The Importance of Creativity

Dear Families,

Despite the fact that the sun seems to rise a bit earlier, and it seems to set later in the day, at the same time, it seems like winter is here to stay.  To pass the time between seasons, once a week  I have tried to take a bit of time to listen to a TED talk. I am sure TED talks are not new to you, but if you have not explored the site, I encourage you to do so.  There are some really interesting talks given by interesting people, free to all.   Last night, I listened to a talk on creativity given by author Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love fame.  I encourage you to take a few moments to look for a talk that will inspire you.

Speaking of inspiration, I am so inspired by the dedication and commitment of our LREI basketball teams!  From Peter Fisher, LREI’s Athletic Director:

Congratulations to ALL 5 of our intermural basketball teams for making the post season schedule.  All of the teams have worked hard.  The players and coaches would love to have your voices and support at the following games:

  • Middle School Boys – Finished in second place with a 5-1 league record. Watch them in the finals: LREI (2) vs Garden (1), @ The Garden School, Feb 25th. 5:00PM
  • Middle School Girls – Finished in a 3-way tie for first place with a 5-1 league record!  LREI won a coin-toss and earned a playoff bye.  Watch the girls in the finals: LREI (1) vs. the winner of Dwight/Garden (1), @ LREI’s Thompson Street Athletic Center, March 1st, 3:15 PM
  • JV Boys – Finished in second place with a 7-3 league record. Watch them in the playoffs: LREI (2) vs York (3) @ LREI’s Thompson Street Athletic Center, March 1st, 4:30 and in the conference final: BWL (1) vs. winner (above) @ The Churchill School, March 2nd, 4:00PM
  • Varsity Girls – Finished in a tie for third place with an 8-4 league record.  Watch the girls in the conference playoff play-in game: LREI vs. Garden, Feb 22nd, @ The Garden School at 3:45PM.  The winner will play in a playoff game: vs. Lycée Français de New York, @ LFNY, Feb 23rd Time: TBA  The winner of this game plays in the Girls Independent Schools Athletic League inter-conference game: Feb 24th, who: TBA time: TBA
  • Varsity Boys – are in third place with a 5-4 league record.  Conference Playoffs: LREI (3) vs. The Garden School (2), @ Garden, Feb 22nd, 5:15.  The winner plays in the Independent School Athletic League inter-conference game @ Columbia Prep (1), Feb 24th, time: TBA
  • There are also several weeks of 5th/6th grade intramural basketball games left each Friday afternoon at the Thompson Street Athletic Center, beginning at 3:30PM.

Both high school varsity teams are playing playoff games at Garden on Monday, February 22. The girls game is at 3:45 and the boys play right after at 5:15.  If you would like to join in on the excitement, please email our athletic director Peter Fisher, pfisher@lrei.org, to get a spot on the fan bus leaving Charlton Street.

Also, as you know, we are fortunate to participate in the NYU College Preview Program.  This semester at NYU one of the professors offering a course in the program is David Dent, P’12.  While we always receive grade reports from NYU, because we have personal connection with the Dr. Dent,  we have been granted exceptional feedback to how our students are doing in his class, “Journalism and the American Road.” In a recent update, he writes:

I just wanted to let you all know that Claire [Hart ’11], Josie [Raccuia ’10] and Kayla [Green ’10] are great additions to my class and were exceptional participants in the first group projects. Each group of 4-5 students created blogs on the mood of the Haitian community in Flatbush. We were reading Walt Whitman’s Memoranda During War and the students were required to go to Flatbush for 90 minutes and produce a blog in the voice of  Whitman. I am forwarding the blogs from the groups in which Claire, Josie and Kayla participated. I should also note that Claire wrote a remarkable critique of Obama’s state of the union in the voice of Whitman. My graduate assistant swore that I was joking when I told him she was a high school student…

If you have a moment, the following blog links are worth checking out.

http://theamericanroadgroup2.blogspot.com/

http://frombrooklyntohaiti.wordpress.com/

http://journontheroad.blogspot.com/

Finally, if you have an opportunity to offer one of our students, an internship in particular, for this spring for a senior or for the summer for any high school student, please let me know, and thank you!

All the best,

Ruth

Updates and Announcements:

Get ready for the musical URINETOWN!!!  The High School production of URINETOWN is on February 25th, 26th and 27th at 7pm.

“URINETOWN is a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a time when water is worth its weight in gold. In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides he’s had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, URINETOWN is an irreverently humorous satire in which no one is safe from scrutiny. Praised for reinvigorating the very notion of what a musical could be, URINETOWN catapults the “comedic romp” into the new millennium with its outrageous perspective, wickedly modern wit, and sustained ability to produce gales of unbridled laughter.”

Tickets are on sale from Monday 22nd Feb all week in the Sixth Avenue lobby 8am-9am and in the high school at lunch time.  $12 adults $10 Students.  Come support our terrific cast and crew and Director, Joanne Magee, Musical Director, Matthew McLean and Choreographer, Peggy Peloquin!

1.  Registering for Special Testing Accommodations:  From Carrie Korn (ckorn@lrei.org, x324), College Guidance Associate/SSD Coordinator

Hello 10th Graders & 10th Grade Families!

If you are interested in applying for special testing accommodations (extended time, use of a computer on essays, etc.) please contact me. Many of you have already gone through this process and already have a letter from the College Board confirming your accommodations and if this is the case, you do not need to contact me at this time. Any family interested in applying now, please be in touch. I am happy to let you know what documentation needs to be in place and to help you navigate the process. I would like to have applications prepared for 10th graders well before the end of the year so that accommodations will be in place in time for the October PSAT.

Thank you!

2. LREI Night at Yank!
Tuesday, February 23rd at 7:00 PM
Yank:
Set during World War II, Yank chronicles the romantic relationship between two servicemen long before don’t-ask-don’t-tell was part of the national discussion.  With a lively score inspired by the pop sounds of the 1940s, Yank! captures the spirit and exuberance of the era even as it explores questions of prejudice,  courage and survival. It tells the story of Stu—a photographer for Yank magazine—and Mitch, an Army Private, who fall in love and struggle to survive in a time and place where the odds are stacked against them.

3.  LREI 2010 Art Auction, March 3 & 4, 2010

Cocktail Reception & Final Bidding: March 4th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Don’t miss the chance to see artwork by some of the world’s finest artists and community members. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend!  It’s our main fundraiser this year.  The event provides essential support for our Tuition Assistance Program and it is going to be a wonderful evening with refreshments and fun. Admission is free!

Visit http://artauction.lrei.org/ for additional information and to view items that will be auctioned.


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