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Direct Appeal

Just a Little Goes a LONG Way!

To date, only 37% of our Lab Middle School community has made a donation to our Direct Appeal Campaign. THANK YOU 37%!!

Just think of what we can do if the remaining 63% of our community sent in just a little bit, a small donation that says, hey, I'm proud and fortunate to be part of Lab!

The PA funds so many wonderful programs that enrich the lives of our students. We depend entirely on financial assistance from within our own community to fund amazing programs for our school! Download this flyer (which will be coming home in backpacks soon) with the full details and an easy order form. Together, we can make it 100%!

Show your support today!

Posted on 05/06/2012

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JOIN PA Executive Board

Make a Difference! Join the 2012/2013 PA Executive Board or SLT!

The PA Nominating Committee is searching for the 2012/2013 leaders of the Lab Middle Parents' Association. These wonderfully rewarding volunteer positions get you closer to the school administration, offer opportunities to work with the high school team, and will fulfill your desire to build connections and communities right here at Lab!

Please consider utilizing your skills to help your school! If we do not have a president, treasurer AND secretary before the end of this school year, we cannot fund raise during summer break, and we will not have the funds in place for fall afterschool activities. Please join today!

Worried about the time commitment? Team up with your friend and run as co- president, VP, etc! It eases the load and the collaboration produces amazing results! We had five co- board members this year!

Read More...

Here are the Executive Board Positions:

• (CO-)President -overall responsibility for everything!
• (CO-) 1st VP - fundraising
• (CO-) 2nd VP - communications and linkage to class parents/class list
• (CO-) Secretary - minutes, meeting agendas
• (CO-) Treasurer - financial reports, processing payments and income
• (CO-) Inclusion Officer - link to CTT parents / organize inclusion lunches

For more detailed job descriptions, download the excerpt from the Lab School's bylaws that outlines each officer's responsibilities

If you would like to nominate yourself or someone you know, email Felicia O'Connell at Foconnell1@nyc.rr.com

If you are interested in joining the Student Leadership Team, please reach out to PA co-presidents Monica Watt at moniwatt@nyc.rr.com and Cecilia Leong at cecilia.leong@hud.gov today!

Please come out and support your school in this most amazing way! Elections will be held at the general PA meeting in June, but don't wait! Submit your name now!

Any questions? Email labmspa@gmail.com

Posted on 05/06/2012

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Wanted

Wanted: Painters! Brushes Provided!

Lab is participating in a school painting project in partnership with the non-profit organization Publicolor. We will be painting several public spaces in the school as well as adding some accent colors on individual floors.

We are looking for students and parents that are interested in volunteering their time to join the painting corp.

The hours are 9 am - 3 pm every Saturday until June 2! Come for one session or all six!! It will be fun! Please email Ms. Marilyn at mcoston2@nyclabschool.org if you are interested in participating.

Posted on 05/06/2012

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Out with the Old

May is Book Drive Month! Donate Your Gently Used Books to Lab Today!

Spring has sprung and it's time to do a little house cleaning! Donate that pile of gently used books to Lab and it's a win-win scenario! Announcing a May Book Drive designed to to collect great reading material that is appropriate for middle school ages! We will be collecting these books in a BOOK DRIVE BOX in Ms. Marilyn's office. Drop them off any time!

Posted on 05/06/2012

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Scholastic Book Fair

Lab Gets Ready for Spring Book Fair!

If you missed Scholastic Book Fair in the library last week, please consider going to Our Book Fair Homepage where you can order books online. The books will be shipped to the library for distribution through your child's homeroom teacher. The online fair will be accessible from April 30-May 19.

Posted on 05/06/2012

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Tastes

Ready...Set...TASTE!

Imagine throwing a party in the hottest part of town with the very best restaurants offering tastings of their finest cuisine. Imagine that the proceeds from all the tickets sold go to fund our kids programs at Lab! WOW! That's TASTES! Saturday, June 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Gansevoort Plaza!

It's exciting, fun and a lot of work! Do you have some time to volunteer? We could use you! Email the Friends of Lab Tastes Committee today! Email address: nyclabtastes@gmail.com

And visit our website to buy your tickets today! http://www.tastesnyc.org

Posted on 04/24/2012

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ACTION Alert

Action Alert from the Campaign for Children: Save Early Childhood Education and After-School Programs Including Beacon!

Background:

Mayor Bloomberg's Preliminary Budget would cut 47,000 children from child care and after-school programs, including our Beacon after school program. The city's subsidized child care programs are often the only opportunity that low-income children have to participate in an early childhood education program. High-quality early childhood programs are critical to school readiness and school success. The city's Out-of-School Time (OST) and Beacon after-school programs give children a safe, educational setting to attend after the school bell rings.

Take Action:

1. Send an e-mail to Mayor Bloomberg and city leaders opposing the cuts by clicking here.
2. "Like" the Campaign for Children on Facebook and follow the Campaign on Twitter using the hashtag #Campaign4Children.
3. Forward this alert to others who may be interested in taking action.

For more information, please visit www.campaignforchildrennyc.com or contact Randi Levine at rlevine@advocatesforchildren.org.

Posted on 04/24/2012

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Good Search

Goodsearch Is a Free 'n Easy Way to Donate $$$ to Lab!

The Yahoo!-powered Goodsearch toolbar is loaded with great deals. The biggest deal is that for every search, one cent is donated to Lab! Since we partnered with Goodsearch in November of last year, Lab has raised almost $100!

Just think if every computer in every Lab household had Goodsearch! Oh, the possibilities! Just click this link and the toolbar will download automatically. Anytime you do a "search" our school earns money! And every time you shop online at stores like Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, eBay, Macy's and Barnes & Nobles our school receives a donation! Please take a minute to download it today!

If you are interested in statistics on how much our school made just by searches and shopping online, click here

Let's search and earn!

Posted on 11/17/2011

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Full Board

New Members Elected to PA Executive Board and SLT

At our last Parents Association meeting,three new members were elected to join the Executive Board and the SLT. We now have a full Board!

Congratulations to Emily Lee and Liz Pappas, co-1st VPs, delegate-at-large Robin Zachary, and Jennifer Vecchio, SLT 6th grade parent member! We wish the new members a very successful and productive school year!

Click here for a complete list of PA and SLT positions

Posted on 10/28/2011

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Go Gators!

Girls V-Ball Team Scores First Win!

Congratulations to our girls volleyball team in its first WIN of the season against NEST+M Middle School on last Tuesday!!!

The next home game will be Friday, Oct 14 at 4 pm (just before Latin Dance!).

Come on down to cheer on our Lady Gators as they play M.A.T!! Go GATORS!!!

Posted on 10/13/2011

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Parlez vous Francais?

French Afterschool at Lab!

The non-profit organization EFNY (Education Francaise a New York) will be offering a French language afterschool program at LAB again this year. The class is tentatively scheduled for TUESDAYS from 3 pm to 5 pm starting on October 18th.

Read More...

The program is open to French speaking 6th to 8th graders. All activities are conducted in French, led by a licensed French teacher and aim at improving students' oral and written expression including grammar, spelling and vocabulary. The program will also encourage students to learn about France's literature, history, geography and culture. For more information and to register online please visit EFNY at Lab website or email efnylab@gmail.com with any questions.

Posted on 10/10/2011

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Kidney Walk

Labbies Plan Walk Oct 16 for National Kidney Foundation

Join a team of walkers from Lab who will be participating in the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Walk on Oct. 16. Click here for event details.

Ms. Mazarakis and her students are organizing the Lab group. If you are interested in joining, please reach us at labmspa@gmail.com and we will pass the info on

Posted on 10/10/2011

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Volunteers

Calling all Volunteers

In addition to your direct appeal contributions, we need YOU! Our kids rely on Lab Middle parents for so many activities throughout the year. Sign up today for a committee, an event, or even just general day-to-day office help. We'll keep a list and contact you when the time is right! It's easy, just email us at labmspa@gmail.com and include your name, child's class and your Event/Committee Preferences, and we'll be in touch!

Check out our EVENTS and COMMITTEES pages for detailed description ot the events and committees this year. You will find convenient signup links. If you are not sure which event you would like to help with, sign up as a general volunteer.

We do need your help. Email labmspa@gmail.com today.

Posted on 09/18/2011

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Info sessions a hit

Meg Defines Afterschool Programs and More

Thank you to those families who were able to make it to Meg's Back-to-School Info Sessions this week. The meetings had lively Q&A sessions loaded with great information! We know not everyone could make it to these sessions, so we made the documents available to you here.

Meg asked us all to read this piece by Rev. Dr. Patrick T. O'Neill. She remembers fondly that on her first teaching job in Mississippi she was given this by her superintendent. Each September since, she reflects on the passage: How Are the Children?

She also handed out the official afterschool program guide and a description of Lab after 2:10 p.m. These are great resources for you and your child when planning how to get involved in extra-curricular activities, a vital and important way to connect with your child's school.

Don't miss the next opportunity to get inside the four walls of Lab Middle; come to Curriculum Night Oct. 6! More details to come.

Posted on 09/18/2011

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Welcome Back

Welcome back! It's going to be a great year! Add Lab's website to your "Favorites" and come visit often. Here you will find all the info you need about Lab when you need it!

Posted on 09/11/2011

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Chess at Lab

ChessNYC Offers Programs at LAB

Looking for a convenient afterschool chess program? Well look no further! ChessNYC is now offering programs at LAB! Check out this link that describes the programs they are offering, the cost and the schedule. Classes start this week.

Posted on 09/11/2011

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Mark Your Calendars

PA Monthly Meeting Schedule Set

Mark your calendars! The PA has announced its schedule of meetings for the year. Don't worry, we'll remind you before each one, but please note the date and time for the first few meetings this fall! It's a great way to get face-to-face time and get a peek inside the wonderful world of Lab! All meetings will take place at 6 p.m.

See the full schedule here

Posted on 09/08/2011

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New Policy

Lab MS Establishes Dress Code

Principal Meg sent home a flyer this week outlining a dress code for Lab MS. Establishing a dress code policy was a collaborative effort. The School Leadership Team developed the dress code in conjunction with Lab faculty and parental input. The standards are in alignment with our school's culture and reflect the expectations set by the Department of Education. A dress code helps ensure a safe and focused learning environment for all students.

Read More...

The policy:

It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to ensure that all students attend school appropriately attired.

The community has adopted the following enforceable code for all students to follow:
1. Clothing must be clean, modest and age appropriate.
2. Clothing which contains suggestive, vulgar, violent words and/or images is expressly prohibited.
3. There is an expectation of proper decorum and comportment. Clothing that is deemed to be excessively short is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, short skirts, short shorts, midriff tops and any exceptionally tight-fitting, transparent or low-cut garments.

In the event that a student is found in violation of the dress code, the student will be asked to change clothing. A student's parent/guardian may be called to bring an appropriate change of clothing if no other solution exists.

No student will be permitted to attend class in violation of the dress code.

If you have any questions, please contact Marilyn Coston, Parent Coordinator at 212-691-6119 ext 1115.

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City Alerts

Notify NYC Contacts YOU With Important Info and School Closures

We thought we'd alert you to a nifty little tool - "NotifyNYC". Families can register for the alerts (free) and be notified by email, text or phone of school closings and other important info that impacts the district and the school. Notify NYC is the City of New York's official source for information about emergency events and important City services.

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