Time flies . . .

It seems hard to imagine that we’ve reached the final blog of the year — September does not seem that long ago. As one of our seventh graders was leaving the courtroom after completing the Constitution Works program, she was surprised to find out that they had been engaged in debate for over two hours and commented that “time really does fly when you’re having fun.” And we really have had a lot of fun this year in the Middle School. It’s been a kind of fun that has pushed us to think more deeply about things, to ask good questions, to see challenges as opportunities for learning, to support each other as we each try to make sense of our place in the world, and to take pride in a job well done.

Some of the fun we’ve had this week included:

• Fifth graders rising to the occasion and putting on a superb performance of four Greek myths, creating and performing original music to accompany the production, and sharing with parents their incredible robotic amusement park contraptions and computer-based math simulations
• Sixth graders sharing selections from their rich poetry anthology with their parents and thinking about the physics involved in creating and testing devices to protect an egg dropped from a substantial height
• Seventh graders taking on the challenge of arguing a case before the supreme court that hinged on the complex the tensions between the right to free speech and the security of our nation
• Eighth graders planning for their Moving Up assembly and reflecting on the meaning of their Middle School experience

It’s been a great week, a week that is folding nicely into what has been a great year. As I have mentioned in the several potlucks held this week, thank you for giving us the privilege of being able to work with your children; they have challenged us to be better teachers and people. Thank you also for your kind words at the potlucks that clearly indicate that the LREI faculty and staff continue to provide your children with powerful opportunities for learning and continue to support them as they grow as individuals and as members of our community.

Have a relaxing and restful summer and we look forward to starting the fun again in September!

Of General Interest . . .

1) The attached 2006-2007 At-a-Glance Calendar contains a few changes related to the dates for next year’s Middle School Family conferences. Please disregard any earlier versions you may have. The version posted on the school’s web site is correct.

2) On Friday, June 9th, the Middle School students will attend our High School Graduation Ceremony at the New York University. Please note that this is not an early dismissal day for middle school students. Students will leave the Sixth Avenue building at about 12:45. At the graduation, Middle School students will be recognized for their hard work, completion of their current grade and their movement to the next, and will join in the celebration of the accomplishments of the seniors as they move on to the next phase in their education. As this is a very special occasion, we ask that students dress appropriately—no jeans, no printed T-shirts, shirts with collars and shoes are preferable. After graduation, the students will return to the Sixth Avenue buildings by 3:15 or so.

3) Summer 2006 Building Projects — Have you seen our exciting new plans for the high school and the gym? Are you looking for a hands-on way to participate in our summer renovations? We need your help to pack up the Charlton Street Library. Come lend a helping hand at Charlton Street on Monday, June 12 from 2:00PM – 7:00PM. By using volunteers we can save $15,000 on the High School renovations! JUST SHOW UP!

4) From the LREI Adoptive Families Committee: Join us for a Family Picnic on Sunday, June 11th — LREI families touched by adoption and the friends and classmates who support us invite you to join in a celebration of LREI’s diverse community of families. ALL ARE WELCOME! Time: 11:00AM and continuing throughout the afternoon. Place: Hudson River Park (just north of the World Financial Centre). We’ll set up on the grass just across from the playground. Look for lots of balloons! Bring your own lunch/snack/beverage and something to sit on. There are sprinklers for younger kids so bring bathing suits and towels. Rain Date: Sometime in September. For more information, contact Susan Glass at: sglass9@nyc.rr.com or Mamie McIndoe at: mmcindoe@marblechurch.org.

5) LREI celebrates Gay Pride: Sunday, June 25, 2006. Be a part of a worldwide movement for freedom and equality, and march with the LREI banner in the 2005 NYC PRIDE parade. It’s fun and festive, and kids are very welcome. High School students may earn three hours of community service credit. Three years ago, we were the first school ever to march, and we proudly wore our Elisabeth Irwin T-shirts. The crowd went wild! Come and join us, or come out and cheer us on. Please check the school web site, where the meeting place and time will be posted shortly.

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. You can access their on-line calendar of events at www.parentsinaction.org.

For Eighth Grade Families . . .
1) For those families moving on to EI, you will receive information about summer reading and summer math from the high school.

2) Mark your calendar: Eighth Grade Pre-Moving Up Party, Friday, June 9, 2006. Please Arrive by 6:00PM for Potluck Dinner and Recognition Program followed by dancing til 9:00PM at 40 Charlton Street, PAC.

3) The Moving Up Assembly will take place on Tuesday, June 13th, in the Sixth Avenue auditorium. The assembly will start promptly at 9:00AM and will run until about 10:30AM. Given space constraints we ask that only immediate family members attend (that being said, if there are extenuating circumstances please contact me directly). Immediately following the assembly, the 8th graders will return to their classroom, while parents will exit out the Bleecker Street doors and gather by the steps in front of Sarah’s classroom. The rest of the middle school community will exit the building from the 6th Ave side and then join families by the steps. When all are assembled, the 8th graders will receive their certificates and process one-by-one down the steps.

For Seventh Grade Families . . .
1) On Monday, students in grades five through seven will be spending part of the day in Central Park. Please make sure that your child brings a bag lunch (no nuts and/or seeds or glass bottles) to school that day.

2) Please make sure that your child has returned a completed permission form for this Monday’s Middle School Dance.

For Sixth Grade Families . . .
1) On Monday, students in grades five through seven will be spending part of the day in Central Park. Please make sure that your child brings a bag lunch (no nuts and/or seeds or glass bottles) to school that day.

2) Please make sure that your child has returned a completed permission form for this Monday’s Middle School Dance.

For Fifth Grade Families . . .
1) On Monday, students in grades five through seven will be spending part of the day in Central Park. Please make sure that your child brings a bag lunch (no nuts and/or seeds or glass bottles) to school that day.

2) Please make sure that your child has returned a completed permission form for this Monday’s Middle School Dance.

Middle School Sports
Schedules and general information about Middle School sports programs can be found at http://lrei.org/athletics/at_4b.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, June 9th – High School Graduation – School closes at noon.
• Friday, June 9th, 6:00PM – Eighth Grade Pre-Moving Up Party
• Monday, June 12th, 6:00PM – MS Dance
• Tuesday, June 13th, 9:00AM – MS Moving Up Ceremony – School closes at noon for Summer Break

Don’t forget to check the LREI website for updates and interesting information – http://www.lrei.org.

Be well,
Mark

To view the attached .pdf files, please download Adobe Reader, if you do not already have it. Click on the following link or paste it into your browser: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html