“Service is the rent we pay for living…”

Dear Families,

First of all, thank you so much for all of the good wishes! John and I are very excited about the new member of our family, due in April.

As you know, we are committed to community service. Please read the following message and call to action, if you will, from Community Service Coordinator (and School Historian), Nick O’Han:

Dear Parents,
At Curriculum Night, I mentioned that I would be soliciting your help in strengthening our school’s community service program this year. A number of parents approached and told me about their involvement as volunteers and, in some cases, as professionals in serving the community. I’d appreciate if others among you would take the time to share your thoughts and ideas. Our goal is to provide opportunities for meaningful and sustained commitments to others through service and civic endeavor. Perhaps you can share with us your knowledge of programs, agencies or nonprofit volunteer organizations that would provide our students with such opportunities.

Learning through service and civic engagement has been a core principle of the high school since it’s founding. As our mission statement reads, “our goal is to educate students to become independent thinkers and lifelong learners and to pursue academic excellence and individual achievement in a context of respect for others and service to the community.” I’ve always found that service learning at our school brings out the very best in students. Stepping up and reaching out expands students’ personal boundaries and cultivates the imagination, skills, knowledge, maturity and resourcefulness they need to imagine and help bring about a better world.

There is a quotation from, Marion Wright Edelman that I love. “Service,” she wrote, “is the rent we pay for living … education is for improving the lives of others and leaving your community and world better than you found it.”

If you have any thoughts or contacts that could help us strengthen this ethic of service and civic involvement at our school, please feel encouraged to call or email me at Ext. 313 or nohan@lrei.org

Thanks much,

Nick O’Han

As you can see, we as a high school have dedicated ourselves to renewing our commitment to service, to encouraging students to seek out opportunities to give back in a meaningful way. With your help, we will demonstrate that the commitment is community-wide and will do a better job at presenting a variety opportunities for our students.

Speaking of opportunities, this Saturday, October 18, is the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, New York Cares Day! There are plenty of opportunities for service for your child and your family. For instance, Bartow-Pell in the Bronx, this Saturday, 10AM to 1PM, celebrate “It’s My Park” day.  Many volunteers come out to help prepare the park for winter.

Speaking of, next Saturday is the city-wide Fall It’s My Park! Day 2008 where thousands of New Yorkers volunteer in their neighborhood park. From the website: “The leaves are starting to turn and It’s My Park! Day is just around the corner on Saturday, October 25, 2008. Come join thousands of New Yorkers as they care for and celebrate their neighborhood parks! Check back in mid-October for a list of over 150 volunteer projects and free events.”

Additional events for students are posted on our new Community Service Calendar in the lobby of Charlton Street, and I will certainly keep families posted here.

All the best,

Ruth

Updates and Announcements:

• The school’s calendar can be accessed by clicking here.

• Click here to view the 2008-2009 LREI Calendar.

• For general LREI Athletics news go to this link . This page will provide general announcements, game summaries, league standings and game recaps.

Some 9th and 10th grade parents have tried to get homework off of “My Backpack.” When looking, in addition to looking at “Upcoming Assignments” please also look at “Completed Assignments” where weekly updated syllabi can be found. If you have any problems, please email help_desk@lrei.org and feel free to cc me on that email.

1. The HALLOWEEN FAIR is COMING! Click on the link to learn more about the festivities!

2. LREI Family Book Night is Wednesday, Nov. 5, 6:30 PM, Sixth Avenue Auditorium.

Beyond Batman: Graphic Novels for Kids and Teens

This year, your LREI librarians have teamed up with some of today’s hottest authors and illustrators of graphic novel to present an enlightening and enlivening evening of graphic novel recommendations for all ages. Along with the traditional recommendations from the librarians, Jesse Karp (Early Childhood and Interdivisional Librarian) will be moderating a Graphic Novels panel. Panelists will include Holly Black (The Good Neighbors: Kin, Beyond Spiderwick, Tithe) Cecil Castellucci (The Plain Janes, Janes in Love, Beige, Boy Proof) Geoffrey Hayes (Benny and Penny) Steven Sheinkin (The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey, Rabbi Harvey Rides Again) and LREI parent Voltaire (Deady Bear, Oh My Goth). A selection of the recommended titles will be for sale. We welcome
an audience of third grade and up. Children of all ages are welcome; there will be childcare available for the younger set, with pizza and story reading.

3. The high school has been invited to participate in a survey on “Friendship Qualities of Internationally Mobile Adolescents” investigated by a member of the Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University. We are the only school in the United States to participate in the survey; other schools from around the world include the International School in Switzerland and the International School in the Philippines. On October 24, at 2:45 PM, student volunteers will have the opportunity to fill out the survey, which asks questions about friendship. Any student volunteer would be awarded 1 hour of community service for their participation. All students who participate must have a form signed by a parent or family member. Please look for permission slips sent home with students on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Many thanks!

4. From the LREI PA Literary Committee and the LREI PA Multicultural Committee: Please take a look at the attached letter for ways you can get involved! Your participation is key!

5. Ronnie Halper, P’11, is the Vice-President for the Parent Association and is available if you need to talk to someone, bring an issue or question to the Parent Association, or would like to know how to get involved. She can be reached at rsh@panix.com.

6. Please make a note: ASC After-School Homework Sessions: The ASC is available for after-school homework/quiet study on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:45 pm to 5:45 pm. This is an excellent time for students to study independently in a quiet, supervised environment or meet with me for extra planning or organizational assistance. Students may also obtain extra homework help in certain subjects (English, History, Spanish). And if students fall behind in their work, faculty are encouraged to require students to make-up missing assignments in the ASC during these sessions. Please be sure to pass this information along to your child.