| Upcoming Events
Thursday, Oct. 31
Half Day - dismissal at 11:30 (320 Washington St) and 11:45 (25 Arlington St.)
Monday, Nov. 4 - Friday, Nov. 8
BookFair at 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 18, 2013
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Dear Families,
The beautiful fall days we are having has allowed for much romping and frolicking outside for our students. I have been taken by the level of fun and enjoyment that they have during their recess time. There is a strong sense of friendly camaraderie and lots of laughter as they toss balls back and forth or simply play any of a myriad of games. This easy companionship and engagement with each other is something I have noted in the classrooms and rehearsal rooms as well.
I strongly believe that there is a link between the high level of enjoyment in an activity and the level of engagement in the activity. If it is so much fun, it makes the engagement seem like play. This kind of play or enjoyable engagement allows our students to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength.
When a classroom activity is allowed to be child driven, children practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace, discover the ways in which they wish to express their own interests, and ultimately engage fully in what they wish to pursue with passion.
As they master their world, this kind of engaging activity that seems almost like play helps children develop new competencies that lead to enhanced confidence and the resiliency they will need to face future challenges.
Engaging activity that is so enjoyable that it seems like play is the way that many inventors and scientists have made their discoveries and contributions to the world, among these are Albert Einstein, Walt Disney and Steve Jobs. It is this kind of environment we strive to create and maintain for our students.
Have an enjoyable week-end.
Warmly,
Diana Lam
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Expedition Launch: Diversity Makes Us Stronger
For the first time, we have students in two classrooms working on the same Expedition. Second graders in both classrooms set out on Mission: Possible and were able to "crack the code". In this first Expedition of their year, students will explore the meaning of the phrase on our national seal: "E pluribus unum" ("Out of many, one,") as they investigate how diversity makes both their classroom community and the city of Boston stronger. 
In an introductory case study, students share their families' unique heritages and understand that our school is made up of all kinds of people from diverse racial, religious and ethnic heritages. Students also explore their individual and collective rights and responsibilities as citizens of the school and dig deeper into the school's core values: responsibility, cooperation, empathy, perseverance, and reflection.
 Second graders started with a mission to crack the code using the letters in their name to come up with a number that would bring them to the next clue. They then had to work in groups to use math to find the next clue and so on until they discovered the name of their Expedition. Their work together gave them an opportunity to see first hand the strength that comes from cooperation and perseverance.
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School Safety at the October PAC meeting
This month's Parent Advisory Council meeting began with a talk about school safety. Two police officers from the School Police Unit, Jean Paul Limontas and Robert Cordasco along with Captain Law from the Brighton Police Station reassured the parents in attendance about the safety of our school and the surrounding neighborhood. They spoke about how impressed they were with the orderliness of school dismissal especially in comparison with some other local schools. The approach of their unit is to learn about potential problems before they become crimes. They talk with students, spend time on Facebook and in areas where students gather "off-campus" and visit the homes of students they are concerned about. Their biggest concern is when students start hanging out with older teenagers and young adults in gangs. The Captain assured the parents that there are no Brighton area gangs but that the world is changing and we need to keep vigilant and talk with our children about the importance of avoiding danger and sticking with good kids and good activities.
The officers then took questions from the group starting with one about the school's preparedness in case of an emergency like the shooting in Connecticut last year. They described how they participate in mandatory training every year about how to respond to such a threat. Our teachers have all been briefed on the emergency plan so the officers said the most important thing parents can do is to talk to children so they feel safe in school and know that the adults here will make sure they are ok. Mr. Cruz followed up, explaining that reception has moved downstairs at 25 Arlington Street in order to make sure that an adult greets all visitors to our school and can quickly call for another adult if she has any questions about the visitor. The doors at both sites are locked and require visitors to be buzzed in.
The officers and Mr. Cruz all stressed the safety of the neighborhood; several of our middle school students walk home on their own. Mr. Cruz also spoke to the importance of maintaining a calm school environment, particularly in the hour before dismissal and asked parents to avoid picking up their students during that time.
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Metropolitan Opera Comes to Kindergarten
Our K1 and K2 students are going to have an extra special musical experience this year as they participate in the Metropolitan Opera Guild's Urban Voices program. On October 9th Rachel Chagat, a trained opera singer and Kodaly music educator, made her first visit to 320 Washington Street. She sang and played singing games with the students and shared a book, Going on a Lion Hunt, which has a call and response section she taught the children.
Over the course of the year, Miss Rachel will visit the kindergarten classrooms several times to provide developmentally appropriate vocal instruction and to work with the classroom teachers to integrate choral music into the core classroom curriculum. There will be a performance at the end of the residency in late November or early December.
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The Discovery Ensemble, including our own El Sistema co-director Josue Gonzalez, will perform the first of four concerts this Sunday, October 20th at 3 PM at Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough Street, Boston. The Ensemble offers free tickets to college students and has generously extended that offer to Conservatory Lab students and their parents. If you would like to bring your student to the concert, you can print and fill out this voucher and present it at the box office. Just say you are from Conservatory Lab - one parent and student per voucher.
 The next weekend, on Sunday, October 27th at 7 PM Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra will perform Abyssinian: A Gospel Celebration at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. Discounted tickets for $20 are available for students and families by going to this link and typing the code: JALC. Tickets must be purchased by October 24th. 
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Get Ready for the Bookfair!
Our Fall Book Fair will be open from Monday, November 4th until Friday, November 8th from 8:30am-5:00pm at 25 Arlington Street, on the 2nd floor.
Parents can volunteer for a full shift or a portion:
Set up - Sunday, November 3rd @ 9:30am
Monday thru Friday
8:30-11 am
11 am-2:30 pm
2:30 pm-5 pm
Parents with students at 320 Washington Street may choose to chaperone their classroom field trip to the book fair. They should just check in with their teachers for the day/time they are coming to the fair.
Parents can sign up on Volunteer Spot or contact Felice Rutstein directly:
1. Click on this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/kYCi37
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot)
Thanks for supporting our school!!!
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