Dear Families,

Deborah Damast has been at LREI in the Lower School since 2001, teaching movement to the early childhood and first grade classes. During her own early life, Deborah recalled feeling like everywhere was a dance studio: dance happened not just places designated for movement, but also the house or playground. Similarly, Deborah leads the youngest members of the Lower School in dances that help them connect dance and choreography to other subject areas and other parts of their lives.

Some kindergartners shared what they love about movement class. Xander says, “I like when we do warm ups.” The Frog and Coconut dance is one of Xander’s favorite parts of movement. Estelle and Qatalina both love the skipping dance, which Estelle explains involves taking turns picking friends to lead the dance. The upcoming movement assemblies will showcase the work that Early Childhood students do with Deborah.

Deborah has also taught the middle school dance majors at LREI since 2009 and does some truly inspirational work outside of the LREI community. For the past 10 years, she has directed the Kaleidoscope Dancers, a group of NYU dance education students who empower children in NYC schools to create their own dances based on elements of their classroom curriculums. Click here to watch the dances created by the 2nd graders with the Kaleidoscope dancers earlier this year.

Deborah explains that what is unique about the Kaleidoscope dance model is that it combines the three main standards of dance education in one place—observation, creation, and performance. Opportunities like this can also provide classroom teachers with the chance to see strengths in their students that may not be as apparent in classroom work. Finally, programs like this that pair trained dancers with students do the important work of breaking down the adult child hierarchy and creating a space where everyone is valued as a contributor.

Using dance to break down barriers is also integral to the study abroad program that Deborah designed and runs at NYU. For the past 5 years, Deborah has taken dance education students from NYU to Uganda for a two-week intensive course. Through the lens of dance, students learn about dance education pedagogy and how to effectively teach children who have experienced trauma. NYU students team-teach with university students from Uganda and provide classes for children there, many of whom have experienced profound hardship and trauma.

The program in Uganda culminates in a performance at The National Theatre that is attended by the Queen of Uganda. Deborah shared a memory of their dress rehearsal: instead of sitting in a raised chair as is customary, the Queen sat on the floor to get her picture taken with the students. Illuminating the importance of the study of movement, Deborah pointed out that it was a moment in which people were brought together physically and it carried much greater social significance.

Sincerely,

Autumn Giles
LS Assistant

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LETTERS FROM LOWER SCHOOL TEACHERS

Beth and Stephanie’s Fours: Click here for a letter from Beth and Stephanie about the arrival of the caterpillars in the Fours and some important upcoming events in the Fours classroom.

Elizabeth and Samson’s Kindergarten: Click here to hear from Elizabeth and Samson about the arrival of the eggs and their upcoming trips to learn more about birds.

Kate and Nicole’s Fourth: Click here for a note from Kate and Nicole about their new social narrative unit.

All Fourth: Click here for a letter for all fourth grade families about the new math unit.

Dina and Farrah’s Fourth: Click here for a letter from Dina and Farrah about the “students as teachers” project and other important 4th grade news.

Field Day Information: On Friday, May 27th, LS students and their big buddies wear matching color t-shirts.  Writing on the shirt or some design is okay, no need to buy a whole new shirt if you’ve got the right color but for a little writing. Teachers will also facilitate trading shirts the day before, so children can let their teacher know if they need to borrow.  Buddy groups have been assigned the following colors of shirts to wear to field day:

First and Eighth grades:  GREEN
Second and Ninth grades:  YELLOW
Ks and Seventh grades:  WHITE
Third and Tenth grades:  PURPLE
Fourth and Eleventh grades:  ORANGE
4s and 4s/K and Sixth grades:  LIGHT BLUE
Fifth and Twelfth grades: RED

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LOWER SCHOOL REMINDERS AND 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 2010-11 school calendar.

“What to Expect” Meetings, are coming up…

• Fri, May 13, 2011:  What to Expect in 4th grade- 6th Ave. Auditorium, 8:45 am
• Wed, May 25, 2011: What to Expect in 5th grade- 6th Ave. Auditorium, 8:15 am

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS of COLOR Meeting — A Morning Meet & Greet with the Fourth Grade Students of Color

• When:  Wednesday, May 18
• Place: Middle School Science Lab
• Time: 7:45 AM – 8:30 AM

Contact Chap for more information. Click here for a flyer.

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COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

LREI Spring Concert: Wednesday, May 18th, 6:30 pm at NYU Eisner & Lubin Auditorium, Kimmel Center 60 Washington Square South, 4th floor. Click here for the flyer!

Book Swap: Bring in your old books and exchange them for new ones at this year’s LREI Book Swap, on Thursday and Friday, May 19-20. Last year’s Swap was such a success that we decided to try it in place of the Spring Book Fair this year. So, please bring in everything from beginning board books to adult books. We’d especially like any books from past summer reading lists. You might write a note about why you loved the book and leave it in the pages for the new owners.

We’ll have donation boxes in the Sixth Avenue Lobby on May 17 and 18th. After that you can bring them to the swap directly. Hope to see you there!

Sing for Hope’s Pop-Up Pianos

Piano Painting Event for LREI Students and Families!

SATURDAY, May 14, noon-3pm

Sing for Hope, a New York City-based non-profit, will place 88 pianos in parks and public spaces throughout the five boroughs from June 18 – July 2. A symbol of Sing for Hope’s commitment to make the arts available to all, the Pop-Up Pianos will unite and engage diverse communities throughout New York City. After their public residency, theSing for Hope Pop-Up Pianos will be donated to local schools, hospitals, and community centers, enriching lives for years to come.

Last year, LREI students painted the piano placed at Little Red Square! This year, we are inviting LREI students and their families to do the same, under the guidance of aSing for Hope Teaching Artist. On May 14, from noon to 3pm, participants will have the chance to decorate a piano at Sing for Hope’s Piano Warehouse at 32 Avenue of the Americas in TriBeCa. We hope that you will take part in this special celebration of public art!

To sign up, RSVP to Rowena Penaranda-Askins at rpenaranda@lrei.org.

To learn more about Sing for Hope, please visit www.singforhope.org.

LREI Camping Trip: The 18th Annual LREI Camping Trip will take place June 3-5 this year at the Riverbend Group Campground along the Delaware River. All LREI families and their children from all grades fours through twelfth grade are invited to participate. Sign-up tables will be in front of the 6th Ave building on Fri May 6, Tues May 17, and Thurs May 26. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help organize, please contact Larry White at LWhite@stern.nyu.edu or (212) 533-1966.

Afterschool Recitals:

• Tuesday, May 31st at 5:30 – Piano & Voice Recital for 2nd grade – Middle School, PAPAS
• Tuesday, May 31st at 6:30 – Instrumental Concert for 2nd grade – Middle School, 6th ave auditorium

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PARENTS ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

All parent association meetings are held in the LS Cafeteria at 8:45 am, unless otherwise noted

Parents Association Meetings:

• 5/16: Multi-Cultural Comm. Mtg.
• 5/18: LS-MS POCOC Mtg.
• 5/19: Big Auction Wrap up Mtg.

ALL PARENTS FROM THE LREI PARENTS ASSOCIATION:

Spring is here, so it is time to start planning for the next school year.  The Parents Association would like to let you know the many ways you can participate.  Becoming a parent rep is a great way to get involved.  If you have not been a parent rep before but would like to try it or find out more about it, please let us know.  We would be happy to talk to you more about what the job entails.  We will be matching parent reps to classes in mid-August or so, when the class lists are finalized.

If you’re looking for other ways to get involved, you could consider volunteering for any of our PA committees; please click here for the list.  Please email us at PA-Presidents@lrei.org if you have any questions or suggestions.

All parents are cordially invited to the Volunteer Thank You and Welcome Breakfast on Friday, May 20th, from 8 to 9:30 AM in the Sixth Ave. cafeteria. Click here for flyer. This event is for all present and future parent volunteers, and will be a time to learn more about what the PA does.  Representatives of all PA committees will be present, so it will be a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

Thank you and have a great spring,

Regina Trumbull and Susie Marples

Red is Green: For the remainder of the school year middle school science teacher Stephen Volkman’s middle school advisory group is collecting batteries and corks for recycling. Their creatively designed boxes are in the lobby for your drop off. The group will also be collecting CD’s and cellphones. Watch for the new containers. Thank you to Steve and his group for their efforts.

LOWER SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES

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

Wed, May 18, 2011: K’s Movement Assembly (note change)
Wed, May 25, 2011: 4th Gr. Musical (note change)
Wed, Jun 1, 2011: 4s/4k Movement Assembly

END OF YEAR PICNICS

All picnics begin at 6pm and will be held on the roof at 6th Avenue. Parent reps from each class will provide more information, including rain location if necessary.

Tue, May 17, 2011: Tasha’s 2nd Grade Picnic
Thu, May 19, 2011: Gina’s 1st Grade Picnic
Mon, May 23, 2011: Deborah’s 2nd Grade Picnic
Wed, May 24, 2011: Galen’s 1st Grade Picnic
Thu, May 26, 2011: Rebecca’s 1st Grade Picnic
Mon, Jun 6, 2011: Elizabeth’s K Picnic
Tue, Jun 7, 2011: Diane’s Fours/K Picnic
Wed, Jun 8, 2011: Beth’s Fours Picnic
Thu, Jun 9, 2011: Luise’e K Picnic

LOWER SCHOOL PARENT REPRESENTATIVES 2010-2011

Beth’s Fours Maren Berthelsen, Becca Markley
Fours/K Marjorie Goldner,
Sara Taplitz
Elizabeth’s K Juliet Burrows,
Carmen Lenzi
Luise’s K Shannon Barden,
Yael Goverover
Gina’s 1^st Diane Hoffman,
Ceci Van Blerkom
Galen’s 1^st Dawn Eig,
Christine Boyle
Rebecca’s 1^st Hilary Meltzer,
Mishi Hosono
Tasha’s 2^nd Mary Gerzema,
Linda Phillips
Deborah’s 2^nd A.M. Homes,
Fia Hatsav,
Julia Wilbur
Dan’s 3^rd Holly Glass,
Denise Roederer
Vonick’s 3^rd Heather McMaster,
Beth Dary
Dina’s 4^th Connie Butler,
Lara Olivieri
Kate’s 4^th Susan Harris,
Liselotte Vince