Weekly Email October 20, 2005

Dear all,

Words cannot describe how exciting the Hurricane Benefit concert was, or how proud I was to be a part of a community that would throw its energy and resources into such a terrific event. Stars from Broadway joined Middle and High School LREI students to raise funds for victims of Katrina. The entire event was organized by twelfth grader Javier Picayo; I will let his words speak for themselves:

Thank you to the LREI community for making the Katrina benefit concert a huge success. With all of your support, we have raised over $16,000.00 so far to go to Habitat for Humanity. It was an amazing night, but what I will always remember is that together, we made a difference.
Thanks again,
Javier Picayo

Events coming up soon:

Wednesday, October 19 - Tuesday, October 25: Hurricane Katrina Book Drive; Wednesday, October 26 - Book sorting for Hurricane Katrina Book Drive

In conjunction with the first Literary Evening of the year on Wednesday, October 19, the LREI Literary and Community Service Committees are organizing a book drive for two schools in Louisiana. We are collecting gently used books to benefit students at Scotlandville K-8 School in Baton Rouge, and Grace King High School in Jefferson Parish. Scotlandville is a school that was opened to service students evacuated from areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and Grace King High School just re-opened last week with 2/3 of its students as well as displaced students. Our mission, at this critical time, is to get students as many books as possible, since the schools' resources have been stretched with the new arrivals and many students and staff lost books due to flooding.

About the Drive
When: Monday, October 17 through Tuesday, October 25

Where: Drop off in any of four boxes which are located in both Sixth Avenue and Charlton Street libraries and lobbies.

What: Gently used books for K - 12. Scotlandville School, K - 8, is in particular need of Early Readers and books by African American authors including Eloise Greenfield, Jerry Pinkney, Mary Hoffman, Patricia McKissack, Ezra Jack Keats, Ashley Bryan, Nikki Grimes, Sharon Draper, Jacqueline Woodson, Virginia Hamilton, Walter Dean Myers, Mildred Pitts Walter, and Faith Ringgold. The High School librarian is interested in all books with special requests for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Scarlet Letter, Jane Eyre, Angela's Ashes, Confederacy of Dunces, Poisonwood Bible, Coming of Age in Mississippi, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and Twelve Years a Slave.

How: Books will be shipped to the schools in Louisiana. The Literary and Community Service Committees are asking for cash donations to manage shipping costs. Buckets will be set up near the book boxes. Checks can be made payable to LREI, with an indication in the "memo" that says "Book Drive".

Why: Scotlandville K-8 School and Grace King High School need our help.

Please help us sort and pack the books on Wednesday October 26, 2005 at 8:45 AM. We will start in the Library at the Sixth Avenue Campus. Please contact Chris Wiggins
email her at cvee99@aol.com if you can help!

Thanks so much for your generosity.

Saturday, October 22, 7:00 PM - Coffeehouse!

In the candlelit PAC, come enjoy a snack and listen to music provided by an assortment of players - faculty, students and friends - presenting a variety of musical styles.

Thursday, October 27 - Eleventh Grade Potluck, 6:30 PM

Sunday, October 30 - Halloween Fair (see attached flyer), 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM

THANKS to everyone who has signed-up and delivered toys and trinkets (suitable for Prizes) to the Lobby Box. If you're still planning on contributing, please do so by next Thursday, October 27. That's when we'll start spinning magic for the Howlin' Halloween Fair which takes place SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30 from 1:30 PM until 4:00 PM in the haunted Gym of St. Anthony's School. ENTER IF YOU DARE on Thompson Street between Houston and Prince St.

WANTED: Halloween Hooligans for Volunteers: Middle and High School students to help with haunting, Parents to help with setting-up beforehand and the day of. Details are posted in the Sixth Avenue Lobby. Any Questions Call: Pam Salisbury @ 212-995-1992 or Zoe Picayo @ 917-690-1412.

Tuesday, November 1, 6:30 PM - Ninth Grade Potluck, 6:30 PM

Thursday, November 3, 6:30 PM - The first Parents of Children who Receive Academic Support meeting, Charlton Street

If there are any questions please contact Lisa Auerbach at Luna671@aol.com.

Take care,

Tony

CALENDAR
October
* Wednesday 19 - Tuesday 25 Hurricane Katrina Book Drive
* Saturday 22 Coffeehouse!, 7:00 PM
* Tuesday 25 High School Open House, 6:30 PM
* Wednesday 26 Book sorting for Hurricane Katrina Book Drive
* Thursday 27 Eleventh Grade Potluck, 6:30 PM
* Sunday 30 Halloween Fair, 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM

November
* Tuesday 1 Ninth Grade Potluck, 6:30 PM
* Friday 4-Saturday 5 High School Musical
* Thursday 10 Tenth Grade Potluck
* Tuesday 15 High School Parent Rep Meeting
* Wednesday 23 School closes at noon for Thanksgiving
* Tuesday 29 Last day of Trimester I classes
* Wednesday 30 Trimester I Exams/Presentations

December
* Thursday 1-Friday 2 Trimester I Exams/Presentations; End of Trimester I
* Monday 5 Trimester II begins

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!

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