Welcome to our New Families and our New Teachers!

Dear Families,

What a wonderful fun first few days of school!  The children seem so ready to be back and we are so excited to have them!  A warm welcome to all our new families.  The same to our new teachers.  Below I’ve introduced several new faculty and staff to you.  Some are new to our community and some are in new roles.  Please be sure to scroll down past my message to read messages from teachers and to view calendar announcements for new and returning families.

Sincerely,
Namita

New Lower School Teachers 09-10

There are several new faculty members in the lower school this school year.  There are also a few faculty and administration members with new roles.  Below is a brief attempt at introductions. Please join us in welcoming the new members of our community to LREI.

Dawn Wheatley, formerly our LS Math Teacher, will be the Assistant Principal for this school year.  She has experience holding that post for much of last year while our Assistant Principal was on maternity leave.  Dawn is an experienced classroom teacher who has taught several elementary grade levels at various schools including Brooklyn Friends and Midtown Ethical Culture.  She has 3 young adult children, two of whom headed off to college for the first time this summer.  You can look forward to seeing Dawn in the hallway most mornings at 8:30, so please feel encouraged to chat and get to know her.

Suzanne Cohen, will be found in early childhood classrooms this year, supporting teachers and learning as the Early Childhood Curriculum Coordinator a few days per week.  Suzanne has served as Assistant Principal in the past and she has also taught in the Fours, Second, and the Fourth grade classrooms at LREI.

Michael Thandi, our new LS Science teacher, has been the Associate Science Teacher, as well as Science Fellow, at the Dalton School. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University and is pursuing his Masters degree at Bank Street College of Education. Michael enjoys connecting the world outside of school with science and working with children’s natural curiosity.

Danielle Cheriff will be teaching our new Fours class. She has been an associate at City and Country for two years, taught at another preschool prior to that, and has her Masters degree from Bank Street as well. Danielle values imagination, dramatic play and block-building in early childhood education. She is looking forward to helping our littlest ones grow in their independence during their first year at LREI.

Charles Hassell will provide continuity as head teacher in our Fours/K (aka EK) combination classroom during Diane’s maternity leave, and as co-head teacher upon her return. Charles has been at LREI for many years either as a summer camp counselor or as an associate teacher. He has truly apprenticed here as a progressive educator and is completing a Master’s degree at Bank Street as well. We look forward to Charles singing and teaching in his gentle way through another year in our multi-age early childhood classroom.

Vonick Gibson will join the LREI as third grade teacher. Vonick is currently a second grade teacher and is co-director of diversity at Ridgefield Academy in Connecticut. She has a Master’s degree in Education and has taught fourth and fifth grade as well. Vonick brings an enthusiasm for learning through Social Studies and connecting other subjects and specialist to that. She especially likes teaching about Native Americans, which happens to be a major topic in third grade.

Rose Reilly joins LREI as Math Coordinator.  Rose has many years experience teaching in elementary classrooms, coaching mathematics, leading mathematics professional development, and serving as an Assistant Principal.  She holds Masters degree in Mathematics Leadership from Bank Street.  Upon being offered the position, Rose enthusiastically noted that she thrilled to be joining a community that enjoys thinking about mathematics together.

Dena Tasse-Winter will be the new Lower School Assistant for this school year.  Dena worked most recently as a production coordinator at the Young People’s Chorus of New York City.  She is a graduate of the University of Rochester, Stuyvesant High School, and also attended Friends Seminary when she was younger.  She has additional interests in education and music (specifically singing). Parents may contact Dena to make an appointment with me, to ask questions related to the weekly LREI Parent News blog, or to ask anything about Lower School whenever a more specific contact person isn’t apparent to you.

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

Little Red Chorus: Music Teacher Ledell Mulvaney invites third and fourth graders to join the Little Red Chorus!  Please click here to learn when chorus meets, and other instructions. Chorus begins the week of September 22, so please read Ledell’s note if you are interested.

Dina’s and Kate’s Fourth Grade Classes: Please click here to view important information regarding this coming Monday’s Field Trip (September 14, 2009).

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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.

LREI 101 for New Families:  On Monday, September 14th, from 8:45AM-10:15AM, Phil Kassen asks all new parents/guardians attend LREI 101, our orientation program for new families.   This gathering is an essential component of your entry into the LREI community.  We will meet in the Sixth Avenue cafeteria.

New Family Reception: On Tuesday, September 15th, Michael Patrick, ’71, Chair of the LREI Board of Trustees and his wife, Carol Sedwick, invite new parents to a reception in their home at 6:00PM.  You should have received an official invitation to this gathering.  If you have not received that, please contact lsacks@lrei.org.

Parent Association Welcome Fair: Come learn about how to get involved with the Parent Association on September 16th or September 22nd.  Meet committee members and hear about opportunities and events.  Click here to download the invitation with more detailed information.

LS Parent Rep Meeting: September 17th at 8:45 a.m. at the 6th Avenue Cafe.

Fours through First Grade Curriculum Night: September 24th at 6:00 p.m.

Parent Affinity Meeting: Held by the Parents Association, September 25 at 8:30 a.m. at the 6th Avenue Cafe.

Second through Fourth Grade Curriculum Night: October 1st at 6:00 p.m.

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INFORMATION

Early Bird: Early Bird is a supervised time for students who need to come to LREI before school begins in the morning.  Early Bird is available from 7:45 to 8:30 in the cafeteria and is staffed by Associate Teachers.  Associates bring the children up to their classrooms at 8:30.  If your child will be using Early Bird regularly, please contact Dena Tasse-Winter, the Lower School Assistant, to let her know the days. You can call Dena at ext 215 or email her at dtassewinter@lrei.org. (If your child is not in Early Bird, they should arrive close to 8:30 and remain in our main hallway supervised by a parent or guardian.)