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!”
Middle School Musical Cast and Crew Get Ready for High School!
This year’s Middle School Musical is High School Musical JR., based on the 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie in which Troy, the captain of East High School’s basketball team, and Gabriella, who’s at the top of her class, try out for the lead roles in the spring musical. The students end up drawn to each other, despite encountering some obstacles along the way.
The leads for D-E’s production include Ella Gorcie ’30, Owen Lee ’29, Brooke Cohen ’29, and Austin Tiemann ’30. According to Eileen Lynch, MS Theater Director and Drama Teacher, the idea to put on this show came about after a casual conversation with MS Principal Jonathan Davis. “We were commenting on the themes of togetherness and community woven through the show and thought it would be a good fit for the Middle School production here at D-E.”
Lower School Music Teacher Lisa Dove is the Music Director, and John John Tarrayo and Bella Savas will choreograph this dance-centric show, assisted by student Dance Captain Arianna Chan ’30. “I honestly think [this show has] helped some of us discover sides of ourselves we didn’t even know were there,” remarks Arianna. “It’s been a fun ride!”
To read more about the making of the MS Musical, click the link in our bio.
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,...
