As we are surrounded more and more by new gadgets demonstrating that we are in an age of brilliant technology, our focus must be to develop many types of skills in our students that can't be replaced by computers or other technology. These are skills in thinking, writing, visualizing and creating that can give them the ability to conceptualize and communicate big ideas.

On a daily basis we want to encourage and develop our students' curiosity to search for, and after extended bouts of concentration, make sense of bottomless oceans of information. We want them to develop the ability to recognize and move quickly when they see or have a big idea. We need to teach them to understand data, what it means, to be able to use it and then to be able to translate it to a visual medium.

Emulating their teachers here, we want our students to have the ability to think strategically, systematically and to be organized thinkers, even on a massive scale, with an incessant drive to explain what they have learned.

Humans may not be able to compete when it comes to calculation but there is no computer that will have the enthusiasm, passion and commitment to pursue an idea to fruition no matter what, that we are guiding our students to have.

It is only humans, students like ours, that can grasp the essence of things, that can juxtapose unlike things and create something entirely new. Only thinking beings can provide the overall sense of direction and a conceptual framework to attain a single goal.

And most importantly, for now and for the future, students like ours and others, must have a compassionate heart which no computer will ever have, and which must be present for technology to serve mankind well.

Have a good week end.

Warmly,

Ms. Lam

Diana Lam

Sixth Grade Scavenger Hunt at the Museum of Fine Arts

This year, 6th graders have been learning about great ancient civilizations, from Mesopotamia, to Ancient Egypt, to Ancient Rome. On Thursday, both 6th grade classes conducted fieldwork in the Museum of Fine Arts. A skillfully designed scavenger hunt led students through the galleries containing the MFA's renowned Art of the Ancient World Collection, where they encountered artifacts from various ancient cultures, including mummies, sculpture, metals, paintings, and ceramics.

After the scavenger hunt, students sought inspiration for their final project: the creation of their own ideal civilization. Throughout, six graders thought deeply about how these ancient artifacts relate to the essential characteristics of a civilization including culture, religion, government, writing, agriculture, and technology. Many thanks to our parent chaperones who made this fieldwork possible.

Dudamel Brass Performs at St. Botolph Club

On January 31, 2014 Resident Artist, Chris Schroeder presented an evening on El Sistema and an overview of the academic and music programs at Conservatory Lab Charter School. The presentation included remarks from board member, Mark Churchill; our Head of School, Diana Lam; and featured musical selections from our Dudamel Brass ensemble. Guests for the evening were mesmerized by the students' mature level of musicianship and poise on stage. Louis Raymond, a St. Botolph member and fellow musician was most impressed with the performance saying, "having these kinds of exploratory, in depth, encouraging experiences is at the heart of the steady path to successful and engaged adulthood."

Let's Build An Orchestra!

Once again it's that time of year when the K2 Rockstars embark upon a very special part of their musical journey: the construction of their paper instruments! On Saturday, February 1, 44 students and their families came to the school for a day of crafting and socializing led by Resident Artist, David Cordes. This was our first paper orchestra construction event since the school's expansion, and so it was no surprise that the group was our biggest yet! Despite the huge number of participants, the event was smooth sailing thanks to the guidance of Mr. Cordes and the amazing teamwork of our students and their families.

This event is always memorable not only because it marks a major stepping stone for the K2 Rockstars on their path to acquiring real instruments, but also because their parents and families finally have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the orchestral process and their children's role in it. At its core, this event is a celebration of differences-- big, small, high-pitch, low-pitch, bright sound, and dark sound. Whether a student is building a bass, cello, viola, or violin-- they all have equally important roles to play in the orchestra.

Attention Globe Subscribers

Don't know what to do with your silver envelope from the Globe? Haven't made up your mind as to which charity you would like to support? If it isn't too late, please name Conservatory Lab Charter School Foundation, Inc. (Tax ID # 04-3443578) in your gift voucher and mail it back by March 1st!

Who? What?

If you are a Boston Globe subscriber, you may know that The Globe just launched Globe Readers and Nonprofits Together (GRANT), a creative opportunity for subscribers to select their favorite Massachusetts nonprofit and we would be grateful if you chose Conservatory Lab. Through GRANT, subscribers (regular and digital) received silver envelopes containing gift vouchers to name their favorite Massachusetts nonprofit. In turn, the Globe will award the top nonprofit recipients with free ad space at NO COST to the nonprofit or the subscriber. The more vouchers received with our name on them, the larger the ad space we'll qualify for!

When?

Please send your voucher in by March 1st. If you are a digital subscriber and have not received your envelope, you can request it here.

Dates of Note

Friday, Feb. 14th is a no school day for students/professional development day for staff. February Break starts the next Monday, Feb. 17th and students return to school on Monday, Feb. 24th.

Due to our late start in September, we have moved the Professional Development Days originally scheduled for April to after the school year has ended for students. Therefore, both April 10 and April 11 are full school days for students and staff.

Also, while we are not ready to publish the entire calendar for next year, we do know that school will begin after Labor Day, probably on Wednesday, September 3rd.

International Book Giving Day

This year we will again celebrate International Book Giving Day, http://bookgivingday.com/, at school on Thursday, February 13th. This is a great way for elementary school students to show their love: of books, of reading, for their friends and teachers!

All students are asked to bring in one or two gently used books that they would like to donate to the students in the grade below. The students in each class will then present their donated books to the younger students to choose. Please help us continue this great tradition by choosing 1 or 2 books with your child to donate to the cause! Teachers will begin collecting the books on Monday and students will be given book plates (stickers) to place in the books they donate so the recipient knows who donated the book. We are all about the connections!

There are three simple ways to celebrate

International Book Giving Day!

1. Give a Book to a Friend or Relative.

Celebrate International Book Giving Day by giving a child a new, used or borrowed book.

2. Leave a Book in a Waiting Room or Lobby.

Choose a waiting room where kids are stuck waiting and there are few to no good books available. Purchase a good book, and deposit your book covertly or overtly in your waiting room of choice. The goal here is to spread the love of reading to kids, so choose a fun book, nothing controversial.

3. Donate a Book.

Wrap up a box of children's books that your kids have outgrown and get them in the hands of children who could really use a book or two. Donate your books to your local second hand store, library, children's hospital, or shelter. Alternatively, donate your books to an organization working internationally to get books in the hands of kids, such as Books for Africa.