What Is a Family?
In anticipation of our Families Assembly, early childhood classes have been taking a look at their own families.
Fours invited parents in to cook, read and create art together. Children interviewed their guests, and, as parents responded, they provided a window into their children’s family and home lives. In the course of meeting discussions, Fours described a family as:
people in the same house
they live together
people who grow in the same house
people who have babies
they go away but come back – forever
Early Kindergartners have also been welcoming and interviewing ”family’” visitors. Parents are sharing favorite family recipes, from weiner schnitzel to chocolate chip pancakes. Some have come equipped with baby pictures or clothing and have shared their family’s story. When one parent described the busy day she spends with her EK’s younger sibling, another child chimed in “just like my mom!” When another told about his child’s adoption, a classmate joined in, “just like me!” And when a parent identified her child’s birth country as Guatemala …. “just like me!” EKs enjoyed the story of a classmate’s two fathers, but until a lesbian-headed family came to visit, were reluctant to consider a family with two moms – it was unfamiliar.
Two moms can’t born one baby because both moms have to have a baby.
But they could be adopted.
One of the moms could have a baby in her tummy and the other didn’t.
My brother knows someone with two moms.
Rejoicing in the many ways their families are similar and in their endless differences is both an esteem- and community-building process. Our Fours and EKs are proud of who they are and delight in learning more about their classmates’ families.
Next Wednesday morning, Lower School students will gather for the annual Families Assembly. We will sing songs such as We’re All a Family and Love Makes a Family. Some children will read poems and some teachers will read from a picture book. Children will share as a division as they have done as a class. This gathering, created by our Lower School LGSA Committee, is one of our warmest and most meaningful events.
Families were also the topic of discussion at this morning’s open parent meeting, Bringing the Conversation Home sponsored jointly by the Adoption, LS POCOC and LGSA Committees and chaired by Director of Diversity and Community, Sharon DuPree. Sharon reminded us of the beauty in the range of diversity among LREI families, even though this means we sometimes “bump into each other”. She encouraged parents to share openly – and they did, discussing a range of issues, hearing and counseling each other. Their comments included:
We try to strike a balance between interceding for our kids and helping them be comfortable with who they are – self-possessed and confident.
Language is always personal. Some families refer to a birth mother from early on, others wait.
We should create diverse friendships outside of school so that our children learn about people whom they already know and love.
Children can ask questions - in school or on a playdate – that sound insensitive, when they may be innocent. How do we know what is a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ question? Is it determined by age and level of maturity?
When children bring home questions or misconceptions, we need to stop and probe. If we don’t believe this is important, if we’re not ‘about’ it, our kids will know.
A long weekend ahead – time for many talks!
Elaine
Fours invited parents in to cook, read and create art together. Children interviewed their guests, and, as parents responded, they provided a window into their children’s family and home lives. In the course of meeting discussions, Fours described a family as:
people in the same house
they live together
people who grow in the same house
people who have babies
they go away but come back – forever
Early Kindergartners have also been welcoming and interviewing ”family’” visitors. Parents are sharing favorite family recipes, from weiner schnitzel to chocolate chip pancakes. Some have come equipped with baby pictures or clothing and have shared their family’s story. When one parent described the busy day she spends with her EK’s younger sibling, another child chimed in “just like my mom!” When another told about his child’s adoption, a classmate joined in, “just like me!” And when a parent identified her child’s birth country as Guatemala …. “just like me!” EKs enjoyed the story of a classmate’s two fathers, but until a lesbian-headed family came to visit, were reluctant to consider a family with two moms – it was unfamiliar.
Two moms can’t born one baby because both moms have to have a baby.
But they could be adopted.
One of the moms could have a baby in her tummy and the other didn’t.
My brother knows someone with two moms.
Rejoicing in the many ways their families are similar and in their endless differences is both an esteem- and community-building process. Our Fours and EKs are proud of who they are and delight in learning more about their classmates’ families.
Next Wednesday morning, Lower School students will gather for the annual Families Assembly. We will sing songs such as We’re All a Family and Love Makes a Family. Some children will read poems and some teachers will read from a picture book. Children will share as a division as they have done as a class. This gathering, created by our Lower School LGSA Committee, is one of our warmest and most meaningful events.
Families were also the topic of discussion at this morning’s open parent meeting, Bringing the Conversation Home sponsored jointly by the Adoption, LS POCOC and LGSA Committees and chaired by Director of Diversity and Community, Sharon DuPree. Sharon reminded us of the beauty in the range of diversity among LREI families, even though this means we sometimes “bump into each other”. She encouraged parents to share openly – and they did, discussing a range of issues, hearing and counseling each other. Their comments included:
We try to strike a balance between interceding for our kids and helping them be comfortable with who they are – self-possessed and confident.
Language is always personal. Some families refer to a birth mother from early on, others wait.
We should create diverse friendships outside of school so that our children learn about people whom they already know and love.
Children can ask questions - in school or on a playdate – that sound insensitive, when they may be innocent. How do we know what is a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ question? Is it determined by age and level of maturity?
When children bring home questions or misconceptions, we need to stop and probe. If we don’t believe this is important, if we’re not ‘about’ it, our kids will know.
A long weekend ahead – time for many talks!
Elaine
This Week's Attachments:
Diane and Lisa's Early Kindergarten
First Grade
Third Grade
This Week's Announcements:
Presidents' Weekend:
School will be closed Monday and Tuesday in observance of Presidents' Weekend.
Art Show:
Dear Parents,
Dear Parents,
You are cordially invited to the Lower School Art Show taking place in the Bleecker Street Auditorium on Feb 22 and 23. We will have an opening for the children on Feb 22 from 3:00- 4:00. Hope you can make it.
Ann
LREI Spirit Basketball Game:
Attention Sports Fans--Friday, March 16th (not Friday, February 23 as originally announced) will be the annual LREI Spirit Basketball Game that will match up LREI's multi-talented faculty/staff against the up-and-coming stars of the Middle School and High School basketball teams. This will be a great opportunity to witness the athletic talents of our student athletes and to experience firsthand how exciting it has been to have a home court gym this year. At half time there will be a foul shooting contest for athletes sixth grade or younger. We have hosted some amazing games this season, where the roars for the home team were heard on Houston Street. So come out and see what all of the excitement is about -- March 16th at 3:30PM at the Thompson Street Athletic Center, 145 Thompson Street between Houston and Prince. We look forward to having a big crowd help to celebrate the end of our first year of having a "home court advantage."
In the Upcoming Weeks...
2/16- Viewing of Native American Art in Third Grade, 3:00-3:15PM
2/19-2/20- School Closed for Presidents' Weekend
2/21- Families Assembly (students only), 9AM
2/21- Viewing of Native American Art in Third Grade, 8:30-9:00AM
2/22- Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM (New Date!)
2/22-2/23- Lower School Art Show
3/1- LGSA Parent Meeting
posted by LREI Lower School News @ Thursday, February 15, 2007
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