LabLifethe magazine for alumni, parents, and friends of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools Fall 2018 FALL 2018 in this issue InIn thethe HallsHalls FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 22 Law School for 03 In the Halls Teens 04 The Bookshelf Lab’s littlest superheroes 24 Making: Shop Class 11 Sports Highlights for the 21st Century 19 Behind the Scenes LabLife 28 Computational 20 Connections 2018 have a big impact Thinking 36 Throwback 32 China 38 Alumni Notes 46 Alumni in Action FROM DIRECTOR Lab will define a path so that we CHARLIE ABELMANN can continue to be an outstanding Honor, dark photo institution, continue to improve, and foster, ensure that we appropriately prepare connect, our students for citizenship in a support complex world. Dear Friends, that I like to mention both John Fostering Community, by 20 percent. We will continue and Alice. He is famed for the Coherence, Civility to focus on meeting each child During the summer, Lab’s ideas, but she did an important We are a big school, but we are at his or her own level, and mission remains alive and well. share of the work!) one school. We must ensure having our program meet the Across our campus, nearly This year, we will be that everyone feels valued and academic, social, and emotional 1,025 children joined us for working with our many that every voice can be heard. needs of each student. Summer Lab: sports camps, constituents—all of you—to This year we are welcoming I am thrilled to welcome CSI-style science classes, theater, gather input to our strategic nearly 30 new employees and this year’s 2,156 students and activities that allowed our planning process. Through this 150 new students and their and their families, and I look campers to take advantage of process, Lab will define a path families. We want them to feel forward to speaking with When you first enter co- student decided which three features a real historical figure our great city. We also sent so that we can continue to be that this is their school from alumni at reunion or when I am teachers Amy Tomaszewski “We wanted our superpowers they would like who changed the world—Rosa students on explorations to an outstanding institution, day one. visiting other cities this year. and Dave Kaleta’s kindergarten students to start to have, and the results were Parks, Jane Goodall, Jackie Ecuador and, funded by a continue to improve, and ensure Connecting to the University classroom, you may do a graphed. Robinson, Martin Luther King, special gift, we were able to that we appropriately prepare thinking not only and Chicago double-take to make sure you “Flying was very popular,” Jr. To make the books relatable take faculty and high school our students for citizenship in With warm regards, didn’t accidentally stumble into Ms. Tomaszewski reports. “As for children, Meltzer depicted We have unparalleled resources about ways they students from Lab and the a complex world. Last year, we a comic book store. Batman, was teleporting, super strength, each subject as a child. available to us through the UChicago Charter Schools on focused on four key areas, and Wonder Woman, Superman, might want to climbing walls, and shooting “These stories focus University and beyond, and study tours to China. All of those will continue to ground Charlie Abelmann Black Panther, Thor, Aqua lasers out of their eyes.” on children who grew up will continue to take advantage change the world these activities are grounded in our work as we complete our Man…they’re all there, up Next came the photo to change the world,” Ms. of them. They are sources our commitment to learning strategic plan: high on the shelves, watching when they’re shoot: the students posed in Tomaszewski says. “We wanted for learning and provide over and inspiring the young front of a white backdrop and our students to start thinking by doing and our belief that opportunities for our students scholars. grown, but also struck their best superhero not only about ways they all benefit when we share our Honoring Dewey and faculty to serve and to “We kind of had the poses. Mr. Kaleta worked a might want to change the different perspectives. We will look to amplify all about what they contribute to the larger world. superhero theme in mind at little PhotoShop magic to world when they’re grown, but You have heard me speak the ways we bring to life the can do now, as desire to have education be the beginning of the year, but white out everything except also about what they can do about the importance of Supporting All Students interdisciplinary, hands-on, and we like to let the kids lead in children, to make the students’ faces and hands, now, as children, to make a “leaning into history,” and Issues of inclusivity, where things go from there,” and then they paired with their difference.” a means of helping children these examples of experiential affordability, access, and Mr. Kaleta says. “The first step a difference.” fifth-grade buddies to draw After some brainstorming, grow into active members of a learning are so much what John opportunity to learn are was to get them thinking about their superhero costumes. The the class settled on a democratic society. and Alice Dewey wanted for paramount. This year we will superheroes.” questions—they walked to resulting masterpieces were community service project: a their school. (You will notice increase our financial aid budget That’s when the fun First Aid Comics on 55th displayed in Gordon Parks Hall student-run lemonade stand, really began. Each Friday Mr. Street to ask an expert—the during LabArts. the proceeds from which would Kaleta and Ms. Tomaszewski owner—about super powers. From there, it was time to be donated to help save the LabLife, published twice Editor Design Lab Notes Correspondents Please send comments or Reproduction in whole or take their class on a “Friday Once they had the answers switch gears and talk about real endangered red panda. When 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. Adventure,” which is an they needed, it was back to people who have changed the all was said, and done, $191.47 Laboratory Schools’ Contributors Photography or call 773-702-0578. was raised and gifted by our community of alumni, parents, Megan E. Doherty, AM’05, Anna Johnson Publisher opportunity to get out of the the classroom to get to work. world without superpowers. faculty, and staff. PhD’10 Chris Kirzeder University of Chicago Volume 12, Number 1 Heather Preston Kathryn Smidstra Laboratory Schools classroom and try something The students created a list of Together the class read books littlest superheroes to the Director © 2018 by the University of Paul Schellinger 1362 E. 59th Street Chicago Laboratory Schools different. One Friday—armed superpowers and incorporated from Brad Meltzer’s “I Am” World Wildlife Fund. Charles Abelmann Lindsey Simon Chicago, IL 60637 www.ucls.uchicago.edu with a list of student-generated them into a huge chart. Each series, in which each title 02 LabLife Fall 2018 LabLife Fall 2018 03 THE BOOKSHELF In the Halls Recommended Second-graders Architecture exhibit reading revive the lost art builds interest among History teacher Naadia Owens recommends The Southside: A Portrait of letter writing kindergarteners of Chicago and American Segregation A biography project connects young and old he Southside: the history, and current justice and gentrification, A Portrait of impact, of de facto and de and foster a local current The book is a Chicago and jure segregation on Chicago’s events study in the great way to American identity, it has been the classroom. Any opportunity connect students Segregation perfect addition to my for students to make a by WBEZ US and African American connection between the to the south reporter Natalie Moore history courses. classroom and current side of the city, immediately piqued my Ms. Moore, born events is an important one, interest when it arrived on and raised in Chicago, especially if it helps them to dispel myths, the book scene a few years intermingles her story become more civically active. and challenge ago. A well written non- of growing up in the fiction narrative that explores Chatham neighborhood assumptions by with important research and The adults at Lab participate introducing them insights from experts on in a shared summer reading to topics like why and how segregation experience. This summer’s texts continues to plague are The Southside and High- food justice and Chicago—costing it a Risers: Cabrini-Green and gentrification, billion dollars in income the Fate of American Public each year. The book is Housing, by and foster a local a great way to connect Lab parent current events students to the south side Ben Austen study in the of the city, dispel myths, Ted Ratliff’s second graders got so when they talk about buildings on display, while and challenge classroom. the rare opportunity to build places, the kids are really others were most intrigued assumptions their writing skills and engage excited and invested,” Mr. by the models complete with by introducing with members of the Hyde Ratliff noted. miniature furniture. them to topics like food Park community through In addition to developing Prior to the field trip, Ms. Randazzo had noticed that this their social studies curriculum their writing skills, kindergarten class was more this past winter.