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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/
**MS Spring physical Exam Pre-registration February 5th – 9th, 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 PM. in Sunny Gym 117
Dr. Holly Benjamin from the University of Chicago will be conducting physical exams February 22 Thursday from 12:30-2:30 in the training room for student-athletes planning to compete in the spring sports season that are in need of a ''current'' physical exam (within 12 mos.). The IHSA exam form must be completed (download from the UCLS athletic page) BEFORE the exam and a check for 35.00 must be brought with you that day and given to Gail Poole. Pre-registration will take place from February 5-9 by calling our emailing Gail Poole gpoole@ucls.uchicago.edu 773-834-1035
** Freshman & Sophomore College Night February 7th, 7:00 -9:00 PM
All parents of freshman and sophomores are invited to an evening of college information presented by college counselors Patty Kovacs and Will Dix of U-High Lab Schools in Judd 126.
** Parent Teacher Conferences Grades 1-4 February 9th., 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Parent Teacher Conferences provide an opportunity for parents to discuss their individual child's progress with teachers. Please schedule a conference time with your child's teachers. There is no school for children in Grades 1-4 on this date. Conferences are help in individual classrooms
** Middle School Conference Day February 9th. at 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Today is conference day for the entire middle school. Parents will be meeting with homeroom teachers and advisors. There is no school for all middle school students.
** NO LAB AFTER SCHOOL FOR GRADES 1-8
February 9th. 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
There will be no after school for grades 1-8.
** Parents' Association Meeting February 12th. at 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Come out and get involved. This month's meeting will feature a presentation from Lab Schools Director David Magill and
consultant Prexy Nesbitt regarding Mr. Nesbitt’s diversity assessment of our school.
** Winter Holiday February 19, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
No school for all schools
** Lobby Sing February 22nd.
This is an informal opportunity for students/teachers/parents to start the day with a song.
** Spring physical exams February 22nd. at 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM in Sunny 209 Training Room br>
Physical Exams are being offered from 12:30-2:30 by Dr. Holly Benjamin from the UC. You must have pre-registered with Gail Poole by February 9.
** SET Play production February 22 -24th, 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM in Belfield Theatre
SET Production. 7:30p.m. Questions? call 702-0593.
** Middle School Winter Play February 23 -25th, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM in Belfield Theatre
The Middle School winter play, The Birds, will be performed at 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, February 23rd and 24th, and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 25th. Tickets are $5.00 and will go on sale in the cafeteria during Middle School lunch starting Thursday, February 15th.
** Science Expo February 24th, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM in MIddle School, High School, Kovler
Science Expo is an all-school celebration of science for Lab School families.
** Last Session of Family Swim for winter 2007 February 28th.
Dear Lab Schools Parent:
The second half of school year is well underway and I would like repeat what I said in this space at the startup of the
school year: get involved!
There are a number of major activities in store for all members of the Lab schools community and chief among them is our
annual fundraising event, Connections 2007! Friday, March 2nd is the date and proceeds of this year’s event will be devoted
to the arts, namely new tools and technology to support Lab’s music, theatre, and visual arts programs. The venue is the
Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier and the Co-Chair team of Anita Blanchard and Marty Nesbitt, and Kate Collins and Charlie Newell
are seeking all the helpful volunteers they can muster to make this event successful.
Rites of May, the annual fun-filled festival that celebrates our community, not only needs volunteers this year, the
PA is also looking for someone to serve as a co-chairperson for the event.
If you are interested in being a volunteer, please visit the PA’s Web site at
and complete the volunteer form. I also encourage you to e-mail the PA at parents@uclspa.org
or contact me directly.
The next PA meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 12 and it will feature a presentation from Lab Schools Director
David Magill and consultant Prexy Nesbitt regarding Mr. Nesbitt’s diversity assessment of our school. I hope to see you
Monday night!
Regards,
Bennie M. Currie, President
All children learn in different ways. They have their own individual
personalities, and their own listening and work habits. To help their students
learn new knowledge and skills, teachers must know as much as they can about
each child's likes and dislikes. No one knows more about these things than you,
the parents. And no one has more influence over your children than you.
That's why teachers need your help to do a first-class job. Working together,
you and the teacher can help your child have a successful school year.
Here Are Some Things To Keep in Mind
- Start the conference right: be there on time, and plan
not to run over the amount of time that has been set aside, usually about 40
minutes.
- If you are a working parent who can't arrange to meet
during regular hours, make this clear to the teacher and try to set up a time
to meet that is good for both of you.
- The best conferences are those in which both teachers
and parents stay calm and try hard to work together for one purpose and one
purpose only: to help your child do well. Arguing, or blaming each other for
problems your child is having, helps no one.
Getting Ready
Each teacher will probably come prepared with samples of your children's work
and with ideas to help them do even better in school. You should get ready for
each conference, too.
Talk to your children before the conference. Find out what they think are
their best subjects, and what subjects they like the least. Find out why. Also,
ask your children if there is anything they would like you to talk about with
their teachers. Make sure your children don't worry about the meeting. Help them
understand that you and their teacher(s) are meeting together in order to help
them.
Before you go to the school, write notes to yourself about:
- things about your child's life at home, personality,
problems, habits, and hobbies you feel it's important for the teacher to know
- your concerns about the school's programs or policies
- questions about your child's progress
- how you and the school can work together to help your
child
If your spouse can't attend the conference with you, ask for his or her
concerns and questions.
The Conference
Some good questions to ask are these:
- Is my child in different groups for different subjects?
Why?
- How well does my child get along with others?
- What are my child's best and worst subjects?
- Is my child working up to his or her ability?
- Does my child participate in class discussions and
activities?
- Has my child missed any classes other than ones I
contacted the school about?
- Have you noticed any sudden changes in the way my child
acts? For example, have you noticed any squinting, tiredness or moodiness that
might be a sign of physical or other problems?
- What kinds of tests are being done? What do the tests
tell about my child's progress?
- How does my child handle taking tests?
It's a good idea to ask your most important questions first, just in case
time runs out before you and the teacher have a chance to discuss them all. Be
sure to ask the teacher for specific suggestions on ways to help your child do
better. This is the most important part of the meeting. It will become your
action plan. If the teacher says something you don't quite understand, don't be
shy about asking for an explanation. It's a good idea to end the conference by
summing up decisions you've made together. If needed, ask to meet again.
After the Conference
Start immediately on the action plan you and the teacher worked out together.
Discuss the plan with your child. Make sure he or she knows that you and the
teacher care. To see if the action plan is working, watch your child's behavior
and check your child's class work and homework.
Stay in regular touch with the teacher to discuss the progress your child is
making. Meeting with your child's teachers should help build strong
parent-teacher partnerships—partnerships that are needed if you and your child's
teachers are to reach your common goal of helping your child get the best
education possible.
Copyright © 1987 The National PTA,
National Education Association of the United States, Stock No. 5174-2,
Making Parent-Teacher Conferences Work for Your Child
Lab's annual benefit will be held Friday, March 2, 2007
6:30 pm at the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier at 600 E. Grand Ave. Tickets are
$175 each. Call 773-702-0578 to purchase tickets by phone.
This year's event promises to be lots of fun with fantastic
food, the return of Lynne Jordan and the Shivers! band—a huge hit at Connections
2005 and a fabulous silent auction with some amazing items like:
- Tickets to see The View and Regis and Kelly live in New
York
- Autographed Guitar,
signed by the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and
Charlie Watts
- Be a Fighter Pilot for a
Day... climb into the cockpit alongside an instructor and take flight in a
Marchetti SF260, which is a current production Italian-built fighter aircraft.
Proceeds from the event will support new tools and
technologies for the visual and performing arts. For more information on the
event and to view a description of auction items, please see our website at
http://www.ucls.uchicago.edu/connections/
RAFFLE TICKETS ON SALE NOW!:
- Raffle prizes are: First Prize $5000, Second Prize
$1000, Third Prize $500.
- Tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100
- Tickets available every morning from Tuesday, February
13th - Friday, March 2nd in Blaine Lobby, Judd Lobby, the High School Lobby,
and Woodlawn.
- There will be a special early drawing for a $250 prize
at the Science Expo, and winners will still be included in the main drawings
at the Connections event.
- You can also purchase tickets at the following school
events:
- High School Play - Thursday, February 22nd - Saturday,
February 24th 7pm
- Science Expo - Saturday, February 24th 1-5pm in the
High School Lobby
- Middle School Play - February 23rd - 25th Friday and
Saturday 7:30pm, Sunday 1:30 pm
If you are interested in volunteering at the event, or have any questions,
please contact the Development & Alumni Relations Office at 773-702-0578 or
connections2007@ucls.uchicago.edu. Thank you.
The Science Expo has become an annual event. This is the third year for the event. Students are adding their final touches to their projects. This year all-school Science Extravaganza, SCIENCE EXPO 2007, will be on February 24th, from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, in the High, Middle Schools and PE building.
Students in the 3rd through 12th grade participate by designing and then sharing their experiments or science demonstrations. Some of the pass demonstrations included aerodynamics, the Planetarium, rain stick making, Science Jeopardy, activity table, and the Straw Rocket Competition. Come out and see what new this year.
All Lab families and the Lab community are invited to attend this exceptional science community event.
If you can help out by running an activity table or assisting with setup or cleanup, please contact Diane Snider.
It's not too late for parent scientists, who would like to give a presentation or demo for Science Expo! Email Diane Snider for more information.
Indeed it does! And the entertainment planners for Rites of May 2007, would like to invite students to share their
performance talents at the Saturday International Festival of Rites of May.
At last year's Rites of May, visitors enjoyed the talents of several Lab Schools students, in the performance areas of music,
dance, gymnastics, and magic. We hope that the students who performed last year will return with the
addition of new student performers. Parents please encourage your talented students to perform at Rites of May 2007.
If you have a student or group who would like to perform at Rites of May 2007, please email us at
parents@uclspa.org.
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