| Upcoming Events
Wednesday, Oct. 16th
Parent Advisory Council Meeting
5:30 - 7 PM
25 Arlington St.
Tuesday, Dec. 10
Winter Concert I - K1, K2, Abreu and Bernstein Orchestras
Thursday, Dec. 19
Winter Concert II - Ives Winds, Abbado and Dudamel Orchestras
Both held at the Benjamin Franklin Institute, 3:30 PM
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| Conservatory Lab
Grades 3 - 7
25 Arlington Street
Brighton, MA 02315
617.254.8904 Grades K1 - 2 320 Washington Street Brighton, MA 02315
617.208.6200
www.conservatorylab.org |
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| Family Notes
October 11, 2013
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Dear Families,
We often speak of the fact that we are an Expeditionary Learning School. I like to think of the ways in which this approach makes the education we provide to our students unique.
To begin with, students are actively involved in what they learn. They themselves research and investigate to find the answers to problems which are evident to them and which they feel are important. Further, along with their classmates, their teachers and other experts, they develop creative, actionable solutions. Through this process they come to recognize the value of collaboration with others. Sometimes the resolution of a problem is difficult but students learn to persevere, to continue working together and to accomplish their goals.
As they continue to progress through their learning expeditions, students prepare to share their projects, give presentations, and produce works which will be printed and published. This public achievement of goals met, gives joy to themselves, their families, their peers and their community. This intense involvement in learning produces trust, respect and responsibility which permeates into other parts of our students' lives.
It is also fortuitous the ways in which El Sistema and Expeditionary Learning complement and reinforce each other in philosophy, approach and practice. The same precepts of active learning, learning from experts, perseverance, collaborating with peers and working as a team to create a work of excellence, which is shared publicly, are key to both the academic and music approaches.
It is only early October and I am already so inspired by the growth and development I see in our students.
Warmly,
Diana Lam
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Curriculum Night for Grades 3 - 7
Parents of students from grades 3 through 7 had the opportunity to hear their children's teachers present a comprehensive overview of what their educational plans are for this year. Each teacher shared their course objectives, delineated the roadmap that they are following to achieve those objectives, explained the resources provided to the students, elaborated on the process that each is to follow, clarified the grading system they use and expounded on the mindset or attitude that is fostered. The incisive questions asked by parents demonstrated that they value the intensity of approach that is present in every classroom.
 Especially for the 6th and 7th grade parents, the bigger picture for what is necessary to get ready for college, was stressed. A clear path, with stepping stones of learning and habits of mind to be formed, was outlined. It was a valuable time to be shared by teachers, parents and students alike. 
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On Saturday, October 5th, several of our clarinet and brass students performed all over Downtown Boston as part of the citywide art installation, Play Me, I'm Yours. Musicians and their families met Resident Artists Chris Schroeder and Juan Ruiz at Government Center and performed at the piano located on the plaza. There was a vintage car show taking place that afternoon and the crowd (and the dj) paused to listen to the performance. Even in such a large, open space the students sounded great as they played their Beatles medley, Piano Man by Billy Joel and Saturday in the Park by Chicago.
The students then walked over to the piano in the park below the Statehouse and played for another crowd. Passers by and family alike were thrilled at the student performances. The brass students were accompanied by Harvard student Tania Rivers-Moore, an accomplished pianist who has volunteered at the school before. 
The clarinets followed the Brass and were joined by Mr. Ruiz's wife, also on clarinet. They were lucky enough to find Marissa Balonon-Rosen, a music student at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY at the first piano. She agreed to accompany them for the rest of the afternoon. They performed Beautiful Love, a Miles Davis song, So What and When the Saints Go Marching In.
 The third stop for both groups was the piano outside the Visitor's Center on the Boston Common and then both groups ended with a performance at the Prudential Center. We are so proud of our students bringing music to the streets of Boston!
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Two New Student Books to be Published
Two new books of student work based on their Expeditions last year are coming out this month.
What's Out There: A True or False Book About the Universe (Estimated Publication Date: October 25, 2013)
True or False? Do stars live forever in the sky? Do black holes take you to a different solar system? Are Saturn's rings made out of dust and ice? Test your knowledge of the Solar System and beyond with this true or false book created by last year's fourth-grade class during their space science expedition.
You Grotto Go to Hemlock Gorge and Other Small Cave Stories (Publication Date October 14, 2013)
This graphic novel, created by last year's 6th grade class during an earth science expedition, tells the fascinating story of the geological formation of Hemlock Gorge in Needham, MA. The comic book format brings to life a story hidden in stones to help us understand our geologic past.
Congratulations to our 4th grade astronomers and our 6th grade geologists, and to their teachers Rachel Cates, Sarah Perkins, and Caitlin Dwyer-Huppert.
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Tuesday morning we woke to the news that Boston's bus drivers had staged a wildcat strike leaving families scrambling for ways to transport their children to school. Parents all over the city rallied together and attendance was surprisingly good considering the lack of advance warning. We appreciate everyone's patience and support which made dismissal on Tuesday go quite smoothly.
Throughout the day on Tuesday and Wednesday, we relied on email to send updates to families. We also used our bus notification system via text message and we would like to encourage all families to make sure they are signed up for the system. We need ALL parents to sign up, including the ones that pick up their children or have their children walk home.
The system works on several levels:
- For all children - it tracks daily attendance and logs all events of daily dismissal for safety purposes.
- For children that take the bus on a regular basis - parents are notified when their bus leaves the school main building via text messages on their cell phone and email address.
- For children that don't take the bus - dismissal managers check i.d. of the adults that pick up, and track times and changes of pick up.
The sign up forms and more information can be found here: http://www.conservatorylabparents.com/busing-info-and-tools/
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Please Note: Make Up Days
The following days will be school days in order to make up for our delayed start at the beginning of the year. Please mark your calendars.
- Wednesday, November 27th - half day
- Friday, April 11th
- Tuesday, June 24th
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Wrapping Paper Fundraiser Deadline Extended!
 This is a reminder that our wrapping paper fundraiser with Innisbrook will soon come to an end. The end of the fundraiser was extended by a few days. Please submit all vouchers (or completed order sheets if you did not place the order online yourself) together with your payment to the school by Tuesday, October 15th.
The company sells gift wrapping supplies, gifts and chocolates. 50% of every sale will go back to our school!!! Our goal is to raise $4,000 for the school. To place your order online
1.Go to www.innisbrook.com
2.Select "Enter Catalog Orders from your Worksheet" and enter our school number (116992), continue to EZ and enter your child's name.
3.Enter the catalog codes for the items you want.
4.Print the voucher and return voucher with your payment to the school (make checks payable to Conservatory Lab Charter School).
NOTE: Out-of-town families and friends can also participate online. You can send them emails through the Innisbrook website. They pay with credit card and the products will be shipped directly to them.
If you don't have access to the internet and/or a printer, you may also return the completed order form (work sheet) and payment to the school and I will enter the order for you. The voucher (or worksheet) together with your payment must be returned to the school no later than Thursday, October 10th.
If you have any questions, please contact Sabine Voigt: 617-953-1652 or sabine_voigt@hotmail.com
Thanks for supporting our school!!!
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