In the absence of man, we turn to nature, which stands next. In the divine order, intellect is primary; nature, secondary; it is the memory of the mind. That which once existed in intellect as pure law, has now taken body as Nature. It existed already in the mind in solution; now, it has been precipitated, and the bright sediment is the world. We can never be quite strangers or inferiors in nature. It is flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone. But we no longer hold it by the hand; we have lost our miraculous power; our arm is no more as strong as the frost; nor our will equivalent to gravity and the elective attractions. Yet we can use nature as a convenient standard, and the meter of our rise and fall. It has this advantage as a witness, it cannot be debauched. When man curses, nature still testifies to truth and love. We may, therefore, safely study the mind in nature, because we cannot steadily gaze on it in mind; as we explore the face of the sun in a pool, when our eyes cannot brook his direct splendors.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dear Families,

We have had an extraordinary few weeks, with Minimester, the NYSAIS visit and exam week. Friday marks the end of the first trimester, which means on Monday, students will enjoy "First Monday," where we provide special programming for the first Monday of the second and third trimesters. For Monday, Dec. 4, we will use the day to focus on the environment, global warming and determine our own goals regarding sustainability. After this memorably warm November with several days of record temperatures, including today, and many struggling to get into the holiday spirit despite the weather, this topic is apropos. Whether or not current conditions are a result of irreversible global warming, we still waste too much, use too much and throw away too much. It is time for students to determine their own personal responsibility and remind adults to protect what they cannot.

What is one's ethical responsibility to the environment? Is the earth here for our enjoyment, our comfort? I love the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson because his work is the truth and a reminder of who we really are when we are alone. "In the absence of man, we turn to nature, which stands next." How many of us, when feeling alone or literally alone, have turned to the sky, face to the rain, the horizon, the ocean, a sunset or star, for comfort, a sign, hope, or strength? How many of us long for a room with a view?

The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence. Nature never wears a mean appearance.

While we seem to instinctively look outward, our efforts seem to aim to provide us, buy us, only surface comforts and we have to destroy nature in order to get them. Light bulbs replace natural light. Air conditioners replace the breeze.

Believe it or not, high school students are very romantic in their views of nature, and of course they consistently refer to nature's magic and ability to understand and heal in their creative writings, as maybe you once did in high school. We will take next Monday and do the best we can to educate ourselves and determine our responsibilities towards maintaining and improving our planet, not so we can preserve it for future generations, but because its health reflects our health.

Every earnest glance we give to the realities around us, with intent to learn, proceeds from a holy impulse, and is really songs of praise. What difference can it make whether it take the shape of exhortation, or of passionate exclamation, or of scientific statement?

All the best,

Ruth




Calendar for December and January:

December 4, 2006- First day of Trimester II; Environmental Day, 8:30-3:00 PM, Charlton Street.
December 4-8, 2006- Book Week!
December 5, 2006- Arts Assembly, 1:00 PM, PAC
December 7, 2006- Literary Evening, 7:00-9:00 PM, PAC
December 8, 9, 2006- Middle School Play, 7:00 PM, PAC
December 14, 2006- Winter Concert, 6:30 PM, PAC
December 15, 2006- School closes for Winter Break, 12:00 PM.
January 3, 2007- School reopens.
January 10, 2007- College Night with Junior parents and families, 6:30 PM, Cafeteria
January 12, 2007- Parent-Advisor Conferences, all day. School closed for students.


This Week's Attachments and Announcements:


1. Book Week is almost here! During the week of Dec. 4th through 8th, authors will be visiting all grades to read from their work and talk to the kids about books. The annual Book Fair will take place from Wednesday, Dec. 6th, through Friday, Dec. 8th, in the Sixth Avenue auditorium, with books on sale for all ages. Please click here for more information on Book Week. This year's Literary Evening will be on Thursday, December 7th, in the Charlton Street PAC at 7 PM. This year's theme is "Who am I? An Evening Contemplating Cultural Identity" featuring authors Nilo Cruz, Stephane Gerson and Todd Shepard, Madhur Jaffrey, Josclyn Lieu, and Nahid Rachlin. The emcee is High School Vice Principal, Sarvjit Moonga. Enjoy an intimate evening listening to great literature, with complimentary wine and delicious food courtesy of Balthazar and 'Ino Restaurants.


For these events to be successful, the Literary Committee needs help from parent volunteers! Please sign up in the Sixth Avenue lobby to help with all aspects of Book Week, or e-mail susiemarples@yahoo.com.



2. The divisional Parents of Children of Color Groups will be hosting a potluck breakfast for the parents and children of color in all three divisions on Tuesday, December 5th from 8:00AM-8:30AM in the Sixth Avenue cafeteria. Please attend and bring a breakfast treat to share. See you there.

3. Please join us for a longstanding LREI tradition:
The Glass Menagerie Chorus Holiday Concert.
Susan Glass, founder and director (former LREI music teacher, current LREI parent)
Friday, December 8th at 8:00PM
St. Joseph's Church in the Village
371 Sixth Ave. (2 blocks south of 8th Street.)

4.Ragtime DVD is available now! Professionally shot and edited DVDs of Ragtime (of the Saturday evening performance) can be ordered through danmeyerson@gmail.com or mattschlichter@gmail.com. DVDs are $28 each and include a copy of the artwork on the playbill and the cast list. This is a great opportunity to hold onto the experience of this production for future portfolios, family screenings, as well as adding a great DVD to your collection.

5. Please do not schedule appointments, medical or otherwise, during the school day, between 8:30 AM and 3:50 PM. When a student must leave early for a non-emergency, it is very disruptive to the academic program and to a student's progress in any given class. Thank you.

6. Please check out the Community Service Calendar!

7. There is a change of date for the next Parent Rep meeting. We will be meeting on December 5, 6:30 PM in the Charlton Street cafeteria.

8. The Parents' Association Food Committee is hard at work! Through the efforts of this very active parent body, we aim to work with an enthusiastic administration and an open-minded catering company to continue to upgrade the quality and variety of the food served in school. We are also discussing ways to bring nutrition discussions into each classroom to educate our children about how to eat more healthfully. In the future, the Food Committee hopes to invite guest speakers to talk to parents interested in learning more about your family's nutrition. Stay tuned!

10. 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.

11. Next Thursday, December 7, will be the last drop-in coffee of the season, 7:45-8:15 AM. All parents are welcome.

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.