Weekly Email September 8, 2005

Dear LREI families,

Greetings! Welcome to the first weekly blog of the year. The goal of these notes is to keep you informed on a regular basis of the events and goings on around the school. There will often be attachments for you to peruse at your leisure, and there will always be a schedule of upcoming events in the text of the blog. In addition, you can always visit the High School web site for more information. I especially recommend that you check out the examples of High School art by going to the school's art site or take a look at some pictures of last year's High School Commencement (click on the Commencement button on the main page). As always, please let me know at any time if there is any way that these emails can be more useful or clearer; also, don't be shy about letting me know if they are just right!

What an outstanding start for the High School! We opened with 162 students, a brand new Student Center, an additional cart of laptop computers, a newly washed facade, and as always, a freshly painted High School. Just on the first day, the energy in the building has been palpable, and it is wonderful to see new friendships being so quickly formed and old ones renewed. Our new student orientation was a terrific success - new students got a chance to get to know each other, took tours of the building and the neighborhood, and got a warm welcome and some wise words of advice from the incoming Student Government.

I have a great deal more to say about the start of the year, about the already begun efforts to ease the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and about the intellectual, aesthetic and athletic pursuits already underway in all grades, but that can wait for future emails. Some IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

- This is an invitation to the entire LREI faculty, administration, & community.
Please join us for the annual September Concert this Sunday, September 11th @ Washington Square Park, South, Noon- 4:30pm outdoors, featuring:

* Micah Dov (singer/songwriter/mathematician)(joined by Charles & Seth)
* Ray Weiss & the Medics (LREI senior & bandleader)
* Penelope (singer/songwriter & cellist)
* LREI HS Jazz Band (standards/jazz/soul)
* mission on mars (Indian/world fusion)
* Robert Ross (blues/guitar maestro)
* superiority complex (rock with a twist)
& drum circle for all

From music teacher Vin Scialla:

The September Concert Foundation was created in April, 2002 for the sole purpose of organizing an annual citywide music festival in New York, in remembrance of September 11th and a celebration of our universal humanity. On September 11th, 2005, we will be bringing free music to New York City parks, churches, restaurants, clubs and other venues.

After the daytime program ends at 6pm, we will be moving the music into the restaurants and clubs. In Greenwich Village, there will be two nighttime events, running at the same time.

It would be great to see you at these and other September Concert events! Please check out the following link, for the complete listing of citywide events:

http://www.septemberconcert.org/vs_1.php

Lastly, if anyone is interested in volunteering on Sunday, September 11th, please email me at vscialla@lrei.org. I have been working with September Concert for the past three years and have found the experience to be immensely rewarding and a lot of fun!

- Reminder - the New Parents Reception is Wednesday, September 14th from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the home of Carol Sedwick and Michael Patrick '71, Chair, LREI Board of Trustees, 250 West 94th Street, Apt. 15F (between Broadway and West End Avenue)

- Tour of Summer '05 Renovations
We've been busy! Come see the new Sixth Avenue Auditorium and Charlton Street Cafeteria and Student Center for yourself. Coffee and tea will be served.
Wednesday, September 14 from 8:30 am - 9:30 am
Phil will be in the Sixth Avenue Auditorium at 8:45 to answer questions and then at Charlton Street at 9:15.

- Important: Curriculum Night has moved to Tuesday, September 20 at 6:30 PM, with the PA Welcome starting at 6:00 PM.

- Our High School photographer, Irving Simon, reports that because so few High School students/parents order pictures, it is no longer a profitable enterprise to take every student's picture. For that reason, the company will take class pictures - which anyone can order - but will only take individual pictures of those students who pre-order sets of photographs. The envelopes for ordering will be available at the Charlton Street front desk; please call the desk if you would like an envelope. All students will also be given envelopes. Prices are:
* $31.95 for one 5"x7" group shot, one 8"x10" personal, two 3"x5" personal and four large wallets
* $30.95 for one 5"x7" group shot, three 5"x7" personal, and four large wallets
* $24.95 for one 5"x7" group shot, one 5"x7" personal, two 3"x5" personal and four large wallets
* $9.95 for one 5"x7" group shot
Pictures will be taken on Friday, September 16.

- The Senior Class Potluck Dinner/College Information Evening is Thursday, September 22 at 6:30 PM.

- The Germans are coming, and we're looking for hosts! Our annual exchange group of students will arrive on October 15th and stay for two weeks. Please contact Tom Murphy at tmurphy@lrei.org if you are interested in hosting a student. Students who host (and who are in good academic standing) have priority when we go to Germany over Spring Break.

- The first Parent Reps meeting will now take place at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, September 27. Please contact Denise Adler at daja53@aol.com if you are interested in being a Parent Rep; however, all are welcome to the meeting.

- All ninth and tenth grade parents: The trip to Ramapo is right around the corner, on Thursday and Friday September 29th and 30th (see the attached letter about the trip). The permission slip is attached, and will also be sent home with the students; you will receive the packing list shortly.

- We have students on both campuses who have very serious nut/seed allergies. For that reason, the Sixth Avenue and Charlton Street buildings are to be kept completely nut and seed free. Please help us to keep all of our students safe.

That's all for now - I hope that you are looking forward to this new year with the same enthusiasm and sense of hope and possibility that I am feeling and that I am confident is shared by the students and faculty as well.

All the best,

Tony

UPCOMING EVENTS
September
Thursday 8 First day of school - Trimester I begins
Sunday 11 The September Concert in Washington Square Park
Tuesday 13 High School Book Circles in Assembly
Wednesday 14 Tour of Summer '05 Renovations; New Families Reception
Thursday 15 Clubs/Activities Fair during Clubs/Activities/Study Period
Tuesday 20 PA Welcome; High School Curriculum Night
Thursday 22 Senior Class Potluck/College Informational Evening; Placement Directors' Breakfast
Tuesday 27 High School Parent Rep Meeting
Thursday 29-Friday 30 Ramapo Overnight Trip - 9th and 10th Grades

October
Tuesday 4 School Closed - Rosh Hashanah
Thursday 6 High School Open House
Monday 10 School closed - Columbus Day
Thursday 13 School closed - Yom Kippur
Tuesday 18 Last day of 9th Grade Arts Rotation #1; High School Parent Rep Meeting
Wednesday 19-Friday 21 Minimester
Thursday 20 Eleventh Grade Potluck
Saturday 22 Coffeehouse!
Tuesday 25 High School Open House
Sunday 30 Halloween Fair

As always, please browse the web site at www.lrei.org. Also, note the links to the Middle and Lower School weekly emails on the right. Please take a look at what the students in the other two divisions are up to!

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.
If you are having trouble opening the attachments, go to http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ms/ to access the files.