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.

8th Graders Engage in Service Learning Field Trips

8th Graders Engage in Service Learning Field Trips

With our D-E mission to “make it better” clearly in mind, 8th graders recently participated in hands-on service learning to benefit local organizations. Students chose from three volunteering programs:  Pasta packing at the Community FoodBank of NJ warehouse  (they...

D-E’s Model UN Team Competes at Princeton

D-E’s Model UN Team Competes at Princeton

D-E’s Model UN team recently attended its first collegiate conference of the year: Princeton’s Model UN Conference. For the past several weeks, club leaders have mentored younger delegates in meetings and even hosted its own conference (D-EMUN) to get the team ready....

Thanksgiving Assembly Gratitude Reel

Thanksgiving Assembly Gratitude Reel

What a fantastic year so far! In the words of our Head of School, Dr. James Calleroz White, “Thank you for showing up every day!” We wish our incredible D-E community a Happy Thanksgiving—it’s always so nice to see ya! Explore this topic further with a curated video...

Art Comes to Life for Our Third Graders at MoMA

Art Comes to Life for Our Third Graders at MoMA

D-E’s third graders recently took a field trip to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to observe and discuss the life’s work of sculptor Ruth Asawa. “They were excited to see this retrospective in person, since they had studied her sculptures last year and explored a...

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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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