Weekly Email February 23, 2006

Dear parents,

Four important announcements:

* Final exams/presentations: Trimester II will end with three days of final exams and presentations, Wednesday March 1 - Friday March 3, culminating in an arts assembly on Friday afternoon. Following the lead of other independent schools, after consultation with student representatives, we will not expect students in at times they do not have final exams/presentations - this only affects a small number of students. On each day, students will be expected in at 8:45 AM, unless they do not have a morning final exam.

* Honors Projects: Once again, the following letter was posted for all ninth, tenth and eleventh graders:

February 23, 2006

Dear Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Graders,

As last trimester, we will offer Honors Projects to our students in the ninth, tenth and eleventh grades. By electing to pursue an honors project, students challenge themselves above and beyond the requirements of the curriculum. Honors Projects will run according to the Oxford-Cambridge tutorial system, wherein students meet with teachers once per week to go over work that they have been doing largely on their own. The exact nature of the projects will be defined at least in part by the common interests of the students and teachers, but in all cases, a student who successfully completes an Honors Project will have done a work of considerable scholarship and/or art. Honors projects promote intellectual curiosity, independence, commitment, initiative and rigor. Successful completion of an honors project is entered on the official high school transcript. Honors Projects involve some kind of presentation at the end of the trimester.

In the Spring trimester, Honors Projects will be available to students in the following disciplines:

English
Creative Writing
Mathematics
Science
History
Foreign Language
Visual Art
Technology/Graphic Arts/Animation
Photography
Music
Drama
Dance

Students who are interested in pursuing such a project must be in good academic standing, and must write a letter of interest that suggests a possible topic for study and submit it to my office no later than 1:00 PM Tuesday, February 28. Students will be notified as soon as possible if their proposals have been accepted.

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,

Tony

* You are cordially invited to attend this year's H.S. Play, Gone Wilde – An Evening with Oscar Wilde, which will open Thursday evening, March 9th at 7pm, with performances Friday, March 10th, and Saturday March 11th, also at 7pm, in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $8 in advance (available at the Charlton Street front desk), $10 at the door.

* VISIBILITY: If you did not have a chance to see the Visibility: Lesbian and Gay People We Love Photo Exhibit (see the attached press release), it has now moved over to Charlton Street, where it looks fantastic and where it will stay through Friday, March 10. Please do stop by to see this inspiring exhibit.

Other (some repeat) announcements:

* From Phil Kassen, Director: Please see the attached invitation to join The Glass Menagerie--an adult chorus started at LREI over 20 years ago. We are thrilled to continue to host their rehearsals and that many members of the LREI community are part of this talented group of singers.

* Art Auction: Thanks to all who attended LREI's Art Auction on February 2, 2006. The Art Auction is an annual silent auction of contemporary fine art. This year's auction has raised almost $100,000 for the Tuition Assistance Program. Please help us to meet our goal by browsing the work still available - go to the Events section of www.lrei.org. If you see a piece that you are interested in buying, feel free to drop by LREI's Sixth Avenue Campus (272 Sixth Avenue at Bleecker Street) between 8AM - 5PM, Monday through Friday. You may also call 212.477.5316 ext. 236 to make an appointment.

* Big Auction: LREI's spring benefit, The Big Auction, will be held on Wednesday, April 26. The auction committee needs help in securing donations from the community in order to be able to offer a wide range of items to make the auction exciting for all who attend. We welcome all creative and unique ideas. Please use the attached donation form and return to the Development Office. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss a potential donation, contact Pippa Gerard in the Development Office by phone: 212-477-5316 ext. 236 or email: pgerard@lrei.org.

* The next meeting of the Parents of Children who Receive Academic Support will take place on Thursday, March 2, 2006, 6:30 at Charlton Street.

* Diversity and Community Discussion
March 7, 2006, at 6:00PM
Sixth Avenue Auditorium
Topics:
- Introduction of LREI's Diversity and Community Action Plan.
- How to continue diversity conversations at home.
Hosted by:
Sharon DuPree, Director of Diversity and Community; Phil Kassen, Director; and the divisional principals.

Take care,

Tony

CALENDAR
February
* Wednesday 22 VISIBILITY opens at Charlton Street
* Tuesday 28 Last day of Trimester II classes

March
* Wednesday 1 - Friday 3 Trimester II Exams/Presentations
* Thursday 2 Parents of Children who Receive Academic Support Meeting
* Monday 6 First day of Trimester III classes
* March 7 Diversity and Community Discussion
* Thursday 9 - Saturday 11 High School Play
* Tuesday 14 High School Parent Rep Meeting
* Friday 17 Founder's Day; School closes at noon for Spring Break

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 February 16, 2006

Dear parents,

An amazing line-up of assembly speakers in the month of February:

* This past Tuesday, February 14, Iranian-born photographer and filmmaker and LREI parent Shirin Neshat (see, e.g., her Guggenheim Museum website biography) spoke about her life as an exile and an artist.

* Next Wednesday, February 22, acclaimed poet and activist Staceyann Chin (see her biography on her website) will speak to kick off the opening of the Visibility exhibit at Charlton Street. COME SEE THE EXHIBIT STARTING NEXT WEEK! The official opening night this past Monday was inspiring and beautiful.

* The following Thursday, February 28, Kyra Gaunt, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology at New York University, will come to speak about her new book, "The Games Black Girls Play" (see the NYU Press Release on her book). Ms. Gaunt lectures nationally and internationally on African American music and is also a jazz vocalist, songwriter and recording artist.

These assemblies are truly representative of the rich life of the High School, both inside the classroom and out.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Two important Auction announcements from Director of Development Pippa Gerard:
* Art Auction: Thanks to all who attended LREI's Art Auction on February 2, 2006. The Art Auction is an annual silent auction of contemporary fine art. This year's auction has raised almost $100,000 for the Tuition Assistance Program. Please help us to meet our goal by browsing the work still available - go to the Events section of www.lrei.org. If you see a piece that you are interested in buying, feel free to drop by LREI's Sixth Avenue Campus (272 Sixth Avenue at Bleecker Street) between 8AM - 5PM, Monday through Friday. You may also call 212.477.5316 ext. 236 to make an appointment.

* Big Auction: LREI's spring benefit, The Big Auction, will be held on Wednesday, April 26. The auction committee needs help in securing donations from the community in order to be able to offer a wide range of items to make the auction exciting for all who attend. We welcome all creative and unique ideas. Please use the attached donation form and return to the Development Office. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss a potential donation, contact Pippa Gerard in the Development Office by phone: 212-477-5316 ext. 236 or email: pgerard@lrei.org.

Other announcements:
* Mid-Trimester Reports: Please let me know if you did not receive your child's reports. Again, my apologies for the delay in mailing.

* The LREI PA Community Service Committee will extend the Room to Grow drive and will collect donations through Friday, February 24th in the Sixth Avenue lobby. For more information on the organization and a detailed list of accepted donations, please visit www.roomtogrow.com.

* The next meeting of the Parents of Children who Receive Academic Support will take place on Thursday, March 2, 2006, 6:30 at Charlton Street.

* Tuesday, February 28 will be the last day of Trimester II classes; final exams and presentations will occur on Wednesday, March 1 - Friday, March 3. These three days, school will begin fifteen minutes later, at 8:45 AM.

* Diversity and Community Discussion
March 7, 2006, at 6:00PM
Sixth Avenue Auditorium
Topics:
- Introduction of LREI’s Diversity and Community Action Plan.
- How to continue diversity conversations at home.
Hosted by:
Sharon DuPree, Director of Diversity and Community; Phil Kassen, Director; and the divisional principals.

Take care,

Tony

CALENDAR
February
* Monday 20 - Tuesday 21 School closed - Presidents Weekend
* Wednesday 22 VISIBILITY opens at Charlton Street
* Tuesday 28 Last day of Trimester II classes

March
* Wednesday 1 - Friday 3 Trimester II Exams/Presentations
* Thursday 2 Parents of Children who Receive Academic Support Meeting
* Monday 6 First day of Trimester III classes
* March 7 Diversity and Community Discussion
* Thursday 9 - Saturday 11 High School Play
* Tuesday 14 High School Parent Rep Meeting
* Friday 17 Founder's Day; School closes at noon for Spring Break

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 February 9, 2006

Dear all,

I have had several occasions during the past several months to think about school democracy and student empowerment. Recently, we have had two assembly periods, led by the Honor Board and the Student Government, dedicated to looking at the Student Handbook and proposing changes. FYI - The Honor Board consists of eight students and two faculty members, half of whom are elected by the student body and half elected by the faculty; the job of the Honor Board is to serve on an as-needed basis as an advisory body to the Principal regarding specific disciplinary cases, while also meeting regularly to discuss policies and procedures that relate to the culture of integrity throughout the school. The Student Government, elected entirely by the student body, consists of four officers plus eight class representatives; the Student Government runs open "Town Hall" style meetings, helps to plan assemblies, brings student suggestions to the faculty and administration and serves as an advisory group to the Principal on a regular basis. Much of the discussion about the Handbook has centered around increasing both space and time for students to use electronic devices - cell phones and ipods in particular - and there has been a strong libertarian strain to the conversations. That said, the two student groups have done a terrific job of recognizing the need for rules in running a rapidly growing school, focusing on systems that will help students engage in serious progressive scholarship, and considering what is, and what is not, realistic. In particular, one proposal has started to take a look at how we as a school respond to student lateness, a topic that is demanding closer attention as we grow by students and faculty alike. In addition, the Honor Board has begun to tackle the thorny issue of academic integrity in our increasingly complex technological world. As these conversations have progressed, I have had the opportunity to re-learn what has been made clear to me again and again this year, from the Katrina benefit to the Hispanic Heritage assembly, from the courageous Hotel Rwanda Human Rights Day to the new High School student newspaper to the upcoming planned Diversity and Community Day: The more real responsibility we give to our students, the more they will rise to the occasion. A corollary: The biggest mistake the faculty and administration can make is to underestimate our students.

In January, Dr. Joseph Featherstone (see Director of Education Nick O'Han's December introduction to Dr. Featherstone's work at the school) came to speak first to the faculty and then to the High School student body. In that latter talk, Dr. Featherstone spoke about student democracy and about the inherent limitations in how much governing students can really do in a school. To a certain extent, of course, he's right - students have a limited knowledge of curricula and pedagogy, and ultimately faculty and administration have to make some hard decisions about how to allocate resources, especially that most valuable of resources, time. However, progressive education in general, and at LREI in particular, is built on a foundation of the greatest possible student-faculty partnership. As we move forward with the growth of the High School and make the necessary adaptations to a school of 180 students and beyond, I know I speak for the faculty when I say that I could not be more pleased with that partnership and I could not be more proud of our partners.

All the best,

Tony

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Important item: Because of a technical issue, mid-trimester reports did not mail until yesterday. Rest assured that, because so many projects and presentations happen during the last three weeks of the trimester, students still have plenty of opportunity to raise their overall trimester assessments.

Other announcements:

* Congratulations to all who participated in a terrific Coffeehouse!, organized by High School Math/Music Teacher and Coffeehouse Guru Micah Dov Gottlieb, along with Music Teacher/Jazz Band Director Vin Scialla, who helped to being us our special guest Jimmy Norman through a Jazz Foundation Grant. What a great show! If you weren't there, stay tuned for the next one, on April 8 ...

* Regarding Visibility:

Dear LREI Community,

The exhibit "Visibility: Lesbian and Gay People We Love" is up in the 6th Avenue Auditorium and hallway. We have a record-breaking 117 photos and captions this year!

I think you will find the information at the exhibit's start helpful in allowing you to find ways to explain why we have this exhibit, why this particular group is highlighted, and what the history of the exhibit is at LREI. As always, you will also find moving , important, and fun captions that go with all the wonderful pictures. Thank you to all who are in it, all who helped to hang it up, and all who will attend it!

***PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR OPENING NIGHT MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13***

Come to hear our very own Suzanne Cohen and the Lavender Light Gospel Choir, snack on appetizers from La Palapa, a Mexican Restaurant I love (and I am from NM!), and enjoy and evening of community and celebration!

Hope to see you all there next Monday in the 6th Ave. Auditorium from 6-8 PM--

Best and huge thanks for your support,

Sarah Barlow
Interim English Department Chair
8th Grade Core Teacher
Middle School LGSA Representative

* Reminder: The next Parent Reps meeting will move from Tuesday, February 14 to Wednesday, February 15 so we can all celebrate Valentine's Day! Please see the attached minutes from the last meeting.

* The next meeting of the Parents of Children who Receive Academic Support will take place on Thursday, March 2, 2006, 6:30 at Charlton Street.

* The LREI PA Community Service Committee is once again collecting donations for Room to Grow from Monday, February 13th through Friday, February 17th in the lobby of the Sixth Avenue Building. Use this as away to get your children to get rid of items they are not using. Donations should be anything appropriate for children (newborns to 3 years of age) and in good condition (something you would pass on to a friend or family member). Room to Grow accepts books, clothing, video and music tapes, toys, bedding, strollers, highchairs, swings, baby monitors, baby's room accessories. They do not accept stuffed animals, recalled items, furniture, diapers, car seats, cribs. If you would like a tax donation receipt please label all your boxes and bags with your name and address. Please hold onto larger items until the last collection day, Thursday, February 16. For more information on the organization and a more detailed list of what they accept/do not accept go to http://www.roomtogrow.org/.

* For updates on faculty performances, openings, presentations, and publications visit the Faculty in the News page on the school web site.

* 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:

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

CALENDAR
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 February 2, 2006

Dear all,

* Let me make a special plea for you to join us at Saturday's upcoming Coffeehouse! We have four of these events each year, organized by High School Math/Music Teacher and Coffeehouse Guru Micah Dov Gottlieb, along with Music Teacher/Jazz Band Director Vin Scialla, who helped to being us our special guest Jimmy Norman through a Jazz Foundation Grant. Micah writes:

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

* You can still come to tonight's final showing of the 2006 Art Auction, a fine art silent auction of established and emerging artists to benefit the LREI Tuition Assistance Program. ADMISSION IS FREE!!!
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.

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.

* Finally, a note from Sarah Barlow on the Visibility: Lesbian and Gay People We Love Photo Exhibit (see the attached press release):

Dear Colleagues and Families,

First of all, it looks like we have about 80 photos with more arriving all day for the Visibility: Lesbian and Gay People We Love Photo Exhibit! We'll have a final count tomorrow, and the LGSA (Lesbian, Gay, Straight Alliance) is sending all who submitted a huge thank you! We're going to have yet another impressive and moving exhibit this year--in order to get the photos up, we need YOUR help.

Tomorrow, Friday, February 3 from noon to 5 pm, the LGSA will be framing all the photos, mounting captions, etc. We'll be working on 6th Ave in various and changing locations and welcome any amount of time you have to help! Faculty, we'd love it if you would pop by and lend a few minutes if you have it.

Further, this Saturday, from 9:30-5 we will be hanging the entire exhibit. Again, we'd love YOUR help. Please bring hammer and we'll make a day of it, OR stop by from anywhere for a few minutes to an hour or to pitch in. We'll be working on 6th Ave in the auditorium. The main doors will be open 9:30-1:00 and you can call the number below to be let in the side door on Bleecker Street from 1:00-5:00. A little time with many hands goes a long way! The contact cell number is Primavera Salva's cell phone @ 917-553-8002.

If we don't see you Friday or Saturday, we're looking forward to seeing you at the show's opening night, Monday, February 13 from 6-8 pm--a gala, must-attend event!

Best,
Sarah Barlow
8th Grade Core Teacher
Interim English Department Chair
Middle School LGSA Representative

Additional announcements:

* Reminder: The next Parent Reps meeting will move from Tuesday, February 14 to Wednesday, February 15 so we can all celebrate Valentine's Day! Please see the attached minutes from the last meeting.

3) The LREI PA Community Service Committee is once again collecting donations for Room to Grow from Monday, February 13th through Friday, February 17th in the lobby of the Sixth Avenue Building. Use this as away to get your children to get rid of items they are not using. Donations should be anything appropriate for children (newborns to 3 years of age) and in good condition (something you would pass on to a friend or family member). Room to Grow accepts books, clothing, video and music tapes, toys, bedding, strollers, highchairs, swings, baby monitors, baby's room accessories. They do not accept stuffed animals, recalled items, furniture, diapers, car seats, cribs. If you would like a tax donation receipt please label all your boxes and bags with your name and address. Please hold onto larger items until the last collection day, Thursday, February 16. For more information on the organization and a more detailed list of what they accept/do not accept go to http://www.roomtogrow.org/.

* For updates on faculty performances, openings, presentations, and publications visit the Faculty in the News page on the school web site.

* 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

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.