Rachel Brainin, Librarian, 3rd Grade Teacher, D-Escribe

Jan 27, 2022 | Spotlight on English

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.

LS Holiday Sing-Along Assembly Highlights

LS Holiday Sing-Along Assembly Highlights

D-E’s annual Lower School (LS) Holiday Sing-Along Assembly yesterday held up to tradition! With festive lights and hundreds of happy smiling families, the LS Gym was transformed into a lively, lovely holiday-esque scene. Students and LS faculty/staff sang seasonal...

TREP$ 2025 Was a Success!

TREP$ 2025 Was a Success!

The TREP$ program, which kicked off in September, culminated in the TREP$ 2025 Marketplace, where our sixth-grade entrepreneurs set up shop in the Wharton Lessin Dining Hall to sell the wares they’d planned, received feedback on, prepped, and learned how to promote....

Handbells & Choral Winter Concert Recap

Handbells & Choral Winter Concert Recap

Bells were ringing and students across divisions were singing in D-Elightful harmony during last night’s Handbells & Chorus Winter Concert, presented by D-E Performing Arts. Hajjar Auditorium was standing room only for a seasonally-inspired program which included...

TREP$ Marketplace Kitchen Prep “Sneak Peek”

TREP$ Marketplace Kitchen Prep “Sneak Peek”

Our 6th-grade entrepreneurs are prepped and ready to go for today’s TREP$ Marketplace, from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM! Get a sneak peek of the kitchen prep from students who have food businesses, guided by Chef Alex, Sous Chef Fernando, and the rest of D-E’s food-service...

English Department Spotlight

English Department Spotlight

Mr. Meserole, P’26, ’28, ’30, English Department Chair, shares how teachers in his department “create the conditions for learning.” He, along with other English Department faculty, point to examples of inclusive excellence, self-discovery, and innovation in action in...

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D-E Summer 2026 Programs
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D-E Today - News and Editorial Content

New Jersey National History Day Contest Highlights

Way to go! Eleven of our 8th Graders participated in the New Jersey History Day Contest, which took place at William Paterson University. This series challenges students to become experts on a topic of their choice, individually or in a group. Students take...

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MODE Hosts Library Jam Session

Student leaders of Musicians of D-E (MODE) hosted an after-school jam session in The Imperatore Library this week, just as Seniors reached their last official day of classes. Mackenzie Hammer ’28 kicked off the live performances, playing the ukulele as she sang...

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All-School Choral & Drumming Concert is Tuesday, May 19!

Get ready for the All-School Choral & Drumming Concert! Our Lower, Middle and Upper School choral ensembles will D-Elight audiences when they perform next Tuesday, May 19, at 7 PM in Schenck Auditorium. With enthusiasm and guidance from our Performing Arts...

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Phone Free Fridays Encourage Real-Life Connections

D-E’s Digital Wellness Team, led by Madigan Kacmar ’26, Anna Ibargüen ’26, and Ezra Newman ’26, recently brought back “Phone Free Fridays,” an initiative that began last year to encourage students to disconnect from their phones during the school day. Students who...

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Registration Opens for D-E Summer 2026 Programs

Summer is nearly here! D-E Summer 2026 programs kickstart the summer season for our youngest learners before camp begins; teach core life skills (driving); and offer exciting opportunities in athletics (basketball and volleyball), computer programming, and...

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Celebrating Jewish Heritage Month

D-E recently hosted assemblies honoring Jewish Heritage Month across divisions. In the Lower School (LS), fifth-grade presenters revealed facts about the Jewish population around the world, and then students who identify as Jewish took turns sharing their own...

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Last Chance to Get Your Tickets to ‘Beetlejuice JR.’!

It’s almost Showtime! Don’t miss the D-E Middle School (MS) Spring Musical, “Beetlejuice JR.,” opening tomorrow night in Schenck Auditorium! “While ‘Beetlejuice’ is undoubtedly ‘a show about death,’ it is mostly a show that celebrates life,” said Director and MS...

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