Upcoming Events
October 8
Columbus Day, No School
October 9
Movement, Recess and Physical Activity Meeting 5:30 PM
October 12
Picture Day &
Open House 5:30 PM
October 26
All School Assembly 9 AM
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Conservatory Lab
25 Arlington Street
Brighton, MA 02315
617.254.8904
www.conservatorylab.org
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| Family Notes
October 5, 2012
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Dear Families,
Studies have shown that one of the key factors in a child's scholastic success is having adults at school who know them well. Your children come to school eager to teach us about themselves - how they learn, what they like to do, what challenges them. Together, we listen and take notes so that we can give them what they need. Each child has a team of classroom teachers past and current, music teachers, and administrators weaving a web of support around them so that no child can fall through.
Of course, you are a part of that web. You help us to know your children better, and you help us to teach them better. You have been teaching them all their lives, as they have been teaching you. Learning is always mutual and multidirectional, and the strength of our school is in the fabric of these relationships.
Next Friday's open house will be an opportunity for us to connect around our children's learning this year. You can see first-hand what is in store for your child, from the curricula to the Learning Expeditions and all of the musical opportunities that await them in the months ahead. There will be opportunities for questions and time to connect with the teachers and staff who know and teach your children while they are at school.
I hope you can attend this event. It is a singular opportunity to experience how the many unique parts of our school fit together to provide a comprehensive education and a nurturing school environment for your children.
Warmly,  Diana Lam
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Fifth Grade Climatologists
How is the Earth affected by climate change? Fifth grade climate change scientists are finding out! From the Great Barrier Reef and the islands of the Maldives, to Hurricane Alley and Greenland's ice sheet, the teams of scientists are delving deep to learn how climate change affects regions of the world.
 Each team was assigned a mystery region and they practiced a scientist's essential skills of observation and inference as they explored a set of clue photographs and zoomed in on their regions in interactive online maps. They wondered at the particulars of their place and the themes that connected their very different regions. How do professional scientists understand how the Earth is responding?
Next week the groups will research about a scientist/activist who studies and works in their region. Taking on the personas and roles of their scientist's research assistants, the teams will prepare for the Conservatory Lab Climate Summit! They will design scientific diagrams to teach the science phenomena at work, be voices for their region's environment and people, and propose solutions.
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Mr. Malek Comes for First Residency Week
 David Malek, maestro emeritus of the Dudamel Orchestra, visited Conservatory Lab this week for his first of several artist residencies. He made guest appearances in orchestra rehearsals and other music classrooms, led professional development for music staff and provided enrichment for the students. He describes his warm feelings of this reunion, which are shared by students and staff alike.
I have to share an experience I had within the first two weeks of moving away from Boston. One day I went with Ms. Trautwein to observe the work being done at the El Sistema site in Cleveland. That night as I lay in bed I closed my eyes to try and sleep. Suddenly I began to picture in my mind, as clearly as if they were there in person, each and every member of the Dudamel Orchestra. It was as if two years of work came back to me in one night and I became overwhelmed at the thought that I would never again have the chance to make music with my students again. I began to weep uncontrollably, not realizing how important this work and these students had been in my life. Each time I came close to gaining my composure, another student's face would pop into my mind and I would start crying all over again.
So coming back to The Conservatory Lab this week has meant the world to me. We have the most beautiful children in the world and I love them so much! I am so happy and proud of Mr. Anantawan and the quality work he is doing with the orchestra in such a short amount of time. I have also had the privilege of observing other music classes and am more convinced than ever that the quality of the music program at the Conservatory Lab has no equal. There is such a full school effort from the administrative staff to the classroom teachers to the Resident Artists in making 25 Arlington Street the place to be!
As for myself, I have gone back to being a performing musician for the meantime. I have a couple of concerts that I will be playing this month down in Texas and then I am packing my bags and hitting the road to play clarinet on the national tour of "A Christmas Carol," which will take me right up to Christmas Eve. My only plan after that is to make it home in time to see Santa Clause slide down my chimney!
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Crescendo Day is Coming!
 On October 10, we have a chance to win prizes of up to $25,000 from the Boston Foundation. Non-profit organizations taking part in the Giving Common Challenge will be able to raise funds and compete for up to $25,000 in prizes. Over the course of 36 hours, beginning at 8:00a.m. on October 10th and extending to 8:00 p.m. on October 11th. If Conservatory Lab is one of the first 10 non-profits to get 50 donors, we will win a $1,000 prize.
The contest is focused on getting the largest number of donors and the largest size contributions within the very specific time outlined above and all online. Prospective donors are enthusiastically directed to go to https://www.givingcommon.org and search Conservatory Lab. You can help us win the prize!
1) Make a donation of $25 or more through the link that will go out on October 10.
2) Share the news with family, friends, and co-workers
3) Spread the word on Facebook and Twitter
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Auditions for Boston City-Wide String Orchestra
 Looking for more opportunities to make music? If you play a violin, viola, cello or bass, you can audition for the BC-WSO!
Contact: Betty Hillmon 617 549-0205
Auditions and Rehearsals: Every Saturday - 9 -12 noon
Timilty Middle School, 205 Roxbury St., Roxbury
Join Resident Artist Josue Gonzalez, one of the conductors/instructors of the BC-WSO, and 5th grader Ben Lee, violinist along with several Conservatory Lab alums to make music and prepare for a variety of performances.
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