A Different Set of Classrooms

Dear Families:

This Tuesday’s evening’s Middle School Extracurricular Awards Night served as a powerful reminder of the range of opportunities that are available to students in the middle school. Whether it be through sports, music, robotics, Model Congress, or community service students refined areas of strength, worked on areas of challenge, and took new risks. Through these efforts students practiced collaboration and teamwork skills and challenged each other to do their best. In all of these endeavors, students were supported by committed and caring coaches, directors, and facilitators. In addition to learning a lot, it was also clear that they had a lot of fun. What more can you ask for? If your child has not done so already, I encourage you to talk with your child about taking advantage of one or more of these opportunities in the future as they present real opportunities for growth and exploration.

Of General Interest . . .

1) On Friday, May 26th, we will hold our annual Field Day at Pier 40. This is an exciting school event in which students from all three divisions will have the opportunity to participate in a fun-filled day of recreational activities. Students will spend the first part of the day in activities with their buddies. The younger lower school classes will return to the school after this while the third through twelfth grades will participate in a variety of activities in mixed age groups. Students will need to bring their own lunch along with a container of water. (No nuts or seeds, please.) Plastic bottles are fine, but please no glass containers! Clothing should be comfortable and easy to move in, shorts or sweatpants and athletic shoes. No sandals. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat are strongly recommended.
Finally, it is very important for students to arrive at school on time, by 8:30AM. We will return to school in time for 1:00PM dismissal. Fours through First Grade will be dismissed at 12:45PM. Thank you for your cooperation with this. We’re looking forward to a wonderful day!

2) Please review the attached flyer for information on the upcoming Fun-Raiser to support summer renovations for the Thompson Street Athletic Center. This event is scheduled for Thursday, May 25th at 5:00PM.

3) The annual 24 Game is underway with the Single Digit Double Dot competition having taken place today. Semifinalists Parker (Fourth Grade), Rachel (Fifith Grade), and David (Sixth Grade) will meet at our Middle School meeting on Wednesday, May 31st. The will be joined by the semi-finalists from the Single Digit One Dot and Three Dot competitions, the Double Digit One, Two, and Three Dot competitions, and the Integer One, Two, and Three Dot competitions. These preliminary competitions will take place next Thursday Morning, May 25th at 7:45Am in teh cafeteria. It is not too late to sign up for these competitions.

4) May Book Fair – The Literary Committee will have a Spring into Summer Book Fair in the Auditorium on May 25th. A selection of the optional and all of the required reading titles will be sold from 8:00AM-6:30PM. Please read the attached flyer.

5) Sunday, May 21st: AIDS Walk, contact Gabrielle Keller at gkeller@lrei.org for more information.

6) From Middle School Librarian Jennifer Hubert Swan: It’s that time of year again! The Sixth Avenue library faculty need to start shelving and shelf-reading our book collection to review what materials have been brought back, what materials are missing, and what materials we need to replace for next year. In order to do this important work in a timely manner, we will be closing to circulation starting Tuesday, May 30th. After this date, no more books may be checked out of the library so that we can begin reshelving the collection. We encourage families to begin returning as many library books as possible during this time. Of course, the library space will still be open for student use. If you have any questions, please contact Me at jhubert@lrei.org.

7) Dig the tent out of storage! It’s time for the 13th annual LREI Camping Trip, which is scheduled for June 2nd-4th. It’s a great time filled with swimming, softball, fishing, campfires, s’mores and a wonderful dinner by Peter Hoffman of the Savoy. The cost is $30 per adult and $20 per child. For more information see us in the lobby on Wednesday, May 17th and Thursday, May 25th. Or contact Richard Cleves at 917-408-6211 or at richard@cxny.org. Or check the LREI website. A great time will be had by all. Payment deadline is May, 27.

8) Summers at LREI announces the LREI Institute. Please read the attached flyer for information about this exciting summer opportunity for students.

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

10) 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.

For Sixth-Eighth Grade Families . . .
Sixth, seventh and eighth graders will begin discussions of sexuality in adolescent issues over the next few weeks. The seventh grade began discussions last week, the eighth grade this week, and the sixth grade next week. The goal of these conversations is to help students to understand the changes that happen during puberty and to answer questions they may have about their bodies, about issues of sexuality and relationships. These are frank discussions and we will attempt to answer honestly and forthrightly any questions the students ask in seriousness while keeping in mind that the students are at the beginning of their learning about these issues and in different places developmentally across the three grades. Conversations will happen both in coed and single sex groups. When in a coed group there will be male and female teachers, single sex groups will be led by men or women. Do not hesitate to contact Phil or me if you have questions.

For Eighth Grade Families . . .
1) Monday May 22nd or Tues May 23rd: High school placement exams for those continuing to EI next year. Sign up with Samantha Caruth (scaruth@lrei.org) if you have not already done so.

2) Wednesday, May 24th: New Families Reception, Elisabeth Irwin HS. Please come and meet your new classmates! Meet HS luminaries including Phil Kassen, principal Ruth Jurgenson, faculty, deans, and many more. Charlton St. PAC, 6:30-8:00PM.

3) Thursday, May 25th: 8th grade Forensics Trial, Sixth Ave PAPAS (aka The Big Room) 6:30-8:00PM, cheese and soft drinks will be available. We hope that you will be able to join us and assume the role of jurors as a suspect is brought to trial in this important case.

4) For those families moving on to EI, you will receive about summer reading and summer math from the high school.

5) Mark your calendar: Eighth Grade Pre-Moving Up Party, Friday, June 9, 2006. Please Arrive by 6:00PM for Potluck Dinner and Recognition Program followed by dancing til 9:00PM at 40 Charlton Street, PAC.

For Seventh Grade Families . . .
1) Please read the attached summer reading list. Your child will also have the opportunity to purchase summer reading books on Thursday at the Book Fair. Information about the summer math assignment will be forthcoming.

2) The seventh grade potluck breakfast and Constitution Works event will take place on Thursday, June 8th. The breakfast will begin at 8:00AM and we will leave for Constitution Works at 9:15AM. This year’s venue is the US Bankruptcy Eastern Court House, which is located at 271 Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn, NY. We can take the A or the C train to Boro Hall. Your parent reps will be in touch with you about the potluck breakfast.

For Sixth Grade Families . . .
1) Please read the attached summer reading list. Your child will also have the opportunity to purchase summer reading books on Thursday at the Book Fair. Information about the summer math assignment will be forthcoming.

2) From music teacher Henry Chapin: Your children will be taking a field trip with me and their core teachers to Carnegie Hall on Thursday, May 25th to hear – and participate in – this season’s LINKUP! concert, performed by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. The theme of this ear’s concert is MELODY. I have given each student two workbooks and CDs from LinkUp! so they may prepare for the concert. Students are preparing two pieces, included in the workbooks, to play with the orchestra: “Simple Melody” and “LinkUp! Recorder Concerto.” The program also includes excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, Rossini’s “William Tell Overture,” and Benjamin Britten’s “Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.” I hope to have time to listen to these works with classes before the concert. In addition, please consider listening to these pieces in their entirety with your child between now and the concert, as it will greatly enhance their understanding, engagement, connection and enjoyment to be familiar with these great works. At the conclusion of the concert we will walk to just inside Central Park at Columbus Circle, and eat a brown bag lunch before traveling back to school on the subway. Please make sure your child brings their own brown bag lunch (no nuts and/or seeds or glass bottles) to school on the day of the concert. In keeping with the spirit of going to a concert in the best and most famous hall in the cultural capitol of the world, it might be fun to consider dressing up slightly on the 25th. Talk it over with your child. I’ll even put on a tie! Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me by email (hchapin@lrei.org)

2) The annual sixth grade poetry and potluck breakfast will take place on Tuesday, June 6th at 8:00AM. Your parent reps will be in touch with you about the potluck breakfast.

For Fifth Grade Families . . .
1) Please read the attached summer reading list. Your child will also have the opportunity to purchase summer reading books on Thursday at the Book Fair. Information about the summer math assignment will be forthcoming.

2) Our innaugural Grecian Festival will take place on the evening of Wednesday, June 7th at 6:30PM. Your parent reps will be in touch with you about the potluck dinner.

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)

• Thursday, May 18th, 6:30PM – Spring Concert
• Sunday, May 21st — AIDS Walk
• Monday, May 22nd, 3:30PM – HS Placement Exams
• Tuesday, May 23rd, 3:30PM – HS Placement Exams
• Wednesday, May 24th, 6:30PM – HS New Families Reception
• Thursday, May 25th, 8:00AM-6:30PM — May Book Fair
• Thursday, May 25th, 10:15AM — Sixth grade to Carnegie Hall for a LinkUp! concert
• Thursday, May 25th, 6:00PM — Middle School Parents of Children of Color meeting
• Thursday, May 25th, 6:30PM — Eighth Grade Forensics Trial
• Thursday, May 25th – Book Fair in auditorium
• Friday, May 26th – Field Day – School Closes at 1PM for Memorial Day Weekend
• Tuesday, June 6th, 8:00AM – Sixth Grade Potluck and Poetry Breakfast
• Wednesday, June 7th, 6:30PM – Fifth Grade Grecian Festival and Potluck
• Thursday, June 8th, 8:15AM – 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

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