Category: Family Conferences

When students take the lead . . .

Dear Families:

With the quarter drawing to a close and Family conferences just around the corner, a number of you have inquired about resources that offer some perspective on the growing trend for student-led conferences at the Middle School level. Below are links to a number of articles that describe how these conferences are being used to meet a variety of needs and to respond to a variety of learning contexts. The annotation for the articles are from the MiddleWeb website, which is an excellent resource for information about middle school and middle school reform. Enjoy these articles and I will have more to say about Family Conferences next week.

Student-Led Conferences: A Growing Trend — For years parent-teacher conferences have been the primary means of parent-teacher communication. But now, many schools are trying something new — student-led conferences that communicate not only how a student’s doing but also why. Education World describes the trend.

Student-Led Conferences Hold Kids Accountable — The student-led parent conference puts the responsibility for learning where it should be, says the article at Education World. “The teacher facilitates the conference, but the student is responsible for answering parent questions and concerns about student learning. Students share with their parents what they have learned, show their parents their student portfolios, and discuss the reasons for their academic grades.” Includes links to research and other resources.

Student-Led Conferences in the Middle Grades — Conway Middle School in Louisville, KY holds student-led conferences for all students once per semester. Students keep portfolios for each class throughout the year in preparation for the conferences. At the conferences, students talk about their best work and teachers discuss the students’ progress in all subject-area classes. You’ll find the details at this page.

Letting Middle Graders Lead Parent Conferences — A seventh-grade teacher explains how her team involves students in teacher-parent conferences. “Students show parents some of their work and explain their grades at a student-led conference…. The format is important, but I believe the success of a student-led conference is most determined by how well students are prepared.”

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
LS Early Notification — Admissions letter
Community Service Calendar
Eighth Grade:
Seventh Grade:
Sixth Grade:
Fifth Grade:

Of General Interest . . .
1) A reminder that tomorrow is a regular day for the Middle School. Only the Lower School is closed for conferences. Middle School conferences are scheduled for Wednesday, November 15th (12:15-3:15PM – this is a regular day for students) and Friday, November 17th (full day – school is closed). The sign-up sheets for core teachers are posted outside of their rooms and the sign-up sheets for specialist teachers are posted on the bulletin board outside of my office.

2) From High School musical director Julia Collura: Please join us for the high school production of Ragtime. Performances are November 2nd, 3rd & 4th @ 7pm at the Performing Arts Center 40 Charlton Street. Tickets: $8 in advance and $10 at the door. The cast of 19 dedicated high school students have put this production together in just six weeks – with energy, enthusiasm and pathos. Ragtime, the musical, based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, takes place in the United States during the first two decades of the twentieth century, just before the outbreak of World War I. The story revolves around individuals from three diverse social classes: The Upper Class, Immigrants, and Blacks. Fictional characters interact with historical figures who were alive at the turn of the century, including Emma Goldman, Harry Houdini, JP Morgan, and Evelyn Nesbit. Ragtime, which opened on Broadway in 1988, has been critically acclaimed, won numerous awards and is also considered by some to be one the preeminent American musicals.

3) From Director of Admissions Samantha Caruth: Please read the attached letter about Early Notification for Lower School admissions.

4) Photo Scholarships: Our photographer, Coffee Pond Photography, is able to offer a limited number of photo scholarships. Please contact me (msilberberg@lrei.org or at extension 221), if you receive financial aid and are unable to pay for photographs. If you have specific questions about the ordering process, you can contact Coffee Pond Photography at lifeguards@coffeepond.com or by phone at 1-800-632-2323 extension 0

5) Attention book lovers: On Wednesday, November 8th join the Literary Committee as the LREI librarians present, “East Meets West,” an evening of youth books that feature culture clashes and truces, diverse viewpoints and changing perspectives. Each year our nationally recognized librarians share their literary suggestions for students in all grades, Fours-12th grade, with the LREI community as they do with other school and professional audiences throughout the school year. All three of our full time librarians have served, or are presently serving, on American Library Association panels responsible for selecting prize winning books. Join this evening as Stacy, Jennifer and Karyn share their book selections with us, along with LS library teacher and graphic novel reviewer, Jesse Karp (LREI ’87), who will give his suggestions for the best in graphic novels. Each year the Literary Committee brings us the book fairs, Book Week, the amazing Literary Evening (December 7) and this evening with our librarians. The Committee also supports the librarians’, and their students’, attendance at conferences.

6) We invite you to the LREI High School Arts Showcase at the Apple Store SoHo. This will be a wonderful opportunity to see our talented High School students’ artistic and technological successes. Join us to experience their photography, film and multimedia creations on November 14, 2006, 6-8PM, at the Apple Store in SoHo at 103 Prince Street (www.apple.com/retail/soho).

7) The Parents Association Food Committee is hard at work! Through the efforts of this very active parent body, we aim to work with an enthusiastic administration and an open-minded catering company to continue to upgrade the quality and variety of the food served in school. We are also discussing ways to bring conversations about nutrition into each classroom to educate our children about how to eat more healthfully. In the future, the Food Committee hopes to invite guest speakers to talk to parents interested in learning more about their families nutrition. Stay tuned.

8) A reminder form the PA Community Service Committee: Please take a moment to review the Community Service calendar for a range of service opportunities.

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

10) 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. Upcoming event:

Wake Up and Smell the Homework: How To Help Your Kids Help Themselves
Thursday, November 16 from 7–9 pm, Free
The JCC in Manhattan
The Samuel Priest Rose Building
334 Amsterdam Avenue at 76th St., NewYork, NY 10023

How can we, as parents, best support our children’s academic success and independence? We will address your educational values, your relationship with your children and your expectations, standards, and roadblocks to success in helping your kids help themselves. You will learn a framework for supporting (without nagging!) your children, practical ways of reducing conflict around homework, important do’s and don’t’s of homework help, and a review of how to wean your kids off parental support.
Moderated by Laurie Gerber, president of Partners with Parents Tutoring Service. The panel includes: Donna Goldberg, organizational consultant and author of The Organized Student; Mary Ellen Kail, coordinator of Learning Resource Center at Columbia Prep School; Patti Sayre, parenting expert, therapist and mother of two independent school students; Theresa Peduto, educational consultant, LD specialist and director of SPINS (Students and Parents Information Network Support); Milton Sipp, head of Middle School, Riverdale Country School; and Dr. Paul Yellin, national director of clinical programs, All Kind of Minds. This program is presented in partnership with NYC-Parents In Action.

To register, call 646.505.5708 or visit www.jccmanhattan.org

For Eighth Grade Families . . . .
1) Over the next few weeks (ending November 17th), eighth graders will spend a day at the high school visiting classes and getting a better feel for the high school experience. They will visit in small groups for either a half-day or a full-day. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about these visits.

2) A reminder that on Thursday, November 9th, the eighth grade will go to the Bob Dylan exhibit at the Morgan Library. Students should bring a bagged lunch to school on that day (remember no nuts, seeds, or glass bottles).

3) Please check the Winter Sports page for the listing of practice and games schedules for the Middle School basketball teams. Practice for seventh and eighth grade teams will begin the week of November 6th. Also, this Friday will be “Midnight Madness” at 3:30PM at Thompson Street. This is just a fun practice for all of the teams to kick off the season with the only expectation being to have fun and to boost team spirit.

For Seventh Grade Families . . .
1) Please check the Winter Sports page for the listing of practice and games schedules for the Middle School basketball teams. Practice for seventh and eighth grade teams will begin the week of November 6th. Also, this Friday will be “Midnight Madness” at 3:30PM at Thompson Street. This is just a fun practice for all of the teams to kick off the season with the only expectation being to have fun and to boost team spirit.

For Sixth Grade Families . . .
1) Practices for the intramural basketball season will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00-8:00AM at the Athletic Center, starting December 5th. Games, which will be held on Fridays after school, will start after the winter break. Please check the Winter Sports page for the listing of practice and games schedules for the Middle School basketball teams.

2) A reminder that beginning November 12th while Melissa is abroad in Japan, her classes will be covered by David Blais who is an experienced arts educator. David spent time observing our art program last year and is excited to be joining us for this period. David will join us during the week prior to Melissa’s departure, which will provide an opportunity for the two to transition. Melissa will return to her classes on Monday, December 11th. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

3) Also, a reminder that sixth graders who want/need to use the library and/or computer lab afterschool must do so under the supervision of a parent or caregiver.

For Fifth Grade Families . . .
1) Practices for the intramural basketball season will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00-8:00AM at the Athletic Center, starting December 5th. Games, which will be held on Fridays after school, will start after the winter break. Please check the Winter Sports page for the listing of practice and games schedules for the Middle School basketball teams.

2) A reminder that beginning November 12th while Melissa is abroad in Japan, her classes will be covered by David Blais who is an experienced arts educator. David spent time observing our art program last year and is excited to be joining us for this period. David will join us during the week prior to Melissa’s departure, which will provide an opportunity for the two to transition. Melissa will return to her classes on Monday, December 11th. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

3) Also, a reminder that fifth graders who want/need to use the library and/or computer lab afterschool must do so under the supervision of a parent or caregiver.

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)

  • Friday, November 3, 2006 — MS-End of 1st Quarter
  • Tuesday, November 8, 2006 — LREI librarians present, “East Meets West”
  • Thursday, November 9, 2006 — Eighth grade to the Bob Dylan exhibit at the Morgan Library
  • Tuesday, November 14, 2006 — Eighth Grade to the Donnell library for the National Book Award Panel
  • 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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