Excellent Happenings

Dear Families,

I was recently asked to give some current highlights of the high school. It was a pleasure to compile the list of excellent happenings here, and I thought I would share them with you:

  • We have two Scholastic Writing Award winners this year. Senior Duncan Lewis won a GOLD KEY for his short story “Sexy Caramel” and a SILVER KEY for his science fiction/fantasy story “Stairway to Heaven.” Junior Margo Pomelova won TWO SILVER KEYS for her short stories “The Photo” and “The Icy Boulevard (Through the Eyes of an Observer)”.
  • 21 students participated in our Honors Project program last trimester; 30 are participating this trimester. Project topics include: Building an Electric Generator, a Study of the Techniques, Chemicals and Processes used in Forensic Science, a documentary about family values in the lesbian and gay community versus anti-gay comments in the media, an Exploration of the Modernist Era, Writing Memoir: Walt Whitman’s “Song of Self”, a Study of Quantum Mechanics, and AP American History prep. Our annual Honors Project Breakfast will be on May 15, and an assembly celebrating these projects will be the same day at 1 PM.
  • The students continue to demand to discuss the upcoming election. Today’s assembly focused on the issue of biofuels and the effect it is having on food supply prices and the resulting riots taking place around the world.
  • Half of the 11th Grade class applied to be a Peer Leader next year; this program, in its third year, is now an important leadership opportunity for our students. Peer Leaders provide mentorship and guidance to incoming Ninth Grade students. Peer Leaders for the 08-09 school year will be announced in two weeks. Thanks to this year’s Peer Leader group for their invaluable service and work with the Ninth Grade: Jesse Towsen, Dean DeChiaro, Ava Hamilton, Alley Dumas, Gavin Cady, Samru Abraha, Liz Zimilies, Keith Nocera, Sophie Balis-Harris, and Alejandro Montoya, all members of the Class of 2008.
  • We have added another evening for the college process (date was announced last year) for our Tenth Grade families, “Introduction to the College Process” with Amy Shapiro, Director of College Guidance will take place on April 22, at 6:30 PM.
  • Inspired by the art show at Synchronicity Arts, and the previous Broadway benefits, Senior Ella Saunders-Crivello, has put together a two-day event/art installation and benefit at a gallery space on Mercer Street. She is encouraging young artists from our school, Grades 9-12, to donate their favorite, original art pieces for purchase; 80% of the purchase price will be donated to one of four charities–the artist’s choice. The charities are Action against Hunger, Doctors without Borders, the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation, and Sean Casey Animal Rescue, a no kill shelter in Brooklyn, NY. This event, ArtACTION, will take place on May 10 (opening reception, 3 PM-8 PM) and May 11 from 12 PM-8 PM, 7 Mercer Street, New York City.
  • The Second Annual Literary Magazine Publishing Party Coffeehouse is on May 17, 7 PM, Performing Arts Center. The magazine is incredible this year.
  • Last night, 11th and 12th Grade participants of our performing arts classes, Playwriting, Musical Theater and Drama, presented their best works. The evening, Dionysus: Celebration of Spring truly was a celebration! The students who participated, Seniors Jane Sternbach, Gavin Cady, Duncan Lewis, Jeffrey Adler, Emory Cohen, Dylan Rossman, Ava Hamilton, Dean DeChiaro, Liz Zimilies, Laura Hallman, Alejandro Montoya, Aaron Michel and Brendan McCormick, and Juniors Ben Wellington, Alec Feld, Vera Aaron, Jessica Wilson, Vio Picayo, Lola Lorber, and Thea Aguiar were all memorable in their roles. Thanks to their instructors, Meghan Astrachan, Julia Heaton, and Carrie Korn, who went above and beyond to put this now-annual event together.

This is a great time to be part of the high school community. As always, there is more to come.

All the best,

Ruth

  • The school’s calendar can be accessed by clicking here.
  • Click here to view the 2008-2009 LREI Calendar.
  • For general LREI Athletics news go to this link . This page will provide general announcements, game summaries, league standings and season recaps.

Updates and Announcements:

1. Are you interested in being a parent representative for the 08-09 school year? Please contact Kasey Picayo, P ’09, picayosmith@aol.com or Ronnie Halper, P ’11, rsh@panix.com.

2. Next Monday evening, April 21, the Literary Committee invites you to stay home with your family and read together. Choose an old favorite, try a new story, or peruse poetry to get ready for our schoolwide Poem-in-Your-Pocket Day on Tuesday, April 22. Please click here for the flyer.

3. A message from Chap, Director of Diversity & Community:

Bring the Conversation Home: Strategies for addressing challenging diversity topics your child brings home. Thank you to those who were able to attend last Tuesday’s diversity discussion. A list of articles and parent resources can be found at the following link: http://lrei.org/diversity/pdf/bit_parent_resources.pdf

4. Big Auction 2008 is coming on May 1. You should have received an invitation during the last week – if not please contact Pippa Gerard at pgerard@lrei.org.

5. As a class fundraiser, the Ninth Grade is collecting used ink jet cartridges and old/broken cell phones. They will send the collected items to an organization that recycles them and the class will receive cash for these items. Please note that the collection is limited to used ink jet cartridges and old/broken cell phones. For additional information go to www.fundingfactory.com. Their collection will continue until Thursday, May 22nd. A collection box is located in the Charlton Street lobby. Tell your friends and family about this opportunity so that these items can be recycled and don’t end up in landfills.

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