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