306 E 5th St #21
New York, NY 10003

I have two kids at East Side, one is white, the other, Latinx. Both my kids love, love, love the school, its culture of zero tolerance for bullying and the teachers' dedication. It's obvious that teachers at this school love their job and are strict about academics and empathetic towards their students. My children feel safe and happy at this school every day. I see that there are two reviewers on this platform who complain about the school's "woke" politics and how it supposedly "makes children feel dirty and horrible for simply being born white". Obviously, these reviews are false and they don't belong to the East Side School's community because they don't reflect the reality at E.S. Everything the school does for the students and their families is to promote reflection and dialogue about key issues in our society (institutionalized racism is only one of those topics and the one that made the headlines because many white people are used to not being questioned for their actions). I am white and I never felt discriminated against for being asked to reflect about the privilege my skin color automatically gives me. If you're white and you feel threatened when asked to think about the innate privilege your skin color gives you, you're part of the problem, not the solution and the reason why we need more schools like E.S. My children are growing into mature, well-educated intellectuals who are aware of the world they live in and are ready to thrive in it and fight for their beliefs.

My daughter has attended this school for 5 years, and I couldn't be happier with my choice in elementary school. The teachers are amazing, and very dedicated to the students. They do not teach for state tests instead they prepare the students for critical thinking. There are no text books, which I like since they create their own curriculum and are not limited to teach according to one textbook. In Math and ELA, students are broken out in groups based on their ability across the grades, but have specific focus to help them grow and develop. The classes have two teachers and then one or two assistant teachers. They are available to answer questions. And ClassDojo (a facebook for schools) is a great tool for teachers, parents, and staff to stay connected. Teachers post videos with new math concepts to help parents understand (!!!!). The staff is amazingly supportive. Ms. Cameron (p) and Ms. Friedman (vp') are always there to greet parents and guide students through the day. Ms. Alice (the parent coordinator) is heart of the school! It is a small school, but builds a great community and support for parents, students, teachers and staff.

As principal of this amazing NYC public transfer high school, I am proud to offer a unique approach to education. At Cascades we pride ourselves in going the extra mile to assist students who have not been successful elsewhere. Whether we are helping counsel a student who is a single parent, providing employment experience for another student who is living on their own or just helping a struggling learner who does best when people take the time to focus and explain things, we at Cascades realize that teaching is not a job, it is a calling.