March 11, 2004

Dear Sixth Grade Parents,

 

Our sixth grade English classes are participating in a regional poetry writing project that grew out of an AIS sixth grade activity last year. Inspired by the dream poetry of Langston Hughes and the tradition of Buddhist prayer flags, The Dream Flag Project is a poetry publication and community-building project for dreamers of all ages. It began when our classes were reading the poetry of Langston Hughes and we saw pictures of Buddhist prayer flags at a Middle School assembly. Then we got the idea—dream poems on fabric—Dream Flags. We liked the idea so much that we decided to invite other schools to join us this year—to connect their Dream Flags to ours. The response has been overwhelming. Throughout the Delaware Valley, 24 schools, 1 hospital, and 1 library have joined, and more than 3,000 children are creating Dream Flags!

 

At AIS, all sixth graders are creating Dream Flags as are students in grades 3, 4, 10 and some in 1st. The purpose of this letter is to invite you to an exciting Dream Flags event on Saturday, April 3.

 

What: Regional Dream Flag Celebration

Where: The Kimmel Center, Commonwealth Plaza (the large atrium area)

When: Saturday, April 3, 12:00-1:30 pm

Description: This will be an AIS-hosted multi-school event which is free and open to the public. The program will include representative readers from each participating school, music, and a connection of more than 2,000 Dream Flags. Seating will be limited and most of it reserved for program participants, but there will be ample space for a standing audience.

Who May Attend:  All students may attend IF they are accompanied by a parent. This is not a school-chaperoned event. All members of the school community are invited.

For planning of the event, we must have the tear-off sheet below filled out and returned to your child’s English teacher by Monday, March 15.

 

Thanks very much.

 

Sincerely,

 

                        Jeffrey A. Harlan            Sandy Crow              Erica Novak

 

 


Dream Flag Celebration Attendance Form

 

Student Name: _______________________________________________

 


            My child will not be able to attend the Regional Dream Flag Celebration at the Kimmel Center on Saturday, April 3, 2004.

            My child will be able to attend the Regional Dream Flag Celebration at the Kimmel Center on Saturday, April 3, 2004. I understand that this is not a school-chaperoned event and agree to provide transportation and supervision for my child at this event.

Parent or Guardian Name (printed)          ______________________________________________________

Parent or Guardian Signature                 ______________________________________________________

Date:                                                    _________________