Hands-On Science
Dear Parents,
I couldn’t resist sharing some recent hands-on science highlights. Please enjoy flipping through the photo albums below.
~Namita
From Michael Thandi, LS Science Teacher: Science fosters an ability to think and explore independently. Through science, children are presented exciting opportunities to look at the world and answer questions that they are naturally curious about. The active role students take promotes excitement and passion that helps them see themselves as scientists, as people who have the ability to find out about the questions that are of interest to them.
Third Graders Katie Taetle and Zoe Nelms: “We tested each powder with different liquids: water, red cabbage juice, iodine, vinegar, and heat. We figured out what powders they were, because of what happened when you added the different liquids to them. With vinegar, one of the powders fizzed, so we knew it had to be baking powder. Powder X was all of the powders combined.”
[flickrslideshow acct_name=”lrei-photos” id=”72157623363599351″]
Fourth Graders Jack Fessenden and Eve van Rens: “We were learning about chemistry. Specifically we were using litmus paper. We were trying to figure out how the pH scale works by dipping litmus paper in different chemicals and matching it to the pH number by color. 6 & 7 is neutral, below that is acids, and above that is bases.”
[flickrslideshow acct_name=”lrei-photos” id=”72157623487565280″]
Kindergarten: These pictures show kindergartners testing to see ‘Do snails prefer the wet or the dry?’ Our conclusion was snails prefer the wet because their bodies need moisture in order to help them survive.
[flickrslideshow acct_name=”lrei-photos” id=”72157623488806758″]
____________________
LETTERS FROM LOWER SCHOOL TEACHERS
Danielle & Anne’s Fours: Click here for a letter about our families study.
Dot & Becka’s Third Grade: Please click here for this week’s updates!
Vonick & Randi’s Third Grade: Click here for a letter from Chap, director of community and diversity.
Dina & Jessi’s Fourth Grade: Click here for our newsletter (which includes links to lots of exciting photo albums!)
Kate & Maren’s Fourth Grade: Please click here and also here to read samplings of self-published work within the genre of realistic fiction. For more fourth grade writing and an explanation of the writing process, check out the bulletin board outside our classroom!
Both Fourth Grades – From the LREI Athletics Department:
We would like to invite the entire fourth grade class to come watch the 5/6th grade intramural basketball games on Feb 26th. The gym at Thompson St. gets packed with players and fans every Friday afternoon who come to watch our fifth and sixth graders shoot hoops on the basketball court. Intramural basketball is one of our most popular sports programs at LREI, and we are hoping many of the fourth graders from this year will want to come out next year. Every Winter we start our intramural basketball program by teaching and working on fundamentals and going over the rules of the game. By the end of the season, the players are playing full-court games that are very exciting to watch. Every Friday, all the teams play at our Thompson St. Athletic Center (145 Thompson). The first game starts at 3:30 and the second game starts at 4:15.
If you have any questions, please contact me at pfisher@lrei.org.
We hope to see you there!
Peter Fisher
* * * * *
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.
2/22 – 3/19 VISIBILITY: Lesbian and Gay People We Love, an LREI community photo exhibit. Please join LREI in celebrating diversity at the Visibility Photo Exhibit! Submit a photo of your family with a loved one who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered. Visit the exhibit and show support for family, friends and community. Come to the opening ceremony to share stories and experiences about visibility. For more information, click here or contact Carrie Borows or Merril Stern at visibility@lrei.org.
LREI 2010 Art Action – March 3 & 4, 2010 – Cocktail Reception & Final Bidding: March 4th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Don’t miss the chance to see artwork by some of the world’s finest artists and community members. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend! It’s our main fundraiser this year. The event provides essential support for our Tuition Assistance Program and it is going to be a wonderful evening with refreshments and fun. Admission is free!
You are also invited to bring your children after school on Wednesday, March 3rd. We only ask that you not bring any snacks into the exhibit!
Visit http://artauction.lrei.org/ for additional information and to view items that will be auctioned.
* * * * *
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
* * * * *
UPCOMING PARENT ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
Please click here for the Minutes from the Parent Rep Meeting on February 18th.
3/4 LGSA Committee Meeting
3/10 Tasting Event Committee
3/10 Parent SEED Meeting
3/11 Adoption Committee Meeting
3/12 Literary Committee Meeting
* * * * *
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
*From Peter Fisher, LREI’s Athletic Director:
Congratulations to ALL 5 of our intermural basketball teams for making the post season schedule. All of the teams have worked hard. The players and coaches would love to have your voices and support at the following games:
Middle School Boys – Finished in second place with a 5-1 league record. Watch them in the finals: LREI (2) vs Garden (1), @ The Garden School, Feb 25th. 5:00PM
Middle School Girls – Finished in a 3-way tie for first place with a 5-1 league record! LREI won a coin-toss and earned a playoff bye. Watch the girls in the finals: LREI (1) vs. the winner of Dwight/Garden (1), @ LREI’s Thompson Street Athletic Center, March 1st, 3:15 PM
JV Boys – Finished in second place with a 7-3 league record. Watch them in the playoffs: LREI (2) vs York (3) @ LREI’s Thompson Street Athletic Center, March 1st, 4:30 and in the conference final: BWL (1) vs. winner (above) @ The Churchill School, March 2nd, 4:00PM
Varsity Girls – Finished in a tie for third place with an 8-4 league record. Watch the girls in the conference playoff play-in game: LREI vs. Garden, Feb 22nd, @ The Garden School at 3:45PM. The winner will play in a playoff game: vs. Lycée Français de New York, @ LFNY, Feb 23rd Time: TBA The winner of this game plays in the Girls Independent Schools Athletic League inter-conference game: Feb 24th, who: TBA time: TBA
Varsity Boys – are in third place with a 5-4 league record. Conference Playoffs: LREI (3) vs. The Garden School (2), @ Garden, Feb 22nd, 5:15. The winner plays in the Independent School Athletic League inter-conference game @ Columbia Prep (1), Feb 24th, time: TBA
There are also several weeks of 5th/6th grade intramural basketball games left each Friday afternoon at the Thompson Street Athletic Center, beginning at 3:30PM.
*We want your recipes! Plans for the LREI Community Cookbook are under way, and we are now seeking recipes from all members of the community. Recipes can be for any dish that you would bring to a potluck. Please send recipes or questions to cookbook@lrei.org. The deadline for recipes is March 19 (right before Spring Break). Help us create a cookbook that represents the diversity of our community!
*Grandparents and Special Friends Day will be held on Friday, May 7th. Fours to First Grade – morning, Second Grade to Fourth Grade – afternoon. Please send your names for Grandparent and Special Friends to Liza Sacks, lsacks@lrei.org, 212-477-5317 ext. 291. Invitations will be mailed in March.
*From the Red is Green and Community Services Committees…
Donate Old Cell Phones: Cell phones will be donated to Phones for Haiti, a partnership with the American Red Cross and ReCellular, Inc. For more info, see phonesforhaiti.com. By donating your old cell phone, you can provide critical aid to people in Haiti, protect the environment and bring new technology to developing areas. 100% of the proceeds from Phones for Haiti will go to aid victims of the Earthquake in Haiti.
Recycle Used Batteries: We will accept all rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries. Electronic waste is the fastest growing concern in the world! Batteries contain toxic substances like mercury that are harmful to our landfills. Don’t throw them out in your regular trash – let us help you recycle them.
Batteries and cell phones can be dropped of in the Red is Green recycle bins at the Sixth Ave. and Charlton St. lobbies throughout February and March.