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.
US Business Finance Class Zooms with Goldman Sachs Reps
This morning the Upper School Business Finance class hosted a virtual visit with representatives from Goldman Sachs, facilitated by D-E Chief Financial Officer (and Business Finance class teacher) Angela Artale. Sandra Schubert, a 25-year veteran who manages 14...
Chinese Culture Club Hosts Mahjong Tournament
The Chinese Culture Club (CCC), which is dedicated to exploring and celebrating Chinese heritage, recently hosted its annual Mahjong Tournament at D-E with the goal of bringing people together to play the strategy-based tile game that is popular in Chinese culture....
MS Robotics Team Neutron Earns Innovation Recognition
This past weekend, D-E Middle School Robotics Team Neutron competed at the Menlo Park Mashup Invitational Tournament. The team placed 3rd in “Innovation Project” for their invention prototype, the LumiNet, which seeks to solve the problem of fishing waste. Their robot...
The Fifth Grade Opera Opens a Door to Theatre
As part of a longstanding tradition, D-E Performing Arts presented the Fifth Grade Opera for the broader D-E community on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Hajjar Auditorium. The opera is traditionally divided into three operettas, for which the Lower School (LS) students...
Lifers Celebration Honors Graduating Lifelong Learners and Their Mentors
The annual Lifers Celebration, held on April 30, 2025, in Hajjar Auditorium, is a special dinner and ceremony honoring graduating seniors who have been students in all three divisions at D-E. This year’s cohort includes 30 lifelong learners. Upper School (US)...
Making it Better: 8th Grade Community Service Trips
This week 8th graders engaged in community service by volunteering for one of four organizations—Bergen Family Center, Meals on Wheels North Jersey, Teaneck Creek Conservancy, and Tenafly Nature Center. “A big reason we do multiple locations for service is to allow...
Bulldog Bash Reaches New Heights In 2025
In keeping with the NYC skyline theme, the sky was the limit at the Bulldog Bash 2025, D-E’s premier event in support of financial aid! The event, held in Manhattan on Saturday, April 26, 2025, was an incredible success, with guests’ enthusiastic participation in live and silent auctions that helped raise significant funds for families in our D-E community and allow the school to further invest in vital programs, technology, and professional development. Even the rain showers that greeted guests upon arrival didn’t dampen the festive mood.
Attendees watched a heartwarming video featuring Viviana Torres ’17, who spoke on the impact that a D-E education had on her and the degree to which financial aid support changed the trajectory of her life. Another D-E alum, the multi-talented Malachi Nassér ’22 and his band delivered a special performance and previewed songs from his upcoming debut album.
Throughout the evening, the DJ played crowd favorites that kept guests on the dance floor. And as the event concluded, The Candy Zoo Truck treated guests to their choice of classic and novelty candies. We’re so grateful to our D-E community for coming together on this important night to “Make it Better” and help us reach new heights!
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Celebrate Creativity
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, is the nation’s longest-running recognition program for creative students in grades 7-12, ages 13 and older. “Scholastic is an institution that has supported students’ artistic expression in writing and visual arts nationally,” says Ms. Marisol Diaz, Chair of the Art & Design Department. “It can open up other opportunities, such as residencies and scholarships.” You also become part of a community of Scholastic winners, adds Ms. Diaz. This year, D-E’s national award winners were Sydney Adekanbi ’25 and Blake Glasser ’27.
Swartley Gallery Senior Spotlight 2025 Exhibit Reception Highlights
This afternoon, the Swartley Gallery hosted a reception of “The Senior Spotlight”—the final exhibit of the Swartley Gallery Series for this school year. It was a bittersweet swan song of sorts for the Class of 2025, who have taken AP Studio Art. For this series,...
Spring Carnival Highlights
High winds didn’t ruffle the spirit of community that beamed across Leggitt Field from late morning into the afternoon during Sunday’s Spring Carnival! This year’s event—an annual collaboration between D-E Student Activities and the Parents’ Association—included...
