese, craisins, and maple sherry vinaigrette
Wednesday
Snack: bananas; multigrain pita chips
Lunch: marinated Greek chicken; falafel; warm lemon oregano potato salad; roasted tomato and eggplant; Greek salad with feta cheese
Thursday
Snack: clementines; Cheez-Its
Lunch: minestrone soup; warm turkey and American cheese sub; roasted vegetables sub; gluten-free turkey and cheese or roasted vegetables sub; vegan coleslaw; kale Caesar salad
Friday
Snack: apples; oatmeal chip squares
Faculty Lunch
Please click the button below for a more detailed, up-to-date weekly menu.
BDS News
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Show Your BDS Pride Next Friday, October 23!
Spirit Day Celebration & Coffee
8:30 a.m. – parent coffee
9 a.m. – celebration
Outside Coolidge Hall and in the Front Circle
Students, faculty, and families are invited to wear their finest Blue & Gold and show their BDS spirit! Students will march with their cross-graded partners and rally for the home teams. Parents can enjoy coffee and tea outside Coolidge Hall, then join the rally and BDS flag raising.
Friday Night Lights
6:15 p.m. – Girls’ Varsity Game
7:30 p.m. – Boys’ Varsity Game
Harvard University’s Jordan Field
One week from tonight! Friday Night Lights, our annual varsity soccer match-up against the Meadowbrook School, returns under the lights of Harvard University’s Jordan Field. Join students, faculty, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and friends to fill the stands and show Meadowbrook how much spirit we have! Please read the guidelines and information in the dropdown below to help us ensure everyone has a fun, safe, and respectful event.
Guidelines, Parking & Directions
Please remember that this is not a drop-off event. Parents are expected to keep an eye on their children to ensure that proper behavior is exhibited and that trash is thrown away in the trash receptacles. And please remember the following important guidelines for student conduct:
- Students are not to be unsupervised on the grassy areas around the field. These areas are dark and potentially unsafe. A parent must accompany a student to these areas. Volunteers will reinforce this rule, and we ask for your partnership in keeping this event safe for everyone.
- No food or drink is allowed on the turf field.
Address and Parking Information: There may be a charge for parking at the stadium, so please come prepared with cash just in case. The game will be played on the turf field behind Harvard Stadium (from North Harvard Street, enter and go past the Stadium towards Soldier’s Field Road). The stadium complex is at 65 North Harvard Street, Boston, MA 02163. Please see the map of the complex and driving directions. We will be playing on the field marked Jordan Field.
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
- Processed foods in America
- How language spreads
- Policing in schools
- Board games of the ancient world
- Sustainability and AI
- Fingerprinting
- Dolphin communication
- Irish step dance controversies
- The Radium Girls
- Immigration in America
- Rise of Fascism in the 1930s
- The Night Witches
- What basketball can teach America
- Effects of nuclear disasters
- Military origins of everyday items
- Economic inequality and healthcare
- The physics of tennis, baseball, and yo-yo
- Foundations of longevity
- Impact of the Marathon bombing on Boston
- The Scopes Trial
- mRNA vaccines
- Shostakovich and the Russian Revolution
- Financialization of healthcare
- Life and employment after incarceration
- Women of the French Revolution
- Oil as Earth’s main energy source
- Evolution of women’s fashion in the West
- Impact of advertising on youth space exploration
- Negative interest rates
- The Spice Trade
- Formula 1
- Sustainable affordable architecture
- Nuclear power plants around the world
- Reintroduction of wolves to the Northwest
- The science of habits
- Coco Chanel as a Nazi spy
- Caffeine addiction
- Sports psychology
- Neuroscience of speech and hearing
- Declining birthrates
- Effects of pressure on athletes
- Electoral systems
- The impact of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
COMMUNITY EVENT
Athletics Centennial Celebration Needs YOU
As we prepare to celebrate Belmont Day’s Centennial, the PE/Athletics team needs your help. We are putting together a montage of people ages 0-100 wearing BDS swag and showing off their athleticism by flexing (see accompanying epic photo). We need your help to make this dream a reality!
Do you know anyone within that age range? Great! You are qualified to help. You can use the form linked below to submit a photo of someone decked out in as much BDS swag and blue and gold as possible. The directions for the photo are in the form. As with any athletic endeavor, it will require a total team effort to get pictures of 100 years of flexers.
If you need to borrow BDS swag for the photo, we will have a lending library just outside the PE/Athletics office in the Barn. Come by, take home a jersey, scarf, or hat, take a picture, and please return it for others to use.
As the project continues, we’ll reach out with specific ages that we are still missing. The deadline to submit is November 15, 2026. Be a part of BDS athletics history!
– Alex Tzelnic, director of physical education and mindfulness
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 Friday, October 30, 2026, and supplemental materials by Friday, December 4, 2026, 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
Learning Updates
Arts Update: Making Art You Can Wear
Seventh and eighth graders are in their first round of arts electives this trimester. In the “wearable art” class, students are learning how to use sewing machines to create one-of-a-kind fabric artworks. After experimenting with stitching by hand and on the machines, students learned about creating embellished fabrics with needle felting, top stitching, embroidery, and appliqué, and could add these to their garment projects. Next, students dyed fabrics to create a shirt or a pair of pants and had the choice to create patterns by using resist techniques by folding and wrapping the fabric pieces before placing them in the dye baths. Students then assembled their garments by stitching seams, making waistbands, and hemming the unfinished edges on the sewing machines. Careful workmanship, collaboration, and learning new skills were all part of the process.
– Kathy Jo Solomon, visual arts teacher
First Graders ‘Bond’ Over This Math Lesson
A number bond is a model that shows the relationship between three numbers: two parts and one whole. First graders have been exploring number bonds and discovering how the two parts combine to make the whole. Understanding part-whole relationships is a foundational math concept that will be used throughout the year to support mental math strategies, problem solving, and word problems. Because young children learn best when they can actively engage with ideas rather than only seeing them on paper, we gave first graders the opportunity to become a number bond themselves! Kinesthetic activities provide another pathway for understanding mathematical concepts while increasing engagement and participation. Physical movement helps strengthen learning because students connect actions with ideas. The more senses involved in learning, the more likely students are to remember the content. First graders had a wonderful time stepping into the roles of the parts and the whole as they brought their number bond learning to life!
– Amy McCann, first grade teacher
Labyrinth Grades Gather ‘Round the Campfire
Last Friday, students in third, fourth, and fifth grade all met in the Downing Gym for our annual camping event! This year, the theme was writing. Students rotated through stations marked with (fire-free) campfires to work collaboratively alongside mixed-grade peers on a variety of activities. The writing stations included collaborative storytelling, vocabulary games, and zine-making.
Many thanks to all the adults who pitched in to run writing stations. We’re so proud of our Labyrinth writers and can’t wait to see many of you at Zinefest at the Watertown Public Library this Saturday.
– Amy Sprung, school librarian, and Leigh Twarog, third grade teacher
Athletics Update: Growth Is the Name of the Game
It was another exciting week for Belmont Day athletics, with our teams showing tremendous determination, teamwork, and continued improvement. From thrilling comeback victories and hard-fought games to impressive individual performances, the Blue and Gold continued to compete hard, support one another, and represent BDS with pride.
The week began Tuesday with boys’ JV soccer taking on Fayerweather in a closely contested game. Despite falling 3–2, the team demonstrated great effort and created several exciting scoring opportunities. One of the highlights came when Felix Fagenholz connected with Adam Bechor Neumark on a perfectly placed through-ball pass, setting up the first BDS goal of the game. It was a terrific example of teamwork and the importance of creating opportunities for one another.
Varsity volleyball also traveled to Carroll on Tuesday and continued its impressive improvement with a convincing two-set victory, 25–13 and 25–12. The Blue and Gold were particularly strong along the front row, with Jaya Patel making several heads-up plays at the net. Sofia Clark-Quintanilla and Oli Yang delivered excellent sets to their hitters, while Oli also successfully executed a jump serve! Kaia Wentzell contributed several strong attacks, and the team’s continued development in communication, positioning, and ball movement was evident throughout the match.
Wednesday brought another exciting afternoon, highlighted by a tremendous comeback victory for varsity flag football on the road against Carroll. Trailing 12–6 at halftime, the Blue and Gold showed impressive resolve, battling back to earn a 20–12 victory. Fergus Fagenholz returned from injury for his first game of the season and made several clutch throws at quarterback to help spark the comeback. Defensively, Koby Hildebrandt and Isaac Holbert came up with huge second-half interceptions that helped seal the victory. It was an outstanding team effort and a terrific example of perseverance and responding to adversity.
Continue Reading
Varsity volleyball kept its momentum rolling Wednesday, hosting Schechter and earning another two-set victory, 25–22 and 25–20, to complete a perfect 2–0 week. The team showed tremendous focus and discipline against a less experienced opponent, continuing to emphasize three touches before sending the ball over the net rather than simply returning it immediately. Kaia Wentzell was once again strong at the net, while Nick Yu and Dalia DiCrescenzo put together impressive service runs across the two matches. The team continues to improve its overall play, with stronger passing, setting, and attacking becoming increasingly evident each week.
JV volleyball also faced Schechter on Wednesday and battled through a competitive three-set match before falling 2–1. Maitri Bonthapally provided one of the highlights of the afternoon with an incredible diving play, while Ahna Chakra delivered two successful kills during rallies. Cora Stack led the team in points scored from serving. Perhaps most impressive was the team’s ability to maintain its composure and demonstrate sportsmanship despite some frustrating moments during the match. The Blue and Gold continued to compete with integrity, support one another, and focus on what they could control, providing another great example of our BDS core values in action.
Cross country traveled to Carroll on Wednesday for a challenging meet between two evenly matched teams. While the official final score was not yet available, the competition was incredibly close, and the Blue and Gold put together a terrific effort on one of the toughest courses they have faced this season. Simon Bays, Alana Brown, Raphael Hsia, Kevin Zhou, and Ben Bradshaw were the top five BDS finishers. Alara Cirit, Cyrus Liszt, Mika Elsner, Jeremy Pan, and Raina Tuli also deserve recognition for tackling the biggest hill the team has encountered in a race this fall and finishing strong. It was a great display of determination and perseverance from the entire team.
Thursday brought more excitement as field hockey earned a thrilling 3–2 victory over Nashoba Brooks. The Blue and Gold put together an outstanding team performance, with contributions coming from throughout the roster. Helen Brady stepped into the goalie position for the first time and was terrific, making three crucial saves to help secure the win! Defensively, Lucia Panch, Valentina Hsia, Mira Piechota, Jeanie Panch, and Natalia Sadoway formed a strong defensive wall, consistently disrupting Nashoba Brooks’ attack and transitioning the ball back to their teammates. Offensively, Ursula Douglas and Tallulah Chipman led the scoring effort, helping BDS earn a well-deserved victory. It was a tremendous all-around team performance and an exciting afternoon for the Field Hockey program.
Boys’ varsity soccer also took on Pike on Thursday and battled to a hard-fought 1–1 tie. David Bazile was outstanding in goal, making several important saves to keep the Blue and Gold in the game. Sebastian Quiroz-Attley provided the offensive highlight with a terrific goal, helping BDS earn the draw against a competitive opponent. It was another strong effort from a team that continues to demonstrate determination and resilience throughout the season.
While the week featured some exciting victories, it was equally encouraging to see the growth taking place across all of our teams. Whether battling back from a halftime deficit, developing stronger volleyball fundamentals, conquering a challenging cross country course, or stepping into a new position to help the team, our student-athletes continue to learn important lessons about effort, resilience, teamwork, and leadership.
Looking ahead, one of our favorite Belmont Day traditions is just around the corner! Friday Night Lights returns next Friday as our boys’ and girls’ varsity soccer teams take on Meadowbrook under the lights at Harvard’s Jordan Field. More than just a pair of soccer games, Friday Night Lights is a celebration of school spirit, community, and everything that makes Belmont Day special. With a schoolwide Spirit Day to kick things off, we look forward to seeing students, families, faculty, and alumni come together to cheer on the Blue and Gold. Mark your calendars, break out your BDS gear, and get ready for an epic evening!
Go BDS!
– Stephen Marks, director of athletics
Parents’ Association News
PA Meeting Recordings
A recording of the October Parents’ Association meeting, as well as the presentation deck from assistant head of school Divya Muralidhara’s wayfinding presentation, are now available on the Parent Portal for those who were unable to attend.
We encourage all families to utilize Divya’s presentation as a resource and guide.
Next PA Meeting
Our next meeting will be held on Friday, November 13, at 8:15 a.m. in Coolidge Hall. Stay tuned for details of an exciting agenda that you won’t want to miss.
BDS Connections Walk
Join our next BDS Connections Walk on Thursday, November 5. Meet up right after drop-off at 8:15 a.m. outside Coolidge Hall.
This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know other parents while exploring the beautiful woods around our school.
Parent Book Group
The next parent book group meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 27, at 7:15 p.m. at Menotomy Grill & Tavern in Arlington. This month’s book is Good People by Patmeena Sabit. For the full meeting schedule, please visit the Parent Portal. If you have questions or would like to join the book club email list, please reach out to Karla Bays.
Contacting PA Leadership
At any time and for any reason, please feel free to email us at bdspa@belmontday.org:
- President: Megan Akkina
- Vice President: VJ Patel
- Treasurer: Manish Patel
- Clerk: Prue Clifford
- Community Engagement: CuiCui Chen
Beyond BDS
EXCELLENT ESSAYIST
Eighth Grader Receives Writing Honor
Congratulations to eighth grader Elena Lin, who won a commendation for her essay in the John Locke Essay Competition. The annual essay contest is an international high school-level competition. In the competition, there are three honor levels: a shortlist, then commendations, and 3 top prize winners. The John Locke Institute, which organizes the competition, “encourages young people to cultivate the characteristics that turn good students into great writers: independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis, and persuasive style.”
Elena’s essay was on historic school segregation in New York City and was honored in the History category.
YOUTH THEATER
Be a Part of Aladdin JR. Production This Winter!
Calling all dreamers, adventurers, and future Broadway stars! Ever imagined discovering a magic lamp, befriending a larger-than-life Genie, or soaring over Agrabah on a magic carpet? Well, here’s your chance to step inside the magic!
Young Actors Society (YAS) is bringing Disney’s Aladdin JR. to life this spring, and we’re inviting students in grades 1–9 to join the adventure!
Packed with unforgettable music, colorful characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and a little Disney magic, this exciting production offers young performers the opportunity to build confidence, make new friends, and discover just how much fun theater can be. Whether they’re seasoned performers or taking their very first steps onto the stage, there’s a whole new world waiting for them!
Under the artistic direction of Belmont Day theater teacher Christopher T. Parsons, Young Actors Society is an independent youth theater organization. While YAS is not affiliated with Belmont Day School, the organization rents the school’s Palandjian Arts Center (PAC) for rehearsals and performances.
Rehearsals begin in January, with performances April 9–11, 2027. With two casts, there are even more opportunities for young performers to shine!
Registration is now open! Learn more and register at Young Actors Society.
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.