September 30, 2024

Dear Families,

CPE1 soon will have an occupational therapist.

Actually, we should have had an occupational therapist (OT) on the first day. However, many schools still do not have someone to provide this important special education service.

Citywide, schools need occupational therapy more than ever, especially for children born in 2018, 2019, or 2020, when the pandemic prevented many toddlers and pre-schoolers from getting timely special education services. Now, our city is still trying to fill the demand for more qualified candidates.

Months ago, I started lobbying to have an occupational therapist assigned to CPE1. Earlier in September, some families whose children require OT sent messages to officials in our school system. At least five parents whose children don’t require OT sent messages of their own. Advocating for your school – even when it will not directly impact your own child – shows caring for the whole community.

Last Friday, our new OT, Judy Johnson, visited CPE1. It will take at least a couple of weeks to complete the hiring process. I will introduce Judy formally as we get closer to the official start date.

Ideally, families should not feel they need to advocate for basic special education services. Still, I appreciate those who did. Judy will be among the first new OTs hired this year, and I feel relieved she will be working at CPE1.

Fiftieth Anniversary Events

CPE’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations begin in October. See the list of events at www.cpe1.nyc/fifty.

First up is a screening of the short documentary, We All Know Why We’re Here. The film takes viewers inside a CPE classroom from the late 1970s. We also will have a discussion with adults who appear in the film, some of whom are traveling from far away to speak with our current community.

We All Know Why We’re Here will be screened on October 8 at 6:00. We will have childcare available.

Over the weekend I ordered my fiftieth anniversary tee-shirt. I know what I’m wearing to Fall Festival.

After-School Skating Program

This year, the Boys Club of New York began an after-school partnership with our school. The Boys Club has been picking up CPE1 students from our courtyard, then taking them for programming that our kids love.

There’s only one problem. It’s the Boys Club. Shouldn’t there be special programs if you’re not a boy?

Enter Figure Skating in Harlem. FSH is open to girls of color, from first grade up to high school. FSH features training on the ice and academic enrichment off it.

Figure Skating in Harlem knows CPE1 students have skated before. They want our kids to apply. And, if enough CPE1 students participate, they might send an FSH staff member to pick them up.

Please find out more about the program at www.figureskatinginharlem.org.

Our school has some passionate skaters. I hope some take their next turn on the ice.

Coming Up Soon

October 1 – Picture Day (Pre-K – Grade 1)

October 2 – Picture Day (Grades 2-5, Siblings)

October 3 – No School – Rosh Hoshana

October 4 – No School – Rosh Hoshana

October 8 – Film Screening – 6:00

October 11 – Community Coffee – 8:30

October 14 – No School – Italian Heritage and Indigenous Peoples Day

October 15 – Parent Association Meeting – 8:30

October 15 – School Leadership Team – 3:45

October 18 – Alumni All-School Sing – 2:00

October 18 – Curriculum Discussion for Alumni and Current Community – 3:15

October 19 – Fall Festival – 12:00 to 4:00

October 19 – Alumni Gathering – 5:30 to 10:00

I hope to have a lot of families at the screening of We All Know Why We’re Here on October 8. Please be part of the audience.