Direct from Denver

Dear Lower School Parents,

I am spending this week in Denver at the annual NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) conference. Together with Sharon DuPree, I just presented on what I referred to as the “new” school constituency, lesbian and gay-headed families. Based on our LREI experience, Sharon and I discussed ways that school communities can welcome these families – an authentic and meaningful process only if all school constituencies (parents, prospective parents, students, faculty and administrators) are invited to join in the conversation. Workshop attendees asked many questions, took notes and shared their own experiences. Needless to say, few independent school profiles mirror ours. What we consider school-as-usual – classroom discussion, the Families Assembly, our diversity bulletin board, the Visibility photo exhibit and the shared conversation among parent affinity groups - is rare indeed.

Elaine


This Week's Attachments:

Beth and Molly's Fours

Luise and Michelle's Kindergarten

First Grade

Colleen and Michael's Second Grade

Tasha and Romy's Second Grade

Spanish Resource List

2007 LREI Spirit Game


This Week's Annoucements:

Afterschool's First Friday:
Join us this Friday, March 2nd, from 4:15-5:15 as we welcome First Friday favorites Sruli and Lisa for an afternoon of live Klezmer music and dancing. We will be learning some of the great Old World Klezmer and Hasidic dances such as "Thread the Needle" and "Patsh Tantz".
Multi-instrumentalists and vocalists Sruli and Lisa play the clarinet, violin, accordion, bass recorder, cello and drum. They perform and teach Klezmer music and dance all over the country. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend this Friday's workshop. Please call the Afterschool office with any questions or to register your child at 212-477-5316, extension 239.

High School Play
Please come to the High School Play, written by LREI Arts Chair and director Meghan Farley Astrachan, "Apartment 6D," 7 PM, Charlton Street PAC, this Friday and Saturday, March 2 and 3. "Apartment 6D" is a play about friendship, loss, betrayal, and hope. Set in a cramped West Village apartment, it is the story of four friends attempting to cope with the future four months after the September 11th disaster that shook the foundations of downtown Manhattan and of the world as they knew it.

Dance Show:
Coming soon! On Saturday, March 17th at 2 PM, at the Dance Theater Workshop on 219 West 19 Street, our LREI High School Step Team will be performing as part of the professional show, "Family Matters". This show is for ages 3 and up! $10 for kids, $20 for adults.

Quilting:
An open invitation to those in our community who would like to participate in creating this year's Afghan Quilt for the Big Auction: It is time to pick up your needles and yarn and knit or crochet a 6x6" square in colors and patterns of your choosing to be assembled into a beautiful, cozy, handmade creation. In celebration of this group effort, Claudia Baez will host a Champagne & Cheese Knitting Circle on Wednesday, March 14th for anyone who would like to participate. Beginners to seasoned knitters and crocheters are welcome. Please bring your children and encourage them to give it a try! All you need to start is some yarn and a pair of knitting needles or a crochet hook. We will meet at 260 West Broadway, #11B, from 4-6PM. If you can't join us on March 14th, you can drop completed squares off in the collection box in the Sixth Avenue lobby up until Thursday, April 12th. This us a perfect project for Spring Break that will also support the school.If you have any questions, please contact Jenna Torres at jennasdreamworld@hotmail.com.

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In the Upcoming Weeks...

3/2- Afterschool's First Friday

3/2-3/3- High School Play

3/9- Lower School Special Assembly (students only)

3/14- Champange and Cheese Knitting Circle

3/15- Parent Rep Meeting

3/17- LREI High School Step Team performs in "Family Matters"

3/23-4/9- Spring Break