I am . . .

Dear Families,

This week, students in sixth grade adolescent issues classes began reading the book Jarvis Clutch Social Spy in which

the fictitious eighth-grader Jarvis Clutch offers insight and advice on the middle school social scene. Jarvis’s spy notes provide a bird’s eye view of the often challenging social experiences that middle school students encounter. The cornerstone of the book is the concept of social cognition, or your skills and ability in interacting with others. Through this lens of this concept, students examine the social challenges they face daily at school and at home (EPSBooks.com).

At the beginning of our reading, students did a reflection activity in which they explored personal strengths and challenges related to navigating the social dynamics of adolescence. Through this activity, we identified a set of challenges and students were surprised to realize that many of their concerns were also shared by their peers. Here the list we generated of social skills on which sixth graders want to work:

  • Not dominating or needing to be the boss
  • Having the image of myself that I want to have
  • Expressing my feelings accurately
  • Not being shy
  • Feeling better about the way I look
  • Watching my actions
  • Not reacting too strongly
  • Self-monitoring myself better
  • Being able to call a friend
  • Calling someone I don’t know well
  • Not talking for too long
  • Having a boyfriend/girlfriend
  • Having other kids respect me
  • Not talking so loud
  • Having a best friend
  • Being friends with more people
  • Being accepted by more groups

In fifth grade Adolescent Issues classes, we’ve been exploring the theme of “appearances” and how they play a role in the judgments that we often make about others. We explored how these appearances that are often reflected in clothing, physical appearance, mannerisms and ethnic, racial and religious indicators can result in impressions that prevent us from seeing the what we might share in common with another individual. We used a public service announcement produced after 9/11 to explore the power of these first impressions. Students watched the video without sound and recorded positive and negative impressions based only on what they were seeing. These impressions (e.g., “friendly,” “weird,” trustworthy,” “scary,” etc.) were then shared without attribution to the individual in the video. Students indicated that they would be more likely to want to be friends with the individuals they rated more positively. We discussed why this might be the case and then watched the video again this time with sound. The addition of the sound caused many student to reconsider their first impressions. This led to some interesting conversation about appearances, first impressions and the problems of passing judgment. We’ll return to these ideas in future classes.

In both fifth and sixth grade classes, we also discussed the additional difficulties that students can face when their social experiences are negatively impacted not by particular social skills on which they can work to improve, but on core values or essential aspects of how they identify as individuals. When this happens, the role that a friend or classmate can play is of vital importance. These are instances where an individual who makes the choice to be an ally to a classmate in need can have a profound and lasting positive effect on the individual experiencing the difficulty and on the larger community. I end this week, with some thoughts from our Director of Diversity and Community Sandra “Chap” Chapman on “Ally Week,” which also took place this week:

Dear LREI Community,

Last year a small group of fifth and sixth grade students filled out a brief questionnaire about their perception of their peer’s feelings about LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people. They discovered that they AND their peers had positive and accepting views of LGBT people in their family and community. Joining these students were countless LREI faculty, administrators, and fours through twelfth graders wearing labels that read “I am a Good Friend,” “I am an Ally,” or “See Something, Say Something,” all in an effort to raise awareness of standing up for others and practicing our role as allies.

What exactly is an Ally? I find the work of the Reverend Andrea Ayvazian, ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ and anti-racism educator since 1985, answers this question.

An ally is a member of a dominant group in our society who works to dismantle any form of oppression from which she or he receives the benefit. Allied behavior means taking personal responsibility for the changes we know are needed in our society, and so often ignore or leave to others to deal with. Allied behavior is intentional, overt, consistent activity that challenges prevailing patterns of oppression, makes privileges that are so often invisible visible, and facilitates the empowerment of persons targeted by oppression.
— The Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian from Interrupting the Cycle of Oppression: The Role of Allies as Agents of Chang in From Fellowship, January-February 1995, pp, 7-10

This week marked the fourth year of GLSEN’s Ally Week. It was started by members of the Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Education Network’s Jump-Start National Student Leadership Team to celebrate allies committed to ensuring safe and effective schools for all and to encourage students to take action. During this past week, various people at LREI engaged in conversations with students about the importance of being a good friend, classmate, and citizen. The curriculum is rich with opportunities to raise awareness of unfairness and bias in our history as well as in today’s society, and then to discuss and develop strategies to support victims of any form of bias. This week, and every week, I invite you all to take a seat at the Ally table and continue these discussions with your children at home.

Thanks Chap. And I hope that your conversations at home find their way back to our LREI table as well.

Of General Interest . . .

1) From the LREI Parent Handbook….Vacations: We remind families to only take vacations during LREI breaks and that your child’s time away from school does not begin before the school break does or end afterwards. Teachers use each scheduled day to support their classroom program goals and the School’s mission. Students who miss days adjacent to breaks, or who take vacations outside of our break times, miss work and can disrupt planned activities. This effects the learning of the absent students and her/his classmates. In addition, divisional or all-school assemblies often precede our longer vacations. These gatherings are essential for creating the sort of community that drew you to LREI. Students sing, listen to speakers, applaud their schoolmates, meet students in other divisions and generally strengthen community ties.

We will not honor families’ requests to receive work their children will miss due to family vacation plans. Families that are presented with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to make an extended visit to another city, country, etc. should speak to their child’s principal. In general, we are focused on making sure that we are using each moment of each school day as effectively as possible. Part of being able to do this is to have each student in school each of these days. Thank you for your support of these efforts.

2) All are invited to “Learn your Library” and to meet our award winning librarians on Friday, October 30th, at 8:30AM in the Sixth Avenue library. Click here for additional information.

3) It’s My Park Day: Celebrate the City Parks Foundation by planting flowers around the trees in front of our school this Saturday morning beginning at 11:00AM. Click here for more details.

4) The LREI Halloween Fair is this Sunday, October 25, from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Thompson Street Athletic Center. Click here to see the scary poster! Help us set up and decorate on Saturday from 1 – 4 p.m.; it will be lots of fun for all, and children are welcome. Also, the Halloween Fair t-shirts have arrived! They will be on sale tomorrow as well as at the Fair.

5) Red is Green Committee: We are still accepting plastic bags for our monthly recycling drive through Friday, October 30th. Starting Monday, November 2nd, we will be collecting ink cartridges. Our next meeting is Monday, October 26th, at 8:45AM in the Sixth Avenue cafeteria.For more details about our monthly recycling drives and Go Green to School dates, please click Red is Green PA Page.

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 – http://www.parentsinaction.org/). 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. Click here to view upcoming events and/or to download their calendar.

For All Grades . . .
1) A reminder that you can access teachers’ blogs by following the “Digital Classroom” link on the sidebar.

2) Family Conferences (November 6th an 13th): In the next day or two, you will be contacted by your child’s advisor to schedule a family conference for one of the dates indicated above. At this conference, your child will share work samples, offer reflections on her/his work and identify some goals for the second quarter. It is also a time for you to dialog wit your child and her/his advisor about your child’s learning experience in the Middle School so far this quarter.

We have also decided to adjust the conference schedule on these two dates to allow for brief meetings with each of your child’s teachers should you so choose. To schedule these subject specific meetings please click here. As always, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teachers if you have questions about her/his performance and/or the curriculum.

3) This week our eighth graders have been participating in our Minimester at Charlton Street with the high school students. 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. To read the full list of offerings, click the following link: Minimester 2009.

4) Middle School parents are invited to attend the presentation “The Five Best Ways to Help Your Child in School: Your Children Gain Independence and You Regain Your Life” being given by Colleen Berge on Thursday, October 22nd, at 6:30PM at the High School (40 Charlton Street). Colleen Berge began her career in education teaching A.P. American History to high school students in Charlottesville, Virginia. After moving to New York City, she taught history while working at both Fieldston and The Professional Children’s School and in addition coordinated middle school programs at PCS. While still teaching, she began postgraduate study at Bank Street College in the field of reading and special education. She has a private practice on the Upper West Side, working with another learning specialist, and several other subject area tutors. Colleen has worked with children ranging in age from first grade through college; an essential aspect of her work with children is to help parents understand how to respond to their child’s learning style.

5)  From Middle School librarian Jennifer Hubert Swan: While it’s always a good time to write, the month of November is notable for a couple of great writing opportunities:

For Eighth Grade Families . . .
1) From Director of Admissions Barbara Scott: Greetings from the Admissions Office! In the next day or two, you will receive an application for the Irwin Scholars Program. (you can also click here to download the application). The Irwin Scholars program recognizes selected eighth grade students moving on to the high school who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to their academic success, contributed to the co-curricular life of the school, and exhibited strong leadership skills. The program provides a scholarship up to $10K each year for four years. If you have any questions about the high school program, please contact Acting Principal Julia Heaton (jheaton@lrei.org or at extension 314).

Also, due to scheduling at the High School, it has become necessary to host the Eighth Grade family tours on October 26th only. We therefore ask families who were scheduled to tour the High School on October 16th to join us later in the month. Additionally, we encourage all families to RSVP with us for one of our evening Open Houses. The events are scheduled for October 29th and November 3rd at 6:30PM, and provide an opportunity to speak with faculty, administration and current students. You may contact me by telephone at 212.477.5316, ext. 210, or by email at bscott@lrei.org if you have questions, or plan to attend an evening Open House. Admissions will need your child’s name and homeroom class in order to reserve your place. We look forward to greeting you!

For Seventh Grade Families . . .
1) I assume must of you have been checking the trip updates at http://twitter.com/LREI_MS_Trips. We expect the group to be back at 4:00PM tomorrow. Feel free to check in with recpetion afer 1:00PM for updates on their expected arrival time.

2) Seventh Grade Parent Potluck: Tuesday, October 27th, 6:30-8:30PM, parents only, at the home of Lena Viddo. All seventh grade parents are welcome! Click here to access the online potluck sign-up sheet.

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

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

============= For additional information, follow these links: =============

  • View all events with the 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.
  • Click here to view the Middle School Photo Gallery.

A reminder that the individual homework blog and the “feeds” for every class can be accessed from the Digital Classroom link on the sidebar (you may want to bookmark this page for easy access). These feeds provide an easy “one-click” solution to find out what has been assigned for homework. Keep in mind that a feed will only show what has been posted as of the time you check it.

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

Be well,
Mark

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