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!”
Odyssey of the Mind Tournament Highlights
D-E’s Odyssey of the Mind (OotM) teams recently competed at the Skylands Regional Tournament at Hillsborough Middle School, accompanied by Coach Colleen Larionoff, Innovation Coordinator, and D-E 360° Director Sherronda Brown. Our Upper School (US) team placed first...
PAW 2025 Includes Innovative Ways to Engage US Students in Lessons Learned
Last week, D-E’s Upper School (US) students were immersed in our annual Projects & Assessments Week (PAW). “Over the course of the week, students engaged in a mixture of traditional exams and less traditional, but equally important, projects and workshops,” said US Principal Kim Lalli. “The goal is for students to have a variety of experiences that reflect the dynamic nature of our curriculum and give them a chance to demonstrate just how much they have learned so far this year.” Those experiences included going on trips to a DNA lab and the iFLY indoor skydiving facility. There were also some cross-divisional and cross-disciplinary opportunities for students to engage in. For example, students in Science Department Chair & Physics Teacher Tara Weinstein’s Honors Physics class worked with 3rd and 6th graders to design age-appropriate games as part of their PAW project. In addition, Paul Edwards, an Art & Design faculty member, gave a lecture on artistic influences during the Harlem Renaissance to the History class taught by Diane Christian. All in all, it was a stimulating week for our US students ahead of the spring break!
D-E 360° March 23 Chess Tournament
Chess players, are you ready for a new challenge? Great news! D-E 360° 's own “Coach Mac” (aka Grandmaster Mackenzie Molner) is hosting a rated chess tournament on Sunday, March 23 for all students, ranging from K-8th grade. This is a short and fun tournament with...
Community Is the Focus of the Middle School’s Diversity Day
For the recent annual Middle School (MS) Diversity Day, now in its 6th year, MS students at D-E spent the day attending special activities and a variety of community-building workshops on topics of interest to D-E faculty/staff and affinity groups. MS Principal Jonathan Davis said it’s an event that is “grounded in our mission of meeting the challenges of a changing world and making it better.” The day began in Schenck Auditorium with guest speaker Eboné Bell, a prominent media figure who advocates for LGBTQ women, who spoke on creating intentional change. Students then dispersed to attend two of 16 available workshops, which included sessions on European folk songs, spoken word poetry, piñata making, hamantaschen baking, and the origin of beans. There was also a yoga class, a global dance party, an Advisory scavenger hunt, and a jubilant Holi celebration on Graham Field to wrap up the day. “Middle School is all about finding your place in the world and creating your own identity,” expressed Mr. Davis. “This is an opportunity for our students to know who they are and to give others the space to be who they are.”
LS Music Concert Showcases Grades 2-4
D-E’s Schenck Auditorium was packed with an appreciative audience for the recent Lower School (LS) Music Concert! Led by the fantastic Ms. Fiona Crawford, LS Music Teacher, and with Ms. Lisa Dove (LS Early Childhood Music Teacher) providing lovely piano accompaniment,...
D-E Celebrates “Pi Day”
Today may be St. Patrick’s Day (Sláinte!), but D-E recently celebrated another beloved holiday that brings smiles to math fans everywhere—Pi Day! On March 14, in honor of the mathematical constant that begins with 3.14, we set up some collaborative board games, logic...
Save the Date: TedXD-E Event, Thursday, April 3, 6 PM
TEDx is coming to D-E! On Thursday, April 3 at 6 PM, Hajjar Auditorium will host a series of student-led presentations on topics D-E upperclassmen are passionate about, including climate action, music, mathematics, politics, and more. “There’s nothing more important...
7th Graders Explore & Exhibit “The Anatomy of a Human”
Visiting parents, faculty, and Lower School students were all ears today during “The Anatomy of a Human Exhibit” in the Middle School, as 7th graders eagerly talked about the body systems depicted in the life-size diagrams they worked on, and how their home life or...
Spring Teams Kick-Off with D-Edication to Athletics Core Values!
D-E is gearing up for spring sports by underscoring the Athletic Department’s core values of Commitment, Excellence, Respect, and Teamwork. Watch the video to find out what the core values mean to members of D-E Athletics and student-athletes themselves. Go...
1st Graders Present Annual Houses & Homes Assembly
Our 1st Graders’ Houses & Homes Assembly, a 25-year-old D-E Lower School (LS) tradition, took place earlier this week in the LS gym! For this annual labor of love, students work together to build a home that represents their assigned continent—Australia, South...
