Family Notes: October 12, 2012

Living in Boston, we are surrounded by history. Plaques outside old buildings boast of the politicians and poets who once slept within their walls. Costumed tour-guides recount the stories of our nation's founding, and a red line through downtown connects our oldest battlefields to our oldest graveyards. Our city is a living text for us to study, reminding us of our struggles and our triumphs.

While the soldiers and cannons often make the covers of postcards and tourist brochures, we are also surrounded by testaments to our peacemakers. This week, the third grade class visited the historic home of Fredrick Law Olmsted, a landscape architect who designed and championed many of the most famous public parks in the United States, including Central Park in New York City, and the Emerald Necklace here in Boston.

Olmsted understood that a connection with nature is essential to health and happiness, and he worked to make public green spaces accessible to anyone living in a city. As the students investigate his designs and tools, they make inferences about his life and times. They come to understand how his work was shaped by society and came to shape it. They learn that trees can be an agent of change in the life of a city.

Through field work, our students engage with the city itself as a primary source text for learning history. As educators, we need only open its pages and let them explore. Understanding the past, they are equipped to shape the future.

Warmly, Diana Lam

Diana Lam

Park For the People

Why are parks important to people? How do parks make our communities better places to live? If you were to design a park, what would you need to think about? Third graders are thinking deeply about these questions as they learn about the world's first landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, and how he changed the face of America by giving our cities beautiful spaces where we can go to enjoy nature, to relax, to play, and to exercise.

On Monday, October 15, an Olmsted National Historic Site ranger visited the 3rd grade to introduce students to Olmsted and the occupation of landscape architecture. Ranger Clark left behind an enormous box filled with facsimiles of tools that Olmsted and his team used to design parks. Students analyzed each tool and hypothesized about its purpose and function.

On Wednesday, when students conducted fieldwork at Olmsted's home and workshop in Brookline, they saw the real tools and found out if their theories were right! Stepping into the shoes of landscape architects, students explored the landscape surrounding

Olmsted's home and worked in teams to design and build 3D models of a park landscape. Students left the site excited to learn more about the Olmsted parks that come together to form Boston's Emerald Necklace. "Olmsted made it possible for a kid like me, who lives in the city and inside a building to enjoy a wide, open area to play," reflected Cashmere Deronette.

Want to learn with your kids? Spend Sunday morning at Franklin Park. On October 21 from 10 a.m. to noon, a National Olmsted Historic Site ranger will lead a walk through the Franklin Park woodlands, over old stone bridges, and across what was once a sheep meadow, while discussing Frederick Law Olmsted's vision.

Open House - An Evening of Music and Learning

Teachers and staff welcomed families into the school and classrooms on Friday, October 12th for an evening of learning and sharing. Over 70 families were treated to a musical presentation by the Resident Artists and a welcome by Head of School, Diana Lam, in the auditorium. Next, Principal Annie Sevelius introduced the teaching staff from the stage and then directed the families to their child(ren)'s classrooms for a more detailed discussion of the plans for the year. Teachers described their expectations around homework and reading as well as their plans for the different expeditions. 6thgradeopenhouse Parents were encouraged to ask questions about curriculum and school activities. They were also encouraged to keep their email address up to date as teachers are increasingly sending home reminders and news of the week via email.

All who attended spoke of how impressed they were with the level of care each classroom teacher took in preparing their presentations. 2nd grade parent Liesa Lessard noted the "dedication and thoughtfulness regarding the home/school connection." Many teachers are sending home "dinner discussion" topics so families can ask good questions about school on a regular basis at home. These conversations are just a part of the year-long dialogue between teachers and families about the progress of each individual student. Parent-teacher conferences will be held at the end of November once the first round of report cards have been sent home.

Composition Project Gets Underway!

There are always opportunities for exciting and different learning to take place at our school. Through a collaboration with the Landmarks Orchestra, Michael Gandolfi, well-known composer and Chair of the Composition Department at New England Conservatory, will be working for a period of months with a small group of Dudamel Orchestra members as part of his work composing an original piece for both orchestras. The students will come to understand in a very specific way the basic elements of composition: melody, harmony, rhythm, and dynamics and how to incorporate their new ideas into the creation of this piece.

Both the Dudamel Orchestra and the Landmarks Orchestra will premiere this new work at the Hatch Shell on Boston's Esplanade on Wednesday, July 10, 2013. It will be a time to gather all families and attend the concert!

Resident Artist Josue Gonzalez performs with Discovery Ensemble

JGproarte Discovery Ensemble is a chamber orchestra that draws together fifty of the finest performing musicians in Boston. Although only beginning its fifth season, it has already established itself as one of the pre-eminent chamber orchestras in the country.

This Sunday, October 21st at 3 PM, Resident Artist Josue Gonzalez will perform as part of the Discovery Ensemble at Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston. Tickets usually are between $20 and $40 but students and their families can attend for free by printing and filling out a voucher. Students must present the voucher at the box office, mention Conservatory Lab Charter School and the number of tickets they need.

Program details:

Mozart Symphony No. 28

Piazzolla The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires Joshua Weilerstein, violin

Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras No. 9

Bach Orchestral Suite No. 4

Volunteers Wanted!

Do you like to laugh, color, cut, build, be part of a crew, read, dance, jump, sort, trace, stretch, walk, swing, whisper, count, shake maracas, dream, learn, make friends, tell jokes, smile?

Conservatory Lab Charter School needs family and community members to join our K1, K2 and 1st grade classes for afternoons of exploration and enrichment.

Requirements:

One Weekly Commitment for 6 weeks (Nov.- mid Dec) time 3:45 pm - 5 :00 pm
Day of the week TBD by volunteer schedule
Attend Orientation Session in late October and complete CORI check

Please contact Beth Greene beth.greene@comcast.net 617-999-5620 or Rebecca Levi rlevi@conservatorylab.org to join us! Interested, but can't join us until January?? Let us know!

Box Tops For Education

We collect box tops! If families have been collecting, please send them in to teachers by October 26th. The first submission deadline is November 1st.