Dear Lower School Parents,

We’re about to complete our spring conference cycle, and I’m hoping you‘ve gained new insights into this phase of your child’s learning and classroom experiences. Teachers plan these April conversations with the idea that some time remains for collaboration on shorter-term goals so that children can end their year on a high note. Working together on these goals is most effective.

As we approach our last full month, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the network of
diversity committee support that informs and enriches our division.

Within the Lower School, we connect closely with the:

• Parent Multi-Cultural Committee: In addition to planning the amazing Karamu’, this group looks at aspects of diversity within the school as a whole. It is co-chaired by Mario Murillo and Noreen Stallings-Hall.
• Lower School Parents of Children of Color: The POCOC looks at quality of life issues for our kids of color. Many thanks to current co-chair, Myra Mason, as she moves on to Middle School and to Rona Jolliffe-Espeut and a warm welcome to Rhonda Hartley and Charlotte Hinson, new committee co-chairs.
• Lesbian and Gay Straight Alliance: The LGSA focuses on quality of life and educational issues in addition to planning the bi-annual Visibility exhibit. Thanks go to the current Chair Nancy Murray as she moves on. LREI’s LGSA is now in need of a chair. Please contact Nancy if you are interested in participating.
• Asian-American Families Committee: Chaired by Ruth Yang, this group of parents meets to enhance the experiences of our many Asian-American students.
• Adoptive Parents Committee: Happily, this is a growing group that enhances the experience of children who were adopted by increasing our understanding of adoptive families. The current chair is Denise Adler. An upcoming initiative of this committee is an Early Childhood Breakfast Conversation at 8:45AM on Tuesday, May 16th, with speaker…
• Community Service Committee: Not strictly speaking an affinity group, but linked because of its active humanitarian efforts. Here thanks go to the chairs, Jennifer Edson and Denise Adler.
  

One or possibly two meetings remain for each of these committees. I wanted to write this note as a thank you to those of you who take these extra steps. It is your commitment that moves our division from school to community. Our children are the beneficiaries.

This Week's Attachments:

Kindergarten - Brooke and Charles

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

An Invitation to Meet the Incoming High School Principal

Spanish Resource List


Announcements:

To the Fourth Grade parents:

We just wanted to remind everyone about our Bronx Zoo field trip next Tuesday, May 2. It is important for all students and the chaperones to arrive at school at 8:15 that morning. We have added two chaperones to our Bronx Zoo Trip. David Fenton and Lorna Mehta's names were pulled out of the hat and will be joining us. Also, everyone will need to bring a bag lunch. It should be a fun day!

Please look for our letter in this week's blog with news on our upcoming bake sale and details about our social studies curriculum.

Thank you,
The Fourth Grade Teachers

Congratulations to all involved in creating last night’s spectacular Big Auction! A thousand thanks to the Auction Committee Co-Chairs—Mandy Bouquet and Sharon Fong—and to their hardworking committee members. Last night’s event was an overwhelming display of generosity and support of LREI and its progressive mission. For those who were not able to attend, please visit the hall auction in the Sixth Avenue building for a selection of silent auction items and sign-up parties.

Lost and Found - Please look through our lost and found bin on the first floor. At the end of the month, we will donate clothing items that remain there.

May Book Fair - The Literary Committee will have a Spring into Summer Book Fair in the Auditorium on May 25th. A selection of the optional and all of the required reading titles will be sold from 8AM-6:30PM.

Save the date - Early Childhood! - Hollee McGinnis from the Adoption Institute will present a morning workshop for Early Childhood parents on Tuesday, May 16th.

Save the date - Fourth Grade! - The Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony will be on the morning of Monday, June 13th.


Upcoming Events:

4/28 - Half Day (school closes at noon, fours-first grades - 11:45AM) for Parent-Teacher Conferences

5/3 - 8:45AM - Kindergarten Assembly

5/4 - 8:00AM - Lesbian Gay Straight Alliance (LGSA) Meeting

5/4 - 8:45AM - What to Expect in Fourth Grade with Elaine, Cafeteria

5/5 - 8:45AM - What to Expect in Third Grade with Elaine, Cafeteria

5/9 - 8:45AM - Parents of Children of Color (POCOC) Meeting

5/10 - 8:45AM - Fours and EK Assembly

5/10 - 6:00PM - Erin and Carin's Fourth Grade Picnic

5/11 - 8:45AM - What to Expect in Second Grade with Elaine, Cafeteria

5/11 - 8:45AM - Multicultural Committee Meeting

5/11 - 6:00PM - Suzanne and Patricia's Fourth Grade Picnic

5/12 - 8:45AM - What to Expect in First Grade with Elaine, Cafeteria

5/15 - 6:00PM - Colleen and Ronnie's Second Grade Picnic

5/16 - 6:00PM - Kinjal and Caroline's Second Grade Picnic

5/17 - 8:45AM - First Grade Assembly

5/17 - 6:00PM - Kelly and Meredith's Third Grade Picnic

5/18 - 8:45AM - Parent Rep Meeting

5/19 - Grandparents and Special Friends Day!

Click here to access the full calendar.