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In and Around the Lab
Here is a reminder of
some of the upcoming events and 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/
**Last Day of Before School for Winter 2007 March 14th. from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
** 7th Grade Food Fest March 14th. from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM in MS270
Science students research the nutrient content of a favorite recipe and produce a food label for the dish.
They then cook the food and bring it to the FOOD FEST. Teachers are invited to bring their classes to sample the
different dishes and learn about the nutrients contained in them. A 50 cent donation is collected at the door and donated
to the Chicago Food Depository. All are welcome to this event. it is held during middle school periods 2, 3, 4 6, 7 & 8.
** Spring Break—NO SCHOOL ALL SCHOOLS March 15th. – 25th. from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
** Before & After School Open for Spring 2007 Quarter March 26th. 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM on the Lab School Campus PM
** Saturday Swim Begins for Spring 2007 March 31st. 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
on theLab School Campus
Dear Lab Schools Parent:
If you missed last month’s Parents’ Association meeting, then you missed an opportunity to participate in our largest
gathering of the school year!
You also missed an opportunity to hear former Lab Schools consultant Prexy Nesbitt discuss his report, which includes
recommendations about various diversity issues. Copies of an executive summary of Mr. Nesbitt’s report are available
in the Office of the Director and in the offices of each of the schools (Woodlawn, Lower, Middle, and High Schools).
You may also review the entire report in the Office of the Director by appointment and I hope you will take the time to
review one or both of these documents.
As a father of two black students in the Middle School, diversity is very important to me and I applaud Director
David Magill for seeking Mr. Nesbitt’s assistance in our effort to address diversity issues at the Lab Schools.
For the past two years, I have served as chair of the Lab PA’s Multicultural Committee and I have since had ample
opportunity to hear various parents air their thoughts and feelings about diversity. Some of the comments have been
passionate, enlightening and encouraging. Others have been passionate, disheartening and downright infuriating, but
welcomed nonetheless.
Welcomed? Yes indeed. Because there are various points of view on diversity, it is impossible to deal with this subject
matter effectively without also dealing with a diversity of opinions.
For me, the school’s effort to address diversity issues is a point of positive distinction, along with Lab’s association
with a world-class university. For some, however, the word “diversity” is a red flag -- a sign that the status quo is in
jeopardy and that changes may come that are not deemed as necessary. I have heard it mentioned that Lab already fares better
at diversity than other private independent schools. I hope that is true, but even if it is, I hope that we would not let
that be a basis for complacency. Rather, I hope that we recognize and embrace our opportunities for improvement and that we
strive to achieve the highest of standards. At the Lab Schools, we proclaim that we are interested in the development of
character as much as we are in academic achievement and if so, then addressing our diversity issues is a must.
Besides, is there a better time to take on this challenge than right now? It is well known that a member of our parent body
is running for president of the United States. And now that Sen. Barack Obama has entered the choppy waters of presidential
politics, he has set the entire nation on a course that challenges our views on race relations, racial identity, cultural
awareness and many other issues that fall under the banner of diversity. These issues affect us all and it is important to
keep an open mind -- and an open ear -- when it comes to diversity matters at the Lab Schools.
But I worry that some of us are afraid to test the water. I say let’s all take a swim. We might find that the water is fine.
Bennie M. Currie, President
bc0861@yahoo.com
Thanks to all our Boxtops for Education clippers and savers. We submitted coupons worth $460.00 at the end of October.
The Lab PA received this amount in cash to be used for activities to benefit our children. Please continue to clip these
from a variety of products including Ziploc and Kleenex brands. Don't forget to begin your shopping at
boxtops4education.com
marketplace. You earn cash rebates to Lab without incurring extra charges at hundreds of popular on-line merchants.
Please encourage family and friends to clip and shop for benefits back to Lab! THANKS!
The PA would like to salute the Connections co-chair team of Anita Blanchard and Marty Nesbitt,
and Kate Collins and Charlie Newell and all of the members of the Connections Committee, who worked so hard to make this
years party a rousing success. The proceeds of this year's event will be devoted to the arts program at Lab and we are lucky
to have such dedicated, creative, hard-working parents devoting their time to support our school Connections 2007 raised a
record $414,000 (and counting!)!!!!
Over 650 guests enjoyed an evening of food, friends and dancing. Almost 60 projects were made by the HS, MS, LS, K students
and individual teachers for the "Made at Lab" project.
Read about the event and view some slide shows at the
Connections 2007 web site.
One of the most wonderful things about the Lab schools is our parent
volunteers. One way to volunteer is to serve on the Parents’ Association Board.
This volunteer opportunity gives you a unique opportunity to learn about all of
the schools that combine to make up the Lab Schools – the Middle and High
Schools as well as the Lower and Nursery-Kindergarten Schools.
• You will get a close look at various aspects of the schools’ functions
that might not be visible to you now;
• You will get an inside knowledge of how the many volunteer service
activities that are so important to the schools are planned and carried
out – Picture Day, Rites of May; Open House – just to name a few;
• You will be in a volunteer leadership role that is of great service to
the schools, and that may very well be extremely personally rewarding to
you (as has been the case with us as well as with many others who have
served on the PA Board).
The nomination period closes on March 30, 2007 – the Friday of the week we
return after Spring Break. Please consider running for an office. To do
so, just fill out a nomination form.
The open positions, which we hope you will seriously consider, are:
President-Elect
Secretary-Elect
Treasurer-Elect
Communications Coordinator-Elect
Fundraising Coordinator-Elect
Volunteer Coordinator-Elect
Programs Coordinator-Elect
Two representative for the N/KG Council
Two representative for the Lower School Council
Two representative for the Middle School Council
One representatives for the High School Council
Position responsibilities are listed in Article V of the PA bylaws
You may complete the nomination form and send it to
PA Secretary-Elect Vicky Long.
Director David Magill is very pleased to announce that Amani Reed has accepted an offer of employment and will become the
next principal of the Middle School. He will officially begin his duties on July 1, 2007.
Mr. Reed has been the assistant middle school director at Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington, a coed 5-12 day school
divided on two campuses. Along with his administrative duties, he has also been involved in teaching history, ethics, and
coaching soccer. Prior to joining Lakeside's faculty, Mr. Reed spent six years at Sewickley Academy, outside of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. His career has included many different assignments including teaching, Summerbridge, admissions, and diversity
director roles. He is currently completing a degree at the Klingenstein Center at Columbia University Teachers College.
If you're looking for Lab School t-shirts, hats, coffee
mugs, clocks, mouse pads, stickers, tote bags, buttons or magnets,
please visit the new Lab Store Online . If you have
questions about the Lab Store Online, please contact Anne Ryan.
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