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In and Around the Lab
Here is a reminder of some of the upcoming events and some news of other happenings. For more information on any of the events listed or to get details on all other events in and around the schools, view the all-schools calendar at https://events.uchicago.edu/labschool/
** No School Grades 1 & 2 Parent/Teacher Conferences: grades 1 & 2 - Monday February 7th, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, in individual 1st & 2nd grade classrooms on a scheduled basis. Contact your child's teacher for a specific time.
** Parents' Association Meeting - Monday February 7th, 7-9PM in Judd 126.
** Spanish Lobby Singing - Wednesday February 9th, 8:00 - 8:20 AM in Blaine Lobby.
Spanish students will be singing Hispanic songs.
** 8th Grade Dance - Friday February 11th, 7:00 - 9:30 PM in the Cafeteria.
** Chat With the Principal for 5th Grade Parents - Wednesday February 16th 7:00-8:30 PM in Judd 126.
Join Middle School Principal Alexis Wright for a presentation on the development of middle schoolers, an informal evening of conversation, and a look forward at the rest of the school year.
**Special Finance Committee Meeting Thursday February 17th, 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM in the GSB Cafeteria (across the street from Judd).
Please consider whether you favor an increase in dues, graduation fees, or charges for the directories; or do you have any ideas for additional fundraising activities?
- All parents are invited. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please feel free to submit any comments to AnneMarie Miles, PA Treasurer, who will present them at the meeting with or without names as you prefer.
**M.S. Play - ticket sales. Thursday February 17th, 11:30 AM - 12:05 PM in the Cafeteria.
Tickets for the Middle School winter play, "Up the Down Staircase", go on sale during M.S. lunch (11:30-12:00) in the cafeteria. Tickets are $5 each. Performances will be February 25th, 26th, and 27th, 2005.
** HS Jazz Band Concert - Friday February 18th, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM at the Quad Club.
The HS Jazz Band will perform a dinner concert at the Quad Club. Everyone is invited. Buffet style dinner or you may order from the menu. Price about $15 per person. No need to purchase tickets in advance.
** NO SCHOOL for ALL SCHOOLS: Midwinter Holiday - Monday February 21st, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
** Language Informational Meeting for Parents of Second Graders - Thursday February 24th, 9:00-9:30 AM in Judd 126.
The Foreign Language Department and Principal, Beverly Biggs invite parents of second graders to an informational meeting. At this time parents will have the opportunity to meet some of the foreign language teachers, who will answer questions and assist parents in choosing a foreign language preference for third grade.
** 8th Grade Advisor/Parent/Student Conference - Friday February 25th, 8:00 AM - 3:00PM in Middle School classrooms.
Students and their parents will meet with their advisor to discuss reports and begin discussing the transition into high school.
** M.S. Winter Play - Friday February 25th, 8:00 PM - 10:00PM in Blaine 214.
The Middle School winter play performances will continue at 8:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 26th, and at 2:00 P.M., and on Sunday, February 27th. Tickets go on sale in the cafeteria during MS lunch starting Thursday, February 17th.
** Science Expo 2005 - Saturday February 26th, 1:00 PM - 5:00PM (contact Diane Snider for location information)
Science Expo is Lab School's first all-school celebration of science. Students in grades 3-12 will present science projects and activities. Parent scientists are invited to give presentations. All students and their families are invited.
 | A Children’s Peace Art Project on display at Rockefeller Chapel on Martin Luther King Day.
More than 300 Lab School students made Peace Doves. They were helped by Lab School faculty, staff, after school staff, administrators, parents, grand parents and baby sitters. Lab School students in the Friday Prayer Group at Rockefeller Chapel initiated the Peace Art Project. Safiya Nygaard, a 7th grade student designed the Peace Dove.
We would like to extend a special thanks to Mrs. Biggs, Mr. Jesse Ward, Ms. Brindley, and Ms. Laura Hollinger, and many thanks to everyone for their participation and support.
This is an on-going project. If you would like to participate in the Peace Doves Project, please contact Mumtaz Champsi. |
Please join us March 5th at the River East Art Center
at 435 E. Illinois Street for the Parent Association's
annual fund raising event. Proceeds will support Lab's
Professional Development Fund to keep our faculty and
staff at the very top of their profession. Highlights include:
*Dancing the night away to Lynn Jordan and the Shivers "If you haven't Lynne Jordan sing, think Niagara Falls or Old Faithful-because the voice is a force of nature, an irresistible
cascade of sound" -- Chicago Magazine
*Dining on a sumptuous meal by Jewel Events Catering
*Bidding for these amazing items at our special silent auction:
-Throw the opening pitch at a Cubs game and get 4
tickets behind home plate
-Visit equine royalty at Three Chimneys Horse
Farm in Kentucky, home to Sporty Jones and the late Seattle Slew
-Head to Park City Utah for your summer vacation
- Mix it up in the morning on the Mix's "Eric and
Kathy in the Mornings" show
-Spend a "Day on the Hill" with once in a
lifetime DC experiences
-Win tickets to Chicago sporting events and
theatre productions
-Receive VIP Treatment at Tru
-Attend Art Gallery Parties
-Tour the Museum of Science and Industry's 505
Submarine before it opens to the public
-Take home "Treasures from the Classrooms"
View additional auction items on-line!
*Win fabulous raffle prizes ($20/ticket or $90 for 5 tickets):
-1st Prize: Ultimate Computer Package, including
Mac Laptop and iPod
-2nd Prize: One full-day session of Summer Lab,
Summer 2005
-3rd Prize: One after-school Special Class,
Spring 2005
To purchase event or raffle tickets, call 773-702-0578. Please note there will be no lobby
raffle ticket sales this year so be sure to purchase them when you receive your invites or by phone.
Additional Ways to Support CONNECTIONS 2005:
-Make an underwriting gift or help secure your
company's support
-Invite a special teacher as your family's guest
-Volunteer to help at the event. Join our army of
volunteers, meet great people and have fun at the same time.
To learn more about how you can become involved with
Connections 2005 and to view auction items online, please visit our
website.
Questions/Suggestions? Email us at Connections2005@hotmail.com.
 | Connect 2 Kids.
Connect 2 Kids offers parents insights for family
activities, new ways to encourage kids and more ideas
for the time you spend together. Each month, Connect 2
Kids features another new article aimed at bringing
families together. Articles in the past have included
themes such as cooking with kids, the importance of
intergenerational relationships, kids' fitness and
sportsmanship for girls.
The current feature is about mother-daughter or family book
clubs and contains some great information and ideas.
Check out "Connect 2 Kids", under the Box Tops @ Home tab at boxtops4education.com. |
The beta release of the volunteer e-form system is now available! Parents can now sign-up online to volunteer for the various volunteer opportunities. The PA Volunteer Coordinator can search the database and administer the system, and the members of the PA governing board and the committee chairpersons, can search the database for volunteers.
Parents can access the volunteer system by clicking the Volunteer form link, on the PA homepage, complete the form ensuring that the last name is free of spaces and special characters, and submit it.
Parents who have completed and submitted a paper volunteer form, will be receiving an email that details what is recorded for them in the volunteer database and a request for them to update their volunteer record as needed.
Parents can access their volunteer record for review and possible update, by entering the last name, first name, and primary phone number. The last names recorded in the database are free of white space and special characters. Therefore when entering a last name, it must be entered free of spaces and other special characters besides a dash. For example, the last name of Van Patten would be stored in the database as VanPatten, a last name of O’Brian would be stored as OBrian. Hyphenated last names are stored as is, i.e. with the dash. The primary phone is the parent’s home phone number, unless otherwise specified. The phone number must be entered including the area code, with no spaces or special characters.
A “help” feature that will contain detailed usage instructions will be accessible throughout the volunteer system. Watch for this additional feature, and news of enhancements to the system.
Like many other parents, you are probably involved in the school experience in a number of ways. Here’s another way that might be a good fit for you or someone that you know: being a candidate for a Parents’ Association office! Serving on the Parents’ Association governing board is a great way to be involved at a higher level, and may give you new insights. It's a great opportunity to have closer contact with the administration and to have greater involvement in the strategic initiatives of the school.
The nomination process is now underway for the following offices:
President-Elect, Secretary-Elect, Treasurer-Elect, Communications Coordinator-Elect, Fundraising Coordinator-Elect, Volunteer Coordinator-Elect, and Programs Coordinator-Elect. In addition there are openings for two representatives for the N/KG, Lower School, and Middle School Councils, and for one representative for the High School Council.
Service on the governing board lasts for two years. The positions with the designations "elect" are associate roles primarily charged with learning what their responsibilities will be, and how to perform them when they assume the primary positions (President, Secretary, Treasurer, etc.) in the second year. Each council consists of three parents. Parents who are serving in their second year on the council act as senior members of the council.
All of the governing board positions have substantial responsibilities, varying in nature and degree. All require regular attendance at monthly Parents’ Association business meetings, working with other parents, and in some cases, working with Parents’ Association Committees. For more information on the requirements and qualifications for each of the open PA governing board positions, visit the PA website.
Is a PA position right for you or someone you know? Position responsibilities are listed in Article V of the PA bylaws. Please feel free to contact any of the current PA office holders. Our names are listed in the School Directory and Resource Guide and are listed on the website. Come to a PA meeting!
The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 25, 2005. Nomination forms are available through the Administrative Forms link on the PA website, at the guard's desk in Blaine Lobby, and from current PA board members.
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