Lab After School - N/K Registration

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools

Words From the N/K and Lower School Principals

Beverly Biggs, Lower School principal

Carla Young, Nursery/Kindergarten principal

The last three days of fall quarter in Blaine Hall begin with a joyful noise. Children and adults squeeze into Blaine Lobby with voices raised in celebration of spirituality, the coming of the new year, the winter solstice and in the hope that we will one day be able to achieve, in a lasting way, peace on earth, good will to men.

It is at this time of year that one of the diversity markers that defines our school community—religion—comes into focus. Children query each other and their teachers with, "What religion are you? What do you celebrate? How do you celebrate?" One of our staff members overheard the following exchange between two kindergarten classmates:
First boy: “I celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa.”
Second boy: “Oh, I didn't know you were Jewish.”
This dialogue is one of many examples of children trying to make sense of the world. It is also an example of the ways in which children learn from each other as the first child went on to explain that Kwanzaa was not a religious holiday, but that you could celebrate it no matter what religion you are. The second child was open to this explanation and would remember it because of the relationship the two enjoy.

As with all of the cultural traditions that make up our diverse community, what we seek to do is educate each other about our various belief systems and the associated principles and practices. In doing so, invariably, we find more similarities than we might have imagined.

In a children's picture book Elijah's Angel, the author, Michael Rosen, writes of a friendship between a nine-year-old Jewish boy (also named Michael) and an older African American man, Elijah, who is a barber and master woodcarver. Michael spends Monday afternoons after Hebrew School in Elijah's barbershop admiring the hundreds of carvings that represent a lifetime of work. When Elijah presents Michael with one of these carvings, a guardian angel, Michael worries that his parents will not be receptive to this symbol of Christianity. Michael's father wisely explains to his son that, "Elijah cares about you. It's an angel of friendship. And doesn't friendship mean the same thing in every religion?"

It is our hope that during this season of celebration you will find many opportunities to enjoy friendship and family and the comfort and joy they bring. Come sing with us!

Beverly & Carla