Welcome Back!

Dear Families:

Greetings! I hope you are all well and taking advantage of these last days of summer. With the summer camp program concluded, it is now quiet here in the Sixth Avenue building. It’s a quiet that affords ample opportunity for reflection, but one that regularly reminds me of just how alive with ideas and activity these halls and classrooms are when filled with students and teachers. I’m looking forward to the resumption of that “buzz” when everyone returns in September. In the meantime, I hope you take advantage of what’s left of the summer to get to those remaining items on your summer to-do list.

One item to add to your to-do list is a review of the Middle School Student and Family Handbook. The handbook contains a number of revisions, which are indicative of the rich professional dialog that took place this past year. These revisions reflect our efforts to make important Middle School policies and practices clearer so that we can better achieve our divisional goals and the school’s mission. I encourage you to review the handbook with your child as this affords an excellent opportunity to talk about hopes and goals for the coming school year. If you have specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact me before the start of the school year. Whether before school starts or during the year, my door is always open and I look forward to hearing from you. The following are a few important items to keep in mind as you review the handbook:
  • The official start of the school day for Middle School students is 8:15AM. Morning homeroom will run from 8:15-8:30AM. It is important that students arrive to school on time. Please remember that students who are late to school and who do not have a note from their parent/guardian will be expected to make up this time at the end of the day.
  • We have reconfigured advisory groups as follows: Advisory groups will be comprised of twelve students and two faculty advisors and will meet in fifth-sixth grade groupings and seventh-eighth grade groupings. These groupings will allow us to provide a more nuanced curriculum for the advisory program that will better meet the needs of advisees and advisors. The advisory program will continue to provide opportunities for students in all four grades to come together on a regular basis. Each fifth-sixth grade advisory group will have a buddy seventh-eighth grade advisory group. These buddy groups will come together throughout the year for discussion and activities. In the future, sixth graders will join their buddy advisory group when they move up to seventh grade. This will provide continuity in the advisory relationship as these students will already have had significant interactions with their seventh-eighth grade advisory through the buddy activities. This change will necessitate some reorganization of existing advisory groups, which may result in your child having a new advisor and some new members in her/his advisory group.
  • Advisory groups will meet twice a week. On Tuesdays, advisories will meet from 8:15-8:30AM in lieu of homeroom. The Tuesday morning session will function as a check-in time for advisors to meet individually with advisees or for the group to check-in collectively. Advisories will also meet on Thursdays from 12:00-12:45PM. The Thursday session will be an open session for community-building and goal-setting activities and for discussions relevant to school issues and for issues taking place outside of the school community.
  • The handbook also indicates some important changes to the quarterly progress reports, including changes to the checklist section (now called the “progress grid”) and clarifications about how grades are calculated. A final version of the new progress report with explanatory material will be available at Curriculum Night, which is scheduled for Tuesday, September 26th. Thanks to all of you who provided feedback last year on the progress reports as we embarked on this project.
  • I have also posted to the website a document that contains several of the letters of communication that faculty members may send out as email during the course of the year. We recognize that these letters have a formal tone, but we feel that they contain important information that you should know about your child’s progress. In addition, this information allows for better coordination among Middle School faculty members. It is helpful if you read these letters now so that you are familiar with their form. You can access the letters at http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ms/MS_Emails.pdf.

As I mentioned in the spring, we welcome the following new teachers to the middle school team this year:

  • Wendy Bassin – Fifth grade core teacher
  • Stephen Volkmann – Seventh and eighth grade science teacher
  • Carin Cohen – Seventh and eighth grade art teacher
  • Laurie Baum – Learning Specialist (Laurie will join us towards the end of September when Jennifer Haakmat goes on maternity leave)

In addition to these new faculty members, the following returning faculty members will take on new responsibilities as follows:

  • Frank Portella – Sixth grade core teacher
  • Noni Polhill – Eighth grade core teacher
  • Ana Chaney – Fifth and sixth grade math teacher
  • Margaret Andrews – Eighth grade math and math seminar teacher

Amidst travels, spending time with families and friends, and reflecting on the past year, many returning faculty members spent time this summer focusing on their curricula and on life in school in general:

  • Fifth grade core teacher Heather Brandstetter researched new texts for inclusion in the fifth grade core program and developed a series of units with a social justice theme to accompany these new additions to the reading curriculum.
  • Fifth and sixth grade science teacher Sherezada Acosta taught a robotics class as part of the LREI Summer Institute and with Middle School computer coordinator Steve Neiman participated in the Logo Summer Institute that was held at LREI. The focus of the institute was on the Logo programming language that we use for Microworlds and the Middle School robotics curriculum.
  • At the end of the summer, Sherezada traveled to Egypt where she was a presenter at the SEED Collaborative Workshop. The workshop provided a hands-on intensive experience for teachers that focused on creative uses of educational technology through project- and inquiry-based learning techniques.
  • Middle School librarian Jennifer Hubert Swan taught a class on Young Adult Literature in the library science graduate program at Queens College, expanding upon and adding to her knowledge of literature for adolescents, and sharing her great enthusiasm for Young Adult Literature with future youth librarians and teachers.
  • Fifth and sixth grade art teacher Melissa Rubin attended a weeklong workshop focused on incorporating writing activities into the arts. Melissa will incorporate this experience into activities for students and will share these practices with other members of the art department.
  • Seventh grade core teacher Matthew Rosen served as a member for the faculty for the Regis High School Reach Summer Program. Through the experience, Matthew continued his work on implementing the reading and writing workshop.
  • Seventh and eighth grade Spanish teacher and dean Gabrielle Keller traveled to Scotland to attend an Explorica Convention for experienced trip leaders. Gabrielle met with Explorica directors to discuss how to enhance the trip experience for students and teachers.
  • Eighth grade core teachers Sarah Barlow and Noni Polhill worked on the development of a service-based “Social Justice Activism Project” for eighth graders that connects to their year-long theme “Choosing to Participate.” Sarah was also a keynote presenter at the Facing History and Ourselves Summer Institute that was held Teachers College.
  • Noni and sixth grade core teacher Frank Portella served as the principals for GO Project Summer at Grace Church School. GO Project is an academic support program for elementary students in the downtown public schools. Seventh and eighth grade science teacher Stephen Volkmann who taught an enrichment course joined them. Frank also taught a creative writing class as part of the LREI Summer Institute.
  • Athletic Directors Marcus Chang and Larry Kaplan created a handbook for LREI coaches and a handbook for student athletes and their families. These two documents will help to move the LREI athletic program to the next level.
  • In addition to teaching a physical challenge course and a media literacy course as part of the LREI Summer Institute, Marcus also worked with Director of Diversity and Community Sharon DuPree to create a series of diversity focused activities to be used in classes in the Middle School.
  • Middle school math teachers Ana Fox Chaney and Michelle Boehm attended a five-day mathematics and technology conference organized by The Discovery Institute at the College of Staten Island. The meetings explored the mathematics curriculum with a special focus on technology’s impact and application in the classroom.
  • Middle School music teacher Henry Chapin worked with a variety of computer-based music composition programs, which will find their way into a number of new units in the music program.
  • Middle School French teacher Sharyn Hahn attended an Apple workshop that explored the use of Ipods and podcasts in the classroom. This work will lead to some new and interesting uses of these technologies in the foreign language classroom.

A most impressive list and reflective of the commitment that LREI faculty have to their own continued professional growth. Rest assured that whether connected to the projects noted above, or through the day-to-day work that the teachers have planned for students, we have many thought provoking and challenging activities planned for the coming school year.

A few specific reminders:

  • Foreign Language—If you are a sixth grader or a student new to LREI and have not informed me of your choice for foreign language, please call to discuss this.
  • New Student Orientation—All students new to the Middle School (all fifth graders and sixth-eighth graders new to LREI) are invited to join us for an orientation session on Wednesday, September 6th at 9:00AM in the Sixth Avenue auditorium. Faculty and returning students will be on hand to answer all of your questions and to let you know the inside scoop on being an LREI middle schooler. Families are invited to attend.
  • Summer Reading—Fifth through seventh graders should bring summer reading assignments to school on the first day. If you are not sure if you have completed all that you have to do, check out the summer reading section of our website— http://www.lrei.org/libres/sr06.html.
  • Middle School Chorus and Band—The Little Red School House Chorus (grades 3-5) meets on Thursdays from 3:00-3:45PM. The Little Red Singers (grades 6-8) meets twice a week for 45 minutes (Mondays, 8:00-8:45AM and Wednesdays, 3:00-3:45PM). The Little Red School House Chorus is directed by Helen Yoo and Little Red Singers are directed by Henry Chapin. The Middle school band meets on Fridays from 2:15-3:45PM. All instrumentalists and vocalists are invited to attend. The focus of the band is on performance and not individual instruction. Henry Chapin also directs the band.
  • New Parents—you are invited to a cocktail party hosted by Board Chair Michael Patrick (LREI ’71) and his wife Carol Sedwick— Thursday, September 14th at 6PM, at the home of Michael and Carol, 250 West 94th St. 15E
  • LREI Medical Forms—please make sure that you return all medical-related forms to School Nurse Kitty Highstein before the first day of school.
  • Greenkill–Fifth and sixth graders will leave for their three-day outdoor education trip to the Greenkill Environmental Center on Wednesday, September 20th. Please read and complete the forms that have been enclosed in this mailing.
  • Middle School Curriculum Night – Tuesday, September 26th at 6:30PM. All are invited to attend.

Among the highlights of the Middle School program are the overnight trips taken by each Middle School grade. The fifth and sixth grades begin our trip program for the year with their annual journey to the Greenkill Environmental Education Center. This three-day experience provides an excellent opportunity for the middle school students and faculty to learn together in a setting that helps to further the sense of community that is so important to our program. The fee for the Greenkill trip is $300. In late-October, seventh graders will travel to Williamsburg, VA as part of their study of Colonial America. Eighth graders will travel to Gettysburg, PA and Washington DC in May as a part of their two-year study of American history. The pricing for each of these trips is $617. All children will participate in the trip program. In addition, our two optional foreign language trips will take place over Spring Break. The projected cost for these trips is $1,700. I’ve included this information to alert you to the additional payment so that you can plan accordingly. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions about the payment for your child’s trip.

That’s all for now. With the start of school just around the corner, I hope that you make the most of these last days of summer and that you return with interesting experiences and stories to share as we embark on new and exciting adventures in the fall.

See you soon!

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:
2006-2007 At-a-Glance Calendar
Middle School Email Communications
MS Supplemental Summer Reading List
Eighth Grade:
Seventh Grade:
Sixth Grade:
Fifth Grade:

Of General Interest . . .
1) The attached 2006-2007 At-a-Glance Calendar contains a few changes related to the dates for next year’s Middle School Family conferences.

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

3) 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 Eighth Grade Families . . .
No updates this week.

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

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

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

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)

  • Wednesday, September 6, 2006, 9:00AM — New Student Orientation. All students new to the Middle School (all fifth graders and sixth-eighth graders new to LREI) and their families are invited to join us for an hour on Wednesday morning. Students will meet a few classmates and their teachers. All will have a chance to ask questions about the upcoming school year.
  • Thursday, September 7, 2006, 8:15AM — First Day of School
  • Thursday, September 14th, 2006, 6:00PM — New Parent Cocktail Party hosted by Board Chair Michael Patrick ’71 and Carol Sedwick.
  • Tuesday, September 19, 2006, 8:15AM — MS Parent Rep. Mtg.
  • Wednesday, September 20, 2006, 8:00AM — Fifth & Sixth Grade to Greenkill (return on Friday, September 22, 2006)
  • Thursday, September 21, 2006, 6:00PM — MS POCOC
  • Tuesday, September 26, 2006, 6:00PM — MS Curriculum Night
  • Monday, October 2, 2006 — Yom Kippur School Closed
  • Wednesday, October 4, 2006 — Sixth Grade DISC Field Day (raindate Tuesday, October 24, 2006)
  • Monday, October 9, 2006 — Columbus Day – School Closed
  • Tuesday, October 10, 2006, 6:30PM — Diversity and Community Evening
  • Wednesday, October 11, 2006 — Eighth Grade HS Tour
  • Monday, October 16, 2006 — Photo Day (raindate Monday, October 23, 2006)
  • Tuesday, October 17, 2006, 8:15AM — MS Parent Rep. Mtg.
  • Wednesday, October 18, 2006 — HS Minimester (through Friday, October 20, 2006)
  • Wednesday, October 18, 2006 — Eighth Grade HS Tour
  • Thursday, October 19, 2006, 6:00PM — MS POCOC Meeting
  • Saturday, October 21, 2006, 7:00PM — Coffeehouse
  • Monday, October 23, 2006, 8:00AM — Seventh Grade to Williamsburg (return on Friday, October 27, 2006)
  • Sunday, October 29, 2006 — Halloween Fair
  • Friday, November 3, 2006 — MS-End of 1st Quarter
  • Wednesday, November 15, 2006, 12:15PM — MS Parent-Teacher Conferences
  • Thursday, November 16, 2006, 6:00PM — MS POCOC Mtg.
  • Friday, November 17, 2006, 8:30AM — MS Parent-Teacher Conferences (MS closed)
  • Monday, November 20, 2006 — Irwin Scholars Application due
  • Tuesday, November 21, 2006, 8:15AM — MS Parent Rep. Mtg.
  • Wednesday, November 22, 2006 — Thanksgiving-School closes at 12:00PM (school reopens on Monday, 27, 2006)
  • Friday, December 1, 2006, 7:00PM — Seventh Grade DISC Dance 40 CHST
  • Monday, December 4, 2006 — Book Week (through Friday, November 8, 2006)
  • Wednesday, December 6, 2006 — Book Fair (through Friday November 8, 2006)
  • Thursday, December 7, 2006, 7:00PM — Literary Evening
  • Friday, December 8, 2006, 7:00PM — MS Play
  • Saturday, December 9, 2006, 2:00PM and 7:00PM — MS Play
  • Tuesday, December 12, 2006, 8:15AM — MS Parent Rep. Mtg.
  • Tuesday, December 12, 2006, 6:00PM — Seventh Grade Colonial Museum
  • Thursday, December 14, 2006, 6:00PM — Winter Concert
  • Thursday, December 14, 2006, 6:00PM — MS POCOC Mtg.
  • Friday, December 15, 2006 — Winter Break – School closes at 12:00PM (school reopens on Wednesday, January 3, 2007)

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

Be well,
Mark

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