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ShowcaseSEPTEMBER 2015
Table of Contents
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FRIDAY FINALES BEGIN AGAIN AT 320 WASHINGTON!
6TH GRADERS CONDUCT FIELDWORK AT NIGHTINGALE COMMUNITY GARDEN
THE TRANSFORMING LITERACY PROJECT KICKS OFF THE NEW YEAR
DUDAMEL BRASS HONORS FAY CHANDLER AT FINDING FAY
MIDDLE SCHOOLERS FOCUS ON SOCIAL CHANGE
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ALetterfromJohn
The 2015-2016 school year sees our school
beginning a year with enthusiasm and high
expectations and we are off to a strong start. We
have an expanded staff to meet the needs of our
expanded student population, which now number
430 from grades K-1 thru 8th grade.
Among our most significant staffing enhancements
is that our new school principal, Nicole Bradeen
is now on board. This is a brand new position at
Conservatory Lab. Principal Bradeen comes to us
with a stellar background in academic leadership
and a deep passion for children’s healthy growth
and development. Her academic concentration in
helping students with learning, behavioral, and
emotional needs will allow her to bring a new
perspective to our work so that we will continue to
reach new heights in teaching and learning.
We are busily implementing our enhanced and
comprehensive instructional plan, and related
strategies, designed to support our growing and
diverse student body, including increased numbers
of special needs students. Our students appear to
be invigorated and engaged in their academic and
musical pursuits.
One significant element of our comprehensive plan
DEAR FRIENDS OF CONSERVATORY LAB,
is early dismissal on Wednesdays allowing for an
infusion of weekly professional development for our
teachers. While we prepare for our final move to a
fully accommodating, state-of-the-art, permanent
home, we are singularly focused on ensuring that
each student reaches high levels of academic
achievement and social development outcomes.
Thank you for your continued belief in our school,
our plans for growth our instructional model and,
most importantly, our children.
Kind regards,
JOHN CHISTOLINI
Interim Head of School
FridayFinalesBeginAgainat320Washington!
BEING A STUDENT AT OUR SCHOOL means being part of a close-knit,
loving, music-infused community. At the Primary School, we have been finding ways to foster that feeling of community with our youngest students as they establish relationships with new peers and adults in the school. One way we do this is with one of our most beloved school traditions, Friday Finales!
Friday Finales happen every first Friday of the month at 320, and everyone is invited to join in! Every Finale opens with the adults introducing themselves to the students, and a conversation about how our community has worked together as a crew in the past week or month. Then, everyone sings songs and plays music together! Last year, parents, students from the Upper School, and administrative employees all came to Friday Finales, and they all participated and had fun. We’re so excited to resume this wonderful tradition this year, and we invite everyone in our community to come join in!
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ON AUGUST 28, CONSERVATORY LAB HOSTED 11 partner educators from Boston Public Schools in a
meeting held by the Transforming Literacy Project (TLP). TLP, a Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education funded grant, has been working to share Conservatory Lab’s successful early literacy practices and curriculum with select Boston Public Schools. The August workshop was designed to help teachers map out English Language Arts curriculum, with a focus on launching Independent Reading in the early fall and case studies in the late fall. Participants included 4 second grade teachers, 6 first grade teachers, 2 Kindergarten teachers, and 1 principal from the Kenny and Shaw Schools.
TheTransformingLiteracyProjectKicksOffNewYear
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ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, SEVERAL MEMBERS of the Dudamel Brass Ensemble joined more than 70
arts, cultural and social service organizations all of whom had received support from artist and philanthropist Fay Chandler. All these friends of Fay came together to celebrate her life and legacy by presenting a free family festival inspired by Fay’s creative spirit. The day included art making, dance, music, food and interactive children’s events for every age.
DudamelBrassHonorsFayChandleratFindingFay
There were performances by Actors Shakespeare, Underground Railway and Nora Theater, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Arts Academy, Conservatory Lab Charter School, Handel and Haydn Society as well as painting and sculpture making, led by students from Mass College of Art, Montserrat College of Art, Boston Arts Academy and Artists for Humanity.
The high point of the event was an art giveaway organized by The Art Connection, a non-profit organization begun by Fay Chandler. Conservatory Lab will proudly display “Gateway” (pictured right),a painting created in 2013 by Fay.
Above and left: the Dudamel Brass performs with members of the Handel and Haydn Society. Right: “Getaway,” by Fay Chandler, gifted to Conservatory Lab.
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“I think you would have to say she has been a pivotal figure in arts philanthropy in this city,” said Paul S. Grogan, president of The Boston Foundation. “Certainly she was one of the most active and generous of donors.”
Fay Chandler gave away more than $1 million annually, spreading donations among more than 200 organizations over the years, including many in areas other than the arts. We are very grateful for the generous support she gave to Conservatory Lab Charter School.
Above: the Dudamel Brass and Chris Schroeder pose with members of the Handel and Haydn Society. Left: 8th grader Ariana Rodriguez and Jane Alexander.
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6thGradersConductFieldWorkatNightingaleCommunityGarden
ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 6th graders visited the Nightingale
Community Garden in Dorchester to conduct field work for their latest academic expedition on “changemakers and heroes” in the community. During their visit, students explored every corner of the garden while recording observations and jotting down questions. Following this exploration, students had the opportunity to interview garden expert and manager, Elnora Thompson. Their questions covered a variety of topics, including the history of the garden, specifics about the plants and vegetables that she grows, and her own personal experience working at the garden. From the interviews, students learned that the Nightingale Community Garden educates people about healthy alternatives to “cheap supermarket food” by supplying organic, locally-grown food to the community as well as donating to the local food pantry. Many students remarked on the fact that they were surprised that such high quality food could be grown right in the city! Thank you Ms. Thompson for creating this inspiring experience for our 6th graders!
Your support brings enriching opportunities to our students.
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MiddleSchoolersFocusonSocialChange
ON THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 21, THE 7TH AND 8TH graders in Ms. Patilla’s class have been learning about
violence against black people by police officers. On Tuesday, the students read and analyzed Darren Wilson’s deposition on the death of Michael Brown. First, the students drew their own interpretations of each part of the deposition. Then, in a stimulating classroom discussion, they thought deeply about the deposition, and connected Darren Wilson’s and the media’s narrative of Michael Brown to systematic racism in America.
On Thursday, the class worked in groups to piece together puzzles Ms. Patilla had made of the faces of six victims of police violence, including Eric Garner, Aiyana Stanley Jones, and Trayvon Martin. Then, in their groups, the students learned and discussed the details of each person’s death. The students took care to be thoughtful about the stories they were learning about. They weren’t afraid to ask each other deep and difficult questions about the nature of each person’s death, and how these deaths connect to race and racism.
This curriculum is part of the students’ year-long study of African American history, and sets the stage for their comprehensive study of American slavery and the Civil Rights Movement.
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