Autumn in the High School

As the weather cools and days darken, many teachers might be tempted to hunker down inside with their students and stick to their tried-and-true lessons and routines.  Not so at LREI.  Throughout the high school, the faculty are engaging students in provocative discussions, assigning challenging and relevant projects, leading experiential trips around the city, and welcoming inspirational guests into their classrooms.  In this way, the faculty inspire students to pursue their own academic passions and model how to be life-long learners.  Here are just a few of the exciting things happening in high school classrooms this fall:

  • Art Teacher Janet Atkinson writes: It was a busy beginning of the school year in the art studio.   11th grade students made shoes from cardboard and are now concentrating on an observed still life painting.  Other students visited the Chelsea art show of LREI parent Anne Delaney.  Anne graciously agreed to meet with the students to discuss her work and take questions – what an amazing opportunity!
  • Sergei Mikhelson‘s 12th grade Advanced Math class just completed a project on finding an optimal production policy for companies using Linear Programming and started discovering the Election Theory, where they examine the advantages and drawbacks of different voting models. 11th grade Algebra II students are in the final stage of creating a drawing using only graphs of functions discussed throughout the course.
  • Last week, the entire 9th grade wrote an interdiscplinary essay analyzing the character of Antigone (from the play by Sophocles) through the comparative lens of the life of Socrates.  English Teacher Jane Belton and History Teacher Tom Murphy collaborated on this innovative writing assignment.
  • Meghan Farley Astrachan‘s 12th Grade Drama class is writing and recording Radio Plays with WNYC Radio!
  • Music teacher Vin Scialla writes: LREI World Music Series kicked off the year with master mandolinist, Snehasish Mozumder.  The performance focused on “Music from India: tradition to invention.” A masterclass with Snehasish and Sameer (tabla) followed the performance with an intimate Q & A for LREI student musicians.   Snehasish Mozumder, an exploratory string virtuoso, expands the boundaries of the mandolin instrument.
  • In Tom Murphy‘s Global War on Terrorism class, students are practicing to be policy-makers of the future, researching and writing their own policy briefs.
  • Janet Atkinson and Susan Now took their 12th grade Studio Art and Photography classes to see Emma Thompson’s exhibit in Washington Square Park called Journey, an art installation that explores one woman’s “journey into hell” when she was trafficked to the UK.  The installation will be in WSP from today November 10 until November 16.  Click here for details.
  • In the Constitutional Law elective, history teacher Bill Bailey runs the discussion using the Socratic method, typical of a law school class.  Students must be ready to answer any question with correct legal vocabulary.  This week’s topic was school desegregation, with students studying Supreme Court Cases from Brown to Bakke.
  • The 10th grade Dance students worked on a group piece, featuring 90-second solo material by each dancer.  During class, teacher Peggy Peloquin conferences individually with students to guide them through the creative process.
  • Students in English teacher Ileana Jimenez‘s “Fierce and Fabulous: Feminist Literature” class watched the film Very Young Girls, about the commercial sexual exploitation of girls in NYC.  This documentary was made by the organization GEMS (Girls Educational Mentoring Services): it’s mission is to “is to empower young women, ages12-21, who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking, to exit the commercial sex industry and develop to their full potential.  GEMS is committed to ending commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking of children by changing individual lives, transforming public perception, and revolutionizing the systems and policies that impact sexually exploited youth.” Visitors to the class include two outreach workers from GEMS the executive director from Equality Now, Taina Bien-Aime.  Ileana writes, “I’m proud of our students for taking on these conversations seriously, and for my colleagues and I to be engaging our students in taking action against these horrific crimes against women and children.”

I, too, am very proud of the high school students and faculty.  It has been a pleasure and an honor to act as principal for these past few months.  Thank you, everyone.

And welcome back Ruth!

All best, Julia

UPCOMING EVENTS in the HIGH SCHOOL

  • Friday, November 13 – SCHOOL CLOSED for Family/Student/Advisor conferences. This is an opportunity for you to discuss you child’s progress and set goals for the rest of the year.   Students are expected to attend some or all of their conference.
  • Friday, November 13  & Saturday, November 14 –  High School Play in the PAC. THE SPIRIT OF THE RIDGE is a story about the timelessness and necessity of friendship and peace, and the importance of connecting to the past.  Themes and topics covered in the play include school bullying, inner-strength, loyalty, compassion, celebrating differences, and learning about Native cultures and traditions.  Details: Friday, November 13th at 7pm, Saturday, November 14th at 2pm and 7pm, Performing Arts Center, 40 Charlton Street.  Tickets on sale next week in both the 6th Ave and Charlton Street locations!  For more information contact Meghan Farley Astrachan at 212-477-5316 x399.
  • Monday, November 16 – Ruth returns from maternity leave!
  • Wednesday, November 18 – HS Parent Reps Meeting @ 8 am.
  • Wednesday, November 25 – School closes at noon for Thanksgiving vacation.
  • Friday, December 4 – Review day (all classes meet)
  • Monday, December 7 – Reading day (No regular classes, thought there will be schedule review sessions and faculty office hours.  Schedule varies by grade; more details to follow)
  • Tuesday, December 8-Thursday, December 10 – Trimester 1 Exams/Projects/Presentations (detailed schedule coming soon)
  • Friday, December 11 – Community Service Day (no classes) – Students are encouraged to partner with a city service organization on this day.  Any questions, please inquire at your family conference or speak to your child’s Grade Dean.
  • Monday, December 14 – Trimester 2 begins.
  • Tuesday, December 15 – Winter Concert @ 6:30 pm.
  • Friday, December 18 – School closes at 12:00 pm for Winter Break.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A Message from Chap, Director of Diversity & Community

Civic education specialist, Joel Westheimer, encourages us to raise justice-oriented citizens. (Click here to read his article on democracy and education.)This individual looks at the root of a problem and the layers of complexity involved in understanding unjust situations before attempting to join others in exploring strategies and finding resolutions. There are various curricular opportunities at LREI where students’s awareness of social justice issues in history and in the present is raised. They learn of the actions of justice-oriented citizens and the impact their work has in creating necessary change.  While at home, on a play-date, or on a walk around the city, you and your children are encountering injustices and unfair treatment of various groups of people. Sometimes our observations lead us to take action and we join organizations, volunteer our time, write letters, read literature to become more informed, or talk about the issue further at the kitchen table.  Sometimes it is as simple as how we address a disagreement between siblings that begins with, “That’s not fair!”  One might ask, “What else can I do to help my child be an engaged, sensitive, and active citizen?” “How do I raise a child of the 21st Century to be inclusive and socially just?” “How do I raise an Ally?”  Join us in a  discussion to explore how you can help raise a social justice ally.  Friday, November 20, 2009 at 8:45 am in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria. Grab some coffee, bring a friend, and engage in the first of a 3 part series of discussions with fellow LREI parents.  Click here to see the flyer for this event. Social_Justice-1.pdf

From the Red is Green Committee:

  • The Climate Quilt Campaign: The Green Schools Alliance is sponsoring a Climate Quilt and LREI students are invited to participate.  Join children from all around the globe in creating a quilt with your very own signed environmental pledge.  This quilt will be displayed in Copenhagen during the UN Climate Conference and other places leading up to Earth Day 2010.  Let world leaders hear your voice.  Look for our tables next week on Monday 11/16 and Wednesday 11/18 afterschool.  For more information, click here for our flyer (Climate Quilt Poster.pdf) or visit www.climatequilt.org.
  • Textile Recycle Drive: Thank you to the LREI community for bringing in your unwanted textiles.  Rather than ending up in landfills, so far we have collected over 20 large garbage bags worth of used clothing, towels, sheets and other textiles to be recycled.  We will have a box in the lobby on Friday for any last minute drop-offs.
  • Ink Cartridges:  We continue to collect empty ink cartridges through November to be recycled.  Every year in the US we throw away over 375 million cartridges.  Bins are located by the reception desks at both the high school and 6th Ave.

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