Lab People

Teacher and student news

Students and teachers at the Schools have continued to excel academically and make important contributions to the community. Here is a look at their activities:

The following seniors have received National Merit Commendations: Christopher Amos, Ariel Anderson, Sarah Arkin, Emma Barber, Bernard Bergmann, John Caplan, Alexis Gewertz, Eitan Kensky, Nikolas Lund, Lauren May, Robert Michelassi, Ashley Rayner, Benjamin Resnick, Emily Rossi, Neha Shah, Claire Stewart, Alexander Strickling, and Walker Thisted.

Two students have received National Achievement Commendations: Victoria Carr and Marisa Davis.

Selected among the 20 best high school newspapers in the nation, the 2000-2001 U-High Midway has received a 2001 Pacemaker Award from the Newspaper Association of America Foundation and National Scholastic Press Association. From many thousands of high school newspapers, 250 publications were initial candidates. A panel of professional journalists selected 40 finalists and then the 20 recipients. The Midway is the only newspaper to have received Pacemaker Awards in every decade they have been awarded, beginning in the 1960s, said adviser Wayne Brasler. Brasler also reports that the yearbook, Individually United, 2001 U-Highlights, received an All-American rating from the National Scholastic Press Association. "The judges said 'they loved it,' in exactly those words," Brasler said.

The University High School Discipline Review Board has been elected. In the spring, a junior and two freshmen will succeed the seniors. Students of the Discipline Review Board are sophomores Laura Oxtoby, Noor Shawaf, and Claire Stewart; juniors Alex Chiu and Steven King; and seniors Chris Amos and Rick Baum. Teachers selected are David Derbes, Steve Farver, Sharon Housinger,ÊJohn O'Connor, Dan West, and Brian Wildeman.

Susan Sheldon, Community Learning Coordinator, reports that U-High students have been reaching out to connect within the Schools and across the broader community in many ways. Peer leaders and sophomore advisories carved pumpkins in October with first- and second-graders in the Lower School. Students are also participating in the ChildServ Holiday Gift Giving Program to sponsor 75 needy children with gift wish lists.

High school students and peer leaders Nikita Barai, Noelle Bond, Jessica Heyman, Shira Peltzman, Mara Ravitz, Becky Rogers, Madeleine Shapiro, Ana Marie Vasilj, Aimee Weiss, and Emma Wellman organized a used CD sale to raise more than $1,000 to benefit the Families for Freedom Fund, established for the post-secondary education of children with parents who were either killed or disabled in the September 11 terrorist attacks. The organizers of the CD sale also have arranged for a school-wide blood drive on January 14.

Peer Leaders Brian Rizowy and Nicky Singh will deliver a presentation at the 13th Annual National Service Learning Conference in Seattle, Washington, from March 20 to 23. Lab's presentation is titled "A Work in Progress: Rethinking a Schools' Service-Learning Program through Reflection, Assessment, and Refinement."

Scientific happenings

Middle-school science teacher Debra Kogelman has been teaching classes of "fully-charged" sixth-graders about forces and Newton's Laws of Motion, using an innovative curriculum and electrified cars. Students researched automobile design on the Internet and by visiting car dealerships, then produced thumbnail sketches of prototype designs. Using mathematics to calculate angles, they used miter boxes to cut wood to size, then assembled their final models with nails, glue, wood, batteries, electrical wiring, and soldering irons. Watch out, Detroit....

News from around the Schools

Kathryn Dorman, fifth-grade teacher, traveled to Siberia in September with her husband, Peter Dorman, and fellow members of the University's Russian folk music group. The group, called Golosa, journeyed to Lake Baikal to sing with the "mother choir" that has inspired much of Golosa's repertoire. "We gave concerts in Moscow, where we stayed at Moscow State University, in Irkustsk, where we were guests of the Irkustsk Academic Choir, and finally we reached Tarbagatay, the home of the prize-winning Russian folk choir that has inspired so many of our efforts," she recounted. "The Siberians welcomed us into their homes warmly and deliciously. Every day was filled with singing, some of it formal, but most of it was spontaneous. The sad events of September 11 trapped us, briefly, making a sober end to a wonderful trip. But we never lacked for sympathy or support, even in far away Siberia."

Multi-talented Lower School secretary Cindy Shelhart performed a noontime concert at the University of Chicago's Fulton Recital Hall in November. Shelhart is a Celtic harpist whose program included arrangements of traditional Scottish and Irish music, as well as original compositions for the instrument.

Middle School science teacher Florence Vaughan received a $1,000 grant as part of Illinois' 2001 Christa McAuliffe Fellows program. Her students will get the chance to experience virtual field trips incorporating the earth science curriculum as a result of the recognition.

Jamie Tyler, '01 appeared with kindergarten teacher Lisa Washington on "Small Talk for Parents," a program for parents on public television Channel 20, discussing "growing up multi-racial."

English teacher John O'Connor and members of his musical group performed in November at the Quadrangle Club in an event organized by the club and the High School Parents Council.

English teacher Darlene McCampbell offered a Merchant of Venice workshop to parents of students in her Shakespeare elective. About 20 parents took part in the session, which helped them experience the techniques McCampbell uses in class to teach Shakespeare.

D. Michael Veitch, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, reports a very successful Open House on November 11, which was attended by 194 families whose children currently attend 75 schools in the Chicago area. "Among the remarks I heard were, 'The students were wonderful hosts and the teachers gave outstanding presentations,' 'Principal Jack Knapp's introductory speech was inspiring,' and 'We got a good feeling about the school community, especially the availability of counseling and support for students.'"

News from German classes

German teacher Sibylle Sonnenberg reports that the third-grade German students participated in the annual lantern walk, an activity in which the students go from class to class with lanterns and sing for younger students. The fourth-grade German class put on a play about careers. "It was a smashing success. Everybody laughed when Margot Turek played the bouncer," Sonnenberg said.

On December 6, students conducted the annual St. Nikolaus celebration with Sonnenberg's husband, Peter, playing the part of St. Nikolaus. He was assisted by senior Timothy Laumann.

At the high school level, a new elective course titled "German Film and Discussion" is being offered for the analysis of German film and current events. A new computer program is assisting four students who have never taken German to learn the language fast enough to keep up with the course.

Pretzel sales have raised $1,200 for the victims of the September 11 attacks. Further proceeds will help finance the Schools' German exchange program. Three volunteers are assisting with the Thursday sales: Lauren Miller, Terry Hardt, and Shahfer Aykul.