Ninth graders at D-E recently participated in a three-part series of workshops over the course of four weeks to help them in their transition to the Upper School (US). The workshops were based on a program US Principal Kim Lalli P’35,’37 designed years ago for the graduating Class of 2022. The idea was to “help them adjust to life in the Upper School and get them ‘up to speed’ on how the community works,” said Ms. Lalli.
Dr. Brian Merry, Dean of the Class of 2029, assisted in the planning of this year’s workshops, which were shorter in length than past programs and focused on high-value topics.
Sessions included Tech Literacy (including how to use MyD-E and Google Workspace and how to write an effective email); Community and Culture (touching on what it means to be a member of this community and how to keep the community strong); and Student Support (which directed students to available resources, such as the Learning Center and Counseling offices).
The goal was to provide them with tangible skill sets and knowledge and also help them understand what [the School] expects of them.
“I really enjoyed the Student Support Workshop because it educated me about the support services available to students to help us succeed at D-E,” said Livya Patel ’29. Additionally, she said, “The Technology workshop reminded me of features [in MyD-E] I had forgotten about and also taught me about different ways I could use the portal.”
“These topics are both practically and philosophically important to their success,” explained Ms. Lalli. “The goal was to provide them with tangible skill sets and knowledge and also help them understand what [the School] expects of them.”
Added Dr. Merry, “We throw so much information at the students during orientation day and the first week of school that we thought it would be meaningful and timely to follow up in several particular areas as the students were becoming familiar with the Upper School. The timing also gave us a chance to get a sense of what areas were in greatest need of covering.”
In addition to practical skills, the workshops were designed to support students’ social-emotional well-being. “In some ways, ‘not knowing’ in and of itself can be a cause of stress and anxiety,” said Dr. Merry.
“Covering these topics also sends a signal to the students that we care deeply about these issues.”
“These workshops truly gave me a fantastic introduction to this new chapter of my academic journey,” remarked Konner Jiang ’29. “One notable learning that I took away was that I am never alone in the Upper School… Instead of merely offering their services to students, [D-E faculty/staff presenters] encouraged us to go to them whenever in doubt. In essence, their passion and enthusiasm made me feel proud to be a part of the D-E community… D-E gives its students the resources and aid that they need to thrive, not just in school but also in the real world.”
At around the same time, D-E’s Health and Wellness Department launched the “Human Performance Lab” in its ninth-grade classes. Students who participated learned “how movement skills like power, speed, agility, and reaction time connect to energy systems and impact overall physical performance,” explained Ms. Michelle Carstens-Potts P’37,’40, Chair of Health and Wellness.
“Through hands-on workshops and assessments—including the vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yard dash, 5-10-5 agility drill, and grip-strength test—students are testing their own abilities, collecting data, and reflecting on their results to better understand how the body moves and performs in an athletic or physical environment,” said Ms. Carstens-Potts. “It has been an exciting blend of science, movement, and personal fitness growth!”
The program has been so successful that the Health and Wellness Department is opening the “Human Performance Lab” to all US students Mondays and Wednesdays, from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM, and during Activities Period on Thursdays, from 2:45 PM to 3:25 PM.
Together with the ninth-grade workshops, these learning opportunities are providing essential guideposts for our Freshmen class.
“This is part of our ongoing effort to both welcome and prepare our ninth graders for life here at D-E and the lives of meaning and intention that they will lead after D-E,” said Ms. Lalli.
