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.
South Asian Affinity
According to one of South Asian Affinity’s student leaders, Sujan Munver ’23, “affinity spaces are a fundamental item to create a sense of belonging”. Not only is the group a space for students who share a specific identity, but it is also a “safe environment” that...
East Asian Affinity
Throughout the years, East Asian Affinity has grown to become a larger and more prominent presence in the D-E community. Today, the group offers an affinity space that is fun, fulfilling, and freeing to current East Asian students. One of the student leaders, Sasha...
Black Affinity
Black Affinity this past year has made great strides towards their goal: to share Black culture and engage with the broader community. According to club leader, Jason Boyd ’23, Black Affinity has been busy reaching out to the rest of the D-E community, as well as...
Art in Action
With one paintbrush, watercolor palette, and sketchbook at a time, Art in Action, a D-E student club, contributed to greater Englewood earlier this spring. The club – led by Bodhi Mather ’23 and Edalix Marin ’23— dropped off colorful boxes brimming with art supplies...
V-Day 2023
For years, V-Day has been a longstanding part of the D-E tradition. This year, faculty advisor Ms. Rachel Brainin and one of the V-Day Club’s student leaders, Delilah Brainin ’23, helped organize the club’s annual event on February 24. Each year, members have donated...
Innovation IRL (In Real Life)
Beyond just hearing about the importance of innovation in learning and thinking, students in all three divisions this year have been treated to “D-Edicated’ time spent on immersive innovation-centric, design thinking models IRL (in real life), thanks to D-E Innovation...
A Conversation with Shefali Nefdt, AP Biology & IBC IIA Conversation with
With over 20 years in teaching science around the world, Shefali Nefdt is a seasoned and passionate science educator, “I’m not a teacher that believes in too much lecturing,” Shefali said, “I like to give ownership of learning to my students. So here I am a...
A Conversation with Hyo Kim, 8th Grade Science
In her third year at D-E, Hyo Kim has found her footing in Middle School. “I’ve taught almost all the grades in my career. Lower School is wonderful because everything is amazing; everything you do is brand new. While in the Upper School, you can really push students...
D-E Robotics Team Critical Mass 207 Compete at “Worlds” in Houston!
Earlier this spring and halfway across the country in Houston, Texas, the D-E Robotics’ “varsity squad” – Team Critical Mass 207 – was busy at work at the highly competitive, intense, and exciting 2023 FirstTech Challenge World Championships. With a little bit of...
Odyssey of the Mind
In a nutshell, Odyssey of the Mind (OOTM) is a competitive problem-solving competition that combines STEM and the performing arts. Students choose one of 5 problems; the categories stay the same from year to year but the theme, criteria, and constraints change yearly....