January 10, 2024

Dear Families,

On Thursday evening, January 11, we have a workshop for families.  To help you learn more about our music and physical education classes, Mingie and Jazmine will teach classes for adults. 

At the workshop, you will spend about thirty minutes in each class.  In music, you will learn to play a song on the instruments in our music room.  In PE, you will rotate through the stations that develop our children’s physical skills and stamina.  In both rooms, you will see how Mingie and Jazmine break tasks into smaller parts that build on one another. 

We will have free child care and pizza for CPE1 students, who might be a little jealous that their grown-ups are taking the classes they love.  I hope you can make it Thursday at 6:00. 

State Exams on Computer 

This is a message about state exams in fifth grade, but eventually, it will impact all of our students. 

Starting this year, New York State is phasing out pencil-and-paper state testing.  This year, for the first time, all fifth and eighth grade tests will be available only on computers.  In Spring 2025, the state will add fourth and sixth grades.  By Spring 2026, all state exams, from third through eighth grade, will be computerized. 

To prepare for this change, the city is requiring that all of our fifth graders log into the exam platform so that we can test everyone’s access.  Students are expected to try out the interface in January so that the springtime exams are familiar to them. 

As always, our school supports families’ choices when it comes to the actual state exams.  Some families want their children to take the test, and others think it’s best to opt out.  No matter your choice for the real exams this spring, we will have to have all fifth graders participate in the practice logins later January.   

On February 28 at 6:00, we will have our annual meeting for families about state exams.  The addition of computerized testing is a new item to discuss. 

Remembering CPE’s First Superintendent  

In case you missed this news, an important figure in our school’s history has died.   

Anthony Alvarado is remembered as a chancellor of New York City’s public schools.  Before that, in the early 1970s, Alvarado was superintendent of East Harlem’s District Four.  He led a movement to create small, innovative schools that gave families more choices about the kind of school where they could send their children.  In 1974, Alvarado encouraged a group of progressive teachers to start Central Park East. 

Alvarado’s obituary appeared recently in The New York Times, quoting Deborah Meier, the first head of school at CPE. 

As we come up on the fiftieth anniversary of our school, there will be many early staff members to recognize.  Many remain grateful for Anthony Alvarado’s direct connection to the founding of CPE. 

Coming Up Soon

Family Workshop – January 11 – 6:00

Community Coffee – January 12 – 8:15

No School – January 15

Parent Association Meeting – January 23 – 6:00