Blog
Wacky Water Day was a blast for D-E’s 1st through 5th graders! The annual tradition gives Lower School (LS) students the opportunity to get into their bathing suits to participate in water activities on Mr. Rocky’s Field with their peers, while teachers splash them...
A beloved annual tradition returned to the Lower School (LS) when the Kindergarten Zoo was set up on Mr. Rocky’s Field by LS teachers Ms. Tricia Fiore, Ms. Kristina Dellefave, Ms. Teresa Cali, and Ms. Meghna Mathur. Enthusiastic kindergarteners, donning safari vests...
The mood was joyous and a little bittersweet as D-E’s graduating seniors, their families, faculty, and staff gathered beneath a white tent on Leggett Field for Commencement 2025 on June 1. This momentous event was called to order by Student Government President-Elect Max Koppelman ’26. The processional followed, with the graduates led into the tent by a pipe band and the playing of Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1” by the D-E Symphony Orchestra. …
This morning Interim Head of School Preeti Fibiger P’24 welcomed the D-E student body, faculty, and staff to the End of Year All-School Assembly, which carried on the theme of ‘community’ from the first All-School Assembly earlier this year. The program began with...
The end (of a chapter) is near for our graduating seniors! D-E’s Class of 2025 has had an active couple of weeks leading up to Commencement this Sunday, as part of their Senior Selectives trips and activities. “Selectives—senior + electives = selectives—are a time...
Hot off the presses! Students in 8th Grade Dean Ali Miller’s ‘In the News’ Discovery class recently got a sneak peek at a morning news broadcast during a field trip to WPIX (Channel 11), a TV station in New York City, followed by a tour of the United Nations. Ms....
Women in STEM Education (WISE) recently hosted Chitra Venkatraman, Co-Chair of Women in Engineering for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE), who was on campus to present Sylvie Yao ’27 with the IEEE’s North Jersey Young Engineer Award....
Sixth graders unveiled the results of weeks of scientific research, experimentation, and data analysis for the Sixth Grade Experimental Design Fair, which took place this morning in Hajjar Auditorium. “Through hands-on experiments, students have learned to ask...
Senior Hannah Carroll ’25 recently presented her comedic one-act play, “How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery,” to a packed Hulst House. The student director described the show as “a parody on the beloved murder mystery genre with references to Clue, Knives Out,...
The 8th grade Living Wax Museum, facilitated by Grade 8 English Department Faculty Mr. Gautham Akula and Ms. Amanda Burnett, showcased historical figures selected by our students. Each student dressed the part and gave a well-rehearsed presentation to parents,...
D-E’s school spirit was on full display recently at the Myrna B. Sherman Gym, where MAGIC happened! Rain kept the annual intramural competition indoors, but it didn’t dampen the sense of community beaming from the rafters. “Spirited, cheerful D-E is my favorite...
In an example of cross-divisional collaboration that beautifully illustrates imagination, the Art in Action student organization, advised by Rachel Brusky of the US/MS Art & Design Department, repurposed a tree they created as part of the set design of the HOPE...
This week, D-E Performing Arts hosted an inspiring double-header of live musical performances! During the Cabaret Night Concert on Monday, May 19, our Jazz Workshop and Stage Band ensembles, directed by Music Director Rob DeBellis P’18,’15 and accompanied by guest...
Our chorus students from all divisions have been working hard preparing for the All-School Chorus & Drumming Concert, on Tuesday, May 20, and starting at 7:00 PM in Schenck Auditorium. Middle / Upper School Music Teacher Ken Kacmar P ’26, ’28 said this is the...
D-E’s Women in Finance student organization, facilitated by Faculty Advisor and Chief Financial Officer Angela Artale, recently hosted alumna Neesha Khanna ’09, a private banker at J.P. Morgan, for a conversation on building a career in finance. Ms. Khanna answered...
Get ready for one of the final concerts of the school year! Our Upper School student jazz artists have been busy rehearsing and can’t wait to perform Cabaret Night. This annual concert, featuring the Stage Band & Jazz Workshop ensembles and guest artist Marty...
Third Graders Making a Difference (TGMD), a service-based initiative founded by Third Grade Teacher Michelle Sussmann and co-led by Third Grade Teacher Rachel Brainin, culminated with a book sale this week, consisting of gently used children’s books donated by members of the D-E community. Proceeds from the book sale will benefit a charity selected by third graders. Students participated in sorting and preparing the donated books for sale. The Lower School was then invited to attend the fundraiser, where each book could be purchased for $5 or less. “It was fun planning for it,” exclaimed Zein A. ’34 of the event.
“This TGMD project truly puts all aspects of making a difference into the third graders’ hands,” said Ms. Sussmann. “They have learned so much about the power of giving… how important it is and how good it makes us feel!” When asked why it’s important to “make a difference,” Caleb C. ’34 remarked, “You’re helping people less fortunate than you.”
The project is tied to skills learned in students’ persuasive writing unit, for which they are asked to write a persuasive speech to convince their peers that a particular charity should receive the profits from the book sale. Alanna M. ’34 said she discovered through TGMD that anyone of any age can make a difference in the world, sharing: “Why wait until you’re older when you can do something now.” We’re so proud of our third graders for paying it forward!
WOW & CHEERS to Achille (“Ash”) Pompidou ’25, who scored his 100th goal for D-E Boys Varsity Lacrosse this week during a match against West Orange High School! Ash’s five goals and four assists helped the team secure an 18-11 victory—D-E’s fourth win of the...
A few of D-E’s oldest students (seniors) collaborated with some of our youngest (Preschool 4) during a Developmental Psychology unit for which AP Psychology students learned about Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. “Part of that theory is that children at...
The Upper School Garden Club recently hosted their final Garden Work Party of the season, which included tending of the Nettie Coit Teaching Garden, a potluck, and live music from an ensemble led by Mr. Jack Armitage, Director of Program Scheduling and Mathematics...
In May 2025, D-E’s Upper School (US) History Department faculty facilitated end-of-year field trips for ninth graders to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Met Cloisters, and the New York Public Library (NYPL). “The goal of our trip to the Met was to compare similar...
Bravo! Congrats to our Middle School cast and crew, who put on high-spirited performances of “High School Musical JR” this weekend. Before the show went on, DJ Ava M. ’29 warmed up the audience with dance hits from the mid-2000s. The story of “freaky math girl”...
What makes Bulldogs beautiful? Join us and celebrate ALL that makes Bulldogs beautiful during our Bulldogs are Beautiful week of giving for D-E’s Annual Fund! D-E’s Annual Fund supports all aspects of student life at D-E, from academics, arts, athletics, and...
Our D-E 360° AfterCare & Enrichment (ACE) Chess Team has returned victoriously from the SuperNationals VIII held in Orlando, Florida this past weekend! WOW & CHEERS to our Lower School students who placed fifth overall in the country for the K-5 under 600...
D-E’s Athletic Department recently hosted a Senior Athletes Signing Ceremony yesterday in the Myrna B. Sherman Gymnasium. The event recognizes graduating student-athletes who’ve committed to play at the college level. Athletic Director JD Sand first welcomed attendees...
This week’s Middle School Assembly was a great example of cross-divisional collaboration at D-E, with two Upper School (US) students presenting their talks from last month’s TEDxDwight-Englewood School event and an introduction to Digital Wellness. This year’s TEDx...
This morning’s Upper School Assembly, organized by Environmental Club leaders Kelly Chu ’25, Radha Munver ’25, Len Glozman ’25, and Alex Sheffield ’26, focused on finding jobs in the field of environmental science and sustainability. Len warmed up the audience with a...
The growth of D-E 360°’s chess community over the past year has been incredible. Earlier this spring, D-E hosted the first-ever ChessFest on Sunday, April 27, facilitated by Grandmaster Mackenzie “Mac” Molner, who coaches the Chess Team. Overall, we placed first out of four teams in the K-2 division, first in the Grades 3-5 division out of seven teams, and second out of two teams in Grades 6-8. Team members Arthur P. ’36, Oliver Y. ’36, and Justine B. ’29 also won individual prizes. “Our students represented D-E very well, and for a lot of them it was their first time playing in a tournament,” says Coach Mac.
In addition, for the first time in program history, the Chess Team will represent D-E in the US Chess Federation’s SuperNationals VIII Tournament in Orlando, Florida, from May 9-11. “The SuperNationals only take place once every four years, so it’s super special that we have 10 students signed up to go,” says D-E 360° Director Dr. Sherronda Brown. “We’re proud to see these young people challenge themselves to become adaptable, confident and joyful learners. Join us in celebrating and wishing them well!”
Upper School World Language Teacher Hailing Zhao’s Mandarin students recently embarked on an exciting field trip to Flushing, NY, to bring their language learning to life. “With the goal of applying their classroom knowledge in real-world settings, students...
This year’s Middle School Musical is High School Musical JR., based on the 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie in which Troy, the captain of East High School’s basketball team, and Gabriella, who’s at the top of her class, try out for the lead roles in the spring musical. The students end up drawn to each other, despite encountering some obstacles along the way.
The leads for D-E’s production include Ella Gorcie ’30, Owen Lee ’29, Brooke Cohen ’29, and Austin Tiemann ’30. According to Eileen Lynch, MS Theater Director and Drama Teacher, the idea to put on this show came about after a casual conversation with MS Principal Jonathan Davis. “We were commenting on the themes of togetherness and community woven through the show and thought it would be a good fit for the Middle School production here at D-E.”
Lower School Music Teacher Lisa Dove is the Music Director, and John John Tarrayo and Bella Savas will choreograph this dance-centric show, assisted by student Dance Captain Arianna Chan ’30. “I honestly think [this show has] helped some of us discover sides of ourselves we didn’t even know were there,” remarks Arianna. “It’s been a fun ride!”
To read more about the making of the MS Musical, click the link in our bio.
This morning the Upper School Business Finance class hosted a virtual visit with representatives from Goldman Sachs, facilitated by D-E Chief Financial Officer (and Business Finance class teacher) Angela Artale. Sandra Schubert, a 25-year veteran who manages 14...
The Chinese Culture Club (CCC), which is dedicated to exploring and celebrating Chinese heritage, recently hosted its annual Mahjong Tournament at D-E with the goal of bringing people together to play the strategy-based tile game that is popular in Chinese culture....
This past weekend, D-E Middle School Robotics Team Neutron competed at the Menlo Park Mashup Invitational Tournament. The team placed 3rd in “Innovation Project” for their invention prototype, the LumiNet, which seeks to solve the problem of fishing waste. Their robot...