Weekly Email April 28, 2005

Dear all,

I start this week's email with a note from Director of College Guidance and Eleventh Grade Dean Amy Shapiro. While this note is written to Eleventh Grade parents, I believe that this is an important note for everyone to read. Our college guidance program is truly progressive in every sense of the word: individualized, student-centered, and empowering. By the time students apply to schools, they feel fully in charge of the process, and they have found colleges and universities that they feel fit their own individual talents and needs. I give you over to Amy:

Dear Eleventh Grade Parents,

I write today to update you about TWO important college-related announcements.

First:
Last week's college trip was an absolute success. The students were enthusiastic, well-behaved, attentive, and prepared. They impressed the admissions representatives with their thoughtful questions and genuine interest, and they were model representatives of LREI. Most importantly, though, they are now ready and better able to discuss with you (and with me) those qualities and programs they are seeking as they continue to conduct their college research (i.e., City school or suburbs?, Art school or liberal arts?, Small school or larger?, Public or private?, University or college?, etc.). With this experience under their belts, they also are better prepared to consider and evaluate the programs and facilities that are of interest to them at any schools they visit in the future. I hope they found the experience a valuable one and that they had as much fun as the chaperones (Sarvjit, Tom, and Micah) and I did.

Second:
There are two college fairs coming up and I strongly encourage you and your child to attend both (I generally do not urge you to attend college fairs but I promise you these won't disappoint). One is the Manhattan College Fair, scheduled for May 1st from 6pm-8pm. The other is the "Colleges that Change Lives" information session and fair which is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18th from 7-9pm. Details on each of these events including location and some general information are attached. I hope to see you there.

Amy :)

Coming next week from Amy: Lists of college acceptances and up-to-the-minute matriculation news ...

Other announcements:

* Next week, on Tuesday May 3rd, LREI welcomes back William Ayers, Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Bill Ayers has written extensively about social justice, democracy and the political and cultural contexts of schooling. He will meet with students, visit classes and conduct a faculty workshop. A reception will be sponsored by The Parents Association at 8:45 AM in the 6th Avenue cafeteria. For more about Bill Ayers and about educating for democracy and social justice at LREI please see Nick O'Han's message about this important educational thinker and innovator.

* The School Store will be open at Charlton Street on Friday from 12 PM - 2 PM. Nothing says "Happy Spring" like stuff with the LREI logo!

* The next High School Parents of Students of Color Group meeting will take place tonight from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM, at 40 Charlton Street, Room 13. Please see the attached flyer for more details.

* Please note the upcoming events listed below, including the Middle School play (featuring many soon-to-be High Schoolers) on May 6 and 7 and the RESCHEDULED COFFEEHOUSE on May 21.

Take care,

Tony


UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday, April 28, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM - High School Parents of Students of Color Group Meeting, Charlton Street

Friday, April 29, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM - School Store open at Charlton Street

Wednesday, May 4, 6:30 PM - The Big Auction

Friday, May 6, 7:00PM - Middle School Musical, Charlton Street PAC

Saturday, May 7, 2:00PM & 7:00PM - Middle School Musical, Charlton Street PAC

Wednesday, May 18, 6:30 PM - High School Parent Reps Meeting, Charlton Street

Thursday, May 19, 6:30PM - Spring Chorus Concert, Charlton Street PAC

Saturday, May 21, 7:00PM - Coffeehouse, Charlton Street PAC - NOTE NEW DATE!!



As always, please browse the web site at www.lrei.org for updates and information about goings on around the school. All attachments are in .pdf format. To view these files, please download Adobe Reader, if you do not already have it. Click on this link or paste it into your browser: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html.