6th Grade Parents Orientation by Dwight-Englewood School

Welcome to the Sixth Grade: Gateway to the Middle School

Monday, May 12, 2025

6:30-8:30 p.m.

6:30-6:50

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

MS Building 1st FloorSixth Grade Advisors/teachers in their classrooms and the front porch

Nasser Samedy, Senior Director of Admissions

Tasha Urbanowski, Sixth Grade Dean

6:55-7:05

Welcome to the Middle School

MS Building 2nd FloorJonathan Davis, Middle School Principal

7:05-7:15

7:15-8:20

8:20-8:30

Meet the Advisors & the MS Advisory Program

Charlie Burke (Latin)

Sarah Macone (English)

Kara Makohon-Moore (Science)

Rich Muller (Health and Wellness)

Lydia Scrivanich (Art)

Linda Segar (Mathematics)

Sam Wallman (History)

Julie Luchs (Learning Specialist) Introduction to MS Advisory

What is Familiar? What is New?

The “MESH” Team -- the teaching team, increasing student independence

Tasha Urbanowski – program components

Charlie Burke -- world language program and choices

Ryan Vettoso, Assistant Athletic Director -- athletics

Jonathan Davis -- iPads and parenting opportunities around digital citizenship

Tasha Urbanowski – language and arts options forms, book purchases, some fall dates to know

Question & Answer

Tasha Urbanowski and Jonathan Davis

FEEDBACK ON SPRING PARENT ORIENTATION

I hope you enjoyed the orientation to 6th grade, the chance to meet 6th grade advisors and to hear a bit about the structure of the 6th grade and the opportunities rising into middle school offers your child(ren). We have worked to make the evening both informative and of reason-able length. Please let us know if we are hitting the mark and if there are ways you feel we can improve this event for future years.

Thank you,

Tasha Urbanowski Sixth Grade Dean

Quick Reference List: D-E 6th Grade

School Day Start: 8:10 (recommended drop-off time, 8:00) End: 3:25

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS: Switchboard 201-569-9500

Attendance: Mrs. Jones 201-227-3301 Call or e-mail msAttendance@d-e.org or fill out SchoolPass before 9:15am to report an illness or other unplanned absence or an early pick up for a doctor’s appointment, etc. To report/arrange for a planned absence, please call Ms Urbanowski at X3237 or e-mail urbant@d-e.org a week in advance of the planned absence.

Middle School Office: Ms Cebulski 201-227-3230. If you need to get a timely message to your child, please call before 11:00 and be sure to connect live with Ms. Cebulski, our office manager, rather than leaving a message.

Nurse: Dr. April Boghossian 201-227-3161 boghoa@d-e.org

Advisors:

Mr. Sam Wallman wallms@d-e.org (History/Social Studies)

Mrs. Sarah Macone macons@d-e.org (English)

Mrs. Linda Segar segarl@d-e.org (Math)

Mrs. Julie Luchs luchsj@d-e.org (Learning Specialist)

Mrs. Lydia Scrivanich scrivl@d-e.org (Art)

Mrs. Kara Makohon-Moore moorek@d-e.org (Science)

Mr. Rich Muller muller@d-e.org (Health and Wellness)

Mr. Charles Burke burkec@d-e.org (Latin)

Librarian: Ms Kat Sanford – sanfok@d-e.org

Assistant Director of DEIB: Ms. Simone Henry Agblonon, (201) 227-3213, henrys@d-e.org

Innovation Coordinator: Ms. Colleen Larionoff, 201-227-3184, larioc@d-e.org

MS Counselor: Ms. Ariel Levitan, 201-227-3159, Levita@d-e.org

Dean: Ms Tasha Urbanowski 201-227-3237, urbant@d-e.org

WEBSITE: www.d-e.org COMPUTER SERVICES: 201-227-3177 or help@d-e.org

Sixth Grade Faculty

Teachers marked with an * are also 6th Grade Advisors

The “M.E.S.H.” Teachers

*Sarah Macone (English) is ﬁnishing her thirteenth 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 fourth 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 is the 6th Grade Team Leader, so she is responsible for coordinating curriculum and events across the grade. She also coaches boys and girls middle school tennis, serves as a technology liaison to support technology integration in the curriculum, and supports the Advisory 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 excited to be at Dwight-Englewood. He received a Bachelor of Arts 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 Arts in Teaching in History with a concentration in 20th Century US History from Rutgers University - Newark. 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 runs the Hellﬁre: D&D Club and Magic the Gathering: Games Club. During his free time, Mr. Wallman enjoys reading new fantasy books, playing card and board games, and cooking.

*Kara Makohon-Moore (Science) is ﬁnishing her second year at Dwight-Englewood. Originally from Michigan, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education (Grades K–8) from Oakland University, with double majors in Language Arts and Science. She went on to teach sixth through eighth grade science for ﬁve years in Maryland, where she also helped develop and launch a STEM magnet school. During that time, she completed her Master’s degree at The Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining Dwight-Englewood, she spent eight years at The Elisabeth Morrow School, where she served as the Lower School Science/STEAM Department Chair and classroom teacher. In her free time, Mrs. M-M enjoys hiking, gardening, reading, running, and baking treats for her family—including her husband, their two daughters, Charlotte and Claire, and their three-toed box turtle.

*Linda Segar (Mathematics) This is Mrs. Segar’s thirteenth year at D-E, and over twenty seven years as an educator, she is also the Middle Math Curriculum Coordinator. 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. When not in school, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, and being outdoors.

Cristina Thiam (HyperMath) a native of Transylvania (Romania), has been teaching Math and Computer

Sixth Grade Faculty

Teachers marked with an * are also 6th Grade Advisors

The “M.E.S.H.” Teachers

Programming in the Upper School since 2014. Previously she taught Mathematics in New York City public schools for 12 years, at both middle school and high school levels. She earned her Masters of Science in Mathematics from Columbia University, and her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics in native Romania. In her free time, she enjoys biking and traveling with her husband Cheikhna, who is originally from Senegal, West Africa. Their son Meissa is new to DE this year, in 7th grade, and Ms. Thiam loves to go skiing with him in winter. Between the three of them, they can speak about 8 languages, and are hoping to learn more.

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 short stories in Spanish and drawing cartoons. Mr. Moracho is thrilled to have the opportunity to work at Dwight-Englewood and especially enjoys being part 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 participating 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 opportunities for professional growth and for closer relationships with the students. She is in her ﬁfthteenth year at Dwight Englewood and enjoys creative learning opportunities 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.

*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 opportunity 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 during the afternoon activity period.

Special Programming

Cristina Thiam (HyperMath) a native of Transylvania (Romania), has been teaching Math and Computer

Colleen Larionoff (Innovation Coordinator/TREP$ Entrepreneurial Project) has been the Innovation Coordinator at Dwight-Englewood since 2019. She received her B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavior from Columbia University and completed UPenn’s Virtual 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

Sixth Grade Faculty

Teachers marked with an * are also 6th Grade Advisors

The “M.E.S.H.” Teachers

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 Makercart, 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.

Simone Henry Agblonon (Ofﬁce of DEIB) is in her 3rd year at Dwight-Englewood and is thrilled to be a part of this community. After completing an undergraduate degree at Columbia, she taught for several years at both the elementary and middle school levels before pivoting into the world of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) via a Master's degree from Harvard's Graduate School of Education. At Dwight-Englewood, Ms. Henry works with students to develop the skills of empathy and inclusive excellence and to honor cultural celebrations and observances. She supports the Lower and Middle school divisions regarding all things DEIB with special emphasis on ensuring a strong sense of belonging for each and every student. In her free time, Ms. Henry loves spending time with her almost 2 year-old Lenox, exercising and learning to surf. A fun fact about her is that she takes the school bus and a kick-scooter to and from D-E from Harlem. She loves every minute of that comparatively easy commute after previously commuting 2 hours each way daily for a whole school year!

Kat Sanford (Librarian) has spent nearly a decade in education and still loves nothing more than discovering what new questions she will hear each day. As a Librarian, she enjoys not only answering questions, but providing her students with the skills and tools they need to ﬁnd the answers themselves. Ms. Sanford is especially passionate about Middle Grade and Young Adult literature. She is in her second year at Dwight-Englewood, and previously served as the Director of Library Services at a school in Westchester County for six years. Ms. Sanford is originally from Massachusetts and has a degree in English from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, although she has long since trained herself to stop using wicked as an adverb. She is a proud returned Peace Corps Mali volunteer, as well as a former member of the AmeriCorps program in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She has a soft spot for cozy classics like the works of Louisa May Alcott, L.M. Montgomery, and Elizabeth Gaskell, but her home library is also packed with contemporary authors, poetry, folktales, and niche nonﬁction like The Lonely Planet’s Guide to Antarctica, Dead Famous: An Unexpected History of Celebrity, and Instructions to Lighthouse Keepers. When she’s not reading, she enjoys sewing and crafting, going on nature walks, exploring museums, and spending time with her plants, friends, and family.

Arts

Cristina Thiam (HyperMath) a native of Transylvania (Romania), has been teaching Math and Computer

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. Most recently, he was named Artistic Director of the New Jersey Youth Orchestras. 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 Arts with Juilliard in Geneva,

Sixth Grade Faculty

Teachers marked with an * are also 6th Grade Advisors

The “M.E.S.H.” Teachers

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.

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 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 McCartney, among others. Ms. Place was featured in the Cleveland Orchestra’s ﬁrst video conference with Alan Gilbert 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 taught at Summer Arts with Juilliard in Geneva, Switzerland from 2016-2020.. She enjoys playing in Broadway shows and has held chairs on Beetlejuice, New York New York, and Harmony. Ms. Place received a B.M. from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University and a M.M. from The Juilliard School.

Rebecca Steinberg is a trumpet player with a career marked by her warm, inviting sound and stylistic versatility. You can ﬁnd Rebecca in the pit of New York City’s many theater productions, performing alongside her brass quintet Calliope Brass, and teaching music both privately and in the classroom. As a theater musician, Rebecca has held trumpet chairs in Tony winning Broadway musicals SUFFS and New York, New York. Other favorite musical appearances include Ragtime (City Center), Sound of Music (Papermill Playhouse), and Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (Stage 42). Rebecca started at Dwight-Englewood in 2015 as a private lesson teacher, and now works more directly with the orchestra students as Director of Brass. Rebecca studied at Manhattan School of Music, and her former private students have gone on to attend Interlochen Arts Camp, Laguardia High School, Frank Sinatra High School, and Interschool Orchestras of NY, among other elite programs. Rebecca won the 2018 Liz Swados Inspiration Grant, an annual award honoring inﬂuential female music educators in New York City, on behalf of Calliope Brass. In addition to playing the trumpet with Calliope Brass, Rebecca also served as Executive Director for the 501c3 organization 2020-2023. Additionally as an arts administrator, Rebecca serves as a program head of Maestra Music’s First Takes program.

Rachel Brusky graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 2001, earning a B.F.A. in Illustration, with a concentration in Art History. She received her M.F.A. in Painting from the New York Academy of Art in 2006. At Dwight-Englewood School, Rachel teaches Middle and Upper School Studio Art courses. Rachel is also the Director of the Young Visionaries: Art and Design Immersive with the D-E Summer Connections Program. In addition to teaching, Rachel has exhibited her artwork around the U.S. Rachel formerly worked as an Art Director and graphic designer at SoHo Publishing Company in NY, and as an Artist-in-Residence in the pediatric oncology and neurology clinics at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Medical Center.

Cristina Thiam (HyperMath) a native of Transylvania (Romania), has been teaching Math and Computer

*Lydia Scrivanich has been a member of the Art and Design Department 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 Art Education from Penn State University, with a studio concentration in Drawing and Painting in the program directed by distinguished art educators Drs. Brent and Marjorie Wilson. Previously, Lydia taught art at Bloomﬁeld High School in New Jersey (grades 9-12) for four years, and during those summers at Montclair Kimberley

Sixth Grade Faculty

Teachers marked with an * are also 6th Grade Advisors

The “M.E.S.H.” Teachers

Academy. She also taught at the Bloomﬁeld Recreation Department. 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 departments. Lydia believes that engagement of students in reﬂection on and creation of art 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 short 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 department. 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, Sports 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 certified strength and conditioning coach and youth ice hockey coach and enjoys staying active in her free time as well as leading a healthy lifestyle through participating in various fitness and wellness activities outside of school.

*Richard Muller has been at Dwight-Englewood since 2000 and has been a teacher for 39 years. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from the King's College, a Masters Degrees in Sports and Coaching Administration and a Supervisor’s Certificate 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 certified 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-five 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, and Middle School Girls Soccer Coach. Rich currently serves as the Head Coach for Boys’ Middle School Soccer (White team, 7th-8th graders), Basketball (Blue team), and Middle School Baseball. Rich also served as the Health andWellness Middle School team leader for a short time. He was a Co-Director of the Demarest Summer Camp for children on grades K-5 from 2017 - 2021.

Cristina Thiam (HyperMath) a native of Transylvania (Romania), has been teaching Math and Computer

Kiersten Hovan is in her fourth year at D-E as part of the Health and Wellness Department 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!

Sixth Grade Faculty

Teachers marked with an * are also 6th Grade Advisors

The “M.E.S.H.” Teachers

Orestes Medina is completing his 8th year at D-E as part of the Health and Wellness Department and is in his 11th year as part of the D-E community. Orestes earned his Bachelor’s degree in Communications and minored in Computer science at La Salle University. As part 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 11th year as part 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 Tenafly Tiger’s HS football team as the Defensive coordinator & Wide Receivers coach. Prior to Tenafly 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 Support

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 support 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 horticulture 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 two DE alumni and proud “lifers.” 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 eleventh 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 support work she does with the students across all grade levels, pushing into 6th grade classrooms, and collaborating with other D-E Faculty. Julie is a member 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.

Cristina Thiam (HyperMath) a native of Transylvania (Romania), has been teaching Math and Computer

Ariel Levitan, (Middle School Social Worker), has been working as the Middle School Social Worker at D-E since 2022. In her role, Ariel provides emotional and behavioral support to our middle school students, and supports 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

Sixth Grade Faculty

Teachers marked with an * are also 6th Grade Advisors

The “M.E.S.H.” Teachers

Charter Schools in NYC with students of 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 support their growing minds. At D-E, Ariel enjoys meeting with students, consulting with faculty and staff, and collaborating with parents and outside providers. Ariel is also a member of the Advisory Committee which develops SEL (social-emotional learning) curriculum for the Middle School Advisory program. Outside of D-E you will ﬁnd Ariel either on a SoulCycle bike or spending time with her family and friends and dedicating her time to her community in Scarsdale.

Cristina Thiam (HyperMath) a native of Transylvania (Romania), has been teaching Math and Computer

Sixth Grade Program Components

The 6th Grade program balances rigorous content-speciﬁc study with skills development across the curriculum. It includes hands-on experiences and projects, guided practice in skills application, and universal experiences in the arts as well as more traditional classroom instruction and experiences to support whole-child development. The program consists of proscribed components including community-building/DIEB time, an advisory program, the “MESH” curriculum of Math, English, Science and History as well as study of a world language Spanish, Latin, French or A.S.K. 6, Chorus or Orchestra, Studio Art, Health & Wellness and Independent Reading. At the same time, students have opportunities to make choices, seek extra help and develop independence: periods of “targeting all growth” (T.A.G.), during which students have topic-centered class meetings, special events, or extra help time with MESH teachers, are part of each week. Sixth graders also have the opportunity to participate in interscholastic team sports and a variety of middle school clubs and activities which they select three times a year in conjunction with the sports seasons.

Advisory 3 meetings per week

Community Time 4 meetings per week

“MESH” Classes 16 periods per week

Math

English Science

History

Languages/”Advancing Student Knowledge” (ASK) 3-4 periods per week

French 6

Latin 6

Spanish 6

Continuing Spanish 6

A.S.K. 6

Arts 4 periods per week

Studio Art

General Music or Orchestra

Health & Wellness 3 periods per week

T.A.G. 2-3 periods per week

Independent Reading 1 period per week

Activities 2 periods per week

(Interscholastic athletic team’s practices & games, as well as play rehearsals are mostly after school, but practices begin during activities periods on the days that activities meet.)

Dwight-Englewood Middle School Athletics Program Overview

= Designated as a “No-Cut” program

Fall

Boys Soccer (A/B levels)

Girls Soccer

Girls Tennis

Girls Volleyball

Coed Cross Country

Boys Basketball (A/B levels)

Girls Basketball

Fitness Training

Intramural sports (activity period – Tuesdays & Thursdays)

Boys Baseball

Girls So ball

Boys Lacrosse

Girls Lacrosse

Boys Tennis

Coed Ultimate Frisbee

Coed Track & Field

e 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. e 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, sacri ce, 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 rst experience with a speci c 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 nd the “Practice and Game Schedule,” (updated weekly) and other documents that can be downloaded.

With the exception of the rst week of tryouts, athletic teams meet four (4) days per week, with practices and games being scheduled on any given school day. ere is a one (1) “Day-O ” 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.

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

 Tuesdays and ursdays – 2:40 to 4:45 PM

e starting and ending time of games both home and away will vary. ose 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 a er 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 in uence daily games and practices, the athletic o ce 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 tness training sessions. A er such announcements, please encourage your child to contact you via cell phone, text/email, or school o ce 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 speci c schedule or calendar view. ese schedules are subject to change.

Taking your child home AFTER games:

A er games, a parent may take their OWN CHILD home from the game site. Before a child is released to go home, the coaching sta 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 sta 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:

Tra c, weather conditions and any delay to the start of a game will have an impact on travel time. e coaching sta 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 a er games. e 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 ** - ere are occasions when transportation from a game will result in your child returning to campus a er 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 webpage for speci c information. at schedule is updated each week and will indicate (with an asterisk) all events that will result in the players returning to campus a er 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. e School has no liability for any risks or consequences of these decisions. Parent/guardians must email the Athletic Administrative Assistant, Michelle Ottomanelli, at athletic_o ce@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 a er that time may not be processed or accommodated. e email should have speci c details and reasons for necessity. e procedure requires that your child meet the taxi/Uber/Ly driver with a member of the coaching sta prior to departing the contest site. e safety and well-being of the child is foremost on our minds. Please understand that the taxi/Ube/Ly driver must pick up the child at the same time as the team departs, as the coaching sta 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. e coaching sta will encourage your child to call you 15-30 minutes ahead of our scheduled return to the school campus. e 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 le 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

e school employs licensed & certi ed 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. e athletic training room opens at 1:00 PM each day and before and a er 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. e 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. E orts 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 e orts 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. is is standard practice and ensures the proper care of the student.

A note from the doctor must include the following:

 Diagnosis

 Recommendations for treatment/rehabilitation (if any)

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

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

 Date of clearance

D-E Concussion Protocol

If an athlete su ers 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. e 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. e 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: schmic@d-e.org.

Medical Insurance

e parent/guardian’s health insurance is primary in case of an accident or injury occurrence during practice or play of interscholastic sports. e School provides the secondary insurance. A er 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. e 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:

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

 Sneakers and/or Cleats, bats, gloves, eld sticks

 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. is includes all new and existing items attached to the body by piercings. erefore, 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 a er school.

MS Clubs & Activities Overview

Note: This is just an example list of the sorts of Clubs & Activities that may be available. Students can propose new clubs, and oﬀerings change seasonally as well as from year to year according to student interest and faculty sponsorship.

Tuesday Activity Period

Thursday Activity Period

Bulldog Prep Backstage Theater Club

Dance Club Bulldog Prep

Drama Improv Club Bullet Journaling

Innovation Club Cartooning

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 Art Club

Reading / Writing Buddies

Spanish Help Scrabble / Rummikub

MS Newspaper: “Papercut” This MS Life Podcasting

Middle School String Orchestra & Wind Ensemble Entrance Guide

(Both courses are listed as being “Middle School Orchestra”)

Students entering the Middle School Wind Ensemble and String Orchestra Program will be well prepared for this program if they have had previous experience on their instruments. The general expectation is that they will have had one year or more of private instruction on their instrument, can play the scales listed below for their instrument from memory and can read music in the clef of their instrument using all notes that fall within the range of these required scales. All students should be able to perform the rhythmic requirements listed under percussion, on their respective instruments. These skills represent what most students would accomplish within their ﬁrst year of study on their instrument. (Please note that students are expected to be taking private lessons on their instrument in addition to their participation in the school Orchestra Program classes. Our classes teach the skills for ensemble playing but not individual instrumental techniques).

Placement Audition: There will be an audition for seat within the section for all students during class time in September or October of each year. Students will be asked to play 1) a short portion of a piece of their choosing that they have prepared outside of class, 2) the required scales for their instrument and 3) a short passage of sight reading.

Violin, viola, cello and string bass:

September/October Placement audition: C, G & D Major scales all one octave, plus a one octave chromatic scale starting on the note of the player’s choice.

Flute:

September/October Placement audition: F, C & G Major scales all 2 octaves, plus a one octave chromatic scale starting on the note of the player’s choice.

Oboe:

September/October Placement audition: F, C & G Major scales all 1 octave, plus a one octave chromatic scale starting on the note of the player’s choice.

Clarinet:

September/October Placement audition: C, G & D Major scales all 1 octave, plus a one octave chromatic scale starting on the note of the player’s choice.

Bassoon:

September/October Placement audition: F, C & G Major scales all 1 octave, plus a one octave chromatic scale starting on the note of the player’s choice.

Saxophone:

September/October Placement audition: G, D & A Major scales all 1 octave, plus a one octave chromatic scale starting on the note of the player’s choice.

Trumpet:

September/October Placement audition: C & D Major scales all 1 octave, plus a one octave chromatic scale starting on the note of the player’s choice.

French Horn:

September/October Placement audition: F, C & G Major scales all 1 octave, plus a one octave chromatic scale starting on the note of the player’s choice.

Trombone & Low Brass:

September/October Placement audition: F, C & G Major scales all one octave, plus a one octave chromatic scale starting on the note of the player’s choice.

Percussion:

September/October Placement auditions: be able to read and perform on your instrument patterns of notation incorporating whole notes, dotted half notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes and the combination of a dotted quarter followed by an eighth note.

LEARN TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT

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 support student organization, promote communication, and provide access to vast digital resources. Most teacher produced content will be delivered to students digitally, 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 particular student skills development. The ipad will also be used to collect and share multimedia learning artifacts 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 digitally. 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 important to create a clear boundary between “recreational, personal devices” and “tools for school.” School-managed devices also enable us to provide support 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 Technology Department at extension 3177.

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

iPads are supported for three years from the date of purchase. Students who like their iPad may continue using it as a personal device; however, all students are required to purchase a laptop computer when they enter the Upper School.

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 $0 deductible for each incident. Additional incidents are not covered. Note that broken iPads may be repaired or replaced with new or refurbished parts 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 opportunity 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 smart, safe, polite and ethical Internet use and digital citizenship. 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 opportunity to work with your child(ren) to set some family ground rules for laptop computer use to help you both enjoy making the iPad part of your family's collection of useful tools. We hope you will ﬁnd these "thinking points" helpful as you take advantage of that opportunity.

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

● Do I have what I need in my house to support 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? (We do not recommend this. Students are not permitted to download non-school applications, but they will be able to access the internet and its multiple diversions, especially while at home, away from school supervision, so your guidance and house rules matter! )

● If you allow recreational use, how much and what kind? What about social networking and use of social media? (The school strongly suggests 6th graders NOT have social media accounts on tik-tok, snapchat and the like and that all their interactions on those platforms, as well as text threads and chats, have parental oversight to help students learn how to engage with these responsibly.)

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

● How can I support 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 2025

Students in grades 6 are required to read the book listed below.

GRADE 6

Joan Bauer, Soar (ISBN: 9780147513151)

Looking Ahead: Upcoming Communications and Some Fall Dates 2025 026

• May 14-- Virtual Q&A for all Parents with Tasha Urbanowski, 8:30-9:00 am

• May 14-- Course Selection Google form E-mailed to Parents of Current DE 5th Graders

• May 19-- Course Selections due on Google form for current 5th grade students (Parents of students newly admitted receive course selection forms via email from the registrar on a rolling basis and return them to her at your earliest convenience.)

• May 27-- In-Person Pre-Orientation with Ms Urbanowski for Current 5th Graders

• May 28-- Q&A Panel with Current 6th Graders for Current 5th Graders

• May 30-- Campus Tour for Current 5th Graders Guided by Current 6th Graders

• June 12-- Principal’s Welcome Letter with Placement Print Out E-Mail

• June 18-- Last Day Deans and Chairs on campus

• July-- Summer Communications Available on the DE Website

• Late July-- Online Bookstore Opening Email and Instructions for Textbook Ordering

• Mid August - Technology Dept. Summer Email & iPad Pick-Up Days

•September 2-- First School Day/Student Fall Orientation

• Week of September 8th -- Fall Parent Orientation

• September 18-- Back to School Night

• October 9-10-- Fall Student Overnight Trip