What a Day!

Friday was a day of celebration from start to finish.

The Lower School community gathered at 1:30 p.m. in front of the new Ulmer Family Light Lab on what seemed the most beautiful fall day possible.  The joy was palpable - little feet swinging in chairs and fingers energetically pointing towards the big blue ribbon stretched in front of the building.

Inspirational words were spoken by our Head of School, Craig Sellers and our LS Director, Kelly Pierre. Check out the video to hear some highlights and the gallery to see the whole event.

We were treated to a moving thank you from Rich Ulmer, Class of 1960, on behalf of his family.  Rich and Bev's extraordinary gift made possible the building of the Ulmer Family Light Lab.  We are so grateful for their generosity and eager to share the amazing work our students will produce.

Tours of the Studios followed along with time for our community members to make their discs together.

The Ulmers had front row seats while watching our little ones bring their personalized discs into the courtyard to add to the collaborative LS sculpture.  They smiled watching children puzzle over what animal it most resembled or to gasp as they added a piece that threw the structure out of balance.

As we hoped, this project gave each student the opportunity to show their individual talent while utilizing the strength of classmates and teachers to build a final unpredictable and interesting piece of art.  More classes added their pieces on Monday.  I will post a final picture in the coming weeks as we keep the structure up for classes to visit in the Light Lab.

As we ready ourselves for the work ahead, I remind myself of Maria Montessori's belief that a child's work is play.  Let the play begin!

14 Days

We're almost there as we prepare to cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening of the Ulmer Family Light Lab on October 21st.  All community members are welcome to join us at 1:30 on the Lower Campus for the festivities, a fun collaborative maker project and refreshments.

Michael Darfler, US Makerspace Director, spent a fun afternoon helping me prototype the building pieces which will be used to construct a collaborative sculpture for display in the Light Lab courtyard.  It never gets old watching the laser cut run.  I cannot wait to have one in the Fabrication Studio!

Each student will take time to personalize a piece.  Classes will make their own structures together before sharing and connecting them all for display in the courtyard.  Eventually the pieces will return back to each child to take home as a reminder of this exciting day.

The Light Lab Committee very intentionally planned this first division-wide maker project.  We wanted it to reflect the importance of process over product - a tenet of Maker Education. While the final structure will hopefully add beauty and intrigue to the courtyard at the opening, the process of creating it alongside our friends will be far more meaningful.

14 days!