For Summer 2025, D-E 360° has designed a portfolio of programs to deliver on very specific interests expressed in our community. We’re building on our summer theme, Kaleidoscope, to provide a scope of programs through which learners across age levels may acquire new knowledge and develop skills. Check out our line-up of programs, ranging from music, theatre, and chess to sports, STEM, and computer programming!
The arts scene at D-E is blooming! Last week, the Upper School Assembly featured the Biannual Art & Design Showcase, which highlights the hard work of our AP Studio Art students and the many steps that go into creating the art. “Process is so important, sometimes more important than the final product,” said Marisol Diaz, Chair of the Art & Design Department. “The magic happens in the process!”
The assembly included slideshows and a series of videos capturing students working on their 2D and 3D art—drawings, paintings, printmaking, ceramics, digital and film photography, and more. Meanwhile, backstage, US Art & Design Teacher Paul Edwards facilitated a Live Art Battle for which student artists were asked to paint, draw, or sculpt what they think the soul of D-E looks like. The winner, by anonymous vote, was Lilah Carroll ’27 and second place went to Maleah Liao ’27.
Throughout the assembly, several of our young artists made brief presentations on the inspiration behind their lines of inquiry (LOI), which they use as the basis of their final portfolios. We congratulate all our talented artists who’ve made an incredible mark at D-E and continue to do so!
To read more about the showcase, please click the link in the bio.
The inaugural TEDxDwight-Englewood School event, held on April 3, 2025, in Hajjar Auditorium, is in the books! Chief Innovation Officer Diana Gross gave opening remarks, along with student leaders and event co-facilitators Soham Bafana ’25 and Georgia Unger ’25, ahead of thoughtful presentations on a range of topics. “Our first TEDx event was a powerful reminder of the importance of giving students a platform to share their voices,” said Ms. Gross. “Their talks were inspiring, showcasing incredible talent and a deep commitment to our mission—applying skills, values, and courage to tackle real-world challenges and make a meaningful difference. They aren’t waiting to change the world—they’re already doing it!”
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!
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.”
What do dinosaurs, flames, space, Minecraft, and SpongeBob have in common? They are among the themes depicted in this year’s Great Paper Roller Coaster Challenge, which recently took place in the Middle School. The project, facilitated by 8th Grade Science Teacher Hyo Kim and 8th Grade Math & Science Teacher Julia Taazelar, challenges students to design a roller coaster marble run. Parents and some Lower School students had a chance to view the variety of designs as well as test the functionality of each roller coaster, marble in hand. Ms. Taazelar describes this as a capstone project for Grade 8 that puts to use what they’ve learned about the laws of motion and energy transformation. With this project, they’re able to “apply the skills they’ve learned theoretically into something that is practical and hands-on,” she says.
Ms. Kim adds that the project, in its fourth year running, is a way “to wrap up the curriculum on physics… that also teaches students about collaboration, as each person has a specific job.” As students described to their gathered audiences how the marble could represent both stored energy (potential) and energy in motion (kinetic), it was clear that the project met its aim of being both imaginative and educational. It’s another great example of innovation in action at D-E!
The future is here! Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education was the theme of a recent Professional Development Day for all faculty and staff. In her opening remarks, Interim Head of School Preeti Fibiger declared, “To ‘meet the challenges of a changing world,’ we need to understand what those changes are.” This made spotlighting rapidly evolving AI technologies a natural choice for our community.
Sessions were interactive and offered opportunities to engage in productive discussions about how students can use AI most effectively. When used correctly, “AI builds confidence with students to write a strong paper,” noted Ms. Diane Christian (D-E English Department faculty member) during her session on thesis writing with AI.
The day concluded with a student panel discussion, moderated by Soham Bafana ’25, and featuring Sylvie Yao ’27, Jared Mosseri ’27, Reya Shah ’27, and Lucas Brown ’25, who gave their perspectives on using AI in the classroom, such as the idea that AI can help visual learners. Ultimately, said Mr. Justin Weiner (D-E History Department faculty member), during his session on deepfakes, “AI won’t remove the human touch.
As a “community of learners,” we at D-E stand by our mission “to meet the challenges of a changing world and make it better”; therefore, we proudly spotlight students whose actions consistently exemplify this objective and make a lasting impact. Two of these changemakers are Upper School seniors Len Glozman ’25 and Ben Gmyrek ’25. Tasha Urbanowski, Garden Club Faculty Advisor and Grade 6 Dean, says the original “compost crew” Len and Ben are “the students who made a substantial change to institutional behavior and leave a legacy looking toward sustainability.”
Thanks to daily campus events, seasonal traditions, and the activities of our student-led clubs and activities, student life @ D-E remains as dynamic as ever! Our youngest Lower School (LS) learners have been enthusiastically engaged in D-E Chess Team and LS Chorus...
In January 2025, D-E’s Athletic Department, led by Athletic Director JD Sand and Associate AD Dat Phan, together with Assistant AD Ryan Vettoso, Administrative Assistant Nicole Bellmay and Athletic Trainers Anthony Bufi and Kimberly Vivian, unveiled a set of core...