Simon Staples-Vangel ’12 is an LREI hero.
Dear Families,
Everyone knows that I appreciate all of the students we have here at LREI. We have the most terrific community of individuals, and each student has his or her own story that makes their experience here a unique one. One student, Simon Staples-Vangel, who I know as a typical 11th grader and know as a student very well as I taught him in two literature classes this year, has an amazing story of survival from pediatric cancer that will inspire you truly, but most importantly, has a cause that we absolutely need to support: Kids Walk for Kids With Cancer. On May 7, in Central Park, this annual event will raise funds that are desperately needed to support research and hopefully cures for cancers that affect children. Pediatric Cancer research is significantly underfunded and much of the treatment for these illnesses, experimental.
To hear more about Simon’s personal experience and more information about Kids Walk for Kids With Cancer, please watch this talk Simon gave to The Calhoun School last week. Our own Grace Tobin ’12 designed the Kids Walk logo on their website, posters and shirts again this year!
Also, please take a look at this important, short documentary that highlights the challenges families face when confronting pediatric cancer and provides an insight into why funds for pediatric cancer research are needed. It was directed, produced and edited by Simon, Tiffany Ramos ’12, and Leon Sukhram ’13 for our Media Advocacy class.
This film has been selected to be shown in the 2011 Lighthouse International Film Festival K-12 Student Film Category. This year’s festival runs June 3rd to June 5th in Red Bank, NJ with the film showing on Sunday, June 5th, from 1-3 pm. It was also selected for The Westport Youth Film Festival (WYFF) in Fairfield County, CT. This is a two-day film festival for high school student filmmakers and their film was selected from “over 2,000 film submissions throughout the United States, and from other countries, including China, Indonesia, India, and Israel.”
And…
“WYFF celebrates the work of youth filmmakers, from across the United States and world, who show their work at the festival each spring and receive support and career guidance from film professionals through WYFF programming and events. WYFF has launched the film careers of numerous alumni, who have gone on to some of the best film schools in the country, and subsequently graduate to pursue successful careers in the field.”
This year’s 8th annual Westport Youth Film Festival will take place at the Fairfield Community Theater, in downtown Fairfield, CT on May 14, 2011. Tickets are on sale now.
Please support this important cause either by registering for the walk on May 7 and/or by donating funds. If anything, take a look at the links above and be as proud of Simon and our students as we are.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Ruth
Updates and Announcements:
*Families, while we do not hold formal spring conferences for students in grades 9-11, do not hesitate to contact your child’s advisor, dean, Sarvjit, Micah or me, to schedule an appointment before the end of the school year.
1. BIG THANK YOU to all who participated in last weekend’s coffeehouse fundraiser for Japan! So far, LREI with the previous bake sale and coffehouse combined has collected over $5000 for Japan’s Red Cross Society. Donations will still be accepted until May 6. Donation boxes are at reception at both Charlton Street and Sixth Avenue buildings.
2. TO ALL PARENTS FROM THE PARENTS ASSOCIATION:
Spring is here, so it is time to start planning for the next school year. The Parents Association would like to let you know the many ways you can participate. Becoming a parent rep is a great way to get involved. If you have not been a parent rep before but would like to try it or find out more about it, please let us know. We would be happy to talk to you more about what the job entails. You can also refer to the Family Handbook (accessible through our website www.LREI.org) for the Parent Rep Guidelines. We will be matching parent reps to classes in mid-August or so, when the class lists are finalized.
If you’re looking for other ways to get involved, you could consider volunteering for any of our PA committees; please click here for the list. Please email us at PA-Presidents@lrei.org if you have any questions or suggestions.
All parents are cordially invited to the Volunteer Thank You and Welcome Breakfast on Friday, May 20th, from 8 to 9:30 AM in the courtyard at 40 Charlton St. This event is for all present and future parent volunteers, and will be a time to learn more about what the PA does. Representatives of all PA committees will be present, so it will be a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
Thank you and have a great spring,
Regina Trumbull and Susie Marples
3. From Chap, Director of Diversity and Community: Dear Families, please join us for the screening of Straightlaced: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up during Part 3 of 3 of How to Raise an Ally: Social Justice at LREI, Friday, April 29, 8:45 – 10:45 am in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria. Please click here for more information!