The genesis of “Beyond Empire” comes from a personal place. As a first-generation American of Trinidadian immigrants, who came to the US amidst Trinidad’s independence from the UK, Stephen Bailey finds that it is imperative to trace these stories. The central questions of the course ask, “What is it to move beyond empire? How do people understand themselves in a new context? How do you reacquire or reinvent yourself?” What underlies the curriculum is the belief that through investing in the literary worlds of other cultures, students can be world scholars and compassionate readers.
Stephen emphasizes reading a breadth of literary styles like poetry, fiction, non-fiction, etc. to think critically about how language is used. With challenging material from authors and playwrights like Tayeb Salih and Lynn Nottage, Stephen asks for courage from both his students and himself; the courage to ask hard questions and to listen to different voices and opinions. “That is where true inquiry begins!”
Class of 2030: 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony Highlights
The Class of 2030 is moving on up! During a ceremony in Schenck Auditorium, 93 8th graders celebrated the transition to high school with a ceremony filled with warm memories of their Middle School experiences and words of advice to guide them into their next chapter....
Class of 2033: 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony Highlights
D-E’s 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony for the Class of 2033 was significant not only because it marked the transition from Lower School to Middle School for 47 of our students, but also because it was the first Moving Up with Mr. James Choi as the LS Principal and Ms....
MS Students Engage in the Art of Poetry
The Middle School is alive with the sound of poetry! The spring edition of Poetry Connections recently took place for grades 6-8. “As part of a culminating—and reflecting—activity, all Middle School students have written an ode to their grade,” explained Ms. Patel,...
LS Early Childhood Field Days
Tiny feet take on Field Day! The Lower School’s PreK 3 and PreK 4 classes recently visited Leggett Field for their first-ever Field Day, facilitated by Ms. Michelle Carstens-Potts P’37,’40, Health & Wellness Chair, who organized activities that she said, “centered...
5th Grade & 8th Grade End-of-Year Celebrations
As part of year-end festivities for D-E students moving up to the next division, 5th and 8th graders recently gathered with their class for cool treats and a picnic, respectively. The Class of 2033 enjoyed an outing on Graham Field, where the Scream Truck was waiting...
MS Students Showcase Innovative Projects Presented at the Bergen SciChallenge
Full STEM ahead! Ten of our Middle School students recently represented D-E at the Bergen SciChallenge, standing out in a highly competitive field of more than 175 student presenters across the state. After placing an impressive first in Mathematics and Computer...
Third Graders Share How They Made a Difference This Year
Third Graders Making a Difference (TGMD), a Lower School year-long service-learning curriculum founded 12 years ago by Ms. Michelle Sussmann and co-led by Ms. Rachel Brainin P ’23, ’25, recently culminated in a TGMD Assembly attended by 3rd grade families. To begin...
Students Find Their Dancing Feet at D-E
As a continuation of its celebration of dance, the Upper School’s Dance@D-E program, facilitated by Class of 2027 Dean Stephanie “Tuc” Tucker, recently hosted professional dancer and choreographer Chris Mangual to teach a dance class that was open to anyone interested...
Kindergarten Zoo 2026 Highlights
A cherished Lower School tradition recently returned to Mr. Rocky’s Field—the annual Kindergarten Zoo! This year there were “new facts and a new class whose interests really shined through,” said Kindergarten Teacher Ms. Meghna Mathur. “We tell them that you become...
D-E Middle Schoolers Participate in ‘Teens for Peace’ Program
Five of D-E’s 7th and 8th graders were recently honored by the Englewood Rotary Club’s Teens for Peace Program, which involves several other schools in the area and culminates with the planting of a “Peace Pole” somewhere in Englewood. Zorena A. ’30, Ken E. ’30, Vicky...
