Learning Updates for April 24 to April 28

April 28, 2023

Middle School Students Excel at Math Competition

This is the second year that Belmont Day middle school students have participated in the “Purple Comet! Math Meet”. The Purple Comet! Math Meet is a free, team-based, international mathematics competition for middle and high school students. In 2022, more than 12,000 students competed on over 3,998 teams from 62 countries! At the middle school level, teams of five or six students compete by working together to solve 20 math problems in 60 minutes. The problems range in difficulty from fairly easy to extremely challenging. This year at BDS, we had seven teams of sixth and seventh graders voluntarily participate! Teams used tools such as whiteboards, spreadsheets, rulers, and calculators–along with their own incredible mathematical creativity and teamwork–to think about and work through new and exciting mathematical problems! The BDS math department and other faculty who helped to supervise the competition were thrilled to see students choosing to challenge themselves, and collaborating so effectively.

– Sarah Pikcilingis, middle school math teacher

Fourth Graders Plant Seeds to Grow New Knowledge

Fourth graders have begun their plant unit. Students have conducted research on what helps seeds germinate, under what conditions seedlings best grow, and why seedlings sometimes don’t make it. As they begin their plant-growing experiments, they will collect data on how they manage their plants and how different variables affect the plants’ outcomes. Fourth graders will also be learning about plant anatomy, reproduction, and photosynthesis.

– Emily Crawford, fourth grade teacher 

Second Graders Study Habitats and Animal Survival

Our second grade scientists have begun one of our cornerstone projects: studying habitats and researching endangered species. We began by discussing habitats and thinking about what each habitat needs for an animal to survive. We looked at images of deserts, oceans, forests, wetlands, polar regions, rainforests, and grasslands. Students had to categorize many pictures of habitats and then decide which animals lived in certain habitats. Working with a partner, students then made observations about these habitats and the animals that live there. For example, students noticed that many animals who live in polar regions have thick, white fur and that every habitat has a combination of predators and prey. We then discussed the concept of how animals adapt in many ways to survive in different habitats. Next, students will be learning about what happens when habitats and the animals in them become endangered.

– The Second Grade Team

By Kassie Bettinelli, music teacher |

November 17, 2023

In March of last year, a few students approached the music teaching team about the possibility of organizing a talent show. Knowing one hadn’t been scheduled for the spring, and that planning one for the future could be an awesome…

BDS

November 17, 2023

Second Grade’s New Mural Is a Feast For the Eyes For our summer reading book this year, second graders read Tomatoes for Neela, written by Padmi Lakshmi and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. It is a story about a young girl…

By John O'Neill, director of athletics |

November 3, 2023

This fall, BDS piloted an intramural volleyball team that spent the season learning the game, practicing skills, and holding weekly scrimmages. Over the course of the season, players improved tremendously and are prepared to step into a more competitive environment…

BDS

November 3, 2023

Spanish Students Learn, Share About El Días de los Muertos Spanish students learned about and celebrated the traditional Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Through different audio activities, students engaged in hands-on projects. Sixth grade…
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