A Walk in the Woods
Dear Middle School Families,
For the past two days, fifth and sixth graders have taken to the woods, ponds and craft shops at the Ashokan Center with joyful enthusiasm. This annual three-day trip provides students with an opportunity to build community while they explore the natural world and consider our place in it. The trip also provides numerous situations where students must work collaboratively in order to solve a variety of challenges.
Throughout their three days at Ashokan, each student will likely confront moments of personal challenge as s/he ponders how to do something new or how to address something that s/he knows is difficult based on prior experience. In each of these situations, students will likely take advantage of the support of a friend or teacher who will help them to navigate through the risk at hand. It is this support and safety that helps students to explore the obvious and not so obvious opportunities for learning connected to their efforts. This collaboration with peers is also a collaboration with place; as middle schoolers interact with the natural world, they simultaneously reinforce an important connection with the world around them. As Richard Louv observes in his article, “A Walk in the Woods.”
In the formation of American ideals, nature was elemental to the idea of human rights. Inherent in the thinking of the Founding Fathers was this assumption: with every right comes responsibility. Whether we are talking about democracy or nature, if we fail to serve as careful stewards, we will destroy the reason for our right, and the right itself. Those of us who identify ourselves as conservationists or environmentalists—whatever word we prefer—nearly always have had some transcendent experience in the natural world, usually in the form of independent play, with hands muddy, feet wet. We cannot love what we do not know. As Robert Michael Pyle puts it so well, “What is the extinction of a condor to a child who has never seen a wren?”
We must do more than talk about the importance of nature; we must ensure that children in every kind of neighborhood have everyday access to natural spaces, places, and experiences. To make that happen, this truth must become evident: we can truly care for nature and ourselves only if we see ourselves and nature as inseparable, only if we love ourselves as part of nature, only if we believe that our children have a right to the gifts of nature undestroyed.
Whether at Ashokan or in the green spaces of our city, an essential part of the LREI experience is the comntinued forging of this link between self and place. In images, here is evidence of this work being practiced at Ashokan as students push beyond the obvious and seek unusual ideas, see other points of view, challenge assumptions, explore new territory and go beyond the boundaries.
[flickrslideshow acct_name=”lrei-photos” id=”72157624840628063″ width=”460″ height=”345″]
You can also view these pictures on our on-line gallery at http://blog.lrei.org/photo-gallery/gallery/.
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Of General Interest . . .
1) Last week, a group of fifth graders had the change to participate in a video segment on gender and professions that was shown this past Sunday on Good Morning America. As you will see, they were thoughtful and provocative. Enjoy!
Click here to access the most current “At a Glance” calendar for the 2010-2011 school year. This calendar includes Family Conference dates not included in the last version that was sent by Phil.
2) A note from Lower School principal Namita Tolia for those of you who knew Fluffy the Bunny:
Dear Friends,
Gina shared the sad news with us all that Fluffy the bunny died peacefully last weekend. He was an extraordinary and sweet little bunny, who brought joy and a smile to all. It was good that Fluffy lived a long, full life with Gina and many years of first graders. The hard part is saying goodbye to a very special pet, and friend to many teachers and children. We are missing Fluffy. If your child has memories of Fluffy and would like to write a note or make a drawing, that is fine to do. Notes and drawings should be brought to Namita’s office and I will put together a book of these for Gina. If Fluffy meant a lot to your child in particular and they feel a need to visit Gina to give a hug, please help them do this before school or after school rather than during the school day. (This is much easier on the current first graders). Notes and pictures can be brought to Namita’s office any time and there will be an envelope on the door in case there is a meeting in progress. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Thanks for your support!
Sincerely,
Namita Tolia
2) New Parents—you are invited to a cocktail party hosted by Board Chair Michael Patrick (LREI ’71) and his wife Carol Sedwick— Monday, September 20th at 6PM, at the home of Michael and Carol, 250 West 94th Street, Apt. 15E (between Broadway and West End)
3) 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) Photo Day is this Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010. To get the best photo of your child, please make sure they are dressed appropriately that day. Weather permitting, the photos will be taken outside. We will notify you a few weeks after photo day via email when your child’s proofs are ready to be viewed online for purchase.
2) From MS Parents of Children of Color (POCOC) Co-Chairs Rhonda Hartley & Kaiko Hayes: Welcome to the Middle School POCOC Committee. We will have our annual POCOC Potluck Breakfast with the Lower School POCOC next Wednesday, September 22 at 8:00 am in the Cafeteria. Please bring your children to the breakfast. The breakfast is a potluck, so please bring along a baked good/breakfast treat if you can (no nuts, no seeds) beverage, or paper goods (coffee & tea will be provided). If there is a parent of a child of color in your grade that you know missed this morning’s Welcome Fair please forward this email to them. We look forward to seeing you all next Wednesday morning for the Potluck breakfast.
3) Middle School Curriculum Night — Tuesday, September 28th at 6:30PM. This will be an opportunity to hear from your child’s teachers about the curriculum for the year..
4) Middle School Sports — Practices for Middle School soccer, volleyball, and cross-country will begin the week of September 13th. You can access the game and practice schedule at http://lrei.org/athletics/fallsports.html. Fifth and Sixth grade intramural soccer will begin the week of September 2oth with practices on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:00AM in the morning. Questions about the seventh and eighth grade teams should be directed to Athletic Director Peter Fisher at pfisher@lrei.org. Questions about the intramural program should be directed to Middle School PE teacher and Intramural Coordinator Larry Kaplan at lkaplan@lrei.org.
4) Middle School Chorus and Jazz Band — The Little Red Singers (grades 5-8) meets once a week on Tuesdays from 11:00AM-12:00PM. Lower School music teacher and Middle School vocal music teacher Ledell Mulvaney directs the chorus. Seventh and eighth grade jazz band members meet during the performing arts elective period. Fifth and sixth grade jazz band members meet on Fridays from 2:15-3:15PM. Middle School music teacher Matt McLean directs the band.
5) I have posted to the blog 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. Click here to access the letters.
For Eighth Grade Families . . .
1) Looking ahead to the spring, click here to access the registration form for the spring Gettysburg/DC trip that will take place next May. I’m sending you this information now so that you can spread out payments over a longer period of time. If you register online, please use the following trip ID#: 55757. If you have specific questions about payment, please do not hesitate to contact me.
2) Please join other LREI eighth grade families for a ParentTalk on Thursday, October 14th at 6:30PM. This discussion will provide an opportunity for parents to come together to talk about a variety of issues with a trained facilitator from Parents In Action.
For Seventh Grade Families . . .
1) Click here to access the registration form for the Williamsburg / Jamestown trip that will take place next October. If you register online, please use the following trip ID#: A76310. All families should be registered for the trip at this point. If you have specific questions about payment, please do not hesitate to contact me.
2) Please join other LREI seventh grade families for a ParentTalk on Monday, October 25th at 6:30PM. This discussion will provide an opportunity for parents to come together to talk about a variety of issues with a trained facilitator from Parents In Action.
For Sixth Grade Families . . .
1) On Wednesday, September 29th, sixth graders will participate in our annual Downtown Independent Schools Committee (DISC) Field Day at Pier 40. Sixth graders from LREI will participate in a variety of games and athletic events with students from Village Community School, Grace Church School, Friends, City and Country, and St. Luke’s School. The students will leave at 10:30AM and have a picnic lunch at Pier 40 at 11:00AM. The field day activities will begin at 11:30PM and will finish around 1:30PM. We should return to the Sixth Avenue building by about 2:00PM. We expect all sixth graders to participate in this event. In preparation for this event, students should dress appropriately for the weather. A jacket or sweatshirt will be important. Sneakers, hats, water bottles, sunglasses, etc. are recommended. Students will need to bring a lunch on this day (no nuts, seeds, and glass bottles). This is an exciting day for sixth graders. Please do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions.
2) Please join other LREI sixth grade families for a ParentTalk on Tuesday, October 12th at 6:30PM. This discussion will provide an opportunity for parents to come together to talk about a variety of issues with a trained facilitator from Parents In Action.
3) The sixth grade will travel to the Cloisters on Friday, October 15th, to view their Medieval collection. Students should bring a bagged lunch (no nuts, seeds, or glass bottles) to school on this day.
4) On Wednesday, October 20th, please join me at 8:00AM in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria for a discussion on “Making Sense of MS Reports.” This will be an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the format of the Middle School progress report and to think about how best to prepare for Middle School Family Conferences.
For Fifth Grade Families . . .
1) On Friday, October 1st, the fifth grade will travel to the New Victory Theater to view Puss In Boots, an opera. Students should bring a bagged lunch (no nuts, seeds, or glass bottles) to school on this day.
2) Please join other LREI fifth grade families for a ParentTalk on Tuesday, October 5th at 6:30PM. This discussion will provide an opportunity for parents to come together to talk about a variety of issues with a trained facilitator from Parents In Action.
3) On Tuesday, October 12th, please join me at 8:00AM in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria for a discussion on “Making Sense of MS Reports.” This will be an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the format of the Middle School progress report and to think about how best to prepare for Middle School Family Conferences.
4) From fifth grade math teacher Ana Chaney: Are you curious about your child’s experience learning math in the Middle School? Do you want to know how you child will be challenged and supported in fifth grade and beyond? Are you wondering how you can be involved at home? Join me for a hands-on investigation taken from the curriculum, short talk and Q&A. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend the Fifth Grade Math Breakfast, which will take place on Monday, October 18th, at 8:00AM in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria.
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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