Dear LREI Community,

I write with a quick update on this coming weekend’s Benefit Coffeehouse. On Saturday, February 6th, at 6:30 PM, LREI’s high school students will host a benefit open mike night to raise money to support relief work in Haiti.  Tickets prices are $20 for adults and $10 for students.  We have a full lineup of performers and the makings of a delectable bake sale.

From MicahDove Gottlieb, HS Assistant Principal, “This Coffee House will be an entertaining event in support of a worthy cause. We already have a great line-up of high school, middle school, faculty, and community members set to perform. If you are interested in performing or helping out in any way, please contact Micah a MDGottlieb@LREI.org. Mark your calendar now!”

The Coffeehouses are always fun events.  In addition to having a good time, this month’s Coffeehouse will support relief efforts in Haiti.  All money raised during the Coffeehouse will support the work of two organizations. One, Partners in Health, has been involved in healthcare efforts in Haiti for many years. Learn more about them at www.pih.org. The second, The Harris Rosen Foundation, was founded by LREI alum, Harris Rosen, ’57. The Rosen Foundation is working with Haitian communities in Florida to send money and supplies to Haiti. The Foundation is also beginning to plan for rebuilding efforts including funding the development of earthquake and hurricane resistant housing.  Coffeehouse proceeds will be added to the over $3,000 dollars raised at last month’s Karamu! celebration. Thank you to all who created and participated in that terrific event.

Some community members have asked about sending additional contributions to these two organizations.  A great idea. You can do so on your own or leave checks made out to one, or both, of these groups in an envelope, marked “Haiti Relief Fund” with the receptionist.  We will send these contributions to either Partners in Health or the Harris Rosen Foundation as a community gift.  Many of you already contributed to the relief efforts, in cash or in kind, through these organizations. Thank you for your generosity.

I hope to see you at the Coffeehouse on Saturday night.

Best,

Phil

PS Please don’t forget to send in your photographs for our upcoming Visibility photo exhibit.  There is additional information about Visibility farther down in the blog.  Visibility is an essential event for our community and one that helps define LREI as a leader in educating for social justice.  Please join our efforts to have all families be seen for their accomplishments and for the love they bring to the world rather than being seen through the lens of the intolerance of others.

Updates and Announcements:

1. From the Athletics Department:

Don’t miss the LREI basketball teams as they continue their quest to reach the playoffs.  Each team only has one home game left that could determine the post-season hopes for our Knights. Come and cheer loudly for our basketball teams as the athletes have been working hard and would love to see you at the games!

THURS – FEB 4, 4:15 Boys JV vs York Prep

MON – FEB 8, 3:30, Boys Varsity vs Churchill

All games are played at 145 Thompson St.

SPRING Sports are right around the corner.  LREI is offering Track, Tennis, Softball, Baseball, and Golf (club) as Spring Sports.  Seasons begin on March 8th.  If anyone has questions about schedules or the teams, please contact:

Peter Fisher, Athletics Director

pfisher@lrei.org, 1-212-477-5316 x 233

2. VISIBILITY: Lesbian and Gay People We Love, An LREI Community Photo Exhibit

Exhibit:     Charlton Street, Monday February 22nd – Friday March 5th, 2010, Sixth Avenue, Monday March 8th – Friday March 19th, 2010

Reception:   Sixth Avenue, Monday March 8th, 6:00 – 8:00pm

Please join LREI in celebrating diversity at the Visibility Photo Exhibit! Submit a photo of your family with a loved one who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered. Visit the exhibit and show support for family, friends and community. Come to the opening ceremony to share stories and experiences about visibility.

For more information see the attached flier or contact Carrie Borows or Merril Stern at Visibility@lrei.org.

3.  We want your recipes! Plans for the LREI community cookbook are under way, and we are now seeking recipies from all members of the community. Recipes can be for any dish that you would bring to a potluck. Please send recipies or questions to cookbook@lrei.org. The deadline for recipes is March 19 (right before spring break). Help us create a cookbook that represents all the diverse facets of our community!

4. Click here for the latest offering from the PA Community Service Committee

5.  From the Red is Green and Community Services Committees…

Donate Old Cell Phones: Cell phones will be donated to Phones for Haiti, a partnership with the American Red Cross and ReCellular, Inc.  For more info, see phonesforhaiti.com.  By donating your old cell phone, you can provide critical aid to people in Haiti, protect the environment and bring new technology to developing areas.  100% of the proceeds from Phones for Haiti will go to aid victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

Recycle Used Batteries: We will accept all rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries. Electronic waste is the fastest growing was concern in the world!  Batteries contain toxic substances like mercury that are harmful to our landfills.  Don’t throw them out in your regular trash – let us help you recycle them.

Batteries and cell phones can be dropped off in the Red is Green recycle bins at the Sixth Ave. and Charlton St. lobbies throughout February and March.

6.  LREI 2010 Art Auction, March 3 & 4, 2010, Cocktail Reception & Final Bidding: March 4th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Don’t miss the chance to see artwork by some of the world’s finest artists and community members.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend!  It’s our main fundraiser this year.  The event provides essential support for our Tuition Assistance Program and it is going to be a wonderful evening with refreshments and fun. Admission is free!

This year we will also be holding a series of art-related events called “LREI Loves Art.”  These events will kick off with a private tour given by Gabriel Orozco, an LREI parent and artist, of his current show at MoMA.  The tour takes place on Thursday, February 11th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Tickets are $200 and space is limited to 25 people.  Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis so please contact Maude Kebbon in the Office of Advancement at mkebbon@lrei.org if you are interested in attending

Additional information for other “LREI Loves Art” fundraising events will soon follow.

Dear Families,

Trimester II interim grades will be available Monday, February 1, by 3PM, for all students earning B- and below in their classes. Please note, some teachers will put a running grade up for every student in their class, but students earning B- and below will receive a comment. Please go to this link to login your name and password. Instructions with this information was mailed; if you do not know your login name and password, please email help_desk@lrei.org. Further, if you would like your child’s interims mailed, please call Adria Maynor at 212-477-5316, x323.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding an interim grade or comment, please contact the instructor directly via phone extension or email (first initial, last name@lrei.org) or your child’s advisor. Please note, exam week for Trimester II begins with Reading Day, Monday, March 8. The end of Trimester II is March 11, with the last exams.

On March 12, students will enjoy a Math Day, organized and implemented by the Math Department.  The day will begin at 8:30 with Morning Meeting and continue with each student participating in a workshop and watching a theme-appropriate film.  Each workshop, including “Perspective Drawing,” “Math and Music,” “Cryptography,” “Game Chance and Theory,” among others, is open to all students.  The workshops/ film will run from 8:45AM-10:15AM and 10:45AM-12:15PM.  After a “problem of the day” challenge and prize, this day of special programming will conclude and students dismissed by 12:30PM.   There will be workshop descriptions and signups for high school students soon.

Many students will have larger projects and papers due at the end of the trimester; it is time for them to start planning their time for these demands now. This is especially important for our seniors, who have these next five weeks to demonstrate the academic ability and passion we have come to know. This is the final stretch for them, and as we have told them, it is too early for “senioritis!”  All seniors are now preparing for Senior Project in Trimester III.  For more details and due dates, please check out the class blog.

Remember, we have five weeks before exam week, March 8-11, 2010.

All the best,

Ruth

Updates and Announcements:

Each year our high school students host a number of Coffeehouses—informal open mike evenings of music and spoken word.  The students have decided to devote the Coffeehouse on February 6th to support of the relief efforts in Haiti.  I join the students in inviting you to come together with fellow members of the LREI community on Saturday, February 6th, beginning at 6:30PM in the Performing Arts Center, 40 Charlton Street for this benefit event.

From MicahDov Gottlieb, High School Assistant Principal—This Coffee House will be an entertaining event in support of a worthy cause. We already have a great line-up of high school, middle school, faculty, and community members set to perform. If you are interested in performing or helping out in any way, please contact Micah at MDGottlieb@LREI.org.  Mark your calendar now!

All money raised during the Coffeehouse, and other fundraising efforts, will support the work of two organizations. One, Partners in Health, has been involved in healthcare efforts in Haiti for many years.  Learn more about them at www.pih.org. The second, The Harris Rosen Foundation, was founded by LREI alum, Harris Rosen, ’57.  The Rosen Foundation is working with Haitian communities in Florida to send money and supplies to Haiti.  The Foundation is also beginning to plan for rebuilding efforts including funding the development of earthquake and hurricane resistant housing.

1.  Please consider attending a parent talk evening with Freedom Institute for high school parents only, TONIGHT, Thursday, January 28 at 6:00 PM, cafeteria.  In this parent evening, questions such as, “What do you say about your own alcohol and drug past when asked?”  and “When should you be concerned?” will be addressed.

This workshop will address our community’s specific questions, be conversational in style and the conversation will be confidential.   This is an evening for you, and will run until 7:30 PM.

2. From the Red is Green Committee…

This Friday, Jan 29 is the last day to drop off holiday and other greeting cards.   Cards are donated to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, where they are recycled into new cards.  Starting Monday, February 1, we will begin collecting batteries and cell phones.   Recycling cell phones saves energy and, as with recycling batteries, helps to keep toxic ewaste out of landfills.   Our battery/cell phone drive will continue through March 19 (until Spring Break).  Batteries and cell phones can be dropped off in the Red is Green recycle bins at the Sixth Ave. and Charlton St. lobbies.

3. SCHOOL SPIRIT GAME!  All families invited. Show your school spirit and come out in our school colors -RED & WHITE! Middle and High School basketball teams play against faculty & staff. Come cheer on your teachers and teams. Shoot Off competition at half time for younger students.  Fun for all! Tomorrow, Friday, January 29th, 3:15 in the Thompson St. Gym, 143 Thompson St.

4. Visibility is going up in February!  Now is the perfect time to find your photographs for this wonderful exhibit.  Please consider participating and click here for more information.

5. New LREI Event–Many of you have asked about the yellow “Stir the Pot” postcards that you received in recent days.  We wanted to whet your appetite and to be sure that you mark your calendars for LREI’s Spring tasting event called “Stir the Pot: Taste of the Future.”  You won’t want to miss the chance to meet and mingle with other parents and enjoy great food–Thursday, May 13th in the Charlton Street campus.  For further information, please contact Maude Kebbon in the Office of Advancement at 212-477-5316, ext. 232.

6. Please attend “Food Talk” sponsored by the LREI Food Committee!  Learn valuable information regarding nutrition.  Click here for details.

Dear Families,

Two blog items today!  First, a letter from Phil regarding the school’s efforts to support Haiti, and below that, a note from me regarding a workshop for parents next week:

Dear LREI Community,

I want to start this note by thanking all who donated to Monday’s collection of materials bound for Haiti.  The outpouring of support was inspiring. Thank you also to the middle school students, families and faculty who participated in the organization and packing of your donations. According to our sources at charity : water your donations have already arrived in Haiti.  Click here to view a short video about charity : water’s efforts.   Thank you to Ella Crivello, (LREI ’08) for connecting us with charity : water.

Each year our high school students host a number of Coffeehouses—informal open mike evenings of music and spoken word.  The students have decided to devote the Coffeehouse on February 6th to support of the relief efforts in Haiti.  I join the students in inviting you to come together with fellow members of the LREI community on Saturday, February 6th, beginning at 6:30PM in the Performing Arts Center, 40 Charlton Street for this benefit event.

From MicahDov Gottlieb, High School Assistant Principal—This Coffee House will be an entertaining event in support of a worthy cause. We already have a great line-up of high school, middle school, faculty, and community members set to perform. If you are interested in performing or helping out in any way, please contact Micah at MDGottlieb@LREI.org.  Mark your calendar now!

All money raised during the Coffeehouse, and other fundraising efforts, will support the work of two organizations. One, Partners in Health, has been involved in healthcare efforts in Haiti for many years.  Learn more about them at www.pih.org. The second, The Harris Rosen Foundation, was founded by LREI alum, Harris Rosen, ’57.  The Rosen Foundation is working with Haitian communities in Florida to send money and supplies to Haiti.  The Foundation is also beginning to plan for rebuilding efforts including funding the development of earthquake and hurricane resistant housing.

In addition to the Coffeehouse, all proceeds from this year’s Karamu! celebration—this Friday night—will also be used to support these two organizations.

A number of LREI community members have asked how we plan our responses to events such as last week’s earthquake.  In general, we allow ourselves the time to make deliberate decisions about our involvement.  Our responses to world events must address LREI’s educational and social justice missions.  Through our responses we teach about the specifics of the events, about the politics and history of the region, about how we can use current circumstances to think ahead to the “next time,” and about activism.  Finally, we have to plan for our ongoing involvement, if any, and as events slow somewhat we find time to learn from our actions.  To the point of ongoing involvement, we have decided that next February’s Coffeehouse will be a second fund raiser for organizations involved in rebuilding efforts in Haiti.

Thank you again for your interest and involvement.

Best,

Phil

This week is a perfect time to share with you an email I received from Bessie Oster, Director of Prevention at Phoenix House, regarding alcohol and drug education in the City’s private schools.  In it, she includes what students in private school settings are saying about alcohol and drug use and abuse:

• Students of all ages inaccurately believe that “it’s just beer,” so you can’t get alcohol poisoning.  And for many teens, the risk is not just what they drink, but how they drink.  The concept of “pre-gaming” is completely normalized and teens binge drink in an effort to achieve a buzz that will last throughout events where alcohol is prohibited.
• The recent surge in media attention to marijuana legalization has fueled the belief among students that “marijuana is safe.”
• When considering high risk situations, students say, “I would never call my parents if I was in a bad situation-they would kill me!”

Certainly, it is critical to communicate with your kids about making responsible choices in every day situations as well as in drug and alcohol situations, to discuss the dangers of alcohol in large quantities or in any quantity over a short period of time, and to use “teachable moments to engage students on a range of topics from the cultural influences to the perceived norms around substance use.”

Schools are asked to provide education, and we certainly do through our life issues program in ninth and tenth grades.  We also meet with seniors to discuss all of the above before they head for college.  However, it is critical that the conversation continues beyond the classroom.

For the tools to communicate with your teen and to answer your questions regarding high school alcohol and drug exposure, please consider attending a parent talk evening with Freedom Institute for high school parents only, Thursday, January 28 at 6:00 PM, cafeteria.  In this parent evening, questions such as, “What do you say about your own alcohol and drug past when asked?”  and “When should you be concerned?” will be addressed.

This workshop will address our community’s specific questions, be conversational in style and the conversation will be confidential.  Administrators and teachers will not be present.  This is an evening for you, and will run until 7:30 PM.

All the best,

Ruth

Updates and Announcements:

• Please attend “Food Talk” sponsored by the LREI Food Committee!  Learn valuable information regarding nutrition.  Click here for details.
• A Message from Chap, Director of Diversity & Community: Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”With that in mind, how do we help our children tap into and develop their social justice identity in order to find the courage to act against bias of any type? Join the LREI Parent Community for part two of How to Raise an Ally: Social Justice at LREI as we consider, share examples of, and learn about ways to raise a strong ally with anti-bias educator Dr. Jane Bolgatz (see attached flyer).Two sessions are offered to better accommodate family schedules. Wednesday, January 27, at 6:00pm in the Charlton Street Cafeteria OR Thursday, January 28 at 8:45am in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria.
• Attention LREI High School Students of Color! It is not too late to participate in a Research Study and help improve your LREI community by sharing your experiences and stories in a candid, confidential setting.  Not to mention…It will look great on your resume and college applications!  Counts for community service credit!  Can be made into a Senior Project!

The research group will meet during Clubs period, 2:10-3:00 PM.  Commitment of 8 sessions between Jan-May. To sign up or for more information, contact Ruth.

Please find a letter and permission form to participate here.

Research is being done by a graduate student through ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE OF YESHIVA UNIVERSITY , FERKAUF GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY

1. SCHOOL SPIRIT GAME!  All families invited. Show your school spirit and come out in our school colors -RED & WHITE! Middle and High School basketball teams play against faculty & staff. Come cheer on your teachers and teams. Shoot Off competition at half time for younger students.  Fun for all! Next Friday, January 29th, 3:15 in the Thompson St. Gym, 143 Thompson St.
2. Congrats to two of our students whose works were selected for the Fourth Annual “Gifted Show” at Synchronicity Fine Arts.  Jane Kovich ’11 and Kelly Otterness ’10 will have their works displayed from February 9 through March 6, 2010.
3. Congrats to Kelly Otterness ’10 who also won a YoungARTS Award in Creative Writing!
4. Visibility is going up in February!  Now is the perfect time to find your photographs for this wonderful exhibit.  Please consider participating and click here for more information.
5. New LREI Event–Many of you have asked about the yellow “Stir the Pot” postcards that you received in recent days.  We wanted to whet your appetite and to be sure that you mark your calendars for LREI’s Spring tasting event called “Stir the Pot: Taste of the Future.”  You won’t want to miss the chance to meet and mingle with other parents and enjoy great food–Thursday, May 13th in the Charlton Street campus.  For further information, please contact Maude Kebbon in the Office of Advancement at 212-477-5316, ext. 232.

Continue reading →

Dear Families,

The Friday before Winter Break, the High School took the time to celebrate History Instructor Bill Bailey’s 50th year of teaching.  Bill has not been with us for the 50, but in his four and a half years here, he has truly made a lasting impression on our students.  They rallied together to plan the celebration; 50 students, 50 red roses and 50 adjectives or stories that demonstrate Bill’s important impact on the community.

After our assembly, Bill took the time to write me a letter expressing his feelings about the honor.  In it, he said, “Perhaps one indication of my appreciation is that after reflecting on 2009 as we approach the new year is my sense, without a doubt, that the tribute you, Phil, the faculty, and most importantly, the students offered me was the highlight of the year and perhaps of my entire teaching career.  I found it all so overwhelming and so gratifying…Wednesday night, I went to dinner with four other history teachers [from prestigious schools in the Northeast] who have become very close friends…I told them about Friday…they reflected on the reputations that exclusive private schools have, citing Exeter in particular.  [With all in agreement], they determined Little Red must be a truly extraordinary place with far more emphasis on community and the well-being of all who are a part of it…” Bill went on to say how happy, rewarded, and fulfilled he has been here.  Thank you, Bill!

On Tuesday, in observance of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,  we welcomed Larry Jay Tish and Ron Jones, and their show,“The Black/Jew Dialogues.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked tirelessly, through dialogue and other non-violence methods to encourage remarkable change:  open housing opportunities, voting rights, job equality, and the end of segregation, and to oppose the Vietnam war and racial and economic injustice.  It is our duty, and every citizen’s duty to continue in Dr. King’s footsteps as often as we can and bridge the divides that separate us from one another.  Tuesday’s program encouraged bridge crossing, conversation and dialogue through laughter and thoughtful reflection on the history of prejudice and racism. Taking the time, paying attention and participating in the assembly was truly honoring Dr. King’s legacy and remarkable life.

As we also begin to hear the horrible news from Haiti and the devastating effects of the earthquake this week, we must reflect on what else we can do to help one another, especially the people of Haiti. Today, students gathered in class meetings to begin to plan to support relief efforts.  As a community, we have decided to change the theme of the next coffeehouse on Saturday, February 6, from a community service roundtable event to a benefit for Haiti. Monday, a day off from school is, as you know, a National Day of Service, a “Day On,” honoring Dr. King’s work.  There is much to do in our local community and for others outside of it.

What are you doing on Monday?

From Phil:  I write with a reminder from the Parents Association Community Service Committee and from me to consider spending part of this weekend honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through participation in a community service project.  Click here to read the committee’s list of suggested projects.  If you have ideas for other projects that will be available to LREI families during the coming weekend, please email them to me at pkassen@lrei.org.  Thank you.

All the best,

Ruth

Updates and Announcements:

Speaking of Service…Attention LREI High School Students of Color! Participate in a Research Study and help improve your LREI community by sharing your experiences and stories in a candid, confidential setting.  Not to mention…

• It will look great on your resume and college applications!
• Counts for community service credit!
• Can be made into a Senior Project!

Starting Thursday, Jan. 21 during Clubs period, 2:10-3:00 PM.  Commitment of 8 sessions between Jan-May. To sign up or for more information, contact Ruth.

Please find a letter and permission form to participate here.

Research is being done by a graduate student through ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE OF YESHIVA UNIVERSITY , FERKAUF GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY

1. Congrats to two of our students whose works were selected for the Fourth Annual “Gifted Show” at Synchronicity Fine Arts.  Jane Kovich ’11 and Kelly Otterness ’10 will have their works displayed from February 9 through March 6, 2010.
2. Congrats to Kelly Otterness ’10 who also won a YoungARTS Award in Creative Writing!
3. Save the Date for Karamu! Friday January 22nd!… Karamu! is LREI’s annual multicultural event of music, dance, and food celebrating the diversity of our school and community. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 19th.…Karamu! always sells out; get your tickets early (discounted tickets available – contact Juliet Burrows: julietburrows-at-mac.com. We need food and volunteers!..Sign up boards will be in the 6th Ave. lobby – please volunteer and join this wonderful community building event.
4. Visibility is going up in February!  Now is the perfect time to find your photographs for this wonderful exhibit.  Please consider participating and click here for more information.
5. New LREI Event–Many of you have asked about the yellow “Stir the Pot” postcards that you received in recent days.  We wanted to whet your appetite and to be sure that you mark your calendars for LREI’s Spring tasting event called “Stir the Pot: Taste of the Future.”  You won’t want to miss the chance to meet and mingle with other parents and enjoy great food–Thursday, May 13th in the Charlton Street campus.  For further information, please contact Maude Kebbon in the Office of Advancement at 212-477-5316, ext. 232.
6. New event added to the calendar:  Freedom Institute will offer drug and alcohol education and answer questions about how to talk with your teen about substance issues on Thursday, January 28, 2010, at 6:30 PM, Charlton Street Cafeteria.

Dear Families,

Thanks to all the students who participated in Community Service Day on December 11.  Many had wonderful experiences and truly made an impact.  Several of our students helped out at Charity:Water; one of our alums, Ella Saunders-Crivello, ’08, is the Assistant Volunteer Coordinator.  This is the message I received from her :

I wanted to send out a thank you for getting your students involved, I know it was a choice on their parts but it wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t pass along the word. Everyone in the office was so shocked and grateful for how many EI students were there and I was so proud of all of them and how hard they were working. Check out the quick video they made to showcase how dedicated our volunteers were today.

Please take a look at the video featuring our students hard at work.

Congrats to all on a terrific Trimester I!  Grades and comments for Trimester I will be available online on “My Backpack” on December 23, by 5PM. Please check to make sure you can log on to the system successfully. If you have any problems logging on, please contact help_desk@lrei.org, which can assist you. If you would like your child’s grades or comments mailed, please send an email to Adria Maynor, amaynor@lrei.org.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding a grade or comment, please contact the teacher directly, the student’s advisor, and/or class dean. Please note, teachers, advisors and class deans will be on vacation starting on Friday, Dec. 18 at 12 noon, so a response may not come until after January 4, 2010.

If you are a parent of a 10th or 11th grade student, you should have received a letter from Amy Shapiro, Director of College Guidance and your child’s PSAT scores.  If you have not received this information, please contact the College Office at ext. 324.

Finally, from Phil:

Congratulations, Seniors!  We are so proud of our twelfth graders.  Included in our early information about college admissions is early admission to Carleton College, Smith College, Georgetown University, Brown University, Vassar College, Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications, McDaniel College, Ithaca School of Photography and Cinematography, Marymount Manhattan College, the Universities of Mississippi, Montana, Rhode Island, Tampa and Vermont and Quinnipiac College.  A list as diverse and interesting as our seniors and their interests and futures.  Bravo!

I wish you and your family a safe, restful, wonderful holiday break. See you in 2010!

All the best,

Ruth

Updates and Announcements:

More great student news!

• Maya Peart-Hill, Class of 2012, has been “selected to participate in “Expanding the Walls Program,” a unique [seven month] program for teens that uses photography as a medium to explore community, identity and history, at the Studio Museum of Harlem.   It was quite a rigorous selection process that required her to undergo two interviews [and secure three recommendations!]”.
• Both Robert Kiley, ’10, and Kai Furbeck, ’10 have been honored by Young Arts 2010 as Merit Award winners in Photography as well as New York Regional Award winners in photography.

Visibility is going up in February!  The holiday is the perfect time to find your photographs for this wonderful exhibit.  Please consider participating and click here for more information.

1.  New LREI Event–Many of you have asked about the yellow “Stir the Pot” postcards that you received in recent days.  We wanted to whet your appetite and to be sure that you mark your calendars for LREI’s Spring tasting event called “Stir the Pot: Taste of the Future.”  You won’t want to miss the chance to meet and mingle with other parents and enjoy great food–Thursday, May 13th in the Charlton Street campus.  For further information, please contact Maude Kebbon in the Office of Advancement at 212-477-5316, ext. 232.

2. From the LREI Parents Association Community Service Committee–Join our annual winter coat drive. We will be collecting new and gently used winter coats for adults and children. All donations will be distributed to families in need at Hudson Guild’s Elliot Center.  Please drop off your donation to the 6th Avenue Reception desk, today or tomorrow.

3. Mark you 2010 calendars now–Join us for our annual Alumni College Panel.  This is a terrific opportunity to hear recent LREI grads discuss their transition from high school to college and how their time at LREI prepared them for success.  Thursday, January 7th, 6:30PM, Performing Arts Center, 40 Charlton Street.  RSVP to Liza Sacks at (212) 477-5316 ext. 291 or lsacks@lrei.org.

4.  New event added to the calendar:  Freedom Institute will offer drug and alcohol education and answer questions about how to talk with your teen about substance issues on Thursday, January 28, 2010, at 6:30 PM, Charlton Street Cafeteria.

5. From Phil…There are a few spots left in both Adult rED classes.  Contact Rowena Penaranda – Askins at rpenaranda@lrei.org to enroll.  See Phil’s blog (blog.lrei.org/director) for more information.

6. Red is Green Committee:

Through Friday December 18th, we will be collecting plastic bottle caps for our December recycling drive.

During the month of January we will be recycling holiday and greeting cards. These cards will be donated to St. Jude’s Ranch. No photo cards please. For more information click here.

Also during the month of January you can bring in your wrapping paper scraps. These scraps will be used to decorate the school for Faculty / Staff Appreciation Day. Look for the box in the lobby after the holidays.

Mulchfest 2010: Recycle Your Christmas Tree at NYC Parks Jan 9-10, 2010. Click here for more information on where you can drop off your tree in the 5 boroughs.

Dear Families:

(Please remember tomorrow is Community Service Day for all high school students! There are no classes.  Trimester II begins on Monday.)

LREI’s mission statement reads, in part, Our goal is to educate students to become independent thinkers and lifelong learners and to pursue academic excellence and individual achievement, in a context of respect for others and service to the community.

The Senior Project sends Twelfth Grade students into the world to actively pursue and demonstrate lifelong learning outside of the classroom, beyond the four walls of high school, and to live the life of the mind. Specifically, the Senior Project at LREI is an opportunity for students to pursue a particular area of interest or passion in an independent format.   In keeping with the school’s mission statement and progressive philosophy, the Senior Project emphasizes experiential learning and real-world application of knowledge.

This year, the Project is comprised of several components, each of which requires student to plan, research, write, and reflect, with the guidance of a faculty mentor.  By the end of the Project, students must demonstrate their new learning in multiple ways, including but not limited to: essay, portfolio of research work, performance, and presentation.  Projects will be approved and evaluated by the Senior Project Committee, which is composed of high school faculty and administration.  Once the proposal is approved by the committee, a faculty mentor will be assigned.  The faculty mentor will personally advise and assist the senior through their experiential component, which runs from Wednesday, April 7 through Friday, May 14, 2010.

LREI encourages and teaches our students to probe, to challenge and to develop one’s own interests and passions, and certainly the goal of the experiential component is to express our educational experience to those in the world of work or service.

In the past, our Seniors have enjoyed internship opportunities at Bleecker and Sullivan Advertising, Random House, Harlem Hospital, Mary Ellen Mark, DDC Lab, Democracy Now!, Public Theater, The Center for Constitutional Rights, Amnesty International, the UN Development Program, the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA), the Harlem Success Academy, NYU School of Medicine (Departments of Pathology, Dermatology and Cell Biology), Balthazar Restaurant, WNYC, and many, many more, thanks to the generosity of parents and friends of the school.

Even though we have been very successful in the past with placing our students in experiences that have matched their passion and interest and have made an impact to them, we could use your help!

Do you have an experiential opportunity you would like to share with us?  An internship at your place of work available from April 7 through May 14, 2010?  Know someone who could use a dynamic intern in the spring?  Please let me know!  Our students are interested in a wide range of things. Therefore no opportunity, whether it be in an office setting, participating in field work or community service, is too big or too small.

As we grow our list of opportunities for the Class of 2010, we will also accept offers of internships or community service opportunities for all of our students for the summer, winter or spring breaks, or after school.  If you would like to offer an opportunity to all of our high school students, please let me know and we can post them for all on LREI EXCHANGE.

Many thanks in advance!

All the best, Ruth

Updates and Announcements:

*All 11th and 12th grade families should have received an email from the college office regarding spring NYU courses in their preview program!  If your child would like to apply to take an NYU class and he or she is in good academic standing, applications are due on Wednesday, December 16 to the college office!

*PSAT scores were mailed to all families of 10th and 11th graders on Monday. Please be on the lookout for them.  Any questions, please call the college office at x324.

*From the National Merit Scholarship Corporation:  “This year about 34,000 commended students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.  Commended Students are placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2010 competition by taking the 2008 PSAT/NMSQT.”  Congratulations to Kai Furbeck ’10 and Ben Neuhaus ’10 who have been named “commended students” in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program.

*From the National Achievement Scholarship Program:  I am pleased to announce that one of our seniors has been named “among some 3,100 Outstanding Participants in the National Achievement Scholarship Program being referred to U.S. colleges and universities.  This student scored in the top 3 percent of more than 160,000 Black Americans who requested consideration in the 2010 National Acheivement Program when they took the 2008 PSAT/NMSQT.”  Congratulations to Devon Brown, ’10.

Susan Now, photography teacher, has informed me that we have two seniors who have been honored by YoungARTS this year!  More information to come next week.

*Vacations:

We remind families to only take vacations during LREI breaks and that your child’s time away from school does not begin before the school break does or end afterwards. Teachers use each scheduled day to support their classroom program goals and the School’s mission. Students who miss days adjacent to breaks, or who take vacations outside of our break times, miss work and can disrupt planned activities. This affects the learning of the absent students and her/his classmates. In addition, divisional or all-school assemblies often precede our longer vacations. These gatherings are essential for creating the sort of community that drew you to LREI. Students sing, listen to speakers, applaud their schoolmates, meet students in other divisions and generally strengthen community ties.

1.  Grades and Comments for Trimester I will be posted on “Backpack” on December 23 by 5PM.  If a student has failed a course or has received two D grades, he or she will be placed on academic probation following a family conference with me.  I will be in touch with affected families the first week of January, if not before.

If you do not have a user name or password for “Backpack,”or have misplaced this information, please let Adria Maynor know before December 23: 212-477-5316, x323 or x301, amaynor@lrei.org.

2. HOLIDAY SHOPPING AT LREI SCHOOL SPIRIT STORE!

The school store will be open the following mornings at the Sixth Avenue building from 8 AM-9 AM:

Friday 12/11

Tuesday 12/15

Wednesday 12/16

Thursday 12/17

Charlton Street, both lunch periods:

Monday 12/14

Tuesday 12/15

3. Joanne Magee is proud to present the middle school production of Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” Dec 11th 7pm and Dec 12th 2pm and 7pm.  This stage adaption, which retains much of Kipling’s original poetry, but with all the charm of a middle school play, focuses on Mowgli’s journey of discovery as he grows up with his family and comes to terms with his unique and complex identity. Come to the play as a family and join us as we follow Mowgli through the challenges he faces both in the jungle and in his heart.  Enjoy our colorful set, costumes and of course, the outstanding talents of our middle school students.

Tickets are on sale in the Sixth Avenue Lobby from 8am-9am Dec 4th-11th. Students $10 Adults $12.

4.  New event added to the calendar:  Freedom Institute will offer drug and alcohol education and answer questions about how to talk with your teen about substance issues on Thursday, January 28, 2010, at 6:30 PM, Charlton Street Cafeteria.

5. From Phil…There are a few spots left in both Adult rED classes.  Contact Rowena Penaranda – Askins at rpenaranda@lrei.org to enroll.  See Phil’s blog (blog.lrei.org/director) for more information.

6. Red is Green Committee:

Through Friday December 18th, we will be collecting plastic bottle caps for our December recycling drive.

During the month of January we will be recycling holiday and greeting cards. These cards will be donated to St. Jude’s Ranch. No photo cards please. For more information click here.

Also during the month of January you can bring in your wrapping paper scraps. These scraps will be used to decorate the school for Faculty / Staff Appreciation Day. Look for the box in the lobby after the holidays.

Mulchfest 2010: Recycle Your Christmas Tree at NYC Parks Jan 9-10, 2010. Click here for more information on where you can drop off your tree in the 5 boroughs.

Alternatively, you can put your tree outside with your regular garbage for recycling. Clean, non-bagged Christmas trees that are left at the curb will be recycled into compost. Pickup dates are Monday January 4th through Friday January 15th.

E-Waste: Do you have broken, unwanted electronics in your home?

You can recycle your e-waste on Sunday January 3, 2010 from 10-4pm at Union Sq. For more info click here.

Happy Holidays!

7. From the LREI Parents Association Community Service Committee–Join our annual winter coat drive. Click here for more information.

8.  Mark you 2010 calendars now–Join us for our annual Alumni College Panel.  This is a terrific opportunity to hear recent LREI grads discuss their transition from high school to college and how their time at LREI prepared them for success.  Thursday, January 7th, 6:30PM, Performing Arts Center, 40 Charlton Street.  RSVP to Liza Sacks at (212) 477-5316 ext. 291 or lsacks@lrei.org.

Dear LREI Community,

I hope that you and yours found time to rest over the long weekend as the next three weeks are chock full of events. I encourage you to check out the on-line calendar to make sure that you do not miss anything, including home basketball games. Our middle and high school teams are exciting to watch and love to have fans in the stands. After Winter Break you can also stop by the gym on Friday afternoons at 3:30 to see the 5th and 6th graders play in our intramural basketball league—a great introduction for lower school fans! Thanks to the PA Sports Committee for creating the home game banner that hangs outside the Sixth Ave. building on any day there is a game in our Thompson Street gym.

Book Week, the Book Fair and our annual Literary Evening are next week. All of the info that you need follows this note. These are always fantastic events!

Finally, it is a pleasure to announce a new LREI experience…….
ADULT rED

Have you ever wanted to go back to school in a progressive classroom similar to your child’s? Intrigued by what you hear around the dinner table? Many parents of LREI students tell us how they wish that they could have the experiences that their children have each day.

In response to significant parent interest, this winter LREI will be offering two evening courses for adults, taught by members of our outstanding faculty. These will be seminar style courses, with an emphasis on discussion and open dialogue between participants. Two members of our high school faculty, Julia Heaton (English Teacher, former Acting High School Principal, former Academic Dean) and Tom Murphy (History Teacher, History Department Chair), will be offering abridged versions of their most popular offerings—Dangerous Language and Global War on Terror: American Foreign Policy Since 9/11, respectively.

Each course will be open to 15 participants. There will be pre-seminar reading assignments (to be completed over Winter Break) with additional shorter supplemental assignments during the five-week session. The courses meet simultaneously. If you are interested in participating, please choose one, with the expectation that you will attend all five sessions. While there are no required writing assignments, participants are encouraged to take notes and respond in writing to the week’s guiding questions.

Classes will meet on the following Tuesday evenings—January 12th, January 19th, January 26th, February 2nd and February 9th. Courses will meet from 6:30PM-8:00PM in the high school, 40 Charlton Street.

There is a $100 registration fee for each participant.

If you would like to register for one of these courses, please contact Rowena Penaranda-Askins at rpenaranda@lrei.org or (212) 477-5316, x295.
Course Descriptions

Pornography or Masterpiece: Reading Lolita at LREI

“I shall never regret Lolita. She was like the composition of a beautiful puzzle– its composition and its solution at the same time, since one is a mirror view of the other, depending on the way you look.” – Vladimir Nabokov, 1964.

“What frightens or disturbs us in Lolita…opens our eyes to ourselves and our worlds. Everyone should read it for the pure joy.” — Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran

Published in 1955, Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita was hailed by Graham Greene as one of the best books of all time and also “the filthiest book I have ever read…sheer unrestrained pornography” (John Gordon, London Sunday Express, 1956). For the past half century, this iconic story of a middle-aged professor’s infatuation with his adolescent stepdaughter continues to fascinate, intoxicate and alienate readers of all ages. In this five-week seminar, we will journey together through the novel Lolita, analyzing the text in terms of character, language, formal structure, and theme. Furthermore, we will consider the novel’s publication history (banned in several countries) as well as its complicated position in the literary “canon”. Finally, we will discuss the societal and moral implications of the novel’s subject, and the complicity we feel as readers when we are at once “entranced with the book while abhorring its author” (Nabokov, Lolita). Participants will read an annotated version of Lolita as well as selected works of literary criticism.

The Global War on Terror: American Foreign Policy Since 9/11

“We will rid the world of evildoers.” — Bush, Sept. 17.

The Global War on Terrorism (or GWOT) is the name of a campaign with the stated goal of ending international terrorism by preventing terrorist groups from posing a threat, and by putting an end to state sponsorship of terrorism. This campaign was launched by the United States following the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. carried out by al-Qaeda. After more than eight years the name has changed yet the conflict continues. In this five-week seminar, we will use a combination of primary sources, articles and Frontline documentaries to examine the evolution of the war against radical Islam. By looking at how we got here we may develop a better understanding of what we should do next.

Week One: Al Qaeda and the New Terrorism

Week Two: The Bush Foreign Policy Revolution

Week Three: The War in Afghanistan

Week Four: The War in Iraq

Week Five: The Global War on Terror and Human Rights

THE LOOMING TOWER Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11. By Lawrence Wright. Illustrated. 469 pp. Alfred A. Knopf.

Best, Phil

Updates and Announcements:

* View all events with the LREI On-line Calendar
* Click here to see the 2009-2010 calendar.
* LREI Athletics. For general LREI Athletics news go to this link . This page will provide general announcements, game summaries, league standings and season recaps.

*From the LREI Family Handbook….Families (including those whose children are non-allergic) must never send in snacks or food that contain nuts or seeds of any kind, either for themselves or for their children, even if the snacks or food are not intended to be consumed on school property. In particular, backpacks and pockets should never have any nuts or seeds in them.

*As you may know, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots which marked the beginning of the gay activism/liberation movement. Tonight, High School English Teacher Ileana Jimenez will be honored as one of the “40 Women of Stonewall” by The Stonewall Foundation. She is being honored for her philanthropy and social activism. We couldn’t be more proud of her!

1. Please remember that Exam Week for Trimester I begins tomorrow with Review Day. On Monday, December 7, all students have Reading Day, then exams are held from Tuesday through Thursday, 9-11 AM and 1-3 PM. If you are a family with a Ninth Grader, you should have received an email from Grade Dean Margaret Magee (mmagee@lrei.org) detailing exam week, including Reading Day. If you did not receive this information, please let Ruth or Margaret know. All families were emailed the Review Day and Exam Week schedule. If you did not receive this information, please let Ruth know.

Community service day is on Friday, December 11! Students may use this day to give back to their community, which is especially needed this holiday season. All students should make plans independently. If anyone needs assistance in finding a volunteer opportunity, please contact the student’s advisor or grade dean or contact our student Community Service Coordinator, Gabe Rudin, ’10, here at the high school.

Here is one opportunity from the LREI Literary Committee: Students needed to help pack up the Book Fair on Friday, Dec. 11 from 6-8pm, 6th Avenue.

2. Grades and Comments for Trimester I will be posted on Backpack on December 23 before 5PM. If you do not have a user name or password for Backpack, or have misplaced this information, please let Adria Maynor know before December 23: 212-477-5316, x323 or x301, amaynor@lrei.org.

3. On December 14, the high school will host CNN correspondent Soledad O’Brien for our annual Book Week assembly. The high school is becoming the place to speak for the most important women in media! Please take a look at this slideshow from and article about MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow’s visit to the high school, planned and implemented by Ileana Jimenez, last spring. (Photos of Rachel Maddow at LREI were taken by Angel Chevrestt).

4. PSAT results are in and will be mailed by the College Office next week. All families will receive their scores before Winter Break.

5. Next week is BOOK WEEK! Authors and illustrators will be visiting all LREI grades. These visitors donate their time to enriching our students’ love of reading. We encourage you to support them by visiting the Book Fair, where titles by all visiting authors will be on sale, as well as a wide selection of other titles for children and grown-ups. The Book Fair starts Wednesday, December 9, at 2 PM, and runs through Friday, December 11, at 6 PM, in the Sixth Ave. auditorium.

The LREI Literary Committee is also hosting a Literary Evening for the adults of our community. This year’s evening, called Only in New York: Folly in the Big Apple, takes place on Tuesday, December 8, at 7 PM in the Charlton St. PAC. Authors include: Jonathan Ames, Susan Choi, Gabriel Cohen, Jennifer Egan, Marian Fontana and Victor LaValle, with Andy Borowitz as MC . Tickets are on sale for $25 in the Sixth Avenue Lobby every morning, along with gift certificates for the Book Fair. Your ticket will get you an evening of New York stories, as well as great food and drink. Click here for details.

Since high school students have exams next week, they will have their Book Week experience on Monday, December 14, during assembly. There will also be a mini book fair at the high school that afternoon. Parents: If you would like to pre-authorize your high schooler to buy books using either a credit card or check, please fill out the attached form. This form could then be used by the student at either the main book fair at the Sixth Ave. building or on Dec. 14 at Charlton St.

6. The Glass Menagerie, LREI’s resident adult chorus, conducted by Susan Glass, LREI parent and teacher, is giving their annual holiday concert this weekend. See below for details:

A Choral Flourish
Saturday, December 5th
8PM
St. Josepth’s Church
6th Ave and Washington Place
8PM
$20/ $15 students and seniors

7. HOLIDAY SHOPPING AT LREI SCHOOL SPIRIT STORE!

The school store will be open the following mornings at the Sixth Avenue building from 8 AM-9 AM:

Friday 12/11

Tuesday 12/18

Wednesday 12/16

Thursday 12/17

Charlton Street, both lunch periods:

Monday 12/14

Tuesday 12/15

8. Joanne Magee is proud to present the middle school production of Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” Dec 11th 7pm and Dec 12th 2pm and 7pm.  This stage adaption, which retains much of Kipling’s original poetry, but with all the charm of a middle school play, focuses on Mowgli’s journey of discovery as he grows up with his family and comes to terms with his unique and complex identity. Come to the play as a family and join us as we follow Mowgli through the challenges he faces both in the jungle and in his heart.  Enjoy our colorful set, costumes and of course, the outstanding talents of our middle school students.

Tickets are on sale in the Sixth Avenue Lobby from 8am-9am Dec 4th-11th. Students $10 Adults $12.

Dear Families,

Thank you so much for the welcome back. It has been terrific catching up with faculty and students, and I look forward to hearing from you. Beginning November 30 through Dec. 4, I will host an informal morning coffee in the cafeteria for Ninth Grade parents and for parents of new students from 7:45-8:15. If you are new to the community, feel free to drop in and say hello.

From what I have heard, our new Ninth Grade class is fantastic. All of their teachers are impressed with the level of engagement, their passion, interest, creativity and energy. From what I have seen so far, we do have an exceptional group. On Friday, I will host a pizza party for the Ninth Grade with Grade Dean Margaret to begin to get to know the class a bit better.

It has been great catching up with the other classes, also. I have been grateful to see our students in action this week, starting with the amazing play, “The Spirit of the Lenape” written and directed by Meghan Farley-Astrachan. Then yesterday, the community was fortunate to experience an inspirational assembly presentation by the “Fierce and Fabulous” Feminism English class. The group, members of the Class of 2010 and 2011, Frank Shanley, Zoe Lubin-Fosha, Ayana Workman, Chloerose Bree-D’Orazio, Chappell Laird, Chelsea Dalessandro, Jake Goodman, Sonrisa Murrary-Fox, Jenny Sonenberg, led by instructor Ileana Jimenez, informed the high school on the continuing serious problem of child trafficking here in New York City and in the United States. They presented their findings and introduced outreach workers from the organization, GEMS, Girls Education and Mentoring Services, who participated in the Q&A. When the community was asked why we should care about this issue, Julian Pratt, ’12, responded, “If we don’t care, that says something about our humanity. No matter where this is happening in the world, it is not acceptable for us to accept that it is.”

The class is accepting donations of winter clothing, toiletries, hygiene products, baby items and children’s clothes and toys for GEMS. There is a box in the lobby until December 14. From Ileana Jimenez:

If you feel further inspired, you can host a screening of the film Very Young Girls in your own home by ordering the film via Netflix and inviting friends over to watch and donate. Proceeds from your house party would go directly to GEMS. Information here: http://www.gems-girls.org/index.html

At this, the end of the first trimester, students are wrapping up papers, projects and other coursework. Even though there is a significant amount of work, our students continue to be passionate about their classes beyond the school day. This Saturday, thirteen members of Bill Bailey’s Constitutional Law class will be attending The New York City Bar Association Symposium for High School Students ,“My Rights, My Nation: Talking About Constitutional Rights Now and in the Future” from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information please visit their website at http://nycbar.org/myrights.

Finally, today we welcomed back Ella Sauders-Crivello, ’08 and the organization she works for, “Charity:Water”. Again, as with Tuesday’s assembly, students left inspired and encouraged. We hope they consider the wonderful service both GEMS and Charity: Water provide as Community Service Day, Friday, December 11 approaches. Volunteering one’s time can make a huge difference to organizations and individuals. As this is the week before Thanksgiving and the edge of winter, isn’t this a perfect time to reflect on that which we are grateful for, what we have harvested this year? The attached photo is of my son, Penn. Needless to say, I am eternally grateful for him and for the impact he has had on my life.

All the best,

Ruth

Updates and Announcements:

Please look for an email from me on Friday, November 20 regarding the Trimester I exam schedule.

1. From Susan Now, photography teacher about the 2009-2010 Class Photos which are posted on Kodak Gallery:

I received feedback from parents that when they ordered prints of the class photos, Kodak cropped the photos. I re-uploaded the photos so that when and if they order, they will not re-size–just a little footnote, after ordering prints, there is a chance to view and crop the image, Here- -in this dialogue box, you can click onto a setting that says Print Entire Image. This should take care of any issues.

2. Honors Project proposals for Trimester 2 are due to Ruth December 14, 2009. This opportunity is open to all students who are good standing academically and want to add to their academic challenge. Questions? Please ask your child’s advisor or class dean!

3. Is your child interested in working as a babysitter? Afterschool helper? Homework helper? Give music lessons? Let Ruth know as the Parent Association and the High School are compiling a list to distribute to families.

4. Red is Green committee update: Climate Quilt Campaign. If your child brought home a quilt square to decorate and write his or her pledge, please return it by Friday, November 20. You can leave it at the reception desk. The Climate Quilt is being created by children from all over the world and will be displayed at the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen next month.

Ink Cartridges: Next week will be the last week to turn in your empty ink cartridges 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.

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.   11^th 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.