There’s Honey in the Rock
Guest blog from Dawn, LS Assistant Principal–
There’s Honey in the Rock
There’s honey in the rock for everybody’s children
Honey in the rock, honey in the rock
There’s honey in the rock for everybody’s children
Feed every child on earth
In the past few weeks as I have walked past the lower school music room I have heard several classes singing this Sweet Honey in the Rock song in preparation for our Thanksgiving Assembly. Continuing down the hallway I am beginning to smell the delicious breads that each class will bake for an LREI tradition-one loaf to be given away to the St. John’s Food Pantry and one loaf to be shared with each other (each class eats a sampling of breads we have all made).
Developing children who choose to be involved in service to their community is an important element of the mission of LREI. In lower school it is important for children to have hands- on experiences in which they see the fruits of their labors and have an opportunity to experience first hand the programs and projects they are supporting. With that in mind, both second grade classes recently took field trips to the St. John’s Food Pantry.
The slideshow below is of Colleen’s Field Trip:
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LREI has had a longstanding relationship with the pantry. In fact, as the second graders arrived, a seventh grade class from LREI was just leaving, having finished their assigned job at the pantry. The pantry, serving residents from 14th Street to 59th Street, distributes bags of groceries to approximately 700 people each Wednesday. In the last few years Lower School children have participated in food drives, yet most had never visited the pantry so they did not have a clear sense of where the food was going. So this month, each second grade class had the opportunity to hear about the work of the pantry, to pack some bags of food that would be distributed the next day, and to ask questions about the program. By far the most popular part of the visit was the work they did. One class bagged oranges (100 bags in all) and the other bagged cereal. The energy and excitement around this work was abundant, proving the intrinsic need of seven and eight – year olds to feel productive and helpful.
The slideshow below is of Tasha’s Field Trip:
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When asked what surprised them most about the food pantry, children responded with various comments:
“You have to live in a certain area to use the pantry, and you can’t be homeless.”
“They are only open on Wednesdays, and the food only lasts two days. What do they do on the other days?”
“It was in a church; I have only been to a synagogue.”
“Different families get different amounts of food, according to how many people there are. They get different colored tickets to show how much food they can get.”
The visit to the pantry is the kick off event for Second Grade as they lead the Thanksgiving food drive at LREI. All Lower School students are invited to bring a canned or boxed food to the assembly on Wednesday, November 25th, and all the food will be taken to the pantry the following week. Please see the attached list of requested items here. Just a friendly reminder that we cannot accept any nuts or seeds, glass jars, or food that is beyond its expiration date.
Wishing you a peaceful and relaxing Thanksgiving Break with the people you love. My house will be filled with three young adults returning home for the first time after starting new adventures. Finally, a family to cook for again!
Best Wishes,
Dawn
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LETTERS FROM LOWER SCHOOL TEACHERS
Charles & Abby’s Fours-K: Please click here to learn about the Study of our School we have been working on this week!
Luise & Alisa’s K: Click here for this week’s updates – all about Thanksgiving… and a special new addition to our classroom!
Stephanie, Maren & Elizabeth’s K: We are so pleased to welcome Elizabeth to our class! Please click here for our letter, full of classroom updates.
All First Graders: Please click here for important information about reading packets for first graders.
Dot & Becka’s Third Grade: Our trip to the LES Ecology Center was a success! Click here for updates on that trip and other events in our classroom.
A note from Peggy, shop teacher: Vehicles, built by the Second Graders, have rolled, flown, and sailed into the Sixth Avenue lobby display case. Please see them!
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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.
11/20 Lost and Found – Last Chance! Periodically we donate the clothing from our Lost and Found bin. The first date for this year is coming up on Friday, November 20th. Between now and then, please make a special effort to look through the Lost and Found Bin to reclaim any items your child has lost (located inside the first stairwell across from the Auditorium). On Friday, November 20th, all clothing still left in the bin will be donated for us by the Red is Green Committee to Wearable Collections in honor of America Recycles Day (Nov 15).
11/23 Dot’s 3rd Grade Farm Trip Breakfast
11/24 Dina’s 4th Grade Farm Trip Breakfast
11/25 Thanksgiving Break – school closes at 11:45 a.m. (4s – 1st) or 12:00 p.m. (2nd – 4th). **School reopens on Monday, November 30.
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LOWER SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES
All Lower School Assemblies are held in our Auditorium at 8:45 a.m.
FALL 2009
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
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UPCOMING PARENT ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
11/20 How to Raise an Ally: Social Justice @ LREI… click here for the flyer!
11/20 Literary Committee Meeting
11/23 Multi Cultural Committee Meeting
11/23 Cookbook Committee Meeting
11/25 Red is Green Committee Meeting
11/25 Adoption Committee Meeting
11/30 Community Service Meeting
11/30 Multi Cultural Committee Meeting
12/3 LGSA Committee Meeting
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COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
*Red is Green Committee Announcements:
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. It was featured on Good Morning America this past Monday. For more information, click here for our flyer.
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.
*Save the Date! Afterschool Open Enrichment Class Week, December 7 – 11, 2009. An opportunity for a parent or caregiver to come and observer your child’s Afterschool Enrichment class. More information to come. Please contact the Afterschool Office if you have any questions, at 212-477-5316, ext. 239.