(6/4/2020)

Dear families,
 
Today, we celebrated our 4th Graders as they moved up into the Middle School. It has been a wholly unprecedented year, to say the least, and I am so proud of our oldest students for how they welcomed a new principal and assistant principal at the start of the year, how they put their communication skills into action each month by leading Lower School Gatherings for the entire division, how they quickly adapted to remote learning, and how they continue to lead the school in demonstrating the courage, creativity, critical thinking, and citizenship that are at the center of our school’s mission.
 
I cannot express clearly enough how inspired I have been by our students and how thankful I feel to be part of the LREI community. In my first year as Lower School Principal, I have seen our 4’s develop their language skills and kindle a sense of community engagement. I have seen our kindergarteners write books, build with blocks, and take part in joy-filled and purposeful dramatic play. I have seen first graders develop the confidence and skills to move from writing a sentence or two to filling entire pages with their creativity and voice. In the older grades, I have seen second graders collaborate on math problems and defend their thinking through analytical reasoning. I have seen third graders research, write, and present their learning about the history of New York City with creativity, confidence, and poise. And I have seen fourth graders grow as independent learners who use their skills to make an impact on their community. Across all ages, our children develop relationships with their buddies that exemplify our tight-knit community. 
 
I know we find ourselves in a challenging moment, with both the pandemic continuing to impact how we lead our daily lives and recent instances of anti-Black violence reminding us that there are deeply rooted societal problems we must collectively fight. More than ever, our progressive approach to education is critical in teaching our students to be creative, analytical, and ethical leaders. I cannot help but think about how proud I am to have joined a school with such a profound history and such a commitment to shaping the future. Elisabeth Irwin’s words guide us as much now as they have over the past 100 years: “The foundations of democracy and of our school are built by daily habits of recognizing the rights of those who differ from ourselves.” 
 
As we look toward the summer, I wish you plenty of opportunities to be present and enjoy the blessings that family brings. I wish you hours upon hours of falling into wonderful stories with your children, and I wish you some much-needed breaks from technology. I wish you joy-filled moments like the countless ones your children gifted me with their smiles, their tremendous learning, and their generous love. 
Thank you for your partnership throughout this year. I look forward to keeping in touch over the summer and welcoming you back in the fall.
 
Our final Lower School gathering is tomorrow at 10:00am. All are invited to close out this year with our Lower School students. 
 
Announcements:
End-of-the-Year Lower School Assembly – We look forward to seeing you. 
Jun 5, 2020 at 10 a.m.
pw: lreistrong
 
 
 
Warm regards,
 
Faith
 
 
 

================================

(5/21/2020)

Dear Families,
 
I’d like to thank our rising First Grade and Second Grade parents for attending our What To Expect presentation last night and tonight. Follow-up slides will be sent out to both grades shortly.
 
For those parents who were unable to attend, as well as those in the other grades, I want to highlight some of the questions that came up during these sessions. Parents asked:
  • “How will we maintain the sense of community that defines us as an institution if remote learning continues in the fall?”
  • “How will we ensure our students continue to learn developmentally appropriate skills in reading, writing, and math in particular?”
  • “Given that trips are an integral part of our students’ experience, how do we plan to continue to enrich and provide inspiration that fuels our progressive education?”
  • “How are we going to prioritize engagement, inclusivity, and student well-being across the wide range of learners that exists within every class?”
These are wonderful questions. They — along with many other important questions — sit at the heart of our planning.
 
I think these questions demonstrate how engaged our parent community is and how deeply our parents understand that there are so many individual parts that go into making a holistic progressive education. I am grateful for the incredible partnership you all have demonstrated as we’ve built LREI@home together. I look forward to ending the school year strong, and I wish everyone a good Memorial Day weekend.
 
 
 
Please join us for our end-of-the-year events!
Friday, 
May 22nd

Virtual Field Day is tomorrow!

 

Field Day is an LREI annual tradition, attended by K–12 students and teachers. Field Day begins by honoring seniors and announcing their college selections. We will host Field Day here and begin at 9 am by assembling the entire LREI community to cheer for our seniors! Afterward, we will do buddy activities and then HS games. Field Day will end at 11:00 am. 9th–11th Graders  should wear brightly colored T-shirts!
 
9:00–9:30 am: Opening Ceremony with Phil (pw: lreistrong)
9:30–10:15 am: (Please refer to the links sent by your classroom teachers)
10:30–11:00 am: Students in homeroom classrooms
 
Friday, May 29th 
Spring Ensemble Concert 
An institution-wide event! The High School Jazz Ensemble and Elisabeth Irwin Singers will share their work with the community. See invitation below.
 
 
Thursday, June 4th
Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony
Fourth grade family and friends are invited to join this year’s virtual Fourth Grade Moving Up ceremony. Many families have asked about inviting extended family members. We have the room — please do!
Time: 9:00 am
Zoom ID: Faith’s Zoom room, https://zoom.us/j/5414188561
PMI: 5414188561
PW: lreistrong
 
Friday, June 5th
End-of-the-Year Lower School Assembly: 2019–2020 School Year
Students and faculty will gather in Faith’s Zoom room at 10:00 am for our final assembly. We want to gather for one final meeting before sending our students off for the summer! Families are welcome to attend.
Time: 10:00am
Zoom ID: Faith’s zoom room, https://zoom.us/j/5414188561
PMI: 5414188561
PW: lreistrong
Thinking ahead to next year:
Next week, we will continue with our annual series of “What To Expect” sessions. My goal is to give you an overall sense of the upcoming grade experience and an understanding of child development at each grade level, as well as to answer any questions about how we have designed our program to bring out the potential in each child. I will save the details for curriculum evening next fall, when you meet your child’s new teacher and hear how they bring the specifics to life with their individual style. The session will be recorded for those who cannot attend the live Zoom session.
  • What To Expect in Third Grade: Wednesday, May 27th, at 4:00 pm
  • What To Expect in Fourth Grade: Friday, May 29th, at 3:00 pm
  • What To Expect in Kindergarten: Tuesday, June 2nd, at 4:00 pm
Zoom ID: Faith’s Zoom room,https://zoom.us/j/5414188561
PMI: 5414188561
PW: lreistrong
 
Summer classes:
A note from Phil: We know there are a number of questions about whether we will offer any online classes this summer. We are putting together a list of classes and figuring out the timing, and we will be in touch soon. If you have specific questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to send me an email.
 
 
Warm regards,
 

======================================

(5/14/2020)

Seven weeks into LREI@home, and our students continue to impress us every day. Here are a few recent highlights to give you a sense of the thoughtful, creative work our students continue to engage in. Well done, LREI children!
 

 

Family Teacher Conference Reflection:
I hope you all had meaningful family/teacher conferences. Our teachers reflected on how important the time felt and how engaged and thoughtful families were. In this version of school, prioritizing connection and community is so important, and we appreciate your effort.
 
End-of-the-Year Events:
With just three weeks until the end of school, our teachers are using their talents and creativity to bring the school year to a close with a feeling of culmination, a sense of pride for all that has been accomplished within each class community, and a bit of excitement about what is to come next.  We are trying to maintain as many end-of-year traditions as we can, so, to that end, we will hold our Virtual Field Day on Friday, May 22nd — more information to come. Our End-of-the-Year Lower School Assembly will be held virtually on Friday June 5 at 10:00am, and our Fourth Grade Moving Up Ceremony will be held on Thursday June 4 at 9:00am. Detailed information will be shared with fourth grade parents and students separately.
 
Thinking Forward to Next Year:
Next week, we begin our annual series of What To Expect Sessions for Kindergarten through Fourth Grade. My goal is to give you an overall sense of the upcoming grade experience and an understanding of child development at each grade level, as well as to answer any questions about how we have designed our program to bring out the potential in each child. I will save the details for curriculum evening next fall, when you meet your child’s new teacher and hear how they bring the specifics to life with their individual style.
  • What To Expect in First Grade: Wednesday, May 20 at 4 p.m.
  • What To Expect in Second Grade: Thursday, May 21 at 4 p.m.
  • What To Expect in Third Grade: Wednesday, May 27 at 4 p.m.
  • What To Expect in Fourth Grade: Friday, May 29 at 3 p.m.
  • What To Expect in Kindergarten: Tuesday, June 2 at 4 p.m.
Summer Classes: (From Phil)
“We know there are a number of questions about whether we will offer any online classes this summer. We are putting together a list of classes and figuring out the timing and will be in touch soon. If you have specific questions/suggestions, do not hesitate to send me an email.”
Class Placement: 

If you haven’t had a chance to share your child’s friends with us as we consider class placement for the 2020-2021 school year, please do so here as soon as possible.

Warm regards,
 

====================================

(4/30/2020)

Dear parents,
Here are the items I will be covering this morning:
  • Recent Moments From LREI@home
  • Family Teacher Conferences Information
  • Abridged Student Scheduling for Conference Days: May 1st & May 4th
  • Class Placement Information and Placement Form
  • Parent Requested Supplemental Resources 4’s through Fourth Grade

Moments from LREI@home: (Worth taking the time to watch!)


Family Teacher Conferences:

With spring family conferences beginning tomorrow our teachers are looking forward to having some time to connect with each of you — to check in, to share and celebrate the ways in which your child has flourished this year, and to highlight the unique ways your child helps shape our special community here at LREI.

Time & Dates:
Conferences will be held on May 1st and May 4th.

Teachers and associates will run 20-minute conferences. We ask that you arrive promptly for your Zoom session. A directory can be found here.

First 15 minutes:

In the first 15 minutes our aim is to give teachers the opportunity to share with you a picture of your child in school, including general strengths, areas of growth, ways in which your child has developed this year, ways in which we feel your child is prepared to move forward next year, and ways in which you can continue to support your child’s learning.

Last 5 Minutes:

In addition, teachers will take the last five minutes to do a general check-in around LREI@Home.

Student Schedules for Conference Days, May 1st & May 4th:
In order to help with the current challenges families are facing juggling schedules, we are offering optional programming for students on conference days. Given that classroom teachers will be running conferences, these abridged days will be hosted by guest teachers. Your classroom teachers will share schedules and links today.
  • The shorter days will consist mostly of morning activities (except for 2nd & 3rd grade Friday afternoon clubs).
  • Please note that since classroom teachers and associates will be in conferences all day any live classes offered will be hosted by specialists or guest teachers. (Please note the changes in Zoom accounts).
Class Placement for Next Year:
Teachers spend a considerable amount of time crafting each class, endeavoring to balance myriad factors: the need to shuffle the two classes well; a child’s academic strengths and stretches; gender balance; personalities and friendships; family structures; and racial or ethnic identity. The school’s placement policy can be found on page 18 of the LREI Family Handbook.
 
We trust our teachers fully to do the complicated job of constructing new classes each year and an important part of this process is gaining parental insight into your child’s social and emotional well-being, particularly in regards to friendships. As we all know, relationships play an integral role in our child’s experience in school and therefore we value your input.
 
Usually during spring conferences we spend a few minutes addressing placement for the next year. Given our unique circumstances, we felt it best to ask you to share this information here so as not to take up time at this conference.
 
If you do choose to provide names, we ask you to contribute three to five names for early childhood and five names for grades one through four. We will endeavor to place your child with at least one of those names. For fourth graders (rising fifth graders), there are three different ways students are grouped together in Middle School throughout the school day. When creating those three different groupings, it is not possible to keep close friends together for all three, but you can expect that they will have a desired pairing for at least one of the groupings.
 
A new mix of children offers opportunities for new friendships and healthy social growth for all in the group. Please think of classmates of both genders, consider friends not currently in the same room, and think of supportive classmates (because a close friend is not always the same as a productive work partner). We recommend you refrain from discussing placement preferences with your child. These conversations have the potential to make children anxious since class composition is beyond their control, and can undermine our overall message that making new friends each fall is a part of being a school community.
 
Recommended Supplemental Skill Work, 4’s through 4th Grade:
Many families have asked how they can support their children with supplemental materials.

A Meeting: Learning in the Younger Grades
Many parents have asked for guidance on working with their children on foundational skills in the younger grades. In response, I will be holding a series of remote meetings for parents beginning today, Thursday, April 30 4/30 from 4:15-5:00pm. This first session will be on early literacy skills with a focus on early reading and writing.

Reminder: Please Record “We Are All a Family”

We are keen to maintain a sense of school spirit, and one way we plan to do that is by continuing our tradition of holding Lower School Gatherings. In order to create a familiar environment, we would like to open Lower School Gatherings with one of our favorite LREI songs — and we need your help! We ask that families who want to participate take a video of your child (plus any interested family members) singing along to the recording of “We Are All a Family,” the song we have used to begin each Lower School Gathering this year. You can listen here and find the lyrics here; here is the instrumental version to record yourself singing along to. We are hoping to assemble an incredible collection of videos of our students and families in chorus.

Here are some important details and pointers about filming:
  • Please email your recording to me (fhunter@lrei.org) with the subject titled “We Are All a Family”
  • Videos should be filmed horizontally
  • Aim to film with even lighting that shines on your faces (bright lights directly behind you will make it too dark to see you)

When you’ve recorded yourselves, please send the video to fhunter@lrei.org. Please submit your video ASAP. I can’t wait to see and hear the results!

In partnership,
Faith Hunter

====================================

(4/23/2020)

Dear families,
 
I am hearing from parents and teachers alike that our students are becoming independent, falling into routines, finding important moments of connection and community, and demonstrating progress across disciplines. We are so proud of our community — our children, teachers, and parents. This partnership has proved tremendous, and I am certain we will come out stronger and more united because of it.
 
In this fourth week, we saw more live classes, including many specials, math, and clubs for second through fourth grades, including Actor’s Alley, Drawing & Music, Dance, Pictionary, Handcrafts & Conversation, Karaoke, and Games Club. Now that we’ve fully fleshed out our program, our schedule is largely set, and we will only be making minor revisions as needed.
I am sincerely grateful for the partnership that has allowed us to build an LREI@Home program we can all be proud of. Please take a moment to see some of the incredible learning our students are engaged in.

Maintaining School Spirit: Virtual Assemblies

We are keen to maintain a sense of school spirit, and one way we plan to do that is by continuing our tradition of holding Lower School Gatherings, starting May 6th. In order to create a familiar environment, we would like to open Lower School Gatherings with one of our favorite LREI songs — and we need your help! We ask that families who want to participate take a video of your child (plus any interested family members) singing along to the recording of “We Are All a Family,” the song we have used to begin each Lower School Gathering this year. You can listen here and find the lyrics here; here is the instrumental version to record yourself singing along to. We are hoping to assemble an incredible collection of videos of our students and families in chorus.

Here are some important details and pointers about filming:
  • Please email your recording to me (fhunter@lrei.org) with the subject titled “We Are All a Family”
  • Videos should be filmed horizontally
  • Aim to film with even lighting that shines on your faces (bright lights directly behind you will make it too dark to see you)
When you’ve recorded yourselves, please send the video to fhunter@lrei.org. Please submit your video no later than Wednesday, April 29, at 5:00pm. I can’t wait to see and hear the results!
 
A Meeting: Learning in the Younger Grades
Many parents have asked for guidance on working with their children on foundational skills in the younger grades. In response, I will be holding a series of remote meetings for parents beginning next Thursday, April 30. Please fill out the following Poll by Monday so we can gauge the best time for families. This first session will be on early literacy skills with a focus on early reading and writing, specifically geared toward 4s and Kindergarten.
 
 
All the best,
Faith
 

====================================

(4/16/2020)

Dear families,
 
In this challenging time, your children shine! This was our first full week of LREI@Home, and the brightest moments our faculty and I experienced were watching your children pour themselves into their lessons. I have attached just a few of the many moments of learning across the grades that our faculty couldn’t resist sharing with each other throughout this week and that I cannot resist sharing with you — moments of creativity, courage, service, community, joy, and critical thinking. Well done, LREI students!
 
It is clear our teachers and students are beginning to find their rhythm. Each week, we are able to strengthen our program further and refine our approach to our students’ different needs. Next week, more classes will go live, including many specials, math, and clubs for second through fourth grades. Thank you to all who have taken the time to give feedback. A note will go out tomorrow for families to sign up for Family Conferences.
 
 
Just as a reminder, if you have not already filled out the lower school survey sent Monday, we would greatly appreciate your feedback. Here is a link to the form.
 
 
Best,
Faith
 
 
A note from the Afterschool Office:
As parent/teacher conference dates have changed, please note that, as always, all afterschool programs will run as normal every day there is a full day of school. Core, enrichment, and instrumentals will not run on conference days.
 
Therefore, Middle School students should not expect to attend afterschool on Monday 4/27, and Lower School students should not expect to attend afterschool on Friday 5/1 or Monday 5/4.
 
If you have any questions, please email Cari Kosins at ckosins@lrei.org or Clara Campos at ccampos@lrei.org.
 

============================================

(4/2/2020)

Dear Parents,
 
Dropping into morning meetings this morning were a testament to creativity, resilience, and the power of community. It was encouraging to see our youngest community members focused on “whole body listening,” steadying their bodies with a mindful moment and getting ready for another day of learning. I watched students stretch out words with Sound in Motion while reading a morning message. I watched our teachers use small breakout rooms for discussions to enable more student voice. I was delighted to see many of the engagement techniques we use in school transferred over to the Zoom classroom: children taking the mic, children holding up hand signals to participate, children calling on the next speaker. While there is nothing “normal” about a day of online school for elementary students, your children (and you!) are doing an incredible job adapting in this short period of time.
 
I am grateful for the strength and partnership within our community as it is a  lifeline in this unimaginable moment, and I want to offer words of advice on how to get through it with less stress.
First of all, I will reiterate what I said in a previous announcement because it needs to be repeated: Be patient with yourself! The transition to distance learning will take some time. Parents will need to think differently about how to support their children, how to create structures and routines that allow their children to be independent, and how to monitor and support their children’s learning to be successful. In particular, I know the adjustment to remote learning is hardest for the families of our youngest students, so trust me when I say that we are doing our utmost to make the transition as seamless as possible. Acclimating to the new technology will be the steepest learning curve; once we do, things will get easier. While our goal is for students to require less than an hour of adult support, we recognize that, for Lower School students, getting there will take time. Please know that it will get easier.
 
Thank you for your patience as we continue to tweak our program in response to our students’ experience and your feedback. I am in daily conversations with school administrators in New York and across the globe to brainstorm how to make remote learning as enriching as possible. We are using every resource and ounce of creativity our talented faculty possess to create a meaningful, engaging experience for our students.
 
Below you will  find more details about the end of Phase 1 (Week 1) and the start of Phase 2 (Week 2) below.
 
Phase 1 (Week 1)
There will be distinct phases throughout this process, and this first week is most definitely Phase 1. I ask you all to hold a few things in mind that will hopefully alleviate some stress as we navigate through each phase:

  1. Everything in this first phase is an invitation. If something becomes overwhelming, please feel free to give it a pass. LREI@home is meant to add community and engagement — not anxiety — to your child’s day. If an assignment becomes a source of stress, you should feel completely comfortable skipping it. Your child will not be penalized, nor will they be left behind.

  2. If anything, our teachers overprepared! We have heard many parents ask us to cut back a bit on content and lessons while everyone is adapting to the technology, the juggle of multiple children, and working from home. We hear you and will adjust this next week.

  3. In these first two weeks, our teachers, children, and families are learning how to access new online platforms and navigate them independently. This alone is a huge learning curve and can no doubt be stressful. We are here to support you and are adjusting based on your feedback. On that note, Pearsonrealize.com is proving to be challenging for families to use. As a result, we are pulling back from using Pearson. Your children are encouraged to go on DreamBox instead for differentiated reinforcement. Our teachers will be moving toward a combination of more live math sessions and prepared lessons with materials on Seesaw. In this first phase, the most important things are that children and families acclimate to the various platforms and find ways for children to navigate independently as much as they possibly can. Try to help your child establish routines to:

    • Sign into Zoom and participate independently
    • Sign into DreamBox and participate independently

    • Carry out a Seesaw lesson with some level of independence

  4. We’ve learned that the most successful moments for our students this week have been small-group live sessions. Therefore, we are adapting the program to increase this type of instruction.
  5. Our goal for the end of Phase 1 is that our students and families have adapted to Morning Meeting Routines, acclimated to independent work and assignments through Seesaw, and learned to sign in and use DreamBox Math, Seesaw, and Zoom.
Phase 2 (Week 2)
Phase 2 will feature the following adjustments:

  1. Increased engagement in 20–30-minute, full-class Morning Meetings. Our teachers have been working hard to develop  techniques to make these meetings more engaging, including tightening up greetings, utilizing breakout groups, implementing additional  techniques to further engage our students, and adding more teachers to these times so we can do additional small-group work. We have seen a marked improvement in only three days and expect that Phase 2 will be significantly more engaging.

  2. Increased small-group live teaching sessions. Reading groups will increase from two to four times per week. Some specials will take place in live half-groups, and some core academic sessions that were taking place in Seesaw will happen live.

  3. Parents of our youngest students need more time when children are engaged independently. All teachers of students in 4’s through first grade are adding an afternoon read aloud/closing activity that should not require adult supervision.
Many of you have shared that you are worried about your children falling behind. We have designed our program to be as equitable as possible for all children, and some of you have further adapted the program to match your particular circumstances. Regardless of your approach, I want to reassure you that, if you prioritize the following three components of a child’s day, we are confident we will be in a good place when we all come back together.

  1. Children should be read to and immersed in language every day. The most important daily habit your child can establish is to read a book at their level and listen to books read aloud. Teachers are assigning daily reading and doing read-alouds with their students. In addition, Audible has made all children’s books free. Pick a book, hit play, and let your child listen while they build a tower, draw a picture, or curl up with a stuffed animal on the couch. Call it reading hour and time it for when you need a break, knowing you are giving your child these gifts:

    • Expanding their vocabulary
    • Building up important background knowledge
    • Familiarizing your children with the structures of language they will tap into when they read and write themselves

    • Creating a positive association with books

  2. Children should be writing every day. For our youngest students, sounding out a word or a sentence once a day will strengthen their writing muscles and keep them moving forward. For older students, spending even 15–30 minutes a day writing will make a huge difference. Teachers are assigning daily writing lessons and journal writing to facilitate the writing process.

  3. Children should focus on the basics of math. DreamBox is designed to adapt to your child’s level and move them along a continuum of learning. Doing DreamBox three times a week for 20 minutes will make a big difference, even if your child is unable to complete other assignments.
Feedback
I have been meeting with parent reps throughout this week, and your feedback has been extremely helpful. Please continue to communicate with your parent reps. I will be meeting with each grade level once per week.
 
Back to School Parent Information Session
On Monday, April 6, we will host 30 minute “Back to School” zoom meetings to answer further questions tailored to your child’s grade. Parents should submit questions in advance to Kenna at kmateos@lrei.org. You can join my meeting room at this link.
  • 4’s and Kindergarten: 5:45 p.m.
  • 1st & 2nd Grade: 6:16 p.m.
  • 3rd & 4th Grade:  6:45 p.m.
Spring Family Conferences
Family Conferences will now take place on May 1st and 4th. More information will be provided in next week’s note.
 
Resources
If you have any questions about work assigned by specialists, you may email them directly or schedule a zoom meeting with them. A directory of lower school specialists may be found here.
 
For those of you looking for more ideas of ways to engage your children our librarians have put together this wonderful resource page filled with websites where you can listen to audiobooks, tour museums and zoos, print out coloring pages, and more!
 
Tech Support
For tech issues for your student’s device, or for issues of internet instability, please email help@lrei.org and someone from our Tech Team will contact you asap. If your family is having challenges accessing LREI@home for technical reasons, please reach out to me or Kenna directly (fhunter@lrei.org and kmateos@lrei.org). We will work with you to find a solution.
 
Thank you for your words of encouragement, your suggestions about how to strengthen the program, and your willingness to partner. I couldn’t be more proud of the work our teachers are doing or more honored to be part of such a thoughtful, passionate, dedicated community.
 
Please feel free at any moment to email me, Alisa, or Kenna directly should you need anything!
 
In Partnership,
Faith

==================================

(3/30/2020)

Dear families,
 
Welcome back from spring break! I hope you will watch the video below with your children. I miss their faces dearly and cannot wait to connect with them throughout the week.
Transitioning into LREI@Home
Today at 2:00pm, you will receive an email from your child’s teacher with all the information you will need to attend LREI@Home tomorrow. Once you have received all your login information, I encourage you to spend a few minutes with your child logging into Zoom, Seesaw, DreamBox, and Terc online. If you have any questions, please reach out to Kenna at kmateos@lrei.org. We are here to help you.
 
I have spent the past two weeks attending forums with educators around the world who are already engaged in distance learning. I am heartened by the many success stories: two nights ago, I listened in as dozens of kindergarten teachers talked about how easily their young students were navigating all the technology independently and therefore how smoothly classes were running. I am grateful to learn lessons from those who have already started so that we can avoid mistakes and begin on a more certain path. As a division, we are being extremely thoughtful in our approach and rollout. We will start by helping our children reconnect and engage with confidence as readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, and artists, building off the skills they have been working on all year. We will then gradually introduce more synchronous learning time. Each day will bring new learning and a new stretch in routine. I am confident that, within a couple weeks, our young students will navigate a day’s worth of learning as seamlessly as they do within our building.
 
Our teachers have worked incredibly hard over spring break. Last night, as I reviewed schedules, curricula, and lesson plans, I was awed by what has already been created. I hope your children are as excited to come back to school as we are!
 
Welcome back!
Faith

==================================

(3/26/20)

Dear Parents,
 
I hope you are staying healthy and safe during this most unique “spring break.” I continue to hear reports of students holding online playdates and parents socializing via Zoom, FaceTime, and other apps. I am grateful to be part of such a strong community.
 
I wanted to provide you with another update about LREI@Home. Our faculty have been meeting online regularly to prepare for our remote learning program. On a daily basis, I am awed by the level of thought and care they have devoted in preparation for your children’s learning experience. We look forward to sharing this work, and I am eager to hear your feedback.
 
Our faculty, administrators, and I are determined to provide continuity of learning and a sense of community for all LREI students while they are attending LREI@Home. While we recognize that nothing can completely replace face-to-face interaction, our plan is to utilize our existing technological infrastructure and the resourcefulness of our amazing teachers to continue learning at home. Our plan will continue to evolve as we navigate these uncharted waters, and we appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.
 
I have received questions from parents about learning expectations for next week. Some I will address here and some will be addressed in emails our teachers have crafted specifically for your child’s class.
  • The goal of LREI@Home is to provide a variety of learning opportunities for students that are developmentally appropriate and sensitive to the scheduling demands of families. Between now and Monday evening, you can expect to receive an email from your child’s teacher with more details about each individual class program.
  • Teachers will run their full academic daily program: Morning Meeting, Reading, Writing, Word Study, Math, Social Studies, and one to three specials per day. You can expect a full program along with an abundance of resources for enrichment.
  • To ensure engagement throughout the day from 9:00am–2:30pm, teachers will be connecting with students in a variety of ways, (e.g., Zoom morning meetings will happen every day, regular one-on-one student conferences will be scheduled as well as small group meetings (reading, math, etc), written feedback on assignments posted on Seesaw, and more.
  • To clarify, the “approximate learning times” sent out before break are meant to give families an understanding of the number of minutes we generally expect children to work independently. The times do not include lessons, one-on-one conferences, small-group instruction, snack, recess, lunch, and transitions. Your child’s teacher will be individualizing their approach as appropriate to the class.
  • We are shaping the program with the understanding that our younger children will require more adult support, that many adults will be working, that there are multiple siblings in many homes, that hours of screen time are not good for our young students, and that families are in different time zones. We ask for your patience and understanding as we work out the details of the program. If you find the program difficult to accommodate with your schedule, we more than welcome your feedback.
  • Our remote learning approach is based on lessons learned from our experience at LREI, as well as the experiences of our peer schools and educators in other countries who have been engaging in remote learning for some time. As such, we have done our best to anticipate issues that may arise and devise multiple solutions for each of them.
  • We will be checking in regularly amongst our faculty, with families, and with children to make adjustments as needed.
I will be sending out information at the end of this week that will include details for a Town Hall Zoom call during the early evening on Monday to answer any lingering questions and ensure we are all prepared for Tuesday’s start.
 
In this challenging moment my confidence rests in knowing that everyone at LREI is working together to create the best possible outcome for students and families. We appreciate your partnership and welcome your feedback.
 
Warm regards,


Faith Hunter

==============================================

3/9/2020
 
Dear families,
 
Given the current uncertainty around the coronavirus (COVID-19), I am keenly aware that many of you may have questions and concerns. I want to take this opportunity to share our distance learning plan for the Lower School, LREI@home, should we need it. Under the leadership of Phil, the three divisions have operated with the understanding that the educational program at LREI must continue to be exemplary and appropriately coordinated, and that we must nurture and sustain the deep sense of community that permeates our students’ experience here at LREI every day. We know that when it comes to student engagement and learning, relationships matter as much online as they do in person.
 
Elementary education is always a partnership between teachers and families. In an online distance learning environment, especially in the Lower School, this partnership becomes the champion of learning. Our Lower School teachers will continue to guide, support, and challenge students to take on new responsibilities and to become excited about new learning. Our families will have options and sources for flexibility that will give them choice and ownership as the distance learning experience progresses. Teachers will provide direction and support to families with the understanding that task completion depends on each individual family’s circumstances. We recognize that parents may have more than one child to guide; therefore, we have limited the amount of time we ask parents to support their children’s learning experiences to a maximum of 1.5 hours per day. This time will inform and prepare students to engage in the tasks that teachers have designed for that given day.
 
Teachers will continue to communicate with parents through Connect and will use Seesaw (an online digital portfolio platform) to engage students in rich learning tasks. Over the course of this week, teachers will acclimate students and their families to necessary resources.
 
We ask parents for the following support if and when an announcement is made that we are moving forward with LREI@home. With this announcement will come more grade-specific instructions:
  • Read the Connect updates from your child’s teacher each morning.
  • Increase your familiarity with Seesaw as our primary instructional tool. We will be sending you more detailed information when needed.
  • Read home learning tasks and activities posted on Seesaw with your child.
  • Designate a place in your home so your child can work independently on his/her assigned tasks and complete independent reading each day.
  • Email your child’s classroom teacher if you or your child has questions and/or if your child needs extra help and support.

 

 

In Partnership,
 
Faith Hunter

 

 

(6/4/2020)

Dear Middle School Families,
 
The last week of school has snuck up on us as it almost always does, whether we are learning online or not. In our grade-level culminating events this week, students have been able to showcase some of the work they are most proud of for you and for a slightly wider audience of their classmates and classmates’ families. While these shares have allowed you each the chance to see and hear a sampling of exemplary work from your child’s own grade level, I wanted to use this opportunity to share projects across all four grades, so that you can peruse and appreciate the efforts of our incredible fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders and their intrepid teachers.
 
While no one officially moves up to the next grade until end of the school day tomorrow, I want to take this moment to say congratulations on an amazing year and welcome to the next. Thank you for your support of the program and partnering with us all year, especially the past few months. Please take a moment to peruse the work below. Happy summer and see you soon!
 
Warmest,
Ana

The seventh grade NYC of the Future project challenged students to redesign NYC for a sustainable future by using biomimicry and other innovative design techniques.

 

Fifth graders created original compositions that can be heard here.

 
 
 

Sixth grade students submitted an opinion piece to the annual New York Times student opinion contest. In these quick videos, they describe their topic and summarize their best arguments. https://flipgrid.com/+cjsopinion2020 

 
 

Seventh graders wrote stories in the genre of magical realism, which you can read here.

Eighth grade students composed and read original poems inspired by mentor texts. https://flipgrid.com/98276809 

 

If you haven’t yet, please take a moment to browse, watch and listen to the visual and performing art pieces created by our middle schoolers this year.

 

Sixth graders completed their quest for knowledge as members of their medieval guilds. The projects that were started in the building in the late winter were completed during LREI@home and are on display here.

 

Fifth graders embarked on a sourdough starter service project, linked here.

 
 
 
 

Sixth graders crafted these amazing US maps

 
 
 

In science, sixth graders collected data to test hypotheses, including the effect of different types of music on exercise:

In world language, students created websites like the one below, and wrote skits, like this one.

 

==================================

(5/21/2020)

Dear Middle School Families,
 
It’s been another busy and engaging week of LREI@home. Please click the image below to hear some of our students describe the topics and projects at each grade level.
 
 
Friday, 
May 22nd
Field Day!
Our annual tradition, replete with buddies and relay races, is ON. We begin by honoring seniors and announcing their college selections. The Zoom room assignments and schedule for every student can be found here. We will begin at 9am and end between 11am and 12pm. Middle schoolers should wear black or dark blue T-shirts.
Wednesday, 
May 27th
Visual Art Show Opening and Virtual Performing Arts Showcase
Join us at 6pm for an unveiling of the digital gallery containing selections of the middle schoolers’ visual art projects form this year and virtual ‘studios’ where the performing arts majors will showcase culminating performances.
Friday, 
May 29th
 
Spring Concert 
An institution-wide event! The middle school band and chorus along with the ensembles from the other divisions will share their work with the community. See invitation below!
Monday, 
June 1st
 
5th Grade End Of Year Share
Fifth grade students and families will gather at 4:30pm as a whole group, and then will break into smaller Zoom rooms for a curriculum share and celebration. The evening will end with a grade-wide Zoom gathering to say thank you and goodbye for the summer. Families will receive more details via email soon.
Wednesday, 
June 3rd
 

7th Grade End Of Year Share

Seventh grade students and families will gather at 5:30pm as a whole group, and then will break into smaller Zoom rooms for a celebration and share of the year’s curriculum. The evening will end with a grade-wide Zoom gathering to say thank you and goodbye for the summer. Families will receive more details via email soon.
 
Thursday, 
June 4th
6th Grade End Of Year Share
Sixth grade students and families will gather at 5:30 pm as a whole group, and then will break into smaller Zoom rooms for a curriculum share and celebration. The evening will end with a grade-wide Zoom gathering to say thank you and goodbye for the summer. Families will receive more details via email soon.
 
Friday, 
June 5th

8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony and Celebration

Eighth grade students and families will gather at 5:30 pm for this landmark event. We will hear presentations, videos and performances from students, advisors and administrators and send the students off into the summer and into their ninth grade year with warmth and appreciation. A video of the ceremony will be available for students and families in the fifth, sixth and seventh grades.

.
 
 
 Best,

===================================

(5/14/2020)

Dear Middle School Families,
 
Monday was historic; we held our first-ever virtual Middle School Meeting. I knew it was going to be good to see everyone together after so many weeks of gathering just one class at a time, but I was moved in a way that caught me off guard. We had eleven (!) screens worth of faces on Zoom at once, and despite the strangeness of the medium, it felt satisfying and familiar.
 
The eighth grade reps helped to host, as they always do. I told everyone how impressed I was with their efforts so far and reminded them – and myself – to focus on what we’re gaining rather than what’s lost: More time with family, a greater stamina and independence. This cohort will emerge from this experience with unprecedented student skills. I told them: You all may not have the perspective to appreciate how focused, clever and strong you’re getting right now, but someday you will.
 
Students and teachers made announcements, and we ended by sharing the video linked here. You may have seen it already, but if not, I hope you take a look. It was a little surprise gift to our students from us. As I said in the video, we miss them.
 
We’ve begun the sprint to end of the school year. As one colleague always says, “We’re running out of runway!”  If this week is any indication, the last days of school will come in no time. I encourage all of you to soak up these last weeks; enjoy the routine, the community and celebrations.
 
On that note, thanks to all who came to our last parent open parent rep meeting of the year. The notes about how to support your child at home (academically, socially and athletically) are here.
 
Fondly,
Ana

=================================

(4/30/2020)

Happy Poem in Your Pocket Day

 
This is the poem in my pocket today. It speaks to me now, as I’m missing the city as it was – vibrant and chaotic, accepting of all manner of wildness. Reading this magnifies the melancholy a little bit, but it also makes me feel connected, seen and understood.
 
Our lives have constricted over the past two months. You might find you are relying more than ever on the arts to reflect and express your feelings, to know that your experience is shared. Artists and writers are distant teachers, giving advice and showing us we aren’t alone. The seventh graders are participating in “Dear Poet” – a project through the Academy of American Poets that invites students to write letters in response to poems by award-winning poets. The selections from students’ letters are below. In each one, they share how these poems have spoken to them.
  • I really enjoyed your poem “Lava and Moon,” especially now because I needed to hear some of those things. I am still figuring out my life and am confused about a lot of things. I overthink a lot and I want to be more laid back and relax more. I think your poem is saying something similar.
  • Your poem, Basketball feat. Galileo & EPMD, reminded me of taking risks and the idea of being brave and believing in oneself. This connected to me because if you don’t take risks you don’t know what will happen. Even if they turn out badly, at least you’ve experienced the moment. I think this message is so valuable to find inside such a fun and exciting poem. Everyone should hear this so they can stop being afraid, especially for today, whether you’re a basketball fan or not.
  • I also liked the lines, “It is like/ loving an animal:/ hopeless, an extravagance we were meant for:/ startled, continually,/ by what we’re willing/ to feel.” This line made me think about how many times we put ourselves in situations where the ultimate amount of pain we put ourselves through is more than the happiness we gain.
  • To be alive on earth is a privilege, and for us to treat it like it’s some piece of trash is unacceptable. Your poem helped me understand that people take a lot of things for granted, including life on earth.
  • A quote that stood out to me was, “I know the grandmother one had hands / But they were always in the earth / Planting seeds / Removing weeds / Growing knives / Burying sons / I know the grandmother one had hands.” This quote spoke to me because I have a great-grandmother who was working for her whole life. She outlived her son, and planted the seeds that are my family.
  • When you said, “There was no Nature. No / them. No tests to determine if the elephant / grieves her calf or if / the coral reef feels pain.” It really spoke to me. I have always cared about the environment and the damage we do to it.
  • Your first line hooked me in, “It is all about speed and flexibility, about speed and flexibility and teamwork and accuracy.” It really spoke to me. And as the poem continued, the metaphors were right on. “When we pass it is a cannonball, when we leap, we hang in the air like Nijinsky taking a nap.”
  • My favorite part of the poem was when you started to talk about the city and how the city really helped you embrace being yourself… I haven’t quite lived long enough to know about a town or city that helped me be me but my school is my safe place, I can see people who look like me and who allow me to be the kind of person that I am.
  • I chose your poem first of all as my cat is so similar to your cat, and every time she brings in a mouse or a bird, it feels the same. This mouse/bird has the same right to live, yet my cat chose it as its prey. The sad part is that most of the time, my cat won’t even eat the animal. That is the sad part of mother nature and her mysterious ways about which animal will live and which will die. I think your poem also talks well about balance, how you have to balance the good and the bad.
It’s not too late for you to put a poem in your pocket today! Poets.org is a great resource for browsing.
 
Warmest,
Ana

========================================

(4/23/2020)

Dear Middle School Families,
 
Family Conferences are tomorrow. Like so many things these days, these will likely feel both familiar and not. Regardless, coming together to reflect on and strategize about learning is something our community excels at and it will feel good to have that time. I offer three thoughts about the opportunity afforded by these unusual times:

  • You have a front row seat to your child’s learning in a way you haven’t in a long time, maybe ever. This is probably illuminating and aggravating by turns. If you’re experiencing those highs and lows, you should know you’re in good company.  Teachers, by contrast, are suffering a loss of the data they would typically glean by just walking through the room, looking over shoulders. This is a great opportunity for partnership. Tell us what you have noticed – about your child’s pacing, the way they approach challenges, processing instructions, and making decisions about their work. Much of it will echo what we have seen in school and some will be unique to this circumstance. You may be wondering if they’re doing ok, or if what you see is typical, and how much to step in, or step away. If you have a particular new insight or question, this is a great time to share it. Ask your child what they need at home that might be different from before.
  • Your child’s wellbeing is our first priority. This is always true, and is especially important now, during uncertain and scary times. Middle schoolers have to feel supported and confident to be the most effective and resilient learners. So much of the middle school program is built around this idea. We know from experience and from scientific research that being comfortable and happy is a prerequisite to deep learning. We can all enjoy this opportunity to spotlight wellness. How can we partner with you to keep your child healthy, happy and engaged? Can you identify the healthy attitudes and habits that supported any particular success in humanities, math or art, for example?
  • Remote learning taxes the executive functioning skills; these include the ability to plan, prioritize, take initiative, and regulate impulses. You may have noticed the effects of this at home. Even for a child with typically strong executive functioning skills, the demand is high. Your middle schooler is in charge of structuring their own work and overcoming challenges in a new way. The good news is that this generation of students will emerge from this experience with a heightened ability to do this, to seek help when they need it and to sustain attention over a long project. There are many supports available for students who need more adult help managing their time, planning or just starting their assignments. The need for this help varies. If you child needs or wants more, conferences are the time to make appointments for office hours, learning lab, or IWP.
Typically, I’d say “See you tomorrow.” I wish that were true. I’ll miss the ebb and flow of families through the building. Enjoy your time connecting with advisors. Here are a few logistical notes about tomorrow:
  • There are no synchronous LREI@home classes for middle schoolers tomorrow.
  • The teachers’ zoom IDs are on the middle school news page on Connect, under “All Grades Announcements”
  • The conferences are 30 minutes apart, and there should be five minutes of buffer between them. Please help advisors keep to this schedule. Also, be aware that if you enter the zoom meeting early, you may need to wait.
  • I welcome feedback about the program. Please direct suggestions and ideas to me rather than teachers and keep the conference focused on your child in particular.
Warmest,
Ana

===================================

(4/16/2020)

Dear Middle School Families (@home),
 
This week during morning meeting, one homeroom compliled a list life likes and dislikes about being at home. (Likes: “More time with my parents,” dislikes: “Too much time with my parents.” Ha.) Their list helped me remember that while this season is full of small losses – from simply wandering around our neighborhood with friends to big events now cancelled – there are also some bright spots. Students have reported liking taking up new hobbies, having fewer distractions, and experieincing gratitude for what they have, to name a few.
 
I have been thinking about the benefits of solitude and how it’s distinct from loneliness. Much was written about this several years ago. The book Quiet, about introverts, made headlines, and people inside and outside of education were talking about the often overlooked benefits of unstructured time. Solitude allows you to act according to your own priorities rather than any group’s. Daydreaming is essential to the creative process. Studies show that idle time allows us to consolidate knowledge and devleop self-regulation. Teens who spend time alone are happier in the long run. The paradox is that solitude doesn’t always as appealing as company. But it’s comforting to know it has so much benefit.
 
Below are some snapshots from middle schoolers’ experiences in LREI@home this week. These are provocations that began in community on zoom and whose reach may extend into their lives off-line. They include:
  • Making sourdough starter from scratch (from a unit on the agricultural revolution and its legacy)
  • Answering the question “Why isn’t rain salty?” (from a demonstration of evaporation and distillation in science class).
  • How to use two-point perspective (from art class); Do you recognize this building on Sixth Avenue?
  • An original handwashing tutorial – in Mandarin. (Click the image to see the video.)
 I hope you are remain safe and healthy. Please be sure to read all the way to the end for a few notes and reminders.
 
\
 
 
 
Warmest,
Ana

================================================
(4/2/2020)

Dear Middle School Families,
 
Please click here – or the image below – for a message from me and some snapshots of the Middle School’s first week of LREI@home.
 
Here, as mentioned in the video, is a link to all the teacher meeting times, including affinity group meetings and activity period offerings. Here, as a reminder, is a link to the Middle School News page, which has this document and the student schedules.
 
I will send an invitation to our Back-to-School zoom meetings for parents (Monday evening at 5:45 for 7th/8th and 6:15 for 5th/6th) in a separate note.
 
 
Best,
Ana

=============================

(3/27/2020)

Dear Middle School Families,
 
This is certainly among the stangest spring breaks I’ve ever had. I hope that, despite circumstances, you and your family has found space and time for some lightheartedness and relaxation. I’m writing to give you a couple of updates about the week to come so that you can plan.
 
First, the middle school faculty has been hard at work creating experiences, prompts and structures for your children that will draw on the best of our existing curriculum but also make LREI@home fulfilling and appropriate to the format of distance learning. In case you haven’t yet, please take a look at the slides describing the middle school plan for LREI@home here.
 
Second, the schedule for the week will be posted on the MS News Page of LREI Connect, under your grade level’s updates. Threre may be minor changes after the faculty meets on Monday, but the basic schedule is as follows:
 
8:15-8:45 Morning Meeting
9:00-9:45 Class
10:00-10:45 Class
11:00-11:45 Independent Work, Office Hours and Learning Lab
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
1:00-1:45 Class
 
Your children already have Zoom set up on their chromebooks and the list of teacher ‘room’ links will be published with the schedule. The classes themselves will always start on Zoom, but will include periods of small group work and independent work (offline). So while the classes may be listed in 45-minute blocks, your middle schooler will likely not be online during that whole time.
 
Finally, in preparation for Tuesday’s classes, please make sure that your child’s Chromebook is charged and that your wifi is working. Please email me if there are any issues. It would also be helpful to review class norms with your child in advance. These are also in the slides linked above, and students reviewed these in class before the break. They include things like staying visible while in a Zoom meeting, not eating during class, keeping phones off or away, and wearing school-appropriate clothes.
 
We are all excited to see your children again. Please reach out if you have any questions about the above.
 
Wishing you all health and peace of mind,
Ana

===========================

(3/10/2020)

Dear Fifth Grade Families,

Today the fifth graders brought home their school-issued chromebooks and chargers. This is a bit of good practice for the routine they’ll enjoy as older middle schoolers and, given that our plans for LREI@home would rely on technology, we want to make sure they have these devices at home in the event of school closure.
 
The chargers should stay at home. For the next few days, fifth graders are responsible for making sure to charge their chromebooks overnight and bring them fully charged to school.
 
As always, let me know if you have any questions.
 
Best,
Ana
 

(3/9/2020)

Dear Sixth Grade Families,
 
Today the sixth graders brought home their school-issued chromebooks and chargers. As we told them, they will continue to bring the chromebooks back and forth to school as the seventh and eighth graders do. This is practice for the routine of next year and, given that our plans for LREI@home would rely on technology, this is a good time for them to start.
 
The chargers should stay at home. As we instruct the seventh and eighth graders, the sixth graders are responsible for making sure to charge their chromebooks over night and bring them fully charged to school.
 
As always, let me know if you have any questions.
 
Best,
Ana
 

(3/6/2020)

Dear Middle School Families,

 
I wanted to let you know that the middle school faculty (along with teachers in the other divisions) has been making plans to continue school remotely in the event that we close at some point.
 
This distance learning, which we are calling LREI@home, will include independent work and some digital components. I’ll send the full plan next week after faculty have had a little more time to iron out the details.
 
In the meantime, you might see some school materials coming home – books that are scheduled to be read next trimester, art projects, extra post-its for annotation. I wanted to reassure you that this isn’t a sign of imminent closure, but just us doing our best to be proactive and prepared. As always, let me know if you have any questions.
 
Best,
Ana

(6/4/2020)

Dear LREI Families and Students,
 
Tomorrow we will end the 2019-2020 school year together in an assembly on Zoom. In lieu of the personal messages that we usually share with our students as they stream out of the building at 40 Charlton, we are sharing them with you today. Below we have interspersed messages from our faculty with photos of all of our students–putting us “together” one last time–the classes of 2020, 2021, 2022, & 2023. 
 
Class of 2020
 
 
Keep fighting the good fight and don’t give in to despair in these hard times. We need your curiosity, your critical thinking, and your hope now more than ever! 
 
Stay connected to your community and don’t hesitate to reach out for support!  We’re here for you, and we can’t wait to be with you all back in the building! 
 
Be fierce! Be in community! Build solidarity across lines of difference! Love yourself and be safe! 
 
Take care of yourselves and the communities around you. Hold on to hope and joy. 
 
Even in the midst of urgent challenges, find ways to rest and replenish yourselves. Good friends, good books, and naps all spring to mind as important fuel for the ongoing work.
 
 
Class of 2021
 
 
Wishing you peace, joy, love and health over the summer. I will be looking forward to seeing you all in person again soon! 
 
Being part of history is not easy. So this summer get out of bed, keep informed, and keep safe.
 
I have missed you all. Look after yourselves. Be good to yourselves and the people around you. To the seniors-I wish you all the very best. 
 
I cannot believe we are at the end of the year! It’s been forever and also so quick. I will miss seeing you all and look forward to being together with you again. Seniors, I am in denial about Graduation.
 
Get some rest, lots of rest, and know that you are loved beyond measure.
 
Class of 2022
 
We are so proud of you, your resiliency, your efforts, your willingness to step up and stay, no matter how hard it is. Take care of yourselves and one another. Remember you are loved. 
 
We love you all. We’re so proud of you. We hold you in our hearts and minds. Thank you for showing up to class in the midst of such a difficult time. You brought tears to our eyes as we witnessed the creativity, spirit and leadership continue to emerge from you, the students of LREI. 
 
As the summer unfolds, know that we are here for you, and we hope that you stay safe, stand up, make your voices heard, and change the course of history. And when you turn 18, VOTE!
 
We miss you. We love you. We cannot wait to see you again in September!
 
Remember that the way to guard against isolation and fear is community. Be in community, connect to community, and you will be reminded that there is hope and purpose and joy around you.
 
Class of 2023
 
 
Remember that the learning doesn’t end because school is out for the summer. Also, eat lots of amazing summer treats! And don’t forget to wash your hands. 
 
Times like this week remind me of how much I love LREI and how grateful I am to be a part of this community. The future is bright because of you kids. We’ll miss you this summer! Make sure to be safe, but enjoy your break from school.
 
I always say I work with the best teens in NYC and this year showed me even more of how special you all are. Your resiliency and thoughtful care for one another shines through and I’m so impressed with you. Have a good summer; I can’t wait to see you all again!
 
Thanks to all of our students–you have shown up, spoken up, embraced and continued to face difficulties with compassion and integrity. We love you. You will change the world.
 
And to our beloved Class of 2020–CONGRATULATIONS! We love you dearly.

===================================

(5/21/2020)

Dear Families,
 
 Please join us for our end of year events!
 
Friday, 
May 22nd
Field Day: Senior Recognition
Field Day is an LREI annual tradition, attended by K-12 students and teachers. Field Day begins by honoring seniors and announcing their college selections. We will host Field Day here, and begin at 9 am by assembling the entire LREI community to cheer for our seniors! Afterward, we will do buddy activities and then HS games. Field Day will end at noon. Seniors should wear red T-shirts, 9th-11th should wear brightly colored T-shirts!
Thursday,
May 28th
Lit Mag Coffee House & Visual Arts Showcase
Join in for our final Coffee House at 6:30 pm where we will release a digital version of the Lit Mag and open digital gallery spaces where we will hang student artwork that has been completed through the 2019-2020 school year.
Friday,
May 29th
 
Spring Ensemble Concert 
An institution-wide event! The High School Jazz Ensemble and Elisabeth Irwin Singers will share their work with the community. See invitation below!
Tuesday,
June 2nd
 
Senior Project Evening
This annual event is the culminating moment of our seniors’ academic work at LREI, and is attended by senior families, teachers, and LREI juniors. This evening begins at 6:30 pm with a gathering together, and then will proceed to Zoom rooms to hear senior presentations about their projects. In advance of this evening, senior families and juniors will receive a program indicating the Zoom ID where each senior will be sharing their work.
Thursday,
June 4th
 
Spring Festival  & Performing Arts Showcase
At 6:30 pm students in the HS Performing Arts classes, along with students directing and acting in the Spring Festival, will bring us an evening of theater and music.
Friday, 
June 5th
Final Assembly: 2019-2020 School Year 
Students & Faculty will gather in Margaret’s Zoom room at 2:00 pm for our final assembly. We want to gather for one final meeting before sending our students off for the summer!
 
Monday,
June 8th
Senior Celebration Evening
 Typically, seniors, parents, and faculty come together for a banquet and celebration of our seniors on the eve of graduation. This year, we invite senior families to set up a “banquet” at home, and join us for a Zoom gathering at 6:30 pm. We are planning lots of surprises for our seniors this evening, so senior families do not want to miss out on this! There will be more details to follow, but we encourage families to begin planning for your banquet-at-home to celebrate your senior that evening.
*Additional Senior Celebration and Alternate Graduation plans have been sent separately.*

===================================

(5/14/2020)

Dear Families,
 
I’m wondering if you can relate to the experience of leading a meeting in Zoom, but struggling to get a response from your co-workers? Or alternately, attending a meeting in Zoom, but not quite able to get into the conversation? The effects of the Zoom wall significantly affect our abilities to communicate and work in this work-from-home world.
 
And this is true for school-at-home as well. But our amazing teachers are using some fantastic tools that help them break through the Zoom wall and cultivate meaningful conversations and learning environments for our students.
 
Our teachers use Jamboard for silent conversations that make space for each student to add their thinking via post-it notes and annotation.
 
Personal Essay
 
And they use Jamboard to help students collaborate on problems and share their thinking with one another.
 
Conservation Biology
 
Through these tools, and many others, our LREI teachers are reaching through the Zoom screen and finding ways to re-create the learning communities that are intrinsic aspects of our in-person work.
Senior Calculus
 
A note about Student Health & Wellness . . . 
 
We are so impressed by the fortitude and resilience our students have shown during LREI@home. We know that they are getting tired, that the Zoom screens are causing headaches, and that staying motivated to complete homework at the end of the day is hard. We want to encourage you to problem solve these challenges with your student, and with your student’s advisor. Some students are finding that taking a part of day to rest is helpful, and others are finding that setting up a session with the Learning Center is what they need. We want you to know that we are here to support our students however we can . . . and to help them finish this trimester successfully.
 
From Phil – “We know there are a number of questions about whether we will offer any online classes this summer. We are putting together a list of classes and figuring out the timing and will be in touch soon. If you have specific questions/suggestions, do not hesitate to send me an email.”

===================================

(4/30/2020)

Dear Families,
 
We’re pretty sure you know this, but in case you haven’t heard it recently, your kids are amazing! With all sincerity, we can’t say enough about all the ways they are showing up for school everyday. They are making it to advisory each morning (albeit with very sleepy faces) and are moving through their school days with ease, as if they have been doing this for years.
 
And when kids have had tough days, parents have been so great too. You are responsive and supportive when we write and call. We are extremely grateful for your partnership and encouragement.
 
This week, we want to highlight some of the ways your students are stepping up with creativity and care for our LREI community.
 
 
 
 
Initiated by a 9th grader, students across all grades have spent their advisory periods this week writing notes to essential workers in our city.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A junior started a “Good News Newsletter” that is being sent to students weekly, and is a collection of news reports of creative, innovative solutions to problems, and reports of ways people are helping and caring for one another.
 
 
 
 
 
Upperclassmen are continuing to show up to support science learning for 9th and 10th graders through peer tutoring sessions. Moving to LREI@home has not kept our kids from their commitment to this program.
 
 
 
At lunch, juniors have been organizing activities and games for students –they have created a super fun cross-grade space to hang out together!
 
 
And finally, we have more students that ever before on the slate for next year’s Student Government. We are thrilled to see so many students stepping up for these leadership positions.
As we said at the beginning–your kids are amazing! The above notes represent only a few examples of how their resilience, creativity, and care of our community are helping them connect to one another during LREI@home.
 

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(4/23/2020)

Dear Families,
 
In a time of their lives where they are typically spending hours with friends and in extracurricular activities, our high school students are instead experiencing isolation in ways they could not ever have imagined.
 
Margaret ’22 working from home
Noteworthy for us are the comments students have made over the past week in advisories and classes . . . “I never thought I would miss going to school, but all I want now is to go back” is an echoing refrain. They are missing the visceral, tangible dimensions of our life at 40 Charlton, the textures of our day that can’t be replicated in the two-dimensional space of Zoom.

 

But an integral aspect of our LREI high school life at 40 Charlton is one that we are determinedly pursuing in our online spaces . . . that of connection.
 
Daniel’s Advisory being silly
Why? To ensure that the connectedness that defines our work with students is sustained across time, space, and platform because we know that in the lives of teenagers, these connections are essential to ground them, guide them, and assure them they are not alone.

 

The relationships between students and teachers are defining characteristics that set the LREI experience apart, and we are doing all we can to ensure that the connections, the moments of support, of listening, of sharing, extend into LREI@home.
 
 
Senior Project Cohort with Susan N.
 
Many of these moments can seem small from the outside, but we know they matter. Advisories are meeting in the mornings before classes begin, and advisors are checking in individually across the week. Teachers are conferring with students in breakout rooms–both providing feedback on work and listening to students express needs and concerns. X-Block spaces that have been important to students throughout the year are meeting, making space to talk and listen. We are gathering for assemblies, and playing games together during Life Lab. Allison and Margaret have an open office all day so that students and teachers can stop by.
 
Ann’s advisory’s art selfies from Google Arts & Culture
 
In short, our high school team is here for students. We are working everyday on our practice so that we can engage and challenge students through their academic work. And we meet and talk everyday about your kids to make sure they are seen, heard, and cared for during this time.
 
 
A short film by Konrad ’22 from Stephen’s Media class. 

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(4/16/2020)

Dear Families,
 
As we write from LREI@home this week, 3 themes come to mind that we want to share.
 
How our kids are doing matters to us! And it matters so much, that we are starting everyday with either Advisory check-ins or a moming meeting led by Allison and Margaret. Some have asked why these 10 minutes are important or necessary? Here’s our answer.
 
 Sandra’s 9th Grade Advisory
 
At 40 Charlton Street, a dean or co-principal greets students everyday when they come in the door, and often other teachers are there to greet students as well. We see them, we smile, we chat, we check-in. From there, students move to Advisory and then along to classes with teachers who know them, and are able to assess how they are doing and what they need through both formalized moments, and casual chats before and after class, and in the hallways.
 
Jane’s 11th Grade Advisory 
 
Having Advisory check-ins are helping us stay connected to students and to get their feedback on how they are doing. Underlying our pedagogical work of creating thriving learning environments is our commitment to caring for students’ social-emotional well-bring also, and we are doing all we can in LREI@home to carry this commitment out.
 
 
Jamboard Physics lesson
 
We are working to make our Zoom classrooms spaces of active learning, creativity, and fun! From virtual field trips to cooking to guest speakers, our teachers are working to create learning spaces that both help accomplish the experiences that we typically provide in our classrooms, as well as take advantage of opportunities to try new tools and resources.
 
This week Adele’s classes have played interactive games, researched French cuisine, and are going to begin cooking dishes!
 
 
Guest speaker Sandra Portal-Andreu for the Senior Project Wellness group on Wednesday! She talked about how Covid-19 has affected the arts and wellness community and the creative ways people are working to teach wellness to communities online.
 
 

11th Grade Drama “Family Road Trip–Nuts & Seeds”

More than ever, teachers are learners in our classrooms too! Everyday we are learning how to use new tools, incorporate new resources, and troubleshoot new problems. Together with our students we are navigating our new virtual classrooms, and are grateful for their abilities to help us when we need it! In addition, as a high school faculty we are meeting in small groups across the week to continuously adopt new practices and tools, and to problem solve together. Rest assured that we are pushing ourselves to grow our skills and to keep engaging with our students in meaningful, creative ways!
 
Faculty Meeting
 

And finally, here is a stop-motion animation video made by Rei ’21 for Shauna’s 3-D Art Class. It’s awesome.
 

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(4/2/2020)
 
Dear Families,
 
Hello! We are writing to you our first “letter from LREI@home”! We’re channeling our experiences of being at a distance–summer camp, going to college, traveling on study abroad–to think about our communications with you. Each week during the duration of LREI@home, we’ll send a letter updating you on the experiences of your students in this new, digital school space. We will try to answer your questions and keep information coming, and we will certainly highlight all of the creative ways our teachers are engaging with your students in their classes. NOTE: This letter is long, as we have a lot of information to give you this week. Our future communications will be much shorter!
 
So, first and foremost, it has been an incredibly successful week in the High School! Every single student has shown up to class, and we have had minimal tech issues. This means that 260 high schoolers and 30+ faculty and staff have moved through our regular school day (with longer breaks in between classes) all together via Zoom–WOW! We are grateful to all of the support we have received from our Tech Team to ensure that running a HS LREI@home school day is possible.
 
Students have engaged in their Trimester 3 classes with enthusiasm and determination, and have expressed appreciation at the familiarity of the schedule, and appreciation for Zoom features like breakout rooms, which provide them with the option for small group work that mirrors their regular classrooms. We have lots more to learn and to try as we move through the weeks of this trimester, but this week has been foundational, and we are so thrilled that all is going so well!
 
Today, we want to make sure you have the information you need to help your student continue to navigate LREI@home successfully. Below is important information regarding attendance, guidelines for engaging in class, and upcoming programming for students.
  • If your student is going to be absent from school (i.e. is sick and can’t join via Zoom) please continue to email hs-attendance@lrei.org.
  • Our nurses are on call and are holding office hours every morning for students, families, and LREI faculty/staff. Please don’t hesitate to reach out at their shared Zoom ID.
  • For tech issues for your student’s laptop, or for issues of internet instability, please email help@lrei.org and someone from our Tech Team will contact you/your student asap.
  • For academic support, students should continue to reach out to the Learning Center team via email or Zoom (students have the Zoom IDs for Jess, Jonathan and Jerry).
  • For any question regarding other areas of school, your student’s Advisor is still your first point of contact.
  • As always, Allison and Margaret are available via email and Zoom meetings.
Next week, we are excited to launch our online X-Block and new Y-Block activity and exercise options for students!
  • X-Block will still run at the same time in the schedule (2:15-3:10). Now, students will have the option to join new X-Blocks as they go through the trimester. They can stop by them once, or stay in them all trimester. Students will receive an email by the weekend regarding the X-Block options with Zoom ID numbers. We hope that students will take this opportunity to try something new, and to fill their X-Block schedule since they may not have extracurricular commitments right now.
  • Y-Block is an additional activities period that is going to run from 3:15-5pm and will offer a range of community building and social activities, including exercise options. Students will recieve a code to add the Y-Block session to their Google Classroom accounts, and from there they can select the sessions they want to take. Options range from Yoga, and Strength-Training, to Cooking, Knitting, Volunteering from Home and more! We are thrilled to offer this new block of options as a way for students to engage in community activities with their friends. Advisors will be talking with students to help them understand how this new block works.
And finally, a few notes about upcoming communication for families:
  • Tomorrow you will receive a separate email from us regarding the grading plan for the high school this trimester.
  • Next Monday evening, April 6th, we will host a series of “Back to School” meetings for families. The schedule for those meetings is as follows:
    • 12th grade families @ 5:45 pm
    • 11th grade families @ 6:15 pm
    • 9th & 10th grade families @ 6:45 pm
  • Families should submit questions in advance to Allison and Margaret (aisbell@lrei.org and mpaul@lrei.org)
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(3/27/2020)
 
 
Hey LREI Student Body . . . ready for online school next Tuesday? WE ARE!
We have missed you and are excited to see you all online for classes, beginning Tuesday, March 31st!
 
After the past couple of weeks, we have made one small revision to our plan for Tuesday. We want to BEGIN our day in Advisory at 8:30. We want each of you to have the chance to check in with your advisor before starting your first class at 8:45. You advisor will post their Zoom meeting ID in Connect for you–just “Join a Meeting” on Zoom with that meeting ID and it will put you in your “advisory room”. At that point, if you have any questions or need anything, you can let your advisor know and they can help you.
 
In advance of Tuesday, if you are having issues with your laptop or internet connection, please let us know immediately and we will connect with the Tech Team.
Also, please remember the guidelines we went over before the break regarding online learning. Specifically:
  • Please be dressed as you would for a regular school day; you should wake up and get ready for your day before your Zoom meeting at 8:30
  • Classes run for 40 minutes (starting at their usual times) so you will have a chance to take breaks/get snacks etc. in between classes
  • Please set up a work space for yourself with your books, notebooks, and computer ready. If you need to use your bed as a workspace, please make your bed and set up your materials for class. Also remember that you can use backgrounds if you would like, but please choose one and keep it for the entire class (switching is very distracting)
  • You are welcome to use headphones for classes
Some additional notes as we begin Trimester 3:
  • If you would like to ADD/DROP a class, you can email your forms to Margaret: mpaul@lrei.org. Forms are due by WEDNESDAY.
  • X-Block will begin next week. We will be in touch with X-Block leaders about how this will work.
  • Grades and Comments from Trimester 2 will be available by Monday, April 6th.
  • We know that making the switch to online learning may be challenging at times, but we ask that you show up to all of your classes, and communicate with us, with your advisors, or with your teachers if you are having a hard time. We will take attendance so that we can monitor how things are going, and we will follow-up with you and with your family if we don’t see you in class. It is one way that we will be able to take care of you from afar!
And finally, we recognize that there are many unanswered questions about school during Trimester 3, and that this is hard. We are all going to work together through these uncertain times. You are loved by your LREI faculty and staff, and we are here for you! Updates on return-to-school status will come from Phil and the LREI Board, and you will be told anytime a decision has been made. At this point, we are all working with the goal of returning to school on Monday, April 20th.
 
With much love,
Allison and Margaret
 
===========================
(3/27/2020)
Dear High School Families,
 
First, we have been thinking of you so much over the past two weeks, and hoping that your families are doing ok as you weather the challenging times we are in. It has been a strange time to be away from our students, and we are looking forward to seeing them on Tuesday, March 31st as we begin LREI@home.
 
The plan for high school students has been shared with you through the LREI@home site. You can find this at any point that you need to refer to it in the upper, right-hand corner of the Lrei.org homepage. We will continue to add information there as needed.
 
Our plan for high school students is to run our school online similarly to our regular school day. After extensive reading and research, we feel that making connections with our students is our top priority, and we can do this best in “face to face” classes. Our class times are shorter: 40 minutes instead of our usual 65, and students will have 25 minute breaks in between classes to step away from their computers, get a snack, and move around. Our school day will start at 8:30 in Advisory on Tuesday, so that students have a chance for a check-in before they get into their first period classes.
 
Right now we have posted some additional information for you on the High School Resource page on Connect, and this information will also be duplicately posted on the LREI@home site. The following is posted on the HS Resource page now:
  • “Who to Contact” reference information during LREI@home
  • High School teacher/leadership Zoom meeting ID numbers (students need these to “go to class” so you might find the reference page helpful)
  • LREI@home online norms for being in class via Zoom, or other digital spaces
  • Zoom tutorials
In preparation for Tuesday, we ask that you check-in with your student about the following:
  • Devices are working properly and they have Zoom loaded (we checked this before they left for the break, but always good to double-check)
  • Designated “work area” plan where they will “go to school” each day
  • Materials for class are ready: texts, notebooks, pens/pencils, computer chargers
  • Any concerns/questions they have that we may need to help with prior to Tuesday morning
And finally, please do not hesitate to reach out to either of us at any point–we are here for you, and ready to make LREI@home as meaningful and successful as possible for our students. Separate from this All-Parent email, we will be in touch in the coming week to address specific grade-level questions, particularly for Junior and Senior families.

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(3/6/2020)
 
Dear Families,
 
On the heels of Phil’s email today, we are sending an update on our preparations in the high school. We have been very busy building LREI@home!
 
We met with students in Morning Meeting today, and walked them through the process of prepping for our distance learning plan.
 
First, we have worked to make sure that every student has the Zoom app loaded on their laptops, and most students were able to practice using it in a class today. Teachers are also prepared to use Google Meet if Zoom becomes overwhelmed with traffic.
 
 
 
Next, we asked students to take all learning materials home with them today–notebooks, books, and handouts are now tucked in their backpacks so that they are prepared to learn and study from home.
 
 
 
And finally, we sent home new books and materials for their trimester 3 classes . . . and our Arts teachers even put together bags of materials for creating at home (clay for 3D art below)!
 
 
In all, as students walked out today prepared to learn from home if necessary. We are, of course, planning for school to be in session next week; please do not read our preparedness as a signal toward closure. We just want to make sure that we’ve done all we can to make students feel secure and ready.
 
In the event of closure, we will communicate the full distance learning plan to students and families.
 

Dear Families,

We hope this email finds you healthy and safe, and preparing for the start of LREI@home and Afterschool@home.

Our Afterschool Teachers have been preparing for teaching online and look forward to connecting with students!

Please note when you visit the LREI@home page, scroll down and click on Afterschool Plan, a calendar will open up. Please make sure you are clicking on the correct class on the correct day and time, in which your student is enrolled.

A few notes/requests:

  • All Programs occur during the same day and time as they typically would.  

  • The first hour of Core Afterschool will be programmed – activities, stories, games etc, followed by “open hangout”  where teachers will be available for students to check in, share, get some homework help, etc. This particular time will evolve over time as teachers learn what students need most. 

  • Please support your child in setting up their device (especially for each first class, lesson, or core program) so that your child can easily be seen, and understand how to use the Google Meet tool.

  • Please keep in mind that some of our teachers will be teaching online for the first time. There will certainly be glitches and times when the lesson or program doesn’t go as well as it could’ve in person. That said, we’ll all certainly gain skills in navigating the tools we are using. If you have questions or suggestions, please refer to the contact us section to find out who to contact about what.

We look forward to getting started and seeing you online!

Warm Regards,

Cari and Clara