Dear Families,

I am currently at the NYSAIS annual Division Heads' Conference in upstate New York. Please read the attachments for this week.

See you on Monday,

Elaine


This Week's Attachments:

Jamie and Bonnie's First Grade

Gina and Rebecca's First Grade

Dorothy and Stacey's First Grade

Suzanne and Caroline's Fourth Grade

Letter from Helen about Chorus


This Week's Announcements:

Art Auction: Save the Date:
The 2007 LREI Art Auction at the I-20 Gallery, 529 West 20th Street (11th Floor) NYC
Wednesday, January 31st - Kid's Day and Scavenger Hunt
A bus will leave from the Sixth Avenue Building at 3:15PM going to the gallery.

Thursday, February 1st, 2007 - Reception and Final Bidding will take place from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. Admission is Free and includes wine and refreshments.

Auction catalogs are available in the Sixth Avenue Lobby. Pre-registration starts Monday, January 29th in the Sixth Avenue Lobby or in the Development Office. Visit the auction web site to preview the exhibition, pre-register and get further information.

Click Here

Spanish Workshop:
¡Bienvenidos a Todos! Julie Sterling and Delia Hernandez invite you to attend a Spanish workshop for parents on Wednesday, February 7th at 8:45 in the Cafeteria. Join us to learn about our Spanish program and to engage in some activities en español!

Note from Phil Kassen, Director:
LREI's basketball season continues. I encourage you to find a game that fits your schedule and to come out and cheer your teams on. You might enjoy watching one of two games that the 5th/6th grade intramural teams play each Friday afternoon in the Thompson Street Athletic Center. The first game begins at 3:30 and the second around 4:15. Fun, fast paced and a terrific way to learn to play team basketball these games are a longstanding part of the middle school experience. We also have three middle school and three high school teams, each with a few remaining home games. The remaining home games are listed below or you can visit our website for a complete list.

Click Here

Middle School Girls
Date Opponent
1/30 City & Country
2/2 VCS

Seventh Grade Boys
Date Opponent
2/2 VCS

Eighth Grade Boys
Date Opponent
1/25 Garden Athletic Center
2/1 Columbia Prep. Athletic Center
2/6 Browning Athletic Center

Varsity Girls
Date Opponent
1/25 BWL Athletic Center
1/29 UNIS Athletic Center
2/8 Steiner Athletic Center
2/12 York Athletic Center

Varsity Boys
Date Opponent
1/31 Churchill Athletic Center
2/7 Browning Athletic Center


In the Upcoming Weeks...

1/26- Karamu

1/31- Suzanne and Caroline's Class Publishing Party, Round One- 8:45AM

1/31-2/1- Art Auction

2/1- Suzanne and Caroline's Class Publishing Party, Round Two- 8:45AM

2/7- Spanish Workshop, 8:45AM

2/8- Gwen and Thomas' Class Publishing Party, Big Room- 8:45AM

2/14-2/16- Fourth Grade ERBs

2/15- Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM

2/19-2/20- School Closed for Presidents' Weekend

Lessons from Dr. King

Dear Families,

In the Lower School we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. belatedly – at the end rather than in the middle of January. We do this with a purpose: to give children time, after the winter break, to settle in and focus on the issues he championed. These issues are presented in ways which reflect children’s ages and worldview and range from topics such as fairness, equity, inclusion (vs. exclusion), standing up for one’s own or others’ rights to the specific dynamics of racial discrimination and segregation.

In classrooms, teachers help children to describe what fairness means to them and initiate exercises such as the Third Grade activity of "Xs and Os" in which one of the two groups is left out. Teachers pose questions such as "Have you ever been an ‘X’?" "Do you remember how that felt?" Across the grades, books are read and discussed, from the picture book Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport to Free at Last by Angela Bull. Kindergartners guessed that, were he alive today, Martin Luther King would be our president. Fourth Graders discussed the language of the time – black and white – and learned that the civil rights era was a time when segregation, not slavery, was combated.

Additionally, this week faculty received a packet from our Lower School Multi-Cultural Committee. Among other things, it contains a sample homework sheet. From this, Fourth Graders were asked this week to respond to the homework question: What can you do to continue Martin’s dream? Their thoughts included:

"I would continue Martin’s dreams by helping the elderly, finishing what MLK was not able to finish. I want people to listen to everyone and my words to serve; for every city, state, country to be equal."
"You could treat everyone equally, not judge people by race but by their sense of character, and try to use words instead of weapons."
"I can treat everyone equally, not excluding people. I can make sure that all opinions are shared and people feel comfortable with other people. I can try not to use violence and to use my words…"
"You must not say that other people’s religions are not true or that they’re not important"

And now, with this background and these discussions under our belts, we excitedly await two pivotal events.

The first will occur this Friday during Morning Meeting, as the Second through Fourth Graders, following an introduction by the faculty committee, position themselves around long sheets of butcher paper to illustrate a time when someone they know, or even they themselves, stood up for someone or something.

Then, next Wednesday morning the entire Lower School will squeeze into the auditorium for our annual Martin Luther King Assembly. Students will share songs, watch the video of Dr. King’s I Have a Dream speech and listen to a birthday dedication by the Middle School band. Individual students will offer suggestions on "peaceful ways to solve problems", and - possibly most special - former kindergarten teacher Cleo Banks will read to us from Honey I Love.

Ours is a belated celebration and it is well worth the wait!

Special thanks go to our Faculty Multi-Cultural Committee and to our music department: Caroline Johnston, Tasha Hernandez, Ayanna Greenidge, Sue Ribaudo, Helen Yoo, Kelly O’Keefe, Thomas Murley, Stacey Miehe, Suzanne Cohen, Laura Araman

Elaine


This Week's Attachments:

Gwen and Thomas' Class

Fourth Grade Science Letter

Fourth Grade ERB Letter

Parent Rep Meeting Notes


This Week's Announcements:

Art Auction:
Save the Date: The 2007 LREI Art Auction
Wednesday, January 31st and Thursday, February 1st, 2007
I-20 Gallery at 529 West 20th Street (11th Floor) NYC
Admission is Free - Reception and Final Bidding on Thursday, February 1st, 6:00PM to 8:00PM
Auction catalogs will be available on Monday, January 22 in the Sixth Avenue Lobby. Visit the auction website at www.lrei.org/caleven/aa_2007/index.html to preview the exhibition, pre-register and get further information.

Meeting About Tuition Increase and 2007-2008 Budget:
Michel de Konkoly Thege, Director of Finance and Operations, will give presentations to the LREI community concerning the planned tuition increase and overall budget for the 2007-2008 school year. These presentations will take place at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, January 16th in the Charlton Street cafeteria and at 8:00 and 8:45 am on Wednesday, January 24th in the Sixth Avenue cafeteria. All parents and other members of the LREI community are invited to attend and ask questions.

Karamu:
It is time to celebrate - Karamu is almost here! Take part in a fabulous school-wide cultural extravaganza that is fun for the whole family. Artists include a Capoeira group, a steel-drum troupe, a Punk-Klezmer band and Asian-Indian dances, wrapped up by the hip-hop stylings of the all-female Fox Force Five!Friday, January 26, 2007Dinner begins at 5pmPerformances and dancing from 6pm-9pmPAC at 40 Charlton StreetTickets $20 adults, $5 childrenTickets, Raffles and T shirts go on sale Monday 1/22Karamu can't happen without you. You can still get involved and make a difference: get food donated for the potluck dinner or volunteer to help out that night. Sign up sheets are posted in the lobby and food solicitation letters are available at the front desk and as an attachment below.

Click Here

Shop News:
Second graders have been working very hard in wood shop and have built fabulous vehicles. Each vehicle has at least three moving parts! Be sure to see them in the lobby display case!

Spanish Workshop:
¡Bienvenidos a Todos!
Julie Sterling and Delia Hernandez invite you to attend a Spanish workshop for parents on Wednesday, February 7th at 8:45 in the Cafeteria.
Join us to learn about our Spanish program and to engage in some activities en español!


In the Upcoming Weeks...

1/24- Tuition Meetings, 8:00AM & 8:45AM

1/24- LS Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly (Students Only)

1/26- Karamu

1/31- Suzanne and Caroline's Class Publishing Party, Round One- 8:45AM

1/31-2/1- Art Auction

2/1- Suzanne and Caroline's Class Publishing Party, Round Two- 8:45AM

2/7- Spanish Workshop, 8:45AM

2/8- Gwen and Thomas' Class Publishing Party- 8:45AM

2/14-2/16- Fourth Grade ERBs

2/15- Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM

2/19-2/20- School Closed for Presidents' Weekend

Dear Families,

Those of us in Morning Meeting – the Second through Fourth Graders – have a mini-tradition. Each January students create a series of New’ Year’s Resolutions that they feel will enhance our school community. I thought I would share these with you as they reflect an impressive set of values learned and internalized both at home and in the classroom. Now to live them...

Elaine

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS for our SCHOOL - 2007:

LEARNING:
Take good risks.
Listen to teachers.

SCHOOL:
Be responsible for library books.
Respect school property, you use it but other people use it too.
Respect materials.
Clean up after yourself.
If you use something and the teacher says pick it up, don’t just walk away or say it wasn’t yours.
Be responsible.
Don’t leave your space for someone else to clean up.

THE ENVIRONMENT:
Take less food.
Recycle paper.
Don’t pollute as much.
Don’t waste trees (drawing).
Respect the environment.
Respect the trees because they give you oxygen.

RESPECT & KINDNESS:
Respect the First Graders and don’t make fun of them because they’re young.
Respect each other.
Treat people like you’d like to be treated.
Don’t blame stuff on other people.
Don’t make assumptions.
Stand up to someone if someone’s being mean to someone else.
Don’t be rough.
Don’t hog things like toys at recess.
Be honest.
Don’t steal.
Maybe you could be an activist—someone who stands up for your rights.
Stand up for everybody’s rights.
Don’t judge people.
Teachers should be respecting kids too - so everybody’s equal.
Don’t get upset right away—ask first.
Don’t be selfish.
Don’t tease.
Worry about yourself.
Don’t be bossy to other people.
Don’t point people out (ex: Oh you have funny hair!)
Don’t exclude.
Don’t brag.


This Week's Attachments:

Diane and Lisa's Early Kindergarten

Jamie and Bonnie's First Grade

Second Grade Math


This Week's Announcements:

No School Monday:
Reminder that school will be closed Monday, January 15th in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

Meeting About Tuition Increase and 2007-2008 Budget:
Michel de Konkoly Thege, Director of Finance and Operations, will give presentations to the LREI community concerning the planned tuition increase and overall budget for the 2007-2008 school year. These presentations will take place at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, January 16th in the Charlton Street cafeteria and at 8:00 and 8:45 am on Wednesday, January 24th in the Sixth Avenue cafeteria. All parents and other members of the LREI community are invited to attend and ask questions.

Lost and Found:
Please browse the rack of Lost and Found items that will be in the lobby. At the end of next week, all unclaimed items will be donated to God's Love We Deliver.

Publishing Party:
Gwen and Thomas' Fourth Graders will have a publishing celebration on Thursday, February 8th at 8:45AM.

Karamu:
It is time to celebrate - Karamu is almost here! Take part in a fabulous school-wide cultural extravaganza that is fun for the whole family. Artists include a Capoeira group, a steel-drum troupe, a Punk-Klezmer band and Asian-Indian dances, wrapped up by the hip-hop stylings of the all-female Fox Force Five!
Friday, January 26, 2007
Dinner begins at 5pm
Performances and dancing from 6pm-9pm
PAC at 40 Charlton Street
Tickets $20 adults, $5 children
Tickets, Raffles and T shirts go on sale Monday 1/22

Karamu can't happen without you. You can still get involved and make a difference: get food donated for the potluck dinner or volunteer to help out that night. Sign up sheets are posted in the lobby and food solicitation letters are available at the front desk.


In the Upcoming Weeks...

1/15- School Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

1/16- Tuition Meeting, 6:30PM

1/18- LS Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM

1/24- Tuition Meetings, 8:00AM & 8:45AM

1/24- LS Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly (Students Only)

1/26- Karamu

1/31-2/1- Art Auction

2/8- Gwen and Thomas' Class Publishing Party- 8:45AM

Dear Lower School Families,

Happy New Year!

It is wonderful to be back and to rekindle relationships with your children. No question – they bring the school to life! On Tuesday, however, our building pulsed in a quieter way as faculty in all divisions came together around issues of diversity. This year’s winter Professional Day was opened by our Diversity and Community Director Sharon DuPree, who introduced speaker Dr. Pat Romney, longtime friend of LREI, author and consultant. Pat warned against “diversity fatigue” and compared the never-ending work of achieving our diversity goals to the equally never-ending goals of achieving educational excellence and rigor within a progressive school environment. She helped us to frame our community’s approaches to educating citizens with the vision, purpose and “human skills” necessary for living in the twenty-first century. In small groups and large, the faculty discussed the challenges of weaving personal and community identity as we educate for democracy. It was all tremendously, thoughtful and provocative and helpful.

In the afternoon hours, LREI staff members shared their expertise and experience with faculty colleagues in a series of workshop sessions on a wide range of diversity issues. They included:

• East Meets West, an overview of current diversity titles - Jesse Karp, Stacy Dillon, Jennifer Hubert Swann, Karyn Silverman
• Examining Class and Race, an exercise designed to examine issues of class and race in our lives – Delia Hernandez
• The Culturally Competent Educator, an explanation of Multicultural Counseling Therapy – Noni Polhill
• LGBT at LREI, welcoming new LGBT families into our community – Elaine Winter
• “A Different Place”: Diversity in Greenwich Village - Tracing the changing racial, cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic “geography” of Greenwich Village – Nicholas O’Han
• White Allies, examining the role of white allies within a school community – Sandra Chapman and Kelly O’Keefe
• African American and Caribbean American Cultures, comparing historical legacies, immigration patterns and experiences, communication styles, family values and traditions – Samantha Caruth and Sharon DuPree
• An Open Dialogue about Religion in LREI, how religion and religious study present themselves at LREI – Pat Romney
• Discussions about Class, a look at the sometimes forgotten “ism” in diversity work – Marcus Chang

It was a stimulating day as well as a privilege to participate in such meaningful dialogue. I will close by sharing a passage from the LREI Self-Study:

“The foundations of democracy,” Elisabeth Irwin wrote, “are built by daily habits of recognizing the rights of those who differ from us.” The school’s objective, she wrote, was to instill in its students “the widest possible understanding and appreciation of all the peoples of the earth, a commitment to using knowledge to make a difference in the world, to enrich human life, to reduce human drudgery, to study community problems and to act upon them in constructive, democratic fashion.”

Our founder, Elisabeth Irwin, regarded the school as a laboratory for the development of those skills and values that are prerequisites for effective citizenship, democratic life and civic endeavor. The culture of the school was marked by pervasive respect for the dignity of each individual - the recognition and celebration of racial, ethnic and religious diversity and an ethic of abiding trust, cooperation and group decision-making. We continue to cultivate these values today as the LREI experience nurtures in your children a predisposition to pursue learning within the context of active citizenship and service to the community. Yesterday’s Professional Day reinforced our school’s historic mission. Everyday of the school year witnesses that mission in action.

Elaine Winter

This Week's Attachments:

Diane and Lisa's EK

Lauren and Laura's Kindergarten

Fourth Grade Math



This Week's Announcements:

Meeting About Tuition Increase and 2007-2008 Budget
Michel de Konkoly Thege, Director of Finance and Operations, will give presentations to the LREI community concerning the planned tuition increase and overall budget for the 2007-2008 school year. These presentations will take place at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, January 16 in the Charlton Street cafeteria and at 8:00 and 8:45 am on Wednesday, January 24 in the Sixth Avenue cafeteria. All parents and other members of the LREI community are invited to attend and ask questions.

Lost and Found
Please browse the rack of Lost and Found items that will be in the lobby. At the end of next week, all unclaimed items will be donated to God's Love.

Reminder for Second Grade Parents
Second Graders will be taking a bus trip to the East River on Wednesday, January 10th in order to examine different types of bridges. We need two parents from each class to join us for this half-day trip (approx. 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.). The sign-up sheets are posted in the stairwell on the Second Grade bulletin board.

Afterschool, Enrichment, Early Bird and Music Lessons
Registration for Core Afterschool, Enrichment, Early Bird and Instrumental programs will take place Monday, January 8th through Friday, January 12th. We will begin to process forms at 3:00pm on Monday the 8th. All Afterschool programs will start the week beginning Tuesday, January 16th.

A class and instrumental list for the Winter/Spring session is available to view on the Afterschool at LREI section of the school's website. We have also added an Afterschool Drop-In form to the website as a PDF that you may download and use as needed during the session.

Click here

Afterschool childcare is available free of charge during registration week. You may simply let your child's teacher know if you plan for her or him to attend.


In the Upcoming Weeks...

1/8-1/12- Afterschool Registration Week

1/15- School Closed for Martin Luther King Day

1/16- Tuition Meeting, 6:30PM

1/18- LS Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM

1/24- LS MLK Assembly (Students Only)

1/26- Karamu

1/31- Art Auction