Changes to our Spring startup

Friday, December 21, 2007
Dear CSS Parents,

I write to inform you of a last minute change to our academic calendar which was required by the Chancellor.
Le escribo para informarle que el Chancellor ha requerido que cambiemos el calendario en este ultimo momento.

Our school will open starting Wednesday January 2 along with the rest of NYC public schools. For the initial 3 days (Wednesday 2, Thursday 3 and Friday 4) we will have a modified school day starting at 8:30 am until 2:45 pm and there will be no afterschool electives or tutoring programs. On Monday Jan 7th we will return to our regular CSS schedule 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Please note that there will be no afterschool programs or Saturday Academy until the 2nd full week of class.
Nuestra escuela abrira sus puertas para todos los estudiantes el Miercoles 2 de enero a la misma vez que el resto de las escuelas publicas de la ciudad. Los tres primeros dias del semestre (Miercoles 2, Jueves 3 y Viernes 4) tendremos un horario modificado de 8:30 am a 2:45 pm y no habran electivas despues de la escuela, ni programa de tutorias. El lunes 7 de enero continuaremos con nuestro horario regular de 8:00 am a 4:00 pm.

For these 3 first days of school we have planned a special workshop with the theme “WINTER”. The program will explore winter as a theme in literature, the creative arts, science, and film. It will include a daylong winter hike and orienteering exercise in Van Cortland park, reading of winter poetry and short stories, creating a winter photographic gallery, and exploring the biology and earth science of temperate climates and extreme low temperature ecosystems. This workshop model will complement three other ones we have planned throughout our Spring semester focusing on Diversity, Water, and Freedom.
Para esto primeros 3 dias hemos planificado un program tematico interdisciplinario sobre el invierno. Este programa complementara otros tres mini-workshops sobre diversidad, libertad y agua que tendremos durante el semestre.

We understand that for some families attendance will be difficult, as you have already made travel plans based on the school calendar that the parent calendar committee developed in April and with which we have been working with for the entire Fall semester. I regret the confusion this causes. I am working hard to ensure that the extended and enriched academic program I promised for your children will be eventually accepted by NYCDOE.
Entendemos que para algunas familias esto es problematico pues ya han hecho sus planes de viajes y vacaciones basados en el calendario desarrollado por el comite de padres en Abril y con el cual hemos estado trabajando todo el semestre. Estoy trabajando arduamente para lograr aprobacion del horario extendido e enriquecido que les prometi para sus hijos.

If you have any concerns or questions about this please feel to call me directly at my cell phone 917 328-5463.
Si tiene alguna pregunta sientase en la confianza de llamarme directamente a mi cellular 917 328-5463.

Dr. Jose Gabriel Maldonado-Rivera, Principal
email josemaldonado@columbiasecondary.org
cellular 917 328-5463

May the spirit of goodwill, love, and civic action,
that humanity so desperately needs, permeate you during the holidays.