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!”
D-E Senior Exemplifies How to Be a Citizen of the World
The International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO) is an international organization that holds an annual nationwide competition in philosophical essay writing for high school students. Each country may send one or two students, apart from the host country, which is allowed...
Science Competition Challenges D-E Middle Schoolers to be Problem Solvers
“Bergen SciChallenge gives students an incredible amount of autonomy, leading to student engagement and deep learning” Nineteen D-E Middle Schoolers were among the 140 students competing earlier this summer at the Bergen SciChallenge, which is a middle school science...
Dr. James Calleroz White, New Head of School starting on July 1
As shared in the last issue of D-E Today, earlier this academic year the Board of Trustees announced their unanimous selection of Dr. James Calleroz White as Dwight-Englewood’s next Head of School. Board President Dr. Ami P. Vaidya ’91, P ’24, ’26, noted, “Amidst an...
Bulldog Bash 2025: The Sky Was the Limit!
Our 2025 Bulldog Bash was a tremendous success, raising $640,000 in support of financial aid - just shy of our ambitious $700,000 goal. Given the leadership transitions and broader challenges, this achievement is a true testament to the resilience and generosity of...
Spring Carnival Celebrates Community
High winds didn’t ruffle the spirit of community that beamed across Leggett Field from late morning into the afternoon during the annual Spring Carnival! This year’s event—an annual collaboration between D-E Student Activities and the Parents’ Association— included...
Faculty & Staff Lunch
D-E celebrated its teachers and staff during the annual Faculty & Staff Lunch on June 12. Interim Head of School Preeti Fibiger P ’24 thanked all of those who have put in 10, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service. She also presented The Blackwell Award to...
Eighth Grade Moving Up Ceremony
On June 6, D-E eighth graders, dressed in summer white, gathered on Leggett Field for the Eighth Grade Moving Up Ceremony. MS Principal Jonathan Davis P’24 opened with remarks in his signature jocular style. He gave a special shout-out to Coach and Eighth Grade...
Fifth Grade Moving Up Ceremony
Fifth graders completed their era as members of the LS on June 6, during their Moving Up Ceremony on Leggett Field. Interim CoPrincipal Susan Abramson welcomed everyone and reflected on why this ceremony was not a promotion (as that infers moving on to a higher...
‘Meet the Challenges and Make It Better’ Presentations
D-E families visited seventh-grade classrooms to listen to students’ “Meet the Challenges and Make It Better” presentations tied to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which seek to address global issues such as climate change, environmental...
Eighth Graders Write Historical Children’s Books
For their American History class, eighth graders wrote and illustrated children’s books based on a historical event from the 1960s. According to Mr. Gautham Akula, Eighth Grade English/ History Teacher, this was a pilot project to teach students “how to create an...
