ECF Multimedia

A small selection of photos reflecting the history of the school, from the ECF photo archives.

The final show of the season features a variety of end-of-year activities and projects, as well as some beloved school traditions and a first-time event.

Part One
Fieldston Middle students rolled up their sleeves for this division’s first-ever Day of Service, which included grade-specific projects at AFYA, Van Cortlandt Park, and Riverside Park. Meanwhile, at Fieldston Lower, fifth graders in Dara Elterman’s class learned to use their free time wisely in a special activity that offered them the opportunity to take up hobbies ranging from sewing, to woodworking, to website creation, and more.

Part Two
The kiwi and whooping crane were some of the species represented at the Bird Museum in Karen Freede’s Fieldston Lower first-grade class. Another culminating project this spring was the upper school film festival, in which students in Adam Watstein’s classes showcased work they wrote, edited, produced, and directed.

Part Three
The ever-popular spring fashion show featured creations made out of crayons, board games, wrapping paper, and other non-cloth materials. In the middle school, seventh graders in Barbara Bonilla and Alice Montera’s Spanish classes held their own “desfile de moda,” which tied into a unit on articles of clothing.

Part Four
Listen to speeches from all PAC candidates as they make the case as to why they deserve to be the next team to hold office. We conclude with Pi Day, a celebration of that magical, irrational number.

The Middle School's first- ever Day of Community Service was a huge success. Fieldston Middle School truly made an impact in our city and in our world.

Sixth and seventh grades had wonderful beautification projects in Riverside and Van Cortlandt parks and learned about environmental conservation in a hands on way in conjunction with their science teachers and classes.  The sixth graders also worked on environmental calendars for Ronald McDonald House children and decorative flower pots to be distributed to homebound elderly by Citymeals on Wheels.  Eighth grade's day at AFYA made distribution of critical medical supplies possible for clinics in Ethiopia and Cameroon. In addition to being an excellent service opportunity, it was also a wonderful bonding experience for each grade.

Take a look at this slide show of our sixth, seventh, and eighth graders during their Day of Service.

Students worked with four wonderful organizations, Children for Children, the Riverside Park Fund, Friends of Van Cortlandt Park, and AFYA.  Staff at these organizations praised our students' contributions, enthusiasm, and team spirit.  We hope this day of service will instill a lifelong passion for community service in our students.

A special thanks to the Fieldston Middle School Community Service Committee for leading the successful implementation of this new event.

Part One

• Introduction.
• With the aim of curtailing energy consumption at ECF, a schoolwide “Lights Off” initiative was held on February 20 to collect hard data regarding electricity usage on both campuses (1:04).
• The state of the global economy dominated this year’s FAD, or Fieldston Awareness Day, and was the focus of an address by Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein (2:40) and numerous breakout sessions led by guest speakers and Fieldston students (4:16).

Part Two

• Highlights of other FAD sessions, including one on the real estate market (00:00), another on capitalism vs. socialism (3:17), and separate presentations by upper school history teacher Jim Cullen (2:17) and ECF dean of faculty Hugo Mahabir (4:07).

Part Three

• Winterfest, the annual celebration of athletics and the arts, brings together the entire ECF community. Parents, students, and coaches comment on this year’s festivities (00:44).
• Fieldston Lower students showcased their myriad talents at FUN Night (4:42).

Part Four

• Seventh graders in Courtnay Hull and Janet Goldschmidt’s science classes recently displayed their snail projects, which incorporated not only interesting facts and figures but some pretty cool artwork as well (1:19).
• To celebrate Black History Month, students in Jay Trevorrow’s seventh grade English class fused the written word with visual images. The results were powerful (3:08 and 9:08).
• Travel with students from the upper school’s community service advisory board on one of their weekly visits to the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, where they assist young children with homework and lead after-school activities (4:31).
• Eagle TV interviews some of the talented members of the Fieldston Middle music faculty, who are dedicated to bringing out their students’ artistic best (6:55).

Part Five

• What’s it like to be a second-semester senior at Fieldston? Student reporters pose the question (00:15).
• We leave you with highlights of the March 11 ballroom dance performance by Fieldston Lower fifth graders, whose fancy footwork dazzled the audience (2:41).

Part One

• Introduction.
• The inauguration of Barack Obama was a momentous event at ECF, each division gathering to watch the historic occasion on television. Upper school students and Form IV dean John Reyes reflect on the day’s meaning (1:37).
• Fieldston Middle students comment on the feeling of hope that permeated the day (5:06).
• Students at Fieldston Lower also witnessed history, gathering with their parents to watch the swearing-in ceremony, after having celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy earlier in the day with song (7:06).

Part Two

• Fieldston Upper honored Dr. King’s legacy by holding a candid discussion about race. Head of school Mark Stanek weighed in with his thoughts (00:20).
• Fieldston Middle’s annual arts festival offers students in this division a chance to showcase all the good work that they do in music, drama, and the visual arts (4:24).
• James Howe, author of The Misfits, visits with our sixth graders, who read his book for English class (7:03).

Part Three

• The second annual student short-film festival in the upper school served up three films—First Kiss, Make Me Aphrodite, and Life Coach (00:14).
• Although the folks at Eagle TV do their best to be as professional as possible, sometimes things come out all wrong. Watch humorous outtakes from this season’s shows (4:33).
• Contestants and audience members alike had a G-R-E-A-T time at the school spelling bee (9:05).
• Finally, the ever-popular student question: What does the election of Barack Obama mean to our country (10:58)?

Biologist Bill Robinson presented different birds of prey to the first graders at the Fieldston Lower Gym.

Part One

• Introduction.
• MAD guest speaker Dalia Sofer talks about her novel, The Septembers of Shiraz, which “recaptures a past that no longer exists,” that of an Iranian Jewish family around the time of the 1979 revolution (1:41).
• A behind-the-scenes look at the Dance Company, one of Fieldston’s longest-running arts programs, as it gears up for a major performance later this winter under the direction of Alice Teirstein (4:52).
• At ECF, diversity is an important issue. Join middle school students from Fieldston, Horace Mann, and Riverdale Country as they take part in the first annual Hilltop Conference, designed to raise awareness of the subject (7:17).

Part Two

• The arts rotation provides Fieldston eighth graders with the opportunity to sample from among 14 different offerings in the visual, graphic, communication, and performing arts, as students prepare to consider an artistic focus in the upper school (00:07).
• We send it down to the newly renovated Fieldston Lower art room to get a sneak-peek at the bright and airy space where students express their creativity (6:40).
• At the annual Fieldston Lower Thanksgiving assembly, students gather together as a community and lift their voices in unison in what music teacher Blake Rowe calls a “powerful” experience (9:12).

Part Three

• This fall, Fieldston Upper continued its longstanding tradition of outstanding drama productions as the Studio Theater Series presented Porcelain, directed by a Form VI student (0:23), and students performed the world premiere of Behold! The Fig Leaf Apron, by Steven Cole Hughes (5:00).
• A report on Fieldston Middle’s first-ever Mix-It-Up Day, an event intended to “break down barriers so everyone feels welcome” (8:30).
• The latest from the Fieldston Middle green roof, where science teacher Robin Ostenfeld’s sixth graders have been mapping out the plant distribution (10:11).

Part Four

• Among the myriad coat drives, toy drives, and food drives held at EC each fall, one community service project stood out this year: the Penny Harvest. Ethics teacher Katherine Sanderlin explains (0:36).
• Fall sports round-up, including the varsity football team’s perfect season and musical highlights of girls soccer and field hockey (4:16).
• We leave you with the Student Question: What special trick can you do (7:03)?

Part One

• Introduction.
• Eagle spirit is contagious! Scenes from Homecoming, including the student pep rally and highlights of all the sports match-ups--from soccer and field hockey to volleyball and football (2:17).
• What’s new on the club scene? Fieldston Middle assistant principal Jon Richer explains the growth of the club program this year, aided by recent schedule changes (7:07).
• “We, the sixth graders of ECF…”: As a way to achieve the ethical and moral values the school strives to foster, students in the sixth grade adopt a new constitution, pledging to treat themselves, others, and their surroundings with respect (9:50).

Part Two

• An outdoor celebration of nature featuring song, music, and art, the annual Harvest Festival provides a chance for the entire Fieldston Lower community to come together (00:22) .
• Eagle TV reports from the battleground state of Pennsylvania, where Fieldston Upper history teacher Harrison Howard gave students in Forms III through VI a hands-on lesson in political activism, teaching them the basics of campaigning and canvassing (4:46).
• Two weeks before the general election, Fieldston Students for Obama sponsored a debate (8:41).

Part Three

• Members of the middle school faculty took advantage of the recent U.S. presidential election to enhance their students’ understanding of the science of politics. Victoria Pasquantonio’s eighth grade history class produced two political commercials: one pro-McCain (00:17), the other pro-Obama (3:55).
• Fieldston Middle history teacher Jodi Tosini organized a three-part debate in which sixth graders probed some of the social, economic, and foreign policy issues that dominated the 2008 presidential race (1:26).
• What’s behind the big red door in the sub-basement? Ethical Culture students take viewers on a tour of 33 Central Park West. Stops include favorite student haunts such as the sixth-floor gym, art room, computer lab, Spanish room, rooftop playground, and shop (5:04).
• At the latest meeting of the Gender Studies Roundtable, author Chandler Burr discusses with Fieldston Upper students some of the social pressures of being gay (9:02).
• Finally, the ever-popular student question: Why is the 2008 presidential race so important? (15:19).

Part One

• Introduction to ECF, highlights of the show (0.00).
• Interview with new head of school Mark Stanek, who offers his first impressions of ECF as well as some thoughts on progressive education. He also gives a guided tour of his office, singling out some cherished mementos (2:37).
• See how Fieldston is reducing its carbon footprint by taking full advantage of the energy- and water-saving features of the LEED-certified (silver rating) middle school building. Peter Mott and Howie Waldman, Fieldston green deans, explain (7:55).

Part Two

• A look at Fieldston Middle’s 2008 orientation, where sixth graders got the year rolling and learned how to be middle schoolers (0.25).
• The sixth graders also went on a three-day trip to the Clearpool Education Center, where they learned survival skills and enjoyed barbecue and bonding (3.51).
• Meet some of the new and friendly faces at Fieldston Lower: language specialist Jennifer Garnett, fourth-grade teacher Junius Harris, and technology integrator Charles Vergara (6.57).
• Students talk about their experiences in Fieldston’s two new courses in broadcast journalism, where they learn filming, editing, and much more (10.04).

Part Three

• Listen to the powerful life story of a victim of domestic violence, the guest speaker from Justice Works. She was featured at the first meeting of the Gender Studies Roundtable, a student-run organization (0.29).
• What’s new with Fieldston Middle’s green roof? Green dean Howie Waldman talks about the importance of a green roof and its role in preventing run-off when it rains (6:35).
• From Acapella Club to Zombie Movie Club, Fieldston’s 50 student clubs offer something for everyone (10.57).
• Finally, direct from the roof at Ethical Culture, students answer the ever-popular student question, which this time is: What most surprised you on your return from school (14:02)?

Fieldston Reunion Weekend: About 400 alumni from the classes of 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, and 1998 came back to Fieldston on June 7 and June 8.

Monica Mella, PreK-5 Spanish teacher at Fieldston Lower, talks about her work in teaching a foreign language to elementary-aged children.

Part One

• A tribute to retiring teachers and staff plus anoverview of key events of the year from athletic championships to visits by Ismael Beah and the Kenyan Choir students (1:40).
• Founder's Day 2008: The songs! The speeches! The seniors! Plus excerpts from the address from alumna and NPR producer Jessica Goldstein ’88 (3:29).
• In a year-end ceremony, SHAPEfund, organizers award grants to city organizations that support children and talk about the value of learning philanthropy firsthand (11:25).

Part Two

• The first-ever Fieldston Film Festival, with scenes from the six films and interviews with its young filmmakers (0:35).
• Fieldston Lower plants a silver maple grown from a seed found in the sandbox. Young gardeners explain what they did and why (12:34).
• Fieldston Lower third graders make a musical instrument the way Native Americans did -- out of deerskin and wood ash (12:48).

Part Three

• Earth Week at Fieldston Middle: electronic recycling, cell phone offset program, planting an herb garden on the green roof, plus a roof top conversation with green dean Peter Mott (0:01).
• Who says mistakes can't be fun? A segment of bloopers from Eagle TV reporters, anchors, and teachers (7:36).

Part Four

• The sixth annual fashion show, featuring amazing outfits created by art students using Tootsie Pops, Tic Tacs, and more (0:01).
• Fieldston arts majors show off their best work, from oil paintings and acrylics to drawings (9:24).
• Finally, the student question: What was your most memorable moment of the year? (12:38)

A tour of the facilities of Fieldston Outdoors.

John came to Fieldston in 2002 from the New York City public school system and, prior to that, Outward Bound. The path he took to Fieldston influenced his views on experiential education. In this podcast he highlights a major project the students do in the eighth grade underscoring the value of experience as a learning tool.
(2:38 mins)

Part One

• A visit from the Yes Institute teaches Fieldston Middle students new communications skills (2:17)
• At the fifth annual Mousetrap Car Extravaganza! Fieldston Middle science students demonstrate what they've learned and how they built their mousetrap cars. (7:00)
• Fieldston's MAD this winter centered on the question of privilege as it relates to class, gender and religion. (10:25)
• The arts at Fieldston -- Fieldston students show off their talents in the visual arts, filmmaking, voice, dance, and drama. (13:35)

Part Two

• Fieldston Lower puts on its first-ever talent show, aptly called Fun Night. (0:14)
• Fieldston Lower fifth graders demonstrate their new talents at tango, waltz and swing to the younger students. It's part of the new PE program. (5:10)
• The first-ever video camp took place over spring break. Happy campers show off new skills. (9:30)
• Find out why the new middle school literary magazine is called Anonymous. (12:17)
• Fieldston Middle students take on the role of psychiatrist in their English class to better understand the character of Holden Caulfield. (14:35)
• Sixth graders show off their year's work in Spanish in a series of restaurant sketches they wrote and performed in. (17:40)
• What are the cultural messages about gender and sexuality in hop hop? Fieldston Upper students discussed the topic all week in class, on the Speakout Board, and at a special assembly. (20:42)
• Pi! Pie! A pie-eating contest to celebrate Pi Day. (25:20)

Over 700 parents, faculty, administrators, and staff crowded into the Puck Building in lower Manhattan on February 9 to greet their friends and colleagues and support ECF's annual fund. There was dancing and dining, gaming and apple martinis, as well as thank-you presents for the P&T event co-chairs. And did we mention - Elvis was in the house! It was a night to remember, and raised over $500,000 for a very worthy cause.

Fieldston Enrichment Program Director, Alfredo C. Thomas, presents an overview of the program and the many positive ways in which it impacts its young scholars.

Part One

• Fieldston Middle celebrates Black History Month (2:48)
• A look inside the Middle School Arts Festival, from dance to chorus and band (6:28)
• Foreign Language Week at Fieldston Upper (11:43)
• A famous classical recorder player pays a visit to Fieldston Lower (14:25)

Part Two

• Whatever happened to the old oak tree at Fieldston? (0:17)
• Why Ethical Culture student enjoying recess more than ever (6:28)
• Behind the scenes of the first issue of the middle school newspaper (6:35)
• What's a mummy doing in the classroom at Fieldston Middle? (9:07)
• Fieldston Lower students go dancing - waltz, tango, and the swing (11:49)
• How do you spell funny? Check out Fieldston Upper first-ever spelling bee (15:30)
• And the ever-popular student question: What does Black History Month mean to you? (19:40)

Take a look at the new green features of the Fieldston campus.

Part One

• Fieldston students enjoy a visit from the Shangilia Youth Choir of Kenya
• Ethical Culture students and teachers talk about their new six-day schedule
• Saving water at Fieldston Middle through plumbing!
• The sixth grade trip to Frost Valley
• Eighth grade Spanish students talk about the Day of the Dead and their exhibits that celebrate a loved one
• Sixth grade students perform songs and dances around the theme of the Statue of Liberty

Part Two

• Interview with author Ishmael Beah, who spoke at the Fieldston MAD
• A tour of the new Fieldston Lower library
• Student club: Girls Learn International
• 6th grade art students learn mask-making
• 6th grade English students at work
• And the ever-popular student question: What's your New Year's resolution?

Director of Technology Jay Trevorrow discusses the use of Moodle as an online tool supporting in-class teaching and learning.

What’s a "green" roof? Eagle TV interviews experts about green roofs in general and the exciting projects taking place on the upper and lower green roofs of Fieldston Middle.

Eighty years to the day that Felix Adler dedicated the new Fieldston campus in 1927, ECF held a dedication ceremony for the new Fieldston buildings and renovated spaces. The ceremony was attended by middle and high school students as well as faculty, and some of the lower school students.

This first monthly show of Eagle TV, which runs 41 minutes long, covers many segments of school life, all listed below with their start times within the video:

• the new middle school (3:18)
• the October 15 dedication ceremony (11:12)
• the green roof (13:00)
• the visit of a world-renowned Egyptologist to the 8th grade (19:26)
• the upcoming upper school drama, Faust (23:18)
• the visiting Panamanian students (26.08)
• Homecoming (30.16)
• the student club fair (34.19)
• and the all-important student question: What will you do this year to make this the best year ever? (37.18)

History teacher Jim Cullen discusses the factors and experiences which resulted in his offering a new history course this year. Recorded 9/25/07

Snapshots from the first day of the new middle school.

Middle school students impressed the audience of family friends with their performance of Studs Terkel's Working in late April, 2007. The middle school musical is always a highlight of the school year.

Some Pig! Some Play! See more of the spring 2007 performance of Charlotte's Web by Ethical Culture fourth graders.

Each spring the high school musical is eagerly awaited. In 2007 Fieldston students tackled Urinetown, with spectacular results.

In November 2006, Fieldston actors performed Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, the year's fall drama production, and beautifully realized the Joad family's search for a new home, jobs, and dignity during the Great Depression.

Love to dance! This tuition-free summer ensemble company enables dancers from NYC public high schools to create and perform their own choreography.

Students, faculty, administrators, and alumni talk about learning, leadership, and the value of an ECF education.

The Promises to Keep campaign was launched with a party at MoMA for the ECF community

Today, 65 percent of our students participate in at least one sport, and the program has enjoyed much success.

First grade arts is a fundamental experience for students in ”learning by doing."

The fall drama production is one of the highlights of the season. As You Like It was performed and produced by Fieldston upper school students in November 2006.

Every spring Fieldston students work on the sets and lighting and learn their parts for an exciting spring musical. In 2006 the play was un-American Activities, and original production.

Choreography and performance opportunities are provided for all dance students, from informal studio workshops and dance/theater lab concerts.

Fieldston Lower students and their families celebrate the harvest through the songs, dances, and performances of many cultures.

Shields are a third grade Native American project. Based on actual shields using animal skins, these are made of canvas on reed, painted with beads, feathers, etc. added on. Each shield symbolizes the student's Native American name. Life masks for sixth graders are a study in identity. Students partner and make masks on each other's faces using plaster gauze. Then they transform their own mask with paint and collage.

Drawing and painting happen extensively on all grade levels. Drawing is both from observation and imagination; paintings are both abstract and representational.

Children work with clay beginning in second grade. They learn slab techniques (mugs and buildings, coil techniques), third grade pots, and modeling techniques (figurative sculpture and shoes).

From new sports to new skills, from dance to martial arts, the EC after school program offers something fun for everyone.

Enjoy highlights of ECF's history through this short award-winning video filled with archival photos.

This gallery contains photos illustrating the Weeks Of Discovery program's activities

A sample of various activities offered by the Fieldston Lower After School program.

Take a virtual tour of the exciting additions to the Fieldston campus.

Fieldston school song, 'Iam Canamus'; recorded on Founder's Day '03

This gallery contains the Fieldston Lower school song recorded in 1998; for more details, visit the About ECFS > Mission & History section of the website.

Five clips, performed by classes of different teachers