the lab school of washington
These trips don’t benefit Lab School students and teachers only - they enrich the programs at Williamsburg as well. “Working with Lab teachers and students has given us new insight into how to teach hands-on history,” says Tab Broyles, Director of Teacher Development at The Williamsburg Foundation. Tab works on professional development for history teachers and has shared some of what she’s learned from Lab teachers with others. “What Lab’s doing is so unique and great, especially the clubs program. This is how everyone should teach and how every child should learn.” Tab was so impressed with Lab High School history teacher John Aragona that she encouraged him to apply as a “mentor” for Williamsburg’s Teacher Institute, which he attended last summer thanks to the Frechette’s gift. The Institute is a weeklong program where 25 participants and a mentor teacher engage in an interdisciplinary approach to teaching social studies with an American history focus. “Colonial Williamsburg has been in the process of actively expanding their high school program to coincide with the release of their online textbook, The Idea of America. I attended the program at the suggestion of Board Member Kathy Tenhula, who supports professional development opportunities for history teachers at Lab,” explains John. “I reported back to Colonial Williamsburg’s Educational Outreach Department that the program was vital to our student’s speech/ language goals. Colonial Williamsburg granted Lab five additional years to test the long-term efficacy of their program for students with learning differences.”
“John really took our program and ran with it,” exclaims Tab. “The way he implements it in the classroom is exactly how we would like all teachers to use our technology.” Lab is incredibly grateful to the Frechette family for cultivating and supporting this relationship.
Parents Association of The Lab School of Washington (PALS) PALS had a busy and rewarding year during 2011-2012. Thanks to your help, we were able to make significant contributions to our students, our teachers and staff and our campus. Highlights included: COMMITTEE CHAIRS Staff Appreciation and Support PALS hosted two breakfasts and one lunch for staff last year. (Is it true that the best way to the hearts of staff at Lab is through their stomachs?) We also wrote individual cards of thanks on behalf of parents during the holiday season and distributed gifts to teachers. PALS Book Fair helped fund staff training in math and technology. And, of course, our network of room parents lent valuable support to classroom teachers. Community-Building PALS’ signature community-building event is the Spring Fair with games, food, rides, music, dancing, and more. Some say the 2012 Spring Fair was the best ever! This year PALS once again sponsored a “buddy program” to help new families, a Welcome Back Coffee for parents, Grandparents/Relatives Day and -thanks to our room parents -- potluck dinners for each class and grade. Communication A priority for PALS this year was to improve the communication and information between parents and the School. To that end, we held monthly meetings with the Head of School to provide parent input on various topics. We also held two forums on topics of interest to parents (“Financing a Lab Education” and “The Academic Clubs at Lab”). Finally, we continued with “PALS Reports,” which updated parents who were unable to attend lectures and meetings. Our success over the past year is owed to the tireless efforts of our officers, events chairs, volunteers, and all those parents who join PALS. Thank you for all that you do and for your continued involvement with PALS.
Community-Building Julie Butler, Kathryn Everett, Lalie Tongour, Spring Fair Karen Spangler, New Family Buddies Rene Simpson, Welcome Back Coffee - Reservoir Hilari Dunn, Welcome Back Coffee - Foxhall Jackie Sink, Grandparents and Relatives Day Appreciation and Support Jenny Hunter, Membership/Volunteer Coordinator Jessica Doran, Colleen Robertson, Room Parents & Teacher Gift Fund Sherri Pellegrino, Staff Appreciation Breakfasts - Reservoir Jessica Doran, Staff Appreciation Breakfasts - Foxhall Linda Adams, Staff Appreciation Lunch Karen Spangler, Book Fair Communication Diane Hinson, Reporter Coordinator Mary Fran Miklitsch, Calendar Linda Adams, Vicki Burns, Parent Forums Finance Claudia Vacirca, Treasurer Margaret Hollar, Vendor Rebate Program Carol McKay, Box Tops Program Molly Carr, Amy McCleskey, Sally Foster, Fair Trade Debbie Roumell, Photo Day - Reservoir Liz Vogel, Photo Day - Foxhall
Room Parents 2011-2012 PALS 2011-2012 OFFICERS Foxhall Campus
Reservoir Campus
Heather Beatty Michelle Bernard Anita Brassart Kelly Briscoe Eric Campbell Margaret Conway Janis Fleischer Lisa Hohenemser Janene Jackson Melissa Schmitt Allison Soffer Diane Wiley Cristina Wills
Heather Barr Kim Baxter Cristina Carlisle Debbie Ellick Kathryn Everett Laura FitzGerald Laurie Friedman Andrea Joseph Jenny Ann Lynch Lori Milstein Elizabeth Snee Vanda Tamari Felicia Widmann
OFFICERS Linda Adams and Vicki Burns, Co-Presidents Christopher Lyon, Vice President, Community-Building Jessica Doran, Vice President, Appreciation and Support Lalie Tongour, Vice President , Communication Claudia Vacirca, Vice President, Finance Allison Howard, Hadley Boyd, Michelle Bacchus, Representatives to the Parents Council
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the lab school
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Annual Report
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2011— 2012
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