November 10, 2006

Windows and Mirrors

Dear Families:

It was a very exciting and busy week. Our NYSAIS visitors were engaged in deep conversations with faculty and students and explored all aspects of our program. The week provided us with an opportunity to reflect on what we do and to consider strengths and challenges. In the faculty SEED group meeting this week, we talked about windows and mirrors as metaphors for ways of looking at the world and at ourselves. The NYSAIS visit provided valuable windows and mirrors into our daily experience as members of the LREI community and as teachers and learners. At the same time, students, teachers, and families were engaged in a similar process as part of our Family Conferences, which are a time to celebrate, explore, wonder about, support, challenge, and plan. These meetings are not always easy; they call on all parties to enter into a conversation that places trust at the center of the dialog. When we find ourselves in that place, the Family Conference reveals itself as a moment for real understanding and empathy. I hope that you will let me know about any special moments that take place in your conferences.

Next Wednesday, we will have our annual Thanksgiving Assembly, which is a wonderful moment in the flow of the school year. In the assembly we sing and share together and reflect on those things for which we are thankful. This year, we will add a new song to our assembly repertoire. As a community we will sing Pat Humphries’ “Swimming to the Other Side.” For more about the origins of the song and about Pat Humphries, please check out the story that appeared on NPR.

Swimming to the Other Side
by Pat Humphries

We are living ‘neath the great Big Dipper
We are washed by the very same rain
We are swimming in the stream together
Some in power and some in pain
We can worship this ground we walk on
Cherishing the beings that we live beside
Loving spirits will live forever
We’re all Swimming to the Other Side

I am alone and I am searching
Hungering for answers in my time
I am balanced at the brink of wisdom
I’m impatient to receive a sign
I move forward with my senses open
Imperfection it be my crime
In humility I will listen,
We’re all Swimming to the Other Side

On this journey through thoughts and feelings
Binding intuition my head, my heart
I am gathering the tools together
I’m preparing to do my part
All of those who have come before me
Band together to be my guide
Loving lessons that I will follow
We’re all Swimming to the Other Side

When we get there we’ll discover
All of the gifts we’ve been given to share
Have been with us since life’s beginning and
We never noticed they were there
We can balance at the brink of wisdom
Never recognizing that we’ve arrived
Loving spirits will live forever
We’re all Swimming to the Other Side

Our NYSAIS visit and Family Conferences come at an opportune time with Thanksgiving just around the corner. These are exciting times at LREI and I am grateful to be a member of this wonderful and vibrant community. I wish you and your family the best for the upcoming holiday and hope that it affords you plenty of time to share with family and friends.

This Week’s Attachments
(Click on the links below to open the attachments. If you are having trouble opening the links, go to http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ms/ to access the files.)

General:
Parents in Action Flyer
Community Service Calendar
Darfur Benefit Concert
Letter from Phil
Eighth Grade:
Spring Foreign Language Trips
November 18th Basketball Clinic
Seventh Grade:
November 18th Basketball Clinic
Sixth Grade:
Fifth Grade:

Of General Interest . . .
1) A reminder that the Middle School is closed tomorrow for Family Conferences.

2) From Director Phil Kassen: Please read the attached letter regarding this week’s NYSAIS visit.

3) please join us on Monday, November 20th for a student-organized concert to benefit relief efforts work in Darfur. Tickets are on sale now in both buildings:

BENEFIT CONCERT FOR DARFUR: HEAR OUR VOICES (click here to view flyer)
Please come to a Broadway benefit concert to aid the victims in Darfur.
When: Monday, November 20th, 2006, 6:30-8:00pm
Where: 40 Charlton St.
Tickets on Sale: Lower School lobby every morning from 8:00-9:00AM.
Why: We can make a difference!
Organized by LREI High School students.

4) A reminder from the PA Community Service Committee: This Saturday the Parents Association Community Service Committee will be going to the Fulton-Community Center of Hudson Guild to join with some of the seniors to make centerpieces and decorations for the Hudson Guild’s Annual Thanksgiving Feast. The flyer with details is attached. This event is open students in all divisions as well as parents, teachers and staff. As an added benefit, this is a community service opportunity for High School students. More importantly, it is a wonderful intergenerational event that affords the opportunity to meet some very interesting senior citizens who live in our area. It’s really a lot of fun. There will be bagels, juice and coffee. Also, please take a moment to review the Community Service calendar for a range of service opportunities.

5) Attached is a flyer for the upcoming basketball season openers. Please note that the game dates are Tuesday, 11/28 and Wednesday, 11/29.

6) From the Afterschool Program: The Afterschool Office is in the midst of planning for the upcoming winter/spring session. If there is an Enrichment class that you would like to see continued on the schedule, or if you have suggestions for other class offerings, please let us know by contacting the Afterschool Office or emailing Cari Kosins at ckosins@lrei.org.

7) LREI in the News: LREI featured among Gay Friendly Schools. Click here to read. Also, 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 2006-2007 calendar. You can also access their on-line calendar of events at www.parentsinaction.org.

For Eighth Grade Families . . . .
1) A reminder that Irwin Scholar applications are due this Monday. Students should give them to their homeroom teacher by 3:15PM. After we have received the applications, your child will receive information about the interview process. All students who submit an application will be interviewed. We are looking forward to reading the applications and to hearing what our prospective Irwin Scholars have to say. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

2) From Gabrielle and Sharyn: To avoid any late fees for the Spring Foreign Language Trips, please register now. Price increases will occur for those of you who register after November 30th. If you follow the steps on the attachment, you can access all of the information about the trip. (Note: there will not be any flight or hotel info until the group is complete.) You will see that while there are several payment options, you need to pay the $95 registration fee to Explorica to get your child into the system. If you have financial aid questions, please speak to Mark. For general trip questions, please email us at gkeller@lrei.org or shahn@lrei.org.

3) A reminder that on days when there are late basketball practices (girls on Wednesdays and boys on Thursdays) a study hall will be offered at Thompson Street from 3:30-4:45PM. If you would like your child to attend this study hall, please let Marcus know. You can email Marcus at mchang@lrei.org. In addition, a clinic for LREI basketball players will be offered on Saturday, November 18th. Click here for more information about the clinic.

For Seventh Grade Families . . .
1) Just a heads up to let you know that the Colonial Museum Exhibit/Potluck will take place on the evening of Wednesday, December 13th. This is a change from the date that appears on the art calendar (December 12th).

2) To parents of seventh grade girls: Marcus and Larry would love to have a few more girls from the seventh grade come out for basketball. If your child is participating in the play, she can also play basketball. The coaches and Julia will coordinate with each other to allow for this.

For Sixth Grade Families . . .
1) Practices for the intramural basketball season will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00-8:00AM at the Athletic Center, starting December 5th. Games, which will be held on Fridays after school, will start after the winter break. Please check the Winter Sports page for the listing of practice and games schedules for the Middle School basketball teams.

2) Also, a reminder that sixth graders who want/need to use the library and/or computer lab afterschool must do so under the supervision of a parent or caregiver.

For Fifth Grade Families . . .
1) Practices for the intramural basketball season will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:00-8:00AM at the Athletic Center, starting December 5th. Games, which will be held on Fridays after school, will start after the winter break. Please check the Winter Sports page for the listing of practice and games schedules for the Middle School basketball teams.

2) Also, a reminder that fifth graders who want/need to use the library and/or computer lab afterschool must do so under the supervision of a parent or caregiver.

Middle School Sports
Schedules, permission forms and general information about Middle School sports programs can be found at http://www.lrei.org/athletics/index.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)

Monday, November 20, 2006 — Irwin Scholars Application due
Monday, November 20, 2006, 6:30-8PM — Benefit Concert for Darfur, ChSt. PAC
Tuesday, November 21, 2006, 8:15AM — MS Parent Rep. Mtg.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006 — Thanksgiving-School closes at 12:00PM (school reopens on Monday, 27, 2006)
Friday, December 1, 2006, 7:00PM — Seventh Grade DISC Dance 40 CHST
Monday, December 4, 2006 — Book Week (through Friday, November 8, 2006)
Wednesday, December 6, 2006 — Book Fair (through Friday November 8, 2006)
Thursday, December 7, 2006, 7:00PM — Literary Evening
Friday, December 8, 2006, 7:00PM — MS Play
Saturday, December 9, 2006, 2:00PM and 7:00PM — MS Play
Tuesday, December 12, 2006, 8:15AM — MS Parent Rep. Mtg.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006, 6:00PM — Seventh Grade Colonial Museum
Thursday, December 14, 2006, 6:00PM — Winter Concert
Thursday, December 14, 2006, 6:00PM — MS POCOC Mtg.
Friday, December 15, 2006 — Winter Break – School closes at 12:00PM (school reopens on Wednesday, January 3, 2007)

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

Be well,
Mark

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