Before coming to D-E, History Department Chair, Arika “Ari” Easley-Houser taught at Rutgers Prep and several colleges and universities, including Montclair State University and New York University. A socio-cultural historian focused on United States history, she received her Ph.D. from Rutgers University and a certificate in school management from the Harvard Business School. She was recently selected for a National Association of Independent Schools Fellowship for Aspiring School Heads. Now in her third year of heading the department, Easley-Houser speaks to the importance of historical inquiry for students and how the history curriculum must reflect and respond to the diversity of students. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Reminder: Annual Orchestra Extravaganza Concert is Friday April 25!
Don’t miss tomorrow’s Annual Orchestra Extravaganza Concert! The D-E community is invited to this live concert, a beloved tradition presented by D-E Performing Arts Department, on April 25 at 7 PM in Schenck Auditorium. It will feature musical ensembles from all three...
MS/US Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) Assemblies
In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah), Steven Markowicz, the grandson of two Holocaust survivors, was a guest speaker during Middle School and Upper School assemblies this morning. Mr. Markowicz represents 3GNY, a nonprofit founded by grandchildren of...
LS Students Prepare for Fifth Grade Opera
D-E Lower School (LS) students are working hard preparing for the Fifth Grade Opera, with a final performance tomorrow evening! Students collaborated to conceptualize the opera, write the script, and compose the music with the help of Lower School Music Teachers Ms....
Chamber Music Society Hosts Afternoon Concert in Hulst House
D-E’s Chamber Music Society (DCMS) hosted a small concert in Hulst House last Thursday afternoon. The showcase began with Miranda Cheng ’26, Brandan Zhu ’26, and Sianne Kim ’26 performing “Por Una Cabeza,” followed by Brahms’ Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114, played...
Color Your Summer with D-E 360°
For Summer 2025, D-E 360° has designed a portfolio of programs to deliver on very specific interests expressed in our community. We’re building on our summer theme, Kaleidoscope, to provide a scope of programs through which learners across age levels may acquire new knowledge and develop skills. Check out our line-up of programs, ranging from music, theatre, and chess to sports, STEM, and computer programming!
LS Robotics Attends FLL World Championship in Houston
Our Lower School Robotics Team Ocean Animals recently represented New Jersey at the First LEGO League World Championship in Houston. “At the Explore level, they joined 40 teams from around the world to showcase their LEGO models, posters, and ideas,” explains Lower...
Congratulations, D-E Class of 2025 Cum Laude Society Inductees!
Cheers to our 2025 Cum Laude Society inductees, who were recently honored at a special dinner in Hajjar Auditorium! D-E has a nearly 80-year tradition of celebrating students for this academic achievement. After a warm welcome from Interim Head of School Preeti...
Jazz Rock Spring Show on April 17
Jazz Rock, directed by our legendary Mr. Rob DeBellis and with vocal coordination by Mr. Kenneth Kacmar, hit another one out of the park with its Spring Show this morning in Schenck Auditorium! An enthusiastic crowd cheered, hooted, and clapped along to a dozen...
Swartley Gallery LS ‘High Five’ Closing Reception
Art-tastic! The Swartley Gallery displayed multimedia work from our Lower School art students as part of the “Keep the High Five Alive” showcase, curated by Ms. Christine Hanaway Maloney. First graders experimented with colors and patterns by painting squares...
HOPE Fashion Show 2025 a Whimsical, Wonderful Success!
The annual HOPE Fashion Show, with its whimsical fairy tale theme, was a tremendous success on multiple levels, from being a cross-divisional learning opportunity and a creative example of our mission in action to benefiting a wonderful cause, the Limb Kind...