Volume 26, Issue 1 • December 2014
In this Issue
News from Admissions ..................................2
From the PTO President ................................3
Primary News ................................................4
Intermediate News .........................................5
“First Night” ....................................................6
Falk Diversity and Inclusion Group ................6
Music Notes....................................................7
Middle School News ......................................8
Library News...................................................9
Physical Education News .............................11
From the Art Studio .....................................12
Spotlight on Faculty and Staff ......................13
Technology News ........................................14
Published by the Falk School PTO
From the Director
Dear Falk School Families,
It’s been just about a year, now, since I first visited
Falk Laboratory School as a candidate for the
position of Director, and close to six months since
I came on board officially in that role. For any of
you who have met me or heard me speak, you
likely know that I have two deep and sincere life’s
passions: progressive schools and the city of
Pittsburgh. Being here, then, at what is—without
question—Pittsburgh’s premier K-8 school, has
been and continues to be a dream come true. Every
morning that I walk through the front door at 4060
Allequippa Street I am reminded just what a lucky,
lucky man I am.
We want our
children...
...to have a
deepening
relationship
with something
that arises
out of their
own personal
interests.
Whether you are new, like me, or are a more
seasoned veteran, you know that Falk School is
a very special place for kids. In my career I have
worked at (including Falk) five different independent
schools in four different states, all of them with
their unique charms and attributes. Each one, I am
confident, serves children very well; in fact, I know
that they do. But I am even more confident in the
fact that none of them serves kids better than this
special little place of ours, tucked up here at the top
of Oakland’s highest hill, does.
In my visits to classrooms this fall, at events like
our annual whole-school Talent Show and our
unparalleled and truly joyful Halloween celebration,
and (most rewardingly) through my interactions with
many of your children every morning as we greet
each other at the front door, I have come to appreciate a great many things about Falk students. They
are uniquely confident and self-assured, comfortable
with adults and at home in their own skins. They
are creative and expressive, and they show us this
in the projects they complete, in the conversations
in which they lend their voices, and in the magical
worlds they imagine (at all ages) through their
unstructured, self-directed play. Finally, they are
inquisitive and they are bright, often revealing an
impressively broad and expansive understanding of
the world around them and their respective places
in it. Having now gotten the opportunity to know
so many Falk students, I must say I feel a lot less
nervous and unsure of humanity’s future, knowing
that they will emerge as some of society’s great
problem solvers as grown-ups. Of course, wonderful
as they are, our students cannot do it all alone. As
such, I’ve been equally impressed with our Falk
faculty and staff who work so closely with our kids
on a daily basis, and with you, too, the parents who
both partner with us here at school and carry the
torch at home.
The school-home partnership is alive and well
at Falk School, evidenced by the robust series
of offerings we’ve held this fall for parents and
teachers to come together to discuss the needs of
the children in our collective care. We all owe the
Falk Parent Teacher Organization a huge debt of
gratitude for all that they provide for this community.
In the past few weeks we and the PTO have jointly
sponsored a number of timely, invigorating (and
well-attended!) events that have opened up broader,
whole-community dialogue about issues facing both
our community and children everywhere, really: our
Upcoming Dates to Remember
Jan 15-19 No School
Feb 17
PTO General Mtg - Town Hall #2
Jan 23
PTO Movie Night
Mar 4
Math Fun Night
Jan 28
PTO Business Meeting
Mar 9-13
No School (Spring Break)
Feb 1
PSO - Meet the Maestro
Mar 23
Spanish Curriculum Night
Feb 2
No School (clerical day)
Apr 2-6
No School (Passover/Easter)
From the Director, continued
first discipline-specific curriculum night, focused on mathematics; the ongoing
and important work of Falk’s Learning Diversity Parent Support Group and the
launch of a great new complementary group focused on diversity and inclusion
in our community more broadly; and our first-ever whole-school Town Hall
Meeting, a type of gathering we will hold several times per year from this point
onward (fear not if you weren’t able to attend last week—there will be ample
opportunities coming up this winter and spring!).
The definition of a strong community is, I think, one that discusses and debates,
engaging in honest and frank discourse about its mission, vision, and values. I
promise you all that this fall’s meetings are but the beginning of what I expect
to be, moving forward, an exciting time of thinking and planning for the future
of Falk School. Much good will come of these meetings, as they will, over time,
lead to real and sustained enhancements and refinements of who we are, what
we do, and how we serve kids’ needs here at Falk School. I hope you will join
me and the Falk faculty and staff as we embark on that journey!
With Sincere Best Wishes and Warm Regards,
Jeff Suzik, Ph.D.
Director
News from the Admissions Office
Open House: Friday, November 14, 2014
A big thank you goes out to Aparna Brown and her group of parent
volunteers whose efforts made Open House an enormous success. Parent
volunteers talked and toured with 167 prospective parents. The response
from our guests was overwhelmingly positive.
Kindergarten 2015 Sibling Applications
If you have a younger child who will be five years old by September 1,
2015, you should have submitted his/her application. If you have not,
please visit the Falk School website at www.falkschool.pitt.edu. Once
at the website, click on the “Admissions & Tuition” tab above the photos.
Then click on “Admissions Process” on the right-hand menu. That will take
you to the application page and the link to our online application.
As current parents, you are welcomed, but not required, to tour the school
with a faculty member and to attend the prospective parent information
meeting on Wednesday evening, December 3, 2014. The agenda for the
December meeting includes what makes Falk School unique, an overview
of the curriculum and extracurricular activities at each level, and an outline
of student visitations and the admissions process. Please contact the
admissions office if you would like to schedule a tour or RSVP for the
parent information meeting.
The Kindergarten visitation is a requirement for admission.You can choose
an 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. session or a 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. session on either
Thursday, January 15th, or Friday, January 16th. A sign-up link will be
emailed before the winter break.
Contact Information
2014-15 Falk PTO Officers:
Director
Jeff Suzik
412-624-8022
Secretary
Ann Gaul
412-327-9152
President
Tica Hall
412-398-2940
Treasurer
Michael Steich
412-521-1281
Vice President
Anne Brownlee
412-606-9093
www.falkschool.pitt.edu
2
From the PTO President
Greetings from the PTO! It’s hard to believe the holiday season is upon us;
it seems like yesterday that the Falk Community gathered in the Falk Café
for the Welcome Picnic, followed by Dr. Suzik’s inaugural welcome remarks
and introductions of the 2014-2015 interns, not to mention dancing with
Cheryl Capezzuti’s wondrous life-size puppets under the moonlight on our
rooftop terrace. One reason this event may seem so recent is that the PTO
has offered an unprecedented number of activities this fall. To be sure, we’ve
sponsored beloved and time-honored activities like field trips to local pumpkin
patches, the Talent Show, and our upcoming Movie Night. This year we’ve
added a host of other activities in response to parent/faculty requests to
facilitate communication and a sense of community amongst all “shareholders” here at Falk.
One of our most important initiatives has been to reinvigorate the room
parent program, under the direction of parents Mariana Achugar and Amy
Strada. The idea here is to have one or two parents in each classroom
(Primary & Intermediate) and grade (Middle School) who can act as a conduit
of information between teachers and parents. The PTO views this more
personal connection between teachers and parents/families as critical to open
communication and creating a sense of community. Let’s face it, we all lead
busy lives – too busy at times – having a personal connection to your child’s
classroom can only enrich their experience and that of their classmates.
Though we are only a few months in, the level of engagement of parents and
teachers in this program has been something to behold!
Other new initiatives this year include fostering parent support groups. The
idea here is to facilitate meetings among parents and faculty interested in a
specific topic related to our children or the Falk community. The Learning
Diversity Parent Support Group, run by David Kaufmann, has actually been
meeting for a couple of years and served as the inspiration for the PTO
to support other such groups. Our newest group, the Falk Diversity and
Inclusion Group, was formed by parents Maggie Jones and Deb Desjardins
(see the short article on this newly formed group and its recent meeting in this
issue of FalkTalk).
Last month the PTO sponsored a Town Hall meeting with Dr. Suzik. Over 100
parents registered for this event, which is a record for a general PTO meeting!
Dr. Suzik and PTO Vice President Anne Brownlee ran the Town Hall and I think
everyone present was impressed and charmed by Dr. Suzik’s presentation on
Falk’s history, including some pretty amazing newspaper clippings about how
innovative our school has been since its inception, not to mention its forgotten/mistaken role in the Cuban blockade! After a walk through Falk’s history,
faculty and parents engaged in facilitated discussions on a variety of topics
selected by parents. Stay tuned for a follow up report from the PTO and Dr.
Suzik on these discussions.
This morning saw a group of dedicated parents and even a couple of future
Falk students setting up our Fair Trade Holiday Gift Shop. Though the gift
shop may raise valid questions about consumerism, it’s always a treat to
watch our really young students, excitement just barely contained, as they
search the shop for that perfect gift for a parent, a sibling or grandparents.
Our dedicated and creative teachers, too, weave lessons about Fair Trade into
students’ work in the weeks leading up to the Holiday Gift Shop, so the event
has a homey and purposeful feel – the antithesis of shopping for gifts in a mall
or on the internet. At the end of this semester, the PTO will also be sponsoring a Holiday Breakfast for faculty and staff.
volunteerism at PTO events and payment of
dues is much lower than in recent years. Dues
payments, in fact, are at an all-time low in my
8-year experience at Falk. Quite simply, the PTO
cannot continue to strive to enrich the experience
of Falk students, faculty and parents without your
participation. How can you help? It’s dead easy.
To pay your dues, all you need to do is put $35 in
an envelope with PTO Dues and your family name
written on the front and ask your child/ren to give
the envelope to any one of the staff members at
the front desk. Dues are $35/family; some families
choose to pay a little more, which is always
appreciated. To volunteer for an upcoming event,
just click on the VOLUNTEER link and sign up for
an activity at a time that works for you.
Finally, I’d like to encourage you to view the PTO’s
webinar on Raising Resilient Children in a World
Filled with Stress and Pressure, which was shown
at Falk on December 11th. Falk parent and distinguished expert in the developmental neurobiology
of resilience, Dr. Erika Forbes joined Dr. Suzik
and School Counselor Alicia Johnson to facilitate
discussion among attendees after the webinar. To
view, go to the Connections Page on the Family
Access Portal for the link and password. The PTO
feels very fortunate to bring these webinars to
you, and we are grateful to Dr. Suzik for bringing
this innovative series to our attention. Ann Gaul,
PTO Secretary, is organizing the fall and spring
webinars and will spearhead an additional webinar
for faculty/administration on a topic specific to
educators.
As you can see, the PTO has been quite busy!
Who is this mysterious body of people? The PTO
is you – Falk parents, teachers, administration,
and staff. All are welcome at meetings and events
which are posted on the Falk calendar and in the
weekly announcements faithfully posted by Kelly
Maddox. In the event that you have any questions
about, ideas for, or concerns regarding the PTO,
please feel free to contact me at ticahall@gmail.
If you’d like to reach out to other elected PTO
officers, Anne Brownlee is our Vice President,
Ann Gaul is our Secretary, and Mike Steich is our
Treasurer. Mariana Achugar, Amy Strada, and our
Room Parents are also great resources for communication and inquiry.
Wishing you all the best in the holiday season and
new year,
Tica Hall
Falk PTO President
Speaking of “elf-like” behavior, none of these activities can be accomplished
without parent volunteers and, frankly, PTO dues. Despite the PTO’s
best efforts at creating a sense of community, I am sorry to report that
3
Volume 26, Issue 1
Primary News
Primary is off to a great start for another successful year...
Kindergarten has been having a blast the last few months! We have been busy in Math, learning
about patterns, shapes, and 3D objects. We have learned about Friendships in Language Arts and
how it is okay to be different than your friends. We continue to make new friends by spending time
with our Primary and Intermediate buddies. We shared community day, Fall Festival, and Halloween
activities with them! We have also been learning how to be good scientists with lots of inquiry and
exploration. We just finished up learning about all of our senses. (There are more than 5 senses; just
ask a kindergartener!) We can’t wait to explore light and shadows next! We are having so much fun
and will continue building upon these wonderful experiences as the year goes on!
First grade has had a great start to the 2014-2015 school year. Our performance “Falk School
Neighborhood” was a huge success. We performed for the Primary, Intermediate and Middle School
levels as well as for our parents. We have also been busy learning about nutrition, communities, safety
and conflict resolution. Additionally, we have had the opportunity to collaborate with Ms. Capezzuti
and strengthen our relationships with our buddies during our first ever Fall Festival. We are looking
forward to our Thanksgiving Feast and the festivities that the holidays bring.
Where will
our quest
take us next?
The greatest
adventure
is what lies
ahead!
In second grade, Room 20 has been having a
blast this fall – in addition to having a great time
bonding with our Primary buddies during our
community building field trip and Fall Festival,
we’ve been enjoying learning about Force,
Balance, and Simple Machines during Science.
We have used the Imagination Playground a
great deal to help support our learning in this
area. We’ve also learned about a few new
artworks during Art History, and also wrote
about Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” during
Writing Workshop. The Halloween Carnival was
fabulous, and we enjoyed supporting the many
members of our class who participated in the annual Talent Show. We are now getting ready to start
e
exploring
Shakespeare’s As You Like It, which will culminate in collaborat
tive
rehearsal work with the 6th grade in January and a performance in
F
February.
Exciting stuff! Room 21 is on an incredible adventure in the
r
realm
of Middle-earth. Our class is reading The Hobbit and engaging in
a manner of fantastic Hobbit-based activities. We have done studies of
all
c
characters,
analyzed sections of text to practice grammar and phonics
s
skills,
and engaged in cross-curricular activities including participation
f
from
our amazing Art and Music departments. Where will our quest take
u next? The greatest adventure is what lies ahead!
us
4
Intermediate News
Simmons Farm
In mid- October the Intermediate went to Simmons
Farm. It took about 40 minutes to get to the farm.
When they got there most of the intermediate went to
get the pumpkins right away and some went into the
corn maze. There were children everywhere!
When it was lunch, most children had picked their
pumpkins and their ears of corn. Some people got
trapped in the corn maze and didn’t know how to get
out, and people who had gotten out had to go in and
help them. But everyone had fun.
- Jacob Brodkey, 3rd Grade
I remember that the Pumpkin Patch has a million
pumpkins and a playground. It also has like ten tractors and all the tractors have trucks with hay on them.
It also has pens where they keep all their animals,
like a giant pig and a lot of chickens and some sheep.
And it smells gross.
- Daniel Calero, 3rd Grade
The Moon
In Science in 3rd grade we were learning about the
Moon. I know there are different faces of the moon.
My favorite face is the new moon, because you can’t
see it then. Thank you for reading this.
- Perla McEllistrem, 3rd Grade
The Halloween Parade
When Halloween comes around, Falk knows what
they’ve got on their hands. First off, they need to
capture the spirit of Halloween without scaring
younger kids (or older kids - I get creeped out easily).
Also, they can’t be too “buttercups-and-rainbows” or
no one will feel
Halloween-ish. Actually, let’s be honest, they might
think Pinkie Pie’s fifth birthday! Some schools decorate even worse than creepy or cutesy, they decorate
grossly. Not Falk. Parades, dance parties, festive
songs, and interactive stories – that is what Falk
makes Halloween about. And, while it may not be
traditional, it is unique and fun. So, thank you Falk!
- Mackenzie Morehouse, 4th Grade
Directions
In Language Arts/Science we are learning about
how to give and follow directions. First Aidan gave
Ms. Ridge directions to draw a square. He wasn’t
allowed to tell her the name of the shape. It was really
hard. For example Aidan would say “Draw a straight
line.” So Ms. Ridge would draw a straight diagonal
line. Then Aidan would say “Draw a horizontal line.”
So Ms. Ridge would draw a wiggle horizontal line.
It kept going like that except different things went
wrong. Eventually it was a square. Then we wrote
instructions on how to do a task in the classroom, like
get a drink, sharpen your pencil, water the plants, or
close the window. You shared it with your partner, and
saw if it
worked. Iff
it worked
you typed
d
it on the
computer..
We
talked
about
what
jobs
you
might
need
directions
for,
and we
picked one
ne person to be an airplane and
another person to give it directions on how to “Land.”
Then it got harder; the airplane got blindfolded. And
then it got even harder when the airplane was not
allowed to ask questions at all. Then…you guessed it!
It got EVEN HARDER. The airplane was blindfolded,
could not speak, and there were obstacles; to be
exact 3 dictionaries, a plant, 2 colored pencil holders,
3 people and a globe. It took about 50 teeny tiny
steps, but the airplane landed perfectly safe. The
question each time was “Was it harder to give or to
follow directions?”
- Jay Simhan, 4th Grade
Rube Goldberg Machines
In Fifth Grade Science we were working on Simple
Machines. We learned about Rube Goldberg, a
famous cartoonist who in his cartoons designed
complex machines that do a very simple task.
At first we learned about the six simple machines;
lever, pulley, screw, inclined plane, wheel and axle
and the wedge. We learned how to combine them
into a complex machine with a partner. Mr. Ridge
visited and showed us machines in action, which
was fun.
Then we built our Rube Goldberg machines. We got
paired up into groups of 3 and 4 and each group
designed a machine that they would soon bring
to life. When Middle School went to McKeever we
got to use the whole Middle School floor to build
our machines based on our plans. We used basic
materials, including cardboard, tubes, boxes and lots
of tape. Unfortunately when we were done we had
to take them apart so the Middle School could have
their classrooms back. But during the process we did
remember to take many photos and videos on the
iPads, because now we are making documentary
videos of our fun time building our machines. Thank
you Ms. G for this fun learning experience!
- Froukje Schlingemann and Gracie Cain, 5th Grade
5
Volume 26, Issue 1
Intermediate News, continued
Falk at
First Night
Pittsburgh
Ms. Capezzuti
invites anyone
in the Falk
community to
get involved in
the First Night
Pittsburgh
Parade, which she produces. This parade is
an artist-made, community driven event that
features over 300 giant puppets dancing in the
streets of downtown Pittsburgh at 8:00 pm on
New Year’s Eve. Here are some ways to get
involved:
Falk Family Puppet-Making Workshop:
Sunday, December 14 from 1 to 4.
Families are invited to come to this free
workshop to make their own parade-sized
puppet to carry in the First Night Pittsburgh
Parade. Everything made in the workshop will
be transported downtown and participants can
take their artwork home after the parade.
6TH and 7TH Grade Puppeteers in the
Parade:
Students who have made their own giant
puppet or parade mask in Ms. Capezzuti’s art
studio are invited to showcase their work in
the First Night Parade. If your student would
like to participate, just let Ms. Capezzuti know
and you can join the fun. There will be extra
puppets for other family members to wear that
night if desired.
Giant Puppet Dance Drill Teams: Calling
ANYONE Who Likes to Dance!
Children in Grades 4 and up as well as
parents, friends and anyone you know that
wants to do something crazy on New Year’s
Eve is invited to join one of Ms. Capezzuti’s
Giant Puppet Dance Drill Teams. These
dancing puppet teams will learn some simple
dance moves and then perform them while
wearing puppets in the parade on New
Year’s Eve. Participants will learn the steps
by watching an online video and must attend
one MANDATORY rehearsal on Monday,
December 22nd at a downtown rehearsal
space. Rehearsal time TBA.
Want to join the fun or get more information about any of these opportunities?
Contact Ms. Capezzuti at chc157@pitt.edu or
412-414-0006 with questions or to RSVP.
6
Working up a Sweat at the Fall Festival
When I walk outside into the playground I feel a cool wind blowing against my
face. It is the day that everyone’s been waiting for: October 29th, the Falk Fall
Festival. Along with the cold wind, I also feel everyone’s excitement. As I circle
the playground, looking for my buddy, I spot a large group of second and fifth
graders alike. In the midst I spot my buddy. Trying to wade through the large
group of people I realize that they are about to play a game of tag. Not wanting
to miss out on the fun, I decided to play as well.
Now, I can tell you, playing Tag with a group of second graders is WAY
different than playing with only firth graders. When you play with only fifth, you
have only one average skill level. But if you add second graders into the mix,
you have something completely different. But I wouldn’t be embarrassed to
say that there was some second graders that were better than me!
When all of us headed inside, everyone was sweaty. When I entered the gym,
all the groups there were in lines. As a fifth grader I could guess immediately
that we were going to dance the dance we learned in Music a few weeks prior,
the Virginia Reel. Ms. Sassani who was as happy as ever, started the music.
By the end of that everyone was exhausted! So everyone was relieved when
the next activity involved chairs, and more importantly, it involved SITTING
in them! This was probably my favorite activity, because it involved clay, and
getting messy! This was the best Fall Festival Ever!
- Sofia Acosta-Mikulasek, 5th Grade
Falk Diversity & Inclusion Group
More than 35 faculty, parents and staff
including Jeff Suzik, school counselor
Alicia Johnson, PTO members and
teachers from primary, intermediate
and middle school turned out for the
first meeting of the new Falk Diversity
& Inclusion Group in October. Jeff
Suzik shared his visions for the future,
including more faculty training around
inclusion issues. And faculty and
parents shared their hopes for the group
including wanting to learn how to better
prepare students for a diverse world,
as well as make Falk as inclusive as
possible for children from all cultural,
religious, socio-economic status, family,
sexual orientation and racial backgrounds. Attendees broke into smaller
groups with great discussions about the
ways we do or don’t talk about race and
bias with children. Plans for the next
meeting will be announced soon.
Music Notes
WOW—Where has the year gone! The music
area has been so busy that it is hard to believe it
is November already. The next thing we know, the
snow will be flying and we will be performing our
annual Winter Choral Concert. Put the date on your
calendar—you don’t want to miss this program!
Thursday, Dec. 18th at 7:00 pm—the Intermediate
and Middle School Choruses will be presenting
a spectacular Winter Concert. Don’t be among
those who, on December 19th, will say, “Oh no! I
missed the Falk Winter Choral Concert!” All 3rd,
4th and 5th grade students will be taking part in this
concert, as well as the members of the Middle School Chorus. See you there!
The Falk musicians have been performing in and around Falk for many special
programs.
On October 10th, the Middle School Chorus did a great job singing the
National Anthem before the University of Pittsburgh/Notre Dame women’s
volleyball game. We are sure it is because of our talented singers that Pitt was
able to win that game!
Rooms 19 and 22 (first grade) did a beautiful tribute to Mr. Rogers in October.
They shared his “being a good neighbor” spirit through his songs and through
their own writings based on his work.
The intermediate
Also in October, K-5 celebrated our own Falk Fall Festival. The intermediate
and primary buddies joined together to dance, sing, create art work, hear stories
and enjoy the outdoors. More music, dance and games with our buddies were
featured on Halloween, along with a wonderful parade featuring many creative
creatures. In the afternoon, the intermediate students received a huge treat,
when jazz tenor saxophonist, Joe Lovano came to Falk and presented a fantastic
concert. Mr. Lovano was a big hit with the students. His visit was made possible
by the University of Pittsburgh’s Jazz Symposium and the work of Harry Clark.
and primary
buddies joined
together
to dance,
November 10th found some of our 6th grade Brass players Abby Miller
Peterson, Pablo Coen-Pirani, Sean Metcalf, Ben Bermann, Niam Noaman and
Natalie Floreancig performing at the VA for a Veteran’s Day celebration. The
Intermediate students made beautiful and thoughtful cards for the veterans
which our 6th graders gave to all those in attendance.
sing, create art
work, hear stories
and enjoy the
And who can forget the fabulous Talent Show put on by our very talented Falk
family on November 6th. This year’s show was a beautiful blend of classical
music, pop music, dancing, comedy, puppets, gymnastics, vocal presentations,
martial arts, hula hooping , and
a variety of instrumentalists.
Thanks to our 70+ performers,
and our parent coordinators
Deb Walker and Kate Rothstein
who made it all work.
outdoors.
Remember to save the date
and order your tickets for this
year’s Pittsburgh Symphony/
Falk Extravaganza! This year’s
concert will be spectacular. Our
Middle School Chorus will be
singing in the lobby prior to the
fabulous concert “A Night In
Russia”. Get your tickets soon!
7
Volume 26, Issue 1
Middle School News
Urban Gardening
Urban Gardening is
one of the Middle
School Humanities
Immersion offerings on Thursday
mornings. One of
the first things our
Urban Gardeners
did was to harvest
the vegetables and
herbs planted by
last year’s group: we
collected tomatoes,
lettuce, radishes,
carrots, parsley, and basil. We also dumped out
the worm beds out to give the little wigglers some
new ground to breed and grow. This year we have
launched two initiatives.
One is to track the
height of the sun on the
horizon as the earth follows its path around the
sun. We discussed why
there was less sunlight
in the winter months and
how that affected the
growing season. In early
September, students
made predictions about
where the shadow of a
sun dial (a nail) might
be on or near the winter
solstice. The second initiative is aquaponics, which
is a symbiotic system that cycles water between a
fish tank and a plant bed. The waste produced by
the plants is naturally converted to nourishment
for the fish, and the waste produced by the fish
becomes nourishment for the plants. We have
begun raising tilapia and are growing several leafy
vegetables, including wheat grass, basil, and
chard. To make sure that the system stays healthy
for both plants and fish, we track water
chemistry, particularly nitrogen levels and
pH. The system is located in the middle
school lobby next to the greenhouse.
While students have taken great ownership
over the planting initiatives in the urban
garden, working with live animals adds a
new layer of responsibility and it is exciting
to watch our fish grow!
8
2014 Broadcom
MASTERS® National
Science Fair:
Eighth grader Nadine Oury
was selected as a semifinalist in the fourth annual
Broadcom MASTERS
Science Fair—the nation’s
most prestigious Science,
Technology, Engineering and
Math (STEM) competition
for middle school students.
Broadcom MASTERS®, is
a program of Society for
Science & the Public. This
select group of 300 semifinalists was named from
more than 6,000 qualified nominees throughout
the United States, representing the top 10%
of participants at their SSP-affiliated science
fair. Nadine’s project, Charger Power, received
First Place in the Physics division at the 2014
Pittsburgh Regional Science and Engineering Fair
(PRSEF) held in March 2014, as well as a Sponsor
Award from the American Statistical Association.
2015 Pittsburgh Regional Science and
Engineering Fair
Organizers of the 2015 Pittsburgh Regional
Science and Engineering Fair at Carnegie Science
Center contacted Ms. Adrienne Baker about
having some of our current 7th and 8th graders
speak at informational workshops for parents,
students, and teachers interested in participating
in this year’s PRSEF. These students showcased
their posters, presented information on their
experiments, and what their overall experiences
were like. It was great to watch our students
actively mentor students from area middle schools.
They represented Falk Laboratory School and their
families so well — professional and poised.
Library News
Library Staff and Volunteers
This year, the library staff includes both new and returning folks.
Ms. Laurie Williams and Mr. Benoni Outerbridge return as the
two librarians, and Ms. Kaitlyn Cirrincione and Ms. Melanie Hawn
return as our two undergraduate student workers. They are
joined by new staff members, Ms. Sarah Wilson and Ms. Rachel
Leese, library graduate students who are pursuing their Master
of Library and Information Science, school library certification
program at the University of Pittsburgh.
In addition, valuable support is provided by parent volunteers.
Ms. Sarah Delano and Ms. Cindy Tipper assist with the Library
Gift Book Program (see below). Ms. Deb Zuroski and Ms. Paula
Nichols co-chair the Library Book Fair.
Audiobooks
Audiobooks support literacy and reading. Sharon Glover, an
authority on audiobooks, writes, “While there are certain reading
skills that listening doesn’t enhance like word recognition and
spelling, there are also many benefits to reading with your ears, a
fact that makes audiobooks an indispensable literacy tool. As the
research demonstrates, listening to audiobooks develops critical
listening skills, builds vocabulary and even increases reading
fluency.”
The library’s collection includes over 200 audio books; the
majority are Playaways, which are pre-loaded MP3 players and
include earbuds. Only intermediate and middle level students
may borrow audiobooks. Many teachers encourage students to
read a print copy while listening. Parents and guardians need
to be aware of the high cost of Playaways, which ranges from
$35 to $70. Earbuds and lanyards can be replaced at little cost.
However, if the Playaway itself is lost, the family is expected
to pay the replacement cost. Please discuss this with your
children, and let us know if you do not want your child to borrow
Playaways.
The Library Website
T
T library website is maintained by
The
Mr. Outerbridge and Ms. Williams and
M
provides information about the library
p
sstaff, collection selection policy, programs,
online resources, and more. If you
o
want to help your child find something
w
new
to read, check out NoveList. To
n
access
resource lists for class projects
a
and
a assignments, click the Curriculum
Resources
tab. Mr. Outerbridge and Ms.
R
Williams collaborate
with
Willi
ll b
i h the classroom teachers to provide
students with easy access to the resources needed for their
projects.
Beginning part way through 3rd grade and continuing through 8th
grade, patrons are able to log into their accounts from any device
connected to the internet to see what they have checked out both
currently and historically. In addition, we can make parents and
caregivers patrons should they wish to take advantage of our
collection.
The library subscribes to several online databases. All are
accessible from any device with internet access. From devices
that are not on the Falk campus, you will need a username and/
or password. All the passwords are found in the online document “Passport to Passwords,” which can be found on the
Curriculum and Resources tab and is password protected; ask
one of the librarians for the password.
Collaboration
This fall, we have worked with the Middle School science
teachers to coordinate efforts to support 6th and 7th graders
on their science fair projects. In the library, we helped students
locate resources for their background research and formulate
hypotheses. In addition, we reviewed with the 7th graders and
introduced to the 6th graders how to use the bibliographic tool,
NoodleTools, to format their bibliographies. We assist 8th grade
students in finding their books for the social studies book report
by providing resource lists they can peruse.
Author Visit
After a long hiatus, we were
able to have an author visit
our school thanks in part to the
generous financial support of
the Falk Fund. On Tuesday,
November 18th, Kelly Starling
Lyons, native Pittsburgher,
presented to each level. She
discussed the challenges she
faced in her own writing career
and encouraged Middle School
students to “Write the Story
Only You Can Tell.” For Primary
and Intermediate students,
she shared parts of her family
history and showed how it provided inspiration for her books,
specifically how it helped her “Bring Black History to Life”. She
also encouraged students to think about the words they use in
their writing, expand their vocabulary, and move beyond “sad”
and “mad”. Many students asked for the recipe in Tea Cakes for
Tosh, which can be found in the back of the book and also on her
website (http://www.kellystarlinglyons.com/). At least one family
enjoyed making and eating them over the weekend.
PYRCA
Falk is participating in the Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice
Awards (PYRCA) program again this year. In March, all students
who have read (or heard) at least 3 books in any category (K-3,
3-6, 6-8) are allowed to vote in that category for the book they
liked best.
Primary students will hear most of the titles during their library
read-aloud time between September and March, and all will get
to vote. Intermediate and Middle School students are encouraged
to choose PYRCA books for their personal reading. Some classroom teachers choose to read a PYRCA title for their classroom
read-aloud book.
To see this year’s titles, visit our display in the library, or go to:
http://pyrca.wikispaces.com/2014-15+Nominated+Titles
9
Volume 26, Issue 1
continued on page 10
Library News, continued
Birthday/Gift Book Program
The library and the PTO coordinate the gift
program as a means of expanding the library
collection while commemorating special events and
special persons: birthdays, holidays, grandparents,
teachers, interns and sometimes even pets! An
appropriate bookplate is placed in each book. All
Falk students, teachers, interns, and staff benefit
from the continuous updating of the collection.
In October, we sent a letter inviting families to
participate, a donation form, and a book list.
Students and adults can also come to the library
to browse books and complete an order form.
Donations can be made at any time. Keep in mind
the dollar amount for each book is a suggested
donation. This information is also available on the
library website at http://www.falkschool.pitt.edu/
library-pages/about/Gift-book-program.
Sarah Delano and Cindy Tipper coordinate this program with Ms. Williams. If you have any questions
about the Gift Book Program, contact Ms. Williams
(412-624-8516 or lwilliam@pitt.edu).
Thank you to those who donated books at the end
of last year and the beginning of this year:
Library Gifts
Laurie Williams, Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie
and Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie, Book
1: My Rotten Life by David Lubar, May 2014
Nicklas Rosenbloom, The Shadow Throne by
Jennifer Nielsen in honor of Ms. Metcalf, June 2014
Daryl Godfrey, Will in Scarlet by Mathew Cody,
June 2014
Sonali Sheth, (5) I Survived series books: The
Japanese Tsunami, 2001; The Nazi Invasion, 1944;
Hurricane Katrina, 2005; The Battle of Gettysburg,
1863; and The Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 by
Lauren Tarshis, June 2014
Elinor Outerbridge Waldron, Butterflies by
Gallimard Jeunesse, June 2014
Pablo Coen-Pirani, The What Not by Stefan
Bachman in honor of his birthday, June 27, 2014
Dynamo U10 Girls Soccer team, 12 fiction and
non-fiction books, July 2014
Lucia Lazzara-Goodrich, Amulet book 6: Escape
from Lucien by Kazu Kibuishi and Emperor
Pickletine Rides the Bus by Tom Angleberger,
August 2014
Benoni Outerbridge, Harry Potter and the
Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling, audiobook,
and Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe,
to replace existing copy, September 2014
Isaac Pedersen, Toot & Puddle: You Are My
Sunshine by Holly Hobbie in honor of his birthday,
September 20, 2014
10
Laura Brodkey, Outlaw by Stephen Davies,
Thursdays with the Crown by Jessica Day George,
The Inquisitor’s Apprentice by Chris Moriarty,
The Missing #7: Revealed by Margaret Peterson
Haddix, Hank Finds an Egg by Rebecca Dudley,
The Lost Hero: The Heroes of Olympus by Rick
Riordan, Cat’s Night Out by Caroline Stutson,
and Revolution News: Power to the People by
Christopher Maynard, October 2014
Jacob Brodkey, Gilda Joyce: The Dead Drop and
Gilda Joyce: The Bones of the Holy by Jennifer
Allison, My Blue Is Happy by Catia Chien, How to
Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers, Ralph Tells a Story
by Abby Hanlon, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac
Barnett, Wings of Fire: The Brightest Night by Tui T.
Sutherland, and Perfect the Pig by Susan Jeschke,
October 2014
Nora Coen-Pirani, The Ninja Librarians: The
Accidental Keyhand by Jen Swann Downey in
honor of her birthday, October 1, 2014
Ben Grossman, Weird Insects by Michael Worek,
The Tortoise and the Hare illustrated by Jerry
Pinkney, and Warriors by Catherine Brereton in
honor of Ellen Falk Hirsch, class of 1946, October
2014
Henry Fisher, The Runaway King by Jennifer
Nielsen in memory of his grandfather, Henry Fisher,
October 2014
Luke Pena, Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People by
Monica Brown in honor of Ms. O’Brien, October
2014
Mar Rivera Font, Martin & Mahalia: His Words
Her Song by Andrea Davis Pinkney in honor of her
birthday, October 12, 2014
Julia Ferline, Helen’s Big World by Doreen
Rappaport in honor of her birthday, November 2,
2014
Rebecca Wright, The Ghost and Mrs. Hobbs and
The Ghost of Cutler Creek by Cynthia Defelice, and
The Sisters Grimm: The Unusual Suspects and
The Sisters Grimm: Fairytale Detectives by Michael
Buckley, October 2014
Grace Borneo,
Ripley’s Believe Itt or
Not! The
Remarkable
Revealed, Ripley’s
’s
Believe It or Not!
Prepare to Be
Shocked, Guinness
ss
World Records
2010 (2 copies),
and Guinness
World Records
2012, October
2014
Library News, continued
Physical Education News
Tim Wagner, Soccer Cats # 10: Kick It! and #11:
Making the Save by Matt Christopher, Scooby-Doo:
The Case of the Bigfoot Beast by Tracey West,
Scooby-Doo and the Farmyard Fright by James
Gelsey, and The Mysterious Benedict Society and
the Perilous Journey and The Mysterious Benedict
Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma by Trenton Lee
Stewart, October 2014
Anna Morowitz, Tumtum & Nutmeg: The Rose
Cottage Tales by Emily Bearn in honor of her
birthday, December 8, 2014
Evelyn Tipper,
Picture Me Gone by
Meg Rosoff in honor
of her birthday, May
5, 2014
Sofia Rinaldo,
Where’s Waldo: The
Fantastic Journey by
Martin Handford in
honor of her birthday,
May 14, 2014
THE
HEARTWOOD
PROGRAM
The Heartwood
Program is a
literature-based
ethics curriculum for
children. The program uses illustrated
books from representative cultures around the
world to help children understand seven attributes:
Cross Country
Just as another school year
started, the anticipation began
to mount for the formation of the
2014 Falk School Cross Country
team. A great complement of
Middle School students pledged
to run for Falk School this
school year. This team featured
an energetic and motor-driven
dynamic that was supported by
returning and new runners alike.
Practices were tough, but they built high character and created new
experiences. During practices, runners worked on multiple elements
of technique that focused on skill building and distance. Included were
running hills, pacing, sprint finishes, speed play, passing, and of course
the BIG DISTANCE. In addition to skills, the runners established strong
relationships with each another and the coaches. They used teamwork,
cooperation, motivation, and support to persevere through the challenges and to celebrate the accomplishments, AND THESE WERE
JUST THE PRACTICES!
The meets offered a slightly
different experience, and they
were all a huge success! The
Falk runners were able to apply
all of their hard work at these
meets. Falk home meets at
Schenley Park featured rolling
hills, wide turns, and a slight
incline finish at the trail end.
The runners looked forward to
running in front of the home crowd. The away meets provided new
challenges and different scenery. While running at Sewickley, the rocky
and narrow trails in the heavily wooded venue pushed the Falk team
to new heights and through a little pain (WATCH OUT FOR DEER
CROSSING !!).The last distance land that Falk ran at was Shadyside.
The all-grass course and the Mt. Kilimanjaro of hills tested the runners
in new ways (DON’T STOP ON THE HILL OR YOU MAY ROLL BACK
DOWN!!)
All in all, the coaching staff (Mr. Lopick, Ms. Hellmann, and Ms. Wright)
enjoyed teaching and running with a willing and enthusiastic group of
runner’s. We look forward to next season!
courage, loyalty, justice, respect, hope, honesty,
and love. The stories are primarily folklore, legends
and hero tales. The books are read aloud in class
and then discussed. The different attributes are
featured according to a schedule throughout the
school year. Parents are encouraged to read the
books aloud with their children. Many of the books
are available at the public library and the Falk
School Library. See the Heartwood Institute website
- http://www.heartwoodethics.org/.
11
Volume 26, Issue 1
From the Art Studio
This iis the year where every child in the
schoo will create a self-portrait as part
school
of the PTO Original Artworks Fundraiser.
Look for more information later this year
about
abo purchasing images of your child
on a variety of objects and supporting
our school at the same time. Our
timeline
suggests that their work will
tim
be available in the spring.
Visiting
Artist, Issa Nyaphaga,
V
returned
this year and conducted
re
a workshop with the third grade
students. Issa Nyaphaga is a cartoonist, artist and activist who works
globally as well
wel as in his local village in Cameroon,
West Africa. Currently he is working to build a radio
station to share information and educate members
of his village. His artwork has inspired the human
spirit of thousands of people in dozens of countries.
Issa Nyaphaga is convinced that the power of art
can save lives. Third grade was selected for this
opportunity because of the connection to their
social studies curriculum related to Africa and free
trade. Thanks to the PTO for funding this project.
Fourth grade students began the year exploring
the theme, Watery Worlds: Real and Imagined,
connecting to their summer experiences with
water. Currently they are exploring contemporary Installation Art as they create site-specific
water-inspired art installations in selected spaces
throughout the school. They revisited last year’s
experience of Installation Art at the Carnegie
International, particularly the work of artists Phyllida
Barlow, Pedro Reyes, and the Tezuka architects.
Fifth grade students are busy making puppets
for an upcoming performance in March. They will
be performing “The Grateful Statues,” a Japanese
Folk Tale and “Domingo Siete,” a Colombian folk
tale. This is a collaborative project between Ms.
Sassani in music class and Ms. Capezzuti in the
art studio. “Dominigo Siete” will be performed in
Spanish as part of a collaboration with Senorita
Gomez.
Sixth grade students recently finished making
parade masks and giant puppets and are invited
to perform with them in the First Night Pittsburgh
Parade. See more information about this under
“Falk at First Night Pittsburgh” in this issue.
Seventh and eighth grade students are currently
finishing up the “Dream Bedroom” project. Through
this project students learn and practice drawing
in perspective, designing and building to scale
12
and personal expression through the visual arts
all while creating a model of their dream bedroom,
complete with working electric lights. Look for a
showcase of these cool projects later this year.
Currently, Kindergarten and second grade
students are engaged in explorations of the
changing seasons, such as creating homes from
clay and natural materials for their toy hibernating
animals (K). Second grade students painted two
stunning murals on see- through acetate of the
designs, colors and patterns of falling leaves. Soon
they will be on display in our school’s windows.
First grade students, after reading Dr. Seuss’s,
Oh The Places We Will Go, have been designing
fantasy vehicles to take them to and from real and
imaginary worlds, back and forth in time. Beginning
with exploring materials that float in water, the
students designed 3-D water vehicles with passengers that could float in their bathtubs! Currently
they have created miniature puppet theaters in little
cardboard suitcases that can travel with them on
their journeys. It is a very fertile theme!
Pam Armstrong
Cheryl Capezzuti
Spotlight on Falk Faculty & Staff
In this issue we posed eight questions for Laurie
Williams, the current faculty member with the longest
association with Falk, and Tim
Wagner, the newest addition to our
faculty.
Laurie Williams
Please tell us about your role at Falk—
what part of your job brings you the
most joy?
Helping students and teachers find the
“just right” book they want or need.
Where did you grow up and what places have you called
home?
I was born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia and went
to Michigan State University in Lansing Michigan. I lived in
Detroit for one year, back home in Charleston for 5 years, and
then moved to Pittsburgh in 1979.
What do you miss about being a child?
Doing things with my family that are almost archaic nowadays: going to the train station after church, where my dad
would let the five of us each buy a comic book; going to
Shoney’s drive in for a meal and eating the food off trays
attached to our car doors; stopping at Howard Johnson’s on
long trips and getting an orange freeze; playing in the woods
with friends where we would swing on vines over the creek..
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Reading (of course), watching movies, playing mahjongg and
other games, spending time with friends and family, trying out
new restaurants.
If you could have dinner with one famous person—living or
non-living—who would it be and what restaurant would you
go to?
Lily Tomlin, and I’d let her choose the restaurant.
If you didn’t have this job, what would be your dream job?
Can you recall your favorite toy/activity and your favorite book
as a child?
I would work for AAA, rating attractions, restaurants, and
hotels.
Although I’m sure I had many beloved toys, I remember
collecting miniature ceramic animal figurines and china dolls,
and I enjoyed playing outdoors with friends. I can’t possibly
choose one out of the hundreds of books I read as a child,
being an avid reader throughout my life.
Finally, if you could have any superpower, what would it be
and why?
Tim Wagner
Please tell us about your role at Falk—
what part of your job brings you the
most joy?
Along with Dr. Tomokiyo, I teach technology. The part of my job that brings me
the most joy is watching the students
undergo the process of creating a
product. During this experience, the students go through many
different emotions as they learn. Sometimes it is frustrating and they need to stay determined to persevere. When
everything comes together and they see what they have
accomplished their faces light up and they want to learn more.
This is the part of my job I enjoy the most.
Where did you grow up and what places have you called
home?
I was born in Anaheim, California, and lived there until I was
eight years old. Later, my family moved to the San Francisco
Bay Area. I lived in Clayton (east of San Francisco) until I
graduated high school. After graduating, I moved to Tucson,
Arizona to attend the University of Arizona. I stayed in Arizona
for eleven years. I met my wife in Tucson and we moved back
to her hometown of Plum Borough in 2006. We then moved to
Murrysville where we have been for three years.
Extreme empathy, the ability to know exactly what a person
needs at any given moment. ■
books to read were the Hardy Boys. Today, I still enjoy
mystery, science fiction, and historical fiction books.
What do you miss about being a child?
I loved school, especially high school. I was able to pick
classes that I enjoyed and I had more free time to spend with
my friends.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy coaching soccer, fishing, biking, and relaxing with my
family.
If you could have dinner with one famous person—living or
non-living—who would it be and what restaurant would you
go to?
I would like to eat dinner with Bill Clinton at an authentic Kobe
beef steakhouse.
If you didn’t have this job, what would be your dream job?
I would enjoy coaching soccer full time.
Finally, if you could have any superpower, what would it be
and why?
I would like to fly because I always have wonderful dreams of
flying. Additionally, I would be able to get to places faster. ■
Can you recall your favorite toy/activity and your favorite book
as a child?
I loved playing soccer as a child. I played competitively for
about 15 years and now I coach my daughter. My favorite
13
Volume 26, Issue 1
Technology News
Primary
T technology curriculum in Kindergarten centers on the
The
q
question “What are the helping machines around us, and what
iis inside them that makes them work?” Children began the year
w
with a scavenger hunt of machines around the school and then
iimagined what machine they would build if they could. After
e
exploring their ideas through talking, sketching and 3-dimensional
b
building with wire, students observed that most machines have
p
power, wires, and an action item (lights, motors, etc.) We are
n
now investigating how electricity travels using wooden circuit
b
blocks and ruggedized leads.
F
First grade is investigating sound – how it travels, how shape
and material affect the sound an object makes, and how to plan and build their own sound-making
creations using recycled materials and electronic components.
In second grade, we concentrate on digital storytelling. We began with the medium of video and are
now wrapping up our voiceover stories – a series of drawings with the child’s voice telling the story in the
background.
Intermediate
Third graders have begun coming to the computer lab for their weekly technology explorations. Starting
in third grade, students all have their own Pitt logins, and managing personal usernames and passwords
is an important part of third grade. We have also begun keyboarding, so if your third-grader finds him/
herself at the keyboard at home please remind them to use the fingerings we are learning! Other topics
we have covered are privacy, maps, and sorting and searching.
Fourth graders have just begun using Google Docs through our private network. Through this platform,
they will be able to access work both at home and at school, and think about what collaborative work
means in the digital domain. Because Google Docs also requires a username and password, we are
starting to think about managing multiple passwords.
Ms. Metcalf’s 5th grade has been working on Hummingbird Creatures this semester. The project is a
cross-curricular project between art and technology. The students built and accessorized their creatures in
art class. During technology they installed electronic components (lights, motors, and servos)
and programmed their
creatures to animate
them. Additionally, all 5th
graders are creating an
iMovie in which they are
documenting the Rube
Goldberg Machines that
they built in science.
14
Technology News, continued
Middle School
This semester, the 6th graders have been focusing
on everything Google. The goal of this unit is to
provide students with the opportunity to become
fluent in utilizing Google Applications. Google Apps
provide a unique format for students to create,
share, and edit each other’s work in a highly
collaborative environment. So far, the students have
created a portfolio website, a collaborative newsletter/brochure, and a Google Presentation which
highlighted their background research for their
science fair experiments.
The 7th graders have been entering in data they
gathered through analyzing soil samples collected from McKeever and Falk.
The data then populates a fusion table which pinpoints where their data was
collected and gives a breakdown of their findings.
In 8th grade the students have been working with the Processing programming language, learning how the same basic programming that they have
learned through drag-and-drop programming languages can be implemented
in a text-based language. Processing is particularly good for creating graphics,
and students have produced a wide variety of designs.
Laura Tomokiyo
Jeremy Mangan
We began with
the medium of
video and are now
wrapping up our
voiceover stories
– a series of
drawings with
the child’s voice
telling the story in
the background.
15
Volume 26, Issue 1
Falk Laboratory School
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh PA 15216
Published by the Falk School PTO
Editor
Deborah Walker
dlwalker23@yahoo.com
Designer
Patricia Tsagaris
pinkhaus.design@verizon.net
Please send us your contributions
for future editions of FalkTalk.
Happy Holidays!
16