School News

Enjoy the Spring 2019 Journal online and see content highlights of this latest issue here!

Lower School science teacher Aaron Schomburg shared some incredible observations about bees during a brief expedition to check whether a newly introduced queen had survived, and how the hive had adjusted.

Senior Kaito Mimura reflects on his training and love of the violin, and his continuing pursuit of balance in his studies and extracurricular pursuits. He recently performed on the McAneny stage as part of the Jacobson Scholars Program.

Dance students partnered with computer science students this year to create a forum in which both artistically- and scientifically-inclined students shared their talents and broadened each other's worlds. Through an integrated approach to dance performance, dancers explored the science of bodies in motion and coders illuminated that motion through computer programming, electronic sensors and abstract mathematical representation. If you missed the recent concert, the coders and dancers will be partnering again at STEAM Night on May 28!

In this PDS Portrait, senior Nina Ajemian shares how she has been able to pursue, and fuse, her two greatest passions: nature and photography. Her work is on view in the Upper School exhibition through April 17.

It has been an extraordinary week of creative excitement on campus with the arrival of two Imagine the Possibilities guest artists, author Laurie Halse Anderson and author/illustrator Sophie Blackall. Each visitor spent two days sharing their work and engaging in hands-on workshops and discussions across every grade level.

Senior William Scarlett reflects on his PDS experience: "I took a class last year called Constructions of Race in American Literature with Ms. Lee. It completely changed my perspective about PDS, about learning in general, and about myself and what I can do."

PDS received official permission to occupy the new greenhouse on Friday, April 5, and the PDS community rallied over the weekend to install some important final elements. During Saturday's Garden Cleanup Day on April 6, volunteers worked together to re-pot seedlings while others completed the custom furniture. Time to get growing!

Seniors Elisabeth Berman, Director General of the PDS Model UN team, and Joseph Santamaria, Under Secretary General, reflect on their work in Model UN and their time at PDS in the following "PDS Profiles." Berman and Santamaria each received their first "Best Delegate" accolades at the recent Dartmouth Model UN conference, the final competition of their high school careers.

Fourteen of seventeen PDS delegates were recognized with an individual award at this weekend's Dartmouth Model UN Conference. "This was the last PDS Model UN conference for the seniors," reports history teacher Lauren Ledley, who accompanied the team to New Hampshire. "That made the event extra special."

Ava Roitburg '19 performs in the PDS Dance Concert, Thursday April 11 at 7pm in the McAneny Theater. In this PDS Portrait, she reflects on what it means to be an artist, how she has balanced school with her commitment to dance, and bringing her work to the PDS stage.

Princeton University's Dr. Marshini Chetty and Dr. Nick Feamster spoke to the Upper School community about the potential for big data science to be applied across disciplines to benefit society and to improve internet safety and security, drawing from their own research and that of leading pioneers in the field. Drs. Feamster and Chetty, who are also PDS parents, presented as part of the School's annual Pioneers in Science speaker series and hosted a thought-provoking Q&A session afterward in the Wellemeyer STEAM Center.

"If we are to eliminate the impacts of prejudice and xenophobia in our society, it is crucial to start having more meaningful discussions surrounding diversity whether it be with our peers, neighbors, colleagues, and even our family members," wrote Harjap Singh '20 in a column published on March 27 in the Orlando Sentinal.

PDS will host its second annual "Empty Bowls" benefit event on April 11. Launched by visual arts instructor Eric Rempe last year, the Empty Bowls benefit event provided more than 22,000 meals to Mercer County area neighbors in need.

Princeton Day School held a well-attended College Athletics Recruiting Panel on March 26 in McAneny Theater featuring the insights and shared perspectives of several college coaches, Associate Director of College Counseling Cynthia Michalak and Director of Upper School Athletics Tim Williams.

This Thursday March 28 at 3:45 in McAneny Theater, two virtuoso violinists will perform for the Princeton Day School community in the first of three Frank Jacobson Music Scholars Program recitals this spring.

On Monday, March 25, the Upper School engaged in a Day of Service that featured a keynote from two PDS alumni, a panel discussion, presentations from local organizations, workshops with direct hands-on service activities, off-campus field trips, an exciting performance by the Trenton Circus Squad, and reflection.

Fifth-grader Shaan Patel's local contest essay on teamwork earned him and one other winner a "coach for a day" position with the Princeton University Men's Basketball Team and Head Coach Mitch Henderson at Jadwin Gym. The two winning essayists and their families were also invited to the Princeton-Cornell home basketball game, where they were acknowledged and presented with a signed game ball during a spectacular halftime ceremony. The contest was sponsored by the Princeton Police, Princeton University Department of Public Safety and Princeton University Athletics.

Sandy Wang will join the PDS Leadership Team this summer as Head of Lower School. In accepting her position as Lower School Head, Dr. Wang stated, "I am thrilled to be joining the PDS community and looking forward to participating in the magic that happens as young children discover their place in the world around them. From my visits to the School earlier this winter, I know that PDS is a special place, filled with joyful children, talented educators and families who care. I look forward to being a part of the PDS story and am proud to be a Panther!" Prior to her appointment at PDS, Dr. Wang built an impressive career in school leadership through her educational focus and her work as a teacher and administrator at some outstanding independent schools in New York City. For more details, see the full story.

In appreciation for longtime Princeton Day School community member John Wellemeyer's many efforts on behalf of the School, on March 7, 2019, the Upper School STEAM space was officially named The Wellemeyer STEAM Center. The transformative, 2,000 square foot space is dedicated to innovative, hands-on exploration and real world problem-solving that integrate science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Since it opened in 2017, course offerings taking place in the Center serve approximately half the Upper School and are among the best and most extensive among independent schools in the northeast region. Enrollment of female students in Upper School STEAM electives this year almost doubled, with 42% female and 58% male enrollment.