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.

Making Cross-Curricular Connections in Grade 8

Making Cross-Curricular Connections in Grade 8

Knockout excellence! In an innovative cross-curricular partnership, Ms. Burnett, Grade 8 English Teacher, and Mr. Akula, Grade 8 English/History Teacher, whose students are reading “The Berlin Boxing Club” by Robert Sharenow, teamed up with the Health & Wellness...

Reunion 2025: Weekend in Review

Reunion 2025: Weekend in Review

D-E was thrilled to recently welcome alumni from the Dwight School, Englewood School for Boys (ESB), and Dwight-Englewood School for Reunion Weekend 2025, with special events for class years ending with 0 and 5. On Friday evening, October 24, 2025, there was a joyful...

Sixth Grade Food & Identity Unit Kicks Off

Sixth Grade Food & Identity Unit Kicks Off

Today officially kicked off the Food and Identity Unit for this year’s sixth graders! The cross-curricular program is a D-E tradition for our youngest Middle School students within their MESH (Math, English, Science, and History) classes. “This unit is about building...

Calliope Earns Top CSPA Honors

Calliope Earns Top CSPA Honors

Congrats are in order for the editors and contributors of the Upper School (US) English-language literary-arts magazine, CALLIOPE! Last spring’s issue was named a 2026 Crown Finalist by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA). Being a Finalist means CALLIOPE...

Jazz “Rocks” D-E!

Jazz “Rocks” D-E!

Way to Rock, D-E Jazz Rock!  The Upper School’s annual Jazz Rock Winter Concert was performed earlier today to a packed, enthusiastic audience in Schenck Auditorium.  Scheduled on the final day of classes immediately prior to winter break, this year’s concert held up...

MS Paper Roller Coaster Expo Recap

MS Paper Roller Coaster Expo Recap

The annual 8th Grade Paper Roller Coaster Expo rolled into D-E’s Middle School (MS) Building earlier today! This showcase event was the culmination of students’ hands-on study of (and appreciation for) the laws of physics and Newton’s Laws of Motion. Visiting fellow...

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....

Commencement 2026: Relishing ‘Moments of Awe’ Now and in the Future
World Languages Spotlight: Making Cultural Connections Through Language Learning
US Farewell & Awards Assembly Highlights
Upper School Athletics Highlights Reel 2025-2026
Ms. Diaz Returns to NYC Gallery Circuit for Exhibit Spotlighting Women Artists
D-E Summer 2026 Programs
Math & Computer Science Spotlight: Valuing Process, Problem Solving
‘CARRIE’ and ‘A Monster Calls’ Receive Foxy Award Nominations
Scholastic Art & Writing Award Recipients
Q&A With US Dean Emily Sclafani
Professional Development 2026 Highlights
8th Grade Peru Trip 2026 Highlights
Philosophy & Ethics Spotlight: Tapping Into Our Shared Humanity
A Conversation with Petra van’t Slot on Empowering Students With Data
Spring Is in the Air With D-E 360° ACE Programming!
7th Grade ‘Anatomy of a Human’ Exhibit Highlights
D-E 360° After Care and Enrichment
Athletics Schedule
Admissions
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D-E Today - News and Editorial Content

Middle School Talent Show Highlights

Bravo to our Middle School (MS) performers who showcased their talents during the annual MS Talent Show earlier this week!  This year’s show included a poignant duet of the song “For Good” from the hit musical Wicked; inspiring, impressive  solos in voice, violin,...

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Middle School Athletics 2025-2026 Highlights

Way to go Middle School (MS) Bulldogs! D-E MS Athletics has wrapped-up after a fantastic series of Fall, Winter and Spring Teams seasons. MS students and their coaches enjoyed watching a highlight reel of their entire 2025-2026 year in sports, at a recent assembly....

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Sixth Graders Present Their Experimental Designs

This morning, sixth graders presented weeks’ worth of group research, experimentation, and data analysis during the Sixth Grade Experimental Design Fair in Hajjar Auditorium. Teams worked together to select a topic of interest, which required consensus and...

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Parents’ Association Hosts Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

D-E Parents’ Association recently hosted their annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on a beautiful morning beneath the tent on Leggett Field. Head of School Dr. Calleroz White P ’27, ’28, ’33 gave opening remarks, thanking volunteers who’ve worked hard this year...

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All-School End-of-Year Assembly 2026 Highlights

The All-School End-of-Year Assembly, held under the big tent on Leggett Field, marks the final time all divisions gather together to be in community. In remarks given throughout the event, Head of School Dr. James Calleroz White said these moments ensure that...

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MAGIC 2026 Highlights

MAGIC, a D-E tradition in the Upper School (US) that has been going strong for 30 years, was filled with revelry, intense competition, and unexpected winners—congrats to the Sophomores, sporting purple T-shirts, for rising to the challenge this year! As many in our...

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