What We’re Reading

Summer Readings: Shaping Our Thinking and Taking an Active Stance Against Racism Head of School Allison Webster recently asked parents to join their children in some summer learning and reading, sharing with them two options that are on DCD’s faculty reading list which are sure to be engaging and thought-provoking in light of recent events. Below is an excerpt from her letter to the community. The killing of George Floyd and others has sparked a national moment of reckoning about the racism that exists in our country. Not since the Civil Rights Movement have we seen such a dramatic call to action. This summer, our faculty and staff will be completing several group reads including New Kid, a Newbery-award winner by Jerry Craft, and So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. These particular books have been selected to further shape our thinking and help us maintain an active stance against racism. We hope you will join us in reading them and look forward to finding ways to gather with you to engage in conversations about these resources. We share these resources to unite us as a learning community working together to build an equitable school and society for all of our children.

Student Reads

New Kid by Jerry Craft

New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real, from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft.

Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.

As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?

This middle grade graphic novel is an excellent choice for tween readers, including for summer reading. —Amazon Books (Good for perspective in light of pandemic)

Harry and the Wrinklies by Alan Temperley

When Harry is orphaned and sent to live with his elderly aunts in remote Lagg Hall, he has low expectations. But life there is anything but boring, as he pursues the two eccentric old ladies on an exciting adventure filled with fast cars, cat burglars and plenty of cake.

As well as being a fun caper, this exciting story helps kids realize that maybe their own grandparents and elderly relatives have a story to tell.

Faculty & Parent Reads

So You Want To Talk About Race? by Ijeoma Oluo

In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to “model minorities” in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life. —Amazon Books

Health and Wellness What We’re Reading

Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society Thrive by Marc Brackett, Ph.D

Marc Brackett is a professor in Yale University’s Child Study Center and founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. In his 25 years as an emotion scientist, he has developed a remarkably effective plan to improve the lives of children and adults—a blueprint for understanding our emotions and using them wisely so that they help, rather than hinder, our success and well-being.

Marc has led large research teams and raised tens of millions of dollars to investigate the roots of emotional well-being. His prescription for healthy children (and their parents, teachers, and schools) is a system called RULER, a high-impact and fast-effect approach to understanding and mastering emotions that has already transformed the thousands of schools that have adopted it. RULER has been proven to reduce stress and burnout, improve school climate, and enhance academic achievement.

This book combines rigor, science, passion and inspiration in equal parts. Too many children and adults are suffering; they are ashamed of their feelings and emotionally unskilled, but they don’t have to be. Marc Brackett’s life mission is to reverse this course, and this book can show you how.

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker, Ph.D

The first sleep book by a leading scientific expert—Professor Matthew Walker, director of UC Berkeley’s Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab—reveals his groundbreaking exploration of sleep, explaining how we can harness its transformative power to change our lives for the better. Walker answers important questions about sleep: How do caffeine and alcohol affect sleep? What really happens during REM sleep? Why do our sleep patterns change across a lifetime? How do common sleep aids affect us, and can they do long-term damage? Walker gives us a new understanding of the vital importance of sleep and dreaming

Charting cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs and synthesizing decades of research and clinical practice, Walker explains how we can harness sleep to improve learning, mood, and energy levels; regulate hormones; prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes; slow the effects of aging; increase longevity; enhance the education and lifespan of our children, and boost the efficiency, success, and productivity of our businesses. Clear-eyed, fascinating, and immensely accessible, Why We Sleep is the crucial account on sleep that will forever change listeners’ minds on the subject. —[excerpts from Amazon]

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking | by Susan Cain

In Quiet, Susan Cain argues that we dramatically undervalue introverts and shows how much we lose in doing so. She charts the rise of the Extrovert Ideal throughout the twentieth century and explores how deeply it has come to permeate our culture. She also introduces us to successful introverts—from a witty, highoctane public speaker who recharges in solitude after his talks, to a record-breaking salesman who quietly taps into the power of questions. Passionately argued, superbly researched, and filled with indelible stories of real people, Quiet has the power to permanently change how we see introverts and, equally important, how they see themselves. —[excerpt from Amazon]

The Choice: Embrace the Impossible by Dr. Edith Eva Eger

When you find yourself in a difficult situation that was not caused by you (whether as a prisoner of war, living during a pandemic, or dealing with loss in your life), you do have the choice to decide how to respond and react to the situation. Dr. Eger recounts her journey of survival and how the conscious choices she made along the way helped shape her life and lead her to success in healing others.

“This book is partly a memoir and partly a guide to processing trauma. Eger was only sixteen years old when she and her family got sent to Auschwitz. After surviving unbelievable horrors, she moved to the United States and became a therapist. Her unique background gives her amazing insight, and I think many people will find comfort right now from her suggestions on how to handle difficult situations.” —Bill Gates Summer Reading List 2020

Varsity Field Hockey Varsity field hockey had a fantastic undefeated season this fall with 9 wins and 2 ties. The team consisted of six eighth-graders and eight seventhgraders. We also fielded a tournament team that won the Lincoln School Tournament in October, shutting out all five teams, a highlight of the season for many of the girls. What made this team so successful was their high energy, focus, competitive spirit, talented play and most importantly teamwork as they strived together to be their collective best. A great example of their eagerness to compete came when right after our second game on the Nobles turf where the girls battled to a 0–0 tie and couldn’t wait to play them again. It was a joy to guide and support and feel their enthusiasm throughout the season. During the course of 11 games, the team scored 42 goals compared with the opposition who only scored two against them, phenomenal statistic. A highlight for me was the third to last game against Fay in which every player communicated well, passed with intention, and used the field well to set up the offense. We won 3–0!—Deb White

Varsity Flag Football The varsity flag football team had an incredible season finishing with a record of 12–0. The team spent the early part of the season developing goals and productive habits, and figuring out which players would be best for which positions. Led by eighth-grade captains, Quinn Kelly, Jason Dadasis, and Will Curran, the team was madeup of 12 eighth-graders and two seventh-graders, and each player contributed to the team’s success. The final record speaks to how talented and smart this group was, but also to the great progress that was made over the course of the season. With three great quarterbacks (Riggs, Jason, and Alex) directing the play on offense, the team was tough in tight situations and won five of its games by nine points or less. Having Coach Fernandes join the team as a half-time coach (split with JV) also added a great boost as he contributed positive leadership and some awesome offensive plays. It was our pleasure to work with such a nice, competitive, and talented group!—Dan Balk

JV Flag Football The fifteen-member DCD boys’ JV flag football team enjoyed a wonderful and exciting season. Every member of the team brought an excellent amount of skill, energy, and passion to practice and game play. Each player developed and improved on their flag football skills as the season progressed. Our success on the field was due to everyone having a positive mindset and attitude. In practice, the team worked extremely hard on flag pulling, keeping offensive players in front of them, and containing the outside run. The team finished with a record of 7–5. Highlights of the season included a close battle with Milton Academy ending in a 7–6 victory. A total team effort was used to defeat Belmont Day in which five different players scored touchdowns. Coach Fernandes and I greatly enjoyed working with the team and look forward to coaching many of the boys again.—Kyle Sminkey

Girls’ Soccer The girls’ soccer team grew in size this season, going from just ten girls and one coach last fall to eighteen players and two coaches this year! The team posted a record of 4 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. The girls scored a total of twenty goals this year with over half of the team earning a goal or an assist. A highlight of the season was the win against Derby. The score was tied with about five minutes left in the game. A penalty was called on one of the Derby players right outside the penalty box. DCD had a direct kick and it went into the upper right corner of the goal, putting the team ahead 3–2. The team held onto the lead for the last few minutes and won. The improvement of all the players, made this season very rewarding. —Elaine Gage

Team Records

Varsity Field Hockey 9–0–2 Coach: Deb White Captains: Amanda Hiatt, Emma McNealy, Summer Perry JV Field Hockey 5–2 Coach: Wendy Soutsos No Captains Varsity Flag Football 12–0 Coaches: Dan Balk, Greg Fernandes Captains: Will Curran, Jason Dadasis, Quinn Kelly JV Flag Football 7–5 Coaches: Kyle Sminkey, Greg Fernandes Captains: by games Boys’ Soccer 5–4 Coach: Kevin Coakley Captains: Jay Caponigro, Johnny Hoffman, Charlie Overman Girls’ Soccer 4–4–1 Coaches: Elaine Gage, Caiti Pina Captains: Irini Kolovos, Marin Reeds Cross Country 8 races Coaches: Bo Harrington, Mark Jackson, Emilie Liebhoff No Captains

Awards

Varsity Field Hockey

JV Field Hockey

Coach’s Award Amanda Hiatt Emma McNealy Dakota Adams

Varsity Flag Football JV Flag Football Boys’ Soccer

Girls’ Soccer Cross Country Brynn Bryant Gabe Salfity Sammy Gallegos Charlie Overman Olivia Charity Rose Quinn Abby Rochelle Most Improved Player Award Summer Perry

Keira Welch, Ella Erickson, Maisie Gronemeyer, Maddie Jaeger, Andrea Maalouf, Guiliana Oh Jason Dadasis Nathaniel Cazeau Willy Connors

Marin Reeds

Boys’ Varsity Basketball The boys’ varsity basketball team had an awesome winter! After two tough losses to start the season, the team came together and improved. Led by team captains Riggs Catlin and Jason Dadasis, the team went on an eight-game winning streak. Winning three games to take—and defend last year’s championship in—the DCD/CRS tourna- ment was a huge highlight of the season! Though the team lost its last game, looking back at the season, it was clearly a huge success filled with learning, good competition, and fun. The team ended up with an impressive overall record of 8–3. I am very eager to coach the four seventhgraders who played on the team next season and excited to follow many of the eighth-graders who plan on continuing to play competitive basketball in high school. —Dan Balk

Boys’ JV Maroon Basketball

The boys’ JV maroon basketball team was hardworking, skilled, and progressed significantly this winter. The team finished the season with a record of 4–4. The nine-member team played excellent defense and showed keen skill develop- ment on the offensive side of the court. Our most memorable game was a one-point victory over Brimmer. We successfully used a zone defense that trapped the opposing team and forced diffi- cult shots. On offense, we had terrific movement and utilized picks to get open shots for a 22–21 victory. This team competed in every game and never quit. We learned a lot from our losses, and we used them as an opportunity for growth and development. I want to thank all the members of the team for their hard work and commitment this season. I look forward to coaching them in the upcoming athletic seasons! —Kyle Sminkey Girls’ Varsity Basketball The girls’ varsity basketball team had a successful season this winter. They earned six wins and two losses and outscored their opponents 200 to 164. As a team, we worked on everything—not just basketball skills and strategies but also on being a team and working with each other. Our great last week of the season (where we had two fantastic and exciting games) demonstrated how hard work toward achieving a goal can really pay off. One highlight of the season was that everyone on the team was able to score a basket. The other highlight was the exciting win against Belmont Day. The score was 5–4 in our favor at the half and was tied at 23 at the end of regulation play. After a three-minute overtime, the girls’ great defensive play, and some good offense, we won 27–25! The girls should be proud of their season. —Elaine Gage

Hockey The 2019–2020 DCD hockey team was a hardworking and cohesive group this winter. The twenty-two-member team participated in twelve games finishing with a record of 6–4–2. High- lights of the season included wins over Shady Hill, Park, Derby, Fessenden, Carroll, and Fay. Practices were designed to encourage individual improvement and teamwork through a mixture of skills and scrimmages. Eighth-grade captains Vincent Jaeger and Emma McNealy provided strong leadership with their daily attention to detail, focus, and effort. Goalie Abby Buckley backstopped the team with excellent play in net all year. Coaches Jackson, Santry, and Soutsos enjoyed the season tremendously, and with several experienced students returning, the future looks bright out on the rink in 2020–2021! —Mark Jackson

Awards

Boys’ Varsity Basketball Boys’ JV Basketball Boys’ JV Maroon Basketball Boys’ JV White Basketball Girls’ Varsity Basketball

Girls’ JV Basketball Hockey Coach’s Award Riggs Catlin Dininar Alpers Drew Michaeli Nathaniel Cazeau CeCe Upton Summer Perry Dakota Adams Vincent Jaeger Abby Buckley Charlie Overman Elena Ferrara Most Improved Player Award Will Roberts Alex Mankivsky Gabe Salfity Willy Connors

Keira Acevedo Giuliana Oh

Team Records

Boys’ Varsity Basketball 5–3 Coach: Dan Balk Captains: Riggs Catlin, Jason Dadasis Boys’ JV Maroon Basketball 4–4 Coach: Kyle Sminkey Captains: no captains Boys’ JV White Basketball 3–5 Coach: Ali Fernandes Captains: Nathaniel Cazeau, Jack Hauck Girls’ Varsity Basketball 6–2 Coach: Elaine Gage Captains: Brynn Bryant, Amanda Hiatt Girls’ JV Basketball 5–3 Coach: Caiti Pina Captains: by game Hockey 6–4–2 Coaches: Mark Jackson, Bob Santry, Wendy Soutsos Captains: Vincent Jaeger, Emma McNealy Squash 1–8 Coaches: Rick Edie, Bo Harrington Captain: Elena Ferrara, Charlie Overman

Photographs by Kristie Gillooly Dean ’02