Beyond the Classroom
There have been so many opportunities over the past few months for our students, faculty/staff, and families to enjoy learning experiences far beyond the confines of the classroom. This is all thanks to robust, exciting student life and community service initiatives. From our youngest students involved in Affinity Group-led diversity awareness assembly programs and being mentored in hands-on STEM workshops... to Middle and Upper School student leaders of clubs that are focused on the arts, identity, community service and specific interest areas ... our mission is fully in action through D-E’s co-curricular offerings.
The D-E Garden Club, Jazz Rock, INSPIRE ( Introducing New Solutions to Promote Integrity & Respect Everywhere), WISE (Women in STEM Education), JADE (Jewish Awareness at D-E); GSA (Gender & Sexuality Awareness) and Spoonies ( a club dedicated to raising awareness about Chronic Illness) are just a few examples of clubs that have made a wonderful, positive impact on the School over the past few months.
The photos here provide just a sampling of these activities; please see the following pages for more specific examples of our students doing their part to ‘make it better’ through fundraising programs including V-Day 2023 and Art in Action, and affinity group activities celebrating differences.
D-E Senior Shares Her Self-Published Book with PreK 4
In a continuation of the “Small Story” book project initiated by Grade 11 Dean Tuc for her Creative Writing class, Upper School students joined the PreK 4 class in the Lower School (LS) for a lesson on author pages. “In their small groups, students will learn about...
Falling Leaves and Singing Acorns: Preschoolers Find Music in the Changing Season
Submitted by Lisa Dove
Making a Difference: Third Graders Lead the Charge for Soldiers and Neighbors
Submitted by Rachel Brainin and Michelle Sussmann, Third Grade Teachers
Building Strong Readers and Writers Through Morphology
Submitted by Mara Trager, Literacy Specialist 3-5
‘Mostly Miles’ Jazz Brunch 2025 is Sunday, Nov. 23!
Our jazz musicians are hard at work rehearsing for Jazz Brunch 2025! D-E’s Stage Band and Jazz Workshop ensembles will perform this annual concert on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 12 PM in Hajjar Auditorium. Director Rob DeBellis has shared that the concert theme is “Mostly...
D-E Faculty/Staff Reflect on the Idea of ‘Mattering’ with Author Jennifer Wallace
“Students are crushed by an unrelenting drive to succeed and then climb even higher...” A series of conversations about the book Never Enough, which delves into the pressure our kids feel to achieve and how a strong sense of “mattering” can act as a buffer to this...
That’s a Wrap on ‘A Monster Calls’
Bravo! The cast and crew wrapped up an amazing series of performances this weekend of “A Monster Calls,” in which the haunting set, created in large part by D-E students with symbolic elements to communicate a sense of entrapment, blended seamlessly with the artistry...
11/14/25 Interim Grades Message for Grades 7 & 8
11/14/25: Learning to Climb: Reflecting on Confidence & Care
Mr. Daly Offers a Thoughtful Perspective on ‘The Merchant of Venice’
The 10th Annual Leggett-Umpleby Lecture was brought to us by Mr. Fred Daly, who is in his 46th year of teaching and 31st year at D-E, 20 years of which were spent as the English Department Chair. He also founded the D-E Shakespeare Society, now in its 17th year. Mr....