Dear Lab School Families,
I am just winding down from a very spirited pep rally. We had the Gator Pep Squad perform a few numbers, heard from some of our student clubs about upcoming events and had a homeroom hula hoop contest. It was a fun time and it is always nice to see that much school spirit. It reminds me of how happy and proud I am to be a Labbie.
I sat in 701's humanities class today as the students were completing the revision phase of their Crucible monologue project. Students in 7th grade just completed reading Arthur Miller's play The Crucible and are all writing "unheard monologues" from the point of view of one of the characters. As Ms. Morrow explained, revision is not like editing...students were challenged to give honest, reflective feedback on their classmates work. Peer Revision is an important step in the writing process because it allows students to receive feedback on their writing and also challenges them to reflect on others.
801 and 802 are completing a solar energy unit in Earth Science. Lab School has been working in partnership with the Solar One organization. Students were able to learn about solar energy and build solar powered cars as a culminating activity. This partnership is part of a larger unit on energy that Ms. Cortes and Mr. Skinner are teaching.
Next Wednesday, February 2nd (Groundhog Day), I will be presenting the annual State of the School address in the auditorium. We will be starting at 8:15. I will also be posting the power point presentation on the website after the meeting.
Next Saturday, February 5th we will be holding our annual admissions day for prospective (5th grade) Labbies. We will be testing a record number of kids - more than ever before. Over 850 families ranked Lab School as one of their top two choices for a middle school. We are excited by the enthusiastic response and thank everyone for their hard work during the tour season. This high number is no doubt a reflection of that work.
I hope everyone enjoyed the unexpected snow day yesterday...I heard that many congregated in Central Park to celebrate.
The first home game for the girls basketball team is about to start so I must sign-off here.
Warmest,
Meg
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
A Spotlight on Lab After School
Dear Lab School Families
Our aftershool programs have been getting quite busy. The Lego Robotics team (new this year) will be going to compete on Sunday at the district level competition. Every Friday the Lego team has gathered to design, build and program a set of robots with Ms. Dwyer. This year's theme is biotechnology. The robots are trained to perform different biotechnological tasks that might once day be used by doctors. Among the items there is a robotic syringe (no real needle of course). The team must also present research on their topic to the judges. Interestingly the part that gets the most points in the competition is that of collaboration. A skill that our younger ones are still growing in. In all of my time at Lab I have never walked to a room had no idea what was going on...until I joined the Lego Robotics team last Friday. They have advanced for beyond my personal scientific understandings. Best of luck to the team and Ms. Dwyer. Thank you also to all of the parents who have supported this team's work.
The yearbook staff is also working hard to finish 2009-2010 yearbook and send it to print. The Middle School yearbook was new last year. In its second year the staff has grown and excitement has built. Each homeroom was charged with the task of designing their own class page in an effort to create schoolwide involvement. Ms. Smith is their fearless advisor - working LONG hours to bring the project to completion.
The Middle School Math Team is preparing for their citywide competition that is fast approaching. There were so many mathletes this year that the coaches - Ms. Feurtado and Mr. Evans had to put the team into two rooms. Yesterday was the math competition to determine the final team that will be representing Lab School. The Middle School Math Team represents healthy competition. There is a team spirit and each member has a drive to become better.
The Writers Group seems to keep expanding each week. New this year, the group meets weekly to explore different styles and techniques of creative writing. They are working to publish an anthology in the spring. The group is led by two of our wonderful 6th grade humanities teachers - Ms. Mazarakis and Ms. Zittel. The group was their idea, stemming from the writing that they currently do in their class. I was excited to add this group to our offerings and impressed by how popular it has become.
If there is money to be made, the stock market kids know how to do it. Last year one of our teams made the most "money" in the city. We are hoping for a repeat this year. The stock market school program is a national program. It integrates math skills with a deep understanding of the stock market. If you need any stock tips you should report to room 405 at 3:15. Our Labbies seem to fair better than anyone 401K's.
The Media:Power club is an evolution of last year's animation club. Mr. Mosher meets with his team of artists every week to talk about advertising, media and messaging. They have been charged with the task of creating values messaging for our school community and are working as consultants to different student groups.
Drama is moving into it's next phase of work. The club has spent the fall semester building their own production through playwriting. They will be producing their own show in late spring. Every element of their work is driven by the students. Everything becomes a moment of learning. In many ways this is much harder for their advisors Ms. Sherman and Ms. Smith. Last year they wrote and produced a beautiful show about what they learned in kindergarten. Who knows what they'll come up with next.
Winter sports are also making Lab a busy place after 3pm. We currently have five sports - basketball, golf, table, tennis, pep squad and winter conditioning (running). We will be celebrating these at the pep rally Friday, January 28th.
A reminder, there is no school Monday, January 17th for MLK day.
Warmly,
Meg
Our aftershool programs have been getting quite busy. The Lego Robotics team (new this year) will be going to compete on Sunday at the district level competition. Every Friday the Lego team has gathered to design, build and program a set of robots with Ms. Dwyer. This year's theme is biotechnology. The robots are trained to perform different biotechnological tasks that might once day be used by doctors. Among the items there is a robotic syringe (no real needle of course). The team must also present research on their topic to the judges. Interestingly the part that gets the most points in the competition is that of collaboration. A skill that our younger ones are still growing in. In all of my time at Lab I have never walked to a room had no idea what was going on...until I joined the Lego Robotics team last Friday. They have advanced for beyond my personal scientific understandings. Best of luck to the team and Ms. Dwyer. Thank you also to all of the parents who have supported this team's work.
The yearbook staff is also working hard to finish 2009-2010 yearbook and send it to print. The Middle School yearbook was new last year. In its second year the staff has grown and excitement has built. Each homeroom was charged with the task of designing their own class page in an effort to create schoolwide involvement. Ms. Smith is their fearless advisor - working LONG hours to bring the project to completion.
The Middle School Math Team is preparing for their citywide competition that is fast approaching. There were so many mathletes this year that the coaches - Ms. Feurtado and Mr. Evans had to put the team into two rooms. Yesterday was the math competition to determine the final team that will be representing Lab School. The Middle School Math Team represents healthy competition. There is a team spirit and each member has a drive to become better.
The Writers Group seems to keep expanding each week. New this year, the group meets weekly to explore different styles and techniques of creative writing. They are working to publish an anthology in the spring. The group is led by two of our wonderful 6th grade humanities teachers - Ms. Mazarakis and Ms. Zittel. The group was their idea, stemming from the writing that they currently do in their class. I was excited to add this group to our offerings and impressed by how popular it has become.
If there is money to be made, the stock market kids know how to do it. Last year one of our teams made the most "money" in the city. We are hoping for a repeat this year. The stock market school program is a national program. It integrates math skills with a deep understanding of the stock market. If you need any stock tips you should report to room 405 at 3:15. Our Labbies seem to fair better than anyone 401K's.
The Media:Power club is an evolution of last year's animation club. Mr. Mosher meets with his team of artists every week to talk about advertising, media and messaging. They have been charged with the task of creating values messaging for our school community and are working as consultants to different student groups.
Drama is moving into it's next phase of work. The club has spent the fall semester building their own production through playwriting. They will be producing their own show in late spring. Every element of their work is driven by the students. Everything becomes a moment of learning. In many ways this is much harder for their advisors Ms. Sherman and Ms. Smith. Last year they wrote and produced a beautiful show about what they learned in kindergarten. Who knows what they'll come up with next.
Winter sports are also making Lab a busy place after 3pm. We currently have five sports - basketball, golf, table, tennis, pep squad and winter conditioning (running). We will be celebrating these at the pep rally Friday, January 28th.
A reminder, there is no school Monday, January 17th for MLK day.
Warmly,
Meg
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Happy New Year
Dear Lab School Families,
Welcome Back! I hope that everyone had a wonderful winter break and a happy time with loved ones. I traveled to Omaha to spend some time with my own family - I missed the epic snowstorm completely. It was nice to have time to relax but after a couple of days I started to really miss our kids.
It was a busy last couple of weeks to 2010.
In 6th grade humanities students completed their Mesopotamia research projects and conducted presentations to teach their fellow classmates. In one class I learned all about the evolution of the wheel and other inventions that came from this civilization. It was wonderful to see the students take on an expert role and become the teachers.
In 801 and 802 students are completing their Native American unit. Right before the break students finished reading Sherman Alexie's book Diary of a Part-Time Indian. They studied present day issues in the context of historical events. I was lucky enough to be a guest speaker for the classes -sharing my own experiences of traveling to Indian Reservations in South Dakota and my visit to the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre. Students are now working on a social action project related to these issues. We hope to share some of the students' work in an upcoming Gator Gab issue.
In 7th grade humanities students are reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible. They are using the play to understand the Salem witch trials and what was occurring in American history during this time. The play is challenging for our students - it is a good struggle and students are really taking to the story. I have found over the years that students connect well with the characters. Many of the themes explored in the text are issues that our students also grapple with.
The chair designs are almost complete. Thanks to a collaborative partnership between Ms. Riina's 8th grade artists and Knoll Design firm. The firm took three chair models and built them to life-size chairs. There will be reception and showing in early February. There will be much more information to come about this collaboration. Thank you to our 8th grade father Jeff Jaffe for helping to set this up.
The winter sports season is in full swing. Our sports offerings include - Table Tennis, Basketball, Winter Running Conditioning, Golf and Pep Squad. Our basketball teams have already played some incredible games and we are looking forward to seeing even more from our gators. Students and families are encouraged to come to the basketball games.
Also a gentle reminder - it is winter. Everyday I am seeing many students not coming to school with proper cold weather gear (hats, gloves, coats, etc). Please remind your children to dress appropriately for the weather. If you need help purchasing these items for your child please let Ms. Marilyn or I know. We are able to secure these items.
Wishing everyone a year filled with goodness and joy.
Warmly, Meg
Welcome Back! I hope that everyone had a wonderful winter break and a happy time with loved ones. I traveled to Omaha to spend some time with my own family - I missed the epic snowstorm completely. It was nice to have time to relax but after a couple of days I started to really miss our kids.
It was a busy last couple of weeks to 2010.
In 6th grade humanities students completed their Mesopotamia research projects and conducted presentations to teach their fellow classmates. In one class I learned all about the evolution of the wheel and other inventions that came from this civilization. It was wonderful to see the students take on an expert role and become the teachers.
In 801 and 802 students are completing their Native American unit. Right before the break students finished reading Sherman Alexie's book Diary of a Part-Time Indian. They studied present day issues in the context of historical events. I was lucky enough to be a guest speaker for the classes -sharing my own experiences of traveling to Indian Reservations in South Dakota and my visit to the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre. Students are now working on a social action project related to these issues. We hope to share some of the students' work in an upcoming Gator Gab issue.
In 7th grade humanities students are reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible. They are using the play to understand the Salem witch trials and what was occurring in American history during this time. The play is challenging for our students - it is a good struggle and students are really taking to the story. I have found over the years that students connect well with the characters. Many of the themes explored in the text are issues that our students also grapple with.
The chair designs are almost complete. Thanks to a collaborative partnership between Ms. Riina's 8th grade artists and Knoll Design firm. The firm took three chair models and built them to life-size chairs. There will be reception and showing in early February. There will be much more information to come about this collaboration. Thank you to our 8th grade father Jeff Jaffe for helping to set this up.
The winter sports season is in full swing. Our sports offerings include - Table Tennis, Basketball, Winter Running Conditioning, Golf and Pep Squad. Our basketball teams have already played some incredible games and we are looking forward to seeing even more from our gators. Students and families are encouraged to come to the basketball games.
Also a gentle reminder - it is winter. Everyday I am seeing many students not coming to school with proper cold weather gear (hats, gloves, coats, etc). Please remind your children to dress appropriately for the weather. If you need help purchasing these items for your child please let Ms. Marilyn or I know. We are able to secure these items.
Wishing everyone a year filled with goodness and joy.
Warmly, Meg
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