February 24, 2025

Dear Families,                                           

On the Friday before break, students in Kiyah’s class read a news article about Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on China.  A dry article about supply and demand had fourth and fifth graders jumping out of their seats.  The article did not talk directly about economic impact, but students imagined how more tariffs on all sides could reduce demand.  Students offered information they already knew about low-cost or under-age labor in other supply chains; they questioned whether tariffs would actually boost American manufacturing.

Down the hall in Aishah’s room, I observed a third grader troubleshooting why a car he built was getting stopping in the middle of the chutes he constructed.  Other students nearby told him that it might be the angle of his inclined plane: a steeper angle would be “more like gravity” so the car would “roll faster than friction is holding it back.”

An hour later, Anika’s and Marilyn’s pre-K classes were marching down the hall behind a homemade dragon’s head.  Hansel and Selena’s students were in the hallway, shaking noisemakers.  This was a Lunar New Year parade.  The pre-K children had read folklore about the nian monster; it’s tradition to chase the nian away with loud noises, like Hansel and Selana’s students were making.  At the end of the parade, the pre-K classes came together for a special lunch, including long-life noodles that are customary during Lunar New Year.

During this past vacation, I thought about how that morning’s learning started with reading, then went beyond.  Fourth and fifth graders started with article about economic policy, then added spirited inferences and passionate questions.  Third graders who had just finished reading about simple machines spoke among themselves about inclined planes, angles, friction, and gravity.  Pre-K children who had been reading about Lunar New Year held a noisy parade and tasted long-life noodles.

These days, the news is full of stories joyless curriculums and schools eliminating diversity from learning.  I’m proud to work at CPE1, where children keep reading about the world, and applying what they read to the world around them.

Today is the hundredth day of school, just past the midpoint of the year.  Spring is when we see just how much children have learned and grown.  I’m excited for the learning ahead.

Testing Meeting for Families

This Wednesday, February 26, at 6:00, we have our annual testing meeting for families.  Please click here to join this Zoom meeting.

Wednesday night’s meeting will provide a factual overview of statewide exams for grades 3-5.  We will cover the test format and analyze a sample question.    

For years, representatives from Opt Out New York have spoken at the end of our annual testing meeting.  This year, Opt Out will be back to share some reasons their organization encourages families to skip these state exams.

As always, our school supports all families’ choices about whether to opt in or out of state exams.  Wednesday night’s meeting is designed to help everyone make an informed choice about the best fit for their child.  Please join us on Zoom.

Community Coffee on Friday

Our February community coffee will happen this Friday, February 28, at 8:30.  Please come to the library for coffee and conversation with other families in our school.

Final Skating Day – Thursday, February 27

Our final day for K-5 skating will be this Thursday, February 28.  We rescheduled to this date after rain washed out our previous skating day.

Please be sure your child has snowpants, hats, and mittens this Thursday.

Early Dismissal and Family Conferences – Thursday, March 6

Next Thursday, March 6, we will dismiss students at 11:50.  Public elementary schools dismiss early that day for family conferences.

School lunch will be provided before students go home.

Thursday is the only required day for conferences, but CPE1 teachers always add extra meeting times.  That allows each family to have a longer, fuller conference.

If your teacher has not already sent a conference sign-up time, please look for the sign-up by Tuesday of this week.

New Arts Partnership

From early March through early May, all classes will be working with teaching artists from GG & Pop Institute. 

GG & Pop is an arts studio on East 104 Street.  When the director visited CPE1 in December, she recognized that our students already use arts materials in sophisticated ways.  Seeing that, GG & Pop customized an art cycle just for us.

GG & Pop has planned art studies involving everything from building insect habitats to making fabric dyes petals to designing lamps from found materials.

Three different teaching artists – one apiece for grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 – will be in our art room once a week.  A fourth artist will work out of GG & Pop’s 104 Street studio, where pre-K classes will walk once per week.  Pre-K’s trips have been limited because they are not allowed on yellow buses.  Traveling to a beautiful studio will be a special destination just for pre-K.

A committee of the CPE1 parent association made this introduction to GG & Pop, and PA fundraising will cover the costs of this partnership.  I appreciate this opportunity for our children.