November 26, 2024

Dear Families,                                       

This was supposed to be a surprise, but students who have been at CPE1 for a few years already seem to know.   Yes, on Wednesday, November 27, we will have a community luncheon.

We have these special lunchtime gatherings once or twice per year.  We stretch a very long table from one end of our hallway to the other.  We decorate with tablecloths, flowers, and place cards.  We mix up the seating – a kindergartener next to a fourth grader next to a teacher next to a second grader.  Our kitchen cafeteria makes a special meal, and every class contributes enough extras (pumpkin muffins, garlic bread, etc.)  to share with the whole school.

We create this family-style meal for our whole school.  Well, we hope it’s for the whole school.  We schedule these community meals on a day before vacation to encourage children to come to school.   

At CPE1, it’s not COVID, the flu, or strep throat that cause the most absences.  It’s vacations.  Last year, between September and May, our ten school days with the lowest attendance happened right before vacations or three-day weekends.  This fall, our lowest attendance day was October 11, the Friday before a long weekend.  Compared to just one day earlier, absences tripled. 

Overall, we’re getting better.  So far, this year’s daily attendance is our highest since before the pandemic; since 2022-2023, chronic absenteeism has dropped almost in half.  That’s all good news.

Now, we need adults to help us stay on the right track.  We want kids in school every single day.  That includes the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, when students will have regular learning in the morning and a truly beautiful community event. 

To every family whose attendance is better this year than last, and to the many kids who still haven’t missed a day this fall, thank you.  We love having you here.

Festival of Lights – December 19

Festival of Lights is a special school tradition for families.  To spend more time getting ready, we have re-scheduled this year’s celebration.

Festival of Lights will happen on Thursday, December 19, at 5:45.  This is for all families together – children and their grown-ups.  We’ll send more information, including a sign-up for the potluck, next week.