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Upcoming Events in the
Diane and David B Heller Auditorium
In the winter of 2009, with great anticipation and deep gratitude to all who have contributed to the Founding Our Second Century Campaign, the school community will once again join together under one roof for Morning Ex, dramatic productions, musical events, public speakers and other communal learning experiences in the wonderful new Diane and David B Heller Auditorium. The newly renovated facility will also help the school broaden and deepen new and existing partnerships with organizations and institutions throughout the greater Chicago area. The new auditorium has been named after Diane and David B Heller to honor their generosity and commitment to Francis W. Parker School and the Founding Our Second Century Campaign. The Heller family has been integral to the school for more than seven decades. They have been instrumental helping secure Parker’s future as well as inspiring other alumni to give. The stage inside the new auditorium will be named the Francine C. Rosenberg Stage to honor the memory of one of Parker’s most dedicated and effective volunteers, Francine C. Rosenberg. As an exceptionally competent and purposeful leader for Parker, Francine had a far reaching impact on the school and on those who had the privilege of knowing her. The vestibule just outside the Diane and David B Heller Auditorium will be named the Holabird Vestibule. Prior to the auditorium renovation, the auditorium had been named for the Holabird family in recognition of the family’s decades of service and commitment to the school. The Holabirds have graciously allowed Parker to rename the auditorium. In addition to our regularly scheduled use of our newly renovated auditorium, the school has planned a series of special events to celebrate its opening. Please save the dates to ensure you can join us at one or more of these gatherings!
Diane and David B Heller Auditorium
Grand Opening and Dedication
Monday, March 2, 2009 at 6 p.m. This will be a wonderful opportunity for Parker families and friends to gather and celebrate our spectacular new auditorium as we host a dedication to thank the Heller family for their generosity in making our new auditorium possible. The evening will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, student performances, tours of the new space and a reception. This event is open to ALL Parker community members. Endowment Benefit Fund Concert
Featuring Sheryl Crow
Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 7 p.m. Nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow will perform at our inaugural Endowment Fund Benefit Concert. All proceeds will support the school’s endowment to ensure top-quality educational experiences and financial aid for future generations of students. The endowment allows us to improve and enhance innovative academic programs at all levels; recruit and retain the best teachers through endowed department chairs, faculty development programs and tuition remission for their children; and enroll a talented and diverse student body representing families of all backgrounds and financial circumstances, including providing financial aid. Ticket information will be available in early January only to members of the Parker community, including parents, alumni, parents emeriti, grandparents and friends.Another opportunity to contribute to the endowment will be through the Building our Model Home —One Seat at a Time Campaign. Beginning in early January, Parker community members will have a chance to purchase an individual seat in our new auditorium with a plaque containing a personal inscription. This is a wonderful opportunity to recognize a teacher, graduate, relative, alumna/alumnus, student or friend. Dr. Paul Sereno: Robert A. Pritzker
Visiting Scientist·Inventor·Engineer in Residence
Public Lecture: People of the Green Sahara
Monday, March 23, 2009 at 7 p.m. Dr. Paul Sereno, world-renowned paleontologist, University of Chicago professor and co-founder of Project Exploration, will return to Parker to give a public presentation about his most recent discovery in the Sahara. Travel back in time with Dr. Sereno to an ancient, human world.
Sir Ken Robinson: Francine C. Rosenberg
Memorial Lecture Series
Out of our Minds: Learning to be Creative
Monday, April 20, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
An expert on creativity, Sir Ken Robinson challenges the ways we are educating our children. He champions a radical rethink of our school systems to cultivate creativity and acknowledge multiple types of intelligence. For 12 years, Robinson served as professor of education at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. He earned his Ph.D. in 1981 from the University of London for research into drama and theatre in education. From 1985 to 1989, he was director of The Arts in Schools Project, a national initiative to develop the arts in primary and secondary schools throughout England and Wales. Through these special events, regular school programming and initiatives yet to come, our new Diane and David B Heller Auditorium will foster the development of a thoughtful community of learners and citizens within the school and beyond.
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