***IT'S NOT TOO LATE! 30 hours LEFT to qualify for the $10,000 GivingTuesday matching funds - then they go away. Act now!***
I'll confess I've always been the laggard when it comes to donating. My intentions are good. My heart is in the right place. I know I'll get to it... some day. But then I forget... I don't or I am too late. Now having the shoe on the other foot and being the one asking for the donations instead of giving them, I realize that these donations are like a life raft to a drowning person. A minute feels like an eternity waiting for it to arrive. Fearing that it may never or that it will arrive too late.
Donations are not optional for The Lab. We work hard to be "fee-free" but that means that we must fundraise to fill the "gap" between what it costs us to deliver our program and what we receive from your Charter Schools.
The truth is we need EVERY family's support to keep The Lab going and thriving. It doesn't matter if you give $1000 or $1. Every little bit helps. AND If you donate BEFORE tomorrow at Midnight the power of your donation is DOUBLED by our anonymous matching donor! If you love The Lab and having it available for you and your family, ACT NOW. CLICK HERE.
THE LAB'S MAGIC BOX RETURNS! We've heard the feedback from our youngest students. They miss our "Treasure chest" from last year. And so we are bringing it back, but new and improved! A Magical Box that contains artifacts and objects from mystery countries from around the world! Watch for it. It is coming soon.....
OUR K-3RD GRADE TEACHING TEAM IS EXPANDING! We have been hard at work identifying the best possible teacher for our K-3rd grade classroom and in the process we discovered 3 fabulous educators, each with their own area of special talent, that will be joining our team for the Winter!
TINA LANDESMAN is a lifetime educator with more than 20 years of experience teaching in multi-age K-3rd grade classrooms. She holds a Masters in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from New York University, a multi-subject teaching credential, and taught 1st and 2nd grade for more than a decade at the progressive and highly regarded Waverly School of Pasadena. She is deeply skilled in and passionate about the development of literacy skills in young students and is also a trained dancer and ballerina.
Tina will be overseeing Readers and Writers workshop along with early math instruction for our K-3rd grade students two days a week. She and Michelle will work together to make sure students at every level of literacy and math skill- from emerging readers and writers and mathematicians to those who are more advanced -are challenged and have enriching learning experiences every day.
KATHRYN FORREST will be joining our team as an integrated-arts education specialist. Kathryn has more than a decade of experience as an early childhood educator both in the U.S. and internationally. Her experience includes serving as lead teacher at the international school in Bangkok, Thailand; working as an Atelierista (a guide to arts-based learning) informed by the Reggio-Emilia approach; and teaching science in elementary schools. Kathryn is also deeply skilled in working with students on the Autism Spectrum and a trained behavioral technician in the highly successful Applied Behavioral Analysis.
Kathryn will be overseeing our PBL Curiosity Studios for our K-3rd grade students twice weekly and infusing them with innovative and engaging integrated-arts based instruction.
Finally, BRIAN KINNAMAN will be joining us to lead our WOW! Global Art Workshops for both the K-3rd graders and Mr. T's class. Brian is a wonderful artist and writer in his own right, who has trained at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze in Florence, Italy and exhibited his work internationally. He is also a seasoned educator, experienced working with all age groups, from pre-school through high school. Brian is also a Lab parent -his daughter LuLu recently joined The Lab.
MICHELLE (AND KATRINA) will continue their great work in the classroom as TA and support the work of each of our new team members!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS. The FIRST ANNUAL LAB TALENT SHOW is ON DECEMBER 13TH. The FIRST ANNUAL Lab Talent show is next FRIDAY, December 13th! We have some wonderful acts already signed-up. Enjoy a night of singing, dancing, joke-telling, comedy and more! Come support our students for a magical night of "anything goes." We need parent volunteers to help prepare for the event. See Jessica Ponce, event chair or email me (lyndee.knox@lablearning.org) to volunteer to help.
HOMESCHOOL HOLIDAY CHOIR. The Barron Academy of Voice is organizing a Holiday Choir at The Lab in December. Come sing with them and experience old-time caroling. See our website for more information and click here to register. Come enjoy the fun!