LREI Reflects on the Situation in Haiti
Dear LREI Community,
I want to start this note by thanking all who donated to Monday’s collection of materials bound for Haiti. The outpouring of support was inspiring. Thank you also to the middle school students, families and faculty who participated in the organization and packing of your donations. According to our sources at charity : water your donations have already arrived in Haiti. Click here to view a short video about charity : water’s efforts. Thank you to Ella Crivello, (LREI ’08) for connecting us with charity : water.
Each year our high school students host a number of Coffeehouses—informal open mike evenings of music and spoken word. The students have decided to devote the Coffeehouse on February 6th to support of the relief efforts in Haiti. I join the students in inviting you to come together with fellow members of the LREI community on Saturday, February 6th, beginning at 6:30PM in the Performing Arts Center, 40 Charlton Street for this benefit event.
From MicahDov Gottlieb, High School Assistant Principal—This Coffee House will be an entertaining event in support of a worthy cause. We already have a great line-up of high school, middle school, faculty, and community members set to perform. If you are interested in performing or helping out in any way, please contact Micah at MDGottlieb@LREI.org. Mark your calendar now!
All money raised during the Coffeehouse, and other fundraising efforts, will support the work of two organizations. One, Partners in Health, has been involved in healthcare efforts in Haiti for many years. Learn more about them at www.pih.org. The second, The Harris Rosen Foundation, was founded by LREI alum, Harris Rosen, ’57. The Rosen Foundation is working with Haitian communities in Florida to send money and supplies to Haiti. The Foundation is also beginning to plan for rebuilding efforts including funding the development of earthquake and hurricane resistant housing.
In addition to the Coffeehouse, all proceeds from this year’s Karamu! celebration—this Friday night—will also be used to support these two organizations.
A number of LREI community members have asked how we plan our responses to events such as last week’s earthquake. In general, we allow ourselves the time to make deliberate decisions about our involvement. Our responses to world events must address LREI’s educational and social justice missions. Through our responses we teach about the specifics of the events, about the politics and history of the region, about how we can use current circumstances to think ahead to the “next time,” and about activism. Finally, we have to plan for our ongoing involvement, if any, and as events slow somewhat we find time to learn from our actions. To the point of ongoing involvement, we have decided that next February’s Coffeehouse will be a second fund raiser for organizations involved in rebuilding efforts in Haiti.
Thank you again for your interest and involvement.
Best,
Phil
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A message from Namita:
Dear Parents,
I’d like to offer guidance about talking with young children about the earthquake and its aftermath.
For all children, it is a good idea to limit the barrage of images from standard media outlets because they tend to be intentionally graphic and can become even scarier in children’s minds afterwards. For very young children it is a good idea to avoid the coverage altogether. Adults can also find a break from media calming and centering. If you have an older child and you do allow them to watch tv news, it is important to watch with them, and probably not daily. I feel confident that children can understand what has happened at their own developmental level, feel compassion and very much want to help others, without over-exposure to media.
I do recommend talking with children about your own thoughts and knowledge of the situation. Generally third grade and above, but even some second graders, need to have information, because they will want to know. There have been some serious discussions at school already not only about the events themselves, but about fairness and resources – which are both issues that pre-date the current tragedy.
It’s also a good idea to help older children express their feelings of sadness or anger at injustice. It is very helpful to reassure children and provide examples of all the people whose emphasis is helping. From doctors, to rescue workers, to ordinary people both in Haiti and around the world gathering and sending money and supplies – there is an important and empowering message there about the how much we accomplish when we work together.
Early childhood teachers follow the children’s lead, and this is good advice for parents as well. When speaking to a young child it’s good to be clear and simple rather than assume they are asking for more serious information. For instance, for a four or five year old asking what happened, the answer “There was an earthquake in a place called Haiti. Many people were hurt. Many people are trying to help,” may be sufficient. It will depend on what other questions they ask. If your family wants to participate in a relief effort very young children can simply be told that there was an earthquake in a country far away, and the people need our help. If possible it is most meaningful for all children to have a hands-on experience in helping, perhaps by having the opportunity to help purchase and pack materials to be sent to Haiti and perhaps some talk about how the materials will be used.
I encourage families to take this opportunity to learn a little bit more about the country of Haiti and its history and culture to balance out the media which tends to portray foreign scenes of disaster generally as places where people are perpetually victims. Haiti is the second oldest independent country in the western hemisphere. The name means “mountainous land.” It has a proud history of rebellion against imperial oppression and slavery. It is only about 700 hundred miles from the US, and while the US has often not supported it economically and politically, we can hope that the bonds created by this disaster will result in a better relationship.
If you need help to find courage to filter media please take a look at some of the links below. Please reach out to me or Roberta Rubien, our school psychologist, as well if needed.
*A child development psychologist describes the impact of disaster images: http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2010/jan/images-haiti-other-disasters-can-traumatize-children-%E2%80%93-or-educate-them
*A child educational psychologist gives practical examples for talking with your child: http://blogs.pe.com/moms/2010/01/talking-to-your-kids-about-hai.html
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LETTERS FROM LOWER SCHOOL TEACHERS
Beth & Samson’s Fours: Please click here for a letter with info on our upcoming Family Study.
Danielle & Ann’s Fours: Please click here for a letter with info on our upcoming Family Study.
Elizabeth & Stephanie’s K: Click here to find out all about the goings-on in our classroom this week.
Dot & Becka’s 3rd Grade: Please click here for this week’s update!
Dina & Jessi’s 4th Grade: Click here to view our newsletter.
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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.
1/22 Save the Date for Karamu! Friday January 22nd… Karamu! is LREI’s annual multicultural event of music, dance, and food celebrating the diversity of our school and community. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 19th… Karamu! always sells out; get your tickets early (discounted tickets available – contact Juliet Burrows: julietburrows@mac.com). We need food and volunteers! …Sign up boards will be in the 6th Avenue Lobby – please volunteer and join this wonderful community building event. If you would like to solicit a donation of food or wine from a restaurant or business please use this letter and forward information to Juliet.
1/29 School Spirit Game! All families invited. Show your school spirit and come out in our school colors – RED & WHITE! Middle and High School basketball teams play against faculty and staff. Come cheer on your teachers and teams. Shoot Off competition at half time for younger students. Fun for all! Next Friday, January 29th, 3:15 in the Thompson St. Gym: 143 Thompson Street.
2/3 Food Talk, a presentation sponsored by the LREI PA Food Committee. 8:45 a.m. in the Sixth Ave. Cafeteria – Click here for flyer with details!
2/6 “Coffeehouse” Community Service Event – Saturday, February 6th, beginning at 6:30PM in the Performing Arts Center, at 40 Charlton Street. Please join us for this benefit event in support of the Haiti relief efforts!
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LOWER SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES
All Lower School Assemblies are held in our Auditorium at 8:45 a.m.
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
1/25 Multi Cultural Committee Meeting
1/25 Red is Green Committee
1/27 Adoption Committee Meeting
1/27 How to Raise an Ally: Social Justice @ LREI (5:30 p.m.)
1/28 How to Raise an Ally: Social Justice @ LREI (8:30 a.m.)
2/3 Food Committee Meeting
2/4 LGSA Committee Meeting
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COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
*A message from Chap, Director of Diversity & Community: Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
With that in mind, how do we help our children tap into and develop their social justice identity in order to find the courage to act against bias of any type?
Join the LREI Parent Community for part two of How to Raise an Ally: Social Justice at LREI as we consider, share examples of, and learn about ways to raise a strong ally with anti-bias educator Dr. Jane Bolgatz. Click here for the flyer.
Two sessions are offered to better accommodate family schedules: Wednesday, January 27 at 6:00 p.m. in the Charlton Street Cafeteria, or Thursday, January 28 at 8:45 a.m. in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria.
*Red is Green Committee Announcement: During the month of January we willbe recycling holiday and greeting cards. These cards will be donated to St. Jude’s Ranch. No photo cards please. For more information click here. Also during the month of January you can bring in your wrapping paper scraps. These scraps will be used to decorate the school for Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day. Look for the box in the lobby this month.
*New LREI Event–Many of you have asked about the yellow “Stir the Pot” postcards that you received in recent days. We wanted to whet your appetite and to be sure that you mark your calendars for LREI’s Spring tasting event called “Stir the Pot: Taste of the Future.” You won’t want to miss the chance to meet and mingle with other parents and enjoy great food–Thursday, May 13th in the Charlton Street campus. For further information, please contact Maude Kebbon in the Office of Advancement at 212-477-5316, ext. 232.