Math and Science

In November we celebrate Math and Science with two evening events at school:

  • Third and Fourth Grades Tuesday, November 11, from 6-7:30 pm
  • First and Second Grades on Tuesday, November 18, from 6-7 pm.

Jenell Rubin, Lower School Science Coordinator, and Sarah Kinsella, Lower School Math Specialist will plan an evening of engaging activities so that parents and children can do hands-on math and science together.

I delight in seeing students enjoy hands-on, inquiry-based, and concrete Math and Science. I believe so strongly that learning by doing can powerfully motivate curiosity about and enjoyment of Math and Science.

I stopped by second grade recently to see just such a moment in action. Students pictured below were working in groups to devise different ways of representing data. They had information they had counted (how many pockets altogether on the group members’ bodies including clothing, jackets, and backpacks); they had materials (cubes and paper); and they had ideas – or they generated them! It was fun indeed to overhear how some of the conversations started. “Okay, here’s what I think we should do…”

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What I appreciated most about the activity was the active thinking generated by asking the students, “How can you represent the information?” Framed this way, students are asked to enter on the ground floor as they enter learning about graphs: how they are made, depicted, represented and used to convey information.

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Take Care,

Namita

 

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

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This Saturday is our rescheduled city-wide Fall It’s My Park! Day 2008 . As we do each year for this event, we will turn our attention to taking care of Little Red Square in front of the Sixth Avenue building. We will be doing planting and construction of new barriers for the tree pits. Come for an hour or several hours. We will start at 10AM and go until about 1PM. If your child(ren) (and you) are interested in joining us please let Gabrielle Keller (gkeller@lrei.org) know.

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Music Assemblies, First – Fourth Grades: The Lower School Assemblies are a wonderful opportunity for parents to see the concepts and songs learned in music class. Rhythm, melody, harmony, form as well as creative movement and interpretive listening will showcase the grade level assemblies. Parents, please join us and be prepared to participate! – Ledell Mulvaney, Music Teacher

  • Second Grade, Wednesday, 10/22 at 8:45am
  • First Grade, Wednesday, 10/29 at 8:45am
  • Fourth Grade, Wednesday, 11/5 at 8:45am
  • Third Grade, Wednesday, 12/3 at 8:45am

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Trick or Treat for UNICEF! As a school community effort, LREI is again collecting money for UNICEF during the Halloween season. Those handy recognizable UNICEF boxes have already been distributed by your child’s classroom teacher and should be coming home in backpacks this week. Please click here for detailed information about the drive; boxes should be returned to either your classroom or to Kim Cherubin in the Sixth Avenue building by Monday, November 10.

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Parent Teacher conferences will be Friday, November 7th (LS & MS) and Friday November 14th (All divisions). As in previous years, the school will offer childcare options for families. There will be two sign ups per conference day – one for Full Day (8am-4pm) childcare and one for Conference-only childcare (parents will drop off and pick up children throughout the day when they are in conferences). Full day childcare will be $20 per child per day (you may bring nut/seed free bagged lunch; pizza lunch and light snacks will be provided). Conference-only childcare is free of charge. Sign up sheets will be at the reception desk of the Sixth Avenue building up until the Thursday before each conference day. Please note, childcare is for school-aged children only. Please get in touch if you have any questions, Kim Cherubin – kcherubin-at-lrei.org.

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LREI Family Book Night – Location Update
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 6:30 PM, Sixth Avenue Auditorium
Beyond Batman: Graphic Novels for Kids and Teens

This year, your LREI librarians have teamed up with some of today’s hottest authors and illustrators of graphic novel to present an enlightening and enlivening evening of graphic novel recommendations for all ages. Along with the traditional recommendations from the librarians, Jesse Karp (Early Childhood and Interdivisional Librarian) will be moderating a Graphic Novels panel. Panelists will include Holly Black (The Good Neighbors: Kin, Beyond Spiderwick, Tithe) Cecil Castellucci (The Plain Janes, Janes in Love, Beige, Boy Proof) Geoffrey Hayes (Benny and Penny) Steven Sheinkin (The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey, Rabbi Harvey Rides Again) and LREI parent Voltaire (Deady Bear, Oh My Goth). A selection of the recommended titles will be for sale. We welcome an audience of third grade and up. Children of all ages are welcome; there will be childcare available for the younger set, with pizza and story reading. PDF flyer here.

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From the Parent Association Community Service Committee:

  • Save the date. Saturday, November 8th The LREI Community Service Committee will be hosting an arts and crafts event at the Sixth Ave. The event on 11/8 has been postponed. We hope to reschedule and will keep the community informed. Thank you!
  • We have started collection of eye glasses for organization “New Eyes for the Needy”. The box is at the reception desk (Sixth Ave. lobby) clearly marked. Please, spread the word and go through you drawers, any prescription glasses might give their new owner a new life.

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Too Busy To Play? Why Children Need To Play in Order To Learn
Evening Lecture for Parents with Dr. Edward Hallowell
Thursday, November 13, 8 pm, $25
92nd Street Y, on the corner of 92nd Street and Lexington Avenue.
This special presentation is for parents of young children, focusing on how and why play creates confident learners.
Dr. Edward Hallowell is a child and adult psychiatrist who specializes in ADD/ADHD and who also has ADHD. He is the co-author of the book Delivered From Distraction. He also created The Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health in Sudbury, MA. He received his medical degree from Tulane University Medical School.

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UPCOMING PARENT MEETINGS & EVENTS

  • 11/5, 8:45AM: Fourth grade assembly
  • 11/7: LS/MS Closed, Parent Teacher conference day
  • 11/11, 6PM: 3rd & 4th grade Math & Science Night (1030-34-msnight)
  • 11/12, 8:45AM: Kindergarten assembly
  • 11/14: All divisions closed, Parent Teacher conference day
  • For an up-to-date, searchable all school calendar, please visit www.lrei.org/calendar

 

 

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LOWER SCHOOL NOTES & ATTACHMENTS
(click on the links below to view and print information from teachers and specialists.)

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