Busy-ness

Busy is an understatement for us LREI'ers - overlapping each other, we have (and have had) Arabian Nights, Karamu, the Art Auction and Visibility, Lesbian and Gay People We Love. Increasingly, our lobby resembles Grand Central Station in miniature. In step with the times, this week saw the following within our division: A First Grade visited the Le Roy Street Library, while Second Graders toured Chinatown, initiating their next neighborhood study. Fourth Graders held their "Biography Breakfasts" and read to classmates and parents about an older immigrant relative's experience as a nine-year-old. Parent Reps had the chance to visit a Second Grade P.E. class with Pati Stolley. Parents participated in a Spanish workshop led by Julie Sterling and Delia Hernandez. It included a mini-language immersion, a discussion of program goals, a description of the new components listed above and suggestions for ways to help children extend their learning at home. This week's faculty meeting was a lively curriculum discussion with presentations by math, literacy and social studies consultants (Margaret Andrews, Tammy Glupczynski and Harriet Cuffaro). Faculty are exploring ways to "have it all" with regard to the arts and academics without sacrificing in-depth exploration and child-friendly days. A tall order in today's world, as well as a rich topic to investigate as a team! Behind the scenes, teachers are completing your child's Mid-year Reports, which will be mailed to you during the first week of February. Midweek, the whole Lower School came together for its participatory Martin Luther King, Jr., Assembly, including the traditional poetry reading by Cleo Banks.

This Week's Attachments:

First Grade

Dorothy and Romy's First Grade

Gina and Elizabeth's First Grade

Second Grade

Kelly and Meredith's Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Spanish Resources

Parent Rep Meeting Minutes

Valentine's Day

Announcements:

-- A reminder that Karamu! will begin at 5:00PM tomorrow (Friday) in the Charlton Street building. While, at this point, this event is sold out, you may want to check at the door as tickets may become available. Enjoy the show!


2006 LREI Art Auction
Wednesday, February 1ST – Thursday, February 2ND
12:00 noon – 9:00PM
I-20 Gallery
529 West 20th Street, 11th Floor
Reception & Final Bidding: Thursday, February 2nd 6:00PM - 8:30PM
PLEASE NOTE: FINAL BIDDING WILL END IN EACH OF THE THREE GALLERIES IN FIFTEEN MINUTE
INTERVALS STARTING AT 8PM.

Shuttle bus available on Wednesday, February 1st between LREI’s Sixth Avenue building and I-20 Gallery from10:00AM-6:00PM.

Kid’s Day & Scavenger Hunt: Wednesday, February 1ST from 4:00PM – 6:00PM

Click here for a preview, full list of artists and more information on Conditions of Sale, Absentee Bids and other important details.

LREI Contact: Patricia McKee 212-477-5316 x232 or events@lrei.org



Afterschool at LREI's upcoming First Friday
Vit Horejs
February 3rd
4:15pm
in the Performing and Physical Arts Space
Afterschool welcomes Vit Horejs of the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre for an afternoon of Czech folk and fairy tales. The program will include an introduction to the marionettes and the characters they represent, performances of tales such as "Salt Over Gold," "Water Spirit and the Stingy Tailor" and "The Snow Maiden," and time to ask questions.
Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend. Contact the Afterschool office at 212-477-5316 ext. 239 for registration information. Click here for more information on the artist.



--The next LREI Coffeehouse is Saturday, February 4th from 7:00-9:00PM at the high school on 40 Charlton Street. We have some great performers so far, including:

*The High School Jazz Band
*The Middle School Band
*The Fourth Grade Band
*Special guest Jimmy Norman (writer of "Time Is On My Side" and composer of some of Bob Marley's early songs)

Please join us!



Visibility: Lesbian and Gay People We Love - Please take this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) and straight children, families, and faculty by taking (or digging up) a photo and submitting it with a brief caption by Thursday, February 2. In years past, we have had nearly one hundred photos featuring our community members in this exhibit. It has been an exciting event with palpable effects on our admissions, press coverage, and connectedness as a group, while it has also helped to solidify our position as a leader in education in the area of LGBT issues. All classes have seen the exhibit in past years and the discussion has resonated or been a touchstone for years afterwards. Currently, we are at a total of thirty photos, but would like many more. Click here for photo submission guidelines and here to see LREI's press release on this exhibit.



-- Click here to access the new "Faculty in the News" section of the LREI website.


In the next few weeks...

1/27 - 5:00PM - Karamu!

1/31 - 8:45AM - Parent Discussion: speaking to children regarding lesbian and gay issues

2/1 - 8:45AM - First Grade Assembly

2/2 - 8:00AM - Lesbian and Gay Straight Alliance Meeting

2/1-2/2 - LREI Art Auction

2/6 - VISIBILITY photos on display

2/8 - 8:45AM - Second Grade Assembly

2/9 - 6:00PM - Life in Independent Schools for LGBT Families - Parent Panel Discussion and Q & A

2/13 - 6:00PM - VISIBILITY photo exhibit Opening Reception

2/14 - 8:45AM - Parents of Children of Color Meeting

2/15 - 8:45AM - Families Assembly (students only)

2/15-2/17 - Fourth Grade ERB testing

2/16 - 8:45AM - Parent Rep Meeting

Click here for the full calendar.