For the second time this year, 8th graders participated in service-learning field trips and opportunities to connect with our local community and take steps toward our school’s mission to “make it better.” Students volunteered for the Bergen Family Center, Meals on Wheels North Jersey, the Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery, and the Teaneck Creek Conservancy. Ms. Miller, 8th Grade Dean, facilitated the trips and coordinated a group picnic at the Overpeck County Park afterward. “The volunteer work I did was crafting a patriotic gnome card for elders using blue construction paper, red construction paper, white paper, and some star stickers,” explained Gigi N. ’30.” Her classmate, Kyle S. ’30, added “We all worked to make six of these because there are a lot of clients at the Bergen Family Center.” Gigi said the biggest lesson was learning that “we” is greater than “me.” “Overall, it just really made my day that my creativity made someone smile,” she said. Kudos to our 8th graders for making a difference!

During our Annual Upper School (US) Farewell & Awards Assembly, school publications were commemorated, student awards were announced, and we bid adieu to several important members of the US community. In her opening remarks, US Principal Ms. Lalli noted, “The purpose of our time together this morning is to honor a number of milestones and conclusions.” The current editors of Calliope, D-E’s award-winning arts/literary magazine, and Parnassus, our foreign language magazine, acknowledged students whose submitted work was exceptional and announced next year’s editors. Meanwhile, the editors-in-chief of the student newspaper, Spectrum, spoke about how this work “reflects diversity of thought” and “through these experiences, we were able to see the magic of the D-E community.” Editors also announced next year’s editors in addition to presenting the latest print issue to Ms. Kim Lalli and Ms. Debbie Rivera Murphy ’11, Dean of Student Life. Issues of the 2026 Carpe Diem Yearbook and both magazines will be available to students later this year. Ms. Lalli returned to the stage to present several awards, and then outgoing Student Body President Max Koppelman ’26 imparted hopes for others to “lead with kindness” and “embrace mistakes” before passing the metaphorical baton to Sebastian Chang ’27, who urged his peers to “leave things better than how we found them.” Finally, farewell tributes were given to beloved US Science Teacher Ms. Shefali Nefdt; US English Teacher Mr. Fred Daly, who in his 31 years at D-E “never approached teaching in a conventional way” and “left a lasting mark on our school”; and US English Teacher Ms. Diane Christian, who joined D-E in 1989 and whose “legacy will live on.” Ms. Lalli gifted these departing faculty with books she hoped they’d enjoy. We wish them all the best in their next chapters!

This week 8th Graders stepped into history as part of their “Living Wax Museum” presentations to D-E families, faculty, and staff. The cross-disciplinary project, facilitated by Ms. Burnett and Mr. Akula, consisted of dynamic, student-led performances that brought literature to life in a memorable way, with some students fabulously dressing the part. In small groups, students immersed themselves in books that have been banned across the United States, with one student speaking as the author and sharing the ideas that made the book controversial, and their peers embodying the characters from the story. Ms. Burnett said the reason for the theme was the fact that book bans are on the rise nationally. “At a time when there’s a narrowing of voices, it’s important to deliberately expand them,” she remarked. Featured books included George Orwell’s “Animal Farm,” William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies,” J.D. Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye,” “The Complete Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi, “Dumplin’” by Julie Murphy, “Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry” by Joya Goffney, and many more. Students gave insightful reasons why these books should not be banned, such as helping to publicize important issues and encouraging vulnerability. “This experience is an invitation for students to grapple with questions of censorship, free expression, empathy, and the enduring power of storytelling,” said Ms. Burnett. “By inhabiting voices that have been silenced or suppressed, students are doing exactly what Dwight-Englewood challenges them to do—meet the complexities of a changing world with curiosity, courage, and a commitment to making it better.”