Connecting to Music through History
How do Conservatory Lab’s young musicians learn to make music “sing?” If you have ever picked up a recorder or plunked on a piano, you know that there is more to making music than knowing where to put your fingers
Stories from the Conservatory Lab Community
Learning in Action
Conservatory Lab students take ownership of their learning. Each one grows as a Scholar, Artists, and Leaders through project based learning, music, and community engagement.
Creative Youth Development with Early Childhood Music
Conservatory Lab students don’t just say, “I’m learning music.” They say, “I’m a musician.” This is by design: Resident Artists have created a program that makes space for students to take ownership of what they are learning from very early
Continue readingCreative Youth Development with Early Childhood Music
The Science of Salad Dressing
Conservatory Lab students have kept learning about the real world with hands-on activities even when we were all dependent on screens for communication with their teachers and peers. Thanks to a grant from the Cedar Tree Foundation, Conservatory lab launched
Celebrating and Connecting: Middle School Edition
Middle School teachers decided to try a new format for a virtual zoom party just before December break. The day before a break is always a joyful moment to celebrate how much our young scholars have accomplished since the school
Continue readingCelebrating and Connecting: Middle School Edition
Friday Finale Celebration Goes Virtual!
Students at Conservatory Lab take ownership of their learning in a number of ways including gaining confidence by celebrating what they know and can do with our entire learning community: families, teachers, and peers. During the Pandemic, our cozy Friday
Welcoming Students to Conservatory Lab
As students return in tiers to learn in our building, we are pausing to reflect on how welcoming the first group of students back into our new building during the pandemic raised spirits in January at Conservatory Lab Charter School.
Abstract Art and Perpetual Motion
Resident Artists at Conservatory Lab have used student-driven instructional strategies to leverage technology and open up new avenues of expression for students. One way they are nurturing music production and artistic expression for students is through a collaborative online platform
Deepening Relationships: Learning Kit Pick-Up Days
Remote instruction at Conservatory Lab is grounded in the understanding that positive learning experiences begin with strong relationships. The contents of our third round of learning kits reflect the evolution of our strategy from the rapid translation of existing content
Continue readingDeepening Relationships: Learning Kit Pick-Up Days
Constituent Profile: Rev. Dr. Gregory Groover, Board Chair Elect, Conservatory Lab Charter School
In a recent conversation, longtime trustee and incoming Board Chair Reverend Doctor Gregory Groover shared how pleased he is to see the school move into its new building at 395 Columbia Road in Uphams Corner, “I’m happy to hear how
Families, Now Educators: A Look At Virtual Learning Strategies At Home
Remote or hybrid learning has become a critical means for teachers to continue building sustainable educational experiences for young learners. At Conservatory Lab, teachers continue to explore a blend of virtual and more traditional methods of instruction to keep students’
Continue readingFamilies, Now Educators: A Look At Virtual Learning Strategies At Home
Learning Kits: Classroom Resources at Home
From word walls and number lines to whiteboards and toys that activate imaginative play, every classroom is rich with visual aids and resources that reinforce ideas or remove barriers to learning. Teachers, teaching assistants, and operations staff ensured that students
What Teachers Need to Know for Remote Learning
The typical school year begins with weeks of planning and professional development, providing staff with time to prepare for the arrival of our students. The pandemic created a seismic shift in that process, requiring our school leaders to work tirelessly
Continue readingWhat Teachers Need to Know for Remote Learning
From Groundbreaking to New Building
After moving five times over the past 20 years, Conservatory Lab is overjoyed at the opening of our permanent home at 395 Columbia Road. The new 44,000 square foot building was designed by Arrowstreet, a Boston-based architectural firm, and constructed
Exploring Artistic Identity At Conservatory Lab
The nearly 200 young string players in Grades 3-8 face a challenge: keeping track of their work. They gather the repertoire and notes they are working on in binders, which helps, but it is difficult to find their own binder
Continue readingExploring Artistic Identity At Conservatory Lab
Spirit at CLCS during Remote Learning
Spirit Days at Conservatory Lab are a time of exploration, cultural celebration, and engagement in scholarship beyond the classroom. Students drive learning through these events, designed to leave space for imagination and self-expression. Spirit Weeks bolster excitement and community spirit
Congratulations Grade 8
We are so proud of the Grade 8 students who will be moving up to high school in the fall. This fall, CLCS students will be matriculating to schools across the city including Boston Arts Academy, TechBoston Academy, Boston Community
Virtual Astronauts: Exploring the Universe from Home
Grab a virtual telescope and peek into how Elizabeth Schibuk, a 7th and 8th-grade Science teacher at Conservatory Lab, inspires students to explore the world around them and beyond – even when learning from home! Watch the video above to
Continue readingVirtual Astronauts: Exploring the Universe from Home
Bringing Learning Home
As Conservatory Lab Charter School closed its doors to prevent the spread of COVID-19, families opened up their homes and embraced the possibilities of remote learning or as we like to say “bringing learning home”. With the support of teachers,
A Day in the Life of K1
Greetings new families! We are so excited to have you and your child join us at the Conservatory Lab! Here is a ‘day in the life’ of a K1 student! We begin the day with arrival happening between 9:15 and
What Is A Friday Finale?
Students are at the center of their own learning at Conservatory Lab. To deepen their learning in subjects like literacy and math, students complete learning expeditions, which are meaningful academic projects through fieldwork, reading, that allows students to take ownership
Grade 7: MLK and Vietnam
This February, the Humanities curriculum for Grade 7 is focused on the Vietnam War. The United States was most involved in the war from 1959 to 1973 which coincided with the Civil Rights movement. To celebrate Black History month, students
K1 Explores Portraiture: Kehinde Wiley
Every year, students in Pre-K explore their identities as a part of an annual project called “A Portrait of the Artist,” designed by K1 Teacher, Taheera Massey. Students create a series of self-portraits while examining artwork from a variety of
Art and Communication: Body Percussion Workshop with Melanie DeMore
On February 5, Black folk singer and activist Melanie DeMore visited the Lower School to share her art and activism with students in Grade 2. DeMore teaches the power of rhythm to connect people through singing and stick-pounding workshops across
Continue readingArt and Communication: Body Percussion Workshop with Melanie DeMore
African American Art and Collage at Conservatory Lab
To celebrate Black History Month, Conservatory Lab is featuring African American scholars, artists, and leaders that will inspire our students. Art Teacher José Santiago creates videos, slideshows, and a newsletter every month to share with students and their families
Continue readingAfrican American Art and Collage at Conservatory Lab
2020 Winter Concert Recap
Conservatory Lab held its Winter Showcase on January 11, 2020, at the historic Strand Theatre in Upham’s Corner. It is just around the corner from our Lower School in Dorchester, and only a few blocks from where our new building
Grade 7 Studies Ecology and Stewardship through Eco-XPT
Building Engagement Through a Diversity of Curricular Experiences By Elizabeth Schibuk The 7th grade science curriculum at Conservatory Lab centers on understanding the relationship between modern living and the natural world. Through a study of marine ecology, earth science, environmental
Continue readingGrade 7 Studies Ecology and Stewardship through Eco-XPT
Student Performances
On December 4, students performed to a crowd of thrilled parents, visitors, and employees at the Massachusetts State House. Kindergarten students wowed the audience with spirited renditions of classic holiday songs while family members filmed. The Dudamel String Orchestra showcased
Next Wave Master Class- Routines and Artistry in Early Childhood Music at Conservatory Lab
Conservatory Lab community members board and staff members and alumni represented the school with skill and pride at the Next Wave Summit, hosted by our sister organization, the Center for Artistry and Scholarship on Saturday, October 19, 2019. Next Wave
Building a First Grade String Orchestra
By Joshua Garver Fall is an exciting time musically at Conservatory Lab’s Lower School: our first-grade musicians finally become a string orchestra! Since PreK, they have been observing the string musicians in first and second grade and wondering, “When will
Literacy, Science, and Music: Poetry with First Grade
Last spring, teachers, students, and families gathered in the orchestra room at the Lower School for a festive Friday Finale to celebrate an interdisciplinary lesson that touched on Science, English Language Art, and Musical learning. Once everyone was settled in,
Continue readingLiteracy, Science, and Music: Poetry with First Grade
Meet Tamesha Webb, Director of School Culture & Building Management
This year, Conservatory Lab is proud to welcome Tamesha Webb as the Director of School Culture & Building Management. In this role, she will encourage students to love learning, explore, and lead with compassion. In between inspiring students and empowering
Continue readingMeet Tamesha Webb, Director of School Culture & Building Management
Thanks to Conservatory Lab’s Family CREW!
On Saturday, September 28, 2019, generous Conservatory Lab families worked with staff and local landscape designer Joan Yogg to create a Pollinator Pathway at the Lower School. The morning started with just a pathway and patch of dirt. During the
Cross Country Makes Historic Debut
Our first ever Cross Country team came out in full force to compete in our meet! The MCSAO Invitational, a qualifier for states, was held at Franklin Park on the national course. Over 25 schools from across the league were
Pollinator Pathway & Community Call
On Saturday, September 28th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Conservatory Lab invites its community to our Lower Campus at 133 Hancock Street to add plantings to our inspirational new Pollinator Pathway. Joining us will be landscape designer Joan Yogg,
Dance Night with the Landmarks Orchestra
At the Hatch Shell, dancers, choreographed by Jean Apollón, bring to life “La Chouconne,” Arranged by Anthony R. Greene, Artistic Director of Castle of Our Skins. Students and alumni from Conservatory Lab played at the Hatch Shell last