In honor of Earth Week, the Upper School Environmental Club planned a series of events to raise awareness about sustainability practices. They also created a slide show of facts about climate change and simple ways to make a big difference that were displayed on the TV screens around campus. In addition to Advisory Period activities, there were group events, including an opportunity to come together on Earth Day, April 22, to enjoy a “dirt cup” made of chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos, and gummy worms, while “The Lorax” movie played in the background. “It’s a super chill way to celebrate Earth Day while also appreciating what keeps life growing all around us,” said Environmental Club leader Shreya Patel ’26. Students also gathered in Hulst House for a screening of “Our Planet,” a documentary that showcases the wonder and fragility of Earth’s natural habitats (and Crumbl cookies). The week closed with an Earth-fact-themed interactive trivia game. “We hope this week helped you learn something new and think a little more about the impact we all have on the world,” said Shreya. Here’s to protecting our planet and preserving our future!  

Bravo! D-E Performing Arts is thrilled to announce that our musical production of CARRIE received 12 nominations and A Monster Calls, the Upper School Fall Play, received 11 nominations for Montclair State University’s annual Theatre Night Awards.  The awards, known as the Foxy Awards, recognize excellence in middle school and high school theatre across the tri-state area, with the high school awards ceremony scheduled for Thursday, May 21, on the MSU campus. Lilah Carroll ’27, Sharlene Galvez ’28, Masha Glozman ’28, Lola Kletsman ’27, Yaritza Menjivar ’27, and Kaitlyn Tee ’27 – Outstanding Achievement by Student Costume Technicians for a Musical Lilah Carroll ’27 – Outstanding Achievement by a Student Makeup Designer for a Musical Blasina Olowe ’26 as Sue Snell – Outstanding Performance by a Leading Actress Evelyn Shippy ’26 as Miss Gardner – Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Actress Jian Harrell ’26 as Billy Nolan – Outstanding Performance by a Featured Ensemble Actor Emma Yuan ’29 – Outstanding Achievement by a Student Assistant Director Outstanding Achievement in Contemporary Costume Design for a Musical Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design for a Musical Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design for a Musical Outstanding Achievement in Multimedia & Theatrical Innovation for a Musical Outstanding Achievement in Stage Combat for a Musical The Risk Taking in Direction Award Caroline Chu ’27 and Caroline Sung ’27 – Outstanding Achievement by a Dance Captain in a Play Lilah Carroll ’27, Yaritza Menjivar ’27, Kaitlyn Tee ’27 – Outstanding Achievement by Student Makeup Designer for a Play Ella Gorcie ’30 and Caroline Chu ’27 – Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition and/or Live Music Performance for a Play Outstanding Overall Production of a Play Outstanding Achievement by an Acting Ensemble Outstanding Achievement in Contemporary Costume Design for a Play Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design for a Play Outstanding Achievement in Multimedia or Theatrical Innovation for a Play Outstanding Achievement in Stage Combat for a Play The Jo Anne Fox Award for High School Theatre Educator The Risk Taking in Direction Award for a Play Notably, of all the productions nominated in the category of Outstanding Achievement by an Acting Ensemble, D-E is the only school featuring a cast that includes equal representation of both high school students and 8th graders. “Congratulations to the entire cast, crew, and production team of this year’s productions!” said Theatre Director Jeff Hogan, praising their collective efforts. “This recognition reflects your creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit! Although it’s an honor just to be nominated, we’re sending good luck vibes to D-E Performing Arts and the hard-working cast and crew of both productions!Tuesday, April 28, 7:00 PM  Schenck AuditoriumFriday, May 1, 7:00 PM  Hajjar AuditoriumFriday, May 8, 7:00 PM | Saturday, May 9, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM   Schenck Auditorium

The D-E Student Committee on Artificial Intelligence (SCAI), advised by Chief Innovation Officer Diana Gross, recently hosted the Student Summit on AI in the STEM Building. The event brought together students from schools such as Newark Academy and Kent Place “to foster a broader collaboration across our New Jersey and New York community,” said SCAI student leader Reya Shah ’27. The program included welcome remarks from Ms. Gross and SCAI Co-Chair Anna Ibargüen ’26, and a “fireside chat” with D-E alumni Alex Koren ’12, who works on Applied AI at Anthropic; Brian Zhang ’15, a postdoctoral researcher at MIT; and Mike Kopko ’03, CEO of Pearl Health. “They shared insights into how quickly AI is developing right now, but also emphasized the importance of being thoughtful about how it’s built and applied,” said Reya, who moderated the panel discussion. The rest of the day consisted of student-led breakout sessions on topics including understanding task switching in language models, the environmental consequences of the data-driven age, and exploring emotional attachment to algorithms. “One of the biggest takeaways for students was the idea of using AI responsibly; this includes understanding its limitations, being aware of bias, and using it as a tool to support learning rather than replace it,” noted Reya. Added Anna: “AI is one of the biggest changes in technological innovation right now and will be present as we enter the workforce and for the rest of our lives… It’s so important that D-E students are learning how to use it so that they can meet the challenges of our changing world.” Thanks to everyone who had a hand in organizing this successful AI summit!