Upcoming Events
February 20-24February Recess (No School) March 4Joint Concert with Pro Arte 2:00 @ Sanders Theatre March 25 "Spring Fling"Community Concert, sponsored by PAC
|
Conservatory Lab
25 Arlington Street
Brighton, MA 02315
617.254.8904
www.conservatorylab.org
|
|
|
| Family Notes
February 17, 2012
|
 |
Dear families,
A great orchestra is made up of great soloists. To create an expressive performance together, each member must have the technique and the inspiration to craft the individual parts as well as the collaborative skills to weave them together. In our community of learning, each student is challenged to develop the confidence and skill of a soloist, along with the ability to cooperate as an ensemble member.
This week, fourth grade students stood in front of peers, family, and even a state senator to sing the blues. Each student took the microphone in hand and sang a verse he or she had written about an emotional topic. For some, doing this was the most natural thing, and for others it was an act of tremendous courage. There were moments of honesty and moments of humor, but each soloist was received with appreciation and support by their peers for the work and the risk taken in performing.
This morning, students in sixth grade also took a risk by baring their souls to an audience of peers. At their poetry "slam", students opened themselves up to the experience of competition, pitting their performance of original poetry against one another and vying for the support of their peers. In the context of a supportive environment where the skills of each performer are celebrated, this was an exciting and motivating experience.
We challenge each student to be a soloist because we know that any child can develop the skill and artistry to perform independently. The confidence to sing, play, and speak in front of a group and the skill to make a connection with an audience are key components to an arts-infused education. They are building blocks of leadership.
Warmly,
Diana Lam
Head of School
|
 |
|
4th Grade Blues Celebration Presents Tapestry of Learning
On Wednesday morning the 4th grade class shared their knowledge about The Great Migration through stories, poems, collage, and music. In front of an audience which included a Massachusetts State Senator Jack Hart, House of Blues program manager Jenny Nardone, and a host of proud family members, the students took turns presenting each aspect of their Learning Expedition. They presented the process and the products through which they have become experts in this era of history.
Students presented favorite songs and stories from The Listening Project, poetry written in response to their study of Langsten Hughes, letters written from the perspective of 1920 migrant workers, collages created in the style of Romare Bearden under the direction of professional artist Ekua Holmes, and original blues songs which they had composed and rehearsed under the guidance of their classroom teachers and resident artists. Following the presentation, guests had the opportunity to tour a gallery of the students' work and try their hand at writing their own blues.
Impressed with the students' blues compositions, Jenny Nardone has invited the students to perform at the House of Blues on March 6.
|
|
|
6th Grade Slam Poets Throw Down The Gauntlet
The students of the 6th grade class took the stage this morning to compete against one another in a contest of rhyme and rhythm at the first-ever Conservatory Lab Poetry Slam. Before an audience of peers and a series of randomly-selected judging panels, the poets bared their souls through impassioned performance poetry. Sharing their feelings about family, school, war, and the big questions of life, each vied to win the hearts of the audience. Although only three top prizes were awarded, each participant received a certificate honoring the courage and skill each employed in this exciting competition.
|
|
|
2nd Grade Herpetologists Visit Harvard
 On Thursday, the second grade class entered the world of professional scientists. They took the 86 bus to the Herpetology Department of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard. There, they worked with Herpetologists Jose Rosado and Joe Martinez to examine the specific types of snakes each student is studying: the Mojave rattlesnake, the Anaconda, the Reticulated Python, and the Spitting and King Cobras. Students each had a fieldwork journal for them to sketch their snakes, describe snake adaptations and how they help the snake survive, and answer other questions they had brainstormed before the trip. The students got to see the Museum's private collection of over 400,000 reptiles. They then went upstairs to the Museum of Natural History and applied their learning about snake adaptations to other animals. Students had to pick an animal, sketch and label their features and ask questions and make inferences about how these features help the animal survive. This unusual, in-depth learning experience is a highly anticipated part of the 2nd grade snake Expedition every year. Students' working alongside scientists gives them a new vision of their future. As Hafeedh said, "I feel like this is my home for learning." |
|
|
Tickets Now Available for Spring Fling!
Check out the Brown Paper Tickets website to buy your tickets and share the link with your friends and family.
|
|
