Middleground October 2007
From the Principal
Welcome to the new school year school year! It was a pleasure to meet and
talk with so many of you at the Middle School BBQ, and I would like to thank
Malvirse Dervin, Trish Fahey, Tony Shaw, and the Parents Association who worked
hard to make this a great community event.
It was wonderful to see many of you at the Open House, and I hope that
evening gave you a good sense of your middle schoolers academic and social life
here at Lab. In addition to hearing about curriculum, I hope you were able to
hear about an important part of our Middle School philosophy. Our students are
in the process of learning valuable lessons as they enter, or continue through
a unique stage of adolescent development. They are learning to become active
learners and caring people. They are developing and practicing the skills
necessary to be independent and self-motivated. They are continuing to learn to
think critically and creatively, and are trying to find a sense of emotional
and physical well being.
Students cannot get there alone, however. They need adults in their lives to
model appropriate behavior, and to provide the appropriate support and
accolades for their anticipated success and setbacks. One of the strengths of
our Middle School is that we are able to cultivate an environment where all
students can experience success in multiple realms, be it academic, artistic,
or athletic. Because we know that children will make mistakes and because we
all encounter disappointment, the safe environment and appropriate consequences
that the middle school has created will allow our students to safely experience
the occasions from which one matures, grows and learns.
Please keep in mind that our parent and guardian conference dates are
quickly approaching. Fifth grade parents and guardians will meet with homeroom
teachers on October 8 or October 19. Parents and guardians of sixth through
eighth graders will meet with their student’s advisor on November 9. These
conferences are designed to provide you with the opportunity to meet with your
child’s homeroom teacher or advisor and discuss your child’s academic and
social progress thus far, as well as provide time for any particular questions,
comments, and/or concerns you may have about your child this term. It is also a
time to share any specific goals you may have for your student this year. Our
goal is to work together to support your child throughout this year in middle
school. This is one of many opportunities to construct and maintain lines of
communication between home and school, and another occasion for you to get a
full sense of your child’s day here at Lab.
As always, should you have any particular concerns regarding your middle
schooler, please contact the appropriate faculty member, counselor, Assistant
Principal and Dean of Students or Principal by phone or e-mail. Concerns do not
need to wait for conference day.
I also encourage you to look to our newest publication Lab e-news for regular updates on what
is happening in the classroom. You may click on the text above to see the most
recent issue.
Please note, there was an error on the printed calendar indicating that
would have two days set aside for conferences in February. We will have one day
for these conferences. The correct day is Friday, February 8, 2008. We
apologize for any confusion this may have caused.
I look forward to working with all you, and I anticipate a wonderful and
exciting year filled with happy and productive young adolescents.
Amani Reed
Middle School Principal
FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNCIL CO-CHAIRS
Malvirse Dervin (773) 221-0970; mdervin@prodigy.com
Trisha Anne Fahey (773) 238-8820; tafahey@sbcglobal.net
Tony Shaw (708) 534-2007; tshaw17236@aol.com
Note: Parent volunteers who wish to submit new items to this publication should e-mail copy to Middle School Communications Coordinator Trisha Anne Fahey at tafahey@sbcglobal.net by the third Wednesday of the month.
5th grade Parent Association Council Co-Chairs are needed.
We are looking for two 5th grade parents to fill this position.
Grade Level Co-Chairs
Each grade has two parent co-chairs. Their responsibilities are:
Plan at least one social event each year for students.
Communicate with the Middle School Council (“MSC”) designee
before the social event is scheduled about the proposed activity.
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Submit a written description of the details of the social event after it occurs.
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Help with the grade level back-to-school picnic.
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Help with the reception at the fall Open House.
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Keep in touch with new families in the grade throughout the year.
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Designate a parent contact for each homeroom or advisory.
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Compile quarterly grade level newsletters to parents about what students are studying, special projects, activities, etc.
Please email Trish Fahey attafahey@sbcglobal.net if you are interested.
The Middle School Back to School Barbeque was held on September 14th in the Blaine Courtyard. The weather was great and the food was delicious. It was a wonderful opportunity for new families to meet returning families and for the children to catch up with their classmates after the summer hiatus. The Middle School Council would like to take this opportunity to send our thanks to the following volunteers for helping make this event a success: Carol Lucido and Leslie Pilot-Gatton for showing us the ropes and keeping us on track. Marty Eckstein, Duncan Harris, Steve Kagan, John Partelow, and Gomez Charleston for being the “Grill Guys”. You are awesome and funny! Robin Charleston, Jack Fahey and Jane Barclay for keeping the line moving and the folks entertained when there was a lull in production. Colleen O’Leary and Beth Angell for supervising the helium tank and setting up tables. Thanks for your patience. Mary Sue Kranstover, Sheryl Stevens, Ginny Clausen, Nancy Rhodes and Vandana Herur for set up. Maureen Callahan, salad extraordinaire, and her amazing crew, Lindsay Lucido, Pete Murphy, Sam Murphy, Nathan Eckstein, Daniel Eimer, Joyce Harduvel, Sally Ladsaria, Jessica Hubert , Mac Sinclair and Alex Ortel. The salads were amazing! The “ice
crew” and errand runners: William Barclay, Jackson Fahey, Marwan Kallal, Matthew Davis, Kelsey Stevens, Greer Clausen, Ellen Audrain, Louie Harboe and Adil Nygaard. Thank you for your enthusiasm, speed and muscle. Mary Francis Fujibayashi, Craig Fujibayashi and Carol Bernstein for staying until everything was put away and back in order. Thank You!
Special recognition to Lab School teachers Bea Harris and Annette Steinbarth and Lab School Facilities staff: Scott Griffin and the ever present Rudy, Mike and Jessie. We could not have done it without you. For those of you who helped but were accidentally omitted, be assured that your assistance was also greatly appreciated an did not go unnoticed.
BBQ Finances - The Middle School Back to School Barbecue is funded solely from the $10.00 donation provided by each family. If you forgot to send in your funds please do so today. Write a check or enclose $10.00 in an envelope marked BBQ and have your child deliver it to Grace Morgan, the principal’s Secretary, in Middle School 166.
The Middle School Open House was held on September 20th. The Middle School Council treated the teachers to a homemade meal while the parents indulged on Asian cuisine, a BBQ bar, assorted hors d’oeuvres and desserts. The Open House gives parents a chance to meet their children’s teachers, learn about the curriculum and “walk a mile” in their child’s shoes…or maybe it was 2 miles! The Middle School Council would like to recognize and thank Mr. and Mrs. Ping Yuet Lee for once again supplying the Asian cuisine. Thanks to Leslie Pilot-Gatton and Mr. and Mrs. Lee for helping set-up the buffet.
Special thanks to the following families for donating food trays: Ingrassia, Charleston, Haymon, Chang, Spak, Gatton, Litwin, Feldman, Rogers, Dodier, Kanter, Lucido, Rhind, Sachs, Ruff, Power, Lucas, Barclay and Kranstover-Davis.
Parent to Parent Discussion Group Tuesday October16th – The first of our very well received Parent-to-Parent discussion groups will be for 5th and 6th grade parents and will meet in Judd 126 at 7:00 p.m. There will be another group for 7th and 8th grade parents in November. The meeting will be facilitated by Ms. Evelina Pereira-Webber, a certified Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist. Ms. Pereira-Webber has worked in private practice with adolescents and adults for over sixteen years.
This evening will allow parents to meet other parents and exchange ideas, share-parenting strategies and discuss how issues are handled within individual families. The Middle School Council and Principal are committed to fostering avenues for parents to have a chance to build lasting friendships, enhance our vibrant school community, and share the joys and frustrations of parenting middle schoolers! Please join us.
Middle School Picture Day is October 18th - Be sure to bring your completed forms along with your money and big toothy grins.
Pretzel Day on Thursdays - Thursdays is the day for fresh, homemade pretzels. The German Club is selling them for $1.00. Pick one up in Belfield 137 (beginning at 7:30 a.m.) or after school in Blaine Lobby. "Danke schön!" for your support! Last year's sales enabled 4 of our students to go to Germany for one month on scholarship.
Box Tops for Education – Thanks for all our BOXTOPS FOR EDUCATION contributors who have been clipping coupons and using the Boxtops4education website to sign up for bonuses and start their on-line shopping to earn cash for Lab. Our next submission deadline is October 31st so bring in all those coupons that have piled up over the summer.
Five Bonus Box Tops – Through the end of September, supporters who sign up at www.boxtops4education.com/2007 earn 5 Bonus Box Tops for our school. That’s 50¢ for every new registrant. Two Bonus Box Tops – Look for specially marked packages with 2 Bonus Box Tops. We earn 30¢ with each package. Five Bonus Box Tops – Club and Warehouse stores are getting in the spirit of Bonus Box Tops, too! For a limited time, specially marked packages have 5 Bonus Box Tops. Look for this special Bonus on more than 30 products from General Mills, Betty Crocker®, Pillsbury®, Kleenex® Tissue, Huggies®, Ziploc® and Hefty® brands. Ten Bonus Box Tops – Supporters who shop at Club and Warehouse stores have the opportunity for an even bigger Bonus. Specially marked packages of Box Tops brands will send them to http://www.boxtops4education.com/clubbonus to earn your school 10 Bonus Box Tops. $1.00 for every new registrant!
SCIENCE EXPO
This years' all-school science extravaganza will take place Saturday, February 23, 2008 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Science Expo features presentations by student and parent scientists and fun activities for all ages. All Lab School students and their families are invited to attend. Don’t miss it! Science Expo runs on volunteer spirit. Can you help out for one hour before or during the event? Please email Diane Snider at dsnider@ucls.uchicago.edu for more information or to volunteer.
Parent scientists, please consider presenting a talk, demo or activity for Science Expo. Email Diane Snider at dsnider@ucls.uchicago.edu for more information or to volunteer.
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