“We ask you to make good decisions about difficult issues with little information.”

Dear Families,

Today, Don McPherson, former college (Syracuse University) and professional athlete (Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Oilers), featured on “Nightline” and “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, board member of the Ms. Foundation and founder and executive director of the Sports Leadership Institute at Adelphi University, spoke to our students as the first speaker in a series called, “Gender and Sexuality, What’s Next in the Conversation.” His talk touched on quite a few issues surrounding gender and power. As a former professional athlete and as someone in the spotlight, he uses his time to address violence prevention, reducing violence against women, masculinity, what it means to be a man, and ending homophobia. He was able to connect with students right away, as he understands that often society asks that students “make good decisions about difficult issues with little information.”

We are fortunate to have had him here, as he had inspired conversations that I hope come home with your child (or children!) tonight.

This series, which includes eight different assemblies over the course of the 2007-2008 school year and smaller group workshops, is meant to continue to support and create more safe space for our diverse population. It is critical for us to use our assembly time as “class time.” Assembly is a place where we all learn, students, faculty and staff together, and this educational experience strengthens our bond as we work to better understand the issues facing us in the world, especially in an election year. At the same time, as our school’s mission encourages, we create opportunities for our students to explore issues “beyond celebration” and often, this is difficult for us to do. While some of the topics, which include human rights, national and international issues, challenge us all, the dialogue is important and we are excited to begin the dialogue.

As assembly speakers are confirmed, I will add the speaker information and flyer to this blog, and if you would like to attend any of them, please feel free.

All the best,

Ruth

Calendar:

Please be reminded that tomorrow is class picture day! While we do not take individual portrait photographs, class pictures will be available for purchase online through a photo-sharing website. I will update the purchasing information as it comes.

  • September 28, 11:00-1:00 PM-Class pictures, PAC
  • October 2, 6:30 PM- 9th grade potluck and meeting with our Student Wellness team.
  • October 5-School closed, Professional Day
  • October 8-Columbus Day, School Closed
  • October 17-PSAT test for all 10th and 11th Graders

Updates and announcements:

  1. Beginning September 27, every Thursday through November 29, I will host a very informal morning coffee from 7:45 to 8:15 AM in the cafeteria.
  2. If you would like to be a parent rep, please contact Ronnie Halper, P’11 and Vice President of the Parent Association at rsh@panix.com
  3. From Michel de Konkoly Thege, Associate Director, regarding the Debate Series: Phil Kassen has asked me to help organize the creation of a series of debates and discussions leading up to the Presidential elections in November 2008. Our hope is to create a community forum to discuss and debate the issues, not the candidates. If you would like to be part of a small group of faculty, parents and students who will organize these debates, or if you have suggestions for debate topics, please contact me at mdekonkolythege@lrei.org or 212.477.5316, ext 319 by October 3 to let me know of your interest. I would like to convene an initial meeting of the organizing group in mid-October to discuss the format and potential content of these debates.”
  4. A reminder for families new to LREI: LREI 101 will provide an in-depth, interactive, and engaging introduction to LREI, its mission, philosophy, and diversity initiatives. This orientation session will offer you an opportunity to understand our core values as you begin to take part in activities that help you become a member of the LREI community. LREI 101 will be held on Wednesday, October 3 from 8:45am – 10am at 272 Sixth Avenue, and then again on Thursday, October 11 from 6:30pm – 8:00pm at 40 Charlton Street. Please contact the receptionist at 212-477-5316 to let us know which session you will attend. Contact Director of Diversity and Community Chap Chapman either by phone (x294), or by e-mail schapman@lrei.org, if you have questions about LREI 101.

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