Ethical Culture Fieldston School

Since we’re very limited on singing and any other kind of melodic element, I was trying to think of an instrument that would be convenient for them to have at their desk, explains Ethical Culture Music Teacher Angela Dixon. Teaching music when access to singing and recorders is largely limited requires some ingenuity. Dixon's solution? The kalimba, or thumb piano, which traces its origins to the mbira instruments of Zimbabwe. Read more about how the Music faculty at Ethical ...Culture innovated during an unprecedented year: https://www.ecfs.org//24/innovating-music-at-ethical-cult/

As we mark one year of the pandemic, and the one year anniversary of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School closing its campuses, we take a look back. We celebrate the incredible strength and resiliency of the ECFS community. #OrangeStrongTogether In the first few weeks of remote learning, 1st Graders at Fieldston Lower drew rainbows and shared the hopeful images with their classmates. While working remotely, faculty and staff found they had new canine assistants to help t...hem with their work load when they weren't napping on the floor or trying to eat their papers! Beloved traditions at ECFS, like the annual Fashion Show, lived on as students recorded themselves in their incredible creations and everyone enjoyed a Livestream of the show at home. The ECFS community stayed connected through special videos, such as Ethical Culture Principal Rob Cousins and Assistant Principal Erik Landgren recreating their typical morning greeting for students and families. In the fall of 2020, we took the monumental step of reopening our campuses to welcome back students, faculty, and staff, and we modeled what a safe and supportive school community looks like. All students were able to have safe, physically distanced social and academic experiences, often outdoors. Students were able to enjoy a variety of extracurricular activities throughout the year, including athletics, theatre, music, and clubs both virtually and in person. During the year, the ECFS community found ways to give back and live the ethical mission of our School, whether through sewing masks or donating food and clothing during the holidays. In a challenging year filled with much heartache, the ECFS community supported one another and lifted each other up. Together, we met this moment with strength and love.

This year, ECFS is prioritizing community building and is finding ways to celebrate our students with joyful, unique experiences. Throughout the fall, Fieldston Upper students took advantage of the autumnal weather and our sprawling campus during grade-level events on the Quad. Form III students kicked off their first year as Upper Schoolers with game night bonding over rounds of frisbee, ladder toss, and other lawn games. Form VI students celebrated their senior year with a special movie night on the quad. Students sipped hot chocolate, played games on the grassy banks, and watched Halloweentown together as the sun went down. Our community is what makes us strong, and we’re happy any time we get to come together. #OrangeStrongTogether

#GivingTuesday is today! Join our community on this global day of generosity, support the Orange Fund, and help us unlock a $25,000 matching gift opportunity. Click here: supportecfs.org

At Fieldston Middle, clubs provide important gathering spaces for students outside the classroom while promoting an enthusiasm for learning and artistic expression. Even in this year’s hyflex learning model, hosting clubs and student activities remains a top priority. In a middle school environment, it’s important to give kids a space within the school community to connect with other people who are interested in the things they are interested in, academically or not, says ...Keira Lapsley, Fieldston Middle History Department Chair and Activities Coordinator. Learn more about how Fieldston Middle finds joy and connection in virtual clubs link below! https://www.ecfs.org//fieldston-middle-finds-joy-and-conn/

As we head into Fall Recess, we're grateful to you for helping to keep our community healthy and so is the Eagle!

We’re thankful to our faculty, who have adapted to unimaginable challenges this year. Despite an entirely new teaching paradigm, they are dedicated to our students and delivering on the promises of an ECFS education. This morning, students and families grabbed some chalk and decorated the sidewalk outside of Fieldston Lower with messages of appreciation for our valued faculty. On behalf of the entire ECFS community, we say: Thank you, teachers!