Upper School

Affinity Groups

The overarching vision of affinity group work is to:

• Provide a safe space for all participants to identify important issues and common concerns through dialogue.
• Use individual voices to bring about affirmation, fellowship, connection, and empowerment. 
• Establish social awareness connections to the school community and the surrounding community.
• Educate oneself and each other.

Fem Club
For feminists and those who seek to empower and support the development of women through dynamic programming and community engagement. 

White Anti-racist Affinity Group
This group is for white students who want to learn about antiracism and whiteness in the United States and how it impacts our identities as white people.  This is a group where we talk about our personal experiences with race and its intersection with the history and current experiences of white people in America.

LGBTQ
The LGBTQ affinity group brings together LGBTQ students, faculty, and allies to build community, address intolerance, and to increase understanding on our campus and within our city. We are student centered and members are encouraged to set and pursue the group's goals for the year. Whether you want to talk, do advocacy work, or hang out in a welcoming space, join us on Wednesdays! 

Black Student Union
The Black Student Union (BSU) is a diverse group of students of color with a focus on conversation, learning, and socializing in the Black/African-American community. The BSU will serve as a liaison between students of African descent and Dwight faculty. Sessions are centered around conversations around race, current events, and what it is like to be a Black student at Dwight. The BSU is a space to celebrate Black culture, lifestyles, and history. 

Black Lives Matter
For all students interested in joining honest conversations that are of critical reflection on issues of racial justice.
 

Community Service

Edu 4 All
In this community service activity, students collaborate with each other to support local charities. Members of the club meet to plan future fundraisers and events. Edu 4 All fosters student participation in community service, as well as promotes philanthropy within our School and the local community. 

SustainABLE Start
This club is Dwight’s chapter of SustainABLE Start, a non-profit charity. Members will assemble sustainably made toiletries into care packages and distribute them through the New York Common Pantry to low-income and homeless individuals. Members who take on a leadership role will also help run the non-profit on their own time as part of the organization itself. 

New York Strong
Dwight students in New York Strong, started amid COVID-19, raised funds last spring to provide healthcare workers with daily essentials and resources. After the return to school and popular interest among students, New York Strong has been developed into a club, where students will meet to organize, prepare, and host various service events for the betterment of the greater New York community both virtually and offsite in-person.

Green Team
Green Team is an environmental club devoted to advocating change and looking for ways to save the environment. The club’s goal is to improve sustainability here at Dwight. Planned activities include composting, recycling, and raising awareness.

Creativity and School Spirit

Dwight Writers and Literary Magazine
This year-long after-school activity provides an open and supportive environment for students interested in creative writing, including: fiction, poetry, drama, nonfiction, and all other genres. Time is devoted to individual writing as well as workshopping within the group, focusing on constructive and positive feedback designed to guide students into more compelling creative efforts. Additionally, the group publishes the Dwight literary journal, Scintilla, handling layout, artwork, promotion, and all responsibilities of the Editorial Board, including recruiting, selecting, and editing creative pieces for publication from across the Dwight community.

Yearbook
The Yearbook staff plans, designs, and implements the production of our School yearbook. They learn and apply the skills of graphic designers, advertisers, sales agents, and publishers. Students can register for one or both days.

Dwight Film Club
Each week, we will pick a new film that students can easily stream at home. We will watch the film separately, then come together to discuss and pick the next film. Past movies include Eighth Grade, Wall-E, Groundhog Day, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. We can accommodate a Zoom/in-person hybrid model!

Spirit Committee Club
Do you want to increase school spirit at Dwight? Then we have the club for you! Led by a group of passionate students, our Spirit Committee Club is closely advised by Ms. Vargas and Ms. Medic.

Prom Committee Club
Students interested in event planning are encouraged to join the Prom Committee Club to help plan Senior Prom. Responsibilities will include budgeting as well as selecting the venue, theme, and caterer menu the event. 
 

Body and Mind

Dwight Running Club
“One run can change your day. Many runs can change your life.” Students of all abilities will go for a fun and scenic run in Central Park or Riverside Park after school with Ms. Rubenstein, Mr. Ferraina, Ms. Moran, and Mr. Wallenfang (and possibly with guest faculty on occasion). Run pace/ability and distance will vary, but typically we will plan to run between three-five miles (weather permitting).

Philosophy Club
Have you started to recognize your power of critical thinking? Are you looking for an opportunity (outside of class, and in an engaging way) to refine these skills? Broadly speaking, in this club, we will explore the philosophical issues that help us to better understand ourselves and the world around us. 
 

Global Service 

WISER
WISER (Women’s Institute for Secondary Education and Research) is a non-profit NGO, which opened the first girls’ boarding school in Muhuru Bay, Kenya, to provide girls with the opportunity to overcome life obstacles through education. Dwight works with WISER through its Partner Program to build global relationships, create an international exchange of ideas, and assist in providing scholarships for girls. Members of Dwight’s WISER group will work on continuing and building relationships with the girls and teachers in Muhuru Bay, as well as further promoting WISER within our Dwight community.  

UNICEF
The goal of this club is to empower students to think globally and act locally for the world’s most vulnerable children. We will partner with UNICEF, a world- recognized organization that advocates for the protection of children’s rights, and participate in activities such as fundraising, advocacy, community building, and speaking out for UNICEF’S child survival work in 190 countries.
 

Technology, Business, and Entrepreneurism

Girls Who Code
The Girls Who Code Club focuses on impact, sisterhood, and coding. The curriculum is designed for students with a wide range of computer science experience. We will have activities for girls with zero computer science experience, all the way up to activities that introduce college-level concepts. The broad set of soft and hard skills we will teach will include teamwork, confidence, team management, communication, variables, functions, conditionals, and loops. Students will engage in fun and simple online tutorials to learn a number of different programming languages and build community with each other through interactive activities. Throughout, girls will work as a team toward a culminating Girls Who Code Project, which addresses a real-world problem that they care about.

Business and Investment Club
Investment club is a great way to gain experience and insight into the world of finance. Students will learn about investing money, playing the stock market game, and pursuing careers in finance.

Females in Finance Dwight Branch
This is a females-only club designed to educate girls about the financial system and to provide a safe environment for girls to explore their interest in finance. Members will also enter the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition as a club. This competition, which concludes in November, will provide an amazing learning experience for all involved.

Entrepreneurship Club
This club will offer inspiration and support for any student who aspires to become an entrepreneur. There are also opportunities to make friends, share business ideas, develop professional networks, and build teams for competitions.

Spark Tank
Spark Tank is Dwight School's incubator for students who are looking to develop skills in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship, and stewardship.  
During Spark Tank's after-school sessions, students meet with Spark Tank mentors for guidance and feedback. Faculty mentors also work with students to prepare them for Spark Tank events, where they present their projects before a panel of judges.

Students who have an existing project or idea can join Spark Tank, or those who simply want to learn more about entrepreneurship are also welcome! Students can join on their own or with a team of collaborators. 
 

Mock Trial, Debate, and Math Teams

Mock Trial Team
Learn to be a lawyer or a witness in the American trial system in this year-long intensive after-school academic program that is open to all Upper School students.  The team competes in the state-wide New York Bar Association Mock Trial Tournament and is coached by Mr. Wiesenfeld, the Head of the English Department and a former prosecutor who has conducted numerous jury trials throughout his career. The Dwight Mock Trial team is currently ranked #1 in Manhattan and #1 among all private schools in New York City. 
 
The team will focus on all aspects of skill development with respect to public speaking and trial advocacy, including: 1. lessons and activities on oral and written persuasion; 2. the foundational elements of American trial law, such as the rules of evidence and burdens of proof; and 3. all components of a jury trial, for both student-attorneys and student-witnesses: pre-trial motions, opening statements, direct examinations, cross examinations, objections, rebuttals, and closing arguments.

Debate Team
Students will have the opportunity to learn how to form arguments and have oral debates on current topics in the news and facing the world. This club will also facilitate ongoing development of critical thinking, articulation, and public speaking skills.

Math Team
Our Math Team, one of the most competitive teams in New York City, is open to all interested in exercising their brains to work challenging math problems. Your skills will be put to the test when you sit for competitive math contests!
 

Music Ensembles

Rock Band
Members of the Rock Band will experience the full range of the music-making process. In consultation with their instructor, they will determine their instrumentation, build their setlist, learn their parts, develop necessary techniques, rehearse practicing together as a true collaborative group, and prepare for a videotaped performance to be featured in an upcoming virtual concert. The band will be assembled on a first-come, first-served basis based on scheduling options, safe distancing protocols in the Music Room, and proper instrumentation. 

Chamber String Ensemble
The Chamber String Ensemble is open to all violin, viola, cello, double bass, and harp students. It is expected that students have a basic knowledge of instrumental technique and an ability to read sheet music to participate in this ensemble. In consultation with their instructor, students will practice their parts both individually and as a collaborative group, further develop their performance techniques, and prepare for a videotaped performance to be featured in an upcoming virtual concert. The ensemble will be assembled on a first-come, first-served basis based on scheduling options, safe distancing protocols in the Music Room, and proper instrumentation. 

Percussion Ensemble 
The Percussion Ensemble will have a new look this year! Led by Mr. Gavin, Dwight Conservatory teacher and member of the long-running Off-Broadway production, Stomp!, students will simultaneously learn percussion techniques while rehearsing for a unique, exciting, videotaped performance utilizing non-traditional percussion instruments. The ensemble will be assembled on a first-come, first-served basis based on scheduling options and safe distancing protocols in the Music Room. 
 

Individual Music Lessons

Dwight Music Conservatory
The Dwight Conservatory, an integral part of our Music Department, offers students individual lessons in a wide range of musical instruments and a breadth of musical styles. Students of any and all experience levels are taught by a dedicated team of creative, experienced music professionals, many of whom are graduates of prestigious institutions such as Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College, and the Curtis Institute of Music. 
 
Our Conservatory conveniently offers both in-person and virtual options for private music lessons.
 

Theater

Master Theater Program 
Dwight’s Master Theater Program connects students in grades 9-12 who have a strong interest in theater with members of the New York professional theater community. This in-depth virtual theater learning experience, which mirrors those at the college level, is designed specifically for high school students, providing participants with direct contact with artists working on Broadway and Off-Broadway stages. It also affords those who may not plan on pursuing theater in college or as a career with an opportunity to build public speaking skills and the ability to think and act creatively on the spot. 
 

Testing and Academic Support

A-List Prep 
At Dwight, we’re committed to providing students with the finest counseling and resources to help guide them through every step of the college admissions process. This year, students in grades 9 and 10 will receive direct support as part of the day’s curriculum, as many students are required to take standardized tests for college admissions. In order to provide supplementary opportunities for test preparation, we partner with A-List, a highly regarded test preparation and college admissions organization.

Virtual Upper School Math Support
Students in grades 9-12 are invited to drop by to ask questions about their assignments, or simply have a seat and complete their homework. A math teacher will be available to help, and resources like textbooks and calculators will be provided.

Virtual Dwight Tutors 
Serving as a Dwight tutor is an opportunity to make a difference by helping your peers and younger students to study more efficiently, while earning SA or CAS credit. Many of today’s best teachers began as student tutors!