Dear Families,

With the end of the first quarter just behind us, progress reports, family conferences with your child’s advisor and meetings with subject area teachers are just around the corner (see below for information on signing up for a conference/meeting). Conferences are scheduled for November 6th and 13th (the Middle School will be closed on both days). Progress reports will go out on Tuesday, November 3rd. As part of our on-going sustainability efforts, reports will be sent out as pdf files. You will receive a paper copy of the fourth quarter report that will include progress report information for the whole year.

Progress reports provide an important opportunity for shared discussion about successes to date and challenges to address as we move forward into the second quarter. I encourage you to review the section on progress reports in the handbook so that you are familiar with the format of the reports.

For sixth grade families, this will be your first set of reports with letter grades. Letter grades are based on a set of evaluations in three categories that are outlined on the report card. There is some variability in these categories across subjects. The reported letter grades reflect a student’s progress in comparison to grade level expectations. For example, a “C” means progress that is approaching grade level expectations and a “B” signifies progress that meets grade level expectations. However, within these ranges could be unsatisfactory class participation balanced by excellent quiz scores and/or homework assignments. It is natural for there to be some anxiety around grades. As with all assessments, it is important for students and families to view them as representative of where the student stands as a learner at a particular moment in time. Areas of struggle as indicated by reported grades can be addressed by committed hard work.

Our reports are purposely designed to show a student’s progress over the four quarters so that you and your child can more easily see the work of a particular quarter in a broader context of their overall learning experience. Prior to receiving the reports, take the opportunity to speak with your child about his/her perceptions of the work he/she has completed this past quarter. This will help to frame your discussions when you go over the progress reports together.

For all families, while progress reports and family conferences provide an opportunity to reflect on a student’s progress and to think about strengths and challenges, it is important to remember that assessment is an on-going process at LREI; it is a means to an end, but not an end in and of itself. Its aim is to improve student understanding of key ideas and skills. In the Middle School, teachers strive to develop assessments that are learner-centered and focused on student understanding in relation to the particular goals identified for each area of inquiry. Rather than being separate from learning, assessment plays a central role in the instructional process. The assessment process also sheds light on which instructional strategies are most effective. Through thoughtful assessment, the teacher gains critical feedback for choosing and utilizing those teaching strategies that can best help a learner progress towards the goals of a particular unit of study. Opportunities for meaningful assessment also allow students to gain deeper insight into areas of strength and challenge and allow them to develop plans to address growth in both of these areas.

The Family Conference is an extension of these assessment activities and should be viewed as a dynamic opportunity to talk about growth and development. The student’s presence and participation in these discussions is of vital importance. The Family Conference affords the student an opportunity to reflect, applaud, and problem-solve with two of her/his most important advocates, family members and her/his advisor. These conferences should be approached with a forward-looking perspective. As prior performance is reviewed, all of the participants should seek to work together to identify strategies and opportunities for learning that will support the student’s continued growth and development.

The Family Conference in the Middle School places the student at the center as an active participant. We do this for a number of reasons:

1. to encourage students to accept personal responsibility for their academic performance;
2. to help students develop the reflective skill of self-evaluation;
3. to facilitate the development of students’ organizational and oral communication skills and to increase their self-confidence; and
4. to encourage students, parents, and the advisor to engage in open and honest dialogue.

Family conferences are an important part of the educational experience at LREI. They are important for students, parents/guardians, and teachers. Like all learning opportunities, the Family Conference requires trust and a willingness to take risks on the part of all participants. While the conference may not be tension-free, it does provide an opportunity for inquiry and understanding. Here are two discussion ideas that you might want to consider as you prepare for these important dialogues:

• share with your child memorable experiences from when you were a middle school student and consider why such memories may be important to the educational life of your child
• explore how you and your child approach the concept of learning and reflect on why looking at the differences and similarities in your responses might be important.

In preparation for these conferences, Middle School students will spend  time reflecting on their work thus far this school year. With their teachers’ and advisor’s guidance, students will identify areas on which to focus during the next quarter and will develop plans for achieving these goals. Your child will have these reflections with her/him during your conference. Here are some additional topics/questions that you might reflect on before your family conference:

• Your child’s work habits at home–when are the most and least successful?
• Which assignments, or types of assignments, seem to lead to the most success? To be the most frustrating?
• Is our organizational plan working for your child? How is your child managing her/his time?
• When you and your child discuss school/school assignments at home, are there consistent themes that should be discussed at the conference?
• Are there extracurricular commitments or extenuating circumstances that should be discussed at the conference?

There’s no doubt that conferences are hard work, but the potential for learning that can take place when all participants commit to the process is clearly worth the effort.

I look forward to seeing you at the conferences.

Of General Interest . . .
1) From the LREI Parent Handbook….Vacations: We remind families to only take vacations during LREI breaks and that your child’s time away from school does not begin before the school break does or end afterwards. Teachers use each scheduled day to support their classroom program goals and the School’s mission. Students who miss days adjacent to breaks, or who take vacations outside of our break times, miss work and can disrupt planned activities. This effects the learning of the absent students and her/his classmates. In addition, divisional or all-school assemblies often precede our longer vacations. These gatherings are essential for creating the sort of community that drew you to LREI. Students sing, listen to speakers, applaud their schoolmates, meet students in other divisions and generally strengthen community ties.

We will not honor families’ requests to receive work their children will miss due to family vacation plans. Families that are presented with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to make an extended visit to another city, country, etc. should speak to their child’s principal. In general, we are focused on making sure that we are using each moment of each school day as effectively as possible. Part of being able to do this is to have each student in school each of these days. Thank you for your support of these efforts.

2) All are invited to “Learn your Library” and to meet our award winning librarians on Friday, October 30th, at 8:30AM in the Sixth Avenue library. Click here for additional information.

3) LREI High School Thespians present an original play for all LREI audiences (LS, MS, & HS)!

THE SPIRIT OF THE RIDGE
is inspired by the lives and legends of the Lenni Lenape,
the indigenous Native Americans who lived here in NYC
and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic States for thousands and thousands of years.

Set inside a pre-contact Lenape wigwam, THE SPIRIT OF THE RIDGE is a story about the timelessness and necessity of friendship and peace, and the importance of connecting to the past. Themes and topics covered in the play include school bullying, inner-strength, loyalty, compassion, celebrating differences, and learning about Native cultures and traditions. Shows are scheduled for Friday, November 13th, at 7:00PM, and Saturday, November 14th, at 2:00PM and 7:00PM and will take place at the Charlton Street Performing Arts Center. Tickets will be on sale next week in both the Sixth Avenue and Charlton Street locations. For more information contact Meghan Farley Astrachan at 212-477-5316 x399.

4) Please see the attached message from the PA Halloween Fair Committee.

5) Coffee Pond Photography recently sent information for ordering your child’s school portraits. Occasionally, a parent or student may want a different look from the original portrait taken, in which case Coffeepond will offer an opportunity for a retake, which is scheduled for 11/16/2009. Simply click on the retake link on your child’s portrait page to register. Please sign up at least 2 days before the scheduled day. If you have not received information by either email or mail please contact their Customer Care Department directly for assistance. By phone: 1-800-632-2323 ext “0.” By Email: Lifeguards@coffeepond.com

6) Red is Green Committee:
Monthly Recycling Drive: Just a few more days to get your plastic bags into LREI for recycling. Where do you take them after this Friday? You can bring them to any chain store with more than 5 locations in the city or any retail store over 5,000 sq feet that provides plastic carryout bags (Whole Foods, Duane Reade, CVS, etc.). Starting Monday November 2nd bring in your empty ink cartridges to be recycled at LREI. Every year in the US we throw over 375 million ink cartridges away in the trash. Empty ink cartridges will be accepted at both the high school and at 6th Ave locations. Bins are located by the reception desk.
Go Green to School Day: Wednesday November 4th is our 2nd Go Green to School Day. There are lots of green ways to get to school: bicycle, rollerblade, scooter, walk, public transport, carpool so Go Green to LREI and help take care of the environment. For more details about our monthly recycling drives and Go Green to School dates, please click Red is Green PA Page.

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

8) 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) Family Conferences and Subject Area Meetings (November 6th an 13th): Please check your child’s advisor’s blog to schedule a family conference for one of the dates indicated above. At this conference, your child will share work samples, offer reflections on her/his work and identify some goals for the second quarter. It is also a time for you to dialog with your child and her/his advisor about your child’s learning experience in the Middle School so far this quarter.

We have also decided to adjust the conference schedule on these two dates to allow for brief meetings with each of your child’s teachers should you so choose. To schedule these subject specific meetings please click here. As always, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teachers if you have questions about her/his performance and/or the curriculum.

3) From Middle School librarian Jennifer Hubert Swan: While it’s always a good time to write, the month of November is notable for a couple of great writing opportunities:

• “Pen Ultimate: November is National Novel Writing Month” by Lauren Barack — http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6685546.html
• Or maybe they just want to continue the story of some of their favorite characters: “When Harry Met Bella: fan fiction: by Carlie Webber and Liz Burns (two of my good colleagues and cracker jack librarians) — http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6673573.html
• Click here to read Jen’s most recent blog post on Banned Book Week.

For Eighth Grade Families . . .
1) From Director of Admissions Barbara Scott: Completed Irwin Scholars Program applications are due Monday, November 16th, by 4:00PM  (click here to download the application).

Additionally, we encourage all families to RSVP with us for one of our evening Open Houses. The events are scheduled for October 29th and November 3rd at 6:30PM, and provide an opportunity to speak with faculty, administration and current students. You may contact me by telephone at 212.477.5316, ext. 210, or by email at bscott@lrei.org if you have questions, or plan to attend an evening Open House. Admissions will need your child’s name and homeroom class in order to reserve your place. We look forward to greeting you!

2) The eighth grade will go to the main branch of the New York Public Library to attend the National Book Award Youth Division press conference on Tuesday, November 17, from 10:00AM-12:00PM. They should bring a bagged lunch (no nuts, seeds or glass bottles) to school on that day.

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

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

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

============= 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