Annie Fuerst, director of innovation, presented a session titled “Not Just Cool Tools: Redefining Innovation in Schools.” Annie guided participants in exploring how the future of education isn’t just about the latest tech but about fostering timeless skills like collaboration and creative problem-solving.

Both Brit and Annie were also selected as peer coaches for MassCUE Connections, a new program offering one-on-one coaching sessions designed to share insights and spark new ideas with fellow educators.

The highlight of this year’s conference came on Thursday afternoon, when four Belmont Day seventh and eighth graders joined middle school science teachers Bill Hamilton and Maggie Small to present “Letting Go of Done: Student Reflections on Valuing Process Over Product.” Eighth graders Ashley Fleming and Ewan Wheeler, along with seventh graders Ashwin Balakrishnan and Indira Yeshwant, captivated their audience as they shared how the STEAM Expo at BDS taught them the importance of iteration and that the journey often matters more than the finished project. Our students truly shone during the Q&A session, guiding educators in considering how they might bring a little bit of the Belmont Day magic back to their own schools.

Sharing their reflections with a wider community of educators was an invaluable experience for our students, reminding them that their voices and ideas have real impact beyond our campus. And, of course, getting to watch the Patriots practice and taking home plenty of swag didn’t hurt either!

– Annie Fuerst, director of innovation

The girls’ varsity soccer team traveled to Austin Prep and, despite dominating possession throughout the entire game, they couldn’t find the back of the net and fell 0–1. Bea Stevenson once again applied tremendous pressure up front, while Abigail Chang was a force on defense, helping to keep the game close until the very end.

Boys’ varsity football continues its dominance, extending its record to 6–0 with three games to report on. The team earned impressive wins over Schechter (26–6), BB&N (18–6), and DCD (19–13). Even more impressive than their record has been their teamwork and sportsmanship on the field, especially in the last two weeks. Aiden Su proved to be a crucial defensive presence in the wins over Schechter and BB&N, consistently pulling flags as a linebacker and stopping opponents in their tracks. Fergus Fagenholz has been a major impact player as a receiver, making clutch touchdown catches, including the game-winning score versus DCD with just two minutes remaining. Meanwhile, Lee Piechota has been a force on both sides of the ball, making huge plays at safety against BB&N and hauling in multiple deep touchdown passes across several games.

The varsity volleyball team hosted British International School of Boston, proudly donning their new uniforms and bringing incredible energy to the court. BDS nearly pulled off an amazing comeback in the second set but came up just short. Shoutout to Dalia DiCrescenzo, who demonstrated great coachability and was easily the loudest and most spirited athlete on the court, and to Kaia Wentzell, who impressed with strong passing despite having had just one practice with the varsity squad before her first game.

Boys’ JV soccer earned a huge win over Fenn this week. After falling behind 1–0 early in the first half, the team rallied to secure a thrilling 2–1 victory in a tightly contested and physical match. The final minutes were intense as Fenn applied heavy pressure, but the BDS defense was stellar, holding firm to preserve the win.

Boys’ varsity soccer dropped a tough one to Austin Prep, 1–6. Murilo Santos scored again and was involved in most of the team’s offensive opportunities. Clark Rutherford played hard all game, filling multiple positions, while Rubin Xiao and Ben Street anchored the defensive end and helped limit further scoring chances.

Cross country continues to impress, pulling off an outstanding one-point victory over a talented Shady Hill team, 28–29. Personal records (PRs) were achieved by Matilda O’Sullivan, Iris Xu, Ben Bradshaw, and all three eighth-grade captains, Zoe Bantham-Livermore, Eden O’Sullivan, and Reema Wulfsberg. Maren Whitman also ran a strong race, contributing to the narrow and exciting win. The team’s effort and consistency have been nothing short of exceptional!

Field hockey came away with a huge 1–0 victory over Austin Prep. Josie Goldstyn netted the only goal of the game to secure the win, while Sophie Cutie anchored the defense, making key stops and preventing multiple shots on goal. Her communication and flexibility across positions were vital to the team’s success. Both teams played fiercely from start to finish in an exciting, well-fought match.

The boys’ JV flag football team put forth a strong effort in their game against DCD, ultimately falling 36–26 in a high-scoring matchup. Jonathan Deng was electric on the field, scoring three touchdowns and grabbing an interception on defense. Raffi Balikian also found the end zone, adding a touchdown of his own. Despite the loss, the team showed tremendous effort and teamwork throughout the game, continuing to build momentum for the rest of the season.

Needless to say, it’s been a very busy week, and it’s only getting more exciting. We hope to see you tonight for Friday Night Lights at Harvard. GO BDS!

– Stephen Marks, director of athletics