Meredith (“Mimi”) Garcia had the unique challenge of teaching “Apocalyptic Lit” amidst the COVID-19 hybrid year. Still, the central questions of the course remained, “Will the apocalypse bring total annihilation, transcendence, bloodthirsty zombies, or all of the above? Will it bring people together or tear them apart?” As a medium, fiction allows for distance from both the material and reality, enough to critically engage with the text. Despite the fantastical, sci-fi qualities to apocalyptic literature, Mimi stresses that each text, from The Walking Dead to Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, speak to questions of human nature and of hope.
Mimi’s new course offering, “Globalization, Literature, & Film”, investigates how globalization and media have come to shape each other and our everyday lives. The course utilizes films like Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon (1950) and Walter Salles’ Motorcycle Diaries (2004) to discuss how politics, history, and cross-cultural encounters come to manifest in film. Mimi notes that the entire film industry and how we have come to watch film also plays a role in how we analyze and reflect on the relationship between literature and media—to be both critical of the past and the present.
Arts & Design Assembly Showcases How the Magic Happens
The arts scene at D-E is blooming! Last week, the Upper School Assembly featured the Biannual Art & Design Showcase, which highlights the hard work of our AP Studio Art students and the many steps that go into creating the art. “Process is so important, sometimes more important than the final product,” said Marisol Diaz, Chair of the Art & Design Department. “The magic happens in the process!”
The assembly included slideshows and a series of videos capturing students working on their 2D and 3D art—drawings, paintings, printmaking, ceramics, digital and film photography, and more. Meanwhile, backstage, US Art & Design Teacher Paul Edwards facilitated a Live Art Battle for which student artists were asked to paint, draw, or sculpt what they think the soul of D-E looks like. The winner, by anonymous vote, was Lilah Carroll ’27 and second place went to Maleah Liao ’27.
Throughout the assembly, several of our young artists made brief presentations on the inspiration behind their lines of inquiry (LOI), which they use as the basis of their final portfolios. We congratulate all our talented artists who’ve made an incredible mark at D-E and continue to do so!
To read more about the showcase, please click the link in the bio.
Eid al-Fitr Faculty/Staff Appreciation Lunch Highlights
We’re so grateful to our Middle Eastern Parent Affinity Group, who generously hosted a D-Electable Eid al-Fitr Faculty/Staff Appreciation Lunch recently in Hajjar Auditorium! Members of the D-E community sampled a variety of Mezza dishes such as spinach and meat pies,...
TEDx Student Presenters Share Their Passions With the D-E Community
The inaugural TEDxDwight-Englewood School event, held on April 3, 2025, in Hajjar Auditorium, is in the books! Chief Innovation Officer Diana Gross gave opening remarks, along with student leaders and event co-facilitators Soham Bafana ’25 and Georgia Unger ’25, ahead of thoughtful presentations on a range of topics. “Our first TEDx event was a powerful reminder of the importance of giving students a platform to share their voices,” said Ms. Gross. “Their talks were inspiring, showcasing incredible talent and a deep commitment to our mission—applying skills, values, and courage to tackle real-world challenges and make a meaningful difference. They aren’t waiting to change the world—they’re already doing it!”
HOPE “Whimsical Fairytale” Fashion Show on Saturday, April 5
Final preparations for D-E’s “Whimsical Fairytale” HOPE Fashion Show & Fundraiser are well underway—so be sure to join us for the big event this Saturday, April 5! VIP guests will enjoy a pre-show Tea Party at 5 PM in the Imperatore Library ahead of general...
TEDxDwight-Englewood School Is Thursday, April 3!
Our TEDx student participants, from the production crew to our speakers, have been hard at work with help from very D-Edicated faculty/staff members, and are ready to go! We’re thrilled to present TEDxDwight-Englewood School in Hajjar Auditorium (2nd Floor, Campus...
D-E 360° 8th Grade Peru Trip 2025 Highlights
Another successful D-E 360° 8th Grade Spring Break Trip is in the books! Of the 8-day trip to Peru, Middle School Math Teacher and Chaperone Jon Egan, who has organized trips to the South American country since 2011, said this was “one of the best trips I’ve had with...
Odyssey of the Mind Tournament Highlights
D-E’s Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) teams recently competed at the Skylands Regional Tournament at Hillsborough Middle School, accompanied by Coach Colleen Larionoff, Innovation Coordinator, and D-E 360° Director Sherronda Brown. Our Upper School (US) team placed first...
PAW 2025 Includes Innovative Ways to Engage US Students in Lessons Learned
Last week, D-E’s Upper School (US) students were immersed in our annual Projects & Assessments Week (PAW). “Over the course of the week, students engaged in a mixture of traditional exams and less traditional, but equally important, projects and workshops,” said US Principal Kim Lalli. “The goal is for students to have a variety of experiences that reflect the dynamic nature of our curriculum and give them a chance to demonstrate just how much they have learned so far this year.” Those experiences included going on trips to a DNA lab and the iFLY indoor skydiving facility. There were also some cross-divisional and cross-disciplinary opportunities for students to engage in. For example, students in Science Department Chair & Physics Teacher Tara Weinstein’s Honors Physics class worked with 3rd and 6th graders to design age-appropriate games as part of their PAW project. In addition, Paul Edwards, an Art & Design faculty member, gave a lecture on artistic influences during the Harlem Renaissance to the History class taught by Diane Christian. All in all, it was a stimulating week for our US students ahead of the spring break!
D-E 360° March 23 Chess Tournament
Chess players, are you ready for a new challenge? Great news! D-E 360° 's own “Coach Mac” (aka Grandmaster Mackenzie Molner) is hosting a rated chess tournament on Sunday, March 23 for all students, ranging from K-8th grade. This is a short and fun tournament with...
Community Is the Focus of the Middle School’s Diversity Day
For the recent annual Middle School (MS) Diversity Day, now in its 6th year, MS students at D-E spent the day attending special activities and a variety of community-building workshops on topics of interest to D-E faculty/staff and affinity groups. MS Principal Jonathan Davis said it’s an event that is “grounded in our mission of meeting the challenges of a changing world and making it better.” The day began in Schenck Auditorium with guest speaker Eboné Bell, a prominent media figure who advocates for LGBTQ women, who spoke on creating intentional change. Students then dispersed to attend two of 16 available workshops, which included sessions on European folk songs, spoken word poetry, piñata making, hamantaschen baking, and the origin of beans. There was also a yoga class, a global dance party, an Advisory scavenger hunt, and a jubilant Holi celebration on Graham Field to wrap up the day. “Middle School is all about finding your place in the world and creating your own identity,” expressed Mr. Davis. “This is an opportunity for our students to know who they are and to give others the space to be who they are.”
