Family Handbook
Health and Safety
Emergency Contact Forms
Every child must have emergency contact information on file.
Click here to fill out your emergency card. You can edit your emergency information by logging in again using the same email address you used first used when filling out the emergency card. If you need help filling out or changing the form, reach out to Gabriel (gabriel@cpe1.nyc).
Please complete the emergency form before the first day of school.
Immunizations and Medical Forms
All children need an annual physical on file. Please submit a copy of your child’s updated physical the day after your child’s check-up. These forms are kept in their file and a copy is sent to the nurse’s office.
New York State requires all children to have up-to-date immunizations. The state no longer allows religious exemptions. Children who have not had all required vaccinations are not permitted in school.
For help with physicals and vaccinations, please reach out to Donna (donna@cpe1.nyc).
Allergies
If your child has serious allergic reactions, let us know when you complete your child’s emergency contact card. If your child requires medication or an EpiPen, it’s crucial to send these treatments to school.
If someone in your child’s class has a dangerous allergy, we will ask you not to send food items that could trigger a reaction. Please keep those children safe: check food labels carefully, and don’t pack restricted foods for your child to bring.
Nuts, including peanut butter, are not allowed in the school cafeteria.
EpiPens, Asthma Pumps, and Medication
To provide treatment during the school day, a doctor must complete a Chapter 504 Medication Administration form. This must be done for each new school year.
There are separate forms for allergies and EpiPens, for asthma medication and breathing treatment, and for general medication.
If your child can administer a treatment independently, we recommend that your pediatrician puts that on the form. If your pediatrician writes that any adult – not just a nurse – may assist, a teacher trained to help can do so, especially during a class trip. Otherwise, students will have to walk to the nurse’s office or wait for emergency medical services.
Asthma Support
Our school nurse can provide breathing treatments in school, as needed or on a daily schedule. If your child needs asthma support during the day, tell us on your child’s emergency contact card.
Sick Children
If your child has a fever of 100 degrees or higher, or has vomited, your child may not come to school for 24 hours.
Do not send a feverish or vomiting child to school. It is uncomfortable for the child and exposes the entire community to the illness.
If your child has a fever or vomits in school, your child will not go back to class. Your child will wait with school staff until you or one of your emergency contacts arrives to take your child home.
Children are allowed to come to school with other, light symptoms of sickness, such as minor headaches or scratchy throats.
Please notify the school of infectious illnesses (e.g., strep throat, pink eye) so that we may alert other families to watch out for symptoms. Your child’s name will not be used.
COVID Regulations
If your child tests positive for COVID, please tell Gabriel (gabriel@cpe1.nyc) as soon as you can.
Students and staff are required to isolate at home only if they have symptoms or fever. Children are allowed in school if they have no symptoms or fever.
Anyone who returns to school with COVID must wear a tight-fitting mask. Our school can provide child-sized KN95 masks. Children must remain masked through at least the fifth day since contracting COVID.
When children take off these masks for meals or early-grades rest time, they must remain at least six feet from others.
New York City no longer offers random PCR testing in school. The city also has stopped purchasing testing kits for schools to send home.
Fire Drills
All public schools have at least eight fire drills per year. Children practice evacuating quickly and carefully.
After drills, teachers speak with children about what they observed and wondered during the drill. This allows students to improve how their class would respond in an emergency. By asking children to express feelings and questions after fire drills, the adults can listen and address children’s concerns.
Lockdown Drills
Four times each year, New York City schools practice short lockdowns. Doors are quickly locked, children move out of view, and everyone remains silent for a few minutes.
At CPE1, we use lockdown magnets at all times. Lockdown magnets allow doors to lock in about two seconds – faster than it takes to find and use a key.
During lockdown practices, we do not try to scare children. There are no fake ‘intruders’ or frightening noises in the hallway.
After lockdowns, every child has a turn to talk about the drill. Teachers respond to questions, confusions, and concerns. Children understand that we have lockdowns so that we all stay safer if someone who does not belong comes into the building.
It is sad that schools have to practice lockdowns. Responding to children’s questions and feelings is important for making them safer.
Safer Access Doors
Our building will implement the city’s new Safer Access door program. This citywide program controls entry into the building.
With Safer Access, all doors are locked for most of the day. To enter, you ring a bell outside the building. Before school safety agents buzz you in, they see your image on video. This is like an apartment building security system, where residents see a video screen in their apartment before buzzing in their guests.
Please do not hold open the doors for other people.
All doors will be locked at the end of Central Park East High School’s morning arrival. Doors will open again for our 2:50 dismissal. During the school day, enter through the Safer Access door.