Fourth Graders’ Choice for Philanthropy & LS Comings and Goings

 

Fourth Graders’ Choice for Philanthropy

You may recall the Lower School raising money through Penny Harvest. As student Julia Noonan told me,  “Through Penny Harvest the Lower School raised a lot of money.  We donated enough to be one of the schools that choose which organization the money goes to.”  (Actually we raised approximately $700 – which is a lot of pennies!)  Kate Treitman’s fourth grade selected Heifer International after hearing all about its great work.   Julia recalled, “We all read Beatrice’s Goat in Kindergarten which is about a girl who receives a goat from Heifer International and it has a little note from Hillary Clinton in it.”  They chose Heifer over other choices because it helps both animals and people.  “The goats, bees, cows, rabbits and oxen that Heifer provides are not for eating!”  Their new owners can breed them, sell the offspring, keep them, use the milk, and so on.

Sadie Stern in Dina Pomeranz’s fourth grade explained that her class also wanted to choose an organization that helped animals.  “The class voted for World Wildlife Fund,” but then had to choose an organization that is more linked up with Penny Harvest.  So with help from Dawn Wheatley they settled on the ASPCA.  Sadie suggested, “Maybe we can dress in orange because that is the ASPCA’s color and maybe we’ll make a big giant check, all hold it, and take a picture.”

Clearly fourth graders are starting to think about their responsibility on a global level, as well as to the local community. What a great choice both classes made, and what an important process they experienced in the choosing.

Lower School Comings and Goings

This is the time of year that people make their plans for next school year.  I am happy to say that a large majority of our teacher corps is returning and is firmly rooted.  I am sad to inform families that we will be saying farewell to two lower school teachers.  Jenell Rubin, lower school science teacher has plans that may include relocating out of the area.  Third grade teacher Alison Relyea has decided to take a position at another school.  While we never look forward in such a tight-knit community to saying good-bye, I hope you’ll join me in wishing them both the best of success in their future pursuits.

In addition, I have happy news to report on behalf of Diane Thatcher, who is expecting her first child.  Diane will return just after winter break, so we will not be without her the whole year.

We also may be saying farewell to a number of associates, co-teachers, and one-year teachers this June, as they go on to apply for head teaching positions or other endeavors.  While some are applying to our own internal head teaching positions, and while we never look forward to parting ways, it is a natural juncture in teachers’ growth and development that they go on to other schools.  And we wish them great success in that.

For all of our positions we have begun a comprehensive hiring process and the prognosis, as far as the talent available to us, is excellent.  We began with a strong start meeting candidates at the Bank Street and NYSAIS Diversity Job Fairs.  With help from ads in The New York Times, referrals, and a teacher placement agency, we have several good applicants undergoing a rigorous interview and demonstration lesson process.  Assisting me in this important process are several dedicated teachers and administrators.  I have to take this opportunity to commend them for their effort and professionalism.  The alchemy of who will be the right teacher and the right fit is not possible to capture in words but please do feel assured that we are concentrating on such elements as experience, understanding of progressive teaching, diversity in our community, collaboration style, and understanding of children and their development.

I’ll look forward to publishing a list of our illustrious newcomers soon.  Until then, if you find yourself having a question about our hiring process, or anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call me.

Most sincerely,
Namita

 

 

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

  • All grades: Please click here for the ‘at a glance’ calendar for the 2008-09 school year. Click here for the 2009-10 school calendar. To view photo galleries from all divisions of the school, click here.
  • Early Kindergarten: letter from Diane & Charles(0415-EK-letter).

UPCOMING PARENT MEETINGS & EVENTS

  • For the most up-to-date, searchable all school calendar, please visit www.lrei.org/calendar. Click here for the 2009-10 school calendar.
  • Friday, 4/17 – Lower School Closed for Parent Teacher Conferences
  • Monday, 4/20 – 2:30pm: Red is Green- Bake Sale
  • Tuesday, April 21: Poem in your Pocket Day
  • Tuesday, April 21 – 8:45am: LS POCOC Meeting
  • Wednesday, April 22 – 8:45am: Kindergarten Assembly
  • Thursday, April 23 – 8:45am: Adoption Committee Meeting
  • Friday, 4/24 – Lower School Closed for Parent Teacher Conferences

 

 

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Reading At Home: Next Monday evening, April 20, the Literary Committee invites you to stay home with your family and enjoy reading together. Choose an old favorite, try a new story, or browse some poetry to get ready for our school wide Poem-in-Your-Pocket Day the following day, Tuesday, April 21. Please click here for flyer.

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Marriage Equality: A Civil Rights Issue will be held on Monday April 27th 6:00pm-8:00pm in the PAC at the high school. Marriage equality would insure that every American, regardless of sexual orientation, is treated equally under the law. Topics for the evening will include: why marriage matters, what laws are being enacted nationally and locally, how this effects our families and children and how to get involved. The evening is open to the public and we encourage everyone in the
LREI parent body to attend.

Please click here for the press release and poster for the event. Parents should RSVP if childcare is needed. Thank you all for your help in promoting this important event. If you have questions, please let us know.

Keith Stout (keithstout-at-mac.com) and Carrie Borows (cborows-at-gmail.com)
LGSA Committee Co-Chairs

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Congratulations, Seniors!! Click here to see the latest update of our College Acceptance List. We will send home a list of the schools in which our seniors enroll in a few weeks. We are so proud of the class of 2009!

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Earth Day book swap: Do you have any books at home that you would like to free-cycle? As part of Earth Day, we will be having a Lower School/Middle School book swap. Every child is encouraged to bring in ONE AND ONLY ONE gently used book that he/she no longer wants, to exchange for another book to take home. The book swap will take place Wednesday, April 22, in the Sixth Avenue Library from 2:45 to 4 pm. Literary Committee members will be on hand to make sure every participant takes home an appropriate book. If you have more books, please donate them to Alison and Becka’s Third Grade class book drive for Homes for the Homeless.

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Hall Auction: Don’t miss out–you still have a chance to bid on great auction items! You can choose from: a week-long vacation in Oaxaca, Mexico; cupcakes and conversation with Atoosa Rubinstein, former editor-in-chief of Cosmo Girl and Seventeen magazines for your child and up to 19 of her/his friends; 4 VIP tickets to the 2009 Great Night in Harlem Concert at the Apollo Theater; fashionable apparel for women and men; and much more. Head over to the bulletin boards in the lobby of the Sixth Avenue building to start bidding!

 

 

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