February 15, 2024

Dear Families,

Friday will be Najah Velazquez’s final day working at CPE1.  She will begin work as a community coordinator in an adult education program in Queens.

After vacation, to take Najah’s place, Justine will be moving from Anika’s class to Cecilia’s.  We will add one more adult to Anika’s class.

Najah has held a number of roles at CPE.  Most recently, Najah has been a paraprofessional in classrooms.  Before that, she was CPE1’s parent coordinator; co-president of the CPE1 parent association; parent of three CPE1 students; and earliest of all, a student attending CPE1.  Najah is passionately interested in educational environments and how people learn.  Shifting into adult education is a chance for new thinking.

Najah is outspoken about education, but quiet about goodbyes.  Though she attentively labored over fifth graders’ graduations, yearbooks, and hoodies, she wouldn’t call much attention to her own departure. 

So don’t say goodbye to her.  But especially if you are one of the many families who relied on her through hard times, be sure to congratulate Najah on her next chapter.

Community Coffee – Friday, February 16 – 8:30

Please come to our February community coffee on Friday morning, right after arrival.  This is a chance for families to talk with each other about raising children in our community.

Last week, we had our first-ever coffee in Spanish, the first language of many adults in our community.  I wish my Spanish were better, but I speak enough to appreciate how a conversation can change when everyone is speaking in the language of their heart.  There will be more Spanish-language charlas de café. 

In the meantime, please come to Friday morning’s coffee, and share what’s on your mind, en cualquier idioma que prefiera.

We will come back from vacation on Monday, February 26.  Enjoy this extra time with your child.