Cooke School & Institute

Congratulations, US Class of 2026!

🌟🎓 2026 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony 🎓🌟

🎓✨ The Countdown to Graduation Is On! ✨🎓

Cooke seniors were hard at work in rehearsal today, preparing for the big day this Friday! 🎉👏

From practicing the processional to making sure every detail of their speeches is just right, graduation is quickly becoming a reality for the Class of 2026 💙🎓. We couldn't be prouder of all they have accomplished and the perseverance, growth, and achievements that brought them to this milestone.

Congratulations to all of our seniors! 🌟🎉 We can't wait to celebrate you on Friday! 🎓👏💫

🐴✨ Learning Through Experience at Gallop NYC ✨🐴

Cooke 11th graders take our Vocational Skills class once a week to prepare for internships with our partner sites across the city. This year, two students were matched with Gallop NYC, a longtime Cooke partner that has provided high-quality vocational experiences for our students for more than a decade.

As the school year draws to a close, our 11th graders are reflecting on what they learned from their internships and thinking about the kinds of opportunities they would like to explore next year.

We are grateful to Gallop NYC and all of our internship partners for helping students discover their strengths, interests, and future possibilities. 💙👏

We are proud to announce that three Cooke faculty members will be presenting at a National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) event this fall. Cooke Mathematics K–12 Director of Curriculum, Andrew Gael, Speech and Language Services Chair, Melissa Madarasz M.A. CCC-SLP, and Speech-Language Pathologist and AAC Specialist, Erica Bronstein, will lead a session entitled Supporting Mathematical Thinking and Expression for Nonspeaking Students at the NCTM 2026 Annual Meeting & Exposition this October.

As North America's largest mathematics education organization, NCTM brings together educators from across the continent to share research, best practices, and innovative teaching strategies.

A frequent NCTM presenter, Andy said he wanted to broaden this year's presentation by including communication specialists.

“This is the first time I have invited non-math service providers to present with me. Communication is essential to learning mathematics. Many of the strategies we use at Cooke to make mathematical concepts accessible to all learners can be applied in any classroom.”

Here is the official description of their panel: All students, regardless of communication abilities, deserve access to meaningful mathematical learning. However, traditional approaches often rely heavily on verbal expression. Speech-language pathologists, AAC Specialists, and a Mathematics Educator collaborate to lead this session, with the goal of shifting from a verbal, language-heavy approach to one that leverages multiple modes of communication and the learning supports that can make this a reality in mathematics classrooms.

Congratulations to Andy, Melissa, and Erica on this exciting opportunity to share Cooke's expertise with educators nationwide.

🎨🛍️ A Spring Fair Tradition! 🛍️🎨

Last week, Cooke held its Fourth Annual Middle School Spring Fair 🌷✨. This interdisciplinary event gives students the opportunity to create and sell crafts and treats, putting their math, business, and customer service skills into practice.

MS student Kingston, who helped staff the popular tie-dye booth 🧦, enjoyed seeing his peers from different cohorts and their families come together for the event.

“We had limited stock and sold out of some items,” he shared. “One man wanted some tie-dye socks, but we were already out of his size. It was a lot of fun to sell products!"

Congratulations to Ms. Audra and all of our student entrepreneurs on another successful Spring Fair!

📚✨ Author Visit at Cooke! ✨📚

Children’s book author and illustrator, Cara Reece (also Upper School student Langston’s aunt!), visited Cooke School to read from her newest book, Black Artists Rock! The Cool Kids' Guide A–Z 🎨🎶, and offer insights into the life of a writer.

Cara presented to both Middle School and Upper School student groups in the gym, reading from her book, sharing the first story she ever wrote as a child, and answering thoughtful questions from the students.

She also made a special visit to Langston’s classroom for an in-depth look at one of the featured artists in her book: the legendary Ella Fitzgerald 🎤✨. Students learned about the extraordinary vocalist who moved to Harlem as a teen, where she was discovered while performing at Amateur Night at the legendary Apollo Theater. They watched historical footage of her performances and created collages inspired by her life and achievements.

Thank you, Cara, for inspiring our students through literature, art, and the stories of groundbreaking Black artists! 💙👏

Cara’s book may be purchased on Amazon here: https://bit.ly/4e4qKdE

🎉 In celebration of Educator Appreciation, let’s get to know Transitions Community Inclusion Assistant Viviana Nivar!

1️⃣ Viviana’s favorite Cooke event is the Talent Show. “I enjoy seeing the students so happy. They are doing something they love and showing off their talent.” 🎭

2️⃣ Viviana has two dream travel destinations ✈️ She would love to take a Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon and also hopes to plan a family trip to Greece. 🇪🇸🇵🇹🇬🇷 “I love engaging with new cultures and food and observing how people live.”

3️⃣ Because reading to children was not part of her culture growing up, Viviana made a special effort to read to her own children. She especially loved books that teach values, such as We Give Thanks.

4️⃣ Like many Cooke staff members, Viviana loves to travel. Her next destination is the Greek island of Santorini, where she’s excited to experience the music and language.

5️⃣ Viviana’s favorite snack is dark chocolate 🍫 enjoyed in moderation. As she says with a smile, “I’m a sweet lady.”

Thank you, Viviana, for the warmth, care, and joy you bring to the Cooke community each day. 💙