An engaged and active parent organization is part of what makes our school great!  All parents are automatically part of our Parent Advisory Council (PAC) and next week we will have our first two(!) meetings. With our new campus located so far from our Primary School Brighton Campus, the PAC is committed to finding ways to keep everyone in the loop.  We hope many of you will be able to attend either Tuesday, September 16th at 320 Washington Street in Brighton or Wednesday, September 17th at our Dorchester Site.  Both meetings will have the same agenda so families are encouraged to come to whichever is more convenient.  Both meetings will run from 5:30 - 7 PM and will be a chance for families to meet one another as well as find out ways to help support the school.  Pizza and childcare will be provided so, while an rsvp is not necessary, it will help the planning if you email PAC co-chair Myriah Johnson, mdj070579@gmail.com, to let her know if you can come and if you are bringing any children with you.  We look forward to welcoming new families and making new connections with returning families.

As Dean of Students, my work consists of helping to cultivate a school climate that keeps everyone engaged, safe and accountable. This role requires me to deliver school-wide consequences, as well introduce school-wide incentives. When asked "What made you take this position?" I reflected on my time as a teacher at the Conservatory Lab. As a teacher during the first expansion, I realized there was a growing need for universal behavior systems in order to allow all staff (teachers or not) to enforce the behavior expectations we have. By enforcing the existing school wide expectations, as well as implementing some new ones, our team has already begun to maximize whole school academic time.

My goals this year include tying our behavior expectations to our Crew Qualities, which are grounded in purpose. A large piece to this is having all adults be explicit with students about why we hold them accountable for certain things, which will keep students informed and responsible. I aim to minimize behavioral infractions and to improve teacher and student classroom experiences. I also aim to equip teachers with classroom techniques that are effective in and out of the classroom.

I want all students and families to know that I, along with the Upper School staff, care deeply about them. My work is all about school culture, but my passion is about teaching life lessons! I have done my work in the classroom, and now I hope to teach them the life of code-switching, culture building, as well as personal and crew accountability. 

Sistema has grown to new proportions this year; with the introduction of so many new students, new ensembles were also necessary.  At present Sistema in 320 Washington St. hosts 3 full ensembles: K1 Singers, K2 Paper Orchestra, and 1st Grade Ellington Orchestra.  2120 Dorchester Ave. works with Abreu A and B Orchestras (2nd/3rd grade), Bernstein Full Orchestra (2nd/3rd grade), and Heifetz Strings, Casals Strings, Abbado Full Orchestra, Ives Ensemble, and Dudamel Orchestra in grades 4-8.  Heifetz and Casals are all new students, divided into upper strings in Heifetz (violin/viola) and lower strings in Casals (cello and bass).  At the end of the year, these two ensembles will combine to create one massive string orchestra; at present both are learning their own repertoire.

 Students are already playing new notes, finding new rhythms, and learning the language of music.  As we work in our orchestra crews to demonstrate school values in every aspect of our scholarly lives, we are finding that music can truly help create a community.

Although not perfect, the buses are running more smoothly already.  Many of you are using our internal Bus Notification System but we'd also like to encourage you to use the Where's My School Bus system put out by the Boston Public Schools.  In order to use this program, you must know your student's student id number.  That number is assigned by the Boston Public Schools and is on any mail you have received from the Transportation office.  If you can't find the number, we do have a list so you can send an email to Toni Jackson, tjackson@conservatorylab.org or Martin Sarango, msarango@conservatorylab.org.

• If you are going to change the pick-up/bus plan for your child on a particular day, you must notify the receptionist before noon. Failure to notify us by this time may result in not being able to accommodate to your late request. Emergency situations are exempted.
• If you are picking up your child by car at the end of the day, please drive all the way up to the parking lot and check in.  Do not make a u turn in the ambulance bay.
• Do not park your car in front of the school. There are parking spaces on Dorchester Ave. as well as in the back parking lot.