June 26, 2024

Dear Families,

Last week, Patricia told her students that this will be her final year as a classroom teacher.  Patricia made that announcement quietly, before I shared it more widely the following school day, at graduation. 

All classes attend graduation, and Patricia has taught nearly half of the students in our upper grades.   I spoke to those students especially in one part of my graduation speech:

If Patricia was your teacher, you probably remember your beautiful classroom, with materials organized just the way you would need them, natural objects she carried in from the park and the beach and the woods, and birds stopping at the feeder she attached to the window.  You remember big conversations about what you observed.  You remember her lighting a candle on Friday afternoons to begin your reflections on the week.  You remember the importance she gave each child’s birth story.  You remember that she loved listening to you talk about math.   You remember hugs she gave you in the hallway after you moved into the older grades.  And do you remember how you felt when Patricia turned off the lights and smiled at end of a really productive work time?

Our hiring committee has been meeting candidates. This summer, I will send a letter to all families introducing the teacher we hire.  First, congratulations go to Patricia for reaching this moment.

Calendar for School Events for 2024-2025

Our school calendar for 2024-2025 now is available at https://cpe1.nyc/calendar.  Every early dismissal and no-school day is listed on our calendar.  So are events that are specific to CPE1, such as Fall Festival and our concerts.  We will update the calendar as more events are added.

Change in End-of-June Calendar

CPE1’s calendar starts before the first day of school, with our community welcome potluck on Tuesday, September 3.  The online ends with our family outing in Central Park, on June 23, 2025.  Tentatively, CPE1’s last day for students will be three days earlier than the rest of the city. 

We can request three non-attendance days to allow more time for staff work.  I proposed eliminating next year’s rec days.  This calendar change would create more time for all staff to plan curriculum.  This proposal was passed, with 81% of the vote, by families at the June parent association meeting.

We have to wait until spring before the central offices approve these re-purposed days.  Until then, please think of June 23, 2025 as the last day of school next year.

Introducing Cafés Comunitarios

Spanish is, by far, the second-most common language in our school community.  In 2024, we had two parent-led, Spanish-language gatherings.  For next year, our staff proposed alternating Spanish-language coffees with our English-language coffees. 

The point of a community coffee is community.  Community develops where you feel comfort and connection.  For the roughly 30% of our adults who grew up speaking or primarily speak Spanish, it’s powerful to talk about school and raising children in their first language.

Of course, about 70% of our caregivers did not grow up speaking Spanish.  Todo bueno.  Everyone puede participar in every café comunitario; todos can participate en cada community coffee.  If you don’t speak Spanish, keep practicing, and come to cafés comunitarios.  Grow our inclusive community.

We will start with cafés comunitarios on September 20 and November 22, with community coffees on October 11 and December 20.  ¡Vengan todos to all of these cafés!

Summer Meals Begin Thursday, June 27

From June 27 to August 30, school cafeterias will serve free meals to anyone eighteen years or younger.

Breakfast is available from 8:00 to 9:15, with lunch from 11:00 to 1:15.  Meals are available every weekday except July 4 and July 5.  Community swimming pools serve meals on weekends.

The cafeteria in our school building will be open for meals.  To find other free meal sites near you, call 311, or text NYCFOOD or NYCCOMIDA to 304-304.

Summer Wishes

I will send out two or three summertime updates in July and August.  Please check notifications at www.remind.com, and look for updates on our website, www.cpe1.nyc/letters.

Summer on CPE1’s floor is quiet, but many of our students will be nearby, attending Summer Rising at PS 72.  I will be there throughout July and August.  It’s fun to see CPE1 kids in another school.  I smile whenever teachers from other schools remark on how helpful and creative our students are. 

Summer is a time when many families see their children more.  This summer, be sure your child reads a lot, plays a lot, and forms many happy memories with you.