6th Grade Summer Orientation 2023

Welcome to the Sixth Grade: Gateway to the Middle School

Monday, May 8, 2023

6:45-8:30 p.m.

6:45-7:00

MS Building 1st Floor

Meet & Greet/Peek into Classrooms/Pick Up Handouts & Name Tags

Sixth Grade Advisors/teachers in their classrooms and the front porch

Nasser Samedy, Senior Director of Admissions

Tasha Urbanowski, Sixth Grade Dean

7:00-7:10

MS Building 1st Floor

7:15-8:20

MS Building 2nd Floor

Welcome to the Middle School

Jonathan Davis, Middle School Principal

6th Grade Overarching Themes and Some Impor tant Details

Tasha Urbanowski -- Transitional Structures, Introducing the 6th grade advisors

Sixth-Grade Advisors– overarching themes in the 6th-Grade year

Tasha Urbanowski – program components – what’s familiar/what’s new

Patti Barrett, Math Department Chair -- trajectory and placement process

Jonathan Davis -- Athletics and iPads

Tasha Urbanowski – questions to consider before the iPad comes home, language and arts options form, book purchases, some fall dates to know

8:20-8:30

Question & Answer

Tasha Urbanowski and Jonathan Davis

SIXTH GR ADE FACULTY

Teachers marked with an * are also 6th Grade Advisors

The “M.E.S.H.” Teachers

*Sarah Macone (English) is completing her eleventh year at Dwight-Englewood. Before moving to New Jersey, she taught sixth grade for four years at The Learning Project Elementary School in Boston, after a time as a four th and sixth grade teacher at Buckingham Browne and Nichols in Cambridge. Mrs. Macone earned her B.A . from Tufts University, her Masters in Education from Lesley University, and completed the Klingenstein Institute in Princeton, New Jersey in 2009. At Dwight-Englewood, Mrs. Macone also coaches boys and girls middle school tennis and serves as a technology liaison to suppor t technology integration in the curriculum. In her free time, Mrs. Macone enjoys spending time with her husband, her son Logan, her daughter Ellie, reading, and playing tennis.

*Sam Wallman (history) is looking forward to beginning his second year at Dwight-Englewood He received a Bachelor of Ar ts degree in History from Skidmore College After completing his Bachelor’s degree, he spent two years doing service teaching at underprivileged schools through the Americorps program He then pursued a Masters of Ar ts in Teaching in History with a concentration in 20th Century US History from Rutgers UniversityNewark After completing his Master’s degree and a year at the Hackley School, he relocated to Miami, Florida He taught sixth and seventh grade history from 2020-2022 at Gulliver Prep, working with students with special learning needs through their EDGE program. At Dwight-Englewood, he co-advises the GSA affinity group and runs the Hellfire: D&D Club. During his free time, Mr. Wallman enjoys reading new fantasy books, playing card and board games, and cooking.

*Matthew Larrowe (Science) is completing his fifteenth year at Dwight-Englewood. He received a B.S. in Biology from Bluefield University in Bluefield, VA , and a M.S. Ed. in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR. He grew up in rural southwest Virginia. He star ted teaching science twenty-three years ago in Galax, Virginia, where he taught Biology and Human Anatomy at Galax High School from 2000 to 2004. He later moved to Chapel Hill, NC, in 2004, where he taught 8th-grade science for one year before moving to Chatham Central High School, where he taught Biology and Human Anatomy until 2008 Mr Larrowe is also known as Coach Larrowe because he has coached football, basketball (both boys and girls), and baseball Here at D-E, he was formerly the head Girl’s Varsity Basketball Coach, assistant football coach, and assistant middle school baseball coach He has served as the Assistant Director of D-E 360º Summer Connections during the summer He also works at Roy William’s basketball camps at UNC and speaks at other basketball camps He enjoys spending time with his wife, son, and daughter in his spare time

*Linda Segar (Mathematics) Mrs. Segar is completing her eleventh year at D-E, and over twenty five years as an educator. Before coming to DE, she taught mathematics at Rockland Country Day School as a Math Specialist in charge of differentiating instruction, at Bank Street College of Education Graduate School, and at The Town School in New York City. Mrs. Segar earned her Masters of Science in Education (M.S. of Ed) from Bank Street College of Education in New York, NY.

Languages

José Miguel Moracho, (Spanish) a native of Pamplona, (Spain) teaches Spanish at Dwight Englewood Middle School since 2006. Previously he taught six years in The Knox School, a boarding school in Long island. Mr. Moracho has a BA in Communication from the University of Navarra (Spain) and in his free time enjoys traveling around the world, writing shor t stories in Spanish and drawing car toons. Mr. Moracho is thrilled to have the oppor tunity to work at Dwight-Englewood and especially enjoys being par t of the middle school family.

Junia Robinson (Spanish) received her BA in Spanish from the University of Michigan and her MA in TESOL from Eastern Michigan University. She has traveled extensively in Spanish-speaking countries, including par ticipating in a program at the University of Salamanca, where she returned twice for professional development and a cultural excursion trip with her former students. After three years in the Michigan public schools, Junia made the transition to the Greenhills private school, where she has been delighted with the oppor tunities for professional growth and for closer relationships with the students She is in her thir teenth year at Dwight Englewood and enjoys creative learning oppor tunities in our Middle School language program at D-E She enjoys working with the Origami Club as well as the Photography Club, two of her hobbies outside of the classroom She is fluent in both Spanish and Korean In her free time, Mrs Robinson enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her husband and her two girls, Lily and Cara

*Ber tin Mboko (French) is originally from Congo and has taught middle school French at Dwight Englewood since 2021. Prior to coming to D-E, he taught six years in Africa and one year at Mont Pleasant Middle School in Schenectady, NY. Mr. Mboko has a BA in International Studies from Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester NY), a Master’s Degree in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford,UK, and a Master of Ar ts in Curriculum and Instruction from Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY. He is a Rotary International world peace scholar. Mr Mboko is happy to have this oppor tunity to work at Dwight-Englewood and to be par t of the Middle School family.

*Charlie Burke (Latin) received his BA in Classics from Case Western Reserve University and his MA in Humanities from the University of Chicago, where he worked on the intersection of humor studies and Classical studies. He has been teaching Latin at Dwight-Englewood since 2017. As a former member of Dwight-Englewood’s technology liaisons group, Mr Burke has had the oppor tunity to explore novel uses of technology in the classroom and find ways to really bring his curriculum to life When he is not teaching Latin, Mr Burke likes to run a tabletop games club or a board game design club during the afternoon activity period

Special Programming

Noel Arcane (Library) has helped students with all things reading related since receiving their Master's in Library and Information Science from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2012 They have a true global approach to the joys of reading as they have worked in Jordan, Macau, and Hong Kong Some types of readers are universal, but students never cease to surprise Mx Arcane They hail from some swamps outside of New Orleans, and have been a par t of the Dwight-Englewood team since 2022 The MLIS combined with a bachelors in adver tising provides the skills to generate many oppor tunities for engagement with a variety of reading and research materials in print and

online Outside of the library, Mx Arcane can be found in the Middle School Robotics lab or working on Open Roads, the Middle School literary magazine

Colleen Larionoff (Innovation Coordinator/TREP$ Entrepreneurial Project) is looking forward to her fifth year at Dwight-Englewood. She received her B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavior from Columbia University and completed UPenn’s Vir tual Online Teaching and Learning program. Ms. Larionoff ’ s previous jobs include neuroepigenetics researcher, STEAM and ELL teacher, science assembly performer, curriculum developer, and director of STEAM enrichment co-curricular and summer programming. As D-E’s Innovation Coordinator, Ms. Larionoff facilitates numerous student clubs and activities, including Robotics, Odyssey of the Mind, Science Olympiad, and independent research. She also oversees three creation spaces for grades 6-12 in the library: the Makerspace, which has 3D printers, a laser cutter, woodshop tools, electronics, and more; the Makercar t , which has a variety of materials to tinker with; and the Innovation Lab, which houses student research projects, robotics equipment , and a greenscreen and podcasting area. Ms. Larionoff serves on the Belonging and Equity Committee and the DEIB in Curriculum Committee and coordinates cross-divisional digital citizenship and design thinking programming She is the director of STEM Leadership Immersives for D-E 360º Summer Connections Ms Larionoff runs the 6th grade TREP$ Entrepreneurial Project Outside of school, Ms Larionoff enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her children

Ar ts

John Littlefield joined the Dwight-Englewood faculty in 2006 as conductor of the Middle and Upper School Orchestras He is the Music Depar tment Chair and also teaches flute Mr Littlefield conducted the Chamber Orchestra at the Spence School in New York City from 1986 to 2008 and has been recognized, under the name John Herrick Littlefield, since 1974 as an international performer and recording ar tist on the flute with a recordings on the Naxos and Justin labels and reviews of concer ts over his career that include: " notable elegance " - The Washington Times; " and “…commendable musical perception…" - The New York Times. Mr. Littlefield has been published in Chamber Music Magazine and Flute Talk. He sees the Dwight-Englewood School as a vibrant community that is suppor tive of diverse interests, offering oppor tunities for students to achieve excellence in music as well as other specialties while pursuing an exceptional academic curriculum.

Diego Garcia was born in Cali, Colombia, and enjoys a multifaceted career as a conductor, cellist , and composer. Mr. Garcia joined the D-E faculty in 2012 and is also on the faculty of New York University and the Thurnauer School of Music. He received great acclaim as the music director and main conductor of the Eastman School of Music’s pre-college ensembles. Diego has been a guest conductor for the Parnu Symphony Orchestra (Estonia), Flanders Music Festival (Belgium), Hampton Roads Chamber Players, Travelling Notes Orchestra, Bard College Symphony Orchestra, and Greece Symphony This summer, Mr Garcia has been named conductor and cellist for Summer Ar ts with Juilliard in Geneva, Switzerland, a new international summer program for young performers Mr Garcia is a frequent guest for different workshops and music festivals in the US, South America, and Europe

Rachel Brusk y graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 2001, earning a B F A in Illustration, with a concentration in Ar t History She received her M F A in Painting from the New York Academy of Ar t in 2006 At Dwight-Englewood School, Rachel teaches Middle and Upper School Studio Ar t courses. Rachel is also the Director

of the Young Visionaries: Ar t and Design Immersive with the D-E Summer Connections Program In addition to teaching, Rachel has exhibited her ar twork around the U S Rachel formerly worked as an Ar t Director and graphic designer at SoHo Publishing Company in NY, and as an Ar tist-in-Residence in the pediatric oncology and neurology clinics at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Medical Center

Annaliesa Place violin, is a passionate performer and educator. She joined the D-E faculty as Director of Strings in the Middle and Upper School in 2008. She founded D-E’s StringJam, a conductor-less string orchestra that tours annually. She performs across the United States and abroad with various ensembles including the East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO). She is featured on recordings with Absolute Ensemble for Sony Classical, ECCO for EOne Records, and Sting’s album Symphonicities. She is also featured in the 2019 Warner Bros. Movie, Western Stars with Bruce Springsteen. Annaliesa has also performed and recorded with Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, The Roots, Michael Bublé and Paul McCar tney, among others. Ms. Place was featured in the Cleveland Orchestra’s first video conference with Alan Gilber t and was hailed by the Cleveland Plain Dealer as ‘the epitome of poise and intelligence.’ She is the Director of Strings at the Dwight-Englewood School in Englewood, New Jersey where she founded StringJam, a conductor less string orchestra As a curriculum consultant and lead teacher for Juilliard’s Global K-12 Programs, Annaliesa teaches at Summer Ar ts with Juilliard in Geneva, Switzerland She enjoys playing in Broadway shows and looks forward to joining the musical, New York New York, which opens at the St James Theater in April 2023 Ms Place received a B M from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University and a M M from The Juilliard School

Jake Lloyd was first introduced to D-E when he was hired in 2007 as the pianist for the winter musical. In the fall of 2008, Jake joined the faculty as the 6th, 7th and 8th grade chorus teacher, as well as continuing his work music directing/conducting the winter musical. He also coordinates the Private Music Lessons Program. Since that time Jake has star ted a Show Choir elective in the 7th and 8th grades. Jake has his bachelor’s in music composition and orchestration with a minor in piano performance from Nyack College. Outside of DE, Jake is heavily involved in the musical theatre scene in NYC as a composer/writer and music director. He has worked off-Broadway and with various regional and community theatres. His original musical for which he wrote book, music and lyrics, “The Lost Boys”, premiered in a Brooklyn workshop, followed by an off-Broadway transfer. Jake is a graduate of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop and is a member of the Workshop Theatre. Jake currently is writing music and lyrics for a new musical with librettist , Allan Knee (writer of the Broadway musical, “Little Women” and the film, “Finding Neverland”) and an adaptation of “The Age of Innocence”

*Lydia Scrivanich has been a member of the Ar t and Design Depar tment faculty since 2005 She has taught in both the Middle and Upper Schools, and now exclusively teaches grades 6-8 Lydia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Ar t Education from Penn State University, with a studio concentration in Drawing and Painting in the program directed by distinguished ar t educators Drs Brent and Marjorie Wilson Previously, Lydia taught ar t at Bloomfield High School in New Jersey (grades 9-12) for four years, and during those summers at Montclair Kimberley Academy. She also taught at the Bloomfield Recreation Depar tment . She has led enrichment classes for our D-E 360 afterschool and summer programs. She is currently a member of the Middle School Tech Liaison Team, whose members seek to educate faculty in new advances in technology for the classroom for integration in various curricula and recognize needs in our respective teams and depar tments. Lydia believes that engagement of students in reflection on and creation of ar t while practicing the Studio Habits of Mind together help foster expression of individual voices, and in turn helps to strengthen the community. In her own work, Lydia explores

the multi-faceted beauty of nature through personal photography, painting and drawing, and crafts. She enjoys reading, especially shor t stories, and listening to music She is the proud mom of Don, class of ‘27

Health and Wellness

Michelle Carstens began her teaching career at Dwight Englewood in 2008 and now serves as the Chair of the Health and Wellness depar tment as well as a 7th grade homebase advisor. She received her B.S in Kinesiology and Exercise Science at Michigan State University, where she played and captained the field hockey team that won two Big Ten Championships and went to the NCAA Final Four multiple times. Following graduation, Michelle received her Masters Degree in Physical Education, Spor ts Administration and Coaching at Montclair State University while also acting as assistant coach for the women ’ s field hockey team. At Dwight Englewood, Ms. Carstens is a coach of the Upper School field hockey team as well as the Middle School softball team. In the winter, she directs the strength and conditioning program for Upper School students. Coach Carstens is a cer tified strength and conditioning coach and personal trainer and enjoys staying active in her free time as well as leading a healthy lifestyle through par ticipating in various fitness and wellness activities outside of school.

*Richard Muller has been at Dwight-Englewood since 2000 and has been a teacher for 37 years With a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from the King's College, a Masters Degrees in Spor ts and Coaching Administration and a Supervisor’s Cer tificate from Montclair State University, Rich teaches Physical Education and Health to grades 6-12 and served as the middle school, Health and Wellness team leader for three years Rich won the prized “ Williams Award for Creative Excellence” in 2002 He is currently a sixth grade advisor, First Aid/CPR/AED instructor, and 7-9th grade health teacher. He is the director of the annual middle school Field Day and the 8th grade Snipe Hunt . During his twenty-three year tenure at D-E, he has served as JV and Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach, Head Softball Coach, JV Softball Coach, Head Baseball Coach, and Head of the Varsity Women’s Basketball program. Rich currently serves as the Head Coach for Boys’ Middle School Soccer (Blue team), Basketball (Blue team), and Middle School Baseball. Rich received the prestigious Williams Award for Creative Excellence in 2003. He was a Co-Director of the Demarest Summer Camp for children on grades K-5 from 2017 - 2021.

Kiersten Hovan is completing her third year at D-E as par t of the Health and Wellness Depar tment and 8th grade advisor. She earned her B.S. in Neuroscience at Muhlenberg College, where she played and captained the women ’ s lacrosse team as a goalie for four years. She also received her M.S. in Exercise Science from Lock Haven University. Prior to arriving at Dwight-Englewood, she held similar positions in Athletics and Physical Education at Ransom Everglades School (Miami, FL) and Muhlenberg College (Allentown, PA) Mrs Hovan coaches the Upper School field hockey and girls lacrosse teams as well as Middle School girls basketball Mrs Hovan enjoys spending time outside, especially at Long Beach Island, and being active whenever she can - she’s currently training for the New York City Marathon this fall!

Orestes Medina is completing his 2nd year at D-E as par t of the Health and Wellness Depar tment and is in his 9th year as par t of the D-E community. Orestes earned his Bachelor’s degree in Communications and minored in Computer science at La Salle University. As par t of his path to education, he earned an Associates degree with Relay University in K-5. While attending La Salle University, he played all 3 seasons for all 4 years for the Football and Track teams. Prior to arriving at Dwight-Englewood School, Orestes was a paraprofessional at Lindbergh

School located in Palisades Park, where he also attended and graduated from. Orestes is now in his 9th year as par t of the US Athletic teams, where he serves as the Head Track and Field coach for Winter and Spring. He is also a member of the Palisades Park JR/SR HS football team as the Defensive coordinator. Prior to Palisades Park he was one of the last members of the Dwight-Englewood School Football team During the summer time you will find Mr Medina here at Dwight-Englewood school as the Athletic Director for the DE 360 Programs

Student Suppor t

Tasha Urbanowski, (6th Grade Dean), moved from Vail, Colorado in 1995 to join the 6th grade team as English and Social Studies teacher after several years of teaching interdisciplinary humanities and serving as an advisor to both middle and upper school students She earned her B A at Smith College and her M A T in the teaching of English at Teachers College, Columbia University Ms Urbanowski was a member of the Dwight-Englewood reading initiative steering committee, initiated a reading lab suppor t program in middle school, and now teaches “DIG”, a gardening and sustainability elective in the 7th and 8th grade Discovery Program She is delighted to be coordinating, for a variety of classes in the middle and upper school divisions, hands-on study in our vegetable gardens, harkening back to her explorations in hor ticulture at Smith and more recent study of sustainable agriculture, beekeeping, and backyard chicken keeping. She has been a dean since 2001 and looks forward each fall to working with a new group of students and parents to help them enjoy and get the most out of their D-E 6th grade year. She is also a parent of a current D-E student and a 2020 alumna and proud “lifer.” From today onward, you should feel free to contact her at X3237 or urbant@d-e.org with any questions or concerns about your soon-to-be-sixth grader’s program and experience in middle school.

*Julie Luchs, (Middle School Learning Specialist) is completing her ninth year at D-E and has been involved in the teaching profession for over 30 years. Her B.A . in teaching from Tufts University, coupled with her M.A .T. from Tufts in Special Education, provide her with a vast array of teaching strategies that can be utilized both in and out of the classroom She has taught in Middle School grade level classrooms as well as resource rooms in both public and independent schools Julie enjoys the small group suppor t work she does with the students across all grade levels, pushing into 6th grade classrooms, and collaborating with other D-E Faculty Julie is the head of the Advisory Committee which develops curriculum for the Middle School Advisory program Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her family, Scott ‘84, Hannah ‘16 and Ali ‘19

Ariel Levitan, (Middle School Social Worker), is completing her first year at D-E where she provides suppor t to our middle school students, faculty and administrators throughout all grade levels. Ariel earned her B.A . in Psychology from Barnard College, followed by her Masters of Social Work from New York University. Prior to D-E, Ariel spent 12 years working in Char ter Schools in NYC with students at all grade levels and with a variety of learning and emotional needs. Ariel believes that providing safe spaces for kids to express themselves will bolster their academic achievements and will holistically suppor t their growing minds. At D-E, Ariel enjoys meeting with students, consulting with faculty and staff, and collaborating with parents. Ariel is a member of the Advisory Committee which develops curriculum for the Middle School Advisory program. Outside of D-E you will find Ariel spending time with her family and friends and dedicating her time to her community in Scarsdale.

Sixth Grade Program Components

The unifying concept of Grade 6 is “ What Makes Us Who We Are” and the program is centered on hands-on experiences and projects as well as skills instruction and guided practice The program consists of proscribed components including community-building time, an advisory program, the “MESH” curriculum of Math, English, Science and History as well as Spanish, Latin, French or A .S.K. 6, Chorus or Orchestra, Studio Ar t , Health & Wellness and Independent Reading. At the same time, students have oppor tunities to make choices, seek extra help and develop independence --a period of targeted academic growth (T A G ), during which students can meet with MESH teachers for extra help, is par t of each week Sixth graders also have the oppor tunity to par ticipate in extracurricular team spor ts and a variety of middle school clubs and activities which they select three times a year in conjunction with the spor ts seasons

Advisory

Community Time

“MESH” Classes

Math

English

Science

History

3 meetings per week

2 meetings per week

20 periods per week

2 periods per week (Interscholastic athletic teams practice and play mostly after school, but practices begin during activities periods on the days that activities meet )

Activities

MS Clubs & Activities Overview

Note: This is an example list of Clubs & Activities offered from this year. They are subject to change with each term/year.

Tuesday Activity Period

Thursday Activity Period

Bulldog Prep Backstage Theater Club

Dance Club Bulldog Prep

Drama Improv Club Bullet Journaling

Innovation Club Car tooning

Knit Cafe Crossword Puzzles

Latin Help D & D Club

Lego Club Gardening

Math Counts Jewelry / Accessory Making

Math Puzzles / Games Latin Help

Movie Club Math Help

Photography Odyssey of the Mind

Sketchbook Ar t Club Reading / Writing Buddies

Spanish Help Scrabble / Rummikub

MS Newspaper: “Papercut”

This MS Life Podcasting

Dwight-Englewood Middle School Athletics Program Overview

 = Designated as a “No-Cut” program

Fall Winter

Boys Soccer (A/B levels)

Girls Soccer

Girls Tennis

Girls Volleyball

Coed Ultimate Frisbee

 Coed Cross Country

 Intramural sports (activity period – Tuesdays & Thursdays)

Boys Basketball (A/B levels)

Girls Basketball

 Skating (off-campus activity)

Spring

Boys Baseball

Girls Softball

Boys Lacrosse

Girls Lacrosse

Boys Tennis

 Coed Track & Field

The experience of playing sports on a competitive team is a uniquely valuable one that our students may not have elsewhere in their lives. Athletics at Dwight-Englewood should be viewed as an integral component of the overall educational experience. The major objectives of the program are to provide wholesome opportunities for student-athletes to develop positive attitudes and habits. Student-athletes at Dwight-Englewood learn the lifelong value of involvement in sports; the values of good sportsmanship, personal commitment, physical activity, teamwork, skill development, sacrifice, decision- making and appreciation for the notion that participation in athletics is a privilege.

For some children, the middle school athletic program may be their first experience with a specific sport and with competitive athletics; for others, it may represent a move from a club or town recreation league. With this in mind, we strive to provide a safe learning environment for students to acquire the skills and concepts for the sport in which they are participating. We aim for as many “no-cut” sports as possible, taking into consideration field space, playing time, and level of competition. Winning is great, but not the priority.

Helpful Advice:

Quick Views of the Practice and Game Schedule are posted on the D-E Athletic webpage – Note: No Parent “Log-In” is required for viewing this information.

Follow these prompts to the D-E Athletic webpage: www. d-e.org > School life > Athletics

Or go to: www.d-e.org/athletics

Located to the right side of the page, under the heading “Middle School Athletic Announcements,” you will find the “Practice and Game Schedule,” (updated weekly) and other documents that can be downloaded.

With the exception of the first week of tryouts, athletic teams meet four (4) days per week, with practices and games being scheduled on any given school day. There is a one (1) “Day-Off” rotation for each team, which is determined by the schedule of games and the school calendar. Below is what parents and students should use as an approximate timeframe for practice. Please keep in mind that these times may include shuttle bus time to and from practice facilities.

î Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays – 3:40 to 5:30 PM

î Tuesdays and Thursdays – 2:40 to 4:45 PM

The starting and ending time of games both home and away will vary. Those details can be found by clicking the Calendar link on the D-E Athletic webpage. Please note there are occasions when a game will end late and result in your child returning to campus after the departure of the “Late Bus.” On these occasions, parents must make alternate plans for transportation home. (Please refer to transportation info below).

Attendance and Extracurricular Events/Activities - Students are allowed to participate in extracurricular events/activities (e.g. games, performances, etc...) only if they arrive in school by 10:00 AM on the day of the event. Exceptions may be made only with the permission of the Principal. In addition, a student that doesn’t participate in their Health and Wellness class for medical reasons or because they didn’t change into appropriate attire for class may not participate in extracurricular events/activities.

Cancellations:

Weather conditions may influence daily games and practices, the athletic office will email teams and parents of any changes. We make decisions regarding the cancellation of practices or games by 1:30 PM. Please understand that there will be circumstances when unexpected weather conditions may roll into our area, which may cause a later decision. While the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams have priority in use of the facilities, middle school coaches may have classroom meetings for strategy discussions or fitness training sessions. After such announcements, please encourage your child to contact you via cell phone, text/email, or school office phone.

Game Schedule and Directions: - (Check this site on a frequent basis)

Whether a game is scheduled at home or away, the starting time will range between 3:00 PM to 4:15 PM. You can always see our most up-to-date schedule on our school website. Follow the same prompts listed above to the D-E Athletic webpage and click on the “Calendar & Directions” or “Team Pages” tab. Using the dropdown box will give you access to a sport specific schedule or calendar view. These schedules are subject to change.

Taking your child home AFTER games:

After games, a parent may take their OWN CHILD home from the game site. Before a child is released to go home, the coaching staff requires that you see them, personally, before departing.

Parent/Guardian Carpool Plans:

If you want YOUR CHILD TO GO HOME WITH ANOTHER PARENT – a written note or email must be presented to the coaching staff or you must speak with the coach via your child’s cell phone before the event.

Returning to campus from an AWAY game and transportation home from school:

Traffic, weather conditions and any delay to the start of a game will have an impact on travel time. The coaching staff will encourage your son or daughter to call you 15-30 minutes before our return to campus. Please use this lead time to assist you in picking up your child promptly after games. The anticipated time for the bus to return back to school can vary, but you can view transportation details, as well as directions to the game site on our athletic webpage.

** Important Note ** - There are occasions when transportation from a game will result in your child returning to campus after the departure of the Late Bus. On these occasions, parents must make alternate plans for transportation home. You should refer to the weekly “Practice and Game Schedule,” located in the Middle School Athletic Announcements section of the D-E Athletic continued on next page

webpage for specific information. That schedule is updated each week and will indicate (with an asterisk) all events that will result in the players returning to campus after the departure of the Late Bus.

Taxi/Uber/Ride Share

It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to research ride-share companies and their practices and procedures in order to decide what is best for their family. The School has no liability for any risks or consequences of these decisions. Parent/guardians must email the Athletic Administrative Assistant, Nicole Bellmay, at athletic_office@d-e.org and Coaches with requests by 10:00 a.m. the morning of an athletic contest. Students MAY NOT make this request. Requests after that time may not be processed or accommodated. The email should have specific details and reasons for necessity. The procedure requires that your child meet the taxi/Uber/Lyft driver with a member of the coaching staff prior to departing the contest site. The safety and well-being of the child is foremost on our minds. Please understand that the taxi/Ube/Lyft driver must pick up the child at the same time as the team departs, as the coaching staff cannot leave your child unattended at the game site. If your child is not picked-up when the school/team bus is ready to depart, your child will be required to travel back to the school on the school/team bus.

Pick-up times and places

Please pick up your child in front of Umpleby Hall. The coaching staff will encourage your child to call you 15-30 minutes ahead of our scheduled return to the school campus. The lead time will help you in planning a prompt pick up of your child.

Required Physical Exam and Health Forms

All students must have documentation of a current physical examination and other required forms on file via Magnus Health SMR (Student Medical Record) before the start of practice in any sport. If your physical exam expires during the school year, a new physical exam form will be required in order to continue to participate in athletics. Please note that some forms are completed entirely online. Other forms may require a doctor’s signature and will need to be printed out. Once signed, the form can be scanned and uploaded to Magnus. Parents/guardians can access the Magnus Health SMR account through the online D-E Parent Resource Board. NO STUDENT MAY PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICE UNLESS HIS OR HER PHYSICAL FORM IS UPLOADED & FILED IN THEIR MAGNUS HEALTH SMR ACCOUNT FOR THE SCHOOL NURSE TO REVIEW.

Athletic Trainer

The school employs licensed & certified athletic trainer(s) (ATC) who supervise all aspects of the sports medicine program for the athletic department. Services include injury assessment, treatment, taping, rehabilitation and follow-up care. The athletic training room opens at 1:00 PM each day and before and after weekend home games. Athletic training room guidelines are posted inside the training room. All injuries must be reported to the athletic trainer immediately following the injury. The ATC may recommend that the student see a physician for additional diagnosis and/or treatment. Parents/guardians are encouraged to call the ATC if there are any questions regarding their child’s injury.

Athletic Injuries

Participation in athletics is voluntary and there is always a risk of injury and/or death to the student. Efforts are made to mitigate and prevent harm and/or injury through the rules and practice of the game; however, accidents do occur. All injuries should be reported to the athletic trainer and school nurse. All efforts will be made to notify parents/guardian immediately of any injury sustained to their child during practices and/or games.

Physician Note/Prescription

Any student-athletes seeing a doctor for an illness/injury that may impact the safety or well-being of the child (whether school related or non-school related), must inform the athletic trainer and the school nurse. Prior to resuming participation in practices or games the athletic trainer and school nurse must receive written clearance by that same doctor, not a family member nor a physician in another specialty. This is standard practice and ensures the proper care of the student.

A note from the doctor must include the following:

î Diagnosis

î Recommendations for treatment/rehabilitation (if any)

î Physical education (Health and Wellness) / athletic restrictions (if any)

î Date of next follow-up appointment (if any)

î Date of clearance

D-E Concussion Protocol

If an athlete suffers a trauma to the head, or a blow to the body, resulting in their exhibiting symptoms of concussion, then the athlete will be removed from the game/practice. The athlete will then be referred to a physician who is trained in concussion management, for authorization to either resume immediate participation or begin a “return to play” protocol. The school athletic trainer or nurse will provide additional information regarding D-E’s protocol/procedures in concussion management. Questions may be directed to the Athletics Director at: athletic_office@d-e.org.

Medical Insurance

The parent/guardian’s health insurance is primary in case of an accident or injury occurrence during practice or play of interscholastic sports. The School provides the secondary insurance. After your insurance company has made payment, the school’s accident insurance, in most cases, would cover any remaining balance upon submission of the applicable insurance claim form. The insurance claim form must be submitted in a timely manner. Please call the school athletic trainer or school nurse if you have any additional questions regarding medical insurance.

Equipment and Uniforms

Students will be issued uniforms at the start of each season. Uniforms must be returned at the conclusion of the season or, if lost or stolen, parents will be billed the appropriate costs for replacement, which is generally in the $150 range.

Students are responsible for bringing and wearing the appropriate equipment as required by the coach and the rules governing the sport. Examples below:

î Personal Water Bottles, gym bag, towel, extra athletic attire

î Sneakers and/or Cleats, bats, gloves, field sticks

î Protective Equipment, Including: Mouthguard, Goggles, Facemasks, Athletic Cup/Supporters, Pads & Helmets

* Note: Students may not wear jewelry of any nature during their Health and Wellness class, athletic practices, or games. This includes all new and existing items attached to the body by piercings. Therefore, students must remove all jewelry before participation. In addition, students who do not participate in their Health and Wellness class may not be permitted to participate in practices or games after school.

Middle School iPad Program

Why iPads in Middle School?

There are many characteristics of the iPad that make it an excellent choice for our Middle School classrooms Its small, unobtrusive size not only makes it easy to carry around, but also prevents it from becoming a visual barrier between teacher and student on a desk Its instant-on capability coupled with the simplicity of its interface makes it easy for teachers to use them at a moment's notice or to easily transition from one activity to another Its efficient use of battery power ensures that it is still going strong during the final class of the day Finally, its slate form factor and high-resolution display make it easy to read and engage with digital content such as handouts and e-books.

How will the iPads be used in the classroom?

In class, the iPads will improve student organization, communication, and access to vast online resources. Most teacher produced content will be delivered to students electronically, and students will complete many of their assignments on the ipad The ability to contact teachers and easily share documents means that students can correspond with peers and teachers more effectively when they need help Students will leverage task management and calendaring apps to record and plan assignments, and some subject specific apps will help teachers to differentiate instruction and target par ticular student skill deficiencies

The ipad will also be used to collect and share multimedia learning ar tifacts such as pictures, audio, and video

Will student textbooks be delivered on the iPad?

It is often a challenge to find high quality e-books designed for a Middle School audience. We deliver some but not all texts electronically. Digital versions are always considered when making textbook choices, and we do our best to select the most appropriate tool.

What if my child already has an iPad? Can he use it in school?

We realize that many students have an ipad for personal use, but we currently require all Middle School students to use an iPad purchased from the school. This allows us to manage the content on the iPad and to minimize distractions. Through a great deal of experience, we have found that it is impor tant to create a clear boundary between “recreational, personal devices” and “tools for school.” School-managed devices also enable us to provide suppor t for malfunctioning equipment right on campus, and we can ensure that the device is going to be configured identically to the iPads of other students. If a parent has questions about this policy, he or she should contact the Director of Technology at extension 3178.

Does my child need a "real" computer in addition to his iPad?

Parents do not need to purchase a separate computer for their child, but occasionally, a class activity may require a student to have access to a computer with Internet access at home in addition to her iPad. In most cases, a shared, family computer will easily suffice.

Can my child continue to use her iPad when she goes to the Upper School?

iPads are suppor ted for three years from the date of purchase Students who like th eir iPad may continue using it as a personal device All students will need to purchase a laptop computer when they enter the Upper School, however

Do the students find the technology distracting in class and during homework time?

Distractions are indeed a major concern. This is why we have chosen to limit what students can install on their iPads. Middle School teachers will also incorporate strategies for staying focused into their classroom lessons and address expectations with students clearly. . The middle school will spend time on this topic at various times throughout the year, and deans will work with individual students and families who are struggling with this issue

What type of training will students receive?

Students entering grades 6, 7, and 8 will gain access to training videos when they receive their iPad. This training covers how to perform basic operations such as where to save, how to print , and how to backup data. Sixth Graders receive additional instruction in mandated file management and use of some specific apps in classes during the first week of school.

The iTunes terms of service require people to be at least 13 years old in order to open an account. How does this work if my child is not yet 13?

All Middle School students are provided with a school-managed Apple ID account designed for students and linked to the same d-e.org account used to access email and other online school resources.

How will students protect their iPads from breakage?

All students will receive a rugged protective case with their iPad This case will remain on the iPad in all classes to protect it from breakage

What if it does break?

The fee that families pay includes enrollment in a 3 year AppleCare+ protection plan. Students will be covered for up to 2 incidents of accidental damage with a $49 deductible for each incident . Additional incidents are not covered. Note that broken iPads may be repaired or replaced with new or refurbished par ts at the discretion of Apple Inc.

iPad Pre-Orientation: Questions to Consider this Summer

The fall orientation for parents will include discussion of iPad use, a 'tour' of MyD-E and Parent Resource Board, and the oppor tunity to ask questions about issues related to helping your child(ren) make effective use of the iPad for academic work. In the meantime, however, our experience tells us it is helpful for families to have time to think about some general questions in advance of bringing the iPad home.

Even if your child(ren) already uses mobile devices and accesses the Internet regularly, it is our strong feeling that they benefit at this age from continued active parenting in smar t , safe, and ethical Internet use. This acquisition of a new device offers you a chance to give your child(ren) renewed guidance at their current developmental level The summer provides an oppor tunity to work with your child(ren) to set some family ground rules for laptop computer use to help you both enjoy making the iPad par t of your family's collection of useful tools. We hope you will find these "thinking points" helpful as you take advantage of that oppor tunity

● Where is the iPad to be allowed in the house?

● Do I have what I need in my house to suppor t my child’s use of the iPad for academic purposes? (internet access, printing connection, a designated place to charge and spend the night)

● Will I permit recreational use of the iPad? (Although students are not permitted to download non-school applications, they will be able to access the internet and its multiple diversions, especially while at home, away from school supervision )

● If recreational use is allowed, how much and what kind? What about social networking and use of social media?

● How will I have knowledge and oversight of my child’s internet use and on-line behavior?

● How can I suppor t my child in learning how best to present themselves and communicate with others when they are using means such as texting and chatting -- including how to recognize conversations or groups they should exit and how to do so gracefully?

● Does my child know basic internet safety rules?

SUMMER READING 2023

ALL STUDENTS

Please read the Community of Readers book Mx. Arcane assigned to you. If you don’t remember the title, please either check your Community of Readers email from Mx. Arcane or email Mx. Arcane directly at arcann@d-e.org.

In addition, each student in grades 6 to 8 is required to read the book listed below for your grade.

GRADE 6

Joan Bauer, Soar (ISBN: 9780147513151)

GRADE 7

S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders (ISBN: 9780142407332)

GRADE 8

Renee Watson, Piecing Me Together (ISBN: 9781681191058)