Our Campus
Our parents both need and deserve to be included for All Children to Thrive, and we know we are a better school when parents/caregivers take part in decision-making about their children and our school.
Since our school’s founding, CPSC teachers visit with each of their students and their family/caretakers prior to the beginning of the school year. We believe the relationships between teacher, student and family are so important that we prioritize this time for introductions before the first day of school.
The visit is a one-on-one time for your child and the teacher to get to know one another. Your teacher is hoping to learn something special about and from your child, which is a first step in connecting classroom lessons with your child’s interests and backgrounds. It’s also a chance for you to share information about your child or family that only you know. If you have additional questions or concerns that aren’t addressed during this short visit, feel free to contact your child’s teacher for a conference.
The Introduction most frequently occurs at your home, but we respect that you may be more comfortable at a park, the school or another public space. Visits are not evaluations of your home (so resist the urge to clean!), but hope to offer a relaxed setting for you and your child. Please note that there is no expectation that you serve the teacher food – remember they are visiting several families in one day and simply eager to get to know you and your child.
Our regular classroom and grade-level team newsletters will keep you up to date about life at CPSC. They provide a way for you to have conversations with your child about their learning process, familiarize yourself with our approaches and communicate directly with teachers.
Every quarter we host Parent/Caregiver Trainings and Workshops that all are encouraged to attend. Parenting is demanding work, and these events are intended to make parenting more joyful.
Family involvement is a cornerstone of our charter and mission, and volunteering offers you and your child a deeper sense of connection with our community of learners. By enrolling your child at CPSC, your family is making a commitment to spend at least four hours per month participating in school-related projects. CPSC appreciates your time and energy and welcomes your ideas. Parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles and caregivers are encouraged to volunteer weekly or quarterly in any of the following ways:
Our simple belief is that when children and families do things together, learn together, and build community together, All Children Thrive. At the start of each year we recruit family members to join CPSC school committees including PTO, Strawberry Parents, Classroom Parents and the Equity Committee. Our school’s board of trustees also has a variety of committees and invites parents to bring their passions and skills to help us govern our school.
The CPSC PTO is committed to growing a community of partners to build a diverse, child-centered school where ALL children succeed.
Each classroom or middle school CREW will have 1-2 class parents to help families become involved in the classroom in the most constructive manner and to facilitate class communication. In addition, each class will have a Strawberry Parent who will coordinate the class booth/activity for the annual Strawberry Festival held in May.
CPSC is committed to building strong partnerships among parents, teachers, students and the larger community. Class parents meet regularly with their teachers and work with them throughout the year to clarify classroom needs, address goals and help organize and encourage the participation of other parents in classroom and school activities. If you are interested in being a class parent or the Strawberry Parent, please speak with your child’s teacher.
CPSC encourages and expects parents to be vital supporters of their children’s school experiences and to communicate with teachers about issues affecting their children. Open, honest communication is in everyone’s best interest as we all have the same goal — the positive growth and learning of our children. If you have a concern about your child’s experience at school, please approach your child’s teacher first.
Please note that during school hours, a teacher’s phone calls are routinely sent to voicemail. We will interrupt teachers during their instructional day only in case of emergency.
Our Parents/Caregivers are welcome to visit CPSC; your presence makes us a better school for all children. As we increase parent engagement we also want to increase safety and security for all of our students, families and students. When you visit CPSC, first go to the front office for a visitor’s pass. If you have a concern or question when you arrive at the front office that requires scheduling a meeting, our office manager will help you schedule an appointment with the right staff member. Additionally, if you would like a conference or meeting time, you must make an appointment in advance.
Parent–teacher conferences may be scheduled at any time during the year by the parent or the teacher. You may of course communicate brief messages directly to your child’s teacher without an appointment before or after school, but please schedule a conference for communications that will require more than a few seconds. Please do not try to communicate an important message while the teacher is on duty, which includes drop-off and pick-up.
Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled after the first and third quarters. Additional conferences are available upon request. (See Reporting Student Progress, section 2.4). Our academic calendar includes two days at the beginning of each intersession break for these quarterly conferences. Teachers will contact parents to schedule conferences during those days. Please do not ask teachers to conference over intersessions, as this is their much-deserved time off.
Please note that in cases of parental separation or divorce, CPSC may not be able to offer separate parent-teacher conferences for each parent. Please speak to the Elementary or Middle School Director regarding concerns or individual needs for this situation. If desired, the Executive Director or Elementary or Middle School Director will both schedule and attend parent-teacher conferences to facilitate the presence of all parties.
We expect 100% participation in parent-teacher conferences. This is one of the most important commitments you make as a Central Park School parent. A parent’s willingness to collaborate with the teacher, share information and play an integral part in the progress of their child is critical to the successful partnership between parent and teacher.
Your role as parent/guardian makes you the most important teacher in your child’s life. Our children observe and imitate the behavioral responses that are used by the significant adults in their environment. Parents who are respectful and kind to others, especially their own children, are likely to see that same behavior develop in their children.
We ask that you demonstrate a variety of healthy responses to frustration and set-backs, as well as modeling effective problem-solving techniques and non-judgmental communication. These qualities are valuable to our children who are still learning to establish their own self-control.
Our children absorb a great deal by daily observation, but we encourage you to also engage in discussion with your child about ways to show respect, build trust, show empathy, manage anger and practice forgiveness. These skills will help your child build successful relationships at school and in their future endeavors.
