upcoming events

7 pm Parents' Association Meeting

8 am Lobby Sing

10 am Martin Luther King, Jr. Assembly

NO SCHOOL—Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Spring Middle and High School Sports Team Registration

10:00 am English I Court Theater Performance of Titus Andronicus

7:30 pm 5th Grade Band Concert

5:00 pm Adoptive Families Potluck

8 am Senior Getaway

contact info

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in the halls

		Sun-Times Features U-High Basketball Players The December 17 Chicago Sun-Times featured students Zeke Upshaw and Alexis Jenkins. "The junior basketball players want people to see U-High as more than just a school for smart people, and they want people to see the Independent School League as more than just a small conference that gets overlooked by the larger basketball powerhouses." Continue >>
		On The Same Page Guest author and computer science teacher Baker Franke challenges the assumption some make that computer programming is a left-brain-directed activity, one that is merely logical and sequential. Continue >>
		A Whole New Mind Author to Speak to Lab Families Monday evening at 7:30, February 25, 2008, Daniel Pink, author of the 2007 faculty and staff summer reading book, will speak to the Laboratory Schools community. Director David Magill wrote about A Whole New Mind last school year in “On The Same Page,” and he invited other faculty members to interpret an aspect of the book as well. See their reactions: David Magill, Curt Lieneck, Catie Bell, and this month’s guest author, Baker Franke.
		High School Yearbook Places First The 2007 U-High yearbook U-Highlights placed first in the Eastern Illinois School Press Association's annual competition. Competing in the category of yearbooks from schools of less than 500 enrollment, the U-High book took first place awards in six of eight categories: photography, copy, dividers, graphics, coverage of the school year and sports coverage. Advisors for U-Highlights are Liese Ricketts and Wayne Brasler.
		Online Library Resources for Students Lab students have access to broad library programs with some important online features of which families should be aware. Rowley Library, located on the first floor of U-High, houses the Middle School library and the High School library—including some 45,000+ books. Librarians work with faculty to help match books to the curriculum needs of each teacher, and they assist students in their research. Students may check out books and laptops. Through the Rowley website students can access services and databases 24/7. Among those sources are the Oxford English Dictionary and Naviance, the college search software with enormous amounts of information on colleges and universities. You can even look up the SAT question of the day. Also available on the Rowley Library reference page is the “card catalog” search function for Rowley’s complete holdings. The Lower Schools’ Blaine Library also has online resources and card catalogue.

n/k & lower schools

Welcome back after what we hope was a restful break! It is wonderful to have the sounds of children at work and play in our hallways once again. The Laboratory Schools were far from quiet over break, as that time was used to make repairs and improvements throughout the buildings.
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Following Winter break, we have noticed an increase in the number of children using cell phones at school. Please remind your child that cell phones may not be used during the school day. Children have access to school phones if needed. In addition, cell phone use is not permitted in the Library at any time. Thank you for your cooperation.

Friday, January 18, is the last day to claim items in the Blaine Lost & Found (near BL187) before they are given away. Also check the Lower School Office for eyeglasses, keys, and jewelry.

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middle school

Last week, Chief of the University Police Department, Rudy Nimocks, was invited to speak with each grade about how students can use simple precautions, “street smarts,” to stay safe in Hyde Park and Chicago. His key points: be alert, beyond school/home try to travel in groups, and maintain a safe distance from anyone you do not know.

An important time for students—and families—to be aware of safety is right after school. To ensure students are safely supervised, the Middle School requires that students still in the building 15 minutes after dismissal (presumably awaiting pick-up) are to be in Blaine Lobby.

Students are not to be in the building unless they are involved in a school sponsored activity such as Lab After School, play rehearsal, or athletic teams. More safety tips can be found on the University’s website. Here’s to a safe and happy 2008!

The end of the first semester is rapidly approaching and first semester narrative reports will be mailed home on February 1. In conjunction with the end of this semester, on Friday, February 8, conference day is scheduled for you, your child, and your child’s advisor. For students in grades 6–8, your child’s advisor will be in touch with you about scheduling a meeting time. Not all students in grades 5 have conferences.
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On Tuesday, March 4, the Music Department will host “Recital Night.” The purpose of the evening is to provide a showcase for students pursuing classical music study in voice, winds, strings, and piano.  This event is for advanced music students in grades 7–12.  Students may perform a solo work or chamber music. Information and application forms are available from Ms. Sinclair or Mr. Brickner. You may also receive these materials via e-mail from Mr. Brickner. Please encourage your child to share his/her skills with the Lab community.

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high school

The annual Martin Luther King Assembly is scheduled for Friday, January 18, from 10–11:30 am in Mandel Hall. Once again, groups from U-High will make presentations that will inspire us all during this important event. This year’s speaker/narrator is Ms. Jewel Willis Thomas, former U-High Dean of Students. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The senior getaway is scheduled from Saturday, January 26 (leaving the school at 8 am) to Monday, January 28 (returning to Lab at approximately 4 pm) Seniors will travel as a class to Galena, Illinois, for two days of skiing, sledding, and having fun away from school. Mr. McFarlane and the other 20 chaperones look forward to going on the getaway as well.

Junior College Workshops have started with students meeting in small groups with either Patty Kovacs or Melissa Warehall during the school week. These sessions are meant to help students navigate some of the logistics of the college process. Additionally, there will be a Junior College Parent Night on Monday, February 4, at 7 pm in Judd 126. Questions about the workshops or the evening event can be directed to Ms. Kovacs or Ms. Warehall at 773-702-9445.

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community

You are cordially invited to attend the first Parents' Association meeting of 2008.  The speaker will be Robert Zimmer, President of the University of Chicago, and thrice a Laboratory Schools parent. The title of President Zimmer's remarks is, "Laboratory Schools and the University of Chicago." The meeting will be held Monday, January 14 at 7 pm in Judd 126. 

Students in grades 7–9 are invited to sign-up for a two-week trek to Western Europe focusing on battle sites of World War I. "All Along the Western Front" participants will visit historic sites and chronicle their responses using music, art, writing, and discussion. Humanities teachers Kelly Storm and Jan Yourist will chaperone the trip, June 27–July 7. Highlights of the trip include stops in Frankfurt, Brussels, and Paris.

Registration is due February 15. Forms are available from Ms. Battles, Belfield 137-B and Mr. Reece, Belfield 137-I, or at: Summerlab after January 15, 2008. Call 773-834-7766 or -4272 with questions.

Fifth and sixth graders are invited to the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Cortez, Colorado. Crow Canyon is the ancestral home of the Pueblo Indians who inhabited the canyons and mesas of the American Southwest. Escorted by fifth grade teachers Susan Lesher and Bob Kass, participants spend the week learning about the Pueblo Indians’ occupation of the Mesa Verde region. In addition, they will examine lifestyles and technologies from each of the major time periods, participate in a simulated archaeological dig, visit Crow Canyon’s research laboratory and active excavation site, and tour one of the jewels of the southwest, Mesa Verde National Park.

Registration is due February 11. Forms are available from Ms. Battles, Belfield 137-B and Mr. Reece, Belfield 137-I, or at: Summerlab after January 15, 2008. Call 773-834-7766 or -4272 with questions.

Science Expo—Saturday, February 23, from 1–5 pm at Lab—features presentations by student and parent scientists and fun activities for all ages. All Lab students and their families are invited to attend. Don't miss it!

Parents, it's greatly rewarding to present or volunteer at Science Expo. To give a science talk, run a kid's activity, or volunteer as general staff, please contact Diane Snider. One hour of your time is all it takes.

We hope you will join us on March 1 for a spectacular evening of dinner, dancing, and a fabulous silent auction at Connections 2008, our annual gala benefit to support the Lab Schools. Individual tickets are available for $175 per person and underwriting opportunities begin at $1,000.  For more information, call the Development Office at 773-702-0578.

The office of the Registrar has sent out registration materials for the 2008-2009 school year. Your child(ren) will be registered for the new year once the registrar has received both a $1,000 deposit (credited towards Fall 2008 tuition balance) and a signed registration form for each child. These are due no later than February 8. For more information or if you have not received your materials, please contact the registrar, Sandy Hrstich.

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