Family Notes: Sept 9

In many African languages, music and dance are expressed in the same word. To sing is to dance, to drum is to dance, to listen to music is to dance to it. While Western Classical music delegates these actions to different people, the best musicians understand that even in Beethoven, this separation is only a trick of words. Music is movement, and whether we are playing it or listening to it, we are all part of the dance.

One of the most vivid illustrations of this is the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, dressed in their brightly colored soccer jackets, dancing and playing their audience into a frenzy from the stage of a concert hall. Every time I watch this video, I can hardly stay in my chair! It is visceral, joyful, and powerful. It is music that cannot be silenced and will not sit still.

This is the power that we are giving our children when we teach them to sing, to play, and to dance. When you see our Dudamel Orchestra and the students of BalletRox perform Dragon Hunter together at the Strand Theatre, on September 25, you will feel the way that movement and music bring one another to life. We are teaching them to stir emotions, to bring joy and sadness to the surface. We are teaching them to get the world off of its chair and onto its feet.

Warmly,

Diana Lam

Head of School

Snack Update

We continue to listen to feedback from teachers, students, and parents regarding the Snack policy. In order to keep our students nourished throughout the school day, we will be providing an afternoon snack just before the final El Sistema block.

As we collaborate to meet our students' nutritional needs, we ask families to familiarize yourselves with the latest information released by the department of health, and to use this as a guide if your child brings lunch from home. We are preparing to be in full compliance this year with new Massachusetts anti-junk food laws, which take full effect next year. Certain foods, including cookies, chips, and soft drinks, will be sent home uneaten if your child brings them to school.

Homework Policy

In the last year, we have received feedback from parents and teachers about the value of homework in bridging the gap between home and school learning. In response, we have instituted a new homework policy for this year. Please be mindful of these points as we work together to support your child's learning:

Students must complete all assigned homework.
In grades 3-6, students must complete homework in study hall if it is not completed at home.
When students do not complete homework, they are not ready for the next day's work, and this slows down learning for all students. This is especially true in grades 5 and 6.
Developing effective homework routines will prepare students for success in high school.

On the Stage of The Strand

DancePlayrehearse

When students from the Dudamel Orchestra took the stage of the Strand Theatre at Wednesday night's rehearsal, eyes widened and jaws dropped. Designed for large-scale productions, it is the largest stage they have yet taken as an orchestra. As conversations began among the directors about lighting and blocking, it was clear that this rehearsal would be about much more than notes and rhythms. With the patience and focus of professional performing artists, students tried out different formations and tweaked the timing and volume of the music to match the dancers and the space.

When the collaboration began last spring, El Sistema program directors Rebecca Levi and David Malek met with BalletRox choreographers Ilanga and Janelle Gilchrist with a vision of bringing students into an artistic process. Students would experience how many different pieces of a performance come together to create a unified whole. On Wednesday night, students began to see those pieces fall into place as they worked to craft a performance experience unlike any they had done before. "At this age, it's just like water for them," noted Resident Artist Chris Schroeder, "this kind of organic collaboration is the most natural thing in the world."

For more details and to purchase tickets for the September 25th performance, visit the Brown Paper Tickets event page.

Movement and Music

Musicandmotion

This year, physical education at Conservatory Lab is marching to the beat of a different drummer. For 45 minutes each week, students stomp, spring, sashay, and sing themselves into a sweat, led by resident artists Mike Moore and Josue Gonzales. Music & Movement class explores rhythm, song, and dance, utilizing traditional music from West Africa, Brazil, Cuba, and the US. In addition to providing an active cardiovascular workout, each activity opens a door to learning about the culture where the music originated.

Mr. Moore, who teaches percussion in the El Sistema program, has a background in World Music and African Music. Mr Gonzales, Conservatory Lab's resident cello expert, has studied world percussion, salsa dancing, ballet, and yoga. The two teachers take turns accompanying the movement exercises on percussion instruments and leading singing and movement activities.

Teachers report that favorite songs and movements from this class have already been overheard in impromptu recess performances. Look for demonstrations from these classes at selected school assemblies as the year progresses!

First Parent Advisory Council Meeting

We welcome families to attend the first Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meeting this Wednesday at 5:30. The PAC is an opportunity for families to get to know one another, participate in conversations about our school, and share time and talents in support of our childrens' education.

Topics this week will include:

Election of new officers
A chance to meet and greet one another
Calendar of events this year
Opportunities to be involved
Ken Barringer, M.A., LMHC, Director of the Academy of Physical and Social Development is coming to talk about children and the grieving process.

Childcare and pizza will be available during the meeting. Please RSVP to Michelle Gurel in order to adequately prepare for both (617-699-2125).

Prior to the meeting, at 5 PM, will be a final opportunity to attend an El Sistema information meeting about instrument care. If you wish for your child to take his or her instrument home, someone from your family must attend one of these meetings.

Correction

Picture day will be Sept 29.