As long as the grass shall grow

Dear LREI Families:

At last week’s Thanksgiving assembly there was much sharing about the people and things for which we are thankful. I mentioned how much I enjoyed hearing students singing the words to and humming the melody of the song “Indian Prayer” in the hallways and classrooms in the weeks leading up to the assembly. As the strains of the song floated through our shared spaces, my thoughts turned to the origins of the song. After some searching, I discovered that some of the lyrics were originally a prayer for peace from the Cheyenne nation:

Let us know peace.
For as long as the moon shall rise,
For as long as the rivers shall flow,
For as long as the sun shall shine,
For as long as the grass shall grow,
let us know peace.

Equally interesting is that these words were often used in treaties between our government and many of the Indian nations. Unfortunately, history shows that we rarely lived up to the promises protected by these words. These words are also found in the song “As long as the grass shall grow,” which was written by Johnny Cash and Peter La Farge. As I thought about the background of the words that we sing in “Indian Prayer,” I was struck by the importance of our moral and ethical obligation to keep our promises. In a way, those things for which we are thankful are the consequence of promises kept by others either directly for our benefit or indirectly. At the assembly, I asked students to think about those promises that others have kept for them, the promises that they have kept, and, perhaps most importantly, those promises that each of us have not kept. As Thanksgiving provides us with moment to give thanks, it is also a moment to think about how we can be better at keeping those promises that should be kept “for as long as the grass shall grow.”

One promise that we did keep this year at our Thanksgiving assembly was to continue the tradition that was started last year of having the eighth graders revise the Byrd Baylor story I’m in Charge of Celebrations. Their revision reflects the collaborative work of the entire eighth grade class. While adults provided some general context and support for the work, the process that gave rise to its writing and the final product were truly student-centered efforts and reflective of our progressive practice. I hope that the this telling of “I’m in Charge of Celebrations” gives you as much pleasure as it gave us.

Click here to read the eighth grade’s adaptation of I’m in Charge of Celebrations. Enjoy.

This Week’s Attachments
General:
Visibility Exhibit Letter
Community Service Committee Calendar
Book Fair Pre-Authorization Form
Eighth Grade:
DC Trip Payment Letter
Seventh Grade:
Sixth Grade:
Fifth Grade:

Of General Interest . . .
1) Next week is Book Week. Please visit the MS library blog to view a schedule of all the authors who will be visiting classes. Students will also have a chance to attend the Book Fair and purchase books. Click here to download a copy of the Pre-Authorization form.

2) Save the date for Literary Evening: Thursday, Dec. 6, 7 PM in the Charlton St. PAC. This year’s event is entitled “Kinfolk and Other Strangers,” featuring authors A.M. Homes, Marthe Jocelyn, Bliss Broyard, Porochista Khakpour, and Dominic Carter. Please plan to join the Literary Committee for an evening of literature, plus great food and drink. Flyes can be viewed and downloaded here.

3) Winter Choral Concert by the Glass Menagerie Chorus, LREI’s adult chorus-in-residence (Susan Glass, founder and music director) will take place on Saturday, December 8th at 8:00PM at St. Joseph’s Church in the Village (Sixth Avenue and Washington Place).

4) A message about Chess from Afterschool: We are currently putting together the Afterschool Enrichment schedule for the January through June session. We plan to offer Chess on Tuesdays but are undecided as to the age range. If your child is interested in participating in this class, please let us know so that we can offer a class which will accommodate the largest number of interested students. – Cari Kosins (ckosins@lrei.org) and Kelly Eudailey (keudailey@lrei.org)

5) From the Community Service Committee: Please view the calendar of events, a few highlights are below:

  • Kickoff for St. John’s Can Drive for Lower and Middle School students: The middle school will have a box in the lobby for can & dry goods donations. The lower school will be collecting on a floor by floor basis. Talk to your teacher or parent rep to see when your class is scheduled. Middle schoolers will be collecting and stocking the shelves at the St. John’s food pantry throughout the year. For more information contact Gabrielle Keller – 212.477.5316 ext. 260

6) Please read the attached letter from the LREI Lesbian Gay Straight alliance (LGSA) announcing the upcoming Visibility show.

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

8) 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/.

For Eighth Grade Families . . . .
No updates this week.

For Seventh Grade Families . . .
1) A reminder that tomorrow is the Seventh Garde DISC dance. PLease make sure that your child has returned a permission form is s/he is planning to attend. The dance will take place at 40 Charlton Street and will run from 7:00-9:00PM.

2) Please visit math teacher Michelle Boehm’s blog to read the new unit letter.

For Sixth Grade Families . . .
The intramural basketball program will begin after the Winter Break. Students who are interested in participating should let PE teacher Larry Kaplan know. Team assignments and practice and game schedules will be available before the break. Students will have one morning practice (either Tuesday or Wednesday) and games are played on Fridays after school.

For Fifth Grade Families . . .
The intramural basketball program will begin after the Winter Break. Students who are interested in participating should let PE teacher Larry Kaplan know. Team assignments and practice and game schedules will be available before the break. Students will have one morning practice (either Tuesday or Wednesday) and games are played on Fridays after school.

For additional information, follow these links:

Don’t forget to check the LREI website for updates and other interesting school-related information.

Be well,
Mark

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