Celebrating the Old and the New
Dear Lower School Families:
On September 10th LREI celebrated the 75th anniversary of the school’s presence in the 196 Bleecker Street building. Community members entered school that morning through the Bleecker Street doorway. Alumni lined the halls and shared fond memories. Suzanne Cohen, the Lower School Assistant Principal, dressed up as Elisabeth Irwin to help us remember the person whose vision of a school and tireless work culminated in the establishment of a place where children can grow holistically. LREI is a place rich in history. In our eighth decade as a leader in progressive education, our practice today rests on an incredibly strong foundation. Every school year our children build upon our school’s historical legacy. Children learn, teach and grow through actions that include play, rest, problem solving and service. Every day children are encouraged to stretch beyond the constraints of our society to help build a world that is just and fair for everyone.
During the first days of school the halls and classrooms were filled with the joy, excitement, laughter, and anticipation of starting a new year. Children were happy to be back in their school community to reconnect with old friends and to meet new friends and other caring adults who will support them this school year. Lower school students at LREI are not just learners, but teachers who generously share their experiences with those new to the community. In just one week I’ve seen and heard children help each other learn the formal ways we create and maintain our community, and even assist new adults with some informal ways of being. When one parent asked her fourth grader how his teacher was, he answered, “She’s new.” When the parent asked him to explain he said, “She’s new. She doesn’t cut the lunch line.” It was a lower school student who also gave me the same invaluable information during my first days at LREI.
This week I began one of the most pleasurable aspects of my job. I started visiting lower school classrooms to hear about students’ experiences so far. Your children are a diverse, humorous, passionate, happy, serious, reserved and thoughtful group. Below are some quotes I’d like to share:
“Do you know these shoes can go all the way up to your face and fly around and around your head?”
“Do you get time off?”
“I’m scared.”
“I feel so old”
“What did you have to do to get this job?”
“Do you know my father? Do you know me?”
I will complete my introductory visits in classrooms this week and excitedly anticipate future thought provoking conversations with your children all year long.
One of Elisabeth Irwin’s objectives for our school was, “To develop through the early years an earnestness of attack on the day’s work based on interest that will condition an attitude toward work throughout life.” Each year we begin work on another chapter of our founder’s vision to give children the progressive educational experience needed to make fair and just contributions to the world. I am honored to have the opportunity to be a part of Elisabeth Irwin’s legacy and to work with your children who allow me to see that legacy in practice everyday.
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- From Director of Diversity & Community Sandra (Chap) Chapman: I hope you and your child(ren) experienced a fulfilling first few days of school. I would like to inform you of our orientation session for families of children that are new to LREI. LREI 101 will provide an in-depth, interactive, and engaging introduction to LREI, its mission, philosophy, and diversity initiatives. These sessions will offer participants an opportunity to learn more about the School community and values and your child’s classroom experience. 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 me either by phone (x294), or by e-mail schapman@lrei.org, if you have questions about LREI 101. I look forward to further discussions with you about LREI.
- The PA Welcome Fair will be on Monday, September 17th at 6pm and on Tuesday, September 18th at 8am. Please click here for a pdf with more information.
- Afterschool: All Programs will begin on Monday, September 17th
PARENT MEETINGS:
- POCOC Wednesday, September 19th at 8:45am
- Parent Rep. meeting Thursday, September 20th at 8:45am
LOWER SCHOOL NEWS:
- All Families: Please click here for a note from Kitty about Licenders
- For 1st grade families: Please click here for a note about time in the Library from Stacy
- For 1st – 4th grade families: Please remember to pack sneakers in your child’s backpack on PE days. Feel free to leave a pair in your children’s cubbies as back up.
- For 3rd and 4th grade families: Please click here for a note about the Little Red Chorus from Ledell