September 16, 2024

Dear Families,

This Wednesday, September 18, is CPE1’s curriculum night.  Curriculum night gives an overview of a year of learning in your child’s classroom. 

On Wednesday at 6:00, we will start together in the auditorium.  I will talk about a few big themes of learning for our school this year.  Then, you will head upstairs for a much more detailed presentation from your child’s teacher. 

Curriculum night is the one evening event when we do not provide childcare.  (There would be too many kids.)

Please come on Wednesday night.  We want you to know more about your child’s work in the year ahead. 

Film for Fiftieth Anniversary

We have a full schedule of October events where we will celebrate Central Park East’s fiftieth anniversary.  We’re honoring the history of an influential school, and the deep love former students and staff have for CPE. 

In October, we have a mix of history and homecoming.  You can see the full list here.

Our first event is a movie screening for current families.  On October 8 at 6:00, please come to a special screening of We All Know Why We’re Here.  This short documentary was filmed in a class of second and third graders in 1979.  There will be a Q & A with some of the students featured in the film.  Find out how CPE shaped their lives.

Screeners Begin This Week

A few years ago, New York City Public Schools began requiring schools to administer ‘screeners’ –assessments to identify whether children might need more support.  Schools are supposed to give screeners the way a doctor is supposed to take your temperature and blood pressure: a fever or elevated blood pressure won’t tell the doctor why a body is under stress, only to investigate and diagnose further.

This year again, schools in our district are using Acadience for grades K-2, and iReady for grades 3-5.  Acadience and iReady both assess reading and math. 

Children take Acadience one-on-one with an adult.  It takes about seven minutes to complete. 

Students take iReady on laptops.  iReady has no time limit; it takes most students between 60 and 90 minutes, split up over two days.

Historically, some CPE1 families have had concerns about standardized assessments, and have asked the school not to give these assessments to their child.  While we will honor requests, I also encourage K-2 families to have their child participate in Acadience.  Acadience has a quick pace, and the one-on-one format makes it comfortable for most children.  With just a few minutes of effort, we can spot-check such early literacy skills as letter-sound awareness and reading fluency.  (Teachers observe early reading skills in class, too, but Acadience helps confirm informal assessment.)

The screeners will happen in fall, winter, and spring.  We will be done with the first round in mid-October.

Soft Lockdown Drill – September 26

Four times each year, New York City schools practice short lockdowns.  This year, New York schools must announce scheduled drills at least one week in advance.

During a lockdown practice, 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.  It takes about two seconds to pull a magnetic strip off a doorframe – faster than it takes to find and use a key.

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.

Though we have practiced lockdowns for years, I still feel sad about these drills.  What makes them better is the discussion after the drill.  Responding to children’s questions and feelings is important for making them safer.

Café Comunitario – Viernes, 20 de septiembre

We have community coffees one Friday per month.  This year, we will alternate between  discussions in Spanish and discussions in English.

The point of a community coffee is community itself.  Community develops where you feel comfort and connection.  Many adults in our community grew up speaking or primarily speak Spanish.  It is powerful to talk in the language of your heart about raising children you love.

Everyone can participate in every café comunitario; everyone can participate in every 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 at 8:30 on September 20 and November 22.  We have English-language coffees on October 11 and December 20. 

¡Vengan todos!

Enjoy Curriculum Night this Wednesday at 6:00.