Head of School Dr. De Jarnett started off the program in the Large Gym with welcome remarks and screenings of two new video vignettes, both honoring the School’s “birthday”. To view these videos please click here.  Dr. De Jarnett then led the rest of the assembly program as an emcee, introducing various presentations, including a special three-part history lesson given by D-E’s History department. Each teacher highlighted events that took place during the founding years of the Dwight School (in 1889), the Englewood School for Boys (in 1928); and the schools’ merger that created Dwight-Englewood (in 1973).

Between these history ‘lessons’ were individual and group performances, including a piece from D-E’s ‘String Jam’ and ‘String Society’ ensembles; a beautiful vocal solo by Scarlett Diaz '19; a “Locker Room Stomp” from Middle School student dancers and Grade 4 percussionist Malachi Samedy ‘22; and a soulful song from 2013 Englewood Idol and D-E senior Nigel Lassiter '14. Student Government President Julia Brice '14 also provided reflective remarks and at various points in the program, Dr. De Jarnett used audience participants to visually demonstrate the significance of the numbers “125”.

Class of 1970 alumnus and current D-E parent Samuel Davis then provided closing words to the assembly program. Davis gave a preview to his later dedicating a 125^th ‘birthday gift’ from his family D-E: a massive statue of a bulldog by celebrated sculptor Branly Cadet. A trial attorney with the firm of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., Davis has dedicated his life to support humanitarian relief and other causes. Davis “epitomizes the closing words of our D-E Mission, to ‘make it better’” -- in the introductory words of Dr. De Jarnett. Davis founded the Burn Advocates Network, a non-profit organization providing therapy services for burn victims, and camps for young people suffering burn trauma. In the aftermath of the tragic Haiti earthquake, Davis personally led an effort to start-up an occupational and physical therapy clinic there, and helped to source and deliver thousands of pounds of medical and other supplies. Davis has also led humanitarian efforts in Israel and India.

The father of D-E alumni Ariel '05 and Alana '09 and senior son Josh '14, Davis shared anecdotes from his time as a student with the Englewood School for Boys (ESB), including how he and his classmates literally fought for the right to have the core values now in place for D-E students. In his words: “[Students at Dwight-Englewood] should remember and respect [their] predecessors and where they are today, by helping others…[w]hen you're committed, fate and serendipity will reward you, and you'll have good karma." Davis closed his speech by mentioning why this year was also special for him: 2013-2014 marks 50 years since he first stepped foot as a student on the then-ESB campus, and the last year he will be a D-E current parent.

After the Large Gym assembly everyone streamed out to sunny skies to enjoy the next two parts of the assembly, starting with the dedication of the new D-E Bulldog statue. The Bulldog now adorns the patio between D-E’s Pope Science Hall and the Khubani Center for Performing Arts. All students were encouraged to sit in and around the Bulldog for its official unveiling. Middle School student Maggie Colquitt ’20 memorably provided an original song based on “Oh What A Beautiful Morning”, and then, following some additional songs and final words from Sam Davis, the unveiling of the Bulldog dramatically took place to a huge round of applause. Having earlier explained how the Bulldog was inspired by “Ace”, a pet bulldog owned by an ESB coach, Davis said the statue may similarly bring “good luck to those around him”. Davis encouraged all D-E students to rub the Bulldog's foot for good luck (right foot if you're a righty, left if you're a lefty).  

Sculptor Branly Cadet was also present for the unveiling. Cadet designed and created the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Memorial -- a twenty foot tall bronze, stainless steel and granite monument situated on the corner of 125th Street and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan.  He also sculpted the Shakespeare medallion on the facade of the former Booth Theater, also in Manhattan, and has completed many private bronze portrait commissions.  Recently, he successfully advanced to the final stage of the Octavius V. Catto Memorial design competition where he is now one of a handful of artists being considered for the honor of designing and building a monument that will grace the front of Philadelphia's City Hall. Branly Cadet studied sculpture at Cornell University, and the New York Academy of Art. He won the prestigious James Wilbur Johnston National Figure Sculpture Competition in 1990 and began teaching sculpture soon thereafter. Born in New York City, he is a descendant of Haitian metal artist Georges Liautaud. Branly now splits his time between his residence in Oakland, California, and New York City, where along with creating his own art, he also accepts sculpture commissions.

In perhaps the most memorable, final portion of the celebration, all those assembled were then shuffled into the numbers of 1, 2 and 5, carefully set on D-E’s Leggett Field with cones, stakes and twine. Once all 1,200 people were in place, D-E teacher and photographer John McCabe, who was suspended nearly 100 feet above the crowd from an aerial 'bucket' lifted by a massive crane, took a series of 'D-E 125 photos' (see left). All students, faculty and staff had been encouraged to wear D-E colors -- blue, white or yellow/gold -- for the occasion, which surprisingly only took a few minutes to execute.

Following the final shot, everyone then disbursed and received a gift from Dr. De Jarnett -- a silver bulldog keychain modeled after the new D-E Bulldog statue -- before enjoying a gourmet boxed lunch. In the words of one D-E Preschool student as they left Leggett Field, it was “the best day ever!”