Beyond just hearing about the importance of innovation in learning and thinking, students in all three divisions this year have been treated to “D-Edicated’ time spent on immersive innovation-centric, design thinking models IRL (in real life), thanks to D-E Innovation...
With over 20 years in teaching science around the world, Shefali Nefdt is a seasoned and passionate science educator, “I’m not a teacher that believes in too much lecturing,” Shefali said, “I like to give ownership of learning to my students. So here I am a...
In her third year at D-E, Hyo Kim has found her footing in Middle School. “I’ve taught almost all the grades in my career. Lower School is wonderful because everything is amazing; everything you do is brand new. While in the Upper School, you can really push students...
Earlier this spring and halfway across the country in Houston, Texas, the D-E Robotics’ “varsity squad” – Team Critical Mass 207 – was busy at work at the highly competitive, intense, and exciting 2023 FirstTech Challenge World Championships. With a little bit of...
In a nutshell, Odyssey of the Mind (OOTM) is a competitive problem-solving competition that combines STEM and the performing arts. Students choose one of 5 problems; the categories stay the same from year to year but the theme, criteria, and constraints change yearly....
Founded in 1984, Science Olympiad is the premier team STEM competition in the nation, providing “standards-based challenges” to 6,000 teams at 425 tournaments in all 50 states. Colleen Larianoff, D-E Innovation Coordinator, explains, “Science Olympiad challenges...
The features here are the first in a new D-E Today editorial series on STEM, research and innovation initiatives, in both teaching and in learning. Thanks to how D-E’s STEM-related academic offerings are taught, as well as fascinating co-curricular offerings such as...
Inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s “Surrealism Beyond Borders” exhibit this past fall, D-E’s Promotional Arts Society (PAS) and the Visual Arts Department curated their own exhibit, “Surrealist Visions: A Collective Showing.” Gathering 41 participants from...
Middle School Principal Jonathan Davis understands that adolescence is hard. He noted that, “No one wrote a book called ‘Middle School: The Best Years of my Life,’ ” Our culture’s associations with middle school are often flooded by memories of embarrassment and...
“Innovation must start with our youngest minds and thinkers.” This philosophy drives Lower School Science teachers, Julie Pugkhem and Yi Li, who are tasked with fostering students’ curiosity and critical thinking skills. Now in her eighth year at D-E, Julie works...