Back in Full Swing

Dear Families:

I hope that you all had an enjoyable and relaxing break. Life in the Middle School is back in full swing in a week marked by the fifth grade beginning their study of ancient Greece, sixth grade students becoming medieval griots and regaling their classmates and students in other grades with folktales from Africa, seventh graders making presentations on the McCarthy Era, and eighth graders taking a trip to the Guggenheim to view an exhibition on the sculptor David Smith.

A reminder that Family Conferences are scheduled for Friday, April 21st (full-day of conferences) and Friday, April 28th (school dismisses at noon for afternoon conferences). Sign-up sheets for core teachers are posted outside of their rooms and sign-up sheets for specialist teachers are posted on the bulletin board outside of my office.

Congratulations to Nick in the eighth grade who, over the spring break, participated in the New York State National Geographic Bee. The 100 participants were from all over New York State (including Hunter High School, St. Ann’s and St. Bernard’s in New York City). Nick finished tied for 11th place, answering 7 out of 8 questions correctly. Well done Nick!

This Week’s Attachments
(Click on the links below to open the attachments. If you are having trouble opening the links, go to http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ms/ to access the files.)

General:
April 8th Community Service Event
Diversity and Community Action Plan
Flyer for Diversity Discussions
2006 Arts Festival Form
Eighth Grade:
Seventh Grade:
Sixth Grade:
Fifth Grade:

Of General Interest . . .
1) From Phil Kassen, Director: From Phil Kassen, Director: On Monday, April 17th, we invite you to join a discussion of the School’s placement policy for Lower and Middle School students. We will send home more information about this conversation over the next few weeks, but are hoping to address questions and concerns that we hear in the community. Finally, please see the attached copy of the Diversity and Community Action Plan and a flyer for the two discussions.

2) This Saturday, April 8th, at 7PM, at Charlton Street – COFFEEHOUSE! (When I say “Coffee,” you say “HOUSE!”). This COFFEEHOUSE will have a bit of a harder rocking theme, with some of our louder bands playing. 7-9pm. $3 students+faculty & $5 guests

3) From the LREI Literary Committee: April is National Poetry Month and to celebrate this, LREI is hosting it’s annual Poem In Your Pocket Day next Tuesday, April 11th. Students are encouraged to come to school with a poem tucked into their pocket, which they can read to classmates and friends. They can also stop friends in passing and ask them to share their poems or be asked to share theirs. Please help your child prepare for this wonderful event. For Fours, EK and K parents, remember a simple poem that is easy to read or remember is best. A Poem In Your Pocket mascot will be standing outside the Sixth Ave building during drop off on Tuesday morning. She will gladly supply poems to those who don’t have one. Poems will also be available in the library for those who don’t have them.

3) From Director of Development Pippa Gerard: It’s Big Auction time – tickets are going fast – so make sure you purchase your ticket(s) by next week. Please inform the development office if there is a group of people who would like to sit together. Tables will accommodate ten people. This year’s raffle prizes include a flat screen tv, dvd camcorder, digital photo lab, and much more. Raffle tickets are on sale in the lobby of both buildings or available by calling or emailing the Development Office. Family gatherings are a great opportunity to support LREI by selling raffle tickets. If you or your children would like tickets to sell stop by the Development Office before the long weekend. Auction information and the catalog are available on the LREI website. For additional information, please contact Pippa Gerard in the Development Office at 212-477-5316 ext. 236 or by email at pgerard@lrei.org.

4) COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT: Saturday, April 8 LREI — Spring Arts Project at Hudson Guild (www.hudsonguild.org) for kids of all ages. LREI children and parents will make Spring Crafts to decorate the Community Center. The center is located in Chelsea and provides services and programs for young and old that help community members achieve stability and self-sufficiency. Hours: 11am – 1:00pm — Location: Elliott Center, 441 W. 26th St (bet. 9th & 10th). For more information, contact Denise Adler at 917.363.3343 or Jennifer Edson at 917.740.8654. Click here to view the informational flyer for the event.

5) From High School Principal Tony Fisher: This year, the Arts Festival is occurring on Friday, April 28, and will involve all students in grades 8 through 12. This is an exciting day when students choose from a variety of workshops offered by faculty, friends, parents and others in and out of the LREI school community. The workshops run in the morning and are followed by an afternoon of exhibitions. For more details, please see the attachment; in particular, if you or someone you know is interested in offering a workshop, please send the form in to me by Friday, April 14.

6) For updates on faculty performances, openings, presentations, and publications visit the Faculty in the News page on the school web site.

7) LREI is a member of NYC-Parents in Action (NYC-PIA). NYC-PIA provides parenting education, information and a communications network to help parents prepare their children and teenagers to cope with social pressures and to make sound choices towards a future free of alcohol and drug abuse. You can access their on-line calendar of events at www.parentsinaction.org. Upcoming events:

Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids To Know About Sex, But Were Afraid They’d Ask
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
A lecture by Dr. Justin Richardson on The Secrets to Surviving Your Child’s Sexual Development From Birth To Teens. Co- sponsored by Freedom Institute’s Independent School Program, along with NYC Parents in Action and The Parents League. RSVP to Charlanne Zepf Bauerlein at 212-838-0044 ext. 11 or email charlanne.zepf@freedominstitute.orgFor a copy of the flyer clink on the link, http://www.parentsinaction.org/uploaded_files/143.pdf
Location: The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College

    For Eighth Grade Families . . .
    No updates this week.

    For Seventh Grade Families . . .
    For Sixth Grade Families . . .
    For Fifth Grade Families . . .
    1) From Director of Admissions Samantha Caruth: Thinking Ahead – Join us for the High School Preview Night on Tuesday, April 11th at 6:30pm in the Charlton Street Library. This is a wonderful opportunity for fifth, sixth and seventh grade parents to learn more about the High School from parents, faculty and students. This event will also provide an opportunity to meet Ruth Geyer Jurgensen, who will take over as principal of the High School in July. We hope to see you next week! RSVP to the Admissions Office at ext. 305.

    Middle School Sports
    Schedules and general information about Middle School sports programs can be found at http://lrei.org/athletics/at_4b.html. Information is also available through the LREI Sports Hotline at 212.477.5316 x 494.

    Looking Ahead . . .
    On the LREI web site additional information about upcoming events can be found at http://www.lrei.org/caleven/index.html (the middle school events page can be found at http://www.lrei.org/midschool/Events.html)

    • Friday, April 7th, 7:00PM-9:00PM — Sixth Grade DISC dance. The dance will be held at LREI (Charlton Street PAC).
    • Monday, April 10th, 10:00-11:00AM – Shakespeare to Go performance of “Romeo and Juliet”
    • Tuesday, April 11th – Poem in Your Pocket Day
    • Tuesday, April 18th, 8:15 AM — Parent Rep Meeting
    • Thursday, April 20th, 6:00PM — Middle School Parents of Children of Color meeting
    • Friday, April 21st, 8:30AM-3:30PM — School is closed for Family Conferences
    • Friday, April 28th, 12:10PM – 3:00PM – School closes at noon for Family Conferences
    • Thursday, May 4th, 8:00AM– Lesbian/Gay/ Straight Alliance Meeting in the Sixth Avenue cafeteria.
    • Friday, May 5th — Middle School Musical @ 7PM
    • Saturday, May 6th — Middle School Musical @ 2PM and 7PM
    • Tuesday, May 9th – Friday, May 12th — Eighth Grade trip to Gettysburg/DC
    • Tuesday, May 16th, 8:15AM — Parent Rep Meeting
    • Tuesday, May 16th, 6:30PM – MS Sports/Extracurricular Awards Night
    • Thursday, May 18th, 6:30PM – Spring Concert
    • Wednesday, May 24th, 6:30PM – HS New Families Reception
    • Thursday, May 25th, 6:00PM — Middle School Parents of Children of Color meeting
    • Thursday, May 25th – Book Fair in auditorium
    • Friday, May 26th, 6:00PM – Field Day – School Closes at noon for Memorial Day Weekend
    • Monday, June 5th, 3:30PM – HS Placement Exams
    • Tuesday, June 6th, 8:00AM – Sixth Grade Potluck and Poetry Breakfast
    • Wednesday, June 7th, 3:30PM – HS Placement Exams
    • Wednesday, June 7th, 6:30PM – Fifth Grade Grecian Festival and Potluck
    • Thursday, June 8th, 6:30PM – Seventh Grade Potluck Breakfast and Constitution Works!
    • Friday, June 9th – High School Graduation – School closes at noon.
    • Friday, June 9th, 6:00PM – Eighth Grade Pre-Moving Up Party
    • Monday, June 12th, 6:00PM – MS Dance
    • Tuesday, June 13th, 9:00AM – MS Moving Up Ceremony – School closes at noon for Summer Break

    Don’t forget to check the LREI website for updates and interesting information – http://www.lrei.org.

    Be well,
    Mark

    To view the attached .pdf files, please download Adobe Reader, if you do not already have it. Click on the following link or paste it into your browser: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

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