As one of their final projects this school year, 6th graders in the Studio Art 6 classes of Ms. Lydia Scrivanich P’27 and Ms. Rachel Deutsch-Brusky (Visual Art & Design Department faculty) worked on interdisciplinary automatons.  The automatons featured self-operating mechanisms, and were inspired by our planet Earth. These projects, which were eventually exhibited in The Imperatore Library, exemplified STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) learning at its best. “Through this project, students explored the ideas that we can combine knowledge from the disciplines of art, science, technology, engineering, math, and social studies to create work that is meaningful, conveys a message, and helps us reflect on what we can do to improve our world,” explained Ms. Scrivanich. With existing and found materials, students created a frame and incorporated laser-cut parts for the mechanisms that allowed motion. They used various artistic techniques and media to create their projects about the planet that demonstrated an issue they cared about, gave the viewer a message to reflect upon, showed a call to action, or simply highlighted the beauty of nature, noted Ms. Scrivanich. Viewers could actually engage with the work by turning the cranks (gently) to see the automatons in action. Amazing work by our 6th graders!

Our D-E Green Upper School student club and the Parents’ Association Garden Project Volunteer Committee co-hosted its final Garden Work Party earlier this season. This was a celebration of the D-E community’s shared efforts in maintaining the Nettie-Louise Coit Teaching Garden on campus, which is home to a vegetable garden, a chicken coop, and an apiary. “Teachers [in every division] use the garden to support classes across the curriculum,” said Sixth Grade Dean Ms. Tasha Urbanowski P‘20, ‘25, who teaches the Middle School DIG (D-E in the Garden) Discovery class and is a faculty advisor for D-E’s sustainability/garden student clubs. During the event, volunteers, including young alumni, enjoyed refreshments and live music from Director of Program Scheduling Mr. Armitage’s band, while they participated in light gardening to tidy up the plant beds and prepare the garden for the summer break. As a token of appreciation, eggs from our chickens and bottled honey from our bees were offered as parting gifts. 

During the final Lower School (LS) Assembly of the school year, we celebrated Pride Month and wished farewell to faculty/staff who are moving on and our 5th graders who are ‘moving up’ to middle school. In the assembly’s Community Connections segment, LS students, with visitors from both the Middle and Upper School, “shared about what is special and awesome about their own families and how and why they celebrate Pride together,” said Ms. Simone Henry Agblonon, LS Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging Assistant Director. “We know that families come in all shapes and sizes,” said Kaden S. ’31. “Pride is about celebrating all loving families.” Following July birthday acknowledgements, students gave heartfelt goodbye messages to Dr. Petrella, LS Psychologist; Ms. Annie Yoo, 2nd Grade Teaching Assistant; and Ms. Mary Cushman P’ 20, PreK 4 Teacher. In honor of the 5th graders, Ms. Marthe Salomon-Samedy P ‘22 presented a photo montage “made with love,” that commemorated the many memories students made in the Lower School. Mrs. Madeleine Lopez, LS Assistant Principal, encouraged the 5th graders to “carry our core values with you… and always stay committed to your goals.”