Dear Parents and Guardians,

This past year has caused all those intertwined in our school’s legacy to think deeply about what we are and what we hope to be.  Together we faced a number of essential questions with implications not just for this year, but for the foreseeable future.  While the decisions we arrived at have resulted in significant changes, our commitment to advancing creative solutions to the most vexing issues in urban education remains as strong as ever.

After years of speculation, we have finally brought Computer Schools I and II together under one roof, as the entire school has moved to the third floor of the O’Shea Middle School Complex.  We are confident that this consolidation will result in our community being more unified and cohesive than ever.  Our sharing of the O’Shea building’s facilities will provide better opportunities for experiential learning and will enhance our after school offerings.  After giving the matter much thought, it is our intention to maintain the two-house system as a means of reaffirming our commitment to the well-documented benefits of smaller school communities.

We have opted to be counted among the new schools in the highly-publicized Empowerment Zone.  As an Empowerment School, we will benefit from greater autonomy and financial resources in exchange for being held to a different set of accountability standards.  Thus far I have been very positively impressed with the level of support and communication we have received from the new leadership structure, specifically from our Network Leader, Alisa Berger, and our Cohort Leader, Yuet Chu.  Alisa and Yuet have been principals of small, progressive schools and have been refreshingly empathetic to our unique concerns.  I am confident that with their guidance and support, we will measure up well by any standard the City sets for us without compromising the essence of what we are.

We have elevated our educational association with our long-term partners, Lincoln Center Institute to that of Inquiry School.  This designation will involve our school in an even deeper commitment to principles of aesthetic education that have been an integral part of the Computer School experience for its entire history.  We will be embedding the Capacities for Aesthetic Education into our planning and teaching across the curriculum, especially during LCI units of study.  This years LCI offerings kick off with Woza Albert!, a two person interactive dramatic performance set in Apartheid era South Africa.  Subsequent units will focus on the dance of Ron Brown and on visual art represented at the Guggenheim Museum.

Our continual quest to remain on the cutting edge of technology integration has been recently furthered by the acquisition of 150 laptop computers and 10 interactive SmartBoards.  We made great strides in the utilization of these resources and are excited about having them available as school opens.  These computers were acquired through the efforts of our city council representative, Gale Brewer.  Councilwoman Brewer has been a tireless champion of many of our most vital causes, and has been a protecting angel whenever a crisis has befallen us.  I personally owe Ms. Brewer and her education team a huge debt of gratitude for supporting me through the many daunting challenges our school encountered throughout my first year as principal.

We are taking a new step in promoting effective communication with parents.  Our web site is again being upgraded and will be even more informative up-to-date and user friendly.  All our teachers to utilize the TeacherEase online grade book program, which will enable parents to monitor their child’s progress on a continual basis and keep track of assignments in all subject areas.

Our staff has some new additions, and some familiar faces in new roles.  Each of our two houses will have a new leader:  I am delighted to announce that Eresha Kissoon will take on the responsibilities of Academic Coordinator at Computer School I, as Jessica Shalom moves from that position to assume the same leadership role at Computer School II.  I am also thrilled to report that Lisa Johnson-Mifflin has changed roles from PA co-president to that of School Secretary.  Tracy Rudzitis joins our staff as computer teacher and technical expert, taking over for Aaron Galit who relocated to Florida.  We have also brought on board two humanities teachers, Jennifer Schoen and Nicole Chu, science teacher Kristin Smith, and special education teacher, Michelle Babian.  Lindsey Elenson returns to us in the role of Community Assistant.  Finally, our long-time guidance counselor, Julie Topcik has relocated to Florida and has been replaced by Erin Hill.

We are hopeful that each of these changes will set the stage for many more years of success as one of the very best middle schools in New York, a school community firmly committed to diversity, interdisciplinary learning, technology integration, aesthetic education, student-centered pedagogy, community building, and high expectations for all.  On behalf of our exceptional team of educators and support staff, thank you for supporting us in providing your child with an educational experience in line with your highest expectations.

Henry Zymeck
Principal