On the essential partnership between school and family

From guest blogger, Phil Kassen

Dear LREI Families,

Over the next couple of weeks, each of you, across the divisions, will have the opportunity to have conferences with your child’s teacher(s) or advisor(s). These meetings are essential moments in your children’s school year as the conversations that happen on these days align the efforts of school and home, reinforcing and strengthening the work done by all. As many of you know, in the middle and high school divisions the students become the third and guiding voice in these conversations, allowing for an ever more accurate understanding of the classroom experience.

The School’s goals in these discussions are to give families a sense of the student’s experience in school, to celebrate successes and to work with the family to support areas of challenge. We look forward to hearing from students and families about these areas and to creating strategies that ensure increasing success for all. While clearly the exception, there may well be times when the educators and family members disagree about the best ways to address concerns and, as is always the case in our community, we look forward to respectful conversations about these areas as we work to reach consensus. Clearly, all share the goal of creating the best school year possible for each student.

One other thought on the essential partnership between school and family. There will be times throughout the school year when families have questions or concerns and might not be sure to whom to turn for assistance. These questions might concern the School’s educational program or might have to do with the general operation of LREI. In order to help with this question, we created a diagram, which we previously shared with those families new to LREI who attended our orientation program—LREI 101. While each situation is different, we hope this diagram helps when you are unsure who is most likely to have the answer to your question. As stated on the chart, “Look for the person most directly involved with your question or concern and contact that person first.” This can be difficult. However, finding a way to approach the person most closely involved, no matter how uncomfortable, will, more often than not, lead most quickly to an answer. When in doubt, ask anyone and we will help you to find the correct person or people with whom to confer.

Thank you all for your honest and thoughtful partnership.

Best,

Phil

Calendar:

  • The school’s calendar can be accessed by clicking here.
  • For general LREI Athletics news go to this link . This page will provide general announcements, game summaries, league standings and season recaps.
  • November 9-Parent/Advisor conferences, all day. Advisors will call individual families to make an appointment.

Updates and announcements:

  1. The Parents of Children of Color Breakfast is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6th at 8:00AM in the Sixth Avenue cafeteria. Many high school students will attend this event. For additional information, please view the flyer.
  2. Family Book Night! Wed., Nov. 7, 6:30 to 8 PM, Charlton St. Performing Arts Center at 40 Charlton St.—A free family-friendly event that showcases our wonderful LREI librarians. Jen, Stacy, Karyn and Jesse will give their latest recommendations for all ages on the theme, “From Double Fudge to Gossip Girls: Social Class in Youth Literature.” Middle and High School students will also present book reviews of some of their latest reads. Featured titles will be on sale. Children of all ages are most welcome. There will be food and drink, plus a separate storytime space for younger children, all courtesy of the Literary Committee. Please join us for an evening all about books that will get you and your kids reading and thinking! For more information, please read the attached flyer.
  3. Would you like to contribute to a great cause and get in a good run or walk at the same time? Join the LREI Race to Deliver team! God’s Love We Deliver will hold their annual 4-mile run/walk called the Race to Deliver on Sun., Nov. 18; this year will be the first time there is an LREI team! To join, visit http://www.racetodeliver.org, click on Join a Team, and choose LREI from the list of teams. Prior to the main race, there are Fun Runs for kids, at manageable distances. It is lots of fun, the kids get goody bags, you can run, walk or cheer on the participants. Even if you don’t run, your children can participate in the kids’ runs, and any running friends you may have can sign up to be on our team as well.
  4. Many of you have read the reports in the news about MRSA, a methicillin resistant Staphlococcus aureus. MRSA is a strain of bacteria that does not respond to the penicillin family of antibiotics although it is treatable with other types of antibiotics. Please read the attached letter from School Nurse Kitty Highstein about this health issue.
  5. For updates on faculty performances, openings, presentations, and publications visit the Faculty in the News page on the school web site.
  6. LREI is a member of NYC-Parents in Action (NYC-PIA). NYC-PIA provides parenting education, information and a communications network to help parents prepare their children and teenagers to cope with social pressures and to make sound choices towards a future free of alcohol and drug abuse. Please read the attached flyer to view their 2007-2008 calendar. You can also access their website at http://www.parentsinaction.org/. The next meeting, on November 5 at 6:30 PM, will take place in our Charlton Street cafeteria! Also, the next seminar:
  • Life Skills 101:
    Mastering the Big Transitions in Middle and Upper School
    The seminar will take place Thursday November 8, 2007 from 6:00-7:30 PM at Temple Israel located at 112 East 75th Street in New York City.
    Featured panelists will include: Bernard Dreyer, M.D. NYU Professor of Pediatrics and Vice-Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics, Kimberly Williams Psy.D. NYU Child Study Center, Edes Gilbert Retired Head of the Spence School and President of Resource Group 175, an education consultantcy, and Bruce Breimer Principal Emeritus of Collegiate School and college consultant.
    This seminar will be moderated by Lucy Martin Gianino. Reservations are required. To place a reservation send an email to reservations@parentsinaction.org, or call NYC-Parents in Action at 212-987-9629. To view a copy of the Seminar Flyer click on http://parentsinaction.org/file/Life_Skills_Flyer.

Comments are closed.