Get ready for the All-School Choral & Drumming Concert! Our Lower, Middle and Upper School choral ensembles will D-Elight audiences when they perform next Tuesday, May 19, at 7 PM in Schenck Auditorium. With enthusiasm and guidance from our Performing Arts Dept. faculty, our students have been rehearsing toe-tapping tunes including “Try Everything” (from Zootopia); “Song of the Earth” (from Frozen); and “Take Me Home Country Roads (John Denver). Our Middle School Drumming Ensembles will also perform pieces guaranteed to get everyone dancing! Free admission and open to D-E families of all ages!

D-E’s Digital Wellness Team, led by Madigan Kacmar ’26, Anna Ibargüen ’26, and Ezra Newman ’26, recently brought back “Phone Free Fridays,” an initiative that began last year to encourage students to disconnect from their phones during the school day. Students who participated brought their phones to the Epstein Family School Store for safekeeping before their first period classes. They were given stickers that granted them access to experiences such as matcha tea whisking, snapping pics with photo booth props, and making friendship bracelets. “It’s important for students to navigate everyday life without using their devices,” said Madigan, who also cautioned about the negative effects of social media. “We often look at our screens to avoid confronting what makes us uncomfortable in real life,” she reasoned. “It’s very easy to fall prey to other peoples’ expectations of you.” Anna added that this exercise teaches you that several hours away from your phone is not a huge commitment and helps you “be present in the presence of people.”

Summer is nearly here! D-E Summer 2026 programs kickstart the summer season for our youngest learners before camp begins; teach core life skills (driving); and offer exciting opportunities in athletics (basketball and volleyball), computer programming, and performing arts (strings).  All programs are guided by our very own exceptional faculty and staff. See below and visit d-e.org/summer for details and to register! June 15 - 26, 2026  Preschool – Grade 5 Bridge the gap between the school year and summer break with Spark, an energetic nine-day extension program designed specifically for our younger learners. Children may join for one day, five days or all nine. Spark is here to create that much-needed space, offering a “pre-camp” experience that keeps students engaged, active, and inspired while parents finalize their summer preparations. From high-energy field games to quiet moments of creative discovery, Spark is the great way to kick off the season of fun. Click here for details on Spark and to register!  June 15 - 18, 2026 For NJ students at least 15 years old as of June 1, 2026  The Summer Driver Education Theory Course fulfills the New Jersey State requirement for the written exam. This program is administered in person at D-E and taught by Mrs. Nancy Lustenberger, formerly of the D-E Physical Education Department, in partnership with FNL Driving School. Click here for details on Drivers’ Ed. and to register! June 17 - 26, 2026 Grades 9-12 This intensive course is designed to provide a rigorous foundation in computational thinking and Python syntax. Fred Fontaine P ’20, ’22, a member of the Upper School Mathematics and Computer Science Department at D-E, will be the instructor. Click here for details on Introduction to Programming with Python and to register!  June 22 - 25, 2026 Students Currently in Grades 4-7 Our volleyball camp is designed to help younger athletes build strong fundamentals, grow confidence, and develop skills in a positive, high-energy environment. This program is led by D-E Varsity Volleyball Coach Catherine “Cat” Durakis. Click here for details on Boys & Girls Volleyball Camp and to register! June 22 - 26, 2026 Students Currently in Grades 3-12 Audition required. Click here for details. We’re looking forward to performing live with you this summer! Cultivate your musicianship, expand your artistry, and connect your passion for performance through a side-by-side experience with sought-after international performing artists. Ani Kalayjian and Ella Heifets are our String Society Co-Artistic Directors for 2026. Acclaimed recording artist Kersten Stevens will be our Special Guest Artist. This week of immersive music-making will culminate in a Grand Finale Concert on June 26. Click here for details on String Society 2026 and to register! July 6 - 9, 2026 July 13 - 16, 2026  Students Currently in Grades 4-7 This summer basketball camp is designed for boy youth players who want to develop their basketball skills in a fun, energetic environment. The camp is directed by D-E Boys Varsity Basketball Coach Alex Kuchar. Over the course of the camp, participants will work directly with Coach Kuchar, his coaching staff, and current players, taking part in skill-building drills, live game situations, and scrimmages. Students can expect instruction in offensive shooting form, footwork, ballhandling and concepts of team offense as well as building individual defensive skills and learning strategies.  Click here for details on Boys Basketball Camp (July 6-9) and to register!  Click here for details on Boys Basketball Camp (July 13-16) and to register! July 20, 2026 - July 23, 2026 Students Currently in Grades 4-7 This camp is designed for girl youth players who want to develop their basketball skills in a fun, energetic environment. The camp is directed by D-E Boys Varsity Basketball Coach Alex Kuchar. Over the course of the camp, participants will work directly with Coach Kuchar, his coaching staff, and current players, taking part in skill-building drills, live game situations, and scrimmages. Students can expect instruction in offensive shooting form, footwork, ballhandling and concepts of team offense as well as building individual defensive skills and learning strategies.   Click here for details on Girls Basketball Camp and to register!