Weekly Email January 26, 2006

Dear all,

Once again, many, many events coming up. Participate and enjoy!!

One reminder - if you are looking for community service opportunities for your child, please remember to check out our list of Outside Community Service Opportunities.

All the best,

Tony


The highlights:

* KARAMU! The Parent Multicultural Committee invites you to join us for Karamu! (see the attached flyer), our annual multicultural performance and celebration for the whole family, on Friday, January 27th (tomorrow!). If you do not already have tickets, please check or call into the lobby tomorrow, as the event may be sold out at this point.

* Coming next week: The 2006 Art Auction, a fine art silent auction of established and emerging artists to benefit the LREI Tuition Assistance Program. ADMISSION IS FREE!!!
When: Wednesday, February 1st - Thursday, February 2nd, 12:00 noon - 9:00PM
Where: I-20 Gallery, 529 West 20th Street, 11th Floor
Reception & Final Bidding: Thursday, February 2nd, 6:00PM - 8:30PM
PLEASE NOTE: FINAL BIDDING WILL END IN EACH OF THE THREE GALLERIES IN FIFTEEN MINUTE
INTERVALS STARTING AT 8PM.

A shuttle bus will be available on Wednesday, February 1st between LREI's Sixth Avenue building and I-20 Gallery from 10:00AM-6:00PM.

Kid's Day & Scavenger Hunt: Wednesday, February 1st from 4:00PM - 6:00PM

Visit the Art Auction website to view a full list of artists and preview and for more information on Conditions of Sale, Absentee Bids and other important details.

LREI Contact: Patricia McKee 212-477-5316 x232 or events@lrei.org

* An entreaty for our Visibility exhibit:

In years past, we have had nearly one hundred photos featuring our community members in the Visibility: Lesbian and Gay People We Love Photo Exhibit (see the attached press release). It has been an exciting event with palpable effects on our admissions, press coverage, and connectedness as a group, while it has also helped to solidify our position as a leader in education in the area of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) issues. Alumni have come out for the first time in our exhibit, families have changed the dynamic in their world by inviting beloved friends to be in the exhibit, children have grown up here thinking that LGBT-headed families are part of the fabric of everyday life, and the list goes on. All classes have seen the exhibit in past years and the discussion has resonated or been a touchstone for years afterwards. Recently, this exhibit was touted at the Literary Evening by the producer of "Brokeback Mountain," now an LREI parent, who said he could not wait to see the show!

This year, we have only received 20 photos total (with promises of 10 more). We are at a total of 30 photos.

Please take this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of LGBT AND straight children, families, and faculty by taking (or digging up) a photo and submitting it with a brief caption by Thursday, February 2. It really can make a huge impact and/or even save lives. Once again, the requirements for photos and captions listed are below. Further, please see the attached press release with an invitation to our opening night celebration.

Let's not lose the momentum and joie de vivre of this exhibit! And let's really step up to make this group--still shunned in so many ways--VISIBLE.

Do feel free to contact me with any questions you may have, and thank you so much--

Sarah Barlow
Interim English Department Chair
8th Grade Core Teacher
Middle School LGSA (Lesbian Gay Straight Alliance) Representative

The deadline for photo submissions is Feb. 2nd. Photos can be of individuals or family accompanied by a close friend or relative who is lesbian or gay. The people in the picture do not have to be part of the LREI community. Snapshots are fine, and more than one photo can be submitted. All photos must be UNFRAMED and no larger than 11" x 14" (which is our frame size).

The name of student/parent/faculty/administrator and grade (if student) must be written (lightly not to emboss the photo) on the back of the photo in pencil or with a Sharpie (permanent marker). The caption must include your name and a few lines describing the people in the photo and why they are important to you, or, if you like, something about their experiences of being visible or invisible. Captions can be submitted in any format, including email to Nancy@Workman.com.

Photos will be returned approximately one month after the show (or sooner if necessary). We would prefer to have permission to keep the photo for future shows but this is not required. Please indicate on the photo if this we can keep the photo for future shows.

* Coffeehouse! From High School Math/Music Teacher and Coffeehouse Guru Micah Dov Gottlieb:

Everyone - It's time for some COFFEE!!!
The next LREI Coffeehouse is Saturday, February 4th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. We have some great performers so far including:

*The High School Jazz Band
* The Middle School Band
* The 4th Grade Band
* Special guest Jimmy Norman (he wrote ""Time Is On MY Side" and also composed some of Bob Marley's early songs)

PLUS: We are having a beat box contest with a $25 gift certificate prize. Anyone is invited to beat box for 20-30 seconds; the winner will be determined by a panel of judges. Please contact me at mdgottlieb@lrei.org for more details or if you want to know what "beat box" is!

We would love to have some more Lower/Middle School performers and patrons, and we would love to see faculty there from all three divisions!

Peace and love,

Micah Dov

Additional announcements:

* The next Parent Reps meeting will move from Tuesday, February 14 to Wednesday, February 15 so we can all celebrate Valentine's Day!

* Outside of the school:

The Parents League of New York and NYC-Parents in Action invite parents of students in grades 7-12 to attend:

Teen Scene XX
February 6, 2006
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Trinity School
101 West 91st Street

Learn what really goes on in the teenagers' world as they journey through the high school years!

RSVP to Parents League
212 737-7385

and

Parents Of Teen Scene: AFTERSHOCK
February 16, 2006
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Temple Israel
112 East 75 Street

A forum for parents who would like to discuss the issues they encounter as they partner in their teenagers' journey through the high school years.

RSVP to NYC-Parents in Action
212 987-9629

January
* Monday 2 School closed - Legal Holiday
* Tuesday 3 School closed - Professional Development Day
* Wednesday 4 School reopens
* Thursday 5 LREI College Panel and Parent Reception
* Thursday 12 Parents of Children who Receive Academic Support meeting
* Friday 13 School closed (High School) - Parent-Advisor Conferences
* Monday 16 School closed - MLK, Jr. Day
* Tuesday 17 High School Parent Rep Meeting
* Friday 27 Karamu!
February
* Wednesday 1- Thursday 2 2006 Art Auction
* Saturday 4 Coffeehouse!
* Wednesday 15 High School Parent Rep Meeting
* Monday 20 - Tuesday 21 School closed – Presidents’ Weekend
* Tuesday 28 Last day of Trimester II classes
March
* Wednesday 1 - Friday 3 Trimester II Exams/Presentations
* Monday 6 First day of Trimester III classes

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.

Weekly Email January 19, 2006

Dear Parents,

Many of you stopped by my office on Friday - or emailed me - to let me know how helpful you found the parent-advisor conferences. After receiving feedback from the faculty, may I say that the feeling is mutual. The overall picture I got from both sides of the equation was that in these meetings, parents and advisors shared information, learned, strategized and generally got a much more holistic view of each student - and came away with a sense of how to move forward. Thanks for being such terrific partners in your children's education.

Below you will see announcements/descriptions of three important all-school events coming up in the next two months: Karamu!, the Art Auction and Visibility. Please do find ways to participate in one or all of these events, events which truly do set our school apart.

All the best,

Tony


In order:

* KARAMU! The Parent Multicultural Committee invites you to join us for Karamu! (see the attached flyer), our annual multicultural performance and celebration for the whole family, on Friday, January 27th. We kick it off today (Thursday), with the Taste of Karamu bake sale. Students are working on the Karamu! family exhibit that will go up next week; they're also completing the library scavenger hunt for the chance to enter the student raffle. Tickets, t-shirts and raffle tickets for Karamu! will go on sale on Monday morning, January 23rd, in both lobbies. Please note that the event always sells out, so get your tickets early. If you would like to support Karamu! but can't attend, please don't buy tickets-we'd be happy to accept a donation instead. And if you buy tickets but your plans change, please turn them in-there's always a wait list. We still need VOLUNTEERS to contribute food for the potluck dinner and to fill a number of needs on Friday-please check the volunteer board in the 6th Avenue lobby, and/or e-mail LanaFlame@yahoo.com. Thank you!

* Please mark your calendars - only two weeks until the 2006 Art Auction, a fine art silent auction of established and emerging artists to benefit the LREI Tuition Assistance Program.
ADMISSION IS FREE!!!
When: Wednesday, February 1st and Thursday, February 2nd
Gallery Hours: Gallery hours 10:00AM to 8:30PM
Reception and Final Bidding: Thursday, February 2nd, 6:00PM to 8:00PM
Where: I-20 Gallery, 529 West 20th Street, 11th Floor
This year, for the first time, LREI is hosting a shuttle bus on Wednesday, February 1st to take people from LREI's Sixth Avenue campus to the I-20 Gallery from 10:00AM to 6:00PM. The bus will leave Sixth Avenue every hour on the hour, and will leave the Gallery on the half hour. We hope this will allow those who cannot attend the auction either Wednesday or Thursday evening to see all the wonderful art. To pre-register or get further information, please visit our website at www.lrei.org, or call 212-477-5316 x232.

The Art Auction website will go up tomorrow, Friday, January 20th.

* An entreaty for our Visibility exhibit: Please, please, please donate photos of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender friends or family members for Visibility (see the attached flyer). This important event in the life of the school depends on the broad participation of members of the community. When you come in for parent-advisor conferences or any other time, you can deposit photos and captions in the Visibility Drop Boxes at the Lower/Middle School or High School receptionist desks. From the Visibility Committee:

The deadline for photo submissions is Feb. 2nd. Photos can be of individuals or family accompanied by a close friend or relative who is lesbian or gay. The people in the picture do not have to be part of the LREI community. Snapshots are fine, and more than one photo can be submitted. All photos must be UNFRAMED and no larger than 11" x 14" (which is our frame size).

The name of student/parent/faculty/administrator and grade (if student) must be written (lightly not to emboss the photo) on the back of the photo in pencil or with a Sharpie (permanent marker). The caption must include your name and a few lines describing the people in the photo and why they are important to you, or, if you like, something about their experiences of being visible or invisible. Captions can be submitted in any format, including email to Nancy@Workman.com.

Photos will be returned approximately one month after the show (or sooner if necessary). We would prefer to have permission to keep the photo for future shows but this is not required. Please indicate on the photo if this we can keep the photo for future shows.

Additional announcements:

* Come see the Middle School play, Arabian Nights, Friday, January 20 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, January 21 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM. The preview was a big hit at Tuesday's assembly, and the show will delight children of all ages!

* Mark your calendar - Saturday, February 4 - Coffeehouse!

* And outside of the school:

The Parents League of New York and NYC-Parents in Action invite parents of students in grades 7-12 to attend:

Teen Scene XX
February 6, 2006
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Trinity School
101 West 91st Street

Learn what really goes on in the teenagers' world as they journey through the high school years!

RSVP to Parents League
212 737-7385

and

Parents Of Teen Scene: AFTERSHOCK
February 16, 2006
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Temple Israel
112 East 75 Street

A forum for parents who would like to discuss the issues they encounter as they partner in their teenagers' journey through the high school years.

RSVP to NYC-Parents in Action
212 987-9629

January
* Monday 2 School closed - Legal Holiday
* Tuesday 3 School closed - Professional Development Day
* Wednesday 4 School reopens
* Thursday 5 LREI College Panel and Parent Reception
* Thursday 12 Parents of Children who Receive Academic Support meeting
* Friday 13 School closed (High School) - Parent-Advisor Conferences
* Monday 16 School closed - MLK, Jr. Day
* Tuesday 17 High School Parent Rep Meeting
* Friday 27 Karamu!
February
* Wednesday 1- Thursday 2 2006 Art Auction
* Saturday 4 Coffeehouse!
* Tuesday 14 High School Parent Rep Meeting
* Monday 20 - Tuesday 21 School closed – Presidents’ Weekend
* Tuesday 28 Last day of Trimester II classes
March
* Wednesday 1 - Friday 3 Trimester II Exams/Presentations
* Monday 6 First day of Trimester III classes

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.

Weekly Email January 12, 2006

Dear parents,

Last Thursday, a good number of recent LREI graduates talked during the day with our eleventh and twelfth graders, and later in the evening with parents, about their college experience. I was struck by the following patterns in their answers:

* LREI graduates are especially prepared for the writing demands of college, but are also prepared for courses in mathematics, science, history, foreign language and the arts;

* LREI graduates know how to approach and work with college and university professors;

* LREI graduates are leaders in the extracurricular lives of the colleges and universities they attend;

* LREI graduates know how to live balanced lives.

I should expand on that last item. During the afternoon session, the panel was asked by a current twelfth grader about the "after-hours" life of college. The answer, which came from several members of the panel, was that they had quickly learned to navigate a healthy balance between the curricular, extracurricular and social lives of their schools. I was also struck by what one graduate from the class of '02, who currently attends a large university with a number of far more traditional courses, said about those courses and about the seminar-style classes that she is taking now in her senior year. She reported that she found her freshman and sophomore lecture courses - many with multiple choice midterms and finals - far easier to navigate than the courses she was used to at LREI, and that she was now having a far easier time with the smaller, discussion based courses than many of her peers.

In all, I could not have been more proud, both of the students from my time and of those from before my time.

Looking ahead
An entreaty for our Visibility exhibit: Please, please, please donate photos of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender friends or family members for Visibility (see the attached flyer). This important event in the life of the school depends on the broad participation of members of the community. When you come in for parent-advisor conferences or any other time, you can deposit photos and captions in the Visibility Drop Boxes at the Lower/Middle School or High School receptionist desks. From the Visibility Committee:

The deadline for photo submissions is Feb. 2nd. Photos can be of individuals or family accompanied by a close friend or relative who is lesbian or gay. The people in the picture do not have to be part of the LREI community. Snapshots are fine, and more than one photo can be submitted. All photos must be UNFRAMED and no larger than 11" x 14" (which is our frame size).

The name of student/parent/faculty/administrator and grade (if student) must be written (lightly not to emboss the photo) on the back of the photo in pencil or with a Sharpie (permanent marker). The caption must include your name and a few lines describing the people in the photo and why they are important to you, or, if you like, something about their experiences of being visible or invisible. Captions can be submitted in any format, including email to Nancy@Workman.com.

Photos will be returned approximately one month after the show (or sooner if necessary). We would prefer to have permission to keep the photo for future shows but this is not required. Please indicate on the photo if this we can keep the photo for future shows.

January and February have many divisional and all-school events. Coming up:

* The next meeting of the Parents of Children who Receive Academic Support will take place tonight - Thursday, January 12th at 6:30 PM.

* No classes Friday, January 13 - Parent-Advisor conferences.

* No school Monday, January 16 - MLK, Jr. Birthday

* Our next Parent Reps meeting will be on Tuesday, January 17.

* For parents of eleventh graders from College Guidance Counselor Amy Shapiro: Veritas Test Prep begins on January 18th. Secure your child's spot with a check for $600, payable to LREI.

* Come see the Middle School play, Arabian Nights, Friday, January 20 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, January 21 at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM. The preview was a big hit at Tuesday's assembly, and the show will delight children of all ages!

And looking ahead:

* Friday, January 27: Karamu!

* Saturday, February 4 - Coffeehouse!

And outside of the school:

The Parents League of New York and NYC-Parents in Action invite parents of students in grades 7-12 to attend:

Teen Scene XX
February 6, 2006
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Trinity School
101 West 91st Street

Learn what really goes on in the teenagers' world as they journey through the high school years!

RSVP to Parents League
212 737-7385

and

Parents Of Teen Scene: AFTERSHOCK
February 16, 2006
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Temple Israel
112 East 75 Street

A forum for parents who would like to discuss the issues they encounter as they partner in their teenagers' journey through the high school years.

RSVP to NYC-Parents in Action
212 987-9629

All the best,

Tony

January
* Monday 2 School closed - Legal Holiday
* Tuesday 3 School closed - Professional Development Day
* Wednesday 4 School reopens
* Thursday 5 LREI College Panel and Parent Reception
* Thursday 12 Parents of Children who Receive Academic Support meeting
* Friday 13 School closed (High School) - Parent-Advisor Conferences
* Monday 16 School closed - MLK, Jr. Day
* Tuesday 17 High School Parent Rep Meeting

February
* Saturday 4 Coffeehouse!
* Tuesday 14 High School Parent Rep Meeting

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.

Weekly Email January 5, 2006

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year! I hope the vacation has left you and your family rested and relaxed. Two important events in the next two weeks:

* TONIGHT!!! LREI College Panel and Parent Reception
Join recent LREI graduates and hear them talk about their college experiences and how LREI influenced their transition to college.
Thursday, January 5, 6:30 PM
40 Charlton Street, Library
Panel discussion and questions, reception to follow.

Panelists:
Akim St. Omar '02 - Boston College
Shayna Jeffers '02 - Wesleyan
Thea Bardin '02 - University of Florida
Ian Patrick '03 - Vassar College
Brian Marmolejos '04 - Yale University
Michael Sokol '04 - Drexel University
Alison Wiggins '05 - Skidmore College

* Parent-Advisor Conference Day - Friday, January 13
Your child's advisor should call to set up an appointment in the next couple of days if he or she has not done so already. This is a vital time for you and your child, working with your child's advisor, to take stock of how the first trimester went and look to the remainder of the school year. During the next week and a half, students will discuss their first trimester results with their advisors and set goals for themselves for the remainder of the school year. During the conferences on Friday, parents and advisors will have some time by themselves and then will be joined by the students. The purpose of these meetings is not only to help each student think about how to improve academic performance, but also and in the long run more crucially, to help each student come to know him- or herself as a student and as a person, and to move toward becoming an independent and self-correcting life-long learner.

Other announcements:

* Important announcements for parents of eleventh graders from College Guidance Counselor Amy Shapiro:

(1) Mark your calendars for College Night (see attachment): Tuesday, January 10 for parents of Sarvjit's and Janet's advisees or Wednesday, January 11 for parents of Julia/Ruth's, Vin's, and Karyn's advisees.

(3) Veritas Test Prep begins on January 18th. Secure your child's spot with a check for $600, payable to LREI.

* The next meeting of the Parents of Children who Receive Academic Support will take place on Thursday, January 12th at 6:30 PM.

* Our next Parent Reps meeting will be on Tuesday, January 17.

* Finally, another reminder - please see the invitation to participate in VISIBILITY: Celebrating the Lesbian and Gay People We Love, coming February 13, 2006.

* I am sorry to report that, after struggling with her health over the past several months, first-year Mathematics and Science Teacher Alissa Wall has decided not to return to LREI for the remainder of the school year. Nicholas Taussig, who has been filling in for Alissa since early November, has agreed to stay on and continue to teach her classes. Tenth Grade Dean Tom Murphy will continue to serve as Advisor to Alissa's advisees, as he has been. Please join me in wishing Alissa well.

All the best,

Tony

January
* Monday 2 School closed - Legal Holiday
* Tuesday 3 School closed - Professional Development Day
* Wednesday 4 School reopens
* Thursday 5 LREI College Panel and Parent Reception
* Thursday 12 Parents of Children who Receive Academic Support meeting
* Friday 13 School closed (High School) - Parent-Advisor Conferences
* Monday 16 School closed - MLK, Jr. Day
* Tuesday 17 High School Parent Rep Meeting

February
* Saturday 4 Coffeehouse!
* Tuesday 14 High School Parent Rep Meeting

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.