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.
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....
Science Olympiad
Founded in 1984, Science Olympiad is the premier team STEM competition in the nation, providing “standards-based challenges” to 6,000 teams at 425 tournaments in all 50 states. Colleen Larianoff, D-E Innovation Coordinator, explains, “Science Olympiad challenges...
A Closer Look at STEM, Research and Innovation Initiatives at D-E
The features here are the first in a new D-E Today editorial series on STEM, research and innovation initiatives, in both teaching and in learning. Thanks to how D-E’s STEM-related academic offerings are taught, as well as fascinating co-curricular offerings such as...
Save the Dates! Dwight-Englewood School REUNION 2023
Friday, October 13 Time Event Location 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Welcome Back Alumni Reception (Cash Bar) Giovanni’s Bicycle Club in Englewood Cliffs 7:00 pm Dwight and ESB Classes of 1973 50th Reunion Dinner hosted by D-E TBD Various times Major Reunion Private Class...
DEIB Values Statement 2023
This year, the DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging) Office hosted a committee of dedicated parents, students, faculty, and staff to review and draft a new Diversity Values Statement. The statement aims to reaffirm our values as a school in tandem with...
