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.