Our youngest ones have so much wisdom to offer us. Former librarian and now 3rd grade teacher, Rachel Brainin carries on the legacy of Sheila Sienicki and maintains the publication’s spirit. Rather than having students strive to be published, D-Escribe is an open opportunity to explore writing prompts and styles. Teachers mainly submit work from the Units of Study, while also offering students creative prompts to play with style and content.
“Writing is sometimes very prescribed, so the open-ended prompts provide us with more exciting stories. I had a kid who didn’t like to write but then couldn’t stop writing about dinosaurs. In any free moment he had, he would say, ‘can I work on my dinosaurs?’”
Rather than having students strive to be published, D-Escribe is an open opportunity to explore writing as an artistic medium. Rachel hopes to continue to build upon D-Escribe’s wonderful history and to continue to inspire young students.
Beyond the Classroom: D-E’s Fall Trips
Fall trips, both overnight and full-day outings, are a rite of passage for D-E’s Middle School and Upper School students. These trips provide opportunities for student bonding, experiential learning, and, in some instances, community service. This year, 7th graders...
10.7.26 Information on Photos & Parking
A Return to Her Roots: An Environmentalist Alumna Visits Campus
D-E alumna and environmentalist Wendy Gordon Rockefeller ’75 returned to campus today for a tour of the Nettie-Louise Coit Teaching Garden and a chance to share her passion for environmental stewardship with students. Ms. Gordon began her day with 6th Grade Dean Ms....
Chuseok & Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration Highlights
The Chuseok/Mid-Autumn Festival, hosted by the Chinese Culture Club (CCC) and Korean Culture Club (KCC), returned to the Wharton Lessin Dining Hall last week for East Asian snacks, mooncake making, and more. World Language Chair Mr. Mike Hegedus, CCC faculty advisor,...
10.6.26 October Dean Updates
Counting Isn’t As Easy as 1-2-3
Submitted by Jannet Park, LS Math Specialist
One Word For a Great Year
Submitted by: Rachel Brainin and Michelle Sussmann, Third Grade Teachers
6th Graders Build Connections Through Design Thinking
This year, 6th graders engaged in hands-on learning and design thinking through the first-ever BRIDGE Week, an experience 6th grade faculty created to help students build connections with one another, their teachers, and their new Middle School community. BRIDGE...
Third Graders Make a Difference, One Bracelet at a Time
Third Graders Making a Difference (TGMD), a service-learning initiative organized by 3rd grade teachers Ms. Michelle Sussmann and Ms. Rachel Brainin P’23, ’25, encouraged students to start the year by thinking of a word that would inspire them to have a great year....
Seniors Enjoy a Day of Friendship, Fall Fun, and Firsts
A D-E tradition recently passed down to the Class of 2027 when seniors visited Apple Ridge Orchards in Warwick, NY, for their grade-level field trip. “Apple picking has been the senior trip since the fall of 2021,” said Dean Stephanie “Tuc” Tucker. In addition to...








