Following the Students’ Curiosity…

Dear Lower School Families,

On tours and open houses, when explaining progressive education to prospective parents, I might describe how our teachers follow the lead of their students’ curiosity, rather than being locked into the next lesson a textbook dictates without room for children’s inspiration. I want to share with all of you how this happened to come to life this week in second grade.

Second graders were considering how people can make a part of their city more beautiful.   How can they get involved, be active, and make a difference?  Their teacher capitalized on the direction of their discussion by inviting in a community member who is a role model in this regard.  Below you’ll see pictures of Ann Schaumburger meeting with second graders to share how she designed and decorated the Fifth Avenue R/N subway station to make her city more beautiful!  Students interviewed her and learned that she is a practicing artist and an incredible resource right here in our community!

Ann was commissioned for the subway project, Urban Oasis, in 1997.   It features, as you see below, different climate zones found on our earth and inspired by the exhibits at the Central Park Zoo.  Ann created gorgeous mosaics and second graders were able to examine real examples of this work in class.  Of course we’re all invited to see it in person.  Just stop by the Fifth Avenue subway line to appreciate all the ducks, penguins, snails, polar bears and other animals waiting there for you!

Warmly,
Namita

_____________

LETTERS FROM LOWER SCHOOL TEACHERS
(click on the links below to view and print notes from teachers)

Danielle & Anne’s Fours: Please click here for information about the new Job Chart in our fours classroom.

Luise & Alisa’s Kindergarten: Please click here for an informative letter about our kindergarten math program.

Dot & Becka’s Third Grade: Thank you for attending Curriculum Night! Please click here to view our response to one of the note card questions, that we think you might all be interested in.

Vonick & Randi’s Third Grade: Click here for our newsletter, with updates about our upcoming farm trip, and what we’ve been learning in class this week.

Dina & Kruti’s Fourth Grade: Our trip to the Dept. of City Planning was so fun and educational. Please click here for a letter about this and many other classroom events – it also includes some great photos from our City Planning trip!

Kate & Karen’s Fourth Grade: Click here for our October Newsletter, with information on upcoming events both in and out of the classroom!

* * * * *

UPCOMING LOWER SCHOOL MEETINGS & EVENTS

For the most up-to-date information visit the school’s online calendar at www.lrei.org/calendar.
Click here to download the one-page 2009-10 school calendar.

10/12 SCHOOL CLOSED for Columbus Day.

10/13 – 10/16 Vonick’s 3rd grade & Kate’s 4th grade Farm Trips.

10/14 Changing Families, Changing Classrooms: Come hear a leading expert on adoption and family issues, Adam Pertman, talk about adoption, the school community, and how to enrich the school experience for everychild on Wednesday morning, October 14 in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria. ALL PARENTS WELCOME! Please click here for a flyer with details. For a copy of the report Adoption in the Schools: A Lot to Learn, click here.  (Please note Adam Pertman is also doing a separate workshop for LREI teachers.  As we’re all in community together, all parents of all family types are encouraged to attend the parent session.)

10/20 – 10/23 Dot’s 3rd grade & Dina’s 4th grade Farm Trips

10/21 Dot’s 3rd Grade Potluck
Rebecca’s 1st Grade Potluck

10/22 Tasha’s 2nd Grade Potluck
Danielle’s Fours Potluck
Gina’s 1st Grade Potluck

10/23 Beth’s Fours Potluck
Charles’ Fours-K Potluck

10/25 Save the Date! The LREI Halloween Fair will be held on Sunday, October 25, 2009 from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Thompson Street Athletic Center. Click here for a flyer with details. Please join in on this spooktacular good time for all!

* * * * *

LOWER SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES

All Lower School Assemblies are held in our Auditorium at 8:45 a.m.

FALL 2009

10/21 – 2nd grade Music Assembly

10/28 – 1st grade Music Assembly

11/4 – 4th Grade Music Assembly

11/11 – Kindergarten Music Assembly

11/18 – 4s & 4s-K Music Assembly

12/2 – 3rd Grade Music Assembly

SPRING 2010

4/7 – 4s & 4s-K Music Assembly

4/14 – 1st Grade Music Assembly

4/21 – Kindergarten Music Assembly

4/28 – 2nd Grade Music Assembly

5/12 – 3rd Grade Music Assembly

5/19 – 4th Grade Music Assembly

5/26 – Kindergarten Movement Assembly

6/2  – 4s & 4s-K Movement Assembly

* * * * *

UPCOMING PARENT ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

10/9 Literary Committee Meeting

10/9 Halloween Meeting

10/13 Community Service Meeting

10/14 Adoption Committee Event

10/16 Halloween Meeting

10/20 POCOC Meeting

10/21 Family Book Night

10/22 Adoption Committee Meeting

10/22 LREI Community Cookbook Meeting

* * * * *

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

An announcement from Phil Kassen, Director:

Dear LREI Community,

I hope that this note finds you well.  I write with bittersweet news.  As some of you know, Virgilio Romero, our Superintendent of Buildings, will be retiring at the end of the month. Virgilio has kept LREI functioning for 30 years.  While Virgilio is looking forward to the next stage in his life, we asked him to stay on through the summer for two reasons. The first was that we could not imagine accomplishing all that we needed to accomplish this summer without Virgilio leading the way. The second is that we wanted to be able to plan a terrific party.  The students will be saying goodbye and thank you by division and all LREI community members are invited to join our thank you party for Virgilio on Thursday, October 15th from 6:00PM-7:30PM in the Performing Arts Center, 40 Charlton Street (please click here for a flyer with details).

Please join us on October 15th,

Phil

* * * * *

An announcement from Michel de Konkoly Thege, Associate Director:

Dear Parents,

On Thursday, October 29, LREI will be renting a portion of our 272 Sixth Avenue building for an evening event during which The Gap and Stella McCartney will introduce a line of children’s clothes. LREI’s interest in this event is simply that we are renting our facility for a fee. We have no involvement in the commercial aspects of this event. However, the event organizers have asked whether some of our students in our 4s through 3rd grade classes might be interested in modeling the clothes that are to be introduced at this event.

If you are interested in having your child audition for this activity, please contact Ann Landy at AO Production via email at alandy@aoproduction.com. All communications concerning this opportunity should be addressed to Ms. Landy, since LREI will not have any further involvement other than bringing it to your attention.

Thanks,
Michel

* * * * *

Ann Schaumburger, Lower School Art Teacher, invites you to the opening of her latest show. The show will run from October 7th – November 1st.  The opening reception is on Thursday, October 8th, from 6PM-8PM at the AIR Gallery, 111 Front Street, #228, Brooklyn.  (www.airgallery.org) Congratulations, Ann!