October by Robert Hayden

I

October-
its plangency, its glow

as of words in
the poet's mind,

as of God in
the saint's.

II

I wept for your mother
in her pain, wept in
my joy when you were
born,
Maia,
that October morning.
We named you
for a star a star-like
poem sang.
I write this
for your birthday
and say I love you
and say October
like the phoenix sings you.

III

This chiming
and tolling
of lion
and phoenix
and chimera
colors.
This huntsman's
horn, sounding
mort for
quarry fleeing
through mirrors
of burning
into deathless
dying.

IV

Rockweight
of surprising snow

crushed
the October trees

broke
branches that

crashing set
the snow on fire.



This poem in four parts reflects on the spiritual connection and sacredness of the vocation of creating art. It was written by Robert Hayden (1913-1980) in celebration of his daughter Maia's birth. Not only is the poem relevant and in celebration of the month, Maia Hayden Pollito was once a student at LREI.

While Hayden was a professor at Fisk University in Nashville in the late 40's, he and Erma, his wife, determined they did not want their daughter to attend a segregated school. They had never attended one and they did not want her to begin her education under those circumstances. Robert and Erma chose Little Red School House for their daughter. Erma brought her here, as she was able to find work as an accompanist with a dance company. Although Hayden called his family's experience at our school a blessing, it turned out to be a mixed blessing with a divided family being too much to bear. Still considering what was best for Maia, Hayden took leave from Fisk for a year to keep her enrolled. Eventually, the family did return to Nashville and Maia had to attend public school.

Maia is now living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has not been well as of late. This is all I know and the limited information is from a recent correspondence with literary arts professor Michael Harper from Brown University, Rhode Island's poet laureate from 1988-1993. Through our correspondence, Professor Harper reminded me of one of the many stories that capture the fantastic history of the school and how necessary progressive school can be for so many families.

In the coming days, I will tell the Hayden story in Morning Meeting and read the poem. And I will have the luxury of looking into so many different faces, which is all Robert and Erma wanted for their daughter, but had to travel almost a thousand miles to find it.

Please find more information about Robert Hayden and his important writings at Robert Hayden, Poet.

All the best,
Ruth

Calendar for October:

October 14, 2006: Coffee House! 7:00 PM, Charlton Street in the PAC. This is an evening of poetry, music, dance and comedy, all performed by students and faculty!
October 17, 2006: High School Parent Rep Meeting with "Freedom Institute," 6:30 PM, Charlton Street. This is open to all high school parents. We will be discussing student wellness, substance use and abuse, and how to speak to your children about making informed choices. Our nurse, Joanne Gouge, will be in attendance. Please come!
October 18, 2006: PSAT day for Tenth and Eleventh Grades
October 19, 2006: Parents of Students who receive Academic Support meeting, 6:30 PM, Charlton Street
October 26, 2006: Tenth Grade Potluck Dinner, Charlton Street, 6:30 PM
October 24-26, 2006: New dates for Minimester

This Week's Attachments and Announcements:


1. Please do not plan vacations that fall outside of scheduled school breaks. Each school day is important. Today’s classroom experiences are building blocks for tomorrow’s. Missing school on either end of a scheduled break, or at any time other than when school is closed, is disruptive to your child’s education and to that of her/his classmates. Often, the days preceding our longer breaks include community events such as buddy activities and assemblies. These essential community events are important. We feel strongly that students should not miss these occasions. It is our policy that teachers not prepare work ahead of time, or help students to catch up, if your family will be vacationing at times when school is in session. If your family is presented with a singular opportunity to travel that offers significant educational advantages we encourage you to speak with the division’s principal in advance.

2. It is essential that all students arrive at school on time. Students who arrive late often find it difficult to enter into the class’s discussion or activity. Some students find that this lag can last for the whole school day.

3. Attention book lovers: On Tuesday, November 8th join the Literary Committee as the LREI librarians present, "East Meets West" an evening of youth books that feature culture clashes and truces, diverse viewpoints and changing perspectives. Each year our nationally recognized librarians share their literary suggestions for students in all grades, Fours-12th grade, with the LREI community as they do with other school and professional audiences throughout the school year. All three of our full time librarians have served, or are presently serving, on American Library Association panels responsible for selecting prize winning books. Join this evening as Stacy, Jennifer and Karyn share their book selections with us, along with LS library teacher and graphic novel reviewer, Jesse Karp (LREI '87), who will give his suggestions for the best in graphic novels.

Each year the Literary Committee brings us the book fairs, Book Week, the amazing Literary Evening (December 7th) and this evening with our librarians. The Committee also supports the librarians', and their students', attendance at conferences.

If you have questions for the librarians, don't forget to join us for Learn Your Library morning on October 23rd in the Sixth Avenue Library.

4. The LREI Business Office has relocated into 40 Charlton Street. Members of the Business Office can now be reached through LREI's main phone number, 212.477.5316, Michel de Konkoly Thege at ext. 319, Tema Tischler at ext. 306 and Marie Horan at ext. 317. E-mail addresses remain the same. In general, inquiries regarding status of tuition accounts may be directed to Tema, regarding facility rentals to Marie and all others, including tuition remission issues, to Michel.

5. Parents! Have your own LREI experience through the SEED (Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity) monthly parent dialogue group. Share stories, explore assumptions, view films and exchange information. The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 18th at 6pm. Please contact Sharon DuPree (sdupree@lrei.org) or Peggy Peloquin (ppeloquin@lrei.org) if you are interested in joining LREI's first parent SEED group.

6. Please remember, every Thursday morning through December 7, parents are invited to have coffee at the high school with me. We are there from 7:45-8:15, in the cafeteria.

7. From the Admissions Office: Please take a look at the attached note concerning early childhood admissions.

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.