LabLifethe magazine for alumni, parents, and friends of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Spring 2019 SPRING 2019 in this issue InIn thethe HallsHalls FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 22 Bringing Connection 28 Fifty Labbies Attend 03 In the Halls to Lab the UChicago- 04 The Bookshelf I want my mommy! 24 Social-Emotional hosted Clinton 11 Sports Highlights Skills as a Key to Gobal Initiative 17 Behind the Scenes LabLife Overall Well-Being 32 On the Road with 20 Dewey Dance Mr. Dewey 36 Alumni Notes 46 Alumni in Action A story of owl babies helps teach emotional vocabulary By AJ Jennings, Lab nursery teacher FROM DIRECTOR Lab is an amazing school because of CHARLIE ABELMANN the passion for learning that fills our Curiosity, classrooms, our hallways, and even inquiry, and our playgrounds. ideas In appreciation for the Lab community Dear Friends, > Lab teachers and assistant They give their children the Lab is an amazing school teachers never underestimate love and support needed to find because of the passion Because the Laboratory Schools the knowledge a child—no one’s agency in the world. Lab’s for learning that fills our are part of the world-renowned matter how young—brings community of learners would classrooms, our hallways, and University of Chicago, the to the classroom. They work be incomplete without their even our playgrounds. It is importance of intellectual life— tirelessly to build a connection participation and support. my privilege to join so many of thought and exploration— with each child to inspire that people who are committed to infuses everything we do across child’s scholarship, curiosity, > Lab alumni carry into the providing our students with a all aspects of our curriculum. creativity, and confidence. It world a passion for Lab and most outstanding experience. We deeply value our growing is exciting to see students so hold onto Lab friendships for a On the first day of school, we to self-soothe. They are in the We read Owl Babies early connection to the University deeply engaged in so many lifetime. They’re an inspiration Congratulations to all of our read Owl Babies by Martin Three-year- process of constructing their on so it can be used as a tool which supports Lab teachers creative projects. to their peers and to our current graduates and I hope that over Waddell, a story about three olds are in the understanding of the cycle, to support kids when they are and learners. Our University generation of young scholars, the summer we all find ways baby owls who wake up one patterns, and rhythms of the longing for home. We also partners enhance our student > Our students are just amazing! and we welcome them in our to enjoy the outdoors, discover night to find their mother process of school day. They are learning want to provide a model of experience and help build an They are open, challenging, classrooms. new ideas, and share time with gone. Two of the three imagine constructing their that each day they will be the language a child can use if invigorating environment, one enthusiastic, thoughtful, and friends and family. reasons she might be missing, reunified with their family at they are missing family. Young that nurtures expansive thinking they are ready and willing > Our staff including our while the youngest just repeats, understanding home. So we might find a child children are in the process of and complex problem-solving. to be part of the full school facilities and security teams and With deepest appreciation, “I want my mommy!” In the of the cycle, teary-eyed as they get ready to developing their emotional community—questioning it at food service employees. These end, the owl mother returns transition between activities. language. It is not uncommon People who choose to be part of times, championing at others, individuals are crucial to life at home and assures her babies patterns, and In those moments, we support for a young child to experience that she always comes back. children by saying things like, an emotion and not be quite Lab care deeply about curiosity, and always invested in life at Lab whether welcoming new Charlie rhythms of the inquiry, and ideas, and as we It’s a simple story of “You look a little sad. I’m sure what it is, and we think Lab—and in one another. families, greeting children and separation and reunification. school day. wondering what’s making you a huge part of our role is to come to the end of the school parents, coaching our athletics Instead of being able to feel sad.” Sometimes even help children apply language to year, I write to express my > Our families, many of whom teams, supporting our teachers imagine the possibilities of that is too broad and the child their emotional landscape. gratitude to all who make the make real sacrifice to take part and departments, or creating what mom could be doing, you tell your child there are might not be able to respond. One day in the second Lab experience so special: in the Lab experience, bring a meaningful after school as the two older owls do, the three more minutes before If so, we might ask, “Are you week, I was reading the book their expertise and enthusiasm experience. youngest owl is only able the movie starts, they might missing your family?” This is during playtime on the couch to classrooms and activities. to articulate the emotion of ask you five times in the often met with an emphatic with a group of children. As wanting mom nearby. We tend course of those three minutes nod and sometimes more tears. we read, the kids I was sitting to see this with children at when the movie will begin. Then we start to find ways to with were reciting, “I want my school, too. They are constructing their help the child feel connected Mommy” at the appropriate What might be common understanding of the abstract to home and comforted. This time. Soon, it was as if we had LabLife, published twice Editor Design Lab Notes Correspondents Please send comments or Reproduction in whole or knowledge to adults is not concept of time. might include drawing a surround sound. Kids playing a year, is written for the Catherine Braendel, ’81 Janice Clark Dozens of diligent alumni updated contact information part, without permission of University of Chicago agents to [email protected], the publisher, is prohibited. so apparent to a three-year- So, imagine how the picture for a family member, with playdough and at the Laboratory Schools’ Contributors Photography or call 773-702-0578. writing a note with a teacher, water table were saying it along community of alumni, parents, Megan E. Doherty, AM’05, Anna Johnson Publisher old. For example, adults can emotional experience of a faculty, and staff. PhD’10 Chris Kirzeder University of Chicago Volume 12, Number 2 Heather Preston Kathryn Smidstra Laboratory Schools © 2019 by the University of reasonably understand a three-year-old differs when or looking at our “All About with us. It was at this point we Director Paul Schellinger 1362 E. 59th Street Chicago Laboratory Schools statement like, “I’ll see you they are unable to use the Me” book, which contains knew that the book was really Charles Abelmann Lindsey Simon Chicago, IL 60637 Ingrid Gonçalves www.ucls.uchicago.edu after work.” Conversely, if same strategies that adults use family photos. striking a chord! 02 LabLife Spring 2019 LabLife Spring 2019 03 THE BOOKSHELF In the Halls Recommended Greek language Elephant toothpaste reading now offered at Lab and lemon volcanoes Art teacher Philip Matsikas recommends Children Draw: A Guide to Why, When, U-Highers bring STEM fun and How Children Make Art to younger kids PHILIP MATSIKAS (IN HIS SIGNATURE PORTRAIT POSE) f you don’t know highly knowledgeable voice sources. Her writing deftly why your child’s into the whys, whens, and weaves together important Children Draw is scribbles are not hows of young children’s contributors to the field a wise and just scribbles, why artistic development. of art and art education children nearly Goodman, former in a remarkably clear and readable children’s always draw doors with director of education for the readable narrative. Beginning art-making guide door knobs, even on high Solomon R. Guggenheim with Viktor Lowenfeld’s rises, or why your child has Museum, speaks from widely respected, Creative written for parents completely changed their her own extensive art and Mental Growth to and caregivers explanation about what education experiences while Howard Gardner’s, Art, yesterday’s drawing means, citing from a wide rangeof Mind and Brain…from who want to and why, if they choose to important academic Piaget to Betty Edwards understand and change it again tomorrow, to Louise Boyd Cadwell’s that is a good thing, I highly Bringing Reggio Emilia support this recommend this book. Home…Goodman’s readers essential activity Children Draw is a wise are treated to a coherent and readable children’s art- vision of how to support in their child’s making guide written for their child and how best home life. parents and caregivers who avoid doing damage. want to understand and support this essential activity In the interest of full in their child’s home life. disclosure, Marilyn Goodman While Latin has been a instruction will begin in Middle Galaxy making, elephant confidence and encourages Abundantly and beautifully is a long-time colleague mainstay in the World School, which will strengthen toothpaste, lemon volcanoes, problem solving without the illustrated at each phase of a and friend of mine, and it Languages Department for both Latin and Greek in the and yeast balloons were among fear of failure.” child’s artistic development, is indeed my endorsement many years, Greek language High School.