In his New York Times best-selling book, Drive, Daniel Pink examines the three elements of true motivation-autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Autonomy - the desire to direct our own lives. Mastery - the urge to get better and better at something that matters. Purpose - the yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves.

There is little question that much of the focus of what one hears and sees in all our classrooms, be they academic or music, be they with the little K-1 students or our 8th graders, is the development of these three elements. As our students act on what motivates them, they are beginning to fulfill their dreams of success.

Henry David Thoreau said it this way "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

Have a wonderful weekend,

Warmly,

Diana Lam

On The Move

In their first expedition, On the Move, 2nd graders learn to look, listen, question, and think like scientists as they investigate how and why things move. Student investigation teams form and test hypotheses as they design and conduct experiments to explore force, friction, and three types of motion-rolling, spinning, and vibrating. Students record and track their predictions, observations, thought processes, and conclusions in lab reports, just like professional scientists.

One of the first experiments helps students understand the role friction plays in speed and motion. The students time themselves running (safely) down our long corridor, first in their sneakers and then again in their socks. They record the data and then analyze that data as a class. Can you run faster in your socks or shoes? Ask a 2nd grader!

HONK!

On Sunday, October 12, the annual HONK! parade marched from Davis Square in Somerville to Harvard Square, Cambridge, featuring marching bands and musicians from all over the world. Among them was JP Honk, a marching band based in Jamaica Plain, who had invited students from our school to march with them. Resident Artist Chris Schroeder organized the Dudamel Winds and percussion students: 7th grader Arianna Rodriguez on French Horn, 5th grader Elijah Simon on clarinet, 6th grader Ezekiel Freeman-Fanfan, and 5th grader Angelique Ruiz on percussion. Eighth graders Vivian Tang on trombone, and Brandon Volel on trumpet, along with several former students (and little brothers and parents) teamed up with JP Honk to play some contemporary hits as well as a few throw-backs to the 20th century.

HONK! is an annual three-day festival of activist street bands, where socially conscious marching bands gather in Somerville to play for each other and the public, for free. The parade is the final and biggest event of HONK!, and includes some of Boston's activist and artist groups. Hula hoopers, massive three-person puppets, elaborate costumes, and people walking on stilts make the parade as much a circus act as it is a troupe of marching bands.

Adorned in bright purple feathers, capes, and hats, JP Honk and our students were one of the loudest, most polished bands in the parade. Their upbeat tunes and sunny attitude even outshone some of the bands with older musicians! Thanks to Mr. Schroeder's wife, Monika Bach Schroeder, for the costumes, the snacks and the photos.

Students Undertake Visioning Exercise

This week a representative group of students from 4th thru 7th grades had the opportunity to work with consultants from Mass Design and Arrowstreet, organizations that are working with our school to design our new building. This team of five gave a workshop on how to "envision" the elements that were important and fun for our new school to have. The students were bright and responsive as they presented very concrete ideas as to what they see belonging in an ideal new school for us. Items such as larger space for orchestra, a new science lab, wider corridors, a cafeteria and a gym were common items cited by several students.

To a one, the consulting team commented on the poise, articulateness and mode of expression demonstrated by each of the seventeen students in this focus group. The students were: from 4th grade - Kinsaed James, Marguerite Greene, Ezavier Santiago, Emma -Sophia Guevara, Amaya Rainey-Mendes and Nashari Davis. From 5th grade the students were: Tess Lepeska-True, Angelica Quintanilla, Niko O'Grady-Arnold, Mayara Ryland and Elijah Simon. From 6th grade the students were: Mark Anthony Cazir, Grace Colon, Junior Fuentes, Elijah Robson and Anthony Vega. Jessica Charles represented the 7th grade. All are good ambassadors for our school!

Meet Ms. Watts, ELL Specialist

I am excited to take on the new challenges of being the English Language Learner, or ELL Specialist at Conservatory Lab Charter School. Truly, we are all English language learners, as we are always learning new words and modifying how we speak or write. Recently, this term has come to be applied to students who speak or hear a different language at home.

I will be collaborating with the classroom teachers to accomplish three things in relation to listening, speaking, reading, and writing. First, we will plan how to best support ELL students in their normal, daily work. Second, we will plan how I can best support a small group of ELL students within the general classroom during independent work time. And third, we will conference about how my own ELL pull-out curriculum - consisting of vocabulary and grammar practice, reading and writing strategies, and English pronunciation - coincides with units students are learning in their classroom.

I am primarily working with grades K1, K2, and 1, although I will be at the Dorchester location on occasion. My role is to help students learn English, with the goal of ultimately allowing them to succeed in their regular classroom work without language support. I look forward to a busy and productive year ahead!

Take Note:

As you are likely aware, the United States has been experiencing a nationwide outbreak of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) associated with severe respiratory illness that has been especially harmful to children. Many of the children had asthma or a history of wheezing. Many parents continue to be worried about the outbreak and want information about what they can do to prevent illness and protect themselves and their families. The CDC has developed information and resources for parents about EV-D68.

Below are CDC resources about EV-D68 developed for parents:

Web Feature, "What Parents Need to Know About Enterovirus D68"
Fact sheet for parents, "What Parents Need to Know about Enterovirus D68"

Parent Advisory Council Notes

The Book Fair is coming up: October 27 - 31 at the Primary School and November 3 - 7 at our Dorchester site.

To volunteer for the Book Fair, please follow the 3 easy steps below to sign up using VolunteerSpot.

1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot or copy it in to your browser: http://vols.pt/kYCi37

2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot.)

3. Sign up! Choose your time slot(s) - VolunteerSpot will then send you an automated confirmation and reminders as the date of your time slot approaches. (Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone.)

If you prefer not to use VolunteerSpot, please email Felice Rutstein at feliceandspence@yahoo.com and she will sign you up for a shift at the Book Fair.

The 2nd Annual PAC Math/Science Potluck is coming up on Friday, November 7th from 6 to 9 PM. We will be returning to the Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan, 02126. Everyone is welcome to come see old friends, meet new families and learn something you didn't know before. This is a wonderful city venue and a great way to spend an evening. For more information, please contact PAC co-chair Jenna Wertheimer, jennawerth@gmail.com.

Invitation From the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra

Boston Philharmonic Orchestra would like to extend to your school's families complimentary tickets to experience an incredible evening of music with us. As a part of this offer, we would like to invite you to attend our exciting new Kids Notes Upbeat series. Geared toward kids ages 6-13, this pre-concert talk will feature fun musical activities, a guest Boston Philharmonic Orchestra musician, and an interactive discussion on the music at that night's concert. Additionally, our brilliant conductor, Benjamin Zander, will offer his pre-concert lecture for adults and teenagers at 6:45pm.

The concert is Saturday, October 25th at 8:00 PM at Jordan Hall, 290 Huntington Avenue, Boston 02115

[Orange Line T stop at Mass. Ave/ Green Line T stop at Symphony]

Please email D.Williams@bostonphil.org to request tickets (up to 4 per family). For more information, visit www.BostonPhil.org

Play for Peace

What: Play for peace provides an opportunity for kids and families from across Boston to come together for a FUN, FREE and joyful day of play and peace building!

When: Saturday, October 25th, 2014 from 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Where: Marcella Connolly Park, 80 Marcella street, Roxbury

Why: Playworks believes that play is a powerful way to build communities where everyone feels safe, included and a sense of joy and we believe everyone deserves to feel this way.

This year we will dedicate our event to honor the legacy of Coach Dawnn Jaffier and her commitment to service and young people. #DawnnforPeace

For more information, please contact the Playworks coach at your school or the Playworks office at: 617-522-3600