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.