September 29, 2023
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We were going every which way in PE this week!
Opening Message
The Key Ingredient In This Very Special Place
Brendan Largay, Head of School
Post Date: September 29, 2023
There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about. – Meg Wheatley
A question that I get this time of year from prospective families considering where to send their children for these fundamentally critical years is a simple one: what distinguishes Belmont Day from its peers?
As those who know me might suspect, my first answer to such a question is, “How much time do you have?” Of course, I speak to our mission, faculty, facilities, and core values. I speak to the power of an intentional public speaking curriculum, a student-centered pedagogy, the development of student agency, and the authentic commitment to the whole child across their academic, artistic, athletic, and social-emotional development. I speak to the promise of excellence across the program. I speak to the joy at the heart of all we do.
Of course, I also speak to one other ingredient of the magic that makes Belmont Day such a special place: the community. The difference that I try to articulate for families is that, somehow, the community here is different. “You understand it once you’re here” is a common refrain I hear from families (especially those in their first or second years at BDS), and they’re right. The community at Belmont Day has a unique magic to it.
My best assessment of where that magic comes from is rooted in things old and new. The old? We often turn to the school’s founding as the basis for our community strength: parents searching for something more for their children founded the school in 1927. That DNA threads through the century to today, where we aim to honor the partnership between parent and school to ensure that we all share in the common goal of inspiring and challenging our students. And the new? Parent volunteering at Belmont Day is a leader in the pre-kindergarten to eighth grade field: all of our parents are members of the Corporation that is BDS, but more than that, over 90% of them volunteer over the course of a given year. That statistic is staggering enough on its own. When one comes to see what those volunteers do for our school—as mystery readers, library helpers, annual fund donors, Pumpkin Patch vendors, Fall Fest crafters, or grade parents—a community that seeks to embrace the core value of caring for one another, for our students and for our school is discovered.
So, what has me waxing on about the magic of Belmont Day’s community? The magnitude of its presence in the opening days of our school year. (You can hear me knocking on wood as I write this next line.) It’s beautifully pre-pandemic. We had nearly 100 parents show up for our first Parents’ Association meeting of the year. Fall Fest featured over 200 families on an overcast Saturday afternoon last weekend, and playfulness and happiness were apparent in abundance. Last night, our grade-level socials kicked off with the second and fifth grades, and it was so clear how eager everyone was to connect again. It feels different: folks looking for something with a bit more intention and a ton more joy.
So, as the new admissions season kicks off, I can’t wait to be asked what makes Belmont Day such a special place.
Upcoming Events
Coming Up This Week
Monthly Calendar
Open House Lawn Signs Available
Please help us introduce new families to Belmont Day. Our lawn signs are available and are an easy and effective way for us to get the word out about the upcoming open house events.
If you’re interested in grabbing a sign for your lawn, please email Judy Bright. Thank you!
Trunk-or-Treat Event
Join us on Saturday, October 21, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for Trunk-or-Treat. This event is hosted by our auxiliary programs department and will bring our summer camp community back to campus to enjoy an afternoon of fall fun alongside our After School Program students. Everyone in the school community is invited to join us!
There will be trunk-or-treating, scavenger hunts, snacks, drinks, music, and other fun activities. There is no need to RSVP, and you do not have to decorate a trunk to attend. We hope you can join us in your favorite costume or outfit to gather with the auxiliary programs community to share in some fall joy.
SIGN UP to decorate your trunk! If you would like to decorate your trunk and reserve a parking space, please sign up here, as space is limited. Please reach out to Denali Kikuchi with questions.
PA Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser
The parents’ association’s annual Pumpkin Patch Sale will be held Tuesday to Thursday, October 10-12, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m. outside Coolidge Hall. Field pumpkins, sugar pumpkins, mini pumpkins, mini gourds, and potted mums will be available to purchase. Families may also choose to donate mini pumpkins for faculty and potted mums for classrooms to show their appreciation. All students are encouraged to enter our fun, fall-themed contests. Hope to see you there!
Volunteers Needed Please sign up here if interested.
If you have any questions, please contact Cathy Fullerton, Celeste Peterson, or Christina Cosman.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Book Group
Join us each month for an informal, parent-led DEIB book group focusing on books written from the perspectives of marginalized communities. All BDS-affiliated parents/caregivers and faculty are welcome.
The first meeting will be on Wednesday, October 11 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The club will be discussing Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder.
Please reach out to Danielle England or Christina Cosman for more information. The Zoom link will be available on the Book Groups page on the Parent Portal.
Lunch & Snack Menu
October 2 to October 6
Monday
Snack: mixed fruit cup; tortilla chips
Lunch: penne pasta with marinara; gluten-free penne pasta with marinara; Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots; crusty rolls; greens with balsamic
Tuesday
Snack: bananas; Popcorners
Lunch: soy ginger braised chicken thighs; soy ginger braised tofu; white rice; fortune cookies; steamed broccoli; garden salad with tomatoes, cukes, and honey mustard dressing
Wednesday
Snack: clementines; Cheez-Its
Lunch: beef hot dogs; vegan hot dogs; beef hot dogs with gluten-free buns; peas and corn; creamy coleslaw
Thursday
Snack: apple slices; Sun Chips
Lunch: cheese pizza; pepperoni pizza; vegan cheese pizza; gluten-free cheese pizza; roasted butternut squash; Caesar salad
Friday
Snack: apples; blueberry muffins
Faculty Lunch
For a more detailed and updated weekly menu, please click the button below.
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 EVENT
Fall Fest 2023: Celebrating the Season and Our Community
A little rain was no match for the Belmont Day community last Saturday. Thank you to everyone who attended Fall Fest and made the event so special. The warmth and camaraderie found inside the Barn gym was the perfect way to start the fall season. We hope you enjoyed sipping a latte, listening to The Adam Hanna Band, watching our students making seasonal crafts, bouncing in the bouncy house, or having their faces painted, and just relaxing and chatting with friends, old and new. Click here to check out some Fall Fest photos.
And a great big THANK YOU to all of the amazing volunteers who offered their time and talents to make the event a success.
We’re already looking ahead to next fall and we’d love to get your thoughts on this year’s Fall Fest and how we can make the event even better. Please use the link to take a quick survey so we can get your feedback while it’s fresh. Thank you!
– The Development Office team
PARENT EDUCATION
Parents’ Independent School Network (PIN) Meetings Planned
All Belmont Day parents and guardians are welcome to attend the informational meetings planned throughout the school year by the Parents’ Independent School Network (PIN). PIN facilitates communication, promotes parental networking and awareness, and provides programs to New England area member independent school communities.
The first meeting (all meetings are held via Zoom) will take place on Wednesday, October 4 at 12 p.m. The topic will be “Establishing and Maintaining Healthy Friendships: Helping Kids Navigate Their Ever-Changing Social World,” and will feature Katy Boucher, founder and director of The Accord School and expert in childhood social skills. Click here to register to attend. A Zoom link will be sent upon registration.
For a full schedule of meetings, topics, and speakers, visit the PIN page on the Parent Portal.
CAMPUS TRAFFIC
Please Slow Down, Use Caution During Arrival, Dismissal
Since the start of the school year, faculty members who assist at drop-off and pick-up have witnessed and tried to stop various driver behaviors that could put others at risk. The most significant and concerning of these behaviors is vehicles going too quickly. The maximum speed on campus at all times is 10 MPH.
We remind parents and caregivers of our shared responsibility to ensure safety during daily drop-off and pick-up times. These are high-traffic periods for vehicles and pedestrians, and the risk of injury to students, faculty, and families is potentially high.
In the dropdown below are the full traffic guidelines for vehicles on the Belmont Day campus.
Traffic Guidelines
Distracted Driving: Frequently, drivers are texting, reading, and talking on their cell phones while driving through campus. Please do not engage in these activities while driving on campus—or anywhere!
Follow Traffic Flow Directions: Please follow all instructions from those directing traffic. Our goal is to move vehicles through the line as quickly and as safely as possible. At the busiest times, we work to avoid traffic backing up onto Concord Avenue, which can raise concerns from our neighbors and the Town of Belmont, so please pull up as directed.
Stay in Designated Pick-up Areas: Please do not circumvent the pick-up line by pulling to the side and “standing” in the Coolidge parking lot and having your child meet you there. Students crossing through the parking lots with so many moving cars creates a potentially dangerous situation. Cars standing in the Coolidge lot also impede the flow of traffic.
Observe the 10 MPH Speed Limit: After the morning drop-off and afternoon dismissal, parents have been observed speeding through campus when there are no lines. Drivers should observe a 10 m.p.h. speed limit at all times.
Hi, then Bye!: We love to say hi and catch up, but please avoid starting conversations with faculty or fellow parents in the drop-off and pick-up areas at peak times. Even a quick chat in line can have a big ripple effect.
Front Door Dismissal:
- Cars must line up in two lines along Coolidge Lane and then alternate entry into the front circle as directed by a faculty member.
- Do not park on Coolidge Lane during drop-off and dismissal times. Parked cars severely disrupt the flow of traffic during these times.
- Do not block the crosswalk where Coolidge Lane turns into the front circle.
- Do not speed up to jump ahead of the line. Please wait until turning into the front circle to wave to your child to come to your car. If students try to reach their cars before then, faculty directing traffic often cannot see children attempting to cross the inside lane to get to their car in the outside lane.
Safety is every community member’s responsibility. We ask for your cooperation by driving slowly, following directions, and avoiding distractions during pick-up and drop-off.
HEALTH NEWS
Reminder: Belmont Day’s 2023-24 COVID-19 Guidelines
A number of parents have recently reached out with questions related to COVID-19. In light of those inquiries, we thought it would be useful to share our school’s 2023-24 COVID-19 guidelines again. The school continues to follow CDC guidelines along with recommendations from the state regarding COVID-19 protocols, and we will update the community immediately should we make any changes to our guidelines.
Our guidelines are detailed in the dropdown below. For any questions regarding COVID-19 and Belmont Day’s guidelines, please contact Lauren Connors, school nurse, at 617-932-3901 or lconnors@belmontday.org.
Thank you for your family’s continued efforts to keep our community safe and healthy.
– Lauren Connors, school nurse
COVID-19 Guidelines
Vaccines
Vaccines continue to be the best way to protect individuals against the effects of COVID-19. The school encourages everyone who is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and booster to do so. The vaccine offers an individual level of protection but also reduces the burden of COVID-19 on schools, healthcare systems, and communities.
Individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should remain home and are encouraged to test.
Possible symptoms include:
- Fever (100 degrees or higher), or chills or shaking chills
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- New loss of taste or smell
- Muscles aches and body aches
- Cough (not due to other known causes, does not include chronic cough)
- Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, when in combination with other symptoms
- Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
- Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
- Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other causes such as allergies), when in combination with other symptoms
- Individuals who present with COVID-19 symptoms while at school:
Symptomatic individuals will be sent home and allowed to return to school:
- If symptoms remain mild/are improving and test negative
- If a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis
- If they are fever-free, without the use of fever-reducing medications for 24 hours, and have a negative COVID test
- If they are vomit/diarrhea-free for 24 hours without the use of medication and have a negative COVID test
- Surveillance testing is no longer performed at school.
Individuals who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, must isolate for five full days:
- The first day of symptoms is considered Day 0.
- If a person is asymptomatic, the day of the positive test is considered Day 0.
Returning to School
Individuals may return to school on Day 6 if they are asymptomatic or if symptoms are resolving or much improved and they have remained fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication. A negative test is not required to return to school.
- Masks are required to be worn while at Belmont Day through Day 10.
- Students will eat separately through Day 10 in a designated area determined by the health office.
Masks
Masks are no longer required or recommended at school unless an individual is returning from isolation. For any individual who wishes to continue to mask, they will be supported in that choice.
Quarantine and Contact Tracing
Quarantine and contact tracing are no longer required or recommended for individuals exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. All exposed persons may continue to attend school as long as they remain asymptomatic.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Kick-off Meeting of Braiding Different Strands
The first meeting of Braiding Different Strands for the school year will be held on Tuesday, October 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Kiva. Please RSVP.
At our first meeting, we will introduce ourselves and engage in community-building activities as well as brainstorm topics for future gatherings. We welcome and encourage all community members to join us in these conversations. The full schedule of meetings for the year is in the dropdown below.
If you have any questions, please contact Connie Yepez, director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, or Mike Marroquin-Castillo, assistant director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Meeting Schedule
Mark your calendars for future meetings:
- November 7, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Location: Kiva
- December 5, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Location: Zoom
- January 11, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Location: TBD
- February 6, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Location: TBD
- March 5, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Location: TBD
- April 2, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Location: TBD
- May 7, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Location: TBD
- June 3, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Location: TBD
ADMISSIONS NEWS
Sibling Applications Now Being Accepted for Pre-k and Grade 6
We welcome parents of current Belmont Day students who have a child who is eligible for pre-kindergarten or sixth grade admission (for pre-k, students must turn four by September 1, 2024) to participate in our early admissions process for siblings. The preliminary application must be submitted by Monday, October 30, 2023, for your child to receive this priority consideration. If you submit by this early deadline, you will also receive early notification of admission.
Families should visit Ravenna, create an account, or add an additional student to an existing account, and then add Belmont Day School. You will see detailed information about the necessary steps and things you must complete for your application. The deadline for submitting all supplemental application materials is Monday, December 4, 2023. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Liz Parfit, director of admissions, by email or 617-932-3884.
Learning Updates
Middle School Spanish Students Honor Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month is a national celebration to recognize the contribution of the Hispanic and Latinx communities to the United States. Middle school Spanish students at Belmont Day are showing joy and respect by honoring the language and culture of the Hispanic communities. In sixth grade, students learned the capitals, flags, and locations of the Spanish-speaking countries and researched some of the leaders in different industries. Seventh graders created a presentation and a bulletin board to inform and encourage the BDS community to attend the events happening in the Boston area to celebrate the month. And our eighth grade Spanish students created colorful and creative displays with some facts about Hispanic Heritage Month. Check out those displays around the Barn!
– Ana Maria Restrepo, Spanish teacher
Athletics Update: Goal Line Stand Lifts Varsity Football Over Park
There are only two returning players on this year’s varsity football team, but last year’s frustrating one-point loss at home to Park was still fresh in the minds of Rami Flummerfelt and Andrew Green. Hungry for some redemption, the veteran duo led their teammates down to Park this week looking to even the score. Once again, Park proved to be a formidable opponent, bringing speed and athleticism on both sides of the ball. However, Belmont Day was up for the challenge and matched Park play for play. In a back-and-forth game, neither team gave an inch and Belmont Day clung to a 33-28 lead with under a minute to play. Park quickly moved the ball up the field, but their drive stalled around the seven-yard line where Belmont Day forced a fourth-and-goal. With 26 seconds left on the clock, Park’s final play would decide the game. Looking to walk away with another one-point win, Park’s ball carrier made a cut to the end zone and appeared to have a lane, but Green shot up into the hole and stuffed the run at the one yard line to save the game and ice the win. Even though Green made the final play, Coach McGhee credited the defensive play of the entire team with the win. “The team worked hard today, communicated well on the field, and competed.” Offensively, Belmont Day received touchdowns from Rami Flummerfelt, Kaden Flummerfelt, Calum Dunbar, and Foster Larabee. The team will take its 2-0 record on the road to Fenn next week.
– John O’Neill, director of athletics
Athletics News
- Sami Cuming’s stellar defense led the girls’ varsity team to a 1-1 draw against Park. Belmont Day’s only goal came on a beautiful corner from Cassie Greiner to Lila Green.
- The varsity volleyball team beat Shady Hill 2-0 (25-16 / 25-20) this week. Zach Cash had 11 points on the serve and Roudi Youseff made some great passes on big points.
- The XC team ran down Fenn, Nashoba, and LCA for a commanding win in their quad-meet. Quinn Clark (3rd), Alexander Meredith (6th), and Clive Sutton (9th) all ran hard.
- The boys’ varsity soccer team squandered a 2-0 lead, losing 3-2 at Park this week. Sam Rodriguez and Vicente Aguerrevere tallied the goals on assists from Murilo Santos and Owen Bantham-Livermore.
- Laurice Bandar opened the scoring, but Park answered with five straight in field hockey’s 5-1 loss. Ella Kamenski and Olivia Garrity played great and had multiple chances on net.
Latin Students Learn Concept of An ‘Inflected Language’
A main concept of students’ work in Latin is understanding the idea of Latin as an inflected language, i.e. a language in which the ending of a word determines its meaning and function, not its placement in the sentence as in English. This week in seventh grade Latin, students examined the relationship between verbs and pronouns while keeping the idea of inflected language in mind. Using manipulatives, a catchy song, and repeated practice, students are reviewing and learning personal verb endings, recognizing new pronouns, and identifying the verb as the subject even when the subject is not clearly stated in a sentence. We will then enhance our understanding of conjugating verbs and inflected language by intentionally shuffling the words, removing pronouns, and omitting subjects in Latin sentences to continue decoding meaning.
– Nicole Buck, Latin teacher
Fourth Graders Design, Build, and Then Hide Mysterious Creatures
This summer, rising fourth graders read Bob, a novel by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead, that tells the story of a mysterious green creature in a chicken suit. As we came back from summer vacation, students dove into creating their own ‘Bobs’, based on descriptions given in the novel. They used the engineering design process, new tools, and lots of communication and teamwork skills to ensure their Bobs were creatively finished on time. Students then hid their Bobs (with an attached QR code) around the school and collected data on how many times each Bob was found by the BDS faculty. We are analyzing the data in math class and are looking forward to the other engineering design projects we will have this year.
– Emily Crawford, fourth grade teacher
Lollipops and Rainbows in Fifth Grade Math
Fifth graders are practicing their factorization skills by creating posters that showcase different strategies for finding the factors of a given number. Utilizing either the “lollipop” or “rainbow” method, students used their multiplication skills to break numbers apart into their composite multiplication equations. These colorful posters help anchor these core concepts more deeply in students’ minds and serve as a resource for future factor problems.
– Patrick Murray, fifth grade teacher
Parents’ Association News
Fall Socials
Fall parent socials are underway and not to be missed! The socials run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and are adults-only. Please contact your grade parents with questions. The remaining dates are:
- Thursday, October 12 – grade 1, grade 3, grade 8
- Thursday, October 19 – grade 4, grade 6
- Thursday, November 2 – pre-k, kindergarten, grade 7
Fall Flower Fundraiser
The flower bulb sale is back, for two weeks only. Bulbs purchased during the Fall Flower Fundraiser will be shipped directly to your home in time to plan this fall and enjoy beautiful flowers come spring. Fifty percent of the profits will go toward the PA’s Faculty and Staff Appreciation Fund. Planting bulbs is easy and fun to do with kids, and will help the BDS community. Click here to place your orders.
Parent Book Group
Our first parent book group gathering will be at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3, at the Menotomy Grill and Tavern in Arlington. We will discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. If you haven’t finished the book and don’t mind spoilers, please don’t be shy, we would love to see you. If you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact Karla Bays.
Woodland Walk with BDS Connections
The parents’ association BDS Connections committee will host a woodland walk on Tuesday, October 24 at 8:15 a.m. Connect with old friends and make some new ones while enjoying the fall color and exploring the trails in the nearby Lone Tree Hill conservation land. The walk will take approximately 45 minutes. Please gather outside the Coolidge/PAC entrance. Dogs are welcome. (The rain date is Wednesday, November 8.)
Library Shelving
Parent volunteers are needed regularly throughout the school year to help with re-shelving books in the Erskine Library. This is a great volunteer opportunity for people who need flexibility and like to work quietly and at their own pace. Please contact Susie Kim to get started.
PA Meeting
Please join us for our next PA meeting on Friday, October 13 at 8:30 a.m. in Coolidge Hall. All parents and guardians of BDS students are members of the PA and are welcome to join any PA meeting. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Coffee Before Sharing Assemblies
We hope you will join us for a cup of coffee before all Sharing Assemblies this year in the Barn lobby. Check the BDS calendar for dates.
PA Contacts
At any time and for any reason, please feel free to email the parents’ association executive team at bdspa@belmontday.org:
- President – Karla Bays
- Vice President – Courtney Queen
- Treasurer – Andy Stevenson
- Clerk – Gigi Saltonstall
Beyond BDS
COMIC BOOK FESTIVAL
THIS WEEKEND! Check Out New Comics, Graphic Novels
The annual Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE) is on Saturday and Sunday, September 30 and October 1.
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. MICE is a free-to-attend event for comics readers of all ages excited to dive into the latest comics has to offer. The event will be held at Boston University’s School of Visual Arts. For more information and to RSVP to attend, click here.
Return to the Parent Portal
