Dear Families,

I hope you all had a wonderful long weekend. During the time off, I finally had the chance to catch up on some reading; one article I read absolutely resonated with me, and I had to share it with you. If you have not read the article yet, please do check out New York Magazine’s cover story, Why Kids Lie.

Following is an excerpt from the article:

…In her study of teenage students, Darling also mailed survey questionnaires to the parents of the teenagers interviewed, and it was interesting how the two sets of data reflected on each other. First, she was struck by parents’ vivid fear of pushing their teens into outright hostile rebellion. “Many parents today believe the best way to get teens to disclose is to be more permissive and not set rules,” Darling says. Parents imagine a trade-off between being informed and being strict. Better to hear the truth and be able to help than be kept in the dark.

Darling found that permissive parents don’t actually learn more about their children’s lives. “Kids who go wild and get in trouble mostly have parents who don’t set rules or standards. Their parents are loving and accepting no matter what the kids do. But the kids take the lack of rules as a sign their parents don’t care—that their parent doesn’t really want this job of being the parent.”

Pushing a teen into rebellion by having too many rules was a sort of statistical myth. “That actually doesn’t happen,” remarks Darling. She found that most rules-heavy parents don’t actually enforce them. “It’s too much work,” says Darling. “It’s a lot harder to enforce three rules than to set twenty rules.”

A few parents managed to live up to the stereotype of the oppressive parent, with lots of psychological intrusion, but those teens weren’t rebelling. They were obedient. And depressed.

“Ironically, the type of parents who are actually most consistent in enforcing rules are the same parents who are most warm and have the most conversations with their kids,” Darling observes. They’ve set a few rules over certain key spheres of influence, and they’ve explained why the rules are there. They expect the child to obey them. Over life’s other spheres, they supported the child’s autonomy, allowing them freedom to make their own decisions.

The kids of these parents lied the least. Rather than hiding twelve areas from their parents, they might be hiding as few as five…

It is not for us to judge one’s parenting style or decisions for their children. At the high school, we have found that when rules are consistent and consistently enforced here at school, kids feel better and behave better because the boundaries set reinforce our care and concern for the community while helping us to appreciate and hold community members to the highest standard. At the same time, we do support giving students many freedoms because we want them to be able to advocate for themselves and yes, make their own thoughtful decisions. However, sometimes in the chaos of the day, it can occationally be easier said than done.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the article.

On another note, students enjoyed seeing a preview of An Evening with Tennesse Williams today during assembly. All of the performers featured were fantastic, and the play, a series of one-acts, which will head to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland this summer, promises to be a memorable, enjoyable night of theater! Please join us on Thursday, Feb. 28, Friday, Feb. 29 and/or Saturday, March 1, at 7 PM. Tickets are on sale at the Charlton Street reception desk starting tomorrow.

All the best,

Ruth
Updates and Announcements:

VISIBILITY is HERE! We are proud to host an opening reception inspired by our student government for the VISIBILITY show TONIGHT, Thursday, February 21 from 6-8PM, featuring photographs and performances by members of the high school community.

• 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 season recaps.

1. Our Annual School Spirit Game, in which our middle school and high school basketball teams play against the faculty has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 5th at 3:30PM in the Thompson Street Athletic Center at 145 Thompson Street. This is a fun event for young and old. You are all invited to attend.

2. Please note: Six of our students have been chosen to display their photography at Synchronicity Fine Arts, 106 West 13th Street. The show runs from February 5 through March 1.

3. On Thursday, February 28, 2008, 7:00PM, Freedom Institute’s Independent School Program presents an evening with Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair on “How to Be a Go-To Parent: Raising Kids of Character.” To be held at the Nightingale-Bamford School (20 East 92nd Street, New York, NY). For more information, contact: Charlanne Zepf Bauerlein at 212-838-0044 ext. 11.

4. Michel de Konkoly Thege will make a presentation concerning LREI’s finances that is open to all interested members of the LREI community. The presentation will be in the 6th Avenue cafeteria at 8:45AM on Tuesday, February 26.

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

6. 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 2007-2008 calendar. You can also access their website at http://www.parentsinaction.org/.

Dear Families,

On behalf of the faculty and staff here in the high school, thank you so much for the terrific expressions of appreciation, the decorations, gifts and treats this week. The tremendous generosity and heartfelt wishes have been greatly appreciated. Thanks for the thougtfulness and hard work!

Today’s assembly marks the end of the Thursday Gender Series programming thoughtfully planned and implemented by English teacher Ileana Jimenez, and a host of others who helped with putting everything together. The assembly today was a perfect one for Valentine’s Day as the focus was on immigration, asylum and relationships which are hardly covered by our national conversation on immigration, even though several presidental candidates have attempted to address immigration issues. Panelists included:

• Victoria Neilson, the Legal Director at Immigration Equality, a national organization fighting for equal immigration rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive community. Neilson runs Immigration Equality’s pro bono asylum project and provides technical assistance and mentoring on LGBT and HIV immigration issues to attorneys around the country.

• Jeremy Reiss and his partner Arturo Tochtli who addressed issues related to being a binational couple (US/Mexico) and the progress of the Uniting American Families Act. Jeremy Reiss is Director of Workforce Mobility Initiatives at the Community Service Society, the leading anti-poverty organization in New York City. Reiss is an Adjunct Professor of Urban Studies at the Joseph F. Murphy Labor Institute, CUNY, and serves on the Board of Directors of the East River Development Alliance, the Advisory Board of Urban Agenda, and the Economic Security Advisory Board of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy. Reiss is also on Barack Obama’s Urban Policy Advisory Committee for the presidential election.

• Sebastian Cordoba who showed clips from his most recent documentary Through Thick & Thin, which follows seven lesbian and gay couples who are struggling with immigration rights in the US. He shared his perspective on the making of his film as well as share his own story about immigration.

The panel was informative and educational, and serves as the prelude to the finale, the play Tara’s Crossing, the story of a transwoman who seeks asylum from Guyana and is imprisoned by the INS when she arrives in the United States. I have read the script, and it is powerfully moving and thought-provoking. The students will see it next month, on Monday, March , as our second First Monday program. The social justice theatre troupe, Houses on the Moon, will be performing the play our high school during a special morning production; we will have discussion groups in the afternoon.

Needless to say, the series has encouraged conversation and inspired ideas for future assemblies from our students. I support and encourage thoughtful programming for our weekly assemblies and thank Ileana for her vision and hard work.

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 season recaps.

1. Please note: Six of our students have been chosen to display their photography at Synchronicity Fine Arts, 106 West 13th Street. The show runs from February 5 through March 1.

2. 7) On Thursday, February 28, 2008, 7:00PM, Freedom Institute’s Independent School Program presents an evening with Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair on “How to Be a Go-To Parent: Raising Kids of Character.” To be held at the Nightingale-Bamford School (20 East 92nd Street, New York, NY). For more information, contact: Charlanne Zepf Bauerlein at 212-838-0044 ext. 11.

3. There is one more day to donate! February 11 through 15th – is the “Have a Heart/ Get a Heart” collection sponsored by the LREI Community Service Committee for the Room To Grow organization. We are collecting new and GENTLY used items (baby, toddler needs: clothing, equipment and books) for ages new born to 5 years old. We will be donating whatever we collect to a couple of different organizations in the NYC area. Donations can be left at the front desk. We will be giving a heart sticker to all who bring in donations next week. Please click here for more information.

4. Michel de Konkoly Thege will make a presentation concerning LREI’s finances that is open to all interested members of the LREI community. The presentation will be in the 6th Avenue cafeteria at 8:45AM on Tuesday, February 26.

5. Please take a look at the following letter from the LREI Lesbian Gay Straight alliance (LGSA) announcing the upcoming Visibility show. Please participate! The deadline for submissions is now Friday, February 15!

We are proud to host an opening reception inspired by our student government for the VISIBILITY show here at Charlton Street on Thursday, February 21 from 6-8PM, featuring photographs and performances by members of the high school community.

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

7. 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 2007-2008 calendar. You can also access their website at http://www.parentsinaction.org/.

Dear LREI Community,

Two exciting announcements:

Number 1-
As families in the Lower School are aware, we recently completed our search for a new lower school principal. I am thrilled to share with all members of the LREI community that Namita Tolia will join us on July 1, 2008 as the head of our lower division. Please click here to read the announcement I sent to lower school families upon Namita’s appointment. While there will be many occasions to do so in the coming months, I do not want to miss this opportunity to thank Sharon DuPree for the wonderful work she is doing as Interim Lower School Principal.

I could not be more pleased with the outcome of our search process. Namita is a warm, smart, thoughtful and passionate person. The process to select Sharon’s successor was open to all members of the lower school community and included a number of representatives of the middle school, high school and Board of Trustees. Leading the search was a committee made up of almost half of the lower school faculty. This group was assisted by an ad hoc Parents Association Advisory Committee that acted as a liaison between the search committee and the parent body. Each of the four finalists, selected from a pool of 18 first round candidates who, in turn, were selected from the hundreds of resumes we received, met with a large number (over 50) of lower school parents, the advisory committee, Suzanne Cohen—lower school assistant principal, Mark Silberberg and Ruth Jurgensen—the middle and high school principals, a group of fourth graders, a number of trustees, the senior administrative team, the early kindergarten and the entire lower school faculty. After all four finalists had finished their marathon visit, we had a day devoted to gathering feedback from each of the aforementioned groups. This information was added to all that we had received earlier in the process. As our search drew to a close, the faculty committee and I spent many hours together evaluating our experiences with the four candidates and all that we had learned about these four educators and about the institution over the prior weeks and months.

As I stated earlier, I am so pleased that Namita will be joining us and am sure that when you have a chance to meet her you will be as impressed with her as those involved in the search are. I am equally thrilled with the process, described above, that brought Namita to us. So many people gave considerable time and thought to this effort. Members of the community gathered together in order to listen to, and learn from, each other. Questions were asked and answered, assumptions were tested and understandings were challenged. In the end I think that we all had a deeper understanding of LREI’s mission and of the essential role that the lower school holds in meeting these ends. As the process came to its successful conclusion, all involved felt renewed support for the institution’s belief that each voice—each point of view—has value. Decisions that consider the range of experience represented by the members of our community may be difficult and may create some dissonance. This is okay, however, as, even with this temporary discord, decisions made in an inclusive manner are inherently more productive and enriching for the community. Thank you to all for your honest, thoughtful and supportive participation.

Number 2-
Look out world, here we come! Our middle school robotics team is one of two teams from the U.S. that has been invited to participate in an international robotics competition in Tokyo later this spring. This team, coached by middle school teachers Sherezada Acosta and Carin Cohen, has done very well in each of the four years that it has been competing in the FIRST LEGO League Tournaments. Last year the team won the 3rd place Champions Award and the 1st place Team Work Award. Earlier this year, the senior team, made up of seventh and eighth graders, placed first out of all participating schools in Manhattan in the Robot Performance category. The rookie squad, made up of sixth graders, won the Champions Award. A few weeks ago the team was awarded the 5th place Robot Design Award in the All City Championship. The judges in the tournaments in which we have competed over the years have been impressed with how articulate and resourceful our students are as well as with how well the team members work together. It was for these reasons that they were chosen to represent the U.S. in the FIRST LEGO League Asian Open Championship. A tremendous amount of hard work awaits these students between now and late April when they take off for points east. We could not be prouder of the team and its coaches and look forward to hearing of their successes. Stay tuned, in the weeks to come, for more information on this exciting adventure.

Finally (I know I said two items), congratulations to our middle school boys’ basketball team on their 61-23 victory over the Browning School for the league championship earlier this week. Come out and watch the boys play in the opening game of the league’s end of season tournament on February 27th at the Thompson Street Athletic Center.

Exciting times,

Phil

Updates and Announcements:

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

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

1. Please note: Six of our students have been chosen to display their photography at Synchronicity Fine Arts, 106 West 13th Street.  The opening reception is on February 9 from 2-5 PM; the show runs from February 5 through March 1.

2. February 11 through 15th – is the “Have a Heart/ Get a Heart” collection sponsored by the LREI Community Service Committee for the Room To Grow organization. We are collecting new and GENTLY used items (baby, toddler needs: clothing, equipment and books) for ages new born to 5 years old. We will be donating whatever we collect to a couple of different organizations in the NYC area. Donations can be left at the front desk. We will be giving a heart sticker to all who bring in donations next week. Please click here for more information.

3. The 2008 LREI Art Auction is tonight!

Andrew Edlin and Kathyrn Markel Galleries

529 West 20th Street, 6th Floor

Admission is Free

Reception & Final Bidding: Tonight! 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Visit our website to view a full list of artists and preview and for more information on Conditions of Sale, Absentee Bids and other important details. www.lrei.org. LREI Contact: Sandra Song 212-477-5316 x275 or ssong@lrei.org

4. Please take a look at the following letter from the LREI Lesbian Gay Straight alliance (LGSA) announcing the upcoming Visibility show. Please participate! The deadline for submissions is Monday, February 11.

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

6. 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 2007-2008 calendar. You can also access their website at http://www.parentsinaction.org/.

Dear Families,

I am thrilled to announce that six of our high school photography students, all of the students who submitted work,  were selected among high school and university student submissions for an upcoming professional exhibition at Manhattan gallery, Synchronicity Fine Arts, 106 West 13th Street.  The opening reception is on February 9 from 2-5 PM; the show runs from February 5 through March 1.

The students who will exhibit one photograph each are:

Ella Saunders-Crivello, ’08

Ava Hamilton, ’08

Nell Jocelyn, ’08

Elaine Smith, ’08

Violeta Picayo, ’09

Jessica Wilson, ’09 

We are very proud of them, and thank Susan Now, our inspiring photography teacher for her work with our students.

Speaking of photography, I encourage you to participate in this year’s VISIBILITY  exhibit.  Many high school students are working hard to encourage the community to participate, and I pass along that encouragement to you.  Photographs will be accepted at reception through February 11.

Lastly, I am writing this blog from the lovely Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY where I am attending the annual New York State Association of Independent Schools 2008 Conference for Division Heads with Mark and Sharon.  It has been incredibly rewarding so far; I appreciate having the time to participate in significant conversations with colleagues who lead fantastic schools.  The workshops, including one for new division heads and one focusing on faculty evaluation and frameworks for teaching, have allowed me (and others) to take time to think about the big picture. Tomorrow’s speaker, Alan November, will talk to us about designing a more rigorous curriculum, enhancing curriculum and supporting self-directed learning.  As this morning’s speaker, Charlotte Danielson, said, “Our students do not learn from what we do, but rather from what they do themselves.”  More on self-directed learning and curriculum in next week’s blog.   

All the best,

Ruth 

 

Updates and announcements:

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

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

1. Interims are now available!  Interims are written for all students with a B- or below in any subject and for all students on academic probation. If you need assistance accessing your child’s interims, please email help_desk@lrei.org. If you would like interims mailed, please contact Adria Maynor at 212-477-5316, x 323, or amaynor@lrei.org.

Exam Week begins March 3.

2. The 2008 LREI Art Auction is next week!

Wednesday, February 6th – Thursday, February 7th12:00 noon – 8:00PM

Andrew Edlin and Kathyrn Markel Galleries529 West 20th Street, 6th Floor

Admission is Free

Kid’s Preview: Wednesday, February 6th from 4:00PM – 6:00PM.

Bus available on Wednesday, February 6th from LREI’s Sixth Avenue building to 529 West 20th Street at 3:15PM.

Reception & Final Bidding: Thursday, February 7th 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Visit our website to view a full list of artists and preview and for more information on Conditions of Sale, Absentee Bids and other important details.  www.lrei.org.LREI Contact: Sandra Song 212-477-5316 x275 or ssong@lrei.org

3. Please take a look at the following letter from the LREI Lesbian Gay Straight alliance (LGSA) announcing the upcoming Visibility show.

4. For updates on faculty performances, openings, presentations, and publications visit theFaculty in the News page on the school web site.

5. 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 2007-2008 calendar. You can also access their website at http://www.parentsinaction.org/.

Continue reading →

Dear Families,

I am thrilled to announce that six of our high school photography students, all of the students who submitted work,  were selected among high school and university student submissions for an upcoming professional exhibition at Manhattan gallery, Synchronicity Fine Arts, 106 West 13th Street.  The opening reception is on February 9 from 2-5 PM; the show runs from February 5 through March 1.

The students who will exhibit one photograph each are:

Ella Saunders-Crivello, ’08

Ava Hamilton, ’08

Nell Jocelyn, ’08

Elaine Smith, ’08

Violeta Picayo, ’09

Jessica Wilson, ’09 

We are very proud of them, and thank Susan Now, our inspiring photography teacher for her work with our students.

Lastly, I am writing this blog from the lovely Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY where I am attending the annual New York State Association of Independent Schools 2008 Conference for Division Heads.  It has been incredibly rewarding so far; I appreciate having the time to participate in significant conversations with colleagues who lead fantastic schools.  The workshops, including one for new division heads and one focusing on faculty evaluation and frameworks for teaching, have allowed me (and others) to take time to think about the big picture.  I look forward to sharing what I have learned with the faculty.  

All the best,

Ruth 

 

Updates and announcements:

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

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

1. Interims are now available!  Interims are written for all students with a B- or below in any subject and for all students on academic probation. If you need assistance accessing your child’s interims, please email help_desk@lrei.org. If you would like interims mailed, please contact Adria Maynor at 212-477-5316, x 323, or amaynor@lrei.org.

Exam Week begins March 3.

2. The 2008 LREI Art Auction is next week!

Wednesday, February 6th – Thursday, February 7th12:00 noon – 8:00PMAndrew Edlin and Kathyrn Markel Galleries529 West 20th Street, 6th Floor

Admission is Free

Kid’s Preview: Wednesday, February 6th from 4:00PM – 6:00PM.Bus available on Wednesday, February 6th from LREI’s Sixth Avenue building to 529 West 20th Street at 3:15PM.

Reception & Final Bidding: Thursday, February 7th 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Visit our website to view a full list of artists and preview and for more information on Conditions of Sale, Absentee Bids and other important details.  www.lrei.orgLREI Contact: Sandra Song 212-477-5316 x275 or ssong@lrei.org

3. Please take a look at the following letter from the LREI Lesbian Gay Straight alliance (LGSA) announcing the upcoming Visibility show.

4. For updates on faculty performances, openings, presentations, and publications visit theFaculty in the News page on the school web site.

5. 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 2007-2008 calendar. You can also access their website at http://www.parentsinaction.org/.

 

Continue reading →

Dear Families,

As you may know, I have an open door policy because it is important to me to support an environment where students feel like they may come into my office at any point to talk and to share what is on their mind. Last week, sophomore Will Chafkin stopped by to share with me a disturbing story he had heard on “This American Life.” His retelling of the story of an American-born Muslim and her Palestinian husband who decided to move to America from the West Bank to raise their children after 9/11 thinking that the country (especially the East Coast) would be particularly tolerant of their kids, who were being raised as Muslim, haunted me. The story Will told was haunting because their children’s experience in school was not the experience they anticipated. In fact, their daughter’s elementary public school teacher uses a textbook that describes Muslims as killers of Christians. Of course, children at that age being considerably more impressionable than high school students, the daughter’s classmates began to taunt her and call her the “loser Muslim” and “Osama”. Around the Christmas holiday, the teacher brought in a text of her own to teach a lesson about Jesus’ blood and how this message is conveyed through the candy cane–shape of a J, the red represents the blood of Christ, and determined only the blood of Christ would save them, and not their Muslim classmate. After bringing this situation to the attention of the school principal, nothing was done.

Will left my office with the instructions to finding this story on iTunes or on NPR’s website, which I did. So the story got me thinking. The student body here believes that they are the most tolerant in the entire city. They say so collectively in many situations, but especially when they are all together in assembly. In fact, I do believe the fact that this story resonated with Will is indicative of the dedication to knowledge, respect and tolerance found throughout our community. Further, Will determined, “Ruth, that would never happen here.”

It takes work to ensure that such disrespect and ignorance do not take place here. Students believe tolerance comes easy to them, and maybe we are lucky in that regard. However, we must continue to support powerful programming that educates students on human rights issues, but also educate students with the very elementary-sounding lesson that words can result in remarkable damage. Please take time to listen to this unforgettable and educational story. Thanks to Will and all of the students who stop by to tell me what is making the difference in their lives. Every time they share, I truly learn something.

All the best,

Ruth

Updates and announcements:

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

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

1. Midterm is here! Interims will be available on “My Backpack” beginning January 28. Interims are written for all students with a B- or below in any subject and for all students on academic probation. If you need assistance accessing your child’s interims, please email help_desk@lrei.org. If you would like interims mailed, please contact Adria Maynor at 212-477-5316, x 323, or amaynor@lrei.org.

2. The 2008 LREI Art Auction is only two weeks away.

Wednesday, February 6th – Thursday, February 7th
12:00 noon – 8:00PM
Andrew Edlin and Kathyrn Markel Galleries
529 West 20th Street, 6th Floor

Admission is Free

Kid’s Preview: Wednesday, February 6th from 4:00PM – 6:00PM.
Bus available on Wednesday, February 6th from LREI’s Sixth Avenue building to 529 West 20th Street at 3:15PM.

Reception & Final Bidding: Thursday, February 7th 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Visit our website to view a full list of artists and preview and for more information on Conditions of Sale, Absentee Bids and other important details.  www.lrei.org

LREI Contact: Sandra Song 212-477-5316 x275 or ssong@lrei.org

3. Please take a look at the following letter from the LREI Lesbian Gay Straight alliance (LGSA) announcing the upcoming Visibility show.

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

5. 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 2007-2008 calendar. You can also access their website at http://www.parentsinaction.org/.

Dear Families,

While we as educators value curriculum design and development, assessing every students’ needs, professional development for faculty and staff, we also are committed to creating and supporting a school environment that encourages safe and thoughtful decision making when it comes to a student’s health and wellness. We have an established Health and Wellness Committee, required health and life issues classes for 9th Graders and Wellness Night for Ninth Grade families, and segment of the Student Government Board highlights current Adolescent Issues. Most recently featured was the startling statistics regarding smoking and women’s health from the New York Times because far too many of our kids pick up smoking in high school. Even though we have these things and a nurse, Joanne, who is admirably committed to working with every student on their health and wellness issues, comprehensive substance use and abuse prevention takes more time and more effort; in this, we are truly in partnership with every family. What are you doing at home?

On February 28, 2008 at 7PM, Freedom Institute’s Independent School Program presents an evening with Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair on “How to Be a Go-To Parent: Raising Kids of Character” at The Nightingale-Bamford School on East 92 Street. Please do attend this event if possible.

On another note, as we remember Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, whether it be through spending time with family or making it a day “on” as Phil suggested, I would like to share Dr.King’s own words on how he would like to be remembered:

I’d like someone to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. I’d like somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody. l want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe the naked. I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. And I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.

Whether it is the leaving of a job or leaving for college, or leaving this world, how would you like to be remembered? All of us can afford to take a moment to consider this question at some point this weekend while we celebrate the life, energy and effort of an extraordinary individual.

All the best,

Ruth

Updates and announcements:

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

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

1. Midterm is here! Interims will be available on “My Backpack” beginning January 28. Interims are written for all students with a B- or below in any subject and for all students on academic probation. If you need assistance accessing your child’s interims, please email help_desk@lrei.org. If you would like interims mailed, please contact Adria Maynor at 212-477-5316, x 323, or amaynor@lrei.org.

2. Please take a look at the following letter from the LREI Lesbian Gay Straight alliance (LGSA) announcing the upcoming Visibility show.

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

4. 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 2007-2008 calendar. You can also access their website at http://www.parentsinaction.org/.

                                                                        January 10^th, 2008

Dear LREI Community,

 

Happy New Year.  I hope that this note finds your family well and having enjoyed some restful and rejuvenating time during the Winter Break.  On Monday morning the school was filled with children of all ages who, while looking a little sleepy, seemed quite happy to be back in school with their friends and teachers. 

 

I want to take a moment to bring your attention to some special events coming this month.  There are a number of events that will provide great wintertime activity. Most of the events and activities that I mention below can also be found on the calendar at www.LREI.org/calendar. 

 

LREI Alumni College Panel—January 10^th, 2007, 6:30PM at the high school, 40 Charlton Street.  This discussion is an opportunity to meet and speak with some recent LREI graduates and to hear from them about their experiences and about how LREI prepared them for college.  

 

LREI Athletics—Our basketball season is in full swing for all 10 teams!  I encourage you to attend a home game at the Thompson Street Athletic Center, 145 Thompson Street (between Houston Street and Prince Street.)  You can find the schedules for all teams at www.lrei.org/athletics.  In addition, we post a sign in the Sixth Avenue lobby each morning announcing any home games that afternoon.  Upcoming home games include:

 

·        Our 5^th/6^th grade intramural league, an instructional/recreational league for our youngest middle schoolers, plays each Friday from 3:30PM-5:15PM. These are great games for young fans.

·        January 14^th, 4:00PM—7^th/8^th grade Boys vs. St. Luke’s School

·        January 16^th, 4:15PM—7^th/8^th grade Girls vs. UNIS

·        January 17^th, 4:00PM—Varsity Boys vs. Garden School

·        January 23^rd, 5:00PM—JV Girls vs. Steiner

·        January 24^th, 4:30PM—Varsity Girls vs. Birch Wathen Lenox School

·        February 21^st, 4:00PM—JV Boys vs. Trevor Day School

 

There are many other home games on the schedule.  Come out and cheer for our student athletes!!! 

 

Karamu! —On Friday, January 25^th from 6:00PM to 9:00PM the PA Multicultural Committee will host Karamu!, a celebration of food and the arts and community. Tickets will go on sale soon. This is one of the high points of each school year. 

 

Finally, I encourage all families who are able to do so to make this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—Monday, January 21^st—a day on rather than a day off.  As stated by the Mayor’s Volunteer Center, “The mission of the MLK Day of Service is to realize Martin Luther King’s dream and legacy by breaking down barriers amongst people and establishing volunteer service as a means for social change.”

 

Among the service opportunities available on this day are:

 

“Share the Dream, Live the Reality” will be held on Monday, January 21, 2008, from 9:00AM-3:30PM. The event will take place in Queens at Long Island City High School, 14-30 Broadway, Long Island City, NY.

 

Please register now to join hundreds of volunteers and help revitalize the community by painting murals, cleaning schools, and giving back to the community.

Register online as an individual or group

 

For additional questions, please call Shante Smith at 212-542-0798 or visit www.cityyear.org/newyork

 

5th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Anti-Hunger Serve-A-Thon

On January 19th-21st, 2008, celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday by partaking in the New York City Coalition Against Hunger (NYCCAH) 5th Annual Anti-Hunger Serve-A-Thon. The Anti-Hunger Serve-A-Thon is similar to a walk-a-thon but instead of walking you’re performing a service to help pantries and kitchens meet their immediate needs. Individuals and groups can sign-up through the Coalition’s Volunteer Matching System to serve at selected food pantries and/or soup kitchens on Saturday, Jan. 19, Sunday, Jan. 20, and/or Monday, Jan. 21. The time commitment is flexible and is meant to fit within a busy schedule. Service opportunities will be available in all five boroughs.

For questions, contact Andrea Dispenza 212-825-0028 ext 202, adispenza@nyccah.org

 

Children for Children (www.childrenforchildren.org) hosts an annual event on this day. Last year, more than 2,000 volunteers came together for this event and we look forward to another momentous day this year. Participants will have the chance to complete a wide variety of hands-on projects, benefiting many different New York City-based and international causes. See their website for more details. http://childrenforchildren.org/index.php?q=node/36

 

If you have suggestions of service opportunities available on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, please send me the information so that I can make it available to all.

 

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness.  This is the judgment.  Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?”

 

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

As you can see, there are many opportunities to get involved in LREI events and events sponsored by other communities in the coming weeks.  I hope that all LREI families find them enjoyable and enriching. 

 

Best,

 

Phil

Dear LREI Community,

December, as you know, has been filled with special events during the school day and well into each evening. As I look back over this long list of meetings and performances, on the eve of the Winter Break, I realize that of all of the events and occasions in which I have participated in the past few weeks, none was more interesting than one of our regular, weekly principals’ meetings earlier this month. Each week I meet with the three principals, Cari Kosins—Director of Afterschool and Summer Programs and Chap Chapman—Director of Diversity and Community. For the meeting in question I invited the music teachers and, for the first time, the president and vice-president of the high school student body. The first item on our agenda was the program for our annual Winter Assembly.

The student leaders contacted me late last month as their constituents had questions and frustrations about our annual pre-winter break, all-school get-together. Jesse Towsen, the president, put it quite plainly, “We think the assembly is boring.” In addition to wanting the group to discuss ways to make the assembly more enjoyable, the students had significant questions about how we choose the songs we sing at this all-school gathering. A number of years ago we decided to have the songs and readings focus on the themes of peace and light—images present in the winter traditions of many cultures and religions. We consciously stayed away from songs that came out of any specific religious tradition. We also decided not to attempt to sing songs from all religions as this is not only impossible to do but ignores the students who do not identify with a particular tradition. This was one of the things with which the students were most frustrated—why did the adults feel as if we as a community could not acknowledge the religious traditions represented in the room. A good question, one I have thought quite a bit about and a topic about which I have strong feelings.

While we are a community that believes strongly in having, discussing, displaying and living according to a set of values and beliefs, for better or for worse we have become cautious and uncomfortable when discussing religion and spirituality. When we bring the whole school together, almost 600 students and over one hundred adults, for an all school assembly we are making a statement that “this is an important event.” To have a song that comes from a specific religious tradition at the center of one of these assemblies also makes a big statement and leads us to many questions. Among them—Can we represent all religions? Do we even want to try? How do we support the children who come from families that do not subscribe to any organized religion, whether or not they are spiritual people? If we sing songs of a particular faith at an assembly is the school “endorsing” one faith over another? The high school students answered these questions by asking one of me. “Why,” they asked, “can we have an assembly to introduce the Hindu celebration of Diwali to the student body” (which we have done for the past few years), “but we would not be allowed to have a Christmas assembly?” An excellent question and one that raises issues of power and privilege, familiarity and ignorance.

While we cannot support or endorse any one faith, or the having of faiths and religious beliefs in general, we also have to make sure that our students and families don’t feel as if they have to check their beliefs at the door. LREI students of deep religious faith should feel just as comfortable discussing their beliefs as those students who are not members of any particular religion are in discussing theirs. We must find ways to have our students understand the importance that religion holds for many, many people, to celebrate the diversity of spiritual beliefs in the same way we celebrate other differences between us and to foster an understanding of the history of religion in human society. In a country where the depth of one’s beliefs is seen, by some, as a measure of one’s fitness to be President, our children must have, in order for them to grow into informed and active citizens, an understanding of the power that belief holds for a great many people.

The faculty will be spending some time this spring, and into the fall, examining the role discussions of religion might play in our school. We will examine our current practices and look for new ones in order to ensure that no one feels excluded due to their beliefs. We will look at the ways we teach about religion in history, literature and arts classes. And we will find time to talk with the children, and with you, about this interesting, difficult and important topic.

I am looking forward to this exploration. We will learn a lot. We will become more understanding of our colleagues and neighbors and we will be a stronger more thoughtful community for having challenged ourselves with this discussion.

A last word. I was persuaded. We will sing a few songs this year that stem from specific religious traditions and will, in the New Year, discuss how this felt and make plans for future events. Please do not hesitate to email or call if you would like to discuss this topic.

I wish you all the best and a Happy New Year,

Phil

PS I want to correct an omission. In last week’s blog, I should have thanked the members of the Literary Committee for the many weeks and months of planning that made Book Week—the author visits, book fair and Literary Evening—possible. What an amazing event! Thank you and we are already looking forward to next year’s event.

Updates and announcements:

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

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

1. Grades and Comments are now available on “My Backpack”. If you need assistance accessing your child’s grades and comments, please email help_desk@lrei.org. If you would like grades and comments mailed, please contact Adria Maynor at 212-477-5316, x 323, or amaynor@lrei.org.

2. Parents of 11th and 12th graders: NYU college preview course applications are due on Monday, January 7!

3. Community service volunteer opportunity: The Hudson Guild has need of volunteers on Tuesday, December 25, from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Please contact Joseph Barretto at 212.760.9803 or email jbarretto@hudsonguild.org to sign up before attending. This is a popular volunteer event so call early!

4. From the Community Service Committee: Please view the calendar of events.

5. Please take a look at the following letter from the LREI Lesbian Gay Straight alliance (LGSA) announcing the upcoming Visibility show.

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

7. 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 2007-2008 calendar. You can also access their website at http://www.parentsinaction.org/.

Dear Families,

The New York Times reported recently that Greenland is melting.

On Monday, December 10, grades 9 through 11 participated in “Environmental Action Day” planned and implemented by Kai Furbeck, ‘10 and Gabe Cook, ’10, with the help of club advisor, Tim Cooper. The day began with a screening of two episodes from National Geographic’s Strange Days on Planet Earth. The two episodes, “The One Degree Factor” and “Troubled Waters” emphasized the link between events across the globe, and how those events affect us all. In “The One Degree Factor,” an increase in one degree has contributed to the evaporation of Lake Chad, which now creates the dust, which is responsible for the increase in asthmatic children in the Caribbean. That dust also carries an airborne virus that may be responsible for killing the coral reefs in the Caribbean. “Troubled Waters” touched on the toxicity of our drinking water especially in areas that are surrounded by farmland.

The connection between events is exactly what our students needed to realize, that things that happen to other people, ultimately affect us here. In the afternoon, students participated in a variety of workshops, one of which was given by Margaret Hoffman, parent of Jane Sternbach, Class of 2007, on Green Food, one presented by The Earth Institute at Columbia University on Polar Regions and another presented by the Global Roundtable on Climate Change on monsoons in India.

Many students met with me after the day to discuss what the school can do. One student recommended that the school pledge to join “Change a light, Change the world” program, and take the time to have high school students educate lower school students on the issues related to sustainability. Already, most of our students carry a “Red is Green” water bottle thus eliminating their use of paper cups, the faculty has agreed to use mugs instead of paper cups for coffee, and the high school has moved to providing printed grades and comments by request to save reams of paper every year. The students and the school is motivated in this cause, even though much of what we do we may not see the results of in this lifetime.

Have a happy holiday season,

Ruth

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

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

Updates and announcements:

From the LREI Family Handbook….Gifts to Teachers: If your child wants to give his or her teacher a gift at winter break, the end of the year, or any other time during the year, a homemade gift or drawing is welcome and appreciated. A group gift from parents and children in the class may be given at the end of the school year. It has been our experience that individual gifts, though thoughtfully intended, may be misinterpreted by the children and, consequently, we discourage this. Thank you for your awareness and cooperation.

1. Community service volunteer opportunity: The Hudson Guild has need of volunteers on Tuesday, December 25, from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Please contact Joseph Barretto at 212.760.9803 or email jbarretto@hudsonguild.org to sign up before attending. This is a popular volunteer event so call early!

2. Please join us for the LREI Winter Concert on Tuesday, Dec. 18th at 6:30 p.m. at the Charlton Street PAC.

3. From the Community Service Committee: Please view the calendar of events.

4. Please take a look at the following letter from the LREI Lesbian Gay Straight alliance (LGSA) announcing the upcoming Visibility show.

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

6. 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 2007-2008 calendar. You can also access their website at http://www.parentsinaction.org/.