CPE1: Central Park East 1 Elementary School

Festival of lights - by Erin (K/1 Teacher)

As many of you know, I am a fanatic about Christmas. To me, this is truly the most wonderful time of the year. I am lucky to be working with Digna, who enjoys singing holiday songs as much as I do, otherwise, I’d be in trouble!

When I was a little girl, my mom and I would always travel to California to spend Christmas at my grandmother’s house with my four uncles and cousins. My grandmother had a plastic tree so my uncle would play “O Christmas Tree” on the piano, while we would sing “O plastic tree, O plastic tree, your leaves are made of PVC.” 

Contact Beth Wood - 212 860 582

Contact Beth Wood - 212 860 582

CPE 1 is a New York City public school located in East Harlem in Manhattan’s Community School District 4. Since the school’s inception, it has been an unzoned school. Admission to CPE 1 is not based on a family’s address, but rather on their interest in the school’s progressive educational approach. Because the school is located in East Harlem, many of our families are from the neighborhood, but we also draw families from the Upper West Side, Washington Heights, Inwood, the Bronx, and other boroughs. Families choose to enroll their children at CPE 1 because they value its small diverse school community, rich arts program, and excellent progressive education which recognizes and fosters a variety of learning styles.

Families who wish to apply to CPE 1 must attend a parent tour. Tours are scheduled approximately every other week from late October through January. The tours are led by current CPE 1 parents. Ample time is allotted for questions. Parents will visit all the classrooms, as well. Applications will be given out at the end of the tour.

CIRCLING AROUND CPE My name is Catlin and I have joined the CPE 1 teaching community this year as the 1st-2nd grade classroom teacher. For the last five years I have been teaching 2nd grade in Hoboken, New Jersey at the Elysian Charter School.

I am really glad to be here at CPE 1 in part because I feel like I have been circling CPE 1 for a long time. When I first came to NYC after living in Brazil in 1999 I wanted to find out about teaching in public schools and how I could get involved. My mom’s friend had an ex-boyfriend from her growing up years. This ex-boyfriend’s wife worked in schools in NYC. My mom gave me the wife’s number; her name was Jane Andrias. I called her and asked about working in schools and she said she would send my resume to the district office so I sent it to her and that was that for about a year.

As many, or all, of you know, this is my first year here at CPE 1 and my first year as a classroom teacher. As silly as it may seem, it is still strange when I tell people that I am a teacher. Why? Because, before I went to graduate school to get my degree in Elementary Education, teachers symbolized, to me, what it is to be a grown-up. Grown-ups are well-organized, they know lots of things, they are emotionally mature, and they generally know what to do in most situations. As I was beginning my student teaching, I thought, among many other things, “I don’t feel like a grown-up yet but when I’m a teacher, I’ll have to be a grown-up!”

We have scheduled dates for prospective parents to tour CPE 1: Oct. 25, Nov. 8, and Nov. 29. Tours begin at 9am. Interested families should contact Beth Wood at the school (212 860 5821) to sign up. The tours are parent-run so your participation (even if you’re new to CPE) is welcome and appreciated!

Principal: Julie Zuckerman 

Address: 1573 Madison Avenue (at 106th Street), New York, NY 10029

Phone: 212 860 5821 

We are a non-catchment area school and accept students from throughout the city. CPE1 is now accepting applications and scheduling parent tours. Interested families should call 212.860.5821 for an appointment.