What’s Going On: Students Report

Dear Families:

This week in Middle School meeting, we heard a report from the fifth and sixth grade class reps about what they have been studying in each of their classes. Next week, we will hear from the seventh and eighth grade reps and then bi-wekly reports from each grade will follow. The addition of these reports to our weekly meeting is part of a concerted effort on our part to make the academnic life of the school a part of our collective gatherings. It also provides a meaningful context for student leaders to practice their leadership skills and for the whole community to consider what constitutes high-quality work. We hope that these reports will also create additional opportunites for students and teachers to share work at our meetings.

I have also asked the class reps to send these reports on to me for inclusion in the weekly email. This week’s blog includes the sixth grade report. I hope that these reports will provide you with a regular peek into what is happening at school and may serve as a good jumping off point for diuscussion about school with your child. On that note, at this week’s meeting we enjoyed a presentation by some of the eighth graders on on their recent Mousetrap Car project, which you will be able to learn more about in their report that will appear in next week’s blog.

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:
Parents in Action Flyer
LREI Collection Drive
Eighth Grade:
Seventh Grade:
Sixth Grade:
Class Rep Report
Fifth Grade:

Of General Interest . . .

1) From Seventh and Eighth Grade Dean of Students Gabrielle Keller: Our annual Pennies for Patients drive to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will run from January 29th through February 23rd. For more information about the drive, please read the attached parent letter. For more information about the Schools and Youth program that oversees the drive, please visit http://www.schoolandyouth.org/.

2) Art Auction Encore: Thank you all for your support of last week’s Art Auction. The auction brought in sales of $107,000. There are still some wonderful pieces available so next week we will have the Art Auction Encore in the Sixth Avenue Auditorium. Pieces will be on show and available for sale. There will be a final reception and last chance to purchase the art on Thursday, 2/15 from 5:30-7:00PM. For those who missed it the first time, here’s your chance to see some great art and support the School.

3) Bringing the Conversation Home: On February 15th, from 8:45AM to 9:45AM, join Sharon Dupree, Director of Diversity and Community, for information, conversation (and help!) for parents with topics brought home from school by our kids (from classroom curriculum, playground, playdates) that may be sensitive, difficult, or without a ready answer by parents. This discussion will take place in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria and is sponsored by the Adoption Committee, the LS POCOC, and the LGSA.

4) Please read the attached flyer from the Community Service Committee about next week’s drive.

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

6) 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. Please read the attached flyer to view their 2006-2007 calendar. You can also access their on-line calendar of events at www.parentsinaction.org.

For Eighth Grade Families . . . .
The 8th grade Spanish classes will be going to the Guggenheim on Friday, February 23rd, to see the “Spanish Painting from El Greco to Picasso: Time, Truth and History” exhibit. We will leave at 9:15AM and return around 1:15PM for lunch here. They will have a tour of the exhibit and then do a workshop: Symbolic Portrait Painting in which students create triptychs (three-panel paintings) using acrylic paints that explore their identity or community. On each panel, students will depict a different aspect of his/her self or respective community.

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

For Sixth Grade Families . . .
Please read the class rep report at http://lrei.org/weekly/ms/MS%20Sixth%2002-08.pdf.

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

Middle School Sports
Schedules, permission forms and general information about Middle School sports programs can be found at http://www.lrei.org/athletics/index.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)

  • Tuesday, February 13, 2007, 8:15AM — MS Parent Rep. Mtg.
  • Tuesday, February 13, 2007 — MS ERBs (through Thursday, February 15, 2006)
  • Wednesday, February 14, 2007 — MS Literary Festival
  • Thursday, February 15, 2007, 6:00PM — MS POCOC Meeting
  • Monday, February 19, 2007 — Presidents’ Weekend-School Closed (school reopens on Wednesday, February 21, 2007)
  • Wednesday, February 21, 2007 — MS Black History Month Assembly
  • Friday, February 23rd — 8th grade Spanish classes to the Guggenheim
  • Friday, February 23, 2007, 7:30PM — Eighth Grade DISC Dance @ Grace Church
  • Thursday, March 15, 2007, 6:00PM — MS POCOC Mtg.
  • Tuesday, March 20, 2007, 8:15AM — MS Parent Rep. Mtg.
  • Wednesday, March 21, 2007, 6:00PM — Sixth Grade Medieval Pageant
  • Thursday, March 22, 2007 — Fifth Grade Egyptian Tomb
  • Friday, March 23, 2007 — Founder’s Day
  • Friday, March 23, 2007 — MS End of 3rd Quarter
  • Friday, March 23, 2007 — Spring Break-School closes at 12:00PM (school reopens on Monday, April 9, 2006)

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

Be well,
Mark

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