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MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD

Athletics News

Fencing Moves On-Campus

Arts News

Acting with Masks

Lenny and Lino's Tree
December 9, 2016

At the end of my two-day interview to become Belmont Day’s next head of school, I met with the search committee in the BDS Bungalow for one last round of questions. As the hour with the committee ended, so, I thought, had the interview process. However, as we left the building, one of the committee members stopped me in the parking lot. She grabbed me by the arm, and brought me to the beautiful fir tree that stands beside the Bungalow between the Archery and Far Fields and explained: “This tree, Brendan, has a story to it. It’s Lenny and Lino’s tree. If you end up as head of this school, please make sure that the tradition of its decoration each year continues. We worry that it might suggest to some that Belmont Day isn’t an inclusive place, but the story of the tree is actually one of inclusion and of honoring the memory of a beloved member of our community.”  

She went on to tell me the story and it moved me so deeply that I included it in my first communication to the Belmont Day community last fall. Since then, I have been waiting for the day the tree would light up. That day came yesterday. The story of the tree is captured beautifully in this article, written by Jill Becker P ‘14, for the BDS parent newsletter. Enjoy, and have a great weekend.

A STORY OF FRIENDSHIP: THE L & L TREE
by Jill Becker P '14, reprinted annually since the February 16, 2008 Friday Notice

I first noticed the sweet, colorfully decorated Christmas tree near the Belmont Day School garage last winter. I asked some of the other moms in the pick-up line if they knew anything about it. None of them knew for sure, but one offered, “I think it has something to do with (former Maintenance Director) Lenny Corso.” And then, after the holiday break, the decorations were gone.

READ MORE

Boy playing violin.

NEED TO READ

Upcoming Events
Sunday, December 11 to Friday, December 16

A Week
Monday, December 12: Parent Book Club, 8:15 a.m., Erskine Library; Grade 7 Field Lab, 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; Braiding Different Strands, 6:15 to 8 p.m., Erskine Library

Tuesday, December 13: Canceled: Green Team, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Lower School Art Room; PA Executive Committee, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Head of School's Office

Wednesday, December 14: Finance Committee, 8 to 10 a.m., Bungalow

Friday, December 16: Board of Trustees, 8 to 10:30 a.m., Coolidge Hall

Lunch & Snack Menu

Monday
Snack: Teddy Grahams; clementines
Lunch: gemelli with creamy tomato sauce; whole grain rolls; hot veg special; italian salad

Tuesday
Snack: Saltines; bananas
Lunch: cider and herb-roasted pork; mashed potatoes; hot veg special; baby spinach with goat cheese, cranberry, and sherry vinaigrette

Wednesday
Snack: WG chocolate chip cookies; apple sauce
Lunch: cider-roasted Acadian redfish; french fries; hot veg special; coleslaw

Thursday
Snack: Cheezit; raisins
Lunch: homemade tomato soup; turkey and cheese panini; hot veg special; garden salad

Friday
Snack: fruit; Go-Gurt

Kids Swimming.

COMMUNITY NEWS

We continue to hold Meghan Lytton, her daughter Madeline Rose, and the entire Lytton family in our thoughts and in our hearts after the news of Michael’s passing.  

In the days since we received this news, the second grade team—Nancy Fell, Tina Fox and Allison Masi—along with Dr. Mercedes have met with all of the second grade students and worked with them to write cards of support to Madeline Rose. On Tuesday night, Madeline Rose received this collection cards along with a basketful of stuffed animal huskies. We have set up a ‘meal train’ for the Lyttons and with the help of parents Maribel Sandoski and Kim Morris the food will be delivered to the family at the end of each day. The school has hosted a parent forum with Diane Foster, Deborah Brissenden, Dr. Leesa Mercedes, and me to discuss the best ways to support the Lytton family and one another as a community.

Meghan wanted the BDS community to know that services for Michael will take place early in the new year in the hopes that those who are interested in attending will be able to do so. The service will be held at the First Parish in Lincoln on Sunday, January 15 at 1:30 pm. After the service there will be brief reception. The address of the church is:

The Lincoln Parish House, 14 Bedford Road, Lincoln, MA
(This is the Stone Church, not the White Church, which shares the same address. The Stone Church is just up the hill from the White Church on the same side of the road.)

We will send a reminder of these details after winter break.

On behalf of Meghan, please know how grateful she is for the outpouring of love and support she has received from the Belmont Day community. These are the moments, trying and sad as they may be, that highlight the powerful fabric and strength of our community: deeply connected, invested, and caring. Please continue to hold the Lyttons and Michael’s memory in your hearts.

Thank you,
Brendan

Kids Swimming.

REMINDER FROM NURSE LIZ

Calling All Sweats

The nurse's office keeps a small stock of sweatpants and sweaters/sweatshirts for those times when pants become wet or students need warmer clothes for recess. Several of these spares have gone out and not come back. Please check at homeif you discover a pair that doesn't look familiar (school sweatpants are all black or bluechances are it was borrowed. Please return any borrowed items back to school. If you have any sweats that your children have outgrown, I gladly take donations. Thank you!

Kids Swimming.

SEND-OFF ASSEMBLY NEWS

Please note that the Send-off and Share the Warmth Assembly and pajama day will take place on Tuesday, December 20. We will gather in the PAC for the final assembly of 2016 to celebrate our first months of learning together and the start of a new year. We will also hear from fifth graders about Share the Warmth—their annual collection of warm winter clothing for Cradles to Crayons. Pajamas welcome! 

Reminder: School closes at 12:30 p.m. for all students and there is no after school and no enrichment classes.
Kids Swimming.

WINTER CONCERT NEWS

Details and Directions

The Winter Concert is coming soon! Click here for information on arrival times, concert dress, seating, parking, and more.

Kids Swimming.

DIVERSITY NEWS

Reminder: Braiding Different Strands Meeting
Monday, December 12, Erskine Library

Come one, come all to our next Braiding Different Strands meeting! Braiding Different Strands is a group that engages in lively conversation around equity and diversity, sharing resources, ideas, and challenges in a collaborative and safe environment. This month our meeting will focus on allyship. All adult members of the Belmont Day community are welcome to attend and contribute ideas or questions, whether you can make one meeting or all of the meetings. A light dinner will be provided at 6:15 p.m. and the meeting will start promptly at 6:30 p.m.

"There comes a time when silence is betrayal" - MLK

Kids Swimming.

COMMUNITY SERVICE NEWS

Share the Warmth Drive
Ends on December 20

Final call for donations to Cradles to Crayons, a non-profit organization that helps children (age newborn through age 12) in need of supplies and warm winter coats and clothing. Thank you! 

Toy Drive for Bridget Brigade
Ends on Friday, December 16

Donations of toys for the Bridget Brigade Foundation are still welcome. Please remember that these toys are for children in the hospital and be mindful of the size of the toys.

ANNUAL GIVING NEWS

Support Belmont Day Today!

As the conclusion of 2016 draws near, we look forward to spending special time with family and friends and look hopefully toward 2017.

You recently received an appeal from us in your mailbox asking for your support of the Belmont Day Annual Fund. We hope that you will consider making a gift before the year’s end. Your gifts make moments like those in this video possible for all of our students. You can make a secure donation online.

We extend our wishes for a joyful new year to you and your loved ones. Thank you!

CAMPAIGN NEWS

Only One Town Gathering To Go!

If you have not yet had a chance to attend a town gathering for the Raise Y[our] Voice campaign, be sure to join us in Belmont on January 5, 2017. Brendan Largay and the faculty are excited to share new developments—both building and programmatic—for The Barn. In addition, these gatherings are a great opportunity to connect with other Belmont Day families who live in your town/neighborhood. Let us know you're coming here.

AUCTION NEWS

Auction Catalog Advertising and Acknowledgements


Do you own a business or know of a business that would be interested in exposure to the BDS community by advertising in the auction catalog? Do you know of someone who would like to include a message of support? We are now accepting advertising and acknowledgements for the auction catalog, which will be handed out to the event's attendees. Three sizes of ads are available. Complete or share this form or download it from the BDSG site to participate. 

TECH TIP OF THE WEEK

Tech Office Apps of the Week

Apple’s Swift Playground made it’s debut at today’s Hour of Code. Former middle school instructional technologist, Matt Brooks, who is now part of Apple’s education team introduced our community to this powerful tool that lets everyone build new and exciting apps. Matt also conducted a professional workshop for our teachers. Price: Free; Grades: 5-8

Busy Water is a logical puzzle-solving game where a tricky cat has unplugged Archie the fish’s tank. With over 100 levels, kids put together pipes, experiment with water in its various states, and use wheels, ropes, rotating planks, and gravity to safely direct Archie to his aquarium. Higher levels unlock only after players successfully complete previous levels. Price: $3.99; Grades: 1-5

BEYOND BELMONT DAY

Hands Around the Pond
Saturday, December 17, 1 to 2 p.m.

Clay Pit Pond, Belmont, MA

Hands Around the Pond is an outdoor event to demonstrate Belmont's commitment to a safe and civil community. For more information visit the Belmont Against Racism website here.

Belmont Day Sponsors Family Film Festival
January 13-16, 2017
 


This year’s Belmont World Film's 14th Annual Family Festival Where Books Come Alive offers some of the world’s best films for children ages 3-12 and their families at the Regent Theater, Studio Cinema, and Brattle Theater. Many are being screened in the US or on the East Coast for the first time. 

Films are based mostly on children’s books: from Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, to Johanna Spyri’s Heidi. There are films about new siblings, friendship in Korea, Vietnamese immigrants in Germany, Little League Baseball in Uganda, 12 year-old boys with a $1.8 million record deal, and more! Wallace & Gromit Creative Director Merlin Crossingham will also talk and sign autographs after a screening of The Curse of the Were-Rabbit on opening night and lead two workshops on model making on Saturday, January 14

We have five 2-ticket sets to give away! If you are interested, please enter your name in the drawing that will take place at the Send-off Assembly on Tuesday, December 20.

Click here for tickets. For more info email info@belmontworldfilm.org or call 617-484-3980.
Teaching.

PRINT EDITION

The Scoop, Print Edition - December 9

Click here to find all of the articles from this week’s Scoop, formatted together for easy printing.

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55 DAY SCHOOL LANE  •  BELMONT, MA 02478  •  (617) 484-3078  •  INFO@BELMONTDAY.ORG Facebook.LinkedIn.
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