Reunited…and Ready to Make New Memories!

Our in-person school year has begun, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome our students back. Through meticulous preparation and a continued focus on health and safety, we opened our doors to excited, energetic students. To say they were thrilled to see their friends and teachers would be an understatement. This first week of school didn’t disappoint.

Our Cooke families are incredible partners ensuring that safety protocols are met from home, and our teachers and administrators are laser-focused on creating a safe learning environment. We are optimistic that a successful and enriching school year lies ahead for all!

Feels great to be back!

(See photos from our first week)

This year marks Cooke’s 35th year of operation. We couldn’t be more proud of this accomplishment, and we are thrilled to have supporters like you who continue to be a vital part of our success. So much growth has occurred over these years, and it is all made possible by our tremendous community!

Stay tuned for stories, photos, memories and highlights as we celebrate 35 years (and look ahead to many more). Do you have a special Cooke story to share? Tell us how you are connected to Cooke, or share fond memories you hold dear. Our 35th anniversary is a special time for our community. Through tough or uncertain times, we’ve come together to support one another. We’ve proven that “Cooke is our constant!”

Please send your story to: advancement@cookeschool.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

In the Community

Cooke Transition students are back out and about in the community. As a part of their growth toward adulthood and independence, they will venture out into the community more and more, learning real-world skills throughout their time at Cooke.

We love to see our students making their way in the world. Now that we have returned to school, our students will get back to real-world experiences in the community including, filling out voter registration and library card forms, and registering for digital NYPL accounts.

They will travel to public libraries, grocery stores and restaurants to practice money management and budgeting. Before heading out for independent travel, students will learn how to pack and prepare themselves to ensure that they have everything they need for their trip.

In addition, they will be encouraged to follow current affairs that impact their communities (i.e. the mayoral election). They will learn key features of their communities, including names and places within their home neighborhood, where to find it on a map, and characteristics that make it unique.

These are just a few of the things that our young adults will be learning this school year. They are excited to be back and are eager to practice the skills they will need to live more independently.