November 26, 2025

Dear Families,

We are getting close to having two staff members come back to CPE1. 

Josie’s baby was born during the summer, and we expect her back in early December.  Josie’s return will allow us to add a paraprofessional to the 2/3s for extra adult support in the middle grades.

Jazmine, whose baby was born in October, is scheduled to come back right after December vacation.  Physical education will resume in the new year.

Since mid-October, we have had a licensed art teacher, Larissa, working as a substitute.  Our original plan was to have visual arts in the art studio while Jazmine was on leave.  That plan has changed.

I appreciate that Larissa endeavored to teach art seriously.  I also became concerned that her tone did not fit our students. 

Art, music, and PE class give teachers valuable time during the school day to prepare – time required by the citywide teachers’ contract.  I consulted classroom teachers one by one.  They all preferred to give up their preparation time rather than giving children a questionable experience in the art studio. 

Children need explanations if someone they know leaves without explanation or goodbye.  That’s why all classes talked about this change.  Today, I entered Aishah’s class as a third grader was saying she thought her class had been too talkative in the art studio.  We clarified that adults – not kids – were responsible for the change.  I told the truth: this was my idea, and teachers supported it because even when students get loud or unfocused, the children we care about deserve a respectful tone.   

Teaching is humbling.  Classroom management – ensuring that twenty-plus children behave politely and productively – is even tougher than it looks.  It’s tougher still for teachers who are giving up two or three periods each week when they can plan, organize, and breathe during the school day.  CPE1 teachers have high expectations for classroom management - high expectations for themselves and for colleagues. Those expectations, and what seems best for children, are explain why teachers chose to sacrifice preparation in December.

Of course, we’re still interested in finding a highly skilled art teacher to be a permanent part of our staff.  For now, children will continue to create visual projects in their classrooms (and some teachers plan to use the art studio as well.)

For many, this is a season of gratitude. I’m feeling thankful to have Josie and Jazmine coming back with our students.  I’m thankful for classroom teachers’ extra work during the next month.  And, most of all, I am grateful to work with so many adults who think so much about children’s emotions.