From guest blogger Phil Kassen:

Dear LREI Community,

I hope that you and yours found time to rest over the long weekend as the next three weeks are chock full of events.  I encourage you to check out the on-line calendar to make sure that you do not miss anything, including home basketball games.  Our middle and high school teams are exciting to watch and love to have fans in the stands. After Winter Break you can also stop by the gym on Friday afternoons at 3:30 to see the 5th and 6th graders play in our intramural basketball league—a great introduction for lower school fans!    Thanks to the PA Sports Committee for creating the home game banner that hangs outside the Sixth Ave. building on any day there is a game in our Thompson Street gym. Book Week, the Book Fair and our annual Literary Evening are next week. All of the info that you need follows this note.  These are always fantastic events! Finally, it is a pleasure to announce a new LREI experience…….

ADULT rED

Have you ever wanted to go back to school in a progressive classroom similar to your child’s?  Intrigued by what you hear around the dinner table? Many parents of LREI students tell us how they wish that they could have the experiences that their children have each day.

In response to significant parent interest, this winter LREI will be offering two evening courses for adults, taught by members of our outstanding faculty.  These will be seminar style courses, with an emphasis on discussion and open dialogue between participants.  Two members of our high school faculty, Julia Heaton (English Teacher, former Acting High School Principal, former Academic Dean) and Tom Murphy (History Teacher, History Department Chair), will be offering abridged versions of their most popular offerings—Dangerous Language and Global War on Terror: American Foreign Policy Since 9/11, respectively.

Each course will be open to 15 participants.  There will be pre-seminar reading assignments (to be completed over Winter Break) with additional shorter supplemental assignments during the five-week session.  The courses meet simultaneously.  If you are interested in participating, please choose one, with the expectation that you will attend all five sessions.  While there are no required writing assignments, participants are encouraged to take notes and respond in writing to the week’s guiding questions.

Classes will meet on the following Tuesday evenings—January 12th, January 19th, January 26th, February 2nd and February 9th. Courses will meet from 6:30PM-8:00PM in the high school, 40 Charlton Street.

There is a $100 registration fee for each participant.

If you would like to register for one of these courses, please contact Rowena Penaranda-Askins at rpenaranda@lrei.org or (212) 477-5316, x295.

Course Descriptions:
Pornography or Masterpiece: Reading Lolita at LREI

“I shall never regret Lolita.  She was like the composition of a beautiful puzzle– its composition and its solution at the same time, since one is a mirror view of the other, depending on the way you look.“ – Vladimir Nabokov, 1964.

“What frightens or disturbs us in Lolita…opens our eyes to ourselves and our worlds. Everyone should read it for the pure joy.” — Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran

Published in 1955, Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita was hailed by Graham Greene as one of the best books of all time and also “the filthiest book I have ever read…sheer unrestrained pornography” (John Gordon, London Sunday Express, 1956).  For the past half century, this iconic story of a middle-aged professor’s infatuation with his adolescent stepdaughter continues to fascinate, intoxicate and alienate readers of all ages.  In this five-week seminar, we will journey together through the novel Lolita, analyzing the text in terms of character, language, formal structure, and theme.  Furthermore, we will consider the novel’s publication history (banned in several countries) as well as its complicated position in the literary “canon”.  Finally, we will discuss the societal and moral implications of the novel’s subject, and the complicity we feel as readers when we are at once “entranced with the book while abhorring its author” (Nabokov, Lolita).  Participants will read an annotated version of Lolita as well as selected works of literary criticism.

The Global War on Terror: American Foreign Policy Since 9/11

“We will rid the world of evildoers.” — Bush, Sept. 17.

The Global War on Terrorism (or GWOT) is the name of a campaign with the stated goal of ending international terrorism by preventing terrorist groups from posing a threat, and by putting an end to state sponsorship of terrorism. This campaign was launched by the United States following the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. carried out by al-Qaeda. After more than eight years the name has changed yet the conflict continues. In this five-week seminar, we will use a combination of primary sources, articles and Frontline documentaries to examine the evolution of the war against radical Islam. By looking at how we got here we may develop a better understanding of what we should do next.

Week One: Al Qaeda and the New Terrorism

Week Two: The Bush Foreign Policy Revolution

Week Three: The War in Afghanistan

Week Four: The War in Iraq

Week Five: The Global War on Terror and Human Rights

THE LOOMING TOWER  Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11.   By Lawrence Wright. Illustrated. 469 pp. Alfred A. Knopf.

Of General Interest . . .
1) From the LRE Family Handbook…

• Families (including those whose children are non-allergic) must never send in snacks or food that contain nuts or seeds of any kind, either for themselves or for their children, even if the snacks or food are not intended to be consumed on school property. In particular, backpacks and pockets should never have any nuts or seeds in them.
• If your child wants to give his or her teacher a gift at winter break, the end of the year, or any other time during the year, a homemade gift or drawing is welcome and appreciated. A group gift from parents and children in the class may be given at the end of the school year.
  NOTE: As an alternative to gifts, during book week every year, you can purchase a gift certificate. This allows our teachers to purchase books for the classroom. Gift certificates are available in the lobby this week and at the book fair next week.

2) HOLIDAY SHOPPING AT LREI SCHOOL SPIRIT STORE!
The school store will be open the following mornings at the Sixth Avenue building from 8–9AM:

Tuesday 12/8
Friday 12/11
Wednesday 12/16
Thursday 12/17

Charlton St. building, both lunch periods:

Monday 12/14
Tuesday 12/15

3) The LREI Literary Committee is hosting a Literary Evening for the adults of our community. This year’s evening, called Only in New York: Folly in the Big Apple, takes place on Tuesday, December 8 at 7 PM in the Charlston St. PAC.  Authors include: Jonathan Ames, Susan Choi, Gabriel Cohen, Jennifer Egan, Marian Fontana and Victor LaValle, with Andy Borowitz as MC.  Tickets are on sale for $25 in the Sixth Avenue Lobby every morning, along with gift certificates for the Book Fair.  Your ticket will get you an evening of New York stories, as well as great food and drink.  Please click here for more information.

4) The Glass Menagerie, LREI’s resident adult chorus, conducted by Susan Glass, LREI parent and teacher, is giving their annual holiday concert this weekend (click here for the poster):

A Choral Flourish
Saturday, December 5th at 8 PM St.
Joseph’s Church 6th Ave and Washington Place
$20/ $15 students and seniors

5) Red is Green Committee Announcements:

• Ink Cartridges: This week will be the last week to turn in your empty ink cartridges to be recycled. Every year in the US we throw away over 375 million cartridges. Bins are located by the reception desks at both the high school and 6th Ave.
• For more details about our monthly recycling drives and Go Green to School dates, please click Red is Green PA Page.

6) The LREI Cookbook Committee is working on creating a LREI community cookbook.  The theme of the cookbook is potlucks.  We are looking for recipe contributions from students, parents, teachers and staff.  The cookbooks will be sold to the LREI community as well as through outside venues.  Proceeds from the books will go to the LREI annual fund.  In order for the book to be a success we need everyone’s help. If you have any recipes that you would like to submit for consideration, please send them to  cookbook@lrei.org. Recipes should be appropriate for potlucks from start to finish, from appetizers to desserts.   Also, if you are interested in participating in the creation of the cookbook, email Kathryn Kellinger at kksidedish@aol.com or Susie Marples at susiemarples@yahoo.com Further, we would like to gather the recipes for all of the delicious quick breads that were prepared in the classroom for the Thanksgiving feast last Wednesday or for any other occassion, so please forward those recipes as well as any pictures you may have taken during the preparation or tasting of the breads to cookbook@lrei.org.

7) Click here to access the new LREI on-line photo gallery.

[flickrslideshow acct_name=”lrei-photos” id=”72157622749961445″ width=”460″ height=”345″] [flickrslideshow acct_name=”lrei-photos” id=”72157622919896938″ width=”460″ height=”345″] [flickrslideshow acct_name=”lrei-photos” id=”72157622928839462″ width=”460″ height=”345″]

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

9) LREI is a member of NYC-Parents in Action (NYC-PIA – http://www.parentsinaction.org/). 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. Click here to view upcoming events and/or to download their calendar.

For All Grades . . .
1) A reminder that you can access teachers’ blogs by following the “Digital Classroom” link on the sidebar.

2) BOOK WEEK is here! Authors and illustrators will be visiting all LREI grades all next week. Authors slated to visit middle school classes include:

• Fifth Grade: Peter Kujawinski (Dormia)
• Sixth Grade: Mike Beil (The Red Blazer Girls)
• Seventh Grade: Chris Claremont (X-Men)
• Eighth Grade: A.M. Homes (Jack)

These visitors donate their time to enrich our students’ love of reading.  We encourage you to support them by visiting the Book Fair, where titles by all visiting authors will be on sale, as well as a wide selection of other titles for children and grown-ups.  The Book Fair starts Wednesday, December 9 at 2 PM, and runs through Friday, December 11  at 6 PM in the 6th Avenue Auditorium. Please click here to fill out a Pre-Authorized Purchase Form, for your child to pick out books at the fair! In the spirit of Book Week, please read Middle School librarian Jennifer Hubert’s latest blog post.

3) The Lower School and Middle School Parents of Children of Color Committees (POCOC) Winter Book Club: December 4, 2009, 6-8 PM.  Our 3rd Book Club Meeting is almost here and we hope that all families with children of color will participate fully (the book club is for kids, not adults).  This is a wonderful evening of books, art, camaraderie, community-building and of course, food!  You do not have to be a member of the POCOC to attend.  Click here for a flyer with details. Please contact LS POCOC Co-chairs Shindy Johnson (shindy@kenduuwa.com) or Rhonda Hartley (rhonda.hartley@gs.com) for more info.

4) Afterschool Open Enrichment Class Week, December 7 – 11, 2009. This is an opportunity for a parent or caregiver to come and observe your child’s Afterschool Enrichment Class.  Please feel free to show up at any point during your child’s regular class time – click here for the schedule.  As this is the first time we have held an Open Class Week, we welcome your feedback in looking forward to planning for next year. Please contact the Afterschool Office if you have any questions, at 212-477-5316, ext. 239.

5) Announcing the middle school production of Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book.” “Jungle Book” is scheduled for Friday, December 11th, at 7:00PM and Saturday, December 12th, at 2:00PM and 7:00PM.  This stage adaption, which retains much of Kipling’s original poetry, but with all the charm of a middle school play, focuses on Mowgli’s journey of discovery as he grows up with his family and comes to terms with his unique and complex identity. Come to the play as a family and join us as we follow Mowgli through the challenges he faces both in the jungle and in his heart.  Enjoy our colorful set, costumes and of course, the outstanding talents of our middle school students. Tickets are on sale in the Sixth Avenue Lobby from 8am-9am Dec 4th-11th. Students $10 Adults $12.  Click here for the poster!

6) Save the Date!

• LREI Winter Concert – Tuesday, December 15th, at the Charlton Street PAC at 6:30PM. Featuring the choruses from all three divisions and the MS & HS and jazz bands.
• The Afterschool Piano and Voice Recital and Instrumental Concert will take place on Wednesday, December 16th, with, Piano and Voice Recital at 5:30PM in the PAPAS and the Instrumental Concert at 6:30PM in the Auditorium.

For Eighth Grade Families . . .
1) Please read the new math X unit letter from eighth grade math teacher Michelle Boehm.

For Seventh Grade Families . . .
1) Please read the new math unit letter from eighth grade math teacher Michelle Boehm.

2) Please join us as we celebrate the opening of our Seventh Grade Colonial Museum on Wednesday, December 16th, from 6PM to 8PM.  As is our custom, a potluck dinner held in the cafeteria will follow the exhibition. While all varieties of victuals are welcomed, those with a colonial bent are most appreciated. A list of colonial inspired menu items appears below. Please speak to your parent rep about what to bring as they will be coordinating this part of the evening. Some students have expressed a desire to dress in traditional Colonial attire. This is permitted. For those students who choose not to, we ask that they come to school on Wednesday dressed nicely. Collared shirts are encouraged for the boys, skirts or pants for the girls. Please no t-shirts, jeans, or sweats.

For Fifth and Sixth Grade Families . . .
1) The LREI Intramural Basketball season is here. The first practice for all interested players was held on Wednesday, December 2nd, from 7:00-8:00AM at the Thompson Street Athletic Center. This practice will be followed by a second open practice on Thursday, December 10th, also at 7:00AM at Thompson Street. Coaches will use these practices to select players for each team. Students are welcome to attend both practices, but it is important that they attend at least one. Regular team practices will start on Wednesday and Thursday, December 16th and 17th. Students will be informed as to which morning practice is for their team. The full practice and game schedule will be forthcoming. Players should bring a completed permission slip to either the December 2nd or 10th practice. Forms can be downloaded from the Athletics section of the LREI website.

============= For additional information, follow these links: =============

• View all events with the LREI On-line Calendar
• Click here to see the 2009-2010 calendar.
• LREI Athletics. For general LREI Athletics news go to this link . This page will provide general announcements, game summaries, league standings and season recaps.
• Click here to view the Middle School Photo Gallery.

A reminder that the individual homework blog and the “feeds” for every class can be accessed from the Digital Classroom link on the sidebar (you may want to bookmark this page for easy access). These feeds provide an easy “one-click” solution to find out what has been assigned for homework. Keep in mind that a feed will only show what has been posted as of the time you check it.

Don’t forget to check the LREI website for updates and other interesting school-related information.

Be well,
Mark