Upcoming Events
February Break
Feb. 18-22
(No School)
Saturday, March 2
Dudamel Concert With ProArte Ensemble
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Conservatory Lab
25 Arlington Street
Brighton, MA 02315
617.254.8904
www.conservatorylab.org
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| Family Notes
February 15, 2013
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Dear Families,
We have wonderful news! Commissioner Chester has recommended that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education approve our request for expansion. On Tuesday, February 26, the board will make the final vote, and we are confident that they will approve his recommendation. Over the next four years, we will be able to add 275 additional seats, including a seventh and eighth grade. We will have more information forthcoming, explaining how this will unfold, but for now let us celebrate this tremendous victory!
This fortuitous step is a compliment to so many of you. Families have been very actively involved in this advocacy campaign by writing letters, speaking to representatives, and attending meetings. As we savor this good news together, please know the happiness and fulfillment I feel with all the teamwork and support that surrounds this school.
Warmly, 
Diana Lam
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First Instructional Round Provides Wonderful Insight Into Learning
The teachers who attended the first of five Instructional Rounds to be presented at Conservatory Lab this year were given the answer to this question: How do you bring together engineering skills and the ability to compare and contrast story elements in the many version of a popular fairy tale?
With a Broadway musical, of course.
During this first instructional round focusing on the first grade and the interdisciplinary expedition entitled "Building with The Three Little Pigs", the participants saw a video of the 1st graders in a performance that demonstrated the way in which students synthesized their learning into a theatrical production of an original variant of The Three Little Pigs, integrating their knowledge of Broadway musicals, building materials and the engineering process to give the timeless fairy tale a new twist.
Participants also witnessed 1st graders become civil engineers as they worked in crews to help the three little pigs solve design challenges in building stronger homes. In the lesson presented, students worked in pairs to solve the problem of how to put balsa wood together to make a bridge that is strong enough to hold 20 pennies. They tested different strategies, evaluating what worked and what didn't work and why. In this process, students build critical thinking, scientific observation and research skills, as well as core literacy skills.
The evaluations from the teachers who participated were overwhelmingly positive and grateful for the opportunity to have an in depth observation of students at work in the classroom!
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From The Top Showcases Chamber Group
On Wednesday afternoon, the second chamber group of Dudamel musicians followed the lead of their high school mentors at the From The Top Showcase and performed a beautiful arrangement of Vivaldi's Spring for their fellow orchestra members and the Abreu Orchestra. They were confident and joyful in both their performance and in the question and answer period that followed. Take a look (and listen) at their performance!
This is the second year of this collaboration and it has proven to be a wonderful path to building leadership skills in both our students and their mentors. From The Top's Center for the Development of Artistic Leadership (CDAL) accepted 23 high schoolers from the Greater Boston area and sent 5 to our school. "The young artists dedicate 20 hours a month to the program, supported by a network of From the Top staff, community partners, and alumni mentors. Over the course of the year, they will take their music beyond the concert hall, using the transformative power of music to engage new audiences and to explore their individual leadership pathways as 21st century musicians."
According to Resident Artist Kat Jara, who has served as the liaison with From The Top "the clearest takeaway for our kids drew from the model of the FTT chamber group working together in music. The high schoolers approached the coaching with joy, energy, high attention to detail, and humility. When they realized something planned did not work as they'd hoped, they were confident enough to admit their mistake and then move on with the same energy as before. Our students saw what it meant to be very thoughtful and disciplined musicians, and what it meant to be collaborating friends. "
As the music leaders introduced themselves and their work, it was clear that they had learned a great deal from working with our students and from having the opportunity to work with two groups. They described their own increased confidence in both their teaching and their own musicianship. Our students clearly benefited from learning alongside these extraordinary young musicians. They all said they were ready to start chamber groups of their own!
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International Book Giving Day
A wave of joy crashed over the school yesterday as students from every class "paid it forward" in the form of a school-wide book swap. Two representatives from each grade visited the grade below with a gift box of donated books that had been gathered from student families. Each classroom erupted in cheers as the treasure was revealed.
 The book swap was organized as part of our school's celebration of International Book Giving Day, a volunteer initiative aimed at increasing children's access to and enthusiasm for books. International Book Giving Day's focus is on encouraging people worldwide to give a book to a child on February 14th. We invite individuals to 1) give a book to a friend or family member, 2) leave a book in a waiting room for children to read, or 3) donate a gently used book to a local library, hospital or shelter or to an organization that distributes used books to children in need internationally. All the extra books collected will be donated to a local organization chosen by the 5th grade class.
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Come See Dudamel Orchestra with ProArte Ensemble
The Dudamel Orchestra is polishing new repertoire for the March 2 concert with ProArte Chamber Ensemble. Among their selections will be the powerful and evocative themes from the Lord of the Rings sound track, as well as excerpts from Gustav Mahler's epic first symphony. The students will perform side-by-side with professional musicians in the first half of the concert. The second half will feature winners of ProArte's Young Artist Concerto Competition, accompanied by the ProArte Ensemble.
 Don't miss this exciting collaboration! Bring the family for this student-friendly show on Saturday, March 2, at 6 PM at All Saints Parish, 1773 Beacon Street, Brookline.
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February Vacation Fun
In Norwegian there is a word which means "to step into freshly fallen snow." The word is "grynne," and to hear it spoken by a native sounds like the satisfying crunch of that first footprint into the glistening white turf. It is a sound familiar to any child who has awoken to find the world
 frozen under a blanket of cold, sparkling play-dough. It is the sound of nature offering us no options but to bundle up and play with our children and our neighbors to curl up with a warm drink and a good book. There were many stories from students of last weekend's snow sculptures and hot cocoa, of board games, books, and blanket forts. These good times will likely continue during this vacation week. As we look ahead to another snowstorm this weekend. I hope that you and your family stay safe and warm over the February break and find time to play together.
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