November 20, 2024
Dear Families,
This will be our first week ice skating. On Thursday, all students in grades K-5 need snowpants, a hat, and gloves or mittens. For some, it will be their first time ever on skates.
One reason we skate is that children fall. At least – at first children fall. When they lose their balance, some children feel frustrated, and some children laugh cheerfully at themselves. They all learn to stand up quickly and start again.
Skating is great for physical and social development, but those tumbles onto the ice are my favorite part. Falling occasionally – failing occasionally – teaches children to move past setbacks.
By midwinter, there are always some first graders who gush, “I didn’t fall even once!” And, a few older kids keep falling. No matter where they start in November, kids see themselves getting better by March.
On the ice, persistence pays off. The confidence that grows on skates glides with children back to class.
Café Comunitario on Friday
This Friday morning at 8:30, we have another café comunitario. This month’s community coffee will be in Spanish, and as always, everyone is welcome.
Tomen un café y charlen con otras familias sobre el colegio y la crianza de los hijos.
Visitors and Special Education
Last week, CPE1 hosted visitors from the Urban Collaborative Conference. Urban Collaborative is a nationwide network of school districts dedicated to improving special education. The conference organizers asked to visit CPE1 because they heard we have an especially inclusive approach.
On Thursday, leaders from such faraway school districts as Portland, Los Angeles, and Seattle arrived in our library. First, we watched a video of Marilyn’s pre-K children carefully maneuvering through their crowded block area. The video showed children organizing hundreds of blocks before putting them back on shelves neatly. The visitors talked at length about how the routines, materials, and expectations in the room could support special education goals. Then, visitors walked around the school, free to observe in any class they chose.
Every CPE1 classroom has students who have individualized education plans (IEPs) for special education services. Visitors cannot be certain which children do or do not have IEPs.
And that’s the point. In a truly inclusive school, visitors will not focus on children who aren’t getting what you need. In a truly inclusive school, visitors focus on the practices that include all.
The district leaders who visited last week marveled at the consistency of tone and practice from classroom to classroom. From district leaders focused on special education, such warm words felt like very high praise.
Coming Up Soon
Here is what is coming up in during the rest of November:
November 21 – Parent Association Meeting – 6:00 p.m.
November 22 – Café Comunitario – 8:30 a.m.
November 28, 2024 – No School –Thanksgiving
November 29, 2024 – No School –Thanksgiving