LREI Lower School News

2007-06-07T12:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Families,

A heartfelt good-bye to each of you.
Knowing you and being a part of your children’s growth and learning has been a true joy!

May your summers be sunny and fun-filled!

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Fours' Song Lyrics

Lauren and Laura's Kindergarten

Third Grade

Afterschool

Gay Pride March

This Week's Annoucements:

Lower School Hiring Update:
I am delighted to give you the following update regarding Lower School hiring. We are all very pleased to welcome these new members of our faculty:

Kate Treitman will be our new Fourth Grade teacher. Kate has been an associate teacher for three years at The School at Columbia and The Brearley School. She will work with Dave Cataletto.
Susannah Flicker will be the new Academic Support person in Third Grade. Previously, Susannah was Director of Academic Support Services at the Children’s Storefront. She has a new baby and is working on her Doctorate.
Dot Portella is on board to fill the maternity leave position in Second Grade. She has Second and Fourth Grade teaching experience at the Grace Church School and was manager of Volunteer Recruitment at the GO Project. Dot will work with Jackie Hart from September through December until Colleen’s return.

Early Dismissal:
There will be a 12:00PM dismissal (11:45 Early Childhood) Friday, June 8th, and Tuesday, June 12th. There will be no Afterschool on either of these days.

In the Upcoming Week...

6/8- 12:00PM dismissal (11:45AM Early Childhood)

6/11- Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony, 9:00AM, Auditorium

6/11- Suzanne and Caroline's Fourth Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

6/12- Last day of school, 12:00PM dismissal (11:45AM Early Childhood)

2007-05-31T12:48:00.001-07:00

A LITTLE ADVICE

Recently, I’ve been visiting Lower School classrooms to speak to students about my leaving. I like to compare it to their moving on to a new grade: the current grade is familiar and interesting, but they know they’re ready for new work – ready to stretch themselves in a different environment with a new mix of classmates. My own situation is similar: part of me would love to continue at LREI where I have many friends and interests and where the work is always new and exciting; another stronger part is excited by the challenges of a new career.

In the course of these conversations with the Fourth Graders, students asked specific questions about my future plans. I told them I could use their help – that I knew I wanted to work with children, either in connection with the arts or in a field that allows me to support children who have few opportunities. When I asked Fourth Graders for their advice, many of them felt that working with less advantaged children was the right choice because "it’s not fair". Others had these suggestions:

I was thinking… maybe you could start a greeting card company because of the way you always greet us in the morning.
Well, if you do art, let the kids have a free day so they can use their own ideas some of the time.
I really enjoy Morning Meeting, so I was thinking you could start a mini-newspaper to tell people what’s going on in the world.
You should do something you’re really good at.
It’s kind of like choosing a book – you should do something that’s just right, not too hard.
You should do something you really enjoy!
Do you like movies? Maybe you could be a movie critic, then you’d see a lot of them.
Maybe you should do something off the beaten path – like teach water skiing.
I think you should be a feelings teacher.
Yeah, because you always help people with their problems. (One time I came into your office, I was rambling and raving—I didn’t even know what I meant, but YOU did!)
Or you could write a book about being a principal at the Little Red School House.
You could call it, "The Joy of a Problem."

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Fours

Early Kindergarten

Second Grade

Gay Pride March

This Week's Announcements:

Library Books:
All library books are due tomorrow, Friday, June 1st.

Gwen and Dave's Fourth Grade Play:
Gwen and Dave's Fourth Grade will perform The Great Kapok Tree on Wednesday, June 6th at 8:50 in the auditorium. We will have coffee and student books about rainforest animals available for review in the auditorium by 8:30. These books may also be viewed on June 1st from 8-9 in our classroom.

In the Upcoming Weeks:

6/4- Luise and Michelle's Kindergarten Picnic, 6:00PM

6/6- Fours and EK Movement Assembly, 8:45AM, Big Room

6/7- Diane and Lisa's Early Kindergarten Picnic, 6:00PM

6/11- Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony, 9:00AM, Auditorium

6/11- Suzanne and Caroline's Fourth Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

6/12- Last day of school, 12:00 dismissal (11:45 Early Childhood)

2007-05-24T10:06:00.001-07:00

URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Kindergarten through Second Grade

KINDERGARTEN BUILDINGS BECOME A CITY

I visited a Kindergarten block city last week. It contained the following: a bank, a fire station, police station, a clothing store, supermarket, apartment building, a hotel, a hospital and LREI. (baek, fir stashn, poles stasn, soopr morcat and litl red sool huos) The residents (made-to-scale wooden block people) were dressed in bright paper outfits designed by the children to identify their roles; wooden cars were similarly identified. Signs were posted to convey need-to-know information: clos 8AM, opn 8AM-6PM EVRE DAY, WACON TO LREI, ples do not open the door and, in the hospital, an INMR JINSEY room. I was told that one person lived in the apartment building, but worked in the bank. He drove his car to work. Other cars took people to the supermarket. When the super of the apartment building had some free time, he crossed the street to chat with his neighbors, the "fire people".

With paper and plasticene, children furnished their buildings, adding details to be used in the social interaction of dramatic play. There was clothing for women and babies in the clothing store, there were large beds (gemungous), round couches and plasma TVs in the furniture store, produce and packaged goods in the supermarket and beds and an "employees only" cafeteria in the hospital. These five and six year olds were representing what they had learned about ways that people work together and enrich each other’s lives.

FIRST GRADE BLOCK CITY CONVERSATIONS:

Harriet Cuffaro, our social studies coordinator, stood looking at the First Grade block buildings. She noticed children’s signs identifying: a fire stashin, police stachin, a bilding, a subwe, an a partment building and a no prking sign. Joining two girls over snack, she asked for an update on their buildings. As it turned out., one child was a "teacher" and had a school, the other, a "tailor", had a shop.
Tailor: Do you want to come see my building? I have a tailor shop.
Harriet: Yes, I'd like that.
Teacher: I have a school.
Harriet: Is it for children or grownups?
Teacher: Children. It's a First Grade.
Harriet asks the Tailor, Do you have children?
Tailor: Yes, but she doesn't go to school yet. (Pause) She needs school to learn how to read.
Teacher: I have a school.
Harriet: Maybe you can take your child to visit the school.
Tailor: How old are the children in the school?
Teacher: It's First Grade. How old is your child?
Tailor: 6-7.
They walk over to the school building.
Teacher: Here is the cafeteria. Here's where they work.
Harriet: I see you also have a school bus.
Moving to the tailor shop, the Tailor demonstrates how the shop works. The tailor makes quilts.
Teacher: (Looking at the shop.....) We can do a trip with the school to the tailor shop.
Tailor: Yes, that would be nice. You can come.
Teacher: First, we are going to the police station.

SECOND GRADE: URBAN PLANNING ASSOCIATES

At this point in the year, Second Graders, our division’s most experienced builders, leave blocks behind to construct a permanent city made exclusively of recycled materials. The first step in this project was to design bird’s-eye view maps of what their city would look like, addressing challenges of space and proximity first with paper and pencil. As they worked, Second Graders asked large questions: Will this city be an island? Will it have a river? Sidewalks? Where will people get their water? How will they get power? (In one room, students decided on a solar powered city.) They then discussed which buildings would be key in meeting residents’ needs. They chose: a privt school like LREI, a bookstore, a college, a kids muesme and a library; a jail, fire and police stashons; a hospital and pharmacy, doctor and dentist’s offfices; an art galory and museum and a house, apartment and condo. Situating these buildings was the work of students’ government agencies or committees: Education, Safety, Health, Arts and Entertainment, and Housing. The Transportation Committee decided to create cars, subways, muving truks and modursikules; Parks and Open Spaces - a water fountian, climing structure and basketball cort. (Committee members are featured on the bulletin boards outside the fourth floor classrooms with their maps.) Finally, combining their art, shop and social studies work times, students began the actual construction, creating buildings with detailed accessories that underscore a building’s usefulness to the community and weave a fabric of interdependencies.

The above are three examples of culminating social studies explorations. As they translate conceptual understanding into actuality, students can envision the integration of community lives, rewards and responsibilities. On a personal plane, they integrate their own skills and understanding in literacy, math and science. Process into product, and learning with a capital, make it upper case, L.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Early Kindergarten

Kindergarten

Second Grade

Field Day

Language Survey

Language Survey Form

Afterschool's Piano/Voice Recital and Instrumental Concert

Afterschool Enrichment Share

This Week's Announcements:

Field Day and Early Dismissal:
Tomorrow is Field Day! Pick-up is at 1:00PM (12:45 for Early Childhood) and there is no Afterschool. It is going to be hot, so don't forget sunblock.

PA Ballot:
Please fill out the attatched PA ballot and return to the reception desk at the Sixth Ave. or Charlton St. buildings by Wednesday, May 30th. Hard copies are also available at the reception desks.
Click Here

Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony:
PLEASE SAVE THE DATE! The Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony will take place on Monday, June 11th at 9:00 AM in the auditorium.

Camping Trip:
The 14th annual LREI camping trip will be held on the weekend of June 1-3. All LREI families and their children -- pre-K through high school -- are invited to participate. As in past years, we expect that a good time will be had by all: hiking, swimming, sports, fishing, camping, cooking, eating, singing around the campfire, etc.The site, as in past years, will be near the Delaware Water Gap (somewhat north of where I-80 crosses the Delaware River). The cost will be $30 per adult, $20 per child. Also, we need volunteers to help with hauling food and supplies and equipment out to the camp site (and back) and providing extra space in their vehicles for those who need a ride out and back.
More details will be forthcoming for those who are interested. We will have a sign-up table for a few mornings at LREI in May, when we get closer to the camping trip weekend. Please see the attached flyer.Please save the date and let us know if you are interested in receiving more information -- and especially if you are interested in volunteering: Send an email to Larry White(Lwhite@stern.nyu.edu).

Organizers:
Neil Capobianco (CapobiancoN@gtlaw.com)
Seth Tapper (sethtapper@yahoo.com)
Dave Trumbull (dave.trouble@gmail.com)
Larry White (Lwhite@stern.nyu.edu)
Please Click Here

In the Upcoming Weeks...

5/25- Field Day and 1:00PM dismissal (12:45EC) for Memorial Day Weekend

5/28- School Closed for Memorial Day

5/29- What to Expect in Fifth Grade, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/30- Kindergarten Movement Assembly, 8:45AM, Big Room

5/30- Jamie and Bonnie's First Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

6/1- Library books due

6/4- Luise and Michelle's Kindergarten Picnic, 6:00PM

6/6- Fours and EK Movement Assembly, 8:45AM, Big Room

6/7- Diane and Lisa's Early Kindergarten Picnic, 6:00PM

6/11- Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony, 9:00AM, Auditorium

6/11- Suzanne and Caroline's Fourth Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

2007-05-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

BIG DAY A COMIN’

A week from today, on Thursday, May 24th, we’ll be celebrating!

Spring Book Fair
The Spring Book Fair will be happening from 8:00AM-6:00PM in the Sixth Avenue Auditorium. This is a wonderful opportunity to stock up on quality summer reading for your children. And what could be more convenient?!?

Spring Concert
The Spring Concert begins at 6:30PM in the PAC. Simply put, it is joyous! I hope you will try to attend with your children, whatever their age. Come to enjoy the music of our choruses and band – to relax and be transported.

QUOTE FROM THE NEW YORKER, May 21, 2007:

Staff writer Louis Menand remarked in this week’s The Talk of the Town article, “The Graduates”, “You can’t learn when you’re afraid of being wrong.” His context was meritocracy and the extraordinarily selective process surrounding entrance into competitive colleges. He framed it with, “Everything you do in a meritocratic society is some kind of test, and there is never a final exam. There is only another test. People seem to pick up on this earlier and earlier in their lives, and at some point it starts to get in the way of their being educated. You can’t learn when you’re afraid of being wrong.”

I’d like to let this quote stand on its own, only to underscore how highly everyone at LREI values intellectual risk taking, that willingness on the part of students to offer up original answers and theories when they’ve thought through but are not sure of their accuracy – when they might be wrong. Only by going out on a limb can students reflect on and extend their knowledge and understandings, only then can they truly learn.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Dorothy and Stacey's First Grade

First and Second Grade

Field Day

Language Survey

Language Survey Form

Afterschool's Piano/Voice Recital and Instrumental Concert

Afterschool Enrichment Share

Book Fair

Community Service Calendar

This Week's Announcements:

The Diversity Dialogue Continues:
Topic: Socio Economic Diversity
Sharon Dupree will facilitate a conversation in the Sixth Ave cafeteria this Friday, May 18th at 8:45 am.
All are welcome.
Thank You,
The Parents' Association
Please Click Here

Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony:
PLEASE SAVE THE DATE! The Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony will take place on Monday, June 11th at 9:00 AM in the auditorium.

Parent Representatives:
Thank you to all of you who have served as Parent Representatives during the 2006-2007 school year. Your attention to the children is much appreciated. If you would like to be a Parent Rep during the 2007-2008 school year, email Kasey Picayo at picayosmith@aol.com.

Spring Concert:
Please join our music department choruses and instrumentalists at the LREI Spring Concert Thursday, May 24th, from 6:30PM until 8:00PM , in the PAC on Charlton Street. The concert is free. This grand culminating event for the performing arts this year includes singers and instrumentalists from all three divisions, and was inadvertently omitted from the Parent Association calendar:
The Little Red Chorus (Lower School) directed by Helen Yoo
The Little Red Singers (Middle School) directed by Henry Chapin
The Elizabeth Irwin Singers (High School) directed by Sunny Kim
The High School Jazz Band directed by Vin Scialla
The concert will conclude with a grand finale: All choruses and jazz band players will join forces to perform "Des Colores," LREI’s 2007 anthem-like favorite, which has been sung at various assemblies this year, including Founder’s Day.
This concert is for the entire LREI community, including families of students who are not participating currently in school ensembles. Come out and support our music department, and hear a splendid concert of magnificent choral and instrumental music.

LREI Annual Camping Trip:
The 14th annual LREI camping trip will be held on the weekend of June 1-3. All LREI families and their children -- pre-K through high school -- are invited to participate. As in past years, we expect that a good time will be had by all: hiking, swimming, sports, fishing, camping, cooking, eating, singing around the campfire, etc.The site, as in past years, will be near the Delaware Water Gap (somewhat north of where I-80 crosses the Delaware River). The cost will be $30 per adult, $20 per child. Also, we need volunteers to help with hauling food and supplies and equipment out to the camp site (and back) and providing extra space in their vehicles for those who need a ride out and back.
More details will be forthcoming for those who are interested. We will have a sign-up table for a few mornings at LREI in May, when we get closer to the camping trip weekend. Please see the attached flyer.Please save the date and let us know if you are interested in receiving more information -- and especially if you are interested in volunteering: Send an email to Larry White(Lwhite@stern.nyu.edu).
Organizers:
Neil Capobianco (CapobiancoN@gtlaw.com)
Seth Tapper (sethtapper@yahoo.com)
Dave Trumbull (dave.trouble@gmail.com)
Larry White (Lwhite@stern.nyu.edu)
Please Click Here

From the LREI Librarians:
The library will be converting to a new computer catalog towards the end of June. You may have noticed that the library catalog can no longer be accessed through your computers, or any computer in the school. This is because the software (Winnebago) we currently have is incompatible with the newer Macs. The new system (Follett) is far superior to the product we have now, and will enable parents, faculty, students and staff to view our holdings via the Internet and link directly to websites from subject headings. We are extremely excited about the conversion upgrade because it will provide the entire LREI community with much improved library services that will greatly enhance all aspects of the reading and research process. While we hope to make this transition as painless as possible for everyone involved, it will require some level of cooperation from the whole school community. Because of the upcoming conversion, it is more important than ever that all LREI library books be returned to both libraries by Friday, June 1st. Like past years, we will be closing to circulation on this day, which means that while we will continue to check materials in, we will no longer check any more materials out. Please look through your child's bookshelves at home, through closets and under beds for any stray LREI library books. We will be sending home overdue slips as usual, and please let us know if there are any errors on your child's slip. Thanks for your patience, and please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about this process.

In the Upcoming Weeks...

5/18- Diversity Dialogue, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/21- Dorothy and Stacey's First Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

5/22- Tasha and Romy's Second Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

5/23- Second Grade Assembly, 8:45AM, Auditorium

5/24- LREI Chorus Concert

5/25- Field Day and 1:00PM dismissal (12:45EK) for Memorial Day Weekend

5/28- School Closed for Memorial Day

5/29- What to Expect in Fifth Grade, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/30- Kindergarten Movement Assembly, 8:45AM, Big Room

5/30- Jamie and Bonnie's First Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

6/4- Luise and Michelle's Kindergarten Picnic, 6:00PM

6/6- Fours and EK Movement Assembly, 8:45AM, Big Room

6/7- Diane and Lisa's Early Kindergarten Picnic, 6:00PM

6/11- Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony, 9:00AM, Auditorium

6/11- Suzanne and Caroline's Fourth Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

2007-05-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

RUNNING DOWN A HILL

Running down a hill, rolling a pencil down a ramp.
Running down a steep hill, rolling a pencil down a steep ramp.

How does angle affect speed? What about height and length? Recently, members of the Early Kindergarten experimented firsthand with these dynamics. I happened on them as they crouched in the hallway outside of their room hard at work with Megan predicting distances, then experimenting to verify and compare the outcomes. They had built several ramps with blocks and were armed with markers, crayons and pencils, which they placed at the top of each ramp and rolled down one after the other. When an implement came to a complete stop, a student marked that place with a scrap of paper. Many of these peppered the floor when I arrived. With Megan’s guidance, students made the following observations:

"If the ramp was longer, the pencils went faster. When the ramp was taller, the pencils rolled farther."
"With a shorter ramp, the pencils rolled short. When we used a taller ramp, the pencils rolled a looooong way. When we used a long ramp, it went just like the tall ramp."
"When a ramp is longer, the pencil went faster. If the ramp was taller, the pencil went faster, too."

As it turned out, this exploration also related to the EK’s study of transportation in the city. Teachers had invited a wheelchair user to visit the room (the mother of MS teacher Margaret Andrews) and talk about the ways she navigates the city. She introduced the importance of ramps and children extended the concept with drawings and dictation:

"People use ramps to get from one place to another. When they have wheelchairs, it’s easier to get around because wheels need flat places."
"People use ramps if they have a wheelchair so they can get in and out of their cars."
"People use ramps for rolling snowballs down them! They can also use them for pushing carts up to a store."
"People use ramps to get bowling balls and people use ramps to walk down."

And you should see their illustrations!

FACULTY HIRING UPDATE:

EK: Charles Hassell will work with Diane as her Associate Teacher. Charles was formerly a Kindergarten Associate here with Brooke Nuell, worked as the Lower / Middle School Associate teacher and has long been a part of our summer camp program. Welcome back, Charles!
SECOND GRADE: Jackie Hart is our new Second Grade Co-Teacher and will share the classroom with Colleen in the spring. Jackie has four years of head teaching experience, three of these in Second Grade. She comes to us highly recommended from The School at Columbia.
SECOND GRADE: Rebecca Schwartz, currently First Grade Associate Teacher with Gina Goldmann, will co-teach with Tasha Hernandez. Rebecca has taught both First and Fourth Grades and already knows many of next year’s Second Graders!
THIRD GRADE: Alison Cupp has spent two years as a Second and Third Grade Associate Teacher at The Town School. Prior to her classroom experience, Alison was involved in museum education and in the field of marketing.
THIRD GRADE: Elaine Schreger has had five years of classroom experience. Most recently, she was the Fourth Grade Head Teacher at Collegiate School. Elaine had a career as a lawyer before entering education.
MUSIC: Ledell Mulvaney comes to us with many years’ experience as music teacher extraordinaire. Ledell received the Distinguished Teacher Award in the Greenwich Public School system and has considerable expertise as music teacher, band leader, chorus director and creator of original musical productions.
We are also fortunate this year to welcome back a number of returning Associate Teachers. They are: Caroline Johnston (Fours). Molly Clarke (Kindergarten), Stacey Miehe (Kindergarten), Bonnie Maloney (First Grade), Debbie Lennon (First Grade), Lisa Chung (Third Grade) and Dave Cataletto (Lower/Middle School Associate).

We are delighted to welcome this extremely talented group of teachers!

PICNIC REMINDER:
Most often spring picnics take place on our roof, though not always, and are wonderful, warm celebrations of the school year. Below are a few guidelines, generated over the years to help make these events run smoothly.

Picnics are parent-run events. Reps will ask for your help in bringing dinner foods and setting up the tables. Our maintenance staff will bring tables up to the roof for each picnic.
We welcome siblings, younger and older, but no outside guests, please.
Students (and siblings) should adhere to classroom rules - using the space respectfully according to your teachers’ guidelines.
Parents are kindly asked to keep an eye on their own children.
Please remember that the roof playground will be in use bright and early the following morning. Your help in cleaning up is much appreciated.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Early Kindergarten

Gina and Rebecca's First Grade

Second Grade

Fourth Grade Math

Language Survey

LREI Spring Arts Project

Book Fair

Community Service Calendar

Spanish Resources

This Week's Announcements:

What to Expect in First Grade:
Dear Kindergarten Parents,
We look forward to discussing our plans for next year's First Grade with you and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Friday, May 11th.
Elaine

What to Expect in Fifth Grade:
Dear Fourth Grade Parents,
We look forward to discussing our plans for next year's Fifth Grade and the transition into Middle School with you and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Tuesday, May 29th.
Elaine and Mark

Shop News:
Trees, vehicles, and animals with moving parts are all in the lobby display case! First Graders learned how to use coping saws and they cut out intricate tree shapes. Second Graders investigated wood joinery and made vehicles. Third Graders made animals with moving parts using the coping and crosscut saws and many kinds of wood joinery. Make your day--look in the lobby display case!

Adult Choral Concert:
Glass Menagerie, LREI's resident adult chorus, conducted by former LREI music teacher and current LREI parent Susan Glass, will perform its annual Spring Concert UPTOWN:
Friday May 11th, 8:00PM
Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew
86th Street and West End Avenue
For more information: www.glassmenagerie.org
Please Click Here

Class of 2007:
We are so proud of our seniors. As they move towards graduation, just over a month away, it is time to step back and look at all that these wonderful people have accomplished during their time at LREI. Among these accomplishments is gaining admission to many fine colleges and universities. Follow the links below to see a list of this year’s college acceptances and a list of college acceptances for the 2004-2006 school years. Congratulations, seniors!!!!
Philip Kassen

2007 College Acceptances

2004-2007 List of College Acceptances

From the LREI Librarians:
The library will be converting to a new computer catalog towards the end of June. You may have noticed that the library catalog can no longer be accessed through your computers, or any computer in the school. This is because the software (Winnebago) we currently have is incompatible with the newer Macs. The new system (Follett) is far superior to the product we have now, and will enable parents, faculty, students and staff to view our holdings via the Internet and link directly to websites from subject headings. We are extremely excited about the conversion upgrade because it will provide the entire LREI community with much improved library services that will greatly enhance all aspects of the reading and research process. While we hope to make this transition as painless as possible for everyone involved, it will require some level of cooperation from the whole school community. Because of the upcoming conversion, it is more important than ever that all LREI library books be returned to both libraries by Friday, June 1st. Like past years, we will be closing to circulation on this day, which means that while we will continue to check materials in, we will no longer check any more materials out. Please look through your child's bookshelves at home, through closets and under beds for any stray LREI library books. We will be sending home overdue slips as usual, and please let us know if there are any errors on your child's slip. Thanks for your patience, and please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about this process.

LREI Annual Camping Trip:
The 14th annual LREI camping trip will be held on the weekend of June 1-3. All LREI families and their children -- pre-K through high school -- are invited to participate. As in past years, we expect that a good time will be had by all: hiking, swimming, sports, fishing, camping, cooking, eating, singing around the campfire, etc.The site, as in past years, will be near the Delaware Water Gap (somewhat north of where I-80 crosses the Delaware River). The cost will be $30 per adult, $20 per child. Also, we need volunteers to help with hauling food and supplies and equipment out to the camp site (and back) and providing extra space in their vehicles for those who need a ride out and back.
More details will be forthcoming for those who are interested. We will have a sign-up table for a few mornings at LREI in May, when we get closer to the camping trip weekend. Please see the attached flyer.Please save the date and let us know if you are interested in receiving more information -- and especially if you are interested in volunteering: Send an email to Larry White(Lwhite@stern.nyu.edu).
Organizers:
Neil Capobianco (CapobiancoN@gtlaw.com)
Seth Tapper (sethtapper@yahoo.com)
Dave Trumbull (dave.trouble@gmail.com)
Larry White (Lwhite@stern.nyu.edu)
Please Click Here

In the Upcoming Weeks...

5/11- What to Expect in First Grade, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/11- Glass Menagerie, 8:00PM, The Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew

5/14-Gwen and Dave's Fourth Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

5/16- Fourth Grade Assembly, 8:45AM, Auditorium

5/17- Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/17- Michael and Dawn's Second Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

5/21- Dorothy and Stacey's First Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

5/22- Tasha and Romy's Second Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

5/23- Second Grade Assembly, 8:45AM, Auditorium

5/24- LREI Chorus Concert

5/25- Field Day and noon dismissal (11:45EK) for Memorial Day Weekend

5/28- School Closed for Memorial Day

5/29- What to Expect in Fifth Grade, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/30- Kindergarten Movement Assembly, 8:45AM, Big Room

5/30- Jamie and Bonnie's First Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

6/4- Luise and Michelle's Kindergarten Picnic, 6:00PM

6/6- Fours and EK Movement Assembly, 8:45AM, Big Room

6/7- Diane and Lisa's Early Kindergarten Picnic, 6:00PM

6/11- Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony, 9:00AM, Auditorium

6/11- Suzanne and Caroline's Fourth Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

Making It Hum

2007-05-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

Making It Hum

As you may imagine, it takes a lot to make a division such as ours run productively. It takes a lot more to make it hum. As we move into this new transition phase, I want to acknowledge two people who have contributed so importantly to our division. They are Assistant Principals Delia Hernandez and Megan Dunphy. When she leaves at the end of this year, Delia will have completed her ninth year as Assistant Principal and Megan, her third.

They are curriculum developers, faculty mentors, innovators and masters of creative solutions. Delia’s curriculum focus is in Second through Fourth Grades, Megan’s, in special classes, such as music and gymnastics, as well as science. Delia supervises the associate teachers and Megan, specialists. Delia’s day-to-day oversight centers on the fourth floor classrooms while Megan’s, on the third. Additionally, Megan coordinates all aspects of our Lower School science program - seamlessly. And all in three days per week!

Working behind the scenes, their efforts most directly enhance the following aspects of :

curriculum development: science, literacy and social studies enrichment, planning and implementation
professional development: the mentoring of associate teachers through a program of specifically designed sessions, instructional science training also for associate teachers and regular specialist meetings
professional community: associate and substitute teacher hiring and student teacher placement
student support: intervention and guidance for children experiencing difficulty in the classroom, social justice: faculty meeting presentations and assemblies
parent communication: designing and editing parents letters and student reports
educational recognition: coordination of the many professional visitors to our division, and, finally
coverage, coverage, coverage – accommodating the unexpected twists and turns in the life of a lower school.

The real magic, however, lies in Megan and Delia’s great good cheer, the laughter, optimism and unshakable trust in our community that transform crises into challenges and challenges into celebrations. I’ve been most fortunate to have worked with this talented duo. Please join me in thanking them both. Without Delia and Megan, there could have been no hum.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Luise and Michelle's Kindergarten

Lauren and Laura's Kindergarten

Tasha and Romy's Second Grade

Kelly and Ayanna's Third Grade

Chap and Meredith's Third Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Parent Rep Meeting Minutes

Community Service

Spring Assembly and Picnic Schedule

Cinco de Mayo Party

Spanish Resource List

This Week's Announcements:

First Grade Assembly Rescheduled:
The First Grade Assembly has been rescheduled for this upcoming Wednesday, May 9th, at 8:45 in the Big Room on the fourth floor.

Class of 2007:
We are so proud of our seniors. As they move towards graduation, just over a month away, it is time to step back and look at all that these wonderful people have accomplished during their time at LREI. Among these accomplishments is gaining admission to many fine colleges and universities. Follow the links below to see a list of this year’s college acceptances and a list of college acceptances for the 2004-2006 school years. Congratulations, seniors!!!!
Philip Kassen
2007 College Acceptances
2004-2007 List of College Acceptances

LREI Annual Camping Trip:
The 14th annual LREI camping trip will be held on the weekend of June 1-3. All LREI families and their children -- pre-K through high school -- are invited to participate. As in past years, we expect that a good time will be had by all: hiking, swimming, sports, fishing, camping, cooking, eating, singing around the campfire, etc.The site, as in past years, will be near the Delaware Water Gap (somewhat north of where I-80 crosses the Delaware River). The cost will be $30 per adult, $20 per child. Also, we need volunteers to help with hauling food and supplies and equipment out to the camp site (and back) and providing extra space in their vehicles for those who need a ride out and back.
More details will be forthcoming for those who are interested. We will have a sign-up table for a few mornings at LREI in May, when we get closer to the camping trip weekend. Please see the attached flyer.Please save the date and let us know if you are interested in receiving more information -- and especially if you are interested in volunteering: Send an email to Larry White(Lwhite@stern.nyu.edu).
Organizers:
Neil Capobianco (CapobiancoN@gtlaw.com)
Seth Tapper (sethtapper@yahoo.com)
Dave Trumbull (dave.trouble@gmail.com)
Larry White (Lwhite@stern.nyu.edu)

What to Expect in First Grade:
Dear Kindergarten Parents,
We look forward to discussing our plans for next year's First Grade with you and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Friday, May 11th.
Elaine

What to Expect in Fourth Grade:
Dear Third Grade Parents,
We look forward to discussing our plans for next year's Fourth Grade with you and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Thursday, May 10th.
Elaine

What to Expect in Fifth Grade:
Dear Fourth Grade Parents,
We look forward to discussing our plans for next year's Fifth Grade and the transition into Middle School with you and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Tuesday, May 29th.
Elaine and Mark

Adult Choral Concert:
Glass Menagerie, LREI's resident adult chorus, conducted by former LREI music teacher and current LREI parent Susan Glass, will perform its annual Spring Concert UPTOWN:
Friday May 11th, 8:00PM
Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew
86th Street and West End Avenue
For more information: www.glassmenagerie.org
Please Click Here

In the Upcoming Weeks...

5/4- What to Expect in Third Grade, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/6- Cinco de Mayo Party, 12:00PM, Bleecker St.

5/9- Kindergarten and First Grade Assemblies, 8:45AM: Kingergarten-Auditorium, First Grade-Big Room

5/9- Chap and Meredith's Third Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

5/10- What to Expect in Fourth Grade, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/11- What to Expect in First Grade, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/11- Glass Menagerie, 8:00PM, The Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew

5/14-Gwen and Dave's Fourth Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

5/16- Fourth Grade Assembly, 8:45AM, Auditorium

5/17- Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/17- Michael and Dawn's Second Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

5/21- Dorothy and Stacey's First Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

5/22- Tasha and Romy's Second Grade Picnic, 6:00PM

5/23- Second Grade Assembly, 8:45AM, Auditorium

5/24- LREI Chorus Concert

5/25- Field Day and noon dismissal (11:45EK) for Memorial Day Weekend

5/28- School Closed for Memorial Day

5/29- What to Expect in Fifth Grade, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

Poetry in our Pockets

2007-04-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Lower School Parents,

Whenever and wherever they can, Lower School teachers link instruction to broad areas of study and/or schoolwide initiatives. This week’s case in point is our annual Poem in your Pocket Day in which students of all ages and in all divisions were encouraged to come to school with a poetry selection in their pockets ready to be shared with classmates and faculty. In some cases, these were examples of original work, in others they represented children’s choices.

We honor this day, along with National Poetry Month, in our literacy curriculum as well. Regardless of the grade, genre studies converge in April. Memoirs, personal narratives, feature articles, biographies, “how to” and “all about” books, reports and persuasive paragraphs - all take a backseat to poetry.

Here is how our literacy specialists describe the study of poetry:

Tina Lane says: The study of poetry enhances a range of reading skills and strategies that students use in every genre, whether it be a fictional mystery or an informative text on penguins. By reading poems repeatedly and engaging in discussions on structure and purpose, students begin to recognize ways that intonation, expression and fluency can convey meaning. They grow familiar with structure and content. Visualization skills are also reinforced as children use the language in poems to create pictures in their minds, or mental imagery. This, then, deepens their understanding of setting and ability to think critically about a poem’s central message or "main idea". Finally, the study of poetry and honoring of renowned poets encourage students to work with increased creativity and imagination.

Irene Baigorri adds: In addition to the mechanics and elements of poetry that support literacy instruction across genres, poetry nurtures enthusiasm, appreciation and understanding of this ancient art. Some readers immediately love to read poetry, but for many a love of poetry is developed and a repeated exposure to poetry, particularly when read aloud, is the best way to foster this love. I would hope that Poem in your Pocket Day reminds students that poetry is art, and that it is satisfying and exciting to discover a poem that enthralls you and to say it in your own voice. What would be the costs of not including poetry in every child's education?

This year’s "Pocket" celebration was particularly lively thanks to individual stickers provided by the Literary Committee. "Ask me to read my poem", they said, and ask we did! In addition to the Jabberwocky, I was treated to a range of original creations including the following selections:

“The Magic Chocolate Bar”

Chocolate Bar, Chocolate Bar
Turn into something else,
Chocolate Bar, Chocolate Bar
Maybe two
Chocolate Bar, Chocolate Bar
I love you!

“What Is an Apostrophe”

It’s a flying comma
It’s comma’s cousin
It’s when Mr. Letter goes on vacation
And rents it out to Apostrophe.

“How Come?”

How come I can’t have a bike?
How come I can’t take a hike?
How come I can’t have a pet?
How come I can’t get wet?
How come I can’t go on a plane?
Am I too much of a pain?
How come I can’t jump on my bed?
And then my dear mother aid…
Because you ask too many questions!

“Where Has Time Gone?”

Where has time gone?
Did it take a wrong
Turn on its way over here?
Did it not hear
That we changed our plan?
Then again, it was never a fan
Of being on time.
I hope it won’t be too late.
Oh, where has time gone?

“I’m a New Yorker”

The subway pushes you back like a sonic boom.
The crowds of people feel like you are compressed, waiting to break
Free of the train’s gaping mouth.
Just waiting to gobble you up in its giant gaping mouth.

Its arched silver back rumbling into the station.
The glistening silver on its arched back as it turns into the station.

The look of awe on tourists’ faces as they see the train.
And your face held high.
I’m a New Yorker!

“Clash! Sizzle!”

clash his sword
his elven sword
clash!
co powerful!
clash!
my fire
sizzle
my dragon fire!
Sizzle
So hot
sizzle

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Dorothy and Stacey's First Grade

Tasha and Romy's Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Big Auction

Community Service

Spring Assembly and Picnic Schedule

Spanish Resource List

This Week's Announcements:

LREI Annual Camping Trip:
The 14th annual LREI camping trip will be held on the weekend of June 1-3. All LREI families and their children -- pre-K through high school -- are invited to participate. As in past years, we expect that a good time will be had by all: hiking, swimming, sports, fishing, camping, cooking, eating, singing around the campfire, etc.
The site, as in past years, will be near the Delaware Water Gap (somewhat north of where I-80 crosses the Delaware River). The cost will be $30 per adult, $20 per child. Also, we need volunteers to help with hauling food and supplies and equipment out to the camp site (and back) and providing extra space in their vehicles for those who need a ride out and back.
More details will be forthcoming for those who are interested. We will have a sign-up table for a few mornings at LREI in May, when we get closer to the camping trip weekend. Please see the attached flyer.
Please save the date and let us know if you are interested in receiving more information -- and especially if you are interested in volunteering: Send an email to Larry White(Lwhite@stern.nyu.edu).
Organizers:
Neil Capobianco (CapobiancoN@gtlaw.com)
Seth Tapper (sethtapper@yahoo.com)
Dave Trumbull (dave.trouble@gmail.com)
Larry White (Lwhite@stern.nyu.edu)

Half-Day Tomorrow:
There will be a noon dismissal (11:45 Early Childhood) tomorrow, Friday, April 27th, for Parent-Teacher Conferences. There will be no Afterschool. There will be Childcare in the Big Room from 11:45AM to 3:00PM. Teachers will bring students directly to the Big Room at dismissal. Pizza will be served and the cost is $20.00 per child, $10.00 per sibling.

There will be Conference Coverage, free of charge, in the Big Room until 5:00PM. This is limited to 30-35 minutes of coverage. Parents will pick up students at dismissal and will bring them to the Big Room at the time of their conference.

You may call or email Kate with questions: kgreathead@lrei.org, (212) 477-5316 ext. 215

Big Auction:
Tomorrow, Friday, April 27th is your last chance to purchase tickets for the Big Auction which is next Wednesday, May 2nd at 6:00pm at The Puck Building. Tickets must be purchased prior to the event, so if you haven't already done so, please contact Patricia Conroy at pconroy@lrei.org or 212-477-5316, ext. 232. To see all the great items on offer, you may view the catalog on line at www.lrei.org, pick up a catalog in either the Sixth Avenue or Charlton Street lobby or ask Patricia to mail you one. If you are not able to attend but would like to place an absentee bid, please contact Sandra Song at ssong@lrei.org or 212-477-5316, ext. 275 before the end of business on Tuesday, May 1st.
Thank you for supporting LREI.

What to Expect in First Grade:
Dear Kindergarten Parents,
We look forward to discussing our plans for next year's First Grade with you and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Friday, May 11th.
Elaine

What to Expect in Fourth Grade:
Dear Third Grade Parents,
We look forward to discussing our plans for next year's Fourth Grade with you and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Thursday, May 10th.
Elaine

In the Upcoming Weeks...

4/27- Noon Dismissal (11:45AM for Early Childhood) for Parent Teacher Conferences

5/1- First Grade Parent Meeting, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/2- Fours and Early Kindergarten Assembly, 8:45AM, Auditorium

5/2- Big Auction

5/3- Fourth Grade Parent Meeting with Heidi, 6:00PM, Gwen and Dave's Classroom

5/4- Second Grade Parent Meeting, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/9- Kindergarten Assembly, 8:45AM, Auditorium

5/9- Chap and Meredith's Third Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/10- What to Expect in Fourth Grade, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/11- What to Expect in First Grade, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/15-Gwen and Dave's Fourth Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/16- Fourth Grade Assembly, 8:45AM, Auditorium

5/17- Colleen and Michael's Second Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/21- Dorothy and Stacey's First Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/22- Tasha and Romy's Second Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/23- Second Grade Assembly, 8:45AM, Auditorium

2007-04-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

"YOUR RANK IN SOCIETY"

"What do people mean by class?"

So began last week’s Second through Fourth Grade Morning Meeting. I was describing a recent statewide diversity conference entitled Class Is NOT Dismissed (and chaired by our own Sandra Chapman!) I told students that this title was a play on words and asked if they knew what was meant by class other than what they knew it to be in school. One child thought of first class seats on a plane, then a Fourth Grader defined it for us: Class is your rank in society.

The following is a record of students’ thinking about the meaning of class and about its reflections in their world. What I hope is evident is the growth that was occurring as children actively listened to their peers and grappled with increasingly sophisticated social concepts:

Elaine: What do people mean by class?

Well, there are first and second class seats on a plane.
It's like what class you're in; the highest class gets the best treatment
It's your rank in society

Elaine: Can you think of an example?

There’s a privileged class. Privileged people are rich and usually live in mansions.
Or you’re privileged if your ancestor was maybe a duchess.
I think it’s more about what you have—if you have good stuff, you’re privileged.

Elaine: If there’s a privileged class, there must be others. Who knows what these other classes might be?

There’s a civilian class; it’s sort of in the middle.
Civilian means it’s not military, you’re not a soldier.
People that are poor (It’s hard to say that!) don’t have enough money to live on. They have a hard time living; they’re the low class, like beggars.
They have a hard time supporting their family and can’t afford medicine.
In the old days, there were castles. The privileged class lived inside and so did the civilians. Outside the walls were the peasants.

Elaine: Do you feel there is class at LREI?

I do.
Some kids get bullied by others, sort of like popularity.
If someone is popular they might feel privileged.
Some people bully because they’re NOT popular, it’s how they get back at people.
Everyone is privileged to go to this school. Some people have to pay to get a ticket for lunch at other schools. (Your parents do pay for your lunch. They just do it all at one time.)
This isn’t a put-down, it’s a reality: There’s a poverty line. If you’re below it, you’re supposed to get free lunch. If you’re above it, your parents have to pay.
Sometimes it’s about what grade you’re in: Middle Schoolers tease Lower Schoolers because they get chocolate milk and dessert.
Middle Schoolers say, "Fourth Graders are so dumb!" I don’t get it; they were just IN Fourth Grade!
Some people may feel privileged, but I think everyone should feel privileged because we’re all doing good.
Everyone should be respected in the same way.
Everyone should feel in the highest class because everyone is special in their own way.
It doesn’t matter what you’re good at, it matters how hard you try.
It’s not how you do, it’s if you try your best. At my mom’s school, it was about how you do. Kids who didn’t do as well weren’t happy.
It’s complicated. Some poor people are really smart. Some rich people are not smart.

Complicated indeed!

Elaine

(Thanks to Michael Parrish for these minutes.)

This Week's Attachments:

Fours

Luise and Michelle's Kindergarten

Colleen and Michael's Second Grade

Tasha and Romy's Second Grade

2007 Spring Picnic and Assembly Schedule

Spanish Resource List

This Week's Announcements:

Parent Teacher Conference Childcare:

Childcare will be provided for upcoming Parent Teacher Conference Days, Friday, April 20th, and Friday, April 27th. Sign-up sheets will be available at the front desk.

Friday, April 20th, Childcare will run from 8:00AM to 3:30PM in the Big Room and pizza will be served. The cost is $30 per child and $15 per sibling.

Friday, April 27th, which is a half-day, Childcare will go from noon to 3:30PM in the Big Room and pizza will be served. The cost is $20 per child and $10 per sibling.

Both days we will also offer half-hour Conference Coverage, free of cost, until 5PM. For further questions call or email Lower School Assistant, Kate: Kgreathead@lrei.org, (212) 477-5316 ext. 215

"Poem in Your Pocket" Day:

Keep a poem in your pocket
And a picture in your head
And you'll never feel lonely
At night when you're in bed…
-Beatrice Schenk de Regniers

Celebrate National Poetry Month with us – this coming Tuesday, April 24th! Each year, members of the LREI community celebrates National Poetry Month by choosing a poem to carry in a pocket throughout "Poem in Your Pocket" Day to share. Children eagerly ask to hear each other's poetry choices during this special day, in the hallways, in the cafeteria, and in the classroom. Some children select a special poem that speaks to them, some pen their own verses. Poems can be serious or silly, lyrical or laugh-out-loud! If you feel you need a little help in selecting a poem, come into the library. We will have a basket of poetry at the ready!

Big Auction:
LREI's Big Auction is coming - Wednesday, May 2nd at 6:00pm at The Puck Building. Tickets must be purchased prior to the event,so if you haven't already done so, please contact Patricia Conroy at pconroy@lrei.org or 212-477-5316, ext. 232. Tables are for 10 people - gather your friends and make it a party. This is a fun night and a terrific way to support LREI and the Tuition Remission Fund. To see all the great items on offer, you may view the catalog on line at www.lrei.org, pick up a catalog in either the Sixth Avenue or Charlton Street lobby or ask Patricia to mail you one. We look forward to seeing you in two weeks!
Pippa Gerard

First Grade Parent Meeting:

Dear First Grade Parents,

We look forward to discussing with you our plans for next year's Second Grade and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Tuesday, May 1st. This will replace the "What to Expect" Meeting scheduled for May 10th.

Phil and Elaine

Second Grade Parent Meeting:

Dear Second Grade Parents,

We look forward to discussing with you our plans for next year's Third Grade and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Monday, April 30th. This will replace the "What to Expect" Meeting schedulied for May 3rd.

Phil and Elaine

In the Upcoming Weeks...

4/20- Parent Teacher Conference Day (No School or Afterschool)

4/25- First Grade Assembly, 8:45AM, Auditorium

4/27- Noon Dismissal (11:45AM for Early Childhood) for Parent Teacher Conferences

4/30- Second Grade Parent Meeting, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/1- First Grade Parent Meeting, 8:45AM, Cafeteria

5/2- Fours and Early Kindergarten Assembly, 8:45, Auditorium

5/2- Big Auction

5/9- Kindergarten Assembly, 8:45, Auditorium

5/9- Chap and Meredith's Third Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/15-Gwen and Thomas' Fourth Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/16- Fourth Grade Assembly, 8:45, Auditorium

5/17- Colleen and Michael's Second Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/21- Dorothy and Stacey's First Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/22- Tasha and Romy's Second Grade Picnic, 6:30PM

5/23- Second Grade Assembly, 8:45, Auditorium

2007-04-12T10:35:00.000-07:00

April 12, 2007

Dear Lower School Families,

Soon you will be meeting with your children’s teachers on one of the days set aside for spring conferencing (April 20th or 27th). Classroom teachers look forward to this second conference with you to share what they have learned and observed of your children’s development over the year. They will be well prepared – with descriptions, work samples, illustrations and stories about your children’s experiences in different curriculum areas and reflections on their social and emotional growth. In some cases, teachers will suggest additional ways to support your child’s learning at home. As always, they will be seeking constructive dialogue and welcome your questions and insights.

Often, these springtime conversations also focus on class placement. This year, I would like to recast our model so that you may get the full benefit of your child’s conference. I refer you to P.14 of the Family Handbook, which discusses class placement. This year teachers will hold to the recommendations in the final paragraph: Parent requests are discouraged, but parent input, regarding preservation of friendships for instance, is given serious consideration. Naturally, we want to consider any relevant, new information that will help us in placing your child, so please do share whatever you feel is important. We ask, however, that you refrain from making specific requests and understand that teachers can offer no promises or guarantees. Please know that we take this process of class placement very seriously and will make every effort to create productive, balanced and welcoming classroom communities. Know also that each child’s needs are considered individually within the context of their own classroom experience. We take great care; it is our responsibility.

The following party reminder is again taken from a page in our Family Handbook (P. 17). I wanted to share it with you before spring events get into full swing and to ask you to please honor the feelings of every student by inviting all or just a few of your children’s classmates to outside gatherings and celebrations.

Birthday Parties: Birthday parties are important events in the lives of children-not only to the birthday child but equally to classmates who may or may not be invited. Please read the following carefully. These are tried and true guidelines that protect our children from hurt feelings and disappointment. We strongly encourage all LS families to follow them.

Home Birthday Parties:

Regarding invitations: It's fine to invite just a few; it's never fine to invite all but a few.
If you invite more than half of your child's class to a birthday party (or more than half of the boys or girls), we request that you invite the whole group.
Be sensitive to children who may not receive frequent invitations. Include them where possible.
When at all possible, please hold birthday parties on the weekend.
Send all invitations through the mail.
Please encourage your child to be sensitive to all classmates when discussing party plans or activities.
Should an afterschool time be necessary, we encourage you to convene children off-site to allow for as usual dismissal.

Thank you for sifting through the above suggestions. (No more, I promise!) I hope they pave the way for a smooth and thoroughly enjoyable end to the school year.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Fours

Early Kindergarten

Kindergarten

Gina and Rebecca's First Grade

Upcoming Lice Check

Summers at LREI

Global Warming Awareness Event

Sea of People Event Flyer

Spanish Resource List

This Week's Announcements:

Internet Safety:
Facebook, AIM, Club Penguin, BitTorents, YouTube, and countless other old, new and emerging web technologies are used by our children everyday. What do you know about them? How safe are they for your kids? Are there ways to make my child/tween/teen's computer environment safer and more productive? What can I do as a parent? What can the school do? The answers to these and other questions in a frank discussion on kids and technology moderated by the LREI tech coordinators. We will visit some sites, explore options that will make you child's cyber-environment safer and give you an overview of what we teach at LREI about internet safety. Additional resources will be given out for parents on paper and on www.lrei.org.
Two sessions:
Session One for parents of 7th - 12th graders on April 17th at 6:30 in the Sixth Avenue auditorium
Session Two for parents of 3rd - 6th graders on April 18th at 6:30 in the Sixth Avenue auditorium.

Parent Teacher Conference Childcare:
Childcare will be provided for upcoming Parent Teacher Conference Days, Friday, April 20th, and Friday, April 27th. Sign-up sheets will be available at the front desk.

Friday, April 20th, Childcare will run from 8:00AM to 3:30PM in the Big Room and pizza will be served. The cost is $30 per child and $15 per sibling.
Friday, April 27th, which is a half-day, Childcare will go from noon to 3:30PM in the Big Room and pizza will be served. The cost is $20 per child and $10 per sibling.

Both days we will also offer half-hour Conference Coverage, free of cost, until 5PM. For further questions call or email Lower School Assistant, Kate: Kgreathead@lrei.org, (212) 477-5316 ext. 215

First Grade Parent Meeting:
Dear First Grade Parents,
We look forward to discussing with you our plans for next year's Second Grade and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Tuesday, May 1st. This will replace the "What to Expect" Meeting scheduled for May 10th.
Phil and Elaine

Second Grade Parent Meeting:
Dear Second Grade Parents,
We look forward to discussing with you our plans for next year's Third Grade and hope you can join us in the cafeteria at 8:45AM on Monday, April 30th. This will replace the "What to Expect" Meeting schedulied for May 3rd.
Phil and Elaine

AfterSchool's First Friday:
Join us for an inspiring First Friday event with returning guest artist, Sidiki Conde. Sidiki is a dynamic drummer and dancer from Guinea, West Africa who is the founder of the New York City based dance company Tokounou. He is a gifted performer and a generous teacher - focused on enabling children and adults of all abilities to move and experience music with joy.
The program will take place this Friday, April 13th, from 4:15-5:15 in the Physical and Performing Arts Space. Call the Afterschool Office at 212-477-5316, ext. 239 to register.

Shop News:
Be sure and look at the lobby display case! Third Graders carved spoons when they studied the Native Americans of the Northeast Woodlands.
They learned how to use chisels and they shaped their spoons using saws, rasps, files, and sandpaper.

In the Upcoming Weeks...

4/16- Licenders Check

4/18- Third Grade Assembly, 8:45 AM, Auditorium.

4/18- Internet Safety Meeting, 6:30PM, Cafeteria.

4/19- Kindergarten Breakfast, 8:30AM, Cafeteria.

4/20- Parent Teacher Conference Day (No School or Afterschool)

4/25- First Grade Assembly, 8:45AM, Auditorium.

4/27- Noon Dismissal (11:45AM for Early Childhood) for Parent Teacher Conferences.

4/30- Second Grade Parent Meeting, 8:45AM, Cafeteria.

5/1- First Grade Parent Meeting, 8:45AM, Cafeteria.

5/2- Fours and Early Kindergarten Assembly, 8:45, Auditorium.

5/2- Big Auction

2007-03-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

Phil Kassen, guest blogger, here. A quick word of “Thanks” to all of our students for their hard work and dedication and for being involved and active members of their classrooms. Within the last three weeks we have experienced the outstanding high school musical and a series of one-act plays written by juniors and seniors—among them a musical depiction of the seven deadly sins. High schoolers also spent a day learning about American foreign policy and the war in Iraq. For more information on Global War on Terror Day—a series of student created and taught seminars on the current world situation—see Ruth Jurgensen’s high school blog from last week. Fifth and sixth graders presented major social studies projects this week. Working with the art, music and drama teachers, sixth graders presented their annual Medieval Pageant featuring folk tales from Europe, Asia and Africa. Fifth graders turned their classrooms into an Egyptian tomb. Visitors were treated to a variety of artifacts including beautiful artwork, life size sarcophagi and a variety of Egyptian relics. In the Lower School, we all enjoyed and learned from the annual Art Show, which included work from all lower school students; the first grades’ bookstore, bakery and penguin study; the third graders’ presentation on the Native Americans of the northern woodlands and publishing parties in various classrooms. The stands were filled with cheering fans at the Thompson Street Athletic Center last Friday as the faculty lost a close game to the middle and high school basketball teams in our annual Spirit Game. Finally, today we have three groups leaving on foreign adventures—a group of high school students are off to visit a school in Munich with which we have an exchange relationship and the eighth graders are off to Costa Rica or Paris, depending on whether they study Spanish or French. A well deserved rest approaches. All that separates us from Spring Break is the Founder’s Day Assembly with its traditional re-enactment of the founding of the school and annual ice cream celebration.

One comment about next week. This year the annual Kick Butts Day is on Wednesday, March 28th. Sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (www.tobaccofreekids.org), Kick Butts Day is a day of learning and activism focused on ending the use of tobacco and tobacco products by children and teens. A few facts from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids web site:

Each day, about 4,000 kids try their first cigarette; and each day another 1,000 other kids under 18 years of age become new regular, daily smokers. That’s 416,000 new underage daily smokers each year.
The addiction rate for smoking is higher than the addiction rates for marijuana, alcohol, or cocaine; and symptoms of serious nicotine addiction often occur only weeks or even just days after youth "experimentation" with smoking first begins.
90 percent of all adult smokers begin while in their teens, or earlier, and nearly two-thirds become regular, daily smokers before they reach the age of 19.
Roughly one-third of all youth smokers will eventually die prematurely from smoking-caused disease.

As a school community, one of the most important things we can do to promote our children’s health is to emphatically state that it is unacceptable for our students, of any age, to smoke. No exceptions. We will look for every opportunity to reinforce the message that smoking is neither cool nor glamorous and that the expectation of the adults in their lives is that your children will never smoke. We will also spend considerable time discussing the manipulative messages used by tobacco companies in their advertising campaigns.

I encourage all families to spend time discussing the dangers of tobacco use and to take every opportunity presented by advertising, movies and TV to discuss the often misleading messages about smoking presented by the media.

Interested in additional resources about kids and smoking?

http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/body/smoking/
http://www.scenesmoking.org/
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/smoking.html

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Please don’t hesitate to email or call if you would like to discuss it further. Have a great spring break. See you on April 9th!!

Phil

This Week's Attachments:

Diane and Lisa's Early Kindergarten

Kindergarten Screening Letter

Kelly and Ayanna's Third Grade

Chap and Meredith's Third Grade

Kelly and Ayanna's Social Studies

Chap and Meredith's Social Studies

Third Grade Internet Use

March 15th Parent Rep Meeting Notes

Spanish Resource List

This Week's Announcements:

Early Dismissal:
A reminder that school will be closing at noon tomorrow (11:45 for Early Childhood) and there will be no Afterschool.

Lost and Found:
Tomorrow is the last day to browse Lost & Found. All remaining unclaimed items will be donated to God's Love.

Upcoming Parent Events:
Facebook, AIM, Club Penguin, BitTorents, YouTube, and countless other old, new and emerging web technologies are used by our children everyday. What do you know about them? How safe are they for your kids? Are there ways to make my child/tween/teen's computer environment safer and more productive? What can I do as a parent? What can the school do? The answers to these and other questions in a frank discussion on kids and technology moderated by the LREI tech coordinators. We will visit some sites, explore options that will make you child's cyber-environment safer and give you an overview of what we teach at LREI about internet safety. Additional resources will be given out for parents on paper and on www.lrei.org.
Two sessions:
Session One for parents of 7th - 12th graders on April 17th at 6:30 in the Sixth Avenue auditorium
Session Two for parents of 3rd - 6th graders on April 18th at 6:30 in the Sixth Avenue auditorium.

High School Preview Night:
Thinking Ahead? Join us for the High School Preview Night on Tuesday, April 10th at 6:30pm in the Charlton Street Performing Arts Center (PAC). This is a wonderful opportunity for Middle School and Lower School parents to learn more about the High School from parents, students and recent alumni. We hope to see you there! RSVP to the Admissions Office at ext. 305.

In the Upcoming Weeks...

3/23- Founder's Day, Noon Dismissal (11:45 for Early Childhood)

4/9- School resumes after Spring Break

4/10- High School Preview Night

4/18- Third Grade Assembly, 8:45AM

4/18- Internet Safety Discussion, 6:30PM. Bleeker Street Auditorium

4/20- School Closed for Parent Teacher Conferences

4/25- First Grade Assembly, 8:45AM

4/27- Noon dismissal for Parent Teacher Conferences, no Afterschool

2007-03-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Lower School Families,

"Eighty years ago, Elisabeth Irwin revolutionized American education by taking students out of the classroom and into the world —
and by bringing the world into the classroom."
(from the LREI website, written by Nick O’Han)

Eighty years later, our school is still doing just this. As an institution, we value opportunities which allow our students to extend and enrich their studies inside the classroom by going out into the world: visiting places, interviewing people, and making observations to bring back. Here is a sampling of just a few places our classes are exploring outside of their classrooms lately, allowing a more meaningful experience of studies inside the classroom:

Fourth Graders have been studying how instruments can work together as an ensemble through their work with recorders. To bring this idea to life, they traveled to Lincoln Center to attend a dress rehearsal of the New York Philharmonic, allowing children to hear many instruments working together in the performance of George Gershwin's An American in Paris and Melinda Wagner's Trombone Concerto (a world premiere!).
As Third Graders come to the end of a recent collaborative research project on the planets, a trip to the Rose Center for Earth & Space on Monday will be a culminating experience. Students will view large scale models of the planets and other interactive exhibits, allowing classroom experiments, research and discussions about the solar system, stars and constellations, and universe to be considered through a different perspective and presentation.
After interviewing, observing and gathering information at various local bookstores, Gina and Rebecca’s First Graders celebrated the opening of the "Booksey Boo Bookstore" this week! Children worked to create merchandise, modeled after important things they saw for sale in the bookstores they visited, including books, bookmarks, postcards, "books on DVD," and cupcakes.
In Kindergarten, children have learned and discussed the ways that animals stay warm and survive outside during the winter months. To deepen this understanding, they traveled today to the Central Park Zoo to observe first-hand how animals living outdoors in New York City adapt and adjust to the challenges of and changes in temperature and weather during winter, and now the beginnings of spring.

In a similar way, our school community welcomes visitors from the world of education, interested in learning about our progressive ideals, to come into our classrooms. For a school that is not associated with a college, university, or education training program, the number of educators who visit our school each year is astounding. Each year, we welcome educators to observe, listen, and learn – as Elisabeth Irwin believed, to go out of their own classrooms and into the world. By opening our classrooms to others, we have the opportunity to engage in conversation about our practice, and to connect with the broader educational community.

During this school year alone, our visitors have included experienced teachers, undergraduate and graduate students, new teachers, and administrators from New York City, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, and even other countries, including:

Westchester Community College
Hunter College
Fieldston School
Bank Street College of Education
Medgar Evers Community College
Corlears School
New York University
Episcopal School
Buckley School
and Iceland, where groups of teachers, principals, and founders of new playschools now visit NYC independent school annually, primarily to observe our work with blocks.

In addition, many schools typically organize one or two professional development days during the school year – a day off for students, a day of learning from outside speakers, discussions, workshops or meetings for faculty. This year, the Children’s Aid Society school in our neighborhood used their professional development day to bring the entire faculty of more than 35 teachers to visit our school! This was another special opportunity for us to share our practices and ideas with other educators, and to deepen our connection with a neighboring school.
As we move into warmer weather and the beginnings of springtime, may the coming of a new season bring you new opportunities to go out into the world, and to bring the world in. I’m happy to have had a chance to share with you in this week’s blog.

Take care,
Megan

This Week's Attachments:

Letter Responding to Tragic Incident

Dorothy and Stacey's First Grade

Second Grade Publishing Party

Third Grade Reading

Third Grade Feature Article

Third Grade

Math at LREI

Parent Rep Meeting Notes

Spanish Resource List

This Week's Announcements:

Visiting Author:
On March 20th Tim Wise will speak with the LREI community on the topic of privilege and class in America. Tim Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and activists in the U.S. Wise has spoken in 48 states, and on over 400 college campuses, including Harvard, Stanford, and the Law Schools at Yale and Columbia. Many of our faculty members have heard Mr. Wise speak and found him to be engaging and insightful. He will spend a good part of the day here on March. 20th and 21st meeting with students, faculty and parents.
Parent Events featuring Tim Wise:
Tuesday, March 20th, 7:00PM, Performing Arts Center, 40 Charlton Street. (Child Care Available, please sign up at the Sixth Ave. Reception Desk.
Wednesday, March 21st, 8:45 AM, Sixth Avenue Cafeteria, Breakfast Discussion with Tim Wise. There are several copies of Tim Wise’s book, White Like Me, in each library.Click here for more information about Tim Wise: www.timwise.org.
Tim Wise’s visit to LREI is generously supported by the Wendling Foundation as part of an ongoing grant to support our diversity efforts, including the visit by the Human Race Machine earlier this year.

Dance Performance:
THE LREI STEP TEAM will be performing as part of FAMILY MATTERS Dance Theater Workshop on March 17th at 2:00pm. The body becomes a canvas on which colorful legends and rueful stories are painted. Strokes of genius are delivered by Merce Cunningham alum Glen Rumsey presenting a gender-bending ballet, the inspirational step dancing of the LREI STEP TEAM, and the Brazilian influenced free world music of The Nation Beat. The feast continues with Lawrence Goldhuber and his all-diva cast who serve-up a cautionary tale about what canhappen if you eat too much. Flamenco fans will delight in the foot falls of the Ballet Hispanico School Ensemble, while the graceful Trinayan Collective execute a fable in the Odissi style of classical Indian dance.The Dance Theatre Workshop is located at 219 west 19th street. For reservations call (212) 924-0077 TKTS $10.00 children $20.00 adults

High School Preview Night
Thinking Ahead? Join us for the High School Preview Night on Tuesday, April 10th at 6:30pm in the Charlton Street Performing Arts Center (PAC). This is a wonderful opportunity for Middle School and Lower School parents to learn more about the High School from parents, students and recent alumni. We hope to see you there! RSVP to the Admissions Office at ext. 305.

In the Upcoming Weeks...

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

3/20- Tim Wise Reading, 7:00PM

3/21- Breakfast Discussion with Tim Wise, 8:45AM

3/23- Founder's Day, Noon Dismissal (11:45 for Early Childhood)

3/23-4/9- Spring Break

4/10- High School Preview Night

2007-03-08T13:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Lower School Parents,

DOCTOR, LAWYER, BUILDER, MANICURIST…

Who provides the goods and services that we New Yorkers rely on? This question has been a thread of inquiry running through the Second Grade social studies curriculum. Based equally on their own experiences and developmental worldview, and on their classroom studies of NYC, Second Graders responded by creating fictional city workers, first as characters in the block area and later as "autobiographical" subjects. Each worker’s profile was developed through the writer’s workshop process, from rough draft to final publication.

As you will see in the excerpts below, some New Yorkers are city workers, some hold down two jobs; some have large families, others live and work alone. Their occupations, hobbies and neighborhoods are varied.

______________________________________________________________

"My name is Leo. I work for the mayor. I am also a waiter. I work with the mayor and the chef…. When I don’t work, I ice skate and jump rope. I live in Queens and I like it just the way it is."

"My name is Emma. We live on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. I live with my daughter Jessy. I am a D.J. A D.J. is a person who talks on the radio. I like my job because I get to wear cool suits. "

"My name is Henry. I live in the Bronx. My friend Bob lives next door. Bob has some children and I do too. We both have dogs. I work in a restaurant. I am the cook. I am good at cooking because I look in the cookbook."

"My name is Ashly. I am a gardener. I get to work by bus. I live in Brooklyn with my husband and 6 kids. When I am not at work, I play with my kids. We play tag, doctor or dentist."

"My name is Jack. I live on Manhattan Island. I live by myself and my job is making newspapers. Also, I deliver the newspapers…. I like my job because I get to find things out."

"My name is Sidny and I live in the country. I work on a farm. I send food to a restaurant in the city. I usually wake up at 4AM."

"My name is Bill. I work in a power plant. I answer the phone. When I am free, I play chess."

"My name is Kathy. I live in Manhattan on the Upper West Side. I work in a clothing store. Its name is Target. I am a cashier and changing room boss. I like meeting new people and seeing them happy. I am 27 years old."

"My name is Jesse. I live in Manhattan. I build buildings and I like my work."

"My name is Cindy. I work at Elisabeth Irwin High School. I teach music to the 10th Grade. I live with my daughter Lola. She goes to the school I work at."

"My name is Alex. I work at the fire station and live with other firemen. My job is the fire chief. I like my job because I like speeding along the road."

"My name is John. I am a doorman and I live on the Lower East Side. In my spare time I like to play soccer with my kids."

"My name is Jack and I live on Broadway. My job is being a major league baseball player. I pitch a lot and bat and hit homers. I take a taxi to work."

"My name is Susan. I live in Brooklyn and I have a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge. I don’t have kids. I teach history. My kids don’t have recess. They’re always busy."

"My name is Elly. I live on the Lower East Side. I work at the spa. I give manicures to kids and adults. When I’m free, I go shopping and read books in the park."

Elaine

This Week's Attachment:

Third Grade

This Week's Announcements:

Visiting Author:
On March 20th Tim Wise will speak with the LREI community on the topic of privilege and class in America. Tim Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and activists in the U.S. Wise has spoken in 48 states, and on over 400 college campuses, including Harvard, Stanford, and the Law Schools at Yale and Columbia. Many of our faculty members have heard Mr. Wise speak and found him to be engaging and insightful. He will spend a good part of the day here on March. 20th and 21st meeting with students, faculty and parents.
Parent Events featuring Tim Wise:
Tuesday, March 20th, 7:00PM, Performing Arts Center, 40 Charlton Street. (Child Care Available, please sign up at the Sixth Ave. Reception Desk.
Wednesday, March 21st, 8:45 AM, Sixth Avenue Cafeteria, Breakfast Discussion with Tim Wise. (We recommend you attend the evening talk on March 20th if you plan to attend this conversation.)
There are several copies of Tim Wise’s book, White Like Me, in each library.
Click here for more information about Tim Wise: www.timwise.org
Tim Wise’s visit to LREI is generously supported by the Wendling Foundation as part of an ongoing grant to support our diversity efforts, including the visit by the Human Race Machine earlier this year.

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.

Click Here

Dance Performance:
THE LREI STEP TEAM will be performing as part of FAMILY MATTERS Dance Theater Workshop on March 17th at 2:00pm. The body becomes a canvas on which colorful legends and rueful stories are painted. Strokes of genius are delivered by Merce Cunningham alum Glen Rumsey presenting a gender-bending ballet, the inspirational step dancing of the LREI STEP TEAM, and the Brazilian influenced free world music of The Nation Beat. The feast continues with Lawrence Goldhuber and his all-diva cast who serve-up a cautionary tale about what can
happen if you eat too much. Flamenco fans will delight in the foot falls of the Ballet Hispanico School Ensemble, while the graceful Trinayan Collective execute a fable in the Odissi style of classical Indian dance.
The Dance Theatre Workshop is located at 219 west 19th street. For reservations call (212) 924-0077 TKTS $10.00 children $20.00 adults

Annual Spirit Game:
An Invitation to All LREI Families---- Click here for information on our annual Spirit Game! This event is fun for LREI students of all ages and a great way for lower, middle and high school families to support our hard working student athletes. LREI Spirit Game, Friday, March 16th, 3:30PM--Thompson Street Athletic Center, 145 Thompson Street (between Houston and Prince.)

In the Upcoming Weeks...

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- Founder's Day, Noon Dismissal (11:45 for Early Childhood)

3/23-4/9- Spring Break

2007-03-01T12:13:00.000-08:00

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.

Click Here

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

2007-02-22T12:03:00.000-08:00

PIECES OF THE PROJECT

This year’s Third Grade Native American Museum was, in essence, a true museum. Contained in two halls (classrooms), were displays of student-made artifacts, each item bearing carefully wrought, authentic detail. There were tables of clay “clan” animals, cornhusk dolls, papier mache tools and weapons, weaving, coil pots, hewn spoons, wampum belts and two large model villages. Perfect docents, the Third Graders described the objects on display, explained their uses and commented on their own research and creative process.

Their audience was the Second Grade. These visitors gained a sense of the Northeast Woodland culture as well as of the rhythms and demands of Third Grade life. Afterward, one Second Grader told me, “This got me ready for Third Grade!” Additionally, students, and later parents, were treated to costumed re-enactments of two Native American myths, The Three Sisters and Woodpecker and Sugar Maple and the legend, How the Earth Came to Be. Students recited their parts in clear, strong voices, bringing this piece of Native American lore into high focus.

Meanwhile…. behind the scenes, students were busy with the following:

They researched, acquiring expertise, vocabulary and historic context.
They organized their findings into notes and then paragraphs.
They wrote descriptions to read to the Second Graders.
They wrote “you are there” stories, imagining themselves living at this time in history.
They listened to and discussed the novel, Birchbark House.
They travelled to a recreation of a Lenape Village.
They worked in art and shop to create artifacts and model villages, continually checking their sources for accuracy.
Finally, they took two tests, or assessments, allowing teachers to gauge levels of understanding and fact acquisition; allowing themselves to consolidate and record their experience.

One piece of this process without the others would be less meaningful and resonant; it would read to progressive educators as incomplete experience. The gathering and organizing of information, the hands-on re-creation of artifacts, the teaching of others and the written assessment – the accountability moment – all combine to make learning a powerful and memorable endeavor.

And, if I have peaked your interest, I hope you will stop into the auditorium for this week’s Lower School Art Show, which boasts many Northeast Woodland artifacts.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Laura and Lauren's Kindergarten

Colleen and Michael's Second Grade

Tasha and Romy's Second Grade

From Julie

Parent Rep Meeting Notes

This Week's Announcements:

2007-2008 Calendar:
Dear Families,
Click below for the calendar for the 2007-2008 school year. I am sorry that it is so late in coming. I hope that this has not caused any inconvenience. A couple of notes--the two long vacations have moved back to their traditional spots, we will have two professional development days for faculty—October 5th and February 29th—and we have added a second full day of conferences for the Lower School in the fall and the spring. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions.

Philip Kassen

Click Here

Spanish Resource List:
In order to enrich your child's experience as a Spanish learner, it is important to continue the exploration outside of the classroom.
To support these efforts, we will provide you with a Spanish Resource List in the weekly blog.
The list includes exhibits, events and places to visit as well as online resources.
We are always looking for more resources!
Please contact Delia Hernandez with any feedback and if you'd like to contribute to the list.

Click Here

In the Upcoming Weeks...

2/23- Lower School Art Show

3/1- LGSA Parent Meeting

3/2- Afterschool's First Friday

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

3/15- Parent Rep Meeting

3/23-4/9- Spring Break

2007-02-15T12:14:00.000-08:00

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

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,

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

Click Here

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

2007-02-08T09:46:00.001-08:00

"TABLE TOPICS"

Recently I learned of a product called, "Tabletopics Family". It was created "to encourage family connection around the dinner table" and is endorsed by some independent schools as a worthwhile dinnertime conversation starter. This cube of cards includes questions such as,

When is it ok to lie?

Which famous athlete would you love to meet?

What's the hardest part about being a kid and being a parent?

What would be the menu on your ultimate birthday dinner?

With this in mind, I thought we could go over some of our own Lower School "table topics", ways we help our children to deepen their understanding of the world, question the ‘givens’ and reinforce and extend their classroom learning. Most discussions find their center in one of two areas: social studies, such as the dynamics of immigration or the inner workings of a city, and students’ social relationships, embracing everyday conversations, friendships, recess and playdates. These then open doors to the broader world, which children come to know through you: family recollections, personal experiences, current events and real, down-to-earth social, ethical and pragmatic dilemmas.

With regard to specifically reinforcing children’s classroom experience, our teachers suggest the following:

Ann, the art teacher, suggests responses such as these to children’s art work: "I notice you’ve used a lot of this color / these wavy lines." "You really highlighted the horse’s mane; its fast running legs."

Kelly, a Third Grade classroom teacher, thinking of children’s developing vocabularies: "Show interest in words as your child reads and writes and as you read aloud to your child. Talk about them."

Dorothy, a First Grade classroom teacher, in reference to the foundations of writing: "Ask directed questions when your child tells you about an event or about his/her day. ‘What happened first, second, third…’ ‘What do you do when…?’ Help your child to tell "good" stories, sequenced and detailed."

Dawn, the math teacher advises: "Ask questions that push your child’s mathematical thinking further; use math with your child to resolve everyday problems – count the change in your pockets, predict how much you will owe at the grocery store."

Sue and Helen our music teachers, who often provide us with lyrics, suggest: "Sing!"

Whether your family time is around the dinner table or on the A train, genuine exchanges of information and opinion qualify as authentic learning. Our specialty.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Luise and Michelle's Kindergarten

First Grade Parents

Gina and Rebecca's First Grade

Colleen and Michael's Class

Third Grade Parents

Gwen and Thomas' Fourth Grade

Valentine's Day

LREI Collection Drive

This Week's Announcements:

Bringing the Conversation Home: Shared Meeting-Adoption, LS POCOC and LGSA Committees:
There will be a meeting Thursday, Feb. 15th, 8:45-9:45 in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria sponsored by Adoption Committee, LS POCOC, and LGSA. Information, conversation, and help with those questions kids ask about topics that may be unfamiliar, difficult, or without a ready answer - from topics in the curriculum to comments made to our children in class, on the playground, or on playdates... All parents welcome. Facilitated by Sharon Dupree, Director of Diversity and Community.

Art Auction Encore:
Thank you all for your support of last week's Art Auction. The auction brought in sales of $107,000. There are still some wonderful pieces available so next week we will have the Art Auction Encore in the Sixth Avenue Auditorium. Pieces will be on show and available for sale. There will be a final reception and last chance to purchase the art on Thursday, 2/15 from 5:30-7:00PM. For those who missed it the first time, here's your chance to see some great art and support the School.

Art Show:
Dear Parents,
You are cordially invited to the Lower School Art Show taking place in the Bleecker Street Auditorium on February 22 and 23. We will have an opening for the children on February 22 from 3:00- 4:00PM. Hope you can make it.
Ann

Shop News:
First Graders are learning how to use hammers and nails and glue to build strong furniture. They have made many kinds of furniture for Fluffy, our little bear who lives in the wood shop. Look in the lobby display case to see some samples of their work!

In the Upcoming Weeks...

2/14-2/16- Fourth Grade ERB Testing

2/15- Bringing the Conversation Home, 8:45AM

2/15- Final Art Auction Reception, 5:30-7:00PM

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

2007-02-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

"TABLE TOPICS"

Recently I learned of product called, "Tabletopics Family." It was created "to encourage family connection around the dinner table" and is endorsed by some independent schools as a worthwhile dinnertime conversation starter. This cube of cards includes questions such as,

When is it ok to lie?

Which famous athlete would you love to meet?

What's the hardest part about being a kid and about being a parent?

What would be the menu on your ultimate birthday dinner?

With regard to specifically reinforcing children’s classroom experience, our teachers suggest the following:

Julie the Spanish teacher encourages, "Ask your child what they spoke about in Spanish. Do they remember what words they used? Can they put them together to make a sentence?" From there we can move to talk about where Spanish is spoken, why we see it written next to English in so many areas of our city.
Ann, the art teacher, suggests responses such as these to children’s art work: "I notice you’ve used a lot of this color / these wavy lines." "You really highlighted the horse’s mane; its fast running legs."

Kelly, a Third Grade classroom teacher, thinking of children’s developing vocabularies: "Show interest in words as your child reads and writes and as you read aloud to your child. Talk about them."

Sue and Helen our music teachers, who often provide us with lyrics, suggest: "Sing!"

Whether your family time is around the dinner table or on the A train, genuine exchanges of information and opinion qualify as authentic learning. Our specialty.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Julia and Michelle's Kindergarten

Letter to First Grade Parents

Gina and Rebecca's First Grade

Letter to Second Grade Parents

Letter to Third Grade Parents

Gwen and Thomas' Fourth Grade

Valentine's Day

LREI Collection Drive

This Week's Announcements:

Bringing the Conversation Home: Shared Meeting-Adoption, LS POCOC and LGSA Committees:
There will be a meeting Thursday, Feb. 15th, 8:45-9:45 in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria sponsored by Adoption Committee, LS POCOC, and LGSA. Information, conversation, and help with those questions kids ask about topics that may be unfamiliar, difficult, or without a ready answer - from topics in the curriculum to comments made to our children in class, on the playground, or on playdates... All parents welcome. Facilitated by Sharon Dupree, Director of Diversity and Community.

Art Auction Encore:
Thank you all for your support of last week's Art Auction. The auction brought in sales of $107,000. There are still some wonderful pieces available so next week we will have the Art Auction Encore in the Sixth Avenue Auditorium. Pieces will be on show and available for sale. There will be a final reception and last chance to purchase the art on Thursday, 2/15 from 5:30-7:00PM. For those who missed it the first time, here's your chance to see some great art and support the School.

Art Show:
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

Shop News:
First Graders are learning how to use hammers and nails and glue to build strong furniture. They have made many kinds of furniture for Fluffy, our little bear who lives in the wood shop. Look in the lobby display case to see some samples of their work!

In the Upcoming Weeks...

2/14-2/16- Fourth Grade ERB Testing

2/15- Bringing the Conversation Home, 8:45AM

2/15- Final Art Reception, 5:30-7:00PM

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

2/21- Families Assembly (students only), 9AM

2/22- Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM (New Date!)

2/22-2/23- Lower School Art Show

2007-02-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

Dear Lower School Families,

Life on the Second Floor:

30 QUADS and a UNIT BLOCK

Yesterday I stepped out of my office to find 3 kindergartners with their teacher lining up unit blocks (the long quadruple units or quads) end to end down the center of the hallway. Students were intent on estimating how many more would be needed to reach the full length. They looked, conferred, and ran back to their classroom for additional blocks. Finally, only a small space remained between the tip of the last block and the end of the hall. Ks put their heads together and decided a small single unit block was needed – and, indeed, they were correct. The next step was to count – and re-count - the number of blocks. It was "30 quads + 1 unit block". Ks then discussed how best to record this finding – do we write 30 + 1 on paper clipped to clipboards, or on papers taped to the blocks themselves? Practicality won out, recordings – including drawings of the "30 + 1" blocks - were recorded on sheets of paper and shared with classmates. Children spoke in mathematical language, using comparisons such as: longer than, too many, not enough, halfway, almost. They estimated and counted, and tomorrow their classmates will repeat the exercise with double, then single unit blocks and these sums will be compared. Personalized measurement, as this is called in textbooks, allows students to have meaningful experiences with measurement before tackling yards, feet and inches.

FOURTH GRADE, 1907

This same day another line formed - all 38 Fourth Graders lined up silently outside a classroom waiting to be guided into long rows of chairs. Their teachers, dressed in turn of the 20th century garb, maintained stern and disapproving airs as they admonished them to sit with their backs "straight as rulers". They first led the Pledge of Allegiance, then instructed these students, many of them immigrants, to copy several times, "Boys and girls have perfect penmanship." Fourth Graders learned breathing exercises and received lessons in hygiene including, among other things, the advice that girls’ hair should be parted in the center and collected in a bun. They were called to stand, hands behind their backs, and recite the Emma Lazarus poem, The New Colossus – which they did to perfection. This you-are-there moment contributed to students’ appreciation of the Immigrant child.

Afterward, reflecting back on the experience, students said:
"The teachers back then only looked at the bad stuff, not the good."
"It was hard because we had to be so precise."
"It was really boring writing something over and over again."
"It was scary to see everyone with their backs straight up and down."
"The teachers were very strict, pushy, and they wanted everything to
be perfect."
"If I were really 12 in a class of nine year olds, I would feel embarrassed."
"I was trying to do everything right. It was hard not to talk at all."
"It was very hard pressure and serious stress."
"Doing this felt like I was actually a kid in 4th Grade in 1907.
"It was a good old once-in-a-lifetime thing."

LREI’s Lower School students have many such opportunities to construct models of meaning that inform and instruct, connect and clarify, as they explain the world and the learner’s place in it.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Luise and Dave and Michelle's Kindergarten

Third Grade Math Letter

This Week's Announcements:

Afterschool:
February 2nd is a First Friday in Afterschool!
Join us for an afternoon of drumming, dancing and singing in the Auditorium this Friday from 4:15-5:15 with Haitian drum master, Galston Jean-Baptiste. Every child will have the opportunity to play a drum in this dynamic and interactive workshop.
Galston Jean-Baptiste, known as "Bonga" in Haitian Creole, has been performing and studying traditional Haitian drum, dance and song since the age of seven. Known for his extensive repertoire of Afro-Haitian rhythms, Bonga is also one of the few expert craftsmen outside of Haiti who continues to build drums and musical instruments using centuries-old techniques.
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.

Parent 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!

Bringing the Conversation Home: Shared Meeting-Adoption, LS POCOC and LGSA Committees:
There will be a meeting Thursday, Feb. 15th, 8:45-9:45 in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria sponsored by Adoption Committee, LS POCOC, and LGSA. Information, conversation, and help with those questions kids ask about topics that may be unfamiliar, difficult, or without a ready answer - from topics in the curriculum to comments made to our children in class, on the playground, or on playdates... All parents welcome. Facilitated by Sharon Dupree, Director of Diversity and Community.

In the Upcoming Weeks...

2/7- Spanish Parent Workshop, 8:45AM, Sixth Avenue Cafeteria

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

2/14-2/16- Fourth Grade ERB Testing

2/15- Bringing the Conversation Home, 8:45AM

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

2/21- Families Assembly (students only), 9AM

2/22- Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM (New Date!)

2007-01-25T08:33:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-18T07:39:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

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

2007-01-04T12:16:00.000-08:00

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

2006-12-14T08:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Lower School Families,

We wish you all a wonderful break and very Happy New Year!
See you on January 3rd.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Tasha and Romy's Second Grade

Colleen and Michael's Second Grade

Third Grade

Math Letter for Parents of First through Fourth Grade

Support Group for Children of Divorce

Parent Rep Meeting Notes

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.

In the Upcoming Weeks...

1/3- School Re-opens

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

2006-12-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

December 8, 2006

Dear Lower School Parents,

The Art- and Importance - of Interviewing

One strand that consistently wends its way through the Lower School is that of learning through interviewing. Guided by their teachers, students inquire as to how workers – be they LREI staff members, museum curators, store owners, construction workers, park rangers, or Union Square farmers – learned to do their jobs; how they grow their produce, repair a street, write a play or make the delicious lunches we enjoy each day. Students question both about the person they are interviewing and about that person’s area of expertise. But first, they are schooled in the art of interviewing. Below are two descriptions of recent curricula in the Kindergarten and Fourth Grade, and examples of student questions. As you will see, they are similar in many ways:

Lauren and Laura’s Kindergarten class is immersed in interviews! With the goal of learning more about their classroom community, and eventually about the larger school community, Ks interviewed each of their teachers. Additionally, each student interviewed a classmate, and, after viewing collages of Picasso and Matisse, created collage portraits of this person. Since this process began, teachers have noted richer conversation among the children and an intangible sense that these shared experiences are strengthening our sense of community within the classroom.

Teachers outlined the process and goals…
- We are interviewing to learn more about our classroom community.
- We are learning that when we ask questions, we can learn more about and from someone.
- We prepare for an interview by thinking of questions in advance.
- We are taking notes (drawing and/or words) during the interview as a way to record the information we find out.
- We are using our notes to write and draw about the people we interview.

…while students created the questions for their teachers:
- What are your parents’ names?
- Are your parents still alive?
- Why did you want to grow up to be a teacher?
- What is your job like?
- What do you do on holidays?
- Are you adopted?
- Are you married?

… and for each other:
- What is your favorite worktime choice?
- Where do you live?
- What is your favorite food?
- Do you have pets?

Interviewing in the Fourth Grade is designed to elicit information about an older relative’s Fourth Grade experience. As students learn about that person’s childhood, they also gather information on aspects of the global/immigration context of a past generation. The process began with students generating interview questions based on their own interests and previous knowledge of their relative. Then individual students selected two questions from within each of five categories:

- Background Information (“What was your home like?”)
- Important Things in the World (“Were there immigration issues when you were in Fourth Grade?”)
- Life at School (“What was your favorite subject in school and why?”)
- Life at Home (“What traditions did you observe?”)
- Free Time (“Did you play inside or outside and why?”).

Before students set forth, the class discussed logistics and teachers modeled interviewing techniques, such as the phrasing of questions to elicit open ended responses, strategies for “digging more deeply” and effective note-taking short cuts.

In a carefully sequenced process, Fourth Graders then conducted their interviews, organized their notes, transferred these into outline form, and are currently in the process of creating their biography of a loved one. In addition, each student will create a papier-mache likeness of her or his relative as a Fourth Grader. Student biographies will be shared with parents and, when possible, with interviewees during a publishing celebration.

The skills and comfort students gain from this process enable them to learn directly from others. Children gain a fuller sense of their subjects as they connect the personal with the professional and past with present, creating meaningful contexts for further exploration and study.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Beth and Molly's Fours

Dorothy and Stacey's First Grade

Jamie and Bonnie's First Grade

Gina and Rebecca's First Grade

Suzanne and Caroline's Fourth Grade

Gwen and Thomas' Fourth Grade

A Letter from Sue to Parents of EK and Kindergartners

A Letter from Sue to Parents of Fours

A Letter from Pippa to Parents of Third and Fourth Graders

This Week's Announcements:

A reminder from Phil Kassen as we approach the Winter Break:
Gifts to Teachers: If your child wants to give his or her teacher a gift at winter break, the end of the year, or any other time during the year, a homemade gift or drawing is welcome and appreciated. A group gift from parents and children in the class may be given at the end of the school year. It has been our experience that individual gifts, though thoughtfully intended, may be misinterpreted by the children and, consequently, we discourage this. Thank you for your awareness and cooperation.

Holiday Concert
Please join us for a longstanding LREI tradition:The Glass Menagerie Chorus Holiday Concert. Susan Glass, founder and director (former LREI music teacher, current LREI parent) Friday, December 8th at 8:00PMSt. Joseph's Church in the Village371 Sixth Ave. (2 blocks south of 8th Street.)

Middle School Plays
Just a reminder that tickets are still on sale for the Middle School play, which is scheduled for this Friday (7PM) and Saturday (2Pm and 7PM). Tickets are available in the Sixth Avenue lobby and at the door. The shows promise to be great fun. On the bill are . . .

AFRAID OF THE DARK: A Mystery-Farce by James Reach -- Chauncey and Lillums Stone arrive one night at "Stone Mansion" to spend their two-week honeymoon. "Stone Mansion" is an isolated country estate which has been lent to them by Chauncey’s Aunt Alberta, and is supposed to be unoccupied. Chauncey has a confession to make to Lillums: he owns up that, ever since his childhood he has been "afraid of the dark" and has never been able to overcome this childish phobia. No sooner has he unburdened himself, when the lights go out and they are plunged into darkness! When the lights go on again, the astounded couple find themselves surrounded by fantastic characters in the supposedly deserted house, and they are plunged willy-nilly into the midst of a spy plot…

THE HITCH-HIKER: A radio play originally written for Orson Welles, by Lucille Fletcher -- The Hitch-Hiker was written for Orson Welles in the days when he was one of the master producers and actors in radio. The tale of Ronald Adams, an average motorist, who sets out to drive from Brooklyn to California and who early on his journey begins to encounter a strange and inexplicable hitch-hiker. His efforts to explain, then avoid, and finally destroy the constant appearing figure along the highway carry him through several episodes and many states until the adventure finally culminates in an amazing climax in New Mexico.
Appropriate for all ages.

Tickets $8 in advance, $10 @ the door. Performing Arts Center40 Charlton Street
See you at the theater.

The school store will be open next week at the 6th ave location on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday mornings from 8 to 9 am.

In the Upcoming Weeks...

12/8- Adoption Committee Meeting, 8:45AM

12/8- The Glass Menagerie Holiday Concert, 8PM

12/12- LS POCOC Meeting, 8:45AM

12/14- Lower School Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM

12/14- LREI Chorus Concert, 6:30PM, PAC

12/15- Winter Assembly (students only). Early Dismissal for Winter Break, School closes at 12:00 (11:45 Fours through First Grade) No Afterschool.

2006-11-30T07:25:00.000-08:00

November 30, 2006

Dear Lower School Parents,

"Mean by Accident": Fourth Graders' Social Relationships

Social dynamics often undergo considerable change in Fourth Grade. Old friendships wane, best friends expand their relationships, children may feel they are "too popular" or have "no friends at all". Some children tease or are teased. And all of this may fluctuate day to day.

Acknowledging this dynamic, Dr. Heidi Marben and Assistant Principal Delia Hernandez hosted a conversation with Fourth Grade parents entitled, "Navigating the Social Challenges of Fourth Grade". Delia and Heidi followed up on their work with students by offering parents a developmental overview and setting them to work creating their own "parent strategies" - tools and practice to have at the ready.

In addition to developmental passages, Fourth Graders are also the oldest members of the Lower School, the "been there, done that" class. And, while they enjoy their position on top of the heap, they are also poised to become the youngest, newest members of the Middle School. Fourth Graders have a lot to grapple with. Here is how they describe it:
"In 3rd grade and 2nd grade kids are still trying out friendships and in the 4th grade those friendships become stable and root themselves into the ground."

"Old friendships sometimes get lost."

"You have a lot more friends with people who are your gender."

"By 4th grade kids have a lot of friends and it’s hard to spend your time equally between different friends."

"Your friends will stick up for you."

"Sometimes friends get tired of being with you and your feelings get hurt."

"In 3rd grade kids are very close to their parents, but in 4th grade kids also really rely on their friends like family."

"You can’t really tell who’s your friend and who’s just being nice."

"Sometimes you are mean by accident, and people don’t want to be your friend any more."

And we think recess is just fun!

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Diane and Lisa's Early Kindergarten

First Grade

Gina and Rebecca's First Grade "Word Wall"

Jamie and Bonnie's First Grade "Word Wall"

Jamie and Bonnie's First Grade Park Project

A Message from Helen to Fourth Grade Parents

A Letter from Afterschool

Notes on Fourth Grade Parent Meeting

Easing the Teasing Strategies

This Week's Announcements:

Book Week
Book Week is almost here! During the week of Dec. 4th through 8th, authors will be visiting all grades to read from their work and talk to the kids about books. The annual Book Fair will take place from Wednesday, Dec. 6th, through Friday, Dec. 8th, in the Sixth Avenue auditorium, with books on sale for all ages. Please click here for more information on Book Week. This year's Literary Evening will be on Thursday, December 7th, in the Charlton Street PAC. Please click here for more information on Literary Evening.
For these events to be successful, the Literary Committee needs help from parent volunteers! Please sign up in the Sixth Avenue lobby to help with all aspects of Book Week, or e-mail susiemarples@yahoo.com.

Book Week

Literary Evening

Holiday Concert

Please join us for a longstanding LREI tradition:
The Glass Menagerie Chorus Holiday Concert
Susan Glass, founder and director (former LREI music teacher, current LREI parent)
Friday, December 8th at 8:00PM
St. Joseph's Church in the Village
371 Sixth Ave. (2 blocks south of 8th Street.)

POCOC Breakfast

The divisional Parents of Children of Color Groups will be hosting a potluck breakfast for the parents and children of color in all three divisions on Tuesday, December 5th from 8:00AM-8:30AM in the Sixth Avenue cafeteria. Please attend and bring a breakfast treat to share. See you there.

In the Upcoming Weeks...

12/4-12/8- Book Week

12/5- POCOC Breakfast, 8:00AM

12/6- First Grade Assembly, 8:45AM

12/6-12/8- Book Fair

12/7- LGSA Parent Meeting, 8:45AM

12/7, Literary Evening, 7:00PM

12/8- Adoption Committee Meeting, 8:45AM

12/8- The Glass Menagerie Holiday Concert, 8PM

12/12- LS POCOC Meeting, 8:45AM

12/14- Lower School Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM

12/15- Winter Assembly (students only). Early Dismissal for Winter Break, School closes at 12:00 (11:45 Fours through First Grade) No Afterschool.

2006-11-16T11:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Lower School Parents,

Talk about a busy week…

A Third and a Fourth Grade class each held a farm breakfast complete, with student readings, slide presentation, singing and, in the Fourth Grade, a class-made book.
Fourth Graders and their parents enjoyed their first musical assembly of the year, playing recorders as well as singing.
First and Second Grade families collaborated on experiment after experiment during Tuesday evening’s Family Math and Science Night.
Second Graders traveled to Hoboken to look at Manhattan from "the other side" and, in addition to loaded barges and other river traffic, watched a fish being caught, then returned to the river – or to "mother earth" in a Second Grader’s words.
Kindergartners and First Graders visited the Farmer’s Market, to gather fall produce and interview farmers.

And all the while, NYSAIS visitors observed classes and met with faculty, parents and administrators, prospective parents toured, final parent/teacher conferences were held, parent reps convened and teachers met in divisional and grade level configurations. Librarian Stacy Dillon offered faculty a power point presentation of the library’s many resources. Teachers made plans for upcoming visits with their "Big Buddy" classes and discussed baking projects for next Wednesday’s Thanksgiving Assembly. Whew!

On that note … Next Wednesday morning, during our half day, the entire Lower School, Fours through Fourth Graders, will gather in the auditorium to sing about Native Americans, harvests and (of course) turkeys. The center of the space will be strewn with fall produce from the Farmer’s Market – brussel sprout plants, carrots, cabbages, leafy vegetables - and amidst these will be a collection of baskets. Each class will bring with the them a beautifully wrapped loaf of bread they have baked to be donated to St. Joseph’s Soup Kitchen. Representative children "present" their class bread and, by the end, breads and greenery together are a feast for the eyes. This community gathering is followed by a mini-feast as each class shares a sampler tray of the Lower School’s baked goods. A day to look forward to and much to be thankful for.

May next week bring with it the peace and serenity we all need to balance our lives. And may you enjoy your very wonderful children during this holiday!!

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Kelly and Ayanna's Third Grade

From the Reading Team

High School Basketball

Parent Rep Meeting Notes

A Letter from Phil

This Week's Announcements:

LREI in the News:

LREI featured among Gay Friendly Schools.

Click Here

A Word from Afterschool:
Dear Parents,
The Afterschool Office is in the midst of planning for the upcoming winter/spring session. If there is an Enrichment class that you would like to see continued on the schedule, or if you have suggestions for other class offerings, please let us know by contacting the Afterschool Office.
Regards,
Cari Kosins
Director of Afterschool
ckosins@lrei.org

Benefit Concert for Darfur Hear Our Voices:
Please come to a Broadway benefit concert to aid the victims in Darfur.
When: Monday, November 20th, 2006 - 6:30-8:00pm
Where: 40 Charlton St.
Tickets on Sale:
Lower School lobby every morning from 8:00-9:00.
High School with Violeta Picayo
Why: We can make a difference!
Organized by LREI High School students.

Click Here

Thanksgiving Arts Project:

Hi all,

This Saturday the Parents Association Community Service Committee will be going to the Fulton~Community Center of Hudson Guild to~join with some of the seniors to make centerpieces and decorations for the Hudson Guild's Annual Thanksgiving Feast. The flyer with details is attached.

This event is open~to students in~all divisions as well as parents, teachers and staff. As an added benefit, this~is a community service opportunity for High School students. More importantly, it is a wonderful intergenerational event that affords the opportunity to meet some very interesting senior citizens who live in our area. It's really a lot of fun. There will be bagels, juice and coffee.

Philip Kassen

Click Here

In the Upcoming Weeks...

11/20- MS Tour for Fourth Grade Families, 8:45AM

11/21- Kelly and Ayanna's Farm Breakfast, 8:30AM

11/22- School Closes at 12:00 For Thanksgiving Break (11:45 Fours-First Grade)

11/28- Fourth Grade Parent Meeting, "Helping Your Child Navigate Peer Relationships," 8AM

11/29- Fours & EK Assembly, 8:45

12/6- First Grade Assembly, 8:45

12/6- Book Fair

12/14- Lower School Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45

12/15- Early Dismissal for Winter Break, School closes at 12:00 (11:45 Fours through First Grade) No Afterschool.

2006-11-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

"Tell me about assessment."

Dear Lower School Parents,

Not infrequently, I open the door to my office to find a teacher sitting on the rug with a Kindergartner or First Grader. They often have math cubes lined up in front of them ready to be counted or sorted and a book or sheets of words to be read. Typically, the teacher has with her a clipboard on which she’s making notes. They are engaged in our own process of "formal-but-friendly" individual assessment. Screenings such as these take place all over the school; teachers and students find quiet places to work together at pivotal points in the year – in early fall, before conferences and reports, and at year’s end.

Additionally, Lower School teachers use a range of tried-and-true individual reading assessments such as the DRA (Diagnostic Reading Assessment) and the QRI (Qualitative Reading Inventory). Along with other information, these indicate student reading levels and an appropriate range of books for individuals to choose from. Our math program, TERC Investigations, also has within it a series of checkpoints and assessment activities. As stated above, teachers return and re-screen to measure growth and to judge the effectiveness of intervening interventions and supports.

As students mature, we turn to assessments within a more formalized, whole class structure. In Fourth Grade, for example, students prepare for and take the three-day ERB (Education Record Bureau) achievement test, officially called the Comprehensive Testing Program 4 or "CTP4". This is an experience with timed test taking, #2 pencils and bubbling. The test is scored outside of school and mailed to us; we, in turn, mail them to parents. The results of this test remain in a student’s file.

All of these experiences allow teachers to measure student progress as it is reflected in a testing situation and to gauge the effectiveness of their programs. Assessment helps to inform future instruction: teachers can look at the scope of their class and see where gaps and strengths lie. In a systematic way, they can identify areas needing to be revisited or reinforced as well as those mastered by the group. Teachers may decide to skip or add a lesson based on these findings.

Only rarely do screenings hold great surprises because, before any testing begins, teachers have a solid grasp of their students’ conceptual understanding and performance levels - this because the practice of informal anecdotal assessment is daily and ongoing. It occurs as students participate in classroom discussions, as they compose a rough draft, construct a math strategy, choose a book and complete a homework assignment. Teachers take notes, recording them later in a log or journal. Whether students exceed grade level expectations or frequently require support, teachers speak with them about their process, asking them to prove the accuracy of their results, pinpoint an area of difficulty or simply describe their thinking.

The request "Tell me about assessment." is one frequently posed by touring prospective parents – and I respond as I have in this letter. I take it to mean more than how we as teachers chart our students’ progress, but how do you as parents get the information and how does your child – the learner – know how they are doing? Information gathered has value only as it is deconstructed, communicated and used as a basis for further learning

Elaine

Congratulations to the High School students and faculty on being named to the Blackboard High School Awards Honor Roll for excellence in three areas:
· Teaching of Reading and Writing
· Teaching of Math and Science
· Respect by Students for Each Other
There are so many other areas of the high school program we could recognize. After this past weekend’s performance of Ragtime it is hard not to mention our tremendous arts program. In addition, I invite all to join our digital arts students next Tuesday, November 14th at 6:30PM, at the Apple Store SoHo for a showcase of work from LREI. Finally, please join us on Monday, November 20th for a student-organized concert to benefit relief efforts work in Darfur. Tickets are on sale now in both buildings. We are proud of your hard work and of the incredible learning community you have created on Charlton Street.

Philip Kassen

Director

This Week's Attachments:

Tasha and Romy's Class Trip

Fourth Grade Parent Meeting

A Message from Phil About NYSAIS

Announcements:

Parent-Teacher Conference Childcare will be provided tomorrow Friday, November 10th, from 11:45 to 3 o'clock in the Big Room. The cost is ten dollars and pizza will be provided. For more information and to sign up, contact Kate at Kgreathead@lrei.org, 477-5316 ext. 215.
Please remember there is no Afterschool tomorrow and Childcare ends promptly at 3PM.

Benefit Concert for Darfur Hear Our Voices
Please come to a Broadway benefit concert to aid the victims in Darfur.
When: Monday, November 20th, 2006 - 6:30-8:00pm
Where: 40 Charlton St.
Tickets on Sale:
Lower School lobby every morning from 8:00-9:00.
High School with Violeta Picayo
Why: We can make a difference!
Organized by LREI High School students.

Click Here

We invite you to the LREI High School Arts Showcase at the Apple Store SoHo. This will be a wonderful opportunity to see our talented High School students' artistic and technological successes. Join us to experience their photography, film and multimedia creations.
November 14, 2006, 6-8pm
Apple Store, SoHo
103 Prince Street
www.apple.com/retail/soho

A Word from Afterschool:
Dear Parents,
The Afterschool Office is in the midst of planning for the upcoming winter/spring session. If there is an Enrichment class that you would like to see continued on the schedule, or if you have suggestions for other class offerings, please let us know by contacting the Afterschool Office.
Regards,
Cari Kosins
Director of Afterschool
ckosins@lrei.org

Shop News
Fourth Graders' pathways are in the lobby display case! Using chisels, mallets, rasps and files and many materials, children carved out their pathways, smoothed them and created a personal vision.
Thanks. Peggy

Lost and Found
Please be aware that at the end of next week, 11/17, all clothing from our Lost and Found box will be donated to God's Love We Deliver. Please check for your children's lost items.

Scooters
Scooters cannot be left under benches in the main hall - this according to the school's health and safety practices. Please store your child's scooter in their cubby or ask their teacher to indicate a storage area near the classroom. Thank you.

Photo Retakes
If your child missed photo day, retakes will be held on Thursday, November 16th.

In the Upcoming Weeks...

11/10- Lower School Closes at noon for Parent-Teacher Conferences. No Afterschool.

11/14- Gwen and Thomas' Farm Breakfast, 8:30AM

11/14- First and Second Grade Family Math and Science Night, 6:00PM

11/15- Chap and Meredith's Farm Breakfast, 8:00AM

11/15- Fourth Grade Assembly, 8:45AM

11/16- Photo Retake Day

11/16- LS Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM

11/20- MS Tour for Fourth Grade Families, 8:45AM

11/21- Kelly and Ayanna's Farm Breakfast, 8:30AM

11/22- School Closes at 12:00 For Thanksgiving Break (11:45 Fours-First Grade)

11/28- Fourth Grade Parent Meeting, "Helping Your Child Navigate Peer Relationships," 8AM

11/29- Fours & EK Assembly, 8:45

12/6- First Grade Assembly, 8:45

12/6- Book Fair

2006-11-02T06:20:00.000-08:00

November 2, 2006

Dear Lower School Parents,

As we look forward to tomorrow and next week’s Parent / Teacher Conferences, here are a few thoughts to keep in mind:

The starting point – and always the goal - is that teachers and parents work as partners in the education of your children; that we can learn a great deal from each other.
Especially at this fall conference time, teachers will be eager to hear your insights. They may ask about home routines, likes and dislikes, and previous school experiences. They will also appreciate learning what your child is saying to you about school.
Expect to hear about some of the ways your child participates in classroom life: how they respond to limits and routines, social demands, group discussions, lunch time, and rest for younger children; specials for older students.
You’ll hear about your child as a learner: how s/he approaches a task, responds to instructions, when s/he engages critically and creatively, and the extent to which teacher support and guidance help your child get the most from school.
Your child’s teachers will also outline goals for the year; areas where she/he would like to see specific growth. Now is a good time to discuss and address these areas jointly.

We encourage you to:

Arrive punctually. This is a courtesy to both teachers and other families.
Be honest with teachers and expect them to share openly with you, knowing that we share the same goals.
Allow teachers ample opportunity to describe your child’s progress and participation, then reflect with them on ways to enhance this year’s experience.
Raise whatever questions you may have about classroom expectations and instruction.
Ask questions that help to clarify what teachers are describing. Common understanding is the best basis for an ongoing collaborative relationship.
Enjoy this opportunity to focus on your child and learn more about him or her in a situation outside of home. Then, enjoy the unfolding of this school year!

The parent/teacher conference is just one moment in your relationship with your child’s teachers. Please touch base again whenever new questions or thoughts arise. Easy communication between us all enriches children’s school experience – and hopefully their parents’ as well.

My best,

Elaine

A word of thanks to the Halloween Fair Committee for creating such a zany, entertaining, piraty event for families! It was vibrant, welcoming and, despite its size, sensitive to young children’s worlds. A real winner!

This Week's Attachments:

Fours, Early Kindergarten and Kindergarten

Tasha and Romy's Second Grade

Community Service Calendar

Early Admission

Announcements:

Parent-Teacher Conference Childcare will be provided on Friday, November 10th, from 11:45 to 3 o'clock in the Big Room. The cost is ten dollars and pizza will be provided. Parents should sign up in advance if they plan on leaving students after dismissal. For more information and to sign up, contact Kate at Kgreathead@lrei.org, 477-5316 ext. 215.
Parents please note: there is no After School on this day.

We invite you to the LREI High School Arts Showcase at the Apple Store SoHo. This will be a wonderful opportunity to see our talented High School students' artistic and technological successes. Join us to experience their photography, film and multimedia creations.
November 14, 2006, 6-8pm
Apple Store, SoHo
103 Prince Street
www.apple.com/retail/soho

Attention Book Lovers:
On Tuesday, November 8th join the Literary Committee as the LREI librarians present, "East Meets West," an evening of youth books that feature culture clashes and truces, diverse viewpoints and changing perspectives.
Each year our nationally recognized librarians share their literary suggestions for students in all grades, Fours-12th grade, with the LREI community as they do with other school and professional audiences throughout the school year. All three of our full time librarians have served, or are presently serving, on American Library Association panels responsible for selecting prize winning books. Join this evening as Stacy, Jennifer and Karyn share their book selections with us, along with LS library teacher and graphic novel reviewer, Jesse Karp (LREI '87), who will give his suggestions for the best in graphic novels.

Click Here

If your child missed photo day, retakes will be held on Thursday, November 16th.

In the Upcoming Weeks...

11/3- Lower School Parent-Teacher Conferences. LS closed. No Afterschool.

11/7- Third and Fourth Grade Math and Science Night, 6PM

11/8- Suzanne and Caroline's Farm Breakfast, 8:15 AM

11/8- Kindergarten Assembly, 8:45 AM

11/8- East Meets West, 7:00PM, PAC

11/10- Lower School Closes at noon for Parent-Teacher Conferences. No Afterschool.

11/14- Gwen and Thomas' Farm Breakfast, 8:30AM

11/14- First and Second Grade Math and Science Night, 6:00PM

11/15- Chap and Meredith's Farm Breakfast, 8:00AM

11/15- Fourth Grade Assembly, 8:45AM

11/16- Photo Retake Day

11/16- LS Parent Rep Meeting, 8:45AM

11/20- MS Tour for Fourth Grade Families, 8:45AM

11/21- Kelly and Ayanna's Farm Breakfast, 8:30AM

11/22- School Closes at 12:00 For Thanksgiving Break (11:45 Fours-First Grade)

11/28- Fourth Grade Parent Meeting, "Helping Your Child Navigate Peer Relationships," 8AM

11/29- Fours & EK Assembly

2006-10-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

October 26, 2006

Dear Lower School Parents,

A few snapshots from the week…

Lunch time: I wandered into our school kitchen early Monday morning to see Jorge behind a mountain of fresh, fragrant basil, then later enjoyed the delicious pesto as well as a cup of lentil soup too good to resist. Quietly, Jorge asked a few of us if we would try the new seaweed noodle dish (which we did) nutritious and with very few calories. So nice to be well taken care of!

Tuesday morning good-byes: Our final overnight trip is underway. After a smooth departure, the bus dropped Kelly and Ayanna’s Third Graders at the Catskill farm for four days of brisk weather activities. Wednesday’s letter to families included this reflection of “real world” science experiences and the bridges built between kitchen and garden, between classroom and the outdoors:

“Today’s classes included farm work, textiles, nature and cooking. Farm workers were busy picking lettuce for lunch and gathering pinto beans in the garden. In textiles, children learned different uses and ways of preparing wool. Then they had a try at cleaning, spinning and weaving the wool using a loom. While petting a sheep named Frazier one child exclaimed, “They can go out in any weather and not care!” The nature class took a hike and stopped to identify trees and seed pods, while discussing seed dispersal. This was a perfect connection to our botany curriculum in science. One student proudly held up a leaf and said, “This leaf is broad and ridged!” The morning cooking class worked away like experts, preparing our taco lunch and baked molasses cookies for the afternoon snack.”

Prospective parent visits: As I do twice a week, I met with a group of prospective parents on Tuesday following their tour of our division. These groups are consistently impressed by the focus and (yes) joy with which our children engage in their morning’s work. Typical questions during our Q & A refer to our hiring process, assessment measures, LREI’s progressive philosophy, meeting students’ academic needs, the arts and diversity. If you’d like me to discuss one of these areas in an upcoming blog, please let me know.

Visitors to the Lower School: This week we are hosting a group of principals from Reykjavik, Iceland and I took a moment to join Megan in welcoming the first of four contingents. They are interested in our early childhood program and, particularly, in our block building curriculum. They had learned of LREI through our social studies coordinator Harriet Cuffaro who some years ago introduced block building to the Icelandic school systems. As they leave us, more visitors are on their way: the entire Children’s Aid School faculty, a group of high school students and their professor from the Fieldston School, LREI Trustees and, of course, the NYSAIS (New York State Association of Independent Schools) Visiting Committee. Needless to say, we’re extremely pleased to see such interest in our community!

Second Grade Assembly: Helen and her students dedicated the Scottish folk song, Froggie Went A Courtin’ to Colleen on her recent wedding and Romy, her engagement. It felt good to initiate this year’s musical assembly program – an important part of who we are.

Grade Level Meeting: All grade level teachers meet for an hour each week, usually over lunch. This week I joined the early childhood meeting as teachers shared and discussed their curriculum night slide presentations – a perfect jumping off point for talk about program and routine.

“Can I read to you?” As I stopped by Gina and Rebecca’s classroom, a First Grader extended me this invitation. Sure enough! He read Fox’s Wedding smoothly and with great pleasure, pausing to explain the story as he went along. “He doesn’t really mean that; he’s not telling the truth.” The very best of all moments!

ASL: I ended Wednesday in a faculty sign language class taught by Lower School parent Miriam Morrow. As a learning experience, it is challenging, beautiful and great fun - as well as a true test of one’s memory.

If at this point you’re thinking I am particularly lucky in my work, I would have to agree!!

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Beth and Molly's Fours

Luise and Julia's Kindergarten

Lauren and Laura's Kindergarten

Halloween Fair

Math and Science Night

Community Service Letter

Assembly Schedule

Announcements:

Parent-Teacher Conference Childcare
Full-day childcare will be provided on Friday, November 3rd, from 8 to 3 o'clock in the auditorium. The cost is 15 dollars and children should bring a bag lunch (no nuts or seeds). For more information and to sign up, contact Kate at Kgreathead@lrei.org, 477-5316 ext. 215.

Conference-only (45 minutes) childcare will be offered free of charge in the library.

Parents please note: there is no After School on this day.

Fourth Grade Parents,
Please note an important change:
Suzanne & Caroline's Farm Breakfast will be at 8:15 on Wednesday, Nov. 8th.

Parents and caregivers: Please make sure to keep an eye on your children when they are in the hallway outside of the library. Sometimes children climb on and over the ramp railings. Simply put, this is not safe. The railings are not made to support the weight of children, and we do not want anybody to get hurt!

Coat Drive for St. John's Church - Monday, October 23rd through Friday, October 27th
We are holding our annual coat and outerwear drive for the clients of the St. John's Food Pantry.

Shop News
Monsters are visiting the lobby display case! While making their monsters, Second Graders learned how to use drills and join wooden shapes with wire so they can move. When in the lobby, check out those monsters!
Peggy

The Church has asked that we focus on larger sizes this year - older teen and adult.
They would also welcome men's pants, jeans, as well as new (in package) underwear for both men and women.
Please bring your clean and gently used donations to Matthew's room, 2nd floor, Middle School building (parents can push "2" in the elevator)
Start bringing in clothing on Monday, October 23rd. Thanks!

Click Here

If your child missed photo day, retakes will be held on Thursday, November 16th.

Photo Scholarships:
Our photographer, Coffee Pond Photography, is able to offer a limited number of photo scholarships. Please contact Delia Hernandez, X 238, if you receive financial aid and are unable to pay for photographs.

Attention Book Lovers:
On Tuesday, November 8th join the Literary Committee as the LREI librarians present, "East Meets West," an evening of youth books that feature culture clashes and truces, diverse viewpoints and changing perspectives.
Each year our nationally recognized librarians share their literary suggestions for students in all grades, Fours-12th grade, with the LREI community as they do with other school and professional audiences throughout the school year. All three of our full time librarians have served, or are presently serving, on American Library Association panels responsible for selecting prize winning books. Join this evening as Stacy, Jennifer and Karyn share their book selections with us, along with LS library teacher and graphic novel reviewer, Jesse Karp (LREI '87), who will give his suggestions for the best in graphic novels.

Click Here

Each year the Literary Committee brings us the book fairs, Book Week, the amazing Literary Evening (December 7th) and this evening with our
librarians. The Committee also supports the librarians', and their students', attendance at conferences.
If you have questions for the librarians, don't forget to join us for Learn Your Library morning on October 23rd in the Sixth Avenue Library.

Click Here

Message from Phil Kassen, Director:

As I am sure you have heard from your children, during the past few weeks we have had a number of fire drills. Each year we are required to have twelve drills, and we like to have as many at the beginning of the year as possible. Not only does this help our staff and students learn what to do in an emergency, it allows us to fine tune these exercises early in the year. Thus far, all drills have been completed safely, efficiently and quickly.
Sometime next week we will have a special drill during which we evacuate to the auditorium. This will allow us to practice for the eventuality that we may need to gather all of the students and adults in one place in response to some emergency. We have done these drills in the past, but as we have not had one in the last year or so, I wanted to alert you to it so that you would not be alarmed.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Best,
Phil

In the Next Few Weeks...

10/27- Kelly and Ayanna's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/29- Halloween Fair

11/3- Lower School Parent-Teacher Conferences. LS closed. No After School.

11/7- Third and Fourth Grade Math and Science Night, 6:00

11/8- Suzanne and Caroline's Farm Breakfast, 8:15

11/8- East Meets West, 7:00, PAC

11/10- Lower School Closes at noon for Parent-Teacher Conferences. No After School.

11/14- Gwen and Thomas' Farm Breakfast, 8:30

11/14- First and Second Grade Math and Science Night, 6:00

11/15- Chap and Meredith's Farm Breakfast, 8:00

11/16- Photo Retake Day

11/21- Kelly and Ayanna's Farm Breakfast, 8:30

2006-10-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Lower School Parents,

Halloween at LREI:

As many of you know, the LREI Halloween Fair is around the corner! This year we will again use the Thompson Street Athletic Center at the corner of Thompson and Houston Streets. The theme, I’m told, is pirates, and I’m sure it will be both great fun and sensitive to children of all ages. Thanks go to the many parents who have worked together to make this event a reality, most especially to Pam Dalton and Zoe Picayo. I encourage you all to attend with your children and their friends. It will be held on Sunday, October 29th, from 1:00PM – 4:00PM.

In school, the plan is for regular, productive days - even on the 31st - no costumes, candy or trick-or-treating, please! During their daily meetings, classes do talk about things that may be scary or fun, real or pretend, and may even share some singing, cooking or artwork as this fits within their schedules.

Have a wonderful Halloween. I hope to see you at the FAIR!

My best,

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Fours

Spanish Letter - Fours through First Grade

First Grade

Colleen and Michael's Second Grade

Tasha and Romy's Second Grade

Kelly and Ayanna's Third Grade

Gwen and Thomas' Fourth Grade

Second through Fourth Grade Parents

Halloween Wish List

Announcements:

Coat Drive for St. John's Church - Monday, October 23rd through Friday, October 27th
We are holding our annual coat and outerwear drive for the clients of the St. John's Food Pantry.
The Church has asked that we focus on larger sizes this year - older teen and adult.
They would also welcome men's pants, jeans, as well as new (in package) underwear for both men and women.
Please bring your clean and gently used donations to Matthew's room, 2nd floor, Middle School building (parents can push "2" in the elevator)
Start bringing in clothing on Monday, October 23rd. Thanks!

Click Here

If your child missed photo day, retakes will be held on Thursday, November 16th.

Photo Scholarships:
Our photographer, Coffee Pond Photography, is able to offer a limited number of photo scholarships. Please contact Delia Hernandez, X 238, if you receive financial aid and are unable to pay for photographs.

Attention Book Lovers:
On Tuesday, November 8th join the Literary Committee as the LREI librarians present, "East Meets West," an evening of youth books that feature culture clashes and truces, diverse viewpoints and changing perspectives.
Each year our nationally recognized librarians share their literary suggestions for students in all grades, Fours-12th grade, with the LREI community as they do with other school and professional audiences throughout the school year. All three of our full time librarians have served, or are presently serving, on American Library Association panels responsible for selecting prize winning books. Join this evening as Stacy, Jennifer and Karyn share their book selections with us, along with LS library teacher and graphic novel reviewer, Jesse Karp (LREI '87), who will give his suggestions for the best in graphic novels.

Click Here

Each year the Literary Committee brings us the book fairs, Book Week, the amazing Literary Evening (December 7th) and this evening with our
librarians. The Committee also supports the librarians', and their students', attendance at conferences.
If you have questions for the librarians, don't forget to join us for Learn Your Library morning on October 23rd in the Sixth Avenue Library.

Click Here

In the Next Few Weeks...

10/20- Chap and Meredith's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/23- Learn-Your-Library morning

10/24- Kelly and Ayanna's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip

10/25- 8:45- 2nd Grade Assembly

10/27- Kelly and Ayanna's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/29- Halloween Fair

11/3- Lower School Parent-Teacher Conferences. LS closed.

11/7- Third and Fourth Grade Math and Science Night, 6:00

11/8- Suzanne and Caroline's Farm Breakfast, 8:30

11/8- East Meets West, 7:00, PAC

11/14- Gwen and Thomas' Farm Breakfast, 8:30

11/14- First and Second Grade Math and Science Night, 6:00

11/15- Chap and Meredith's Farm Breakfast, 8:00

11/16- Photo Retake Day

11/21- Kelly and Ayanna's Farm Breakfast, 8:30

2006-10-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

How to Continue Diversity Conversations at Home…

On Tuesday evening Sharon DuPree, Director of Diversity and Community, chaired the above conversation at a meeting with parents. Three teachers (Tasha Hernandez, Second Grade, Heather Brandstetter, Fifth and Peggy Peloquin, High School) started the evening off by sharing aspects of diversity discussions and initiatives in their grades – they offered vibrant examples.

Whether or not you were able to attend, I am sure that conversations relating to diversity are a part of your family’s life. How could they not be? And as you have these talks with your children over the years - as they mature and their worldviews broaden, as school presents them with new and increasingly complex situations, and as they encounter a wider range of diverse classmates and peers – you transmit your value system. On the fly, on the A train, at the dinner table or snuggling in bed, these conversations help children to define how they respond to those they see as different from themselves.

The following words from philosopher Richard Rorty might be good to keep in mind: We "keep trying to expand our sense of "us" as far as we can. ... We should stay on the lookout for people whom we still instinctively think of as "they" rather than "us." We should try to notice our similarities with them."

My best,

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Second Grade Letter

Chap and Meredith's Third Grade

Nurse Kitty's Cold Information

From the Admissions Office: Please read the attached note concerning Early Childhood (4s-K) admissions.

A Letter from Phil Regarding Vacations

Announcements:

Photo Day Reminder:
Monday, October 16th
Our photographer recommends students wear solid colors.
Photo Scholarships:
Our photographer, Coffee Pond Photography, is able to offer a limited number of photo scholarhips. Please contact Delia Hernandez, X 238, if you receive financial aid and are unable to pay for photographs.

Parent Rep Meeting Reminder:
Parent Rep meeting this upcoming Thursday, October 19th, 8:45 in the Bleeker Street cafeteria

Coffee House:
LREI Coffee House will now be held on Saturday, October 14th, from 7-9pm in the PAC at 40 Charlton Street

SEED:
Parents! Have your own LREI experience through the SEED (Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity) monthly parent dialogue group. Share stories, explore assumptions, view films and exchange information. The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 18th at 6pm. Please contact Sharon DuPree (sdupree@lrei.org) or Peggy Peloquin (ppeloquin@lrei.org) if you are interested in joining LREI's first parent SEED group.

Shop News:
First graders have been hard at work in wood shop. They have already learned how to use the cross cut saw, the vice, and sandpaper and they have made some fabulous puzzles. Be sure to see those puzzles in the lobby display case!

Attention Book Lovers:
On Tuesday, November 8th join the Literary Committee as the LREI librarians present, "East Meets West," an evening of youth books that feature culture clashes and truces, diverse viewpoints and changing perspectives.
Each year our nationally recognized librarians share their literary suggestions for students in all grades, Fours-12th grade, with the LREI community as they do with other school and professional audiences throughout the school year. All three of our full time librarians have served, or are presently serving, on American Library Association panels responsible for selecting prize winning books. Join this evening as Stacy, Jennifer and Karyn share their book selections with us, along with LS library teacher and graphic novel reviewer, Jesse Karp (LREI '87), who will give his suggestions for the best in graphic novels.

Click Here

Each year the Literary Committee brings us the book fairs, Book Week, the amazing Literary Evening (December 7th) and this evening with our
librarians. The Committee also supports the librarians', and their students', attendance at conferences.
If you have questions for the librarians, don't forget to join us for Learn Your Library morning on October 23rd in the Sixth Avenue Library.

Click Here

In the Next Few Weeks...

10/13- Gwen and Thomas' 4th Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/16- Photo Day

10/17- Chap and Meredith's 3rd Grade Farm Trip

10/18- SEED Meeting, 6:00

10/19- 8:45- Parent Rep Meeting

10/20- Chap and Meredith's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/23- Learn-Your-Library morning

10/23- Photo Day (raindate)

10/24- Kelly and Ayanna's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip

10/25- 8:45- 2nd Grade Assembly

10/27- Kelly and Ayanna's 3rd Grade Class Trip Returns

10/29- Halloween Fair

11/3- Lower School Parent-Teacher Conferences. LS closed.

11/7- Third and Fourth Grade Math and Science Night, 6:00

11/8- Suzanne and Caroline's Farm Breakfast, 8:30

11/8- East Meets West, 7:00, PAC

11/14- Gwen and Thomas' Farm Breakfast, 8:30

11/15- Chap and Meredith's Farm Breakfast, 8:00

11/21- Kelly and Ayanna's Farm Breakfast, 8:30

2006-10-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Lower School Families,

Early Tuesday morning, parents waved good-bye to a class of Fourth Graders as they climbed eagerly onto a bus to head for the Hawthorne Valley Farm just outside of Poughkeepsie in Ghent, NY. This was the first of four four-day, three-night farm experiences to be enjoyed this month. Next week, a similar adventure will be had by our second Fourth Grade, and the following two weeks will see visits from Third Grade classes to a farm owned and run by Manhattan Country School.

While the two settings differ somewhat in their configuration and agenda, each is an intimate farm setting with a staff of highly trained and enthusiastic educators. Hawthorne Valley is an actual working farm and maintains a stand at the Union Square Farmers’ Market. It engages students in cattle herding, horseback riding, cooking, hiking and gardening; its focus is ecological and its kitchen, vegetarian. The Manhattan Country School farm for Third Graders is purely educational in focus. It is located further north in the town of Roxbury. Activities there include weaving, hiking, barn chores and cooking.

These four-day adventures represent a large time and educational commitment on the part of our teachers and students, as well as our parents. They represent a continuation of LREI’s tradition of teaching and learning outside the walls of a classroom. While their legacy may be difficult to quantify, it resonates throughout the school year and on into Middle School.

These trips, this time away from home with classmates and teachers, reflect the emerging independence that eight and nine year old students both strive for and shy away from. It allows children to draw strength from their classroom community and feel pride in their own emerging autonomy. They master real-world responsibilities, such as waking early in the morning to feed farm animals or cooking the entire evening meal with a small group of classmates. They also sing together with classmates around a campfire and share in silly evening rituals such as “pajamas on parade”. As a result, the community of students is strengthened and they return with a more intimate and authentic appreciation for each other.

Farm trips also take students from the urban to the rural, allowing them the opportunity to work side-by-side in a very different type of setting – to meet the realities imposed by nature, such as mucking out a stall or quietly enjoying a sunset or early dawn. Students learn to identify animal tracks, care for growing vegetables and dye and spin yarn. The experience is rich in shared sensory experience – weather, plants, foods, soil, animals. And during their daily writing and sharing times, students call up and reflect on these sensations.

Our hope is that when children return from their farm trip, albeit eager for home and a warm bath, they are just a bit older and more responsible, emotionally and aesthetically nourished and with the beginnings of a new kind of assuredness that comes from having enjoyed an extended and extraordinary natural experience with their class.

Let me end by thanking our teachers for their upbeat, round-the-clock participation: Suzanne Cohen, Caroline Johnston, Gwen Morrison, Thomas Murley, Kelly O’Keefe, Ayanna Greenidge, Sandra Chapman, Meredith Pressman, and finally, Dave Cataletto who will attend all four farm trips!

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Second Grade Letter

Third Grade Math Letter

Third Grade Trip Letter

Fourth Grade Keyboarding Letter

Parent Rep Meeting

Anouncements:

Class Photos
This is a reminder that class and individual photos will be on October 16th!
We still need some parent volunteers.
Our goal is to have one person for each class and two groups of four to work with the photographers.
The class volunteers will work for approximately one hour.
In addition, there will be a morning group of parents, 8:30-11:30 and an afternoon group, 11:20-2:20 to work with the photographers.
**Please contact Delia Hernandez, X 238, if you would like to volunteer.**
Photo Schedule:
8:45 Early Kindergarten
8:50 Fours
9:15 Dorothy/Stacey 1st
9:25 Jamie/Bonnie 1st
9:45 Lauren/Laura K
9:50 Gina/Rebecca 1st
10:15 Colleen/Michael 2nd
10:25 Tasha/Romy 2nd
10:45 Luise/Julia K
10:55 Middle School
11:40 Kelly/Ayanna 3rd
11:50 Chap/Meredith 3rd
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Gwen/Thomas 4th
1:35 Suzanne/Caroline 4th
1:55 Middle School
Photo Scholarships
Our photographer, Coffee Pond Photography, is able to offer a limited number of photo scholarhips. Please contact Delia Hernandez, X 238, if you receive financial aid and are unable to pay for photographs.

Please join us for the next Diversity & Community Evening: "How to Continue Diversity Conversations at Home," on October 10th at 6:30pm in the Sixth Avenue Auditorium. The evening will be hosted by Sharon DuPree, Director of Diversity & Community, Phil Kassen, Director and Administrative and Faculty Colleagues. Come hear about effective strategies, share experiences, ask questions and learn about resources available to parents.

How to Continue Diversity Conversations at Home

In the Next Few Weeks...

10/6- Suzanne and Caroline's 4th Grade Returns from Farm Trip

10/9- Columbus Day: School Closed

10/10- Gwen and Thomas' 4th Grade Class Farm Trip

10/11- 8-9AM- Kelly/Ayanna Farm Meeting

10/13- Gwen and Thomas' 4th Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/16- Photo Day

10/17- Chap and Meredith's 3rd Grade Farm Trip

10/19- 8:45- Parent Rep Meeting

10/20- Chap and Meredith's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/23- Learn-Your-Library morning

10/23- Photo Day (raindate)

10/24- Kelly and Ayanna's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip

10/25- 8:45- 2nd Grade Assembly

10/27- Kelly and Ayanna's 3rd Grade Class Trip Returns

10/29- Halloween Fair

11/3- Lower School Parent-Teacher Conferences. LS closed.

11/7- Third and Fourth Grade Math and Science Night, 6:00

11/8- Suzanne and Caroline's Farm Breakfast, 8:30

11/14- Gwen and Thomas' Farm Breakfast, 8:30

11/15- Chap and Meredith's Farm Breakfast, 8:00

11/21- Kelly and Ayanna's Farm Breakfast, 8:30

2006-09-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

September 28, 2006

Dear Lower School Parents,

Few things make children happier than birthday celebrations! Party planning, invitation writing, gift giving and receiving … all make for great anticipation and excitement. As it should be.

I could also have said: Few things make children happier – or have greater potential to hurt children’s feelings– than birthday celebrations!

This year, I hope you’ll join with me in working to safeguard our children’s feelings and self-esteem. I hope that together we’ll make efforts to ensure that each child feels valued and included within the important community of their classroom; that we’ll be sensitive to feelings of exclusion, being left out of a party that everyone else seems to be attending or of hosting one that is "less than" those hosted by classmates.

Here are a few tips: (You’ll also find these on P.17 of your Family Handbook.)

Invitations:

It’s fine to invite your child’s entire class or grade - or all the boys or girls - and to talk to your child about why it’s important to invite some classmates whom they may not consider close friends.

It’s fine to invite just a few friends, possibly for a movie or sleepover.

It’s not fine to invite all but a few from the class or grade, or all but a few of the girls or boys.

It’s fine to send invitations through the mail, rather than distributing them in school.

Party Planning:

It’s fine to hold a party on the weekend. It’s difficult when parties occur directly after school, though sometimes this is unavoidable. If it’s necessary, we request that you arrange a meeting place outside of school rather than picking up the invitees at the school door.

It’s fine to have a party that reflects your own style. No one at LREI should feel the pressure of expensive party planning. This isn’t who we are.

As I’m sure you can tell, I have strong feelings about arranging events in ways that value all our children. I’m guessing that you feel the same. Whatever your response, please know that I’m happy to talk about it should you wish. For starters, birthdays will be the topic of this Friday’s Second through Fourth Grade Morning Meeting in the Big Room. Please do your best to arrive promptly at 8:30AM.

My best,

Elaine

Reminders:

1. Scooters and Strollers: Please be sure these are folded completely and stored near your child’s classroom. If scooters are placed in cubbies, we ask that you purchase a bag in which to hang them so they will not roll.

2. Lost and Found: Our Lost and Found box is located on the landing directly across from the auditorium door nearest the Reading Room. It isn’t a bad idea to check this periodically.
Thank you.

This Week's Attachments:

Beth and Molly's Fours

Lauren and Laura's Kindergarten

First Grade Homework Letter

Dorothy and Stacey's First Grade Field Trip

Colleen and Michael's Second Grade Schedule

Spanish Letter

Math Letter

Announcements:

Class Photos will be on October 16th!
We need 21 parent volunteers; one for each class and two groups of four to work with the photographers.
The class volunteers will work for approximately one hour.
In addition, there will be a morning group of parents, 8:30-11:30 and an afternoon group, 11:20-2:20 to work with the photographers.
Please contact Delia Hernandez, X 238, if you would like to volunteer.

Photo Schedule:
8:45 Early Kindergarten
8:50 Fours
9:15 Dorothy/Stacey 1st
9:25 Jamie/Bonnie 1st
9:45 Lauren/Laura K
9:50 Gina/Rebecca 1st
10:15 Colleen/Michael 2nd
10:25 Tasha/Romy 2nd
10:45 Luise/Julia K
10:55 Middle School
11:40 Kelly/Ayanna 3rd
11:50 Chap/Meredith 3rd
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Gwen/Thomas 4th
1:35 Suzanne/Caroline 4th
1:55 Middle School

Don't miss the current display of children's wood working! Featured in the lobby display case, xylophones created by Third graders reveal their excellent drilling skills and ability to measure with string. Each xylophone also reflects each child's unique sensibility in color and sound.

Multicultural Brunch Announcement:
The Multicultural brunch originally scheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 30th is postponed.
We will notify the community with details when it is rescheduled.
Sorry for any inconvenience.

From the PA Co-Presidents--Thank you to all who have completed the parent survey for LREI's 10-year reaccreditation process. Your responses are very helpful to us as we prepare the Parent Association's section of the self-study. By popular request, we will continue to accept responses through the end of the month.

Click Here to access the NYSAIS survey.

In the Next Few Weeks...

10/2- Yom Kippur: School Closed

10/3- Suzanne and Caroline's 4th Grade Class Farm Trip

10/4- 8-9AM- Chap/Meredith Farm Meeting

10/5- 6PM- 4s- 1st Grade Curriculum Meeting

10/6- Suzanne and Caroline's 4th Grade Returns from Farm Trip

10/9- Columbus Day: School Closed

10/10- Gwen and Thomas' 4th Grade Class Farm Trip

10/11- 8-9AM- Kelly/Ayanna Farm Meeting

10/13- Gwen and Thomas' 4th Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/16- Photo Day

10/17- Chap and Meredith's 3rd Grade Farm Trip

10/19- 8:45- Parent Rep Meeting

10/20- Chap and Meredith's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/23- Photo Day (raindate)

10/24- Kelly and Ayanna's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip

10/25- 8:45- 2nd Grade Assembly

10/27- Kelly and Ayanna's 3rd Grade Class Trip Returns

10/29- Halloween Fair

2006-09-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

Student "Where-With-All"

As the NY Mets won the Eastern Division Championship, commentators praised Willie Randolph for having had the "where-with-all" to get there. Listening, I thought about what qualifies as "where-with-all" in the realm of student performance. What exactly are those qualities that allow students to meet challenges head-on, persevere in the face of adversity and take personal risks?

The short answer is their belief in process – in working step by step toward a resolution, their belief in strategizing – approaching work from more than one vantage point, and their belief in themselves – trusting that their own efforts will be appropriately valued.

Students in our Lower School expect the road to mastery to be made up of many steps and component parts. They may begin with a "seed idea", an estimate or basic sketch, and then backtrack, revising and editing, computing more fully or adding color and detail. As children move through the grades and grow better able to extend their work over time, these stages become more complex and fulfilling.

Where-with-all also reflects a child’s ability to strategize, to choose one approach over another in the interests of accuracy and efficiency. Teachers ask, "How else could you solve that?" "What else could we put here?" "Is there another way to find out?", urging students to expand their problem solving techniques. In large measure, students also learn from each other as they brainstorm ideas, compare hypotheses and assess outcomes.

Finally, where-with-all is about having the confidence to share your personal views, ideas and renderings knowing that these will be different from your classmates’. An especially beautiful example of this hangs in our main hallway – a collection of Fourth Grade paintings of an arrangement of sunflowers. Although painted from observation, each of these is different from one another. Some students focused on faithfully representing what they saw, others were inspired by more playful interpretations they’d seen in example from Van Gogh and Georgia O'Keefe. Some flowers appear to be a family; another is drawn from "a bee’s perspective". As art teacher Ann Schaumburger notes, "All art is autobiographical"; this may be particularly so at LREI where a teacher’s questions open the door for creativity.

As students and teachers discuss goals for the year, plotting out the weeks and months ahead, let’s not forget that the oft elusive quality of "where-with-all" resides in all our students, just waiting to be tapped.

Elaine

Reminders:

1. Please do not allow your child to bring valuables into school as these can be easily misplaced or lost. Pokemon cards and other trading items should also remain at home.

2. I hope you will make every effort to attend your child/ren’s Curriculum Meetings. Parents of Second through Fourth Graders will meet at 6PM on Thursday, September 28th, and parents of Fours through First Graders on Thursday, October 5th. As always, we will post a childcare sign-up sheet at the front desk. This year, Specialist teachers will be on hand to meet informally with parents beginning at 5:30PM in the auditorium.

3. Family Handbooks were sent home on Wednesday of this week. Please contact Kate Greathead (Kgreathead@LREI.org) if you did not receive a copy. I encourage you to read through your handbook, paying special attention to Pp. 11 and 12 and 17 through 19.

This Week's Attachments:

Diane and Lisa's Early Kindergarten

Luise and Julia's Kindergarten

Tasha and Romy's Schedule

Suzanne and Caroline's Fourth Grade

Announcements:

From the PA Co-Presidents--Thank you to all who have completed the parent survey for LREI's 10-year reaccreditation process. Your responses are very helpful to us as we prepare the Parent Association's section of the self-study. By popular request, we will continue to accept responses through the end of the month.

Click Here to access the NYSAIS survey.

In the Next Few Weeks...

9/28- 8:45- Parent Rep Meeting

9/28- 6PM- 2nd-4th Grade Curriculum Meeting

9/29- 8AM- LGSA Parent Welcome Breakfast 6th Ave

10/2- Yom Kippur School Closed

10/3- Suzanne and Caroline's 4th Grade Class Farm Trip

10/5- 6PM 4s- 1st Grade Curriculum Meeting

10/6- Suzanne and Caroline's 4th Grade Returns from Farm Trip

10/9- Columbus Day: School Closed

10/10- Gwen and Thomas' 4th Grade Class Farm Trip

10/13- Gwen and Thomas' 4th Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/16- Photo Day

10/17- Chap and Meredith's 3rd Grade Farm Trip

10/19- 8:45- Parent Rep Meeting

10/20- Chap and Meredith's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/23- Photo Day (raindate)

10/24- Kelly and Ayanna's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip

10/25- 8:45- 2nd Grade Assembly

10/27- Kelly and Ayanna's 1st Grade Class Trip Returns

10/29- Halloween Fair

September 21, 2006

2006-09-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Lower School Parents,

It is a pleasure to be writing you on the eve of the second week of school in this shiny new school year. Welcome all! This is also a week in which white lilies bloom in each classroom honoring the event five years ago which rocked our city and our school, a day in which our teachers became heroes, and during which I watched with a group of Kindergartners as the first tower imploded. The lily allows teachers to listen for children’s feelings and memories and for children to join together in support of each other.

As I visit classrooms, I can almost feel the groups, or "classroom communities" taking shape. This is a week of new connections and of firsts. As they choose line partners and lunch tables, share books and go about their daily jobs, children renew and create friendship ties. They internalize rhythms and routines – going upstairs to the roof, setting mats out for rest, gathering on the rug for an end-of-day story – and experience the ebb and of flow of a full day of school.

First Graders are gradually beginning special activities such as art, shop and gymnastics. Their specialist teachers first visit them in their classrooms then invite them into the studio, gym or shop. Second Graders are packing their first homework assignments into their backpacks along with a "best work checklist". They’ll also be joining their first Morning Meeting in the Big Room. Third Graders prepare for their first four-day farm trip (and Fourth Graders their second). And Fourth Graders adjust to their status as the senior members of the Lower School.
These "firsts" are moments to savor. They offer opportunities for personal growth, renewed commitment and a sense of pride in having conquered the new – and enjoyed it. For some, these early days also provide a welcome return to structure after the leisurely summer months. Each of your children has worked hard this week and deserves our recognition.

Elaine

P.S. As some of you are aware, administrators worked hard over the summer to create a schedule that would reflect what we know about child development. In particular, we focused on our First Grade, reducing the number of special classes and transitions in order to build in greater consistency and create longer stretches of uninterrupted time. We believe that a better-paced, more child-friendly schoolday enhances both learning and enjoyment. I was pleased to see our concerns echoed in September 11th Newsweek cover article, "The New First Grade: Too Much Too Soon?"

This Week's Attachments:

Gina and Rebecca's First Grade

Jamie and Bonnie's First Grade

Colleen and Michael's Second Grade

Tasha and Romy's Second Grade

Third Grade Letter

Chap and Meredith's Third Grade Schedule

Gwen and Thomas' Fourth Grade

In the Next Few Weeks...

9/18- Afterschool Programs Begin

9/28- 8:45- Parent Rep Meeting

9/28- 6PM- 2nd-4th Grade Curriculum Meeting

9/29- 8AM- LGSA Parent Welcome Breakfast 6th Ave

10/2- Yom Kippur School Closed

10/3- Suzanne and Caroline's 4th Grade Class Farm Trip

10/5- 6PM 4s- 1st Grade Curriculum Meeting

10/6- Suzanne and Caroline's 4th Grade Returns from Farm Trip

10/9- Columbus Day: School Closed

10/10- Gwen and Thomas' 4th Grade Class Farm Trip

10/13- Gwen and Thomas' 4th Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/16- Photo Day

10/17- Chap and Meredith's 3rd Grade Farm Trip

10/19- 8:45- Parent Rep Meeting

10/20- Chap and Meredith's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip Returns

10/23- Photo Day (raindate)

10/24- Kelly and Ayanna's 3rd Grade Class Farm Trip

10/25- 8:45- 2nd Grade Assembly

10/27- Kelly and Ayanna's 1st Grade Class Trip Returns

10/29- Halloween Fair

Announcements

Two Reminders from the P.A.

1. Please join us at one of the welcome fairs next week.
Tuesday, 6-6:30PM in the Charlton St. PAC or
Thursday 8-9 AM in the 6th Avenue Cafeteria

Here for more details.

2. Remember to fill out your parent survey.

As you have read in our last email, in November a group of educators from other independant schools in New York State will visit LREI. These professional colleagues will be serving as members of the team that will perform our ten-year re-accreditation exercise, a requirement for all NYSAIS (New York State Association of Independant Schools) member schools. As part of this process NYSAIS asks that all parents complete a survey. We have chosen to do this on-line. Anonymous responses, and the summary of these responses, will be presented to our visitors. The goal of the visit is to gauge the extent to which LREI does what it says it does.

Click Here to access the NYSAIS survey.

2006-06-13T14:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Lower School Parents,

As promised, here is the updated 2006 – 07 faculty list, with just a couple of holes to fill. As you read, you will notice some familiar names in new positions. So nice when this happens! I’ve provided new faculty bios at the end of the list. We’re extremely proud to count these extraordinary educators among our faculty.

Permanent Substitute:
Dave Cataletto

Fours:
Beth Binnard and Molly Clarke

Early Kindergarten:
Diane Thatcher and Lisa Chung

Kindergarten:
Luise Haladay and Julia Rassman
Lauren Bien and Laura Araman

First Grade:
Dorothy Mehler and Stacey Miehe
Jamie Atlas and Bonnie Maloney
Gina Goldmann (associate hire in process)

Second Grade:
Colleen Moore and Michael Parrish
Tasha Hernandez and Romy Goldsmith

Third Grade:
Sandra (Chap) Chapman and Meredith Pressman
Kelly O'Keefe and Ayanna Greenidge

Fourth Grade:
Suzanne Cohen and Caroline Johnston
Gwen Morrison (associate hire in process)

• Fours: Beth Binnard, an experienced Early Childhood teacher currently at the City and Country School, will be our Fours Maternity Leave Replacement.

• Kindergarten: Lauren Bien, Assistant Director of the Crimson Summer Academy at Harvard, will be our new Kindergarten teacher. Lauren comes with seven years teaching experience and educational training at Sarah Lawrence and Bank Street Colleges.

• Math Specialist: Dawn Wheatley, currently at Brooklyn Friends School, will be our Math Specialist, and comes with 20 years experience as a classroom and math teacher.

• Math Consultant: Sharon White has been a Math Consultant for over 20 years and worked previously in our Lower School. She co-authored “Teaching Children Mathematics” for the National Council of Mathematics and is a strong advocate of the TERC Investigations program.

• Fourth Grade: Gwen Morrison joins us from the Glenville Elementary School in Greenwich CT, where she has been teaching Third Grade for four years. Trained at the Connecticut Writing Project, Gwen has also been an instructor in Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop.

• The new Associate Teachers who will join us are:
o Ayanna Greenidge will work with Kelly.
o Meredith Pressman will work with Chap.
o Lisa Chung will work with Diane.

• Administrative Assistant: Kate Greathead, a writer and recent Wesleyan graduate, will move into Bonnie’s second floor office and be on hand to help as we transition back in the fall.

We are there! Warm summer wishes to all,

Elaine

Projects and Publications

2006-06-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Lower School Families,

Just as the start of the school year gathers momentum through welcoming rituals and community building, in similar fashion we end by sharing in collective achievements and rites of closure. In an inquiry-based institution such as ours, these good-byes take the shape of projects and publications as students pool their knowledge and skills. Final projects and class anthologies represent a culmination of months of learning. They also herald new learning as students take their understanding to a higher level, generalize from it and make it their own. Of note this season:

Fours and EKs joined their love of science with their care for animals by contributing the proceeds from their sale of lovingly grown basil and marigold plants to the Wolf Conservation Center. Children learned about the needs of these wolves during our recent assembly.

Some Kindergartners have designed and stitched their own beautiful pillows. Others concluded their exploration of music and musical instruments with a visit to hear the high school jazz band and with many musical parent visits.

The Post Office in Dorothy and Romy’s room has been performing a genuine service of late. Not only is correspondence weighed, stamped, assorted and delivered, but it has prompted us all to write a little more frequently. My latest letter from a First Grader read, "Dear Elaine, is it fun being a prinsabel? I love this school. Who choses what clas we are in?" and included a snowflake cutout for me to complete. Another note read, "Dear Elaine, thank you for being such a Nice Principal. I love you. I hope you are still here next year." (Amen)

The marvelous "Once Upon a Bookstore" in Gina and Elizabeth’s First Grade opened its doors this week. It was created entirely by children who had visited (and revisited!) neighborhood bookstores and libraries, and sold items such as a class-made poetry anthology, "Neighborhood Poems", bookmarks, student-made postcards and used books. There were "Staff Picks" to browse through as well as a selection of original "How To" books. Every First Grader had an important job and performed it with complete seriousness and competence.

And, of course, the Red Ribbon Bakery is still alive in our memories.

New York City, represented in two large-scale models, now occupies a significant portion of each Second Grade classroom. Buildings, parks and surrounding waterways are in place – each feature selected to meet the specific needs of city dwellers. Important details are now being added, including "Central Park" with live, growing grass. This design and construction project represents a powerful culmination of the grade’s year-long city study.

Third Graders, now immersed in their study of New Amsterdam, have made Delft tiles, large-scale maps and period journals. They recently completed – and published – collections of carefully crafted "feature articles", magazine-like descriptions of an activity or hobby of their own personal interest.

More poetry is blossoming in Fourth Grade and, here too, anthologies are nearing publication. Students are about to publish a collection of poems selected by students from the year’s body of work and illustrated through collage. In addition, students are poised to make a beautiful, lasting gift to the Lower School – a set of ceramic tiles depicting their favorite rain forest animals; animals they have researched, reported on and visited in the Bronx Zoo Rain Forest.

With the arrival of June, there is much to celebrate!

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Brooke and Charles' Kindergarten

Second Grade - from teachers

Second Grade - information about next year's farm trip
Second Grade - farm trip part II

Third Grade - from teachers

Third Grade - information about next year's farm trip
Third Grade - farm trip part II

Parent Association Election Ballot

Spanish Resource List

Announcements:

From High School Principal Tony Fisher -
Last night was an amazing one for our Seniors. This year's Senior Project Evening featured so many fabulous presentations that I hesitate to single any of them out. I will say that in the weeks of the internships and during the research process, our students worked in the arts, real estate, education, food, politics, and on and on. In addition, two of our students' projects took them abroad. Click here to see the program for the evening and the complete lists of project titles and mentors.

Family Picnic - Sunday, June 11th
Welcoming families touched by adoption and the friends and classmates who support us. A chance to celebrate LREI's diverse community of families.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Time: 11:00AM on - throughout the afternoon
Place: Hudson River Park (just north of the World Financial Center)
Rain Date: sometime in September
We'll set up on the grass just across from the playground. Look for lots of balloons! Bring your own lunch/snack/beverage and something to sit on. There are sprinklers for younger kids, so bringing bathing suits/towels is also a good idea.

Sponsored by the LREI Adoptive Families Committee
For more info, contact Susan Glass at: sglass9@nyc.rr.com or Mamie McIndoe at: mmcindoe@marblechurch.org

Upcoming Events:

6/5 - 6:00PM - Jamie and Dave's First Grade Picnic

6/6 - 6:00PM - Michelle and Laura's Fours Picnic

6/7 - 6:00PM - Luise and Julia's Kindergarten Picnic

6/8 - 8:45AM - Multicultural Committee Meeting

6/8 - 6:00PM - Diane and Molly's Early Kindergarten Picnic

6/9 - High School Graduation - School closes at 12:00PM (Fours-First Grades, 11:45AM)

6/12 - 9:00AM - Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony, Auditorium

6/13 - Last Day of School - School closes at 12:00PM (Fours-First Grades, 11:45AM)

Click here to access the full calendar.

2006-05-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Families,

Just as the immigration debate heats up in Congress, interest also builds within our Fourth Grade, whose year long study is, in fact, immigration. Recently, students were assigned an optional piece of homework – to prepare for an upcoming "Immigration Debate". Those interested were required to research different aspects of the issue and to respond to the following with six to ten persuasive points: "Should undocumented immigrants be allowed to stay in the United States and become citizens?" Points to ponder were provided by their teachers and students were advised that debate participants needed to be prepared to argue either side of the issue, not necessarily the one corresponding to their own points of view.

By Wednesday, eight students in each classroom were seated behind tables ready to share opening comments and to follow up with rebuttal arguments. Fourth Graders stepped into this arena with a level of seriousness, commitment and respect for complexity that made us all proud.

Those debaters who felt that guest workers should remain in the U.S. raised the following points:

We are a nation of immigrants; this is the land of opportunity. All immigrants add diversity to this culture.
Immigrants have children who are American citizens and families would be separated from each other if undocumented workers were sent back to their homelands.
Undocumented workers’ countries are very poor. These people are just trying to survive and they risked their lives to get here.
They help the economy and do jobs that Americans won’t do.
They would legalize themselves if they could.
They have roots in their communities and they work hard. If 13 million people go away, we’ll lose billions of dollars.

The other side of the issue was represented as follows:

"Illegal immigrants" could have criminal records, but we wouldn’t know it. Some may be smuggling weapons into our country.
Some may take jobs away from citizens, from the homeless – and from legal immigrants who worked hard to get here.
If all undocumented workers stay here, English won’t be the main language anymore.
Undocumented immigrants send the money they earn back to their homelands and that affects our economy.
States near the Mexican border can’t support the needs of these immigrant families. Many undocumented immigrants don’t pay taxes.
They broke the law to get here, so they can be considered criminals.

Afterward, students in attendance rated the two opposing teams according to: Quality of arguments (Were they persuasive?), Communication (Did they make their points clear?) and Etiquette (Were they polite and respectful?) They assigned a numerical value to each criterion and a winning team was identified. In their concluding conversations, students recognized that this experience had allowed them to "step into other people’s shoes", to empathize and connect with points of view other than their own. They said they had learned more than they had expected to, and importantly, they had been able to disagree respectfully. Bravo!

Congratulations to teachers Suzanne Cohen, Erin Hannon, Patricia Conroy and Carin Cohen for creating and structuring this inspiring forum! And to the Fourth Grade students who today took a big step toward Middle School maturity as they dove into the complexity of this very real issue.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:
Early Kindergarten
Fours and Early Kindergarten Song Lyrics
Kindergarten Song Lyrics
Afterschool Enrichment Share
Afterschool Piano Recital and Instrumental Concert
Spanish Resource List

Click here to see a list of the colleges that our seniors have enrolled in for the past three years. This year's class, like their predecessors, had a successful college search process. We are proud of each of them. A list of this year's acceptances can be found at www.lrei.org. Congratulations LREI Class of 2006!

Announcements:

LREI Summer Fun-Raiser - the Fun-raiser is tonight! Click here for details.

Field Day - Field Day is tomorrow - Friday, May 26. This is a time for children to have fun outdoors with their buddies. School will dismiss at 1:00 (Fours-Fourth Grades, 12:45). Please note that these times are different than our typical half-day dismissals.

Message from the Librarians:
It's that time of year again! The library will be closed to circulation beginning May 30. Books may be checked in, but not checked out. Please bring back all outstanding material as soon as possible so that the librarians can check in and inventory our collection. The library space will be available as always to students and their parents during school hours.

Upcoming Events:

5/25 - TONIGHT! - Summer Fun-Raiser!

5/26 - TOMORROW! - Field Day!

5/29 - School Closed for Memorial Day

5/31 - 6:00PM - Brooke and Charles' Kindergarten Picnic

6/5 - 6:00PM - Jamie and Dave's First Grade Picnic

6/6 - 6:00PM - Michelle and Laura's Fours Picnic

6/7 - 6:00PM - Luise and Julia's Kindergarten Picnic

6/8 - 8:45AM - Multicultural Committee Meeting

6/8 - 6:00PM - Diane and Molly's Early Kindergarten Picnic

6/9 - High School Graduation - School closes at 12:00PM (Fours-First Grades, 11:45AM)

6/12 - 9:00AM - Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony, Auditorium

6/13 - Last Day of School - School Closes at 12:00PM (Fours-First Grades, 11:45AM)

Click here to access the full calendar.

2006-05-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Families,

In last week’s Morning Meeting, I asked the Second, Third and Fourth Graders about events they were looking forward to now that we’re nearing the end of the school year. They mentioned the following: Mother’s Day, the Human Rights Coffee House, the Chorus Concert, Grandparents and Special Friends Day, Field Day, the Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony, class potlucks, assemblies, class trips and Afterschool Shares. All this coming at us (and them!) within the span of just under four weeks!

We are a busy community with exciting, overlapping agendas. And while this is standard fare in our adult worlds, research tells us that this is not the ideal recipe for learning and growing among young people. Reflection, consolidation, comparison and evaluation are processes that spark a deeper kind of growth and understanding. They allow children to merge aspects of their learning, to both generalize from the specific and personalize from the generic, to form opinions and to speculate. They require time.

Because we know this, we are revisiting our current schedule. As a faculty, we have been putting our heads together for much of this year to come up with ways to streamline our students’ school experience. The following are among our goals:

To create uninterrupted blocks of time for in-depth analysis and creative endeavor
To build a pattern of predictability into the schedule that allows students the stability of a familiar rhythm
To extend the possibility of integrated efforts among classroom and specialist teachers
To permit teachers a greater degree of flexibility and increased opportunity to respond to student interest and program demands
To ensure regular recess and/or social times

We realize that some classes will need to be reduced or reconfigured in order to make space for more student-friendly routines. Of course, we will keep this to a minimum. Faculty are committed to the process, our conversations have been productive and we are confident that the overall benefits to your children will be significant.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:
FIELD DAY
Fours
Luise and Julia's Kindergarten
Spanish Story Hour
Spanish Resource List

Announcements:

Grandparents and Special Friends Day is tomorrow! - Fours through First Grade visitors will gather in the auditorium at 9:00AM for a light breakfast and welcome from Phil and Elaine. They will then visit in classrooms from 9:30AM until 11:00AM. Second through Fourth Grade visitors will gather in the auditorium at 1:00PM to be greeted by Phil and Elaine. They will spend time in their host's classroom from 1:30PM to 3:00PM. Adult-sized seating will be available in each room.

- Two helpful thoughts:

Please let your child's visitor know the name of her or his teacher.
Please be sure your child's teacher knows who will be picking your child up at 3:00PM.

Scooters - Please help us keep the lobby and bench area clear by not storing scooters there. Please put scooters in your child's cubby area for storage during the day.

Spring Into Summer Book Fair - The book fair is next Thursday, May 25th! Click here for details.

LREI Summer Fun-Raiser - The fun-raiser is next Thursday, May 25th! Click here for more information.

Field Day - Field Day is next Friday, May 26. This is a time for children to have fun outdoors with their buddies. School will dismiss at 1:00 (Fours-Fourth Grades, 12:45). Please note that these times are different than our typical half-day dismissals.

First Grade Bookstore - The grand opening of Gina and Elizabeth's First Grade Bookstore is Wednesday, May 31st. Stay tuned for more information!

LREI Camping Trip - Dig the tent out of storage! It's time for the 13th annual LREI Camping Trip, June 2-4. It's a great time filled with swimming, softball, fishing, campfires, s'mores and a wonderful dinner by Peter Hoffman of the Savoy.

The cost is $30 per adult and $20 per child. For more information see us in the lobby on Wednesday, May 17 and Thursday, May 25, contact Richard Cleves at 917-408-6211 or richard@cxny.org, or check the LREI website. A great time will be had by all! Payment deadline is May 26.

Upcoming Events:

5/19 - TOMORROW - Grandparents and Special Friends Day!

5/22 - 6:00PM - Chap and Michael's Third Grade Picnic

5/23 - 6:00PM - Dorothy and Romy's First Grade Picnic

5/24 - 8:45AM - Second Grade Assembly

5/24 - 6:00PM - Gina and Elizabeth's First Grade Picnic

5/25 - Spring Into Summer Book Fair!

5/25 - LREI Summer Fun-Raiser!

5/26 - Field Day! School closes at 1:00PM (Fours-First Grades 12:45)

5/29 - School Closed for Memorial Day

5/31 - 6:00PM - Brooke and Charles' Kindergarten Picnic

6/5 - 6:00PM - Jamie and Dave's First Grade Picnic

6/6 - 6:00PM - Michelle and Laura's Fours Picnic

6/7 - 6:00PM - Luise and Julia's Kindergarten Picnic

6/8 - 8:45AM - Multicultural Committee Meeting

6/8 - 6:00PM - Diane and Molly's Early Kindergarten Picnic

6/9 - High School Graduation - School closes at 12:00PM (Fours-First Grades, 11:45AM)

6/12 - 9:00AM - Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony, Auditorium

6/13 - Last Day of School - School closes at 12:00PM (Fours-First Grades, 11:45AM)

Click here to access the full calendar.

2006-05-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Families,

Next Friday is our bi-annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day in the Lower and Middle Schools. I’m looking forward to the chance to greet and chat with guests who are returning for their fifth and sixth visits and to welcome those entering our school for the very first time. As might be expected, children arrive that morning full of expectation and eager to show their visitors what school life is all about. In preparation, some classes have practiced the art of introducing guests to teachers and other visitors. Other groups have prepared special treats to be shared. Some will use a power point presentation to illustrate recent curriculum. Blocks will be shelved, artwork hung and spaces cleared to allow for added seating.

This year we are responding to popular demand and reshaping the program so that children’s guests may experience part of a true school day. They will spend over an hour in their host’s classroom, meeting the teachers, participating in activities alongside the children, sharing stories and learning about learning – LREI style. Whether their hosts are five or ten years old, visitors will be invited to join in some part of their experience and to listen and observe, as groups work, create, sing and discuss. Exciting and fun for both generations.

Sharing school experiences is important to young children and underscores the value we place on their everyday classroom commitment. Equally powerful is the bridge created between children’s personal friends and relatives and the world they consider their own – where they know all the players, routines and expectations. Next Friday, your children will be solidly in the position of experts, teaching their visitors the ropes. They’ll explain how a job chart works, what rules are in place for meeting participation, who sits at which table, where work is kept and how the class responds to a teacher’s signal. By this point in the year your children know so much; they really are classroom experts.

Next week they will have an opportunity to share their accomplishments with someone meaningful to them. It is a day for children to feel very proud - and for visitors to enjoy the self-confidence, curiosity, independence and motivation of LREI learners. Thank you for helping us to coordinate this day.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Luise and Julia's Kindergarten

Dorothy and Romy's First Grade

Spanish Resource List

Announcements:

Scooters - Please help us keep the high-traffic area of the first floor clear and safe by bringing your child's scooter to the classroom cubby area for storage during the day.

This Saturday, May 13, 7:00 PM at Charlton Street, we will host the annual Human Rights Coffeehouse. Co-organized by mathematics/music teacher Micah Dov Gottlieb and the High School Human Rights Club, this will be a terrific evening of music, poetry, film and more, all with a human rights theme. A uniquely LREI event - students and faculty, from all three divisions, joined together to entertain us while inspiring us to help to make the world a better place. Please join us!

Early Childhood -
Join Elaine and guest Hollee McGinnis of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, for a discussion including helpful information about listening and responding to our kids as they talk to each other about families in all their wonderful forms.
Tuesday, May 16th at 8:45AM in the Cafeteria
Sponsored by the LREI Adoption Committee

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.

The LREI Summer Fun-Raiser is coming up! Click here for more information.

LREI Camping Trip -
Dig the tent out of storage! It's time for the 13th annual LREI Camping Trip, June 2-4. It's a great time filled with swimming, softball, fishing, campfires, s'mores and wonderful dinner by Peter Hoffman of the Savoy.

The cost is $30 per adult and $20 per child. For more information see us in the lobby on Wednesday, May 17 and Thursday, May 25, contact Richard Cleves at 917-408-6211 or richard@cxny.org, or check the LREI website.

A great time will be had by all! Payment deadline is May 26.

Upcoming Events:

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

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

5/16 - 8:45AM - Early Childhood discussion with Hollee McGinnis

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 - Lower and Middle School 24 Game Challenge

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

5/19 - Grandparents and Special Friends Day!

5/22 - 6:00PM - Chap and Michael's Third Grade Picnic

5/23 - 6:00PM - Dorothy and Romy's First Grade Picnic

5/24 - 8:45AM - Second Grade Assembly

5/24 - 6:00PM - Gina and Elizabeth's First Grade Picnic

5/25 - Spring into Summer Book Fair!

5/26 - Field Day! School closes at 1:00PM (Fours-First Grades - 12:45)

5/29 - School Closed for Memorial Day

5/31 - 6:00PM - Brooke and Charles' Kindergarten Picnic

6/5 - 6:00PM - Jamie and Dave's First Grade Picnic

6/6 - 6:00PM - Michelle and Laura's Fours Picnic

6/7 - 6:00PM - Luise and Julia's Kindergarten Picnic

6/8 - 8:45AM - Multicultural Committee Meeting

6/8 - 6:00PM - Diane and Molly's Early Kindergarten Picnic

6/9 - High School Graduation - School closes at 12:00PM (Fours-First Grades - 11:45AM)

6/12 - 9:00AM - Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony, Cafeteria

6/13 - Last Day of School - School closes at 12:00PM (Fours-First Grades - 11:45AM)

Click here to access the full calendar.

2006-05-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Lower School Families,

I hope that you’ve been able to enjoy the beginnings of spring! As the weather warms up, our classes have been out and about, learning from visits to different places. These explorations have included a walk to a local garden to observe signs of spring, trips to the Poet’s House, the South Street Seaport, local bookstores, and the Bronx Zoo to see rainforest habitats, and a neighborhood walk to see construction sites, people working on scaffolding and pouring cement, and even a new sewer being installed!

As an institution, we deeply value providing our students with frequent opportunities to leave the school building and visit places that connect to and enrich their studies. Another rich component of our school community, though often unseen, is to host visitors interested in learning about progressive education. Several times each month, we welcome educators into our school to observe, listen, and learn – to leave their school buildings, and to be enriched by a different perspective. By opening our doors to others, we not only benefit from engaging in conversations about our educational practices and beliefs, but are also participating with and serving within the broader educational community.

This year alone, we’ve hosted approximately 70 visitors to the lower school! Our visitors have included experienced teachers, undergraduate and graduate students, new teachers, and administrators from a wide variety of places, among them Staten Island Academy, the Buckley School, Medgar Evers College, Sunbridge College, Washington Market School, New Canaan Country Day School, New York University, Wagner College, Scholastic Books, Teachers College, and Uganda, whose Queen visited our movement classes earlier in the year.

For the past few years, we’ve also welcomed a special group of visitors: Icelandic educators who come to visit NYC independent schools, an outgrowth of the research done there by Harriet Cuffaro, our Social Studies Consultant. Their primary focus is on our work with blocks - a particularly high priority as blocks are now an established early childhood material in the Icelandic schools. We now have visitors from Iceland to our school annually. This morning, we welcomed our fourth delegation of Icelandic playschool teachers this year! It is truly an exciting and unique experience to be a part of, and a relationship we look forward to continuing.

I’m so pleased to have a chance to share with you in this week’s blog!

May you find moments to enjoy the season in ways that connect and enrich your lives outside of school as well as within.

Happy Spring!
Megan

This Week's Attachments:

Early Kindergarten

Luise and Julia's Kindergarten

Jamie and Dave's First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Third Grade #2

Spanish Resource List

Announcements:

Coffeehouse - The annual Human Rights Coffeehouse will be on May 13th at 7:00PM at the high school on Charlton Street. There are still some slots available for members of the community to participate with music, poetry, or any other material with a human rights theme. This Coffeehouse is co-organized by mathematics/music teacher Micah Dov Gottlieb and the High School Human Rights Club. If you are interested, please contact Micah at mdgottlieb@lrei.org.

Early Childhood -
Join Elaine and guest Hollee McGinnis of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, for a discussion including helpful information about listening and responding to our kids as they talk to each other about families in all their wonderful forms.
Tuesday, May 16th at 8:45 in the Cafeteria
Sponsored by the LREI Adoption Committee

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.

Upcoming Events:

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 - Lower and Middle School 24 Game Challenge

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

5/19 - Grandparents and Special Friends Day!

5/22 - 6:00PM - Chap and Michael's Third Grade Picnic

5/23 - 6:00PM - Dorothy and Romy's First Grade Picnic

5/24 - 8:45AM - Second Grade Assembly

5/24 - 6:00PM - Gina and Elizabeth's First Grade Picnic

5/25 - Spring into Summer Book Fair!

5/26 - Field Day! School closes at 1:00PM (Fours-First Grades - 12:45)

5/29 - School Closed for Memorial Day

5/31 - 6:00PM - Brooke and Charles' Kindergarten Picnic

Click here to access the full calendar.

2006-04-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

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.

2006-04-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Lower School Families,

One thing can be said about our community – we don’t shy away from difficult issues or uncomfortable conversations. As parents, we advocate passionately for our children and our beliefs, we listen to the views of others and seek out common ground. As a faculty, we look at difficult but necessary changes in program in order to serve your children in the best way possible. I am proud to represent an institution that grapples; that knows no status quo. At this moment, conversation - and grappling - is occurring on a few different fronts, a backdrop to the powerful learning taking place in our classrooms.

A recent case in point was the Monday evening Open PA Meeting in which issues related to class placement were discussed. On the faculty level, our Tuesday afternoon meeting looked at scheduling options for the upcoming year with the goals to:

Provide a satisfying, coherent school experience for the students
Ensure sufficient time for in-depth play, research and exploration, and
Honor – do justice to - the content areas and programs that we teach.

We are in full agreement that a shift is called for in order to reach a school day that is less frantic and fragmented. We are thinking outside of that box. The issue – and the grappling – lies with deciding what must give in order to reach that goal. Work for the upcoming months.

May all of you enjoy your upcoming parent teacher conferences and profit from a lively exchange of insights, anecdotes and shared appreciation for your child.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Parents of Kindergarten students moving to First Grade next year should read this letter from Harriet Lieber and Mary Young.

Gina and Elizabeth's First Grade

Chap and Michael's Third Grade

Kelly and Meredith's Third Grade

Parent Rep Meeting Minutes

Spanish Resource List

Announcements:

For information on Parent-Teacher Conference Childcare, click here.

Fourth Grade Parents - Don't forget the What to Expect in Fifth Grade Meeting with Mark and Elaine on Tuesday, 4/25 at 8:45AM in the Cafeteria.

Big Auction - Next Wednesday, April 26 is the Big Auction. We hope you are planning on attending but if that is not possible and you would like to bid on an item, please contact Pippa Gerard at 212-477-5316, ext. 236 or via email at pgerard@lrei.org. The auction catalog is available in the Sixth Avenue lobby or on our website. Many thanks for supporting LREI.

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.

Save the date! - 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.

Sites for Kids - Check out these web links with resources and information for kids:
www.metmuseum.org (click "Enter Here" and the MuseumKids)

http://www.moma.org/education/ (click on "Destination: Modern Art")

www.enchantedlearning.com

Upcoming Events:

4/21 - School Closed for Parent-Teacher Conferences

4/25 - 8:45AM - What to Expect in Fifth Grade with Mark and Elaine, Cafeteria

4/26 - 8:45AM - Third and Fourth Grade Assembly

4/26 - 6:00PM - Big Auction

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

2006-04-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

Bienvenido a todos!

So good to be back! One would expect that, following a two-week break, the curriculum wheels gain momentum slowly. Not so around here. Walking through our school yesterday and today, I happened on:

A puppet assembly (Manhattan Kids Project) for Second through Fourth Graders promoting sensitivity to people with disabilities
A typical New Amsterdam meal of porridge and apples enjoyed by Third Graders who ate from their own clay bowls and with their own chiseled spoons.
A group of Second Graders writing and illustrating their wishes for adult careers.
A Kindergarten class enjoying African folk tales as told to them by Sixth Graders.
First Graders visiting, then diagramming renovation plans for nearby Father Demo Square (or "triangle", as one child pointed out).
A series of "demo" classes with movement teacher, Deborah for NYU’s dance faculty.
A puppet-making workshop for faculty led by Ann.
Fourth Graders initiating a rain forest exploration, and related to their study of biomes, having written Desert Brochures, such as – "The Great Basin Trip: Have you ever traveled to a desert? Now is your chance! You will see exciting things like poisonous plants and unusual animals. The weather is different from what you are used to, also. Enjoy the trip!"
First Graders displaying their step-by-step "How To" Books such as – "How to Take care of a Little Sister: You need an older brother and a little sister! Then you ask them if they need anything. If they need help, help them. Play with them. Hold them. Feed them milk. Give them hugs and kisses. But most of all give them love."
And, the four early childhood classes positioned to begin their studies of – music and musical instruments, art and artists, storytelling, and transportation.

Finally, a reminder that this Tuesday, April 11th, is Poem in your Pocket Day at LREI. Please see that your child comes to school with a poem that they have chosen or written in their pocket. If this is not easy to do at home, not to worry - Jesse will have a store of extras in the library.

P.S. Podría ser en español también!

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Fours

Kelly and Meredith's Third Grade

Food Drive

Spanish Resource List

Announcements:

Afterschool's First Friday
Friday, April 7th at 4:15pm
LREI's Performing and Physical Arts Space

Afterschool at LREI welcomes Maria Terrero for an afternoon of Afro-Dominican music and dance. In this demonstration and workshop we will explore the music and dance of Congos de Villa Mella, a cultural form which comes from the Dominican Republic.
Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend and participate. Contact the Afterschool office at 212-477-5316 ext. 239.

- Please remember these dates:

School closed next Thursday and Friday, (4/13 and 4/14)
School closed on Friday, 4/21 for Parent-Teacher Conferences
Half Day of school on Friday, 4/28 for Parent-Teacher Conferences (school closes at 12:00, fours-fourth grades - 11:45AM)

- Don't forget about the second part of the diversity meeting series, which will be on Monday, April 17 at 6:00PM.

- Childcare will be provided for parent-teacher conferences. Please click here for more information.

It's Big Auction time - tickets are going fast - make sure you purchase your ticket(s)
by next week. Please inform the development office if there is a group of people who would
like to sit together. Tables will accommodate ten people.

This year's raffle prizes include a flat screen tv, dvd camcorder, digital photo lab, and much more. Raffle tickets are on sale in the lobby of both buildings or available by calling or emailing the development office. Family gatherings are a great opportunity to support LREI by selling raffle tickets. If you or your children would like tickets to sell stop by the development office before the long weekend.

- Click here for details on this Saturday's LREI Spring Arts Project at Hudson Guild!

- This Saturday - 7 PM, at Charlton Street - COFFEEHOUSE! This COFFEEHOUSE will have a bit of a harder rocking theme, with some of our louder bands playing. 7-9pm. $3 students and $5 guests

- An invitation from Hawthorne Valley Farm - Greetings from Hawthorne Valley Farm! We cordially invite all families to our OPEN HOUSE on Saturday, April 8th at 2:00 pm. Come tour the farm and the Main House. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and tour the farm where the children stay during the Visiting Students and Summer Camp programs. Visit our website, http://www.vspcamp.com/, for driving directions and please RSVP to Helen at (518) 672-4790. There are spaces available in our ONE WEEK CAMP, July 16 to July 21, for ages 8 and 9, call for more information. This camp offers a day camp option. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, April 8th at 2:00 pm, Hawthorne Valley Farm, 327 Rt 21C, Ghent, NY.

Upcoming Events...

4/11 - 8:45AM - Parents of Children of Color (POCOC) Meeting

4/11 - Poem in Your Pocket Day

4/13-4/14 - School Closed

4/17 - 6:00PM - Diversity Parent Meeting, Part II

4/20 - 8:45AM - Parent Rep Meeting

4/21 - School Closed for Parent-Teacher Conferences

4/25 - 8:45AM - What to Expect in Fifth Grade with Mark and Elaine

4/26 - 8:45AM - Third and Fourth Grade Assembly

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

Click here to access the full calendar.

2006-03-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

On behalf of the Lower School faculty and staff…

WE FEEL APPRECIATED!!!
BY YOU - OUR CREATIVE, COMMITTED & VERY GENEROUS LREI PARENTS!

(Who is that beautiful girl in the mirror?!?)

****

FOUNDER’S DAY is on the horizon!! On Friday, March 17th, students will travel with their buddies to the High School to enjoy the annual and now infamous faculty skit, “Founding of the Little Red School House”. Following the performance and assembly, children will all return to their classrooms for an ice cream treat to commemorate those early parent meetings in an ice cream parlor. Now, THIS is a tradition!!! School will dismiss at 11:45AM for Fours through First Graders and 12:00PM for Second through Fourth Graders.

This Week's Attachments:

Second Grade

Chap and Michael's Third Grade

Spanish Resources

Announcements:

Reminder for First Grade Parents: Tomorrow at 8:45AM there is a meeting in the cafeteria. Plans for next year's Second Grade will be discussed.

Reminder for Third and Fourth Grade Parents: Next week's Wednesday morning assembly at 8:45AM is for Fourth Graders and parents only. A shared Third and Fourth Grade Assembly is scheduled for April 26.

Attached are workshop proposal forms in .pdf and .doc format for the LREI Arts Festival 2006! This year, the Arts Festival is occurring on Friday, April 28, and will involve all students from grades 8 through 12. This is an exciting day when students choose from a variety of workshops offered by faculty, friends, parents and others in and out of the LREI school community. The workshops run in the morning and are followed by an afternoon of exhibitions. For more details, please see the attachment; in particular, if you or someone you know is interested in offering a workshop, please send the form to Tony (HS Principal) by Friday, April 14.

Upcoming Events...

3/10 - 8:45AM - tomorrow - Meeting for First Grade Parents, Cafeteria

3/15 - 8:45AM - Fourth Grade Assembly

3/16 - 8:45AM - Parent Rep Meeting

3/17 - Founder's Day Assembly and Buddy Get-Together! -- school closes at noon (11:45, Early Childhood) for Spring Break

4/3 - School Reopens

4/6 - 8:00AM - Lesbian Gay Straight Alliance (LGSA) Meeting

4/6 - 6:00PM - Fourth Grade Parent Meeting with Heidi

4/11 - Poem in Your Pocket Day

4/13-4/14 - School Closed

4/20 - 8:45AM - Parent Rep Meeting

4/21 - Parent-Teacher Conferences - School Closed

4/25 - 8:45AM - What to Expect in Fifth Grade with Mark and Elaine

4/26 - 8:45AM - Third and Fourth Grade Assembly

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

Click here to access the full calendar.

Under New York

2006-03-02T10:54:00.000-08:00

Blending their firsthand experience with the reading of Under New York, by Linda Oatman Riley, Second Graders in Tasha and Caroline’s class wrote the following subway observations – collectively, an urban poem:

Under New York.....

There are shiny and squeaky dark rails.
I saw graffiti flying past the glass.
There is music being played. Guitars being strummed, saxophones being blown and people singing songs.
There are a lot of signs; some are long and shiny, for example Grand Street.
It’s loud! I could barely hear our talking.
I see movie posters that say the month when the movies come out.
There are letters on the trains so you know what train is coming on the tracks.
There are a lot of subway maps you can read so you can get from place to place.
I heard the train go screech.
There are a lot of people talking and walking unless they’re sitting. But they might talk then also.
Some trains push other trains and clean. They can be different colors.
There’s a lot of garbage like paper and gum. And some rats and mice like to live in the train tracks.
The ceiling is shaped like the top of the train.
I see water dripping from the ceiling.
There are newsstands. There is gum and candy there.
It is pretty crowded. It is sometimes hard to walkthrough the tall and small people quickly walking.
You have to be safe because if you are blind you can fall into the train track.
It is very, very dirty. There is garbage everywhere.
Homeless men and women live. I wish I could help them but sadly I can’t.

WORTH A MILLION WORDS – or maybe a few hundred. Click here to access our photo galleries and enjoy some glimpses of Lower School life.

This Week's Attachments:

Diane and Molly's Early Kindergarten

Luise and Julia's Kindergarten

First Grade

Jamie and Dave's First Grade

Jamie and Dave's First Grade - 2

Jamie and Dave's First Grade - release form

Parent's League Spring Workshops

Spanish Resource List

Announcements:

On Tuesday, March 7th we invite you to join the first of two upcoming diversity discussions. At this gathering, Sharon DuPree—our Director of Diversity and Community—will present our Diversity and Community Action Plan. This plan outlines the ways in which we, the LREI community, will achieve the diversity goals that are central to our mission. We are finishing the last draft of this plan and parent input is essential to the success of these efforts.

During the second part of this evening we will all—parents and faculty—share strategies for having important and often difficult conversations about issues of diversity with your children. Conversations started in school often travel home. How can you continue and expand these conversations so that your children can see that their families are thinking about these important issues as well?

On Monday, April 17th we will host a second conversation. We invite you to join a discussion of the School’s placement policy for Lower and Middle School students. We will send home more information about this conversation over the next few weeks, but are hoping to address questions and concerns that we hear in the community.

Finally, please see the attached copy of the Diversity and Community Action Plan and the flyer for the discussions. I hope to see you on Tuesday.

Dear Kelly and Meredith's Third Grade Parents,

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when your children have P.E. at the beginning of the day, it is especially important that they arrive by 8:30 in order to begin their class by 8:45. Children who arrive after 8:45 must be accompanied by their parent into the Sixth Avenue Building, and checked in with Eileen at reception. Please do not send your child to the library or classroom and feel free to contact me with questions.

Delia Hernandez

From Middle School Dean of Students Gabrielle Keller: From Monday, March 6th, through Thursday, March 9th, help us build classroom libraries in New York City Public Schools by donating your new and gently used books. For more information, please read the attached flyer.

In the next few weeks...

3/3 - 4:15PM - Afterschool's First Friday with musicians Sruli and Lisa

3/7 - 6:00PM - Diversity and Community Discussion, Auditorium

3/8 - 8:45AM - Fours and EK Assembly

3/10 - 8:45AM - Meeting for First Grade Parents, Cafeteria

3/15 - 8:45AM - Fourth Grade Assembly

3/16 - 8:45AM - Parent Rep Meeting

3/17 - Founder's Day Assembly and Buddy Get-Together! -- school closes at noon (11:45, Early Childhood) for Spring Break

4/3 - School Reopens

4/6 - 8:00AM - Lesbian Gay Straight Alliance (LGSA) Meeting

4/6 - 6:00PM - Fourth Grade Parent Meeting with Heidi

Click here to access the full calendar.

Our school has many hearts...

2006-02-23T12:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Lower School Parents,

I feel like our school has many "hearts" and certainly one that beats strongly is that of the arts. This week’s Lower School Art Show not only furthers its own tradition and that of Little Red through the decades, but surpasses all of these in vibrant depictions loaded with color and character. There is no doubt but that each and every child committed themselves to the creative process. We see examples of new techniques explored, such as observation drawing, weaving, glazing and printing. New colors have been mixed and designs generated. Students shaped clay bowls and vessels and created animals sturdy enough to stand upright. In some cases, children’s own experience is primary; in others, their work reflects social studies projects such as Northeast Woodland artifacts and papier mache immigrant representations. Much of the work is individual, but some, like the murals and quilts, represent collective sharing and effort.

I hope that some of you had the chance to attend this afternoon’s parent "opening" and to tour the exhibits with your children. During the day, children replicated this experience with each other. In true and meaningful progressive fashion, classes visited the exhibit in pairs so that children could describe their work, their process and their goals to students from another group. Admiring Q and A sessions followed each presentation.

Thanks go to art teacher Ann Schaumburger for her sensitive and talented leadership of our program and for her coordination of the Art Show; likewise to shop teacher Peggy Resnick for teaching students to appreciate and enjoy the potential of wood working, carving and animation and for her many efforts in making the show happen. Though fleeting, it is a wonderful gift to us all, and, in some ways, the heart of our program.

Also noteworthy this week is the marking of the 100th Day of School. In celebration, Luise and Julia’s Kindergarten invited interested Lower School classes to visit their collections of 100 objects. In their room are baggies filled with 100 bottle caps, candies, popcorn kernels and lids. There are 100 piece block and lego buildings and puzzles. One hundred cookies are frosting-numbered. Chains of paper clips and paper adorn the walls, while collections of paper towel tubes, small milk cartons and miscellaneous boxes line the floors. In their own best phonetic spelling, students labeled the following: 100 COCEZ, 100 JLE BENS, 100 PES POZZL, 100 BIG PAPR CLIPS, 100 MLC KRTNS and 100 CRNOLS (of popcorn).

HAPPY 100TH DAY!
HAPPY ART SHOW!

This Week's Attachments:

Tasha and Caroline's Second Grade

Placement Conversations

Parent Rep Meeting Minutes

Spanish Resource List

Announcements:

From Phil Kassen, Director: Please see the attached invitation to join The Glass Menagerie--an adult chorus started at LREI over 20 years ago. We are thrilled to continue to host their rehearsals and that many members of the LREI community are part of this talented group of singers.

Fourth Grade Parents: Please note that Celeste is sending home letters today with each Fourth Grader regarding their Keyboarding Class.

Tomorrow is the last day that items will be collected for the Room to Grow drive. For more information on the organization and a detailed list of accepted donations, please visit www.roomtogrow.com

Afterschool's March 3rd First Friday
Afterschool welcomes musicians Sruli and Lisa for an afternoon of Klezmer folk music and dance on Friday, March 3rd at 4:15pm. The afternoon will be a lively introduction to the Jewish folk music that people played, sang, and danced to for hundreds of years in the Eastern European countries of Russia, Poland, the Ukraine, Hungary and Bulgaria, and brought with them to the United States in the 1880's. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend and participate. Come ready to move! Contact the Afterschool office at 212-477-5316 ext. 239 for more information.

Sruli and Lisa are multitalented musicians who play the clarinet, violin, accordion, bass recorder and drum, as well as teaching and performing internationally. They have performed on Polish National Television, were featured on PBS-TV, and frequently perform live on National Public Radio. They have also performed at festivals including the Jewish Festival in Crakow, Poland, The Lower East Side Festival, and at the Lincoln Center, The Museum of Jewish Heritage, and the Jewish Museum. They are on staff at KlezKanada and regularly teach Klezmer and Yiddish music at the Workmen's Circle schools.

DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY DISCUSSION SERIES:
Part I: March 7, 2006 at 6:00PM
Sixth Avenue Auditorium
Topics:
Introduction of LREI's Diversity and Community Action Plan.
How to continue diversity conversations at home.
Hosted by: Sharon DuPree, Director of Diversity and Community; Phil Kassen, Director and the divisional principals.

Part II: Date TBA (will be after Spring Break)
Sixth Avenue Auditorium
Topic:
Discussion of Lower School Class and Middle School Class Placement Policy
Hosted by: Phil Kassen, Director; Elaine Winter, Lower School Principal; Mark Silberberg, Middle School Principal; Sharon DuPree, Director of Diversity and Community and Samantha Caruth, Director of Admissions.

Art Auction
Thanks to all who attended LREI's Art Auction on February 2, 2006. The Art Auction is an annual silent auction of contemporary fine art. This year's auction has raised almost $100,000 for the Tuition Assistance Program. Please help us to meet our goal by browsing the work still available - go to the Events section of www.lrei.org. If you see a piece that you are interested in buying, feel free to drop by LREI's Sixth Avenue Campus (272 Sixth Avenue at Bleecker Street) between 8AM-5PM, Monday through Friday. You may also call 212.477.5316 ext. 236 to make an appointment.

The Big Auction
LREI's spring benefit, The Big Auction, will be held on Wednesday, April 26. The auction committee needs help in securing donations from the community in order to be able to offer a wide range of items to make the auction exciting for all who attend. We welcome all creative and unique ideas. Please use the attached donation form and return it to the Development Office. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss a potential donation, contact Pippa Gerard in the Development Office by phone: 212-477-5316 ext. 236 or email: pgerard@lrei.org.

In the next few weeks...

2/24 - Last day of the Lower School Art Show

3/1 - 8:45AM - Kindergarten Assembly

3/2 - 8:00AM - Lesbian Gay Straight Alliance (LGSA) Meeting

3/8 - 8:45AM - Fours and EK Assembly

3/15 - 8:45AM - Fourth Grade Assembly

3/16 - 8:45AM - Parent Rep Meeting

3/17 - Founder's Day; school closes at noon (11:45, Early Childhood) for Spring Break

4/3 - School Reopens

Click here to view the full calendar.

In Third Grade, History Comes Alive

2006-02-16T11:08:00.000-08:00

Dear Lower School Families,

The culmination of an in-depth study in Third Grade warrants celebration! Since the fall, students have been learning about the "Northeast Woodland" Native Americans. Their study extended over months so that students could organize and develop topics thoroughly and in great depth; so that different aspects of curriculum could be meaningfully interwoven.

Our Third Graders took trips, researched, read and experimented firsthand. They then discussed, reflected on and organized what they had learned in order to construct aspects of an authentic Northeast Woodlands Village life. With just a few "final touches" remaining, they are now ready to teach others – their fellow students. Tomorrow morning, each Second Grade class will visit the model village to learn about the lives, ways and culture of the Natives. Third Graders focused their efforts on specific projects and will present accordingly. They’ll offer descriptive background in order to orient the Second Graders and will then highlight the important ideas. Students will also discuss the process they followed to create representational models.

Here are examples of the work on display: There is a series of village murals with specific, carefully researched detail. A topographical model features clay figures actively hunting and fishing for food. Student-made cornhusk dolls replicate children’s playthings, and beaded wampum belts provide the opportunity for new math experiences. Some students recalled their earlier farm experience of weaving and then created individual woven mats. Another group measured and sewed moccasins, while others used Native techniques to form a coil pot.

As Second Graders pass by the birch bark walls and slip through curtains made of "animal hides", they will feel they are entering a real longhouse. As they tour the exhibits and listen to presentations, they will know they’re in the presence of experts. Some may even think ahead to next year when they themselves will be those Third Grade experts.

I’d like to acknowledge some people who have enriched our experience and community in extraordinary ways of late:

Members of the Lesbian Gay Straight Alliance for their truly tireless and creative efforts with Visibility
Members of the Parent Multi-Cultural Committee for filling our halls and the PAC with Karamu!
Members of the faculty Multi-Cultural Committee for planning and coordinating the moving Martin Luther King, Jr. and Families Assemblies
Ann Schaumburger for her work on next week’s Lower School Art Show
And, behind the scenes, our Admissions team for the great care they take in meeting and inviting wonderful new families into our community.

This Week's Attachments:

Third Grade Spellography

Third Grade Knitting

Fourth Grade

NEW ADDITIONS to the Spanish Resource List

Announcements:

DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY DISCUSSION SERIES:

Part I: March 7, 2006 at 6:ooPM
Sixth Avenue Auditorium
Topics:
Introduction of LREI’s Diversity and Community Action Plan.
How to continue diversity conversations at home.
Hosted by: Sharon DuPree, Director of Diversity and Community; Phil Kassen, Director and the divisional principals.

Part II: Date TBA (will be after Spring Break)
Sixth Avenue Auditorium
Topic:
Discussion of Lower School Class and Middle School Class Placement Policy
Hosted by: Phil Kassen, Director, Elaine Winter, Lower School Principal; Mark Silberberg, Middle School Principal; Sharon DuPree, Director of Diversity and Community and Samantha Caruth, Director of Admissions.

Art Auction
Thanks to all who attended LREI's Art Auction on February 2, 2006. The Art Auction is an annual silent auction of contemporary fine art.This year's auction has raised almost $100,000 for the Tuition Assistance Program. Please help us to meet our goal by browsing the work still available - go to the Events section of www.lrei.org. If you see a piece that you are interested in buying, feel free to drop by LREI's Sixth Avenue Campus (272 Sixth Avenue at Bleecker Street) between 8AM - 5PM, Monday through Friday. You may also call 212.477.5316 ext. 236 to make an appointment.

The Big Auction
LREI's spring benefit, The Big Auction, will be held on Wednesday, April 26. The auction committee needs help in securing donations from the community in order to be able to offer a wide range of items to make the auction exciting for all who attend. We welcome all creative and unique ideas. Please use the attached donation form and return to the Development Office. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss a potential donation, contact Pippa Gerard in the Development Office by phone: 212-477-5316 ext. 236 or email: pgerard@lrei.org.

The LREI PA Community Service Committee will extend the Room to Grow drive and will collect donations through Friday, February 24th in the Sixth Avenue lobby. For more information on the organization and a detailed list of accepted donations, please visit www.roomtogrow.com

In the next few weeks...

2/20-2/21 - School Closed for Presidents' Weekend

2/23-2/24 - Lower School Art Show

3/1 - Kindergarten Assembly

3/2 - 8:00AM - Lesbian Gay Straight Alliance (LGSA) Meeting

3/8 - 8:45AM - Fours and EK Assembly

3/15 - 8:45AM - Fourth Grade Assembly

3/16 - 8:45AM - Parent Rep Meeting

3/17 - Founder's Day; school closes at noon (11:45, Early Childhood) for Spring Break

4/3 - School reopens

Click here for the full calendar.

SHHHH! Testing in Progress

2006-02-09T11:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Lower School Parents,

Next week our Fourth Grade students will take the ERB (Educational Record Bureau) tests. These are achievement tests not to be confused with those requested by admissions offices. They have two parts – reading and math. We ask this of our Fourth Graders for a range of reasons, primary among them are the following:

Mastery of process: For students to be and feel successful during this process, they need to achieve confidence within a new context – one with time constraints, #2 pencils and answer bubbles. Students will work entirely on their own, without discussion or teacher support of any kind. They need to harness their stamina and control their nerves so they can pace the work efficiently. They need to be calm and maintain their focus so they can weigh possible answers and hazard reasonable guesses.

New learning: "Save is to waste as accumulate is to disperse." While much of the preparation for this test sequence is tightly curriculum-based, some is broader, aimed at students’ abilities to think logically and critically. Analogies are a good example of this and reflect a way of thinking and writing that underpin our students’ future Middle School endeavors. As students grapple with expository and narrative pieces hunting for salient ideas, on the lookout for misleading phrases and descriptions, they are utilizing and strengthening their critical thinking skills.

Consolidation: Students are asked to combine, mix and match, aspects of their year’s study in order to arrive at more complex solutions. In preparation, they receive intensive support from their classroom teachers, Erin, Carin, Suzanne and Patricia, as well as Tina (literacy) and Margaret (math). Practice sheets come home. Work is reviewed and presented in different formats. Previous knowledge is consolidated and expanded upon.

Practice and product: Not unlike sports events, the standardized test-taking experience is a one-shot challenge. It can’t be taken back or done over. And the results have no shades of grey; they’re strictly objective. At the moment of the test, students have an opportunity (one most of us recall only too well) to assess the effectiveness of their study habits and practice; to gauge their preparedness and pocket this assessment for future reference.

Rite of passage: The taking of a timed standardized test, # 2 pencils and all, is an important step for this age group, and they’re ready for it. It’s a move toward greater independence, a small distancing from adult guidance and reassurance. The ERBs represent a new form of intellectual challenge. Students can feel proud of their efforts and own them completely.

So, if you walk through the halls next Wednesday through Friday, you may see a sign on a second floor door alerting you to the fact that testing is in progress. We acknowledge all that our Fourth Graders commit to this process – from a good night’s sleep and hearty breakfast to the actual event – and we cheer them on from the wings.
Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Fours

Early Kindergarten

Brooke and Charle's Kindergarten

Tasha and Caroline's Second Grade

Chap and Michael's Third Grade

Spanish Resource List

Announcements:

TONIGHT! - Life in Independent Schools for LGBT Families - Parent Panel Discussion and Q&A, 6:00PM, Auditorium

Monday night! - VISIBILITY Photo Exhibit Opening Reception - 6:00PM, Auditorium

The LREI PA Community Service Committee will collect donations for Room to Grow from Monday, February 13 through Friday February 17 in the Sixth Avenue lobby. For more information on the organization and a detailed list of accepted donations, visit www.roomtogrow.com

In the next few weeks...

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

2/20-2/21 - School Closed for Presidents' Weekend

2/23 - 2/24 - Lower School Art Show

3/1 - Kindergarten Assembly

3/2 - 8:00AM - LGSA Meeting

Click here for the full calendar.

2006-02-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Lower School Parents,

This Tuesday Sharon, Heidi and I met with a small group of you to think together about talking with children about lesbian and gay issues.

The conversations that teachers have in the classroom as well as the upcoming Families Assembly are made richer by the talk that occurs at home. Of course, lesbian and gay-related talk reaches children from many directions, not just from school. We want to help them reach a level of understanding that mirrors their stage of development. As in other areas in which values are central, we emphasize human decency, equity – social justice.

In our early childhood classrooms, the focus is on families. These may be lesbian- or gay-headed, single parent, grandparent, bi- or multi-racial. The “Families Curriculum” is a way for young children to learn about themselves and others. In one way, family is our children’s first “community”. When asked, “What is a family?”, the answer is often, “People who love each other.” Teachers spend a lot of time talking with children about differences and similarities, about respecting others for who they are, not what they have or what they look like. These conversations add meaning and resonance to young children’s learning.

In upper elementary years, students are familiar with discussions regarding lesbian- and gay-headed families. They have attended Visibility and participated in numerous classroom conversations. Around Third and Fourth Grades, students begin to hear, if not participate in, some name-calling, and their attention begins to turn from families to themselves and their friends. Teachers include the dynamic of name-calling within larger social justice conversations. Teasing and bullying are addressed, and students consider the choice of responding as “activist” or “bystander” when they witness unkind behavior.

A lively part of this week’s parent conversation focused on “real-life” situations; ones that our children may bring to us. I’d like to share those here, so we can all be thinking about possible responses and/or questions should one of these situations arise. As always, Sharon, Heidi and I are happy to talk individually with you, as well. See you at the exhibit!

1. Your six-year-old has a friend over for a play date and they’ve built a huge house out of Legos. Your son says, “Our house will have two dads and three kids.” “Naw, I don’t like that,” says his friend. “There has to be a mom. It’s nicer.” You’re nearby. What do you say, if anything?

2. Your Fourth Grader is on the phone with a friend. This is what you overhear: “Yah, we’re talking about THAT again! Lesbian moms, gay dads, yada, yada…Enough already!” When he hangs up, he’s laughing. Do you comment?

3. Parents of a classmate of your daughter are talking in the hallway. They’re upset. Really upset. “When we joined this school we knew it was sympathetic to lesbian and gay issues. Fine. But we had no idea you’d be talking about them in class. Our daughter is only four-years-old, just figuring things out. Why does she need to know about this now?!? Aren’t there more important things to deal with, like friendship?” How do you respond?

4. Your eight-year-old son just read that Cheryl Swoopes has announced she is lesbian. He asks you, “How come she never said that before? Would she lose her job?”

5. Your seven-year-old daughter has a close friend with lesbian moms. One of the moms is expecting a second child, and your daughter is full of questions: “How can she be pregnant? There’s no dad! I don’t get it!” You’re just about to put dinner on the table. How do you respond?

6. “There’s that new boy. He is sooo gay!” says your nine-year-old daughter as you’re walking to school. “All he wants to do is play with the girls. He’s ridiculous!”

7. You’re in the car with your Third Grade son and your parents, his grandparents. He’s talking about a meeting in school and begins listing achievements made by lesbian and gay people throughout history. Your parents are shocked, “Exactly what kind of a school are you sending him to?!?” You, in fact, support conversations around lesbian and gay issues, but what do you say to your parents? To your son?

You’re talking with another parent at dismissal time while your Fourth Grader and theirs toss a football back and forth. When your son fumbles the ball, the other boy good-naturedly shouts out, “You faggot! That was an easy catch!” Do you intervene or pretend you didn’t hear?

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Dorothy and Romy's First Grade

Colleen and Ronnie's Second Grade

Chap, Michael and Barrett's Third Grade

Spanish Resource List

Announcements:

Don't forget about Life in Independent Schools for LGBT Families - Parent Panel Discussion and Q & A next Thursday, February 9 at 6:00PM.

The LREI PA Community Service Committee is once again collecting donations for Room to Grow from Monday, February 13 through Friday, February 17 in the Sixth Avenue lobby. Get a heart for making a donation! Donated items can be anything appropriate for a child from newborn to three years that is in good condition (something you would pass on to a friend or family member). Room to Grow does not accept stuffed animals, reacalled items, furniture, diapers, car seats or cribs.

If you would like a tax donation receipt, please label all your boxes and bags with your name and address. Please hold on to larger items until the last collection day, Thursday, February 16. For more information on the organization and a more detailed list of what is accepted, go to www.roomtogrow.com.

In the next few weeks...

2/2 - TONIGHT - Art Auction Reception and Final Bidding, 6:00-8:00PM

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

2/20-2/21 - School Closed for Presidents' Weekend

2/23-2/24 - Lower School Art Show

Click here for the full calendar.

Busy-ness

2006-01-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

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.

2006-01-19T10:39:00.000-08:00

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

This Week's Attachments:

Early Kindergarten

Jamie and Dave's First Grade

Colleen and Ronnie's Second Grade

Chap and Michael's Third Grade

LREI Art Auction

Announcements:

Playdate Reminder: Please remember to leave a note (or sign a sheet) when your child has a playdate arrangement -- whether the playdate is at your home or at a classmate's. It's essential that we have signed and dated notes from both families. Thank you.

Lower School Spanish Workshop: Are you curious to know more about your child's Spanish learning? Do you wonder how you can help further your child's Spanish skills? If so, please join Julie Sterling for a Spanish workshop on Tuesday, January 24th, at 8:45AM in the cafeteria. Learn about the goals of the Lower School Spanish program and the many resources we have available. ¡Hasta Luego!

Karamu! - The Parent Multicultural Committee invites you to join us for Karamu!, our annual multicultural performance and celebration for the whole family, on Friday, January 27th. Tickets, t-shirts and raffle tickets for Karamu! will go on sale on Monday morning, January 23rd, in both lobbies. Because Karamu! tickets sell out every year, please buy your tickets early, turn them in if you buy them but decide not to attend, and give a donation (instead of buying tickets) if you would like to support us but are unable to attend. Volunteers are still needed. Please check the volunteer board in the lobby to find out how you can help and/or email LanaFlame@yahoo.com. Click here for Karamu! details.

Don't forget to bring in your photos for the VISIBILITY - Lesbian and Gay People We Love photo exhibition! Click here for details.

In the next few weeks...

1/23 - 8:45AM - Suzanne and Patricia's Fourth Grade Biography Breakfast

1/24 - 8:45AM - Lower School Spanish Workshop

1/25 - Martin Luther King, Jr., Assembly (students only)

1/26 - 8:45AM - Erin and Carin's Fourth Grade Biography Breakfast

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 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)

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

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

Click here for the full calendar.

2006-01-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents,

This week I had the good fortune of attending a workshop entitled "Addressing Gender Expression, Sexuality and Family Diversity in Pre-K, Elementary and Middle School". I was joined by Bonnie, Suzanne and Kelly, and, of course, by teachers and administrators from NYC and further a-field. It was a lively, thought-provoking conference – one that made us proud of LREI’s commitment to these issues and our willingness to grow and learn in this area. It also demonstrated how many questions remain.

At the end of this month, on Tuesday, January 31st (in anticipation of the "Visibility" photo exhibit and our Families Assembly), Sharon Dupree and I will speak with some of you about ways of talking to your children about lesbian and gay issues. We’ll meet in the cafeteria at 8:45AM, and I invite any of you who are interested to join us. I’m hoping this will develop into a discussion rather than a Q & A, so that we can share our experiences.

If you have a question, comment or anecdote, I hope you’ll email it to me so that it can become a part of our discussion. I look forward to this conversation! To prompt your thinking, here is some of the feedback I have heard over the years:

My children talk about their classmates’ lesbian moms without skipping a beat. I wish I’d had that opportunity.
My child asks, "How do people know they are gay or lesbian?" I don’t know what to say.
My son wonders if he might be gay when he grows up. How do I answer?
My daughter asks, "How can two mommies have a baby?" What do I say?
She’s only five! Why does she have to hear about these issues now?
My son’s classmate is teased for being a sissy. What do I say to my son?

As we open the photo exhibit, "VISIBILITY: Lesbian and Gay People We Love", on February 6th (Opening Reception on February 13th), we’ll have ample opportunity for discussion with our children.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Fours - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/michelle%20january.pdf

Early Kindergarten - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/diane%20january.pdf

Third & Fourth Grades - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/new%20choristers.pdf

Spanish Resource List - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Lower%20School%20Spanish%20Resource%20List.pdf

Announcements:

Lower School Spanish Workshop - Are you curious to know more about your child's Spanish learning? Do you wonder how you can help further your child's Spanish skills? If so, please join Julie Sterling for a Spanish workshop on Tuesday, January 24th, at 8:45AM in the cafeteria. Learn about the goals of the Lower School Spanish program and the many resources we have available. ¡Hasta Luego!

Don't forget to bring in your photos for the VISIBILITY - Lesbian and Gay People We Love photo exhibition! Click here for details: http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/poster-visibility.pdf

In January...

1/13 - Third Grade trip to the Museum of Natural History

1/16 - School Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day

1/18 - 8:45AM - Third Grade Assembly

1/19 - 8:45AM - Parent Rep Meeting

1/23 - 8:45AM - Suzanne and Patricia's Fourth Grade Biography Breakfast

1/24 - 8:45AM - Lower School Spanish Workshop

1/25 - Martin Luther King, Jr., Assembly (students only)

1/26 - 8:45AM - Erin and Carin's Fourth Grade Biography Breakfast

1/27 - 5:00PM - Karamu!

1/31 - 8:45AM - LREI Parents on Lesbian and Gay Issues

Click here for the full calendar: http://www.lrei.org/lowerschool/ls_2b.html

T-Shirt Day!

2006-01-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents,

Just before school ended for Winter Break, lower school students celebrated something new - the first-ever T-Shirt Day. The plan was a simple one – every child and teacher who chose to would wear a t-shirt, bracelet or pin in support of a cause dear to them. Then, at our weekly Friday morning meeting, students and teachers took turns sharing the message each had chosen to display. Our Second through Fourth Graders rose to this occasion with personal, heartfelt and often sophisticated allegiances. Some created their own apparel, others dug into their drawers or their parents’. I think we surprised ourselves by the range and depth of commitment to the "bettering of our world". It was a powerful moment of "learning from and with each other".
Without editing, I’d like to share some of their T-shirt pledges and comments with you, including a sprinkling from our teachers:

World Wildlife Fund
Free the Animals (in zoos)
Support Animals with Disabilities
Rescue Animal Victims of Katrina
Bad Rap – Support Pit Bull
ONE!
Support the Westside Highway
See it! Film it! Change it!
Harvard "It’s a school – a college, I think. It’s a good school."
No a la Exploracion Petrolera en el Caribe de Costa Rica (Since this T-shirt was printed in Spanish, it was particularly difficult to read upside down by the wearer. A native Spanish speaker read it for us, then translated the message into English.)
Wear Hemp!
"I’m wearing a pink ribbon because three of my relatives have breast cancer."
"I’m wearing a green ribbon pin because my aunt has Lyme disease."
Support After School Programs
AIDS Walk
Dog Haven: Dogs are just little people in fur coats.
FDNY – "Because they’re brave and they save people everyday"
Peace or peace symbol
Dog tags – gays can marry
More Trees Less Bush
No Blood for Oil
Withdraw U.S. Forces from Iraq!
Red sweatshirt – "Wearing red on Friday means I’m against war and I’m also wearing it because I believe in Santa and Christmas."
New Orleans / Katrina Relief
It’s up to women
Star of David – "Because I’m Jewish and I’m proud of that."
Donate to Kids with Cancer
Jesus loves me
Save Siberian Tigers

Bracelets:

Live Strong!
Trust!
Believe!
Rainbow colors "Because I’m proud to be a lesbian!"
Tsunami Support

Our meeting reminded me how much we, as educators, parents, and members of a school community, can learn from children, how strong their voices are, and how important it is to listen closely to them.

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Fours - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Fours%20morning.pdf

Important: Core Afterschool Pricing - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Core%20Pricing.pdf

After Five Adult Enrichment - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/After%20Five.pdf and http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/After%20Five%20Registration%20F%202.pdf

Announcements:

Third Grade Parents are reminded to take a tour of the middle school on Tuesday at 9:00AM.

All Parents are reminded to leave photos for the VISIBILITY - Lesbian and Gay People We Love photo exhibit at the front desk. This exhibit is an opportunity for you to support your friends and loved ones by giving them a chance to be visible with you at LREI. Simply bring in a photo of you and your loved one who is lesbian or gay, plus a caption about the people in the photo.

And don't forget to save the date -- on January 31st at 8:45AM in the Cafeteria, all LREI parents are invited to attend a discussion of lesbian and gay issues.

In January...

1/9 - Erin and Carin's class trip to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum

1/10 - 8:45AM - Parents of Children of Color (POCOC) meets

1/10 - 9:00AM - Middle School Tour for Third Grade Parents

1/10 - Suzanne and Patricia's class trip to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum

1/11 - Dorothy and Romy's First Grade Memoir Publishing Celebration

1/13 - Third Grade trip to the Museum of Natural History

1/16 - School Closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

1/18 -8:45AM - Third Grade Assembly

1/19 - 8:45AM - Parent Rep Meeting

1/23 - 8:45AM - Suzanne and Patricia's Fourth Grade Biography Breakfast

1/24 - 8:45AM - Lower School Spanish Meeting

1/25 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Assembly (students only)

1/26 - 8:45AM - Erin and Carin's Fourth Grade Biography Breakfast

1/27 - 5:00PM - Karamu!

1/31 - 8:45AM - LREI Parents on Lesbian and Gay Issues

A Privilege

2005-12-15T11:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Families,

It has been a privilege sharing these last months of 2005 with your bright, bubbly children. With their earnestness, wisdom and humor, they define us. My sense of privilege extends to you, of course, and to our faculty and staff. I can't imagine a happier or more interesting community in which to work.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Early Childhood Music - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/EC%20Songs.pdf

Diane and Molly's Early Kindergarten - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/EK%20School%20Study.pdf

Luise and Julia's Kindergarten - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/LJ.pdf

Brooke and Charle's Kindergarten - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/BC.pdf

Jamie and Dave's First Grade - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Jamie.pdf

Gina and Elizabeth's First Grade - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Gina.pdf

Gina and Elizabeth's First Grade #2 - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Gina%202.xls

Third Grade - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/All%20Third%20Grade.pdf

Parent Rep Meeting Minutes - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Rep%20Meeting%20Minutes%20Dec.pdf

Message from the Director of Education - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Ed%20direct.pdf

Spanish Resource List - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Spanish%20Resource%20List.pdf

Announcements:

The Winter Concert is TONIGHT at 6:00PM at the high school on 40 Charlton Street.

Tomorrow is a half-day. School will close at 12:00PM (11:45AM, Early Childhood).

In the case of a transit strike, there will be no school tomorrow (Friday, 12/16). If school is closed, we will send out a community-wide email and phone call.

Last year, for three weeks in February and March, the Middle School participated in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's "Pennies for Patients" program. The students collected their pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters in core homerooms and together raised more than $1700! On Wednesday, December 14th, Andi Grahlman, LREI's campaign coordinator, came to a MS meeting to present the school with a plaque on behalf of the Society. The MS was recognized for tripling its giving last year from the first year, and we also had the highest per capita donation amount in the five boroughs! Congratulations to all the students. We look forward to participating again come February.

At the beginning of a new year...

1/4 - School Reopens

1/5 - 8:00AM - Lesbian Gay Straight Alliance Meeting

1/9 - Erin and Carin's class trip to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum

1/10 - 9:00AM - Middle School Tour for Third Grade Parents

1/10 - Suzanne and Patricia's class trip to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum

1/11 - 8:45AM - LREI Parents on Lesbian and Gay Issues Meeting

2005-12-08T10:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents,

A Precious Few…

As 2005 slips past, Lower School students are keeping busy:

Some classes have created culminating moments, such as publishing parties and farm trip breakfasts. Others are cooking, visiting museums and making origami creations.

This week LREI hosts its glorious Book Week with many authors stopping into classrooms reading their work and discussing the processes of writing, illustrating and publishing. You might ask your child about the visiting author to their room! Tonight it’s the adults’ turn with our special, one-of-a-kind Literary Evening. And for three days, there is the Fair itself with a terrific array of literature choices for children and adults. From all of us in the Lower School, a huge thank you to the Literary Committee for these tremendous gifts!

As a result of our last week’s Morning Meeting discussion, Second through Fourth Graders will have a "T-Shirt Day" this Friday. Those who choose to will wear a shirt, bracelet or pin bearing words that stand for something they believe in. It should be interesting!

Next Thursday evening we have the opportunity to enjoy a musical highlight – the all-school Chorus Concert with student participants from Third Grade through High School, coordinated with great care by our music department!

Then, on Friday morning, students from all three divisions come together (yes, we do!), squeezing ourselves into the PAC on Charlton Street for our Winter Assembly. Nearly as beautiful as our singing about peace and light is the sight of our young Lower Schoolers sitting on their Big Buddies’ laps. It’s a warm and wonderful good-bye before the break.

Elaine

*On Friday, December 16th, school will close at 11:45AM and 12:00PM. School reopens on Wednesday, January 4th following an all-school Professional Day on January 3rd.

Lower School Attachments:

Dorothy and Romy's First Grade - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Dorothy.pdf

Tasha and Caroline's Second Grade - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Tasha.pdf

Announcements:

TONIGHT is Literary Evening! See the attachment for details: http://www.lrei.org/caleven/lit-eve2005/Lit-Eve2005PDF.pdf

Please see the following announcements from the Community Service Committee:

1) http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Community%20Service.pdf
2)http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/December%20Drives%20and%20Activities.pdf
3)http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Thanksgiving%20centerpieces.pdf

The Spanish Resource List has been updated and is attached here. Please remember to contact Marguerite Lukes with any resources or Spanish-related events that may be of interest to our families. http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Spanish%20Resource%20List.pdf

The School Store will be open tomorrow (Friday 12/9).

School Photos - As the holidays approach, the school photo process is coming to a close. At this point we ask that you contact Coffee Pond Photography directly (lifeguards@coffeepond.com or 800-632-2323 ext. 0) with any questions about photo proofs or your order. This ensures that orders are processed quickly.

The Food Committee will meet on 12/12 at 8:30AM in the Cafeteria. All are welcome to attend.

Message from Julia Collura, Middle School Drama Director - The Middle School is currently in production for "Arabian Nights," which goes up January 20th and 21st. If you have any of the items on the attached list that you can lend or donate for the production, it would be much appreciated. http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Julia.pdf

In the Next Few Weeks...

12/8 - 7:00PM - A Night of New Orleans in New York Literary Evening, Charlton Street PAC

12/12 - 8:30AM - Food Committee Meeting, Cafeteria

12/12 - 5:30PM - Afterschool Piano Recital, Big Room

12/12 - 6:30PM - Afterschool Instrumental Concert, Auditorium

12/14 - Afterschool Enrichment Share Day

12/15 - 8:45AM - Parent Rep Meeting

12/15 - 6:00PM - Winter Concert, Charlton Street PAC

12/16 - School Closes at 12:00 (Early Childhood, 11:45) for Winter Break

1/4 - School Reopens

What has our faculty been up to?

2005-12-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents,

I thought you might like to hear what our faculty has been up to recently:

Meet Me at the MoMA: On the Friday evening before Thanksgiving, a number of teachers gathered at the Museum of Modern Art to view Elizabeth Murray’s current retrospective. Elizabeth is a former LREI parent, an extraordinary painter and a strong supporter of our school. We were graciously introduced to the surrounds and guided through the exhibit by current LREI parents, Mariet Westermann, art historian, and Mario Naves, artist and critic. Parent Joe Rabatin helped to coordinate this wonderful visit. Viewing art with colleagues within the exciting MoMA space was a rare and wonderful opportunity.

Lower School at the Movies: During a recent faculty meeting, teachers shared some of their PowerPoint presentations as a basis for cross-grade discussion and as a way to more fully appreciate each other’s work and classroom environments. An upper elementary teacher said, "I never get into the Fours room. I had no idea how much they do!" Early childhood teachers, on the other hand, were amazed by the excitement and beauty of overnight farm trip experiences. We ended the meeting with a dual resolve: to come together again in workshop format to experiment with new presentations, and to share in this same format our class trip sequence.

Reunion en español: During this week’s faculty meeting, Julie Sterling and Delia Hernandez guided faculty through a mini Spanish immersion lesson with discussion. In Spanish we all played a game and did a Spanish exercise with accompanying movement ("Total Physical Response"). Then, with Julie and Delia’s guidance, we talked about how the experience felt to us. Teachers described the ways that they incorporate Spanish into classroom experience and what they would need to extend this. Our goal is maximize those opportunities when Spanish can be woven into classroom life.

Word Study: First Grade teachers have set aside part of a morning this week to coordinate and enrich their approach to spelling, or word study. Tammy and Tina will lead the workshop.

NYSAIS Self-Study: Finally, teachers have been connecting with each other behind the scenes to ponder issues of curriculum in preparation for a large all-school document, which our school will complete by year’s end. This process, which culminates in a tightly focused review by a team of outside educators, occurs once every ten years in independent schools and is as labor-intensive as it is meaningful. We see it as an important springboard for learning about ourselves; a thoughtful consideration of ways to enhance our program and community.

Elaine

*CHILDRENS’ BELIEFS: Parents remind me that the tooth fairy and Santa fall into the category of some children’s dearly held beliefs. Please help your own children understand that here, too, there exist different interpretations from family to family.

*GIFT REMINDER: Please be respectful of our tradition of sharing our appreciation with teachers through kind words or a note, not with holiday gifts. A Book Fair gift certificate is another way to contribute to your child's class at this time of year. (P. 27 in the LREI Family Handbook contains further information on gifts for teachers.)

This Week's Attachments:

Fours - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/michelle.pdf

First Grade - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/homework.pdf

Colleen and Ronnie's Second Grade - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Colleen.pdf

Little Red Chorus - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Little%20Red%20Chorus.pdf

Afterschool Enrichment Share - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/enrichment.pdf

Afterschool Piano Recital and Instrumental Concert - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/piano.pdf

Parent Rep Meeting Minutes - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Rep%20Minutes%20November.pdf

Announcements:

The Spanish Resource List has been updated and is attached here. Please remember to contact Marguerite Lukes with any resources or Spanish-related events that may be of interest to our families. http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Spanish%20links.pdf

The School Store will be open tomorrow (12/2) and on both Thursday, 12/8 and Friday, 12/9. http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/School%20Store.pdf

Next week is Book Week! Please see the following attachments for details on next week's events. http://lrei.org/caleven/lit-eve2005/Book-Week2005.pdf and http://lrei.org/caleven/lit-eve2005/Lit-Eve2005PDF.pdf

School Photos - As the holidays approach, the school photo process is coming to a close. At this point we ask that you contact Coffee Pond Photography directly (lifeguards@coffeepond.com or 800-632-2323 ext. 0) with any questions about photo proofs or your order. This ensures that orders are processed quickly.

The Food Committee will meet on 12/12 at 8:30AM in the Cafeteria. All are welcome to attend.

Message from Julia Collura, Middle School Drama Director - The Middle School is currently in production for "Arabian Nights," which goes up January 20th and 21st. If you have any of the items on the attached list that you can lend or donate for the production, it would be much appreciated. Thanks so much and hope to see you at the show! http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Julia.pdf

In the Next Two Weeks...

12/1 - TONIGHT - 6:00PM - Fourth Grade Parent Meeting with Heidi

12/7 - Book Fair through 12/9

12/8 - 8:45AM - Multicultural Committee Meeting

12/8 - 7:00PM - A Night of New Orleans in New York Literary Evening, Charlton Street PAC

12/12 - 8:30AM - Food Committee Meeting, Cafeteria

12/12 - 5:30PM - Afterschool Piano Recital, Big Room

12/12 - 6:30PM - Afterschool Instrumental Concert, Auditorium

12/14 - Afterschool Enrichment Share Day

12/15 - 8:45AM - Parent Rep Meeting

12/15 - 6:00PM - Winter Concert, Charlton Street PAC

12/16 - School closes at 12:00 (Early Childhood, 11:45) for Winter Break

The Power of Language

2005-11-17T16:00:00.000-08:00

Message from Luise & Julia's Kindergarten on 11/22/05: http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Kindergarten%20update.pdf

Dear Lower School Parents,

Those of us in the Lower School recognize the joys and struggles of participating in a diverse community; we cherish the privilege to make this environment the very best it can be for every child, every family. Among other things, the bettering of our community hinges on how we speak to each other, on our sensitivity in choice of language.

As I did last year, I’d like to offer some thoughts on discussing adoption with your children. I hope this is helpful:

This passage from the Donaldson Adoption Institute (www.adoptioninstitute.org) highlights the difficulty parents may encounter when speaking with their children about adoption:

"The concept of birthparents can be confusing for kids, but it can be explained simply and ‘normally.’ That is, babies all arrive in the same way: a woman gives birth to them. After an adoption, the woman is called the biological or birthmother (and the man the biological or birthfather); the people raising adopted children are their mothers and fathers or, in rare cases where a further description is relevant, adoptive mother or father. The words ‘real’ or ‘natural’ should not be used to refer to any of the parents (none of whom are surreal or unnatural)."

Here is a reminder list of respectful and accurate vocabulary you may use with your children when discussing classmates or other friends who were adopted.

- Birth parent (or biological) -- not: real or natural parent
- Making an adoption plan -- not: giving away or putting up for adoption
- Parent -- not: adoptive parent
- Chose to parent the child -- not: "kept" the child
- International adoption -- not: foreign adoption
- Was adopted -- not: is adopted
- Sponsor-a-highway -- not: adopt-a-highway

A perfect reminder of the power of language.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Elaine

This Week's Attachments:

Lower School Apple Cookbook - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Apple%20Cookbook.pdf

Brooke and Charles' Kindergarten - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Brooke.pdf

Brooke and Charles' Kindergarten #2 - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Brooke%202.pdf

First Grade Math - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Grade%201%20Math.pdf

Second Grade Math - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Grade%202%20Math.pdf

First and Second Grade Spanish - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Julie.pdf

Third and Fourth Grade Chorus - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Chorus.pdf

From the Afterschool Office - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Catherine.pdf

School Night at the Apple Store - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ms/soho_Elisabethirwin.pdf

School Spirit Game - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Spirit%20Game.pdf

Thanksgiving Drives and Activities - Please notice this Saturday's activity at the Hudson Guild -http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Drives%20and%20Activities.pdf

Coat Drive - runs through the end of this week! - http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/coat%20drive.pdf

Mark Your Calendars!

11/21 - 8:30AM - Third Grade Math Breakfast with Margaret
11/21 - extra chorus rehearsal with Helen after school
11/22 - 6:00PM - First and Second Grade Family Math and Science Night
11/23 - Half-day for Thanksgiving Break (School ends at 11:45 for Early Childhood, 12:00 for Elementary students)

Announcements:

Spanish Resource List - As part of our mission to expand our Spanish program and enrich Spanish learning in the Lower School, we are pleased to offer our first list of Spanish resources on our weekly blog. Compiled by Marguerite Lukes, this resource list will be updated frequently and will include book titles, museum exhibits, interesting places to visit and fun things to do in the city. Please contact Marguerite with any resources or Spanish-related events that may be of interest to our families. http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ls/Spanish%20resources.pdf

First and Second Grade Family Math and Science Night - Scheduled for Tuesday, November 22nd at 6:00PM, this promises to be a fun-filled evening of hands-on math and science activities for parents and kids to do together - don't miss it! No advance sign-up is necessary. We ask that only First and Second Graders attend the evening's activities, but childcare is available for siblings - please sign up at the front desk.

UNICEF - LREI collected a total of $1376.61 for UNICEF this Halloween. Excellent work!

Photo Retake Day - If your child was absent on photo day, she/he will have an individual portrait taken on December 1st for free. If your child was here on photo day, but you would like to have his/her individual portrait re-taken, this will also happen on December 1st. Please know that there is a fee for electing to re-do a portrait that has already been taken. Detailed information on this is available in your Coffee Pond Photography proof package, which you should have received in the mail by now. Please be aware that all pictures should be available in time for the December holidays if you are careful to follow the deadlines included in your proof package.

Message to Fourth Grade Families from Elaine - Some of you have asked me about an additional opportunity to tour the Middle School. If you missed the first tour but are interested in visiting, please contact Mark Silberberg, Middle School Principal, at ext. 221.

In the Next Few Weeks...

11/18 - Diane & Molly's EK Field Trip to a Pediatrician's Office

11/21-11/23 - Food Drive for Classrooms on the Third Floor (Jamie and Dorothy's First Grades and Fours)

11/21 - 8:30AM - Third Grade Math Breakfast

11/21 - 3:30PM - LREI Spirit Basketball Game

11/22 - 8:45AM - Erin & Carin's Farm Publishing Party

11/22 - 6:00PM - First & Second Grade Family Math and Science Night

11/23 - School Closes at noon (11:45 - Fours-First Grades)

11/23 - High School films and photography on display

11/28 - 8:45AM - Third Grade Math Meeting

11/29 - 8:30AM - Chap and Michael's Third Grade Farm Breakfast

11/30 - 8:45AM - Fours & EK Assembly

12/1 - Photo Retake Day

12/1 - 6:00PM - Fourth Grade Parent Meeting with Heidi

12/7 - Book Fair through 12/9

12/8 - 8:45AM - Multicultural Committee Meeting