Preparing for high school…and beyond
Dear families,
This past Tuesday night, 9th grade students and families gathered together for the annual 9th grade Potluck, hosted by the Parent Reps. After enjoying the delicious food and lively conversation, parents engaged in a discussion about the transition to high school, led by Joanne Gouge, High School Nurse and Peer Leader Coordinator, and Andrew Weiss, Middle and High School Psychologist. Meanwhile, 9th grade students were in another room discussing the same topic with their 12th grade Peer Leaders. When asked to share their concerns about entering high school, both groups generated a similar list of topics, including: forming new friendships, parties and peer pressure, dating and sexuality, and managing the workload. One common question was, “Will LREI prepare students for college and beyond?” We have only to look at our oldest students to know that the answer is a resounding YES! In our upper level courses, we see the truly amazing intellectual capabilities of our students — they are inquisitive, academically motivated, articulate, and active participants in every classroom. But don’t just take my word for it. This week, NYU Professor Niobe Way was a guest in Celine’s 11th/12th grade English elective entitled “Oh Boy: Exploring Masculinity in Contemporary American Culture”. Niobe said that the students’ comments and observations were more insightful than those of her graduate students!
The other recurring theme of Tuesday’s discussion was the importance of communication. There is no better tool for ensuring students’ success in high school and beyond than open communication, both at home and at school. Ask your children to tell you about their classes and recent field trips, and also encourage them to get to know their advisors, meet with their teachers after class, and ask for help when they need it. For you, the parents, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s advisor or grade dean, whether to ask for a quick update or share some pertinent new information from home. We welcome this type of frequent communication with our families.
Enjoy the long weekend everyone,
Julia
UPCOMING HIGH SCHOOL EVENTS
Wednesday, October 14 – PSAT testing for 10th/11th grades: Testing begins right after homeroom please be on time. Please remember to bring a calculator and a few #2 pencils. Test begins right after homeroom so please be on time! If you have not yet paid for the test, please bring in $13 cash or check made payable to LREI as soon as possible.
Saturday, October 17 – First Coffee House, 7:00-9:00PM. The Coffee House takes place in the High School’s Performing Arts Center at 40 Charlton Street and will feature performances by students, faculty and alumni. All students are encouraged to attend!
Wednesday-Friday, October 21-23 – High School Minimester: What do spies, swine flu, and songwriting have in common? They are all topics of this year’s minimester workshops. Minimester is our annual three-day immersion program, during which faculty and a few seniors offer workshops on a wide range of topics outside of the regular curriculum. It is a wonderful break from the every day, and a unique community event. Students will select their choices early next week. To read the full list of offerings, click the following link.Minimester 2009
Tuesday, October 27 – Tenth Grade Potluck, 6:30 PM in the PAC
Friday, November 13 – Family Conferences (no scheduled classes)
January 12, 2010 – Eleventh Grade Potluck & College Night, 6:00 PM in the PAC
For more calendar items, please visit the all school calendar www.lrei.org/calendar.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
*High School Parent Reps Meeting – Tuesday, October 13 at 6:30 pm at 40 Charlton Street. Peter Fisher, Athletics Director, will join us at the start of the meeting for introductions and questions about LREI Athletics. All are welcome!
*Important Message from Patricia Carter and Jerry Cascio, High School Learning Specialists: If your child is eligible to receive specific accommodations in testing or in the classroom, please submit a copy of this documentation to the Academic Support Center at LREI if you have not already done so. Click here to download a copy of the Documentation Request.
*Changing Families, Changing Classrooms: Come hear a leading expert on adoption and family issues, Adam Pertman, author of Adoption Nation, talk about adoption, the school community, and how to enrich the school experience for every child, on Wednesday, October 14, in the Sixth Avenue Cafeteria. ALL PARENTS WELCOME! Please click here for a flyer with details. For a copy of the report Adoption in the Schools: A Lot to Learn, click here.
* All LREI community members are invited to join our Thank You Party for Virgilio on Thursday, October 15th from 6:00PM-7:30PM in the Performing Arts Center, 40 Charlton Street (please click here for a flyer with details).
- For more information about upcoming all school events go to: 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.