October 21, 2022
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Working on a project in Mr. Phan’s sixth grade social studies class.
Opening Message
EB = G + A
Liz Gray, Middle School Head
Post Date: October 21, 2022
The phrase “Expedition Behavior = Grace + Awareness” is posted on the wall behind grade six science teacher, Bill Hamilton’s desk. As we started preparing middle school students for our annual fall orientation trips a few weeks ago, Mr. Hamilton offered this simple equation from his extensive background in outdoor education. The equation would serve as a framework for how to be in community with one another successfully, as we embarked on those expeditions.
In my 20+ years of living it as a teacher and administrator, middle school, without a doubt, qualifies as an expedition. It’s got all the elements–a journey, necessary and right-sized risk-taking, excitement, joy, and discovery. Grace shows up in the way faculty and students do their part–plus a little more–and in quickly learning to accept that mistakes are one of the most valuable ways to learn and make good choices going forward. Awareness comes in the form of looking out for our own, as well as others’, needs and interests, and attending to our relationships in an inclusive community that fosters belonging.
Our physical expeditions this year in sixth grade to Thompson Island Outward Bound, in seventh grade to Cardigan Mountain, and in eighth grade to Project Adventure allowed each of us, faculty and students alike, to practice grace and awareness. It looked like students pausing and moving aside on a high ropes element to lend a hand to their classmate who was struggling to make it up to their level, waiting for a friend on the trail, making someone laugh or enjoying some hot chocolate when morale was low and folks were wet and cold from a rainy day, or gathering around a campfire for warmth, s’mores, and shared songs and laughs.
One of the natural and most magical elements of an expedition is the way that one quickly learns that if you enter into it together with others as a group, the only way to come out of it successfully, is with others as a group. It is only satisfying and victory is only achievable if everyone is healthy, well taken care of, feeling safe, and most importantly, all together. After experiencing a group expedition, to come out alone because maybe you ran ahead or got to the top ahead of everyone is just not enough anymore. It no longer satisfies that deep young adolescent need for companionship and integrity.
What could be a better metaphor for the grades 6-8 journey than an expedition? Here, already in October, we are settling into the early stage of our middle school 2022-2023 expedition, and no matter where it leads us this academic year, we are practicing grace and awareness and looking forward to completing it successfully together.
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
TOMORROW! Trunk or Treat
All school and summer camp families are invited to the Belmont Day Auxiliary Programs’ Trunk or Treat event tomorrow, Saturday, October 22, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on the BDS campus. Deck out your car trunks with Halloween or other themed decorations and hand out treats, or come sporting your costumes and participate in a scavenger hunt and other fun activities.
Contact Denali Kikuchi at dkikuchi@belmontday.org with any questions. Car spots are limited. If you still wish to decorate your car for the event and have not pre-registered to do so, please email Denali Kikuchi immediately. If you will not be decorating your car and only wish to attend as a trick-or-treater, please just stop by for the fun.
Find Your Way to Lost & Found
We want to remind everyone of the new location of the school’s Lost & Found (in the front entranceway to Coolidge Hall) and encourage families to please stop by next week and look through the found items. The racks are already loaded with misplaced jackets, hoodies, sweaters, water bottles, and miscellaneous other items. With the weather getting colder, we’d love to get more items returned to their owners before we start finding gloves, hats, and winter coats. We will be clearing out and donating items on a more regular basis throughout the school year. We will announce to the community in the coming weeks when the first round of donations will take place.
NEW DATE: Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Kick-Off
Wednesday, November 2
5:30 to 6 p.m. – reception
6 to 7:30 p.m. – program
Location: Coolidge Hall
Please RSVP here by Tuesday, November 1, at Noon
Please join us for an introductory reception and program with the new equity, inclusion, and belonging team—Connie Yepez, director, and Mike Marroquin-Castillo, assistant director, and Brendan Largay, head of school, to hear about our collective vision for EIB at Belmont Day. All parents and guardians are invited.
Though we cannot provide childcare for this event, we hope this list of babysitters will be helpful to those needing to secure caretakers for their children at home.
If you have any questions, please contact Connie Yepez at cyepez@belmontday.org.
Parking Reminder: Respecting Our Neighbors
We know it is tempting and convenient to park close to the campus to wait for dismissal time or to walk over to meet your child. Please do not park at or before pick-up and drop-off times on the streets close to campus or in Highland Meadow Cemetery. We appreciate your understanding, as we respect our neighbors and surrounding properties. Thank you!
Lunch & Snack Menu
October 24 to October 28
Monday
Snack: apple sauce; Teddy Grahams
Lunch: creamy pesto pasta; pasta with marinara; gluten-free pesto pasta; cauliflower; chef’s choice vegetables and salad; crusty rolls; Romano cheese; mixed fruit; canned fruit; yogurt; milk and water
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Nutri-Grain bars
Lunch: chicken and veggie fried rice; veggie fried rice with tofu; broccoli; Asian greens with soy dressing; fortune cookies; fresh fruit; canned fruit; yogurt; milk and water
Wednesday
Snack: apples; Simply Cheesy Puffs
Lunch: beef burgers with buns; vegan burgers with buns; beef burgers with gluten-free buns; peas; garden salad with ranch dressing; fresh fruit; canned fruit; yogurt; milk and water
Thursday
Snack: clementines; Kettle Chips
Lunch: cheese pizza; pepperoni pizza; gluten-free cheese pizza; sweet corn; Caesar salad; fresh fruit; canned fruit; yogurt; milk, water, and chocolate milk
Friday
Snack: craisins; granola bars
Faculty Lunch
Dining In Coolidge Hall
Along with the main menu, students have access to a hot bar with the “hot veg of the day,” as well as a salad bar with fresh vegetables, fruit, deli meats and cheese, roasted tofu, hummus, organic yogurt, greens and a salad of the day. They also have access to cereal, bread, bagels, cream cheese, Wowbutter, and jellies. 1% milk and soy milk are available.
Each table is set with the entrée of the day. There are plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options for those who follow a specialized diet. We also ask that any children with allergies introduce themselves to the kitchen team so that we can make sure that everyone enjoys a safe meal.
BDS News
COMMUNITY NEWS
Attending On-campus Events
I have heard from a handful of parents wondering if they are able to attend certain on-campus events. After more than two school years of dealing with the pandemic restrictions, any lingering confusion is understandable. As we announced leading up to this school year, in-person community events are back and open to all families!
Spirit Days, sharing assemblies, State of the School, the Thanksgiving Assembly, concerts, and the parents’ association meetings are open to all families, and everyone is encouraged to attend in person. There are some occasions when a venue cannot accommodate all of our students and all the families who may wish to attend. Such is the case with grade-level play performances in the Palandjian Arts Center. For grade-level plays, we can only accommodate families of the students performing. Those plays are recorded and made available for all to enjoy.
Community gatherings are at the heart of what we do here at BDS and I hope everyone can attend one or many throughout the school year. If you ever have a question regarding an event, I encourage you to email Barbara Carey or visit her at the front desk.
– Brendan Largay, head of school
COMMUNITY NEWS
School Photos Now Available to Order
The 2022-23 student and class photos are now available! To sign in to see and/or order photos, please go to Porter Gifford Photography. You will need to enter your email address and the password shared by email to all families on Wednesday.
Porter is offering a complimentary 5×7 class photo to families that place an order of at least $30. The coupon code is classphoto and can be entered at checkout. Since changes to orders cannot be made after the fact, it is important to use this code prior to finalizing your order.
Please note:
- Photos are organized by grade. Scroll down to just beneath the all-school collage for the menu bar where you can select your child’s grade. Students are not identified by name.
- Click on a photo’s shopping basket to see the sizes available and their prices.
- You may purchase just one or an assortment of your child’s/children’s photos. Digital versions are also available.
- Purchased photos will be mailed directly to the address you provide during ordering.
- If you have any questions, please contact porter@portergifford.com.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Presenting the Curriculum Scope and Sequence
I am honored to announce the publication of the new Belmont Day Curriculum Scope and Sequence guide. Across departments and grade levels, teaching faculty thoroughly examined various strands and aspects of their curriculum over the past two years through the strategic lens of excellence. The guide is the product of this work.
The curriculum review process is an integral part of quality academic programs. It provides teachers with an intentional opportunity to reflect on, iterate, and revise their teaching practice. At Belmont Day, this intentionality ensures equity, inclusion, belonging, innovation, assessment, and mission alignment are also part of our academic vision.
The scope and sequence guide serves multiple purposes. It provides a window into the learning happening across the Belmont Day campus and the purposeful building of skills from pre-kindergarten to grade 8. It captures a moment in our institutional history as we examine best practices and curricula to continue inspiring and challenging generations of BDS students. Our curriculum document’s 2022-23 version demonstrates our ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence.
– Nicole Buck, middle school Latin teacher and faculty representative on the board of trustees, on behalf of the Belmont Day School faculty
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Get Excited for Spirit Day & Friday Night Lights on November 4
Spirit Day Parade
8:30 a.m., Far Field
All families are invited to join us on Far Field for Spirit Day! Students, faculty, and families are encouraged to wear their finest Blue & Gold and show their BDS pride. Students will parade with their cross-graded partners, we will have music by the BDS Modern Band Ensemble and a special surprise.
Beginning at 7:45 a.m., there will be coffee, cider, and doughnuts for parents to enjoy before the parade begins in the tent outside Coolidge Hall.
Friday Night Lights
6:15 p.m. – Girls’ Varsity Game
7:30 p.m. – Boys’ Varsity Game
Jordan Field, Harvard University
Friday Night Lights returns to Jordan Field at Harvard University. Our girls’ and boys’ varsity soccer teams will face off against our friendly rival, The Meadowbrook School. The girls’ team will match up first followed by the boys’ team. Join students, faculty, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and friends to fill the stands and show Meadowbrook how much spirit we have!
There will be pizza provided by the parents’ association. Please read the important information in the dropdown below.
Guidelines, Directions & Parking
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 SERVICE
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
Belmont Day students, led by the sixth grade class, have long participated in the annual Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. The donations collected have helped UNICEF in its work to ensure that every child is healthy, educated, protected, and respected.
This Halloween, instead of using the familiar orange collection boxes, participants in the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign will have a completely new and digital experience. Donations will be collected using a QR code—they will help UNICEF deliver health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, and emergency relief to children where—and when—they need it most.
“Add Some Meaning to your Halloweening” and learn more about how to make a positive impact for children through Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.
Download a printable poster with the QR code or get the QR code for your mobile device to collect donations. Click the button below for video directions.
Learning Updates
Kindergarten Carves into a Lesson on Pumpkins
This month, the kindergarten classroom has transformed into a pumpkin patch! Kindergartners have been exploring pumpkins in many different forms. We observed and sketched the outside of an orange pumpkin and then cut it open to observe the inside. Students even had the chance to touch the slimy pulp and try a roasted pumpkin seed snack from the seeds that they had washed and dried. Finally, we took the leftover seeds and planted them. We are excited to monitor these pumpkin seeds over the next few weeks to watch the pumpkin life cycle happen in real-time. Happy harvest!
– The Kindergarten Team
PE Update: Fifth Graders Hit the Trails
The fifth grade physical education program mirrors our seasonal athletics offerings, giving our students experience in each sport before making athletics selections in middle school. Fifth graders spend a lot of time working on sport-specific skills, and they have already completed field hockey, flag football, and soccer units this fall. However, every fifth grader knows there will be no drills, stations, or games on Mondays. Monday is hiking day.
Like many new initiatives, the Monday hikes began in 2021 as a COVID-safe activity. It was a way to reconnect with nature, build fitness, and experience mindful movement on the trail network behind BDS. It was clear that students relished the opportunity to engage with the woods and one another, and it stuck.
This year’s crop of fifth graders is making the most of their Mondays, moving with pace and setting distance records for class hikes, according to their teachers, John O’Neill and Jade Morris.
– Alex Tzelnic, physical education teacher, coach, and mindfulness director
Grade 8 French Students Go Shopping
To make use of recent vocabulary and language structures, eighth grade French students recently set up clothing stores and “shopped” for items for themselves and others. There was some drama, some serious bargaining, and mainly satisfied customers. Afterward, students wrote about their days with a focus on developing the ability to create complex sentences and use the past tense. In other news, French students in seventh and eighth grade just sent their first letters to a group of French students in a school outside Paris!
– Jennifer Friborg, middle school French teacher
Athletics Update: Impressive Week for Field Hockey
With a pair of games against talented opponents on the docket, it was a big week for Belmont Day field hockey. The team opened their week at home against an experienced BB&N squad and battled to a 1-1 tie. BB&N scored early and held off a frantic Belmont Day attack in the final minutes to hold onto the draw. Aria Goodpaster pushed across BDS’ lone goal with four minutes remaining in the contest. In a game where defenses shined, Belmont Day was anchored by Audrey Chuang who received support from Laurice Bandar and Nina Cohen-Perlmutter. Also of note was the play of Sal Pattisal who was active on the wing and helped move the ball up the field into the attacking zone.
The following day, Belmont Day welcomed Austin Prep to campus. In another evenly matched game, the Blue & Gold scored first and never looked back. Aleta Sandoski put AP on their heels after ripping one in on the opening drive and Belmont Day continued to apply pressure for the entire game. In the second frame, Aria Goodpaster added her second goal of the week and Olivia Garrity finished off the scoring late in the game to secure a 3-1 win. Once again, Audrey Chuang was a rock on D and was supported by Olivia Dawson and Siri Paulson. The team will look to keep it rolling next week against Fay.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- The cross country team took home third place in the Middle School Invitational this week. Sam Leviton (3) and Quinn Clark (11) medaled as top 12 finishers. Brendan Bandar ran great.
- Zazoue Marsan and Julia Street brought their A games to parkour this week, showing impressive balance and vaulting technique during outdoor adventures.
- Wyatt Baker’s early touchdown propelled JV football to their first win of the season (38-28) over Shady Hill. Calum Dunbar shined behind center and Jun Murakami scored three times.
- The varsity football team rolled over Shady Hill this week. Gianni Squillante was all over the field, scoring four touchdowns including a sweet pick-six. Rami Flummerfelt also played well.
- The JV soccer team improved to 2-1 with a win over Fayerweather this week. Roudi Youssef had a dominant performance and Elise Goodman contributed on D.
- Boys’ soccer toppled Austin Prep (4-1) and tied Shady Hill (3-3) this week. Owen Bantham-Livermore was dynamic at midfield in both games. Theo Kelman played strong defense.
- Girls’ soccer beat Austin Prep (5-2) and lost to Shady Hill (2-1) this week. Isadora Eiref started both games at center mid, displaying great touch. Alden Largay netted a pair of goals.
Sixth Grade Social Studies Sharpens Writing Skills
– Khang Phan, sixth grade social studies teacher
Parents’ Association News
Volunteers Needed for Friday Night Lights
The parents’ association is looking for a few volunteers to help out during Friday Night Lights, on November 4. The parents’ association will be serving pizza, and we need a small team of parents to help feed our hungry fans! Please sign-up for a shift here, and spend a little time building our community warmth and cheer.
Parent Book Group
The parent book group will meet on Thursday, November 3, at 7:30 p.m. at Trinktisch in Belmont Center to discuss The Candy House by Jennifer Egan. We always love to welcome new members and hope you will join us! The book is episodic, so you can join the discussion even if you aren’t able to read to the end before the book club meets. If you would like to attend or be on our mailing list, please reach out to Karla Bays.
Book Fair
This fall, the parents’ association will partner again with Belmont Books for our annual book fair. The book fair will be held virtually from November 11 through November 18, with an in-store shopping event at Belmont Books on the afternoon of Friday, November 18. Reading lists will be available by grade level, and wish lists will be available for contributions to the Erskine Library. Please stay tuned for more details.
PA Dues
Please consider paying PA dues! The PA helps bring guest speakers and performers to school, supports the parent community, helps support the teachers, and so much more. PA dues are optional but a great way to help our community. We ask you to consider paying $50 per family, but we are happy to accept any amount that works for your family. You can make payment conveniently online with a credit card, debit card, or eCheck (ACH) via the secure BDS PA Payment Portal. Any questions, contact PA treasurer Jeana Colangelo. Thank you!
Beyond BDS
CHARITY DRIVE
Donate Diapers to Help Local Families
The annual Metro-Boston Diaper Drive is back! Did you know that SNAP and WIC benefits do not cover diapers? Please consider donating to help the one in three Massachusetts families struggling to buy enough diapers for their children. All diapers will be donated to the Somerville WIC office, which serves Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Watertown, Lexington, Bedford, Lincoln, and Belmont. Currently, this WIC office serves almost 4650 mothers and their young children.
Please visit mbdiapers.org to make a donation, or you can send diapers directly to WIC by accessing these Amazon and Target registries. This year’s drive will end on October 29. Please help get 70,000 diapers onto the bottoms of babies in the Metro-Boston area!
COMMUNITY EVENT
Love Comics? Check out this great event!
THIS WEEKEND! Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23, you’re invited to the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE), the New England area’s premiere event dedicated to the exciting and accessible art form of independent comics and graphic novels. Each year, MICE plays host to hundreds of independent comics artists and small press publishers alongside thousands of attendees eager to check out new comics, join in on hands-on workshops, and attend inclusive panel discussions. Now returning in person and to a new venue at Boston University’s School of Visual Arts. MICE is a free-to-attend event for comics readers of all ages excited to dive into the latest comics. Click here for more information.
THEATER PERFORMANCE
Shakespeare at the Cambridge Library
The Frances Addelson Shakespeare Players will present William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Main Library Lecture Hall on November 6 from 2 to 4 p.m., on November 8 from 6 to 8 p.m., and on November 12 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Widely considered Shakespeare’s best comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is also, of all his plays, most accessible to youngsters. To better accommodate families, November 6 and 12 will be weekend matinée performances. For more information and to register, click here.
COMMUNITY EVENT
Portraits of Pride Photo Series on Display in Boston
Visit the Boston Common to see Portraits of Pride–this exhibition is on display now through October 29 in celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month.
The exhibit features 8-foot-tall portraits of local LGBTQ leaders from a variety of backgrounds and industries (public service, entrepreneurship, business, law, and more), shot by world-renowned photographer John Huet. Accompanying each portrait is a statement of what pride means to the photo’s subject. This one-of-a-kind exhibit honors the rich history of Boston’s LGBTQ+ community and the many contributions the area’s LGBTQ+ leaders have made to the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights in Massachusetts and beyond.
The exhibit is free and open to all. For more information, click here.
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