Our youngest ones have so much wisdom to offer us. Former librarian and now 3rd grade teacher, Rachel Brainin carries on the legacy of Sheila Sienicki and maintains the publication’s spirit. Rather than having students strive to be published, D-Escribe is an open opportunity to explore writing prompts and styles. Teachers mainly submit work from the Units of Study, while also offering students creative prompts to play with style and content.
“Writing is sometimes very prescribed, so the open-ended prompts provide us with more exciting stories. I had a kid who didn’t like to write but then couldn’t stop writing about dinosaurs. In any free moment he had, he would say, ‘can I work on my dinosaurs?’”
Rather than having students strive to be published, D-Escribe is an open opportunity to explore writing as an artistic medium. Rachel hopes to continue to build upon D-Escribe’s wonderful history and to continue to inspire young students.
Lower School Celebrates Community, Earth Day
Sporting their Spirit Day athletic team jerseys and T-shirts, Lower School students entered the gym for this week’s LS Assembly as the iconic song “We Are the World” played in the background. The song, as the fifth-grade presenters described, “is about being kind and...
2026 Scholastic Art & Writing Award Recipients
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers’ annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is an opportunity for creative teens in grades 7-12 to submit their artwork or written work for a chance to receive opportunities for recognition, exhibition, and scholarships....
MS Student-Led Assembly Recognizes Womens’ History Month, Showcases “Rhythm & Grooves” Discovery Class
A recent Middle School (MS) Assembly recognized Women’s History Month and featured a live performance from the “Rhythm & Grooves” MS Discovery Class, showcasing our MS students’ initiative in the process. First, a group of MS students shared how they initiated,...
Developing ‘Whole-Souled Citizens’: A Conversation with US Dean Emily Sclafani
Ms. Emily Sclafani, Dean of the Class of 2026, has been actively involved in helping to develop a strategic plan for D-E that applies, as she wrote last summer, “our founders’ wisdom to the challenges of a changing world.” This work, articulated here, is based on an...
Imperatore Library Hosts Spring 2026 Write Night
Happy National Poetry Month! In celebration, the English Department, in partnership with the Dwight-Englewood Writers (DEW) student organization, hosted Spring 2026 Write Night yesterday in The Imperatore Library, with a focus on poetry readings. Specifically, several...
Professional Development Focused on Human-Centered Teaching in a Changing World
In December 2025, Associate Head of School Preeti Fibiger P’24 introduced a series of on-campus professional development (PD) opportunities for D-E faculty and staff, presented by D-E faculty and staff, starting in January and running through the spring. Sessions...
Global Travel to Peru Sparks Curiosity, Sense of Exploration for Eighth Graders
In what has become a tradition for more than 15 years, Middle School (MS) Math and Computer Science Teacher Jonathan Egan led the D-E 360° Eighth Grade Spring Break Trip to Peru. This year, 24 eighth graders, accompanied by Mr. Egan, MS Principal Jonathan Davis, and...
LS Students Find Their Voice During Spring Sing-Along
Singing it loud and proud! The first Lower School (LS) Assembly following the break was a spirited Spring Sing-Along, featuring tunes LS teachers and students have enjoyed so far this year. To kick off the event, the Parents’ Association generously arranged for the...
Philosophy & Ethics Department Spotlight
“Ethical thinking is something that all of us as human beings need desperately,” declared Philosophy and Ethics Department Chair Mr. Joseph Murphy, who has spent the past 31 years at D-E. The department he leads is the focus of our next community “Spotlight.” Watch a...
A Conversation with Petra van’t Slot on Empowering Students With Data
Ms. Petra van’t Slot, Upper School Science Teacher, submitted an article for publication in The Science Teacher journal, based on learnings from an environmental justice unit she currently runs for her 11th and 12th Grade students. In an exciting development, the...
