Valerie Berrios

By: Valerie Berrios •

D-E Performing Arts is excited to present the Upper School production of […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

In celebration of Black History Month, the Black Affinity student organization presented […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

What a treat! D-E’s Lower School students in D-E 360°’s AfterCare & […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

A recent Upper School (US) Assembly, presented by the Eastern European Culture […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

Drum roll, please! In his first year at D-E, Jean-Marie Collatin is […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

MADE (Manga and Anime at D-E) and the Drama Club recently hosted […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

Last week, D-E's Model United Nations (D-EMUN) team competed at AMUN, hosted […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

WOW & Cheers to Coach Alex Kuchar, D-E Varsity Boys Basketball Coach, […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

Award-winning author Reyna Grande recently visited D-E’s 7th graders, who read her […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

So sweet! Our Lower School (LS) students donned bright smiles and their […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

D-E student leaders connect to create change! Seven Upper School students traveled […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

The Middle School (MS) Girls Affinity Group gathered for a Galentine’s Day […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

Nice shots! Check out the Winter season highlights for Middle School Girls and Boys Basketball. Go Bulldogs!!

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By: Valerie Berrios •

On Wednesdays we wear pink… Rehearsals are well under way for D-E […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

Yesterday our Bulldog Ice Hockey Club Team secured a big win during […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

D-E Middle School students taking Grade 6 Dean Tasha Urbanowski’s DIG (“D-E […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

The Jewish Parent Affinity Group (JPAG) recently hosted a meaningful Shabbat Dinner […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

D-E music students recently had the unique privilege of a visit and […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

This week’s DogPound Update spotlights our Middle School (MS) Girls’ Basketball Team, […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

On Saturday, February 1, D-E hosted and participated in the MathCounts Bergen/Hudson […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

D-E’s Club Être recently took a field trip to Skadden, Arps, Slate, […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

Two of our Middle School Discovery Classes on “In the News and […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

The sixth grade Identity Unit, for which the theme was how we are what we eat, culminated recently with a presentation in Hajjar Auditorium and a food festival in the Wharton Lessin Dining Hall. More than 30 tables displayed sweets, savories, and beverages, from Indian samosas to Puerto Rican coquito, representing students’ cultures and family traditions. “Every student had a role in the celebration, including reading parts of their work, sharing the process, or showcasing part of their project,” says Ms. Sarah Macone, Grade 6 English Teacher. Cayla R. ’31 says the English project was her favorite because, “I wrote about how my grandma had taught me how to make matzah ball soup and how we have made it together every Passover for as long as I can remember.” Of the unit, Cole M-H. ’31 says, “It was surprising how many cultures and ethnicities we have at D-E, yet we all work together as one collective community.” Cheers to all our sixth graders!

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By: Valerie Berrios •

D-E’s new Squash Club Team has had a splendid inaugural season thus […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

Now through Wednesday, Feb. 26, the Swartley Gallery Series features 2D and 3D artwork from AP Studio Art students Sydney Adekanbi ’25, Daniela Delyusto ’25, Niki Donath ’25, Ben Gmyrek ’25, Olivia Kachikian ’25, Casey Law ’25, Elilee Ram ’25, Isabella Moon ’26, and Nisha Rajan ’26. Earlier today this work was celebrated in an official reception welcoming students, faculty/staff and family friends.

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By: Valerie Berrios •

D-E celebrated Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake, with a series of incredible events over the course of the week, including a faculty and staff luncheon, Lower School activity stations, and Middle and Upper School Assembly programs featuring a dragon dance, an all-division choral concert, an umbrella dance, and a pop-influenced vocal group consisting of Mandarin class seniors. Activities concluded with a dumpling-making demonstration in the Wharton Lessin Dining Hall as well as craft stations for students, faculty, and staff to explore. Katie Chen ’26 and Oriana Huang ’26 were at a station to translate fortunes written in Mandarin. “Lunar New Year is a huge part of our Chinese culture,” says Katie. Oriana added, “It was fun to see our classmates experience this [important] tradition together with us… a tradition that we have grown up with and have known all our lives.” Happy Lunar New Year to the entire D-E community!

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By: Valerie Berrios •

We’re thrilled to announce that D-E’s Ethics Bowl Team are State Champions! At the New Jersey High School Ethics Bowl, hosted by Middlesex College on Saturday, Jan. 25, students debated real-world ethical issues. Our D-E Team, advised by Philosophy and Ethics Department Chair Mr. Joseph Murphy, will proceed to the Northeastern Division on Saturday, Feb. 15. Baptiste Louis ’25, a senior leader on the team, says, “The Ethics Bowl is a very special kind of competition…it emphasizes calm, nuanced, and good-faith discussions on issues. You are not working to tear another team down; rather, you are competing to show that you can add most effectively to an ethical debate.” Team leader Reya Shah ’27 adds that the most challenging part was “shifting our perspective on a scenario to move beyond our own viewpoint and find solutions that promote the morality of our greater global community.” Mr. Murphy concurs: “All of this is in the spirit of ‘cooperative competition.’” Congratulations to this remarkable team!

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By: Valerie Berrios •

D-E’s Model UN (D-EMUN) club had an incredibly successful trip to this year’s Yale Model UN (YMUN 2025) Conference, from Jan. 23-26—winning 13 individual awards and the award of Best Large Delegation! YMUN is among the most prestigeous Model UN conferences, bringing together thousands of high school delegates from across the globe to simulate the work of the United Nations. D-E was represented by 20 delegates that were subdivided into committees. “At YMUN, I got to participate in my first ever crisis committee,” says D-EMUN club member Hayley Fuld ’26. “My experience in crisis—from making countless speeches every committee session to working on how to solve the current topic—has taught me so much about working with others and instilled a sense of confidence for how I can perform under pressure!” Way to go D-EMUN and we’re SO proud of all our D-Elegates!

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By: Valerie Berrios •

Parent/guardian volunteers in our Chinese Family Affinity Group recently transformed Hajjar Auditorium […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

D-E student performers are hard at work preparing for our Lunar New […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

En garde! Earlier this year D-E 360°’s Afterschool Programming Team (ACE) hosted a fencing demo in the Lower School, which was a big hit with our youngest Bulldogs. D-E partners with the Manhattan Fencing Center to offer classes in the LS gym. Registration for the 2024-2025 academic year began this month for students in grades 1-8; however, admission is rolling, so it isn’t too late to register. Student fencers practice on Tuesdays (Beginner, from 4 PM to 5 PM; and Advanced, from 5 PM to 6 PM). “[Fencing] is a gateway to personal growth, new experiences, and lifelong friendships,” says Ms. Julia Gelman, Executive Director for Manhattan Fencing. “Through this program, children can travel to competitions, challenge themselves in exciting new ways, and achieve their fitness, academic, and athletic goals.” Our current students’ enthusiasm for the activity is a testament to this mission. “This is awesome–I love this!” says Cedrick K. ’36, a first grader in the program.

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By: Valerie Berrios •

This weekend, the D-E360° FIRST LEGO League Explore robotics teams showcased their […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

The brain is a powerful thing! The PsychD-E club, advised by Human […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

A full house was on hand for “Shaking It Up with Shakespeare”, […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

All divisions at D-E came together the week of Jan. 20 to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As an act of service, students enrolled in D-E 360°’s ACE program wrote letters of gratitude to U.S. service men and women, veterans, and first responders as part of Operation Gratitude. In addition, the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools, respectively, held assemblies dedicated to honoring MLK. LS students shared what they learned from the book Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds and what they did to make the world a bit better. Meanwhile, US students enjoyed two performances by renowned jazz violinist Kersten Stevens and heard from local artist Philip Smallwood, whose painting “A Life of Service” was on display. The work celebrates the life and contributions of Bergen County resident Dr. Theodora Lacey, a friend of Dr. King and a Civil Rights activist in her own right. Mr. Smallwood gave parting words to students that “Everybody possesses greatness… I believe in you.”

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By: Valerie Berrios •

In January, D-E Upper School students took two trips to the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in Manhattan, as part of the LEAD (Leaders for Equity & Diversity) program, which provides opportunities for them to learn leadership skills and explore the world and its different cultures. The trip centered on an exhibition titled “Making Home,” focused on Black and Native American expressions of place, home, and belonging. “The purpose of the trip was to connect our November collage project’s theme of ‘home’ to real-world artists investigating that idea,” says Joel Lee ’17, US Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging. In addition to getting a tour of parts of the museum, students were able to use their own creativity to make prototypes of homes designed for biomes such as tropical, arid, and tundra. Great job to our LEAD students for their thoughtful work!

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By: Valerie Berrios •

Thanks to the efforts of our D-E Parents’ Association volunteers, Middle/Upper School […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

Rehearsals continue in earnest and our vocalists can’t wait to share the […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

The annual Upper School ski trip to Smuggler’s Notch held up to […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

On Thursday, Jan. 16, Business Leaders at D-E (BLADE) hosted a Career Day Assembly for the Upper School in Schenck Auditorium, where a panel of entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds shared their career journeys. The panel consisted of Gautam Kumar, founder of Milu Health; Erica Schroeder, voice actress; Illana Raia, founder of Être; Heather Benveniste, an independent legal consultant; Shweta Parikh, plastic surgeon; and Bari Schorr, VP of business and category development at Orva. “Hearing about the various paths these accomplished individuals have taken to reach their current positions is important for students who might find themselves on similar paths in the future,” says BLADE club member Isabella Mayer ’26. “This diversity in experiences gave [us] a broad range of perspectives, showing that success doesn’t follow just one formula.” Thank you to our inspiring guests! Photo Credit: Grace Tomin ‘26.

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By: Valerie Berrios •

On Saturday, Jan. 11, members of the newly formed D-E Student Committee on AI attended the Student Artificial Intelligence Summit at Newark Academy along with other schools to learn more about the applications of AI in a variety of fields. The trip was organized by Ms. Diana Gross, Chief Innovation Officer, and Mr. Bill Campbell, Associate Director of Technology for Academics. Five of our students—Soham Bafana ’25, Hudson Guzman ’27, Jason Lee ’27, Derin Sezgin ’28, and Sylvie Yao ’27—also volunteered to lead a session. Of the experience, Sylvie says, “I was aware of the extent to which AI was expanding but going to the AI Summit showed me how much AI has grown…[It] is constantly changing and inevitably will play a big role in the future.”

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By: Valerie Berrios •

Time for the latest DogPound Update on our Winter D-E Athletics Teams! We’re spotlighting D-E’s Freshman Basketball team, Middle School Girls Basketball, and our record-setting Track & Field team. Be sure to come out to upcoming games and track meets to cheer on our Bulldogs!

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By: Valerie Berrios •

Save the Date to “Shake It Up With Shakespeare”! Our youngest vocalists […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

We caught up with Mr. Fleischl, coach of D-E’s Upper School Robotics […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

Checkmate! Cheers to our D-E 360° ACE (AfterCare & Enrichment) Chess Team, which had two players compete in the U.S. Chess Federation’s 2024 National K-12 Grade Championships in National Harbor, Maryland, from Dec. 6-8. Third grader Adam Y. ’34 and 11th grader Anna Radchenko ’26 exhibited great sportsmanship and represented D-E well, says Coach Mackenzie “Mac” Molner. “In this tournament, participants only play other kids from their own grade level,” explains Coach Mac. “It’s a very difficult tournament, to say the least!” In the face of such tough competition, Adam scored 3.5 points out of 7 games and Anna scored 4 out of 7 games. “I loved meeting players from all over the country and challenging stronger opponents,” says Adam. “I’m really proud of myself that I had a draw with a much higher-rated player and earned respect from him.”

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By: Valerie Berrios •

D-E’s Upper School Robotics Teams are halfway through the FIRST Tech Challenge robotics season! “Our varsity team, Critical Mass, and our JV team, Absolute Zero, have completed their first design prototypes and are beginning work on their new, improved robot designs for the second half of the season,” says Coach Chris Fleischl. Teams participate in meets in preparation for the Bergen County League Tournament in February. During a meet on Dec. 15, at River Dell High School, both our varsity and JV teams finished with 3 wins and 2 losses. Next up is a meet on Sunday, Jan. 19, at Blair Academy. The goal is to qualify for the State Championship and, ultimately, the World Championship. Critical Mass’ Jackson Chang ’25, says, “I fell in love with robotics because of opportunities to express myself through building components… We work hard every day to continue to iterate on our robot to even slightly improve our chances in competitions.” We’re rooting for all our future engineers and data scientists!

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By: Valerie Berrios •

How are we what we eat? This is the guiding question our sixth graders were asked to consider this morning as a new unit was kicked off in their MESH subjects (that is, Math, English, Science, and History). This first lesson centered around “how food shapes their identity,” said English teacher Ms. Macone. Students gathered in the Wharton Lessin Dining Hall, where Chef Alex and his team prepared breakfast foods representing the Dominican Republic (“Tres Golpes,” a trio of fried eggs, cheese, and salami), Colombia (beef empanadas), and Japan (miso salmon with steamed rice). “I got to try different things I’ve never tried before,” said Kayla S. ’31, who discovered she liked fried eggs. Students then moved on to Hajjar Auditorium to share food traditions within their own families. The unit will culminate on Tuesday, Jan. 28, with a cultural food festival, for which parents are invited to attend and bring in food that represents their family. Cheers!

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By: Valerie Berrios •

The Bulldog Ice Hockey Club Team, in its 2nd season, has been […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

Earlier this month, D-E’s Middle School (MS) Robotics Team Nitro competed at […] Read More

By: Valerie Berrios •

The beloved D-E annual holiday performance of Jazz Rock, a live concert […] Read More