NEWS -- For Immediate Release
News Highlights…
The first annual "Rock Concert" is scheduled for Monday, June 13th at the Westford Common (4:00 to 7:00 pm), all welcome;
For more information about the Living Lab, go to www.westford.mec.edu/livinglab.
WESTFORD, MA -- May 23, 2005 -- The Westford Education Foundation (WEF), supporters along with the Massachusetts Cultural Council, of the Living Lab Project for the last two years, today announced the first annual "Rock Concert" is scheduled for Monday, June 13th at the Westford Common (4:00 to 7:00 pm). The event is an exhibition of the over 400 Westford 3rd Graders' rock-based artwork, which has been continuously developed throughout the school year in the Living Lab Program at the Day, Crisafulli and Abbot schools. Living Lab is an integrated science program that engages students in a real-world hands-on and minds-on application of all science domains: life, earth and space and physical. It encourages students to combine fine arts, language arts, scientific research, mathematics and social studies to learn about their local environments, and express their findings creatively. For more information about the Living Lab, go to www.westford.mec.edu/livinglab
WEF Quote…
"By combining fine arts (painting of the rocks), language arts (poems about the plants they study), scientific research (developing tests and collecting data) and social studies (learning about local flora and fauna), the children expand their unique talents at a hands-on level and apply them to a real-world project," noted Jeannette Wilkinson, WEF President. "We are extremely pleased by both the student's enthusiasm and the positive results. All the contributors to this program believe we are building a model for educators to emulate both state and country wide. This will be in evidence at the concert."
The Beginnings of the Living Lab...
The development of the Living Lab program goes as far back as 1998, when Carol Shestok initiated the program as an Earth Day project. This grassroots program earned Shestok an EPA Award. After seven years of promotion and hard work, Westford's K-5 Science Coordinator has seen her work grow into a town-wide program which has been supported by WEF, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Westford Charitable Foundation, the PTO, the Town Hall and too many other private, governmental and educational organizations to list.
Carol Shestok Quote...
"The program encourages students to feel like real scientists and artists," added Shestok. "Their asked to help develop the research, present their data both in charts and artistically, and develop conclusions. It's amazing to see how the children respond to the challenges before them. We've been ecstatic about the response from the students and community at large. We look forward to expanding its reach though additional support."
Reaching Out...
Each year the program grows even more impacting, as additional students in more grades are exposed to offshoots of the program. Westford's 5th graders (about 400 students) are now enjoying a second year of the "Brook Book Program" which envelopes research into life cycles, form and function sciences, forest habitats, and small animal biology. Next year, 2nd graders will be introduced to a similar seasonal program, while 4th graders will be exposed to land, water, and seismograph sciences with the help of the Weston Observatory and Boston College. Even 1st graders from the Robinson School now schedule an annual field trip to the Living Lab to create basic understanding and initiate a new class of enthusiastic future benefactors.
About WEF…
The Westford Education Foundation, Inc. is an independent, non-profit organization that promotes innovative educational initiatives and champions life-long learning. They do this by building a wide community of support, fostering ideas, channeling resources, and funding exceptional learning programs. To learn more, please visit our website (www. westfordeducationfoundation.org).
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(c) 2005 WEF. All company and brand, product and service names are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Press Contacts...
Jeannette Wilkinson
Board of Directors
Westford Education Foundation
T: 978-418-9179
E: jwilkinson@westfordeducationfoundation.org
Carol Shestok K-5 Science Coordinator Westford Public Schools T: 978-692-2516 E: cshestok@verizon.net Craig Kevghas Board of Directors Westford Education Foundation T: 978-392-9945 E: kevghas@aol.com