Conservatory Lab Featured Throughout National Expeditionary Learning Conference

 Students and Teachers Inspire at Saturday School

On Saturday (yes, Saturday!), December 6, we opened our doors to educators from around the country visiting Boston for the 2014 Expeditionary Learning National Conference. Teachers Katie Biro (K2), Dave Cordes and Tess Plotkin (early childhood music, Jenna Gampel (master teacher), and Ivy Wagner (Gr 4) led four model classes that showcased our unique, engaging, and rigorous curriculum. Participants were amazed by the "considerate," "cooperative," "respectful," and "supportive" way our children interact with one another. 

"The thing that is really memorable about the day at Conservatory Lab," remarked one participant, "is that everyone works as a crew. Everyone seems to be held accountable and the students are inspiring. It was incredible to witness." 

Thanks to all the students, families, teachers, and staff who made this exceptional day of teaching and learning possible. We could not be more proud.

Masterful Presentations

Master teacher Jenna Gampel-Tzadok and 1st-grade teacher Jovanné Buckmire, presented master classes at the 2014 Expeditionary Learning Conference held in Boston this past week. Their 2-hour classes created a picture of what great instruction looks like and inspired hundreds of educators from across the nation. 

On Sunday, Ms. Gampel-Tzadok who co-presented with EL's Chief Academic Officer, Ron Berger, took participants behind the scenes of a quality-work classroom to see, step-by-step, how her 2nd grade students produced the stunning scientifically accurate drawings and masterful writing and narration that went into the creation of the audio eBook, "Slithering Snake Stories."  

On Monday, Ms. Buckmire, assisted by Katie Biro, led a hands-on workshop that gave participants the opportunity to experience the cooperation, perseverance, and deep learning that underscores her "Building With the Three Little Pigs" expedition. Both of these sessions were favorites at the conference and inspired participants with powerful examples of excellence. Heartfelt kudos to Ms. Gampel-Tzadok and Ms. Buckmire for the dedication and hard work that they put into these presentations.

Top of the Hub

On Monday evening, eight of our student musicians, four from the Bernstein Orchestra and four from the Dudamel Orchestra performed for all the conference participants at their evening social gathering at the Top of the Hub.This combined ensemble had been practicing many hours to prepare four chamber pieces for the guests.  Led by 5th grade violinist Niko O'Grady-Arnold, the musicians were the hit of the evening.  She was joined by fellow 5th graders Tess Lepeska-True on cello and Mayara Ryland on viola, 4th grader Marguerite Greene on violin, 3rd graders Angely Montilla (violin), Carlos Cruz Teruel (violin), Elijah Santiago (violin), Makayla Quashie (bass) and 2nd grader (!) Christopher Muzac on cello.  Their parents were all in attendance and everyone had a great time.  Video of one of their pieces can be found here on our Youtube channel.

Annual Breakfast

On Tuesday morning,at the Annual  Breakfast, teachers and leaders of Expeditionary Learning gathered to watch a presentation on critique and revision, featuring the Snake Expedition led by Jenna Gampel-Tzadok's 2nd grade class. After a video showing the critique and revision process that she used, four of Jenna's past students gave a presentation and Q&A on their experiences of the expedition. Haleef Sotunbo (grade 3), Gavin Briggs (grade 4), Mayara Ryland (grade 5), and Kayleen Guzman (grade 6) all showed examples of the art, e-books, websites, and music videos their classes made about snakes. They were expressive in their description of  the difficulties and successes of critique and revision, and deftly fielded questions from the moderator and the audience.The educators were impressed at how articulate and specific the four students were, and at the work they and their classes produced. Our students' thoughtfulness and perseverance showed through in what they said and the work they shared. We are proud that in our academic classrooms, our students' and teachers' hard work yields such fantastic results!

Closing remarks at the breakfast were given by Diana Lam and Meg Campbell, Executive Director of Codman Academy.  Given that these two dynamic women were the ones who wrote the winning grant proposal to New American Schools that began Expeditionary Learning, 22 years ago, it was appropriate that they be the ones to give a brief history of the evolution of the EL movement and be the ones to sound the call for the future years: to become more diverse and inclusive!! Their remarks were given a standing ovation.

Holiday Senior Supper at Carney Hospital  

Winter Concert II

Thursday's Winter Concert was simply outstanding. Veteran students performed some of the most challenging music we've yet heard from a Conservatory Lab ensemble, and our new students showed off their impressive chops after having only played their instruments for a few months!The Heifetz/Casals Ensemble, comprised entirely of students in grades 4-7 who are new to Conservatory Lab this year, started the concert off with two pieces that have become standards: Gustav Mahler's D minor theme from his 1st Symphony, and Beethoven's Ode to Joy theme from his 9th Symphony. To show off the extent of their progress as a new orchestra this semester, they performed these pieces without the help of a conductor!The 4th-6th grade students of the Abbado Orchestra followed Heifetz/Casals with an energetically charged Conservatory Lab favorite, Dragonhunter, as well as a more subdued, melodic piece entitled Rigaudon. In both of these pieces, the Abbado musicians demonstrated strong technical prowess on their instruments as well as the ability to illustrate a variety of different emotions through their playing.The middle school winds musicians of the Ives Ensemble wowed listeners with their energy, enthusiasm, and big sound. The musicians of Ives are also relatively new to our school, and have only been playing their instruments since last September. The quality of their performance yesterday is indicative of both the amount of dedication showed by the Ives musicians this past year, as well as the fun they have been having throughout the learning process.The Dudamel Orchestra finished the concert with some of the most demanding repertoire ever played by a Conservatory Lab orchestra: Dusk, a beautiful piece that requires a very delicate touch and the ability to slowly transform quiet sounds and textures into overwhelming orchestral crescendos; Take Five, a jazz standard by Dave Brubeck with fast, tricky rhythms in a 5/4 time signature; and music from Pirates of the Caribbean, which similarly has a heavy emphasis on fast, rhythmically challenging melodies for all instruments. Musicians from the 2nd and 3rd grade Bernstein Orchestra also made a guest appearance with Dudamel, singing the popular African hymn, Siyahamba. We could not be any more proud of the students for their truly remarkable performances in Winter Concerts I & II, and we eagerly await their next opportunity to perform for the community in the Spring Fling!

Boston University Student Athletes Bring Books to K2

On Thursday, Dec 11, K2 students welcomed special guests from Boston University. Members of the women's crew team came to 320 Washington St. to read books with K2 students as part of their Holiday Reading program. The BU student-athletes spent 45 minutes with K2 students in small groups, sharing books and reading with them. They also left each class a gift of books for the classroom. This event was a fun way to encourage reading and to make connections with college students, exposing our K2 classes to positive models of academic and athletic success.

Take Note: Admissions

• If you know anyone who is interested in applying, direct them to our website to see a list of upcoming Prospective Family Tours and to find applications in several languages.

• Applications are due Friday, February 27 and the lottery will be held in early March.  Reminder, if you have a child who is a sibling of a current student, you get preference in the lottery but you must apply on time!