Our Brian Park Wins the Title of Englewood Idol

D-E's very own Brian Park '12 is the latest to earn the coveted title of "Englewood Idol"!  During the annual event at Bergen PAC held Thursday, Jan. 26, the senior was named as the winner in what is traditionally a highly competitive, intense, and emotional evening.   The D-E Dance Crew also competed. For more on all the show's 'rising stars' and an extensive Englewood Idol event photo gallery, visit bergen.com!  Five Dwight-Englewood students made the final rounds of Englewood Idol 2012.  Congratulations to all our D-E Idol contestants  - Gina-Marie Enriquez, Heather Braverman, Brian Park, Sarah Kim and Julia Kim. Everyone showcased their incredible talents beautifully to the applause of an enthusiastic audience. 

D-E String Jam, A Classical Music Ensemble Tours DC

The D-E student instrumental ensemble StringJam departed from the D-E campus to travel to the nation's capital.  The group was given an opportunity to do a final rehearsal at Collins House, home of Head of School, Dr. Rodney De Jarnett on Wednesday night.  Click on the photo below for video:

The student group presented a concert and workshop with OrchKids at New Song Academy in Baltimore on Thursday, January 26.  OrchKids is a program offered through the acclaimed Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, as an education initiative that provides social and learning opportunities for Baltimore City youth.  StringJam also performed a recital on Friday, January 27, at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., in partnership with Washington Suzuki Strings.  For more information about the tour and the performers, click here.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Parents of the Dwight-Englewood School today provided a wonderful lunch for Upper School students in recognition of the Lunar New Year.  Students were offered a traditional gold coin, which everyone was excited to receive.  We were also fortunate in the Admissions Office to have some wonderful treats provided for our visitors for the day.  For images of Lunar New Year celebrations around the world, click on the dragon below.

US Principal Joseph Algrant Takes A Seat at The Admissions Committee Table

...Have you ever wondered what goes on inside an Admissions Committee meeting?  Well, we thought we'd take a photo of Upper School Principal, Joseph Algrant as he readied himself today to discuss the candidacy of freshman applicants...We're convinced that the NY Giants hat was not just an expression of his loyalty to the local football franchise; it was his thinking cap!

If you are curious about what thinking goes into an admissions decision, keep reading...
It is the goal of the Dwight-Englewood School to enroll dynamic classes of talented, motivated and responsible students. We seek academically strong students with the skills, interests and commitment that will enhance our academic community and contribute to the life of the school in a variety of ways, including the arts, athletics, leadership and service.  We value diversity and varying perspectives within Dwight-Englewood.

Acceptance to Dwight-Englewood is selective: offering places to students whose abilities fall within a range that is likely to predict success in our academic program. In addition, we consider greatly the degree to which students express a commitment to participating in the life of the community as well as uphold the core values and ethical standard set within our community. Admissions decisions, which are determined by an Admissions Committee, are based on the following areas:

●       Academic record and recommendations

●       Admission testing

●       Interview

●       Demonstrated talent, interest, and experience that enhance the class and school

●       School readiness, behavioral maturity and motivation to learn

●       Student writing samples

●       Comparison with other applicants in the pool

Admissions Committee notifications for all applicants whose files were completed by January 15 will be sent out by mid-February.

MS Principal, Kathy Christoph Reports on the Success of Intermester Week

Well, we're past the half-way mark of Intermester Week , and what a week it is already!! I am so impressed by the overall theme of each grade level and the interpretation of those themes into the various experiences and activities in which the children are participating. The creativity factor, the intellectual rigor, the level of relationships between students and teachers, and the problem-solving factors all are contributing significantly to a week that the children will remember as Touch-stone Experiences.

On Tuesday, I got to see the 6's in action with their emphasis on green ways to contribute to a local economy. Those math skills were being honed with the small group work on poverty, nutrition, and income levels. Today, the grade shifted focus a bit and took a look internally at themselves with the self-portrait experience which is part of their Identity unit. A special call-out to Lydia for her good work on this unit.

Today, I traveled to Chinatown with the 7's and was immersed in all things Chinese, and learned a few some really neat facts. We walked to the oldest building in New York City and stopped by the oldest cemetery in the city. Along the way, we got to visit the statue of Confucius and the arch honoring soldiers of Chinese ancestry. At the Chinese Cultural Center, the children honed their fine-motor skills in a Chinese calligraphy class and burned off many calories in a male- and female- fan dance. Interesting to note the gender differences!

Tomorrow, I'm going to join the 8's in their Poetry Day. It will be especially nice to see them in 4-Star Dress Over the past 2 days, our 8's have been having some really special opportunities. Art Department Chair, Gregg Emery, along with visual arts faculty, Caitlyn Young and Lydia Scrivanich, integrated American history with art history in preparation for their trip to the MET. Not content to take it easy, the emphasis on Service  Learning came through loud and clear with their trips to the Food Bank. The students found out that lots of labor is usually needed to help cure social ills.

I am so proud of our Middle School division. Tonight at the boys' Basketball game, many parents commented how much their children are enjoying the week. If their voices are representative of the DE Families as a whole, we are certainly hitting the mark!  As I have often said, We teach with Passion every day!

Student Corner: Follow Alex Koren's Daily Blog

Here's a sample from last week's Blog posts: http://alexstudentcorner.blogspot.com/

1/12/12 Today's Upper School Assembly was a tribute to Martin Luther King. Students from every reach of our Upper School put together an unbelievably moving presentation of spoken word, speeches, and videos, imparting on the student body a sense of what it means to fight for ones rights and freedoms. Here is a short clip shown at today's assembly:



Silence was the message. That sometimes lack of words, non-violence, can prove a greater point than any amount of shouting. One of the most powerful pieces of the assembly I believe, was a piece spoken by fellow senior Victoria. She spoke of voice, power, courage, and strength. When the assembly came to a close, the entire Upper School body had a moment where everything was silent, as the messages sank in. The moment wasn't spoken, but was somehow understood by students, teachers, and faculty.

Thomas Edison Makes D-E His New Home

The students in the Lower School welcomed Thomas Edison, aka Eddie, to his new home in Drapkin Hall.  Eddie, who was rescued from an animal shelter, was named after the famous scientist, Thomas Edison.  He occupies the center of the Science Exploratorium on the first level.  Eddie has brought smiles to the faces of everyone who has visited him.  If you happen to be in Drapkin Hall, be sure to take the time to see the newest member of the Dwight-Englewood School community.

Hats Off to the Lady Bulldogs - D-E Girls Basketball Has a Winning Streak

Our Lady Bulldogs' 5-2 winning streak in basketball was featured in a Record article published yesterday.  The article highlighted the early success of the team under newly-appointed head coach, Matthew Larrowe. To read the article from The Record for yourself, click here.

Go Bulldogs!

Student Literary Magazine Earns National Recognition

Calliope 2011, the D-E Upper School annual literary publication, has been selected for a Crown Award by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CPSA).  A total of 1,351 newspapers, magazines and yearbooks published during the 2010-2011 academic year were eligible in the 2012 Crown Awards program.

According to the CPSA, the grand total of 204 Crowns consists of 56 magazines, 56 newspapers and 92 yearbooks. Of these, 163 Crowns will be given to scholastic publications and 41 Crowns to collegiate publications.  Crown Award finalists are guaranteed to receive either a Gold or Silver Crown Award later this spring, in March 2012.

For more information about the award click here:

Welcome to the New Year!

School resumed yesterday with Dwight-Englewood students returning to campus to find a new space that was added to the library over the winter break.  To their delight, students learned that the Silent Study Space had been designed just in time for the upcoming exam period.  An added bonus, the space also features artwork from Colin Alexander '11.  Current students are fascinated by Alexander's graphic novel shown in the new space.