Gordon Parks

26-27 Family Welcome Letter

Erika Cooke

August 10, 2026

August 10, 2026

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers:

I hope this letter finds you and your family well.  It is with great excitement and gratitude that I introduce myself as the new Principal of Gordon Parks Academy. I am truly honored to continue serving this incredible school community and to build upon the relationships we have already begun during my time as Interim Principal. Believe it or not, the 2026–2027 school year is just around the corner. I am thrilled to rejoin Parks Academy as we continue to work toward ensuring our students' learning experiences live up to the legacy of our school’s namesake, the late, great  Mr. Gordon Parks.

At Gordon Parks Academy, our vision is to create a school where every student feels safe, inspired, and empowered to learn each day. I believe that our greatest success comes when families, educators, and the community work together as partners. Open communication, mutual respect, and trust are the foundation of those partnerships, and I am committed to ensuring that every family feels welcomed, heard, and connected. The staff and I will collaborate to develop a vision that will ensure our students are equipped for the life-long learning experiences that will  allow them to compete in and contribute to an ever-changing global society.  Through the Character Counts program, our students will build their interpersonal and leadership skills. They will explore the Six Pillars of Character (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenships) learning how to practice and apply these pillars both in and out of school. You may see related activities come home or hear your child talk about character skills—please use these as opportunities to engage with and support their development. To learn more, visit www.charactercounts.org

The first day of school is Thursday, September 3. Both Thursday, September 3, and Friday, September 5, will be early dismissal days. All students must arrive before 8:30 a.m. and will be dismissed promptly at 12:45 p.m. Please ensure your child is picked up on time. Students will be dismissed at 2:55 p.m. starting on Monday, September 8.

Prekindergarten

Drop Off / Pick Up will be from the Playground gate entrance, which is accessible from the Greenwood Avenue side of the building.  Breakfast will be available in classrooms for all students upon arrival at 8:30 a.m.  Dismissal will begin at 2:55 p.m. on full days and 12:45 p.m. on early dismissal days.  Please be advised that the parking lot is for staff only.  We ask that parents not pull into or walk through the parking lot to drop off or pick up students. 

Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2

Drop Off will be at the Auditorium Door on Greenwood Avenue  starting at 8:30 a.m.  Breakfast will be provided in the classrooms. Pick up will begin at 2:55 p.m. on full days and 12:45 p.m. on early dismissal days from North Grove Street. Kindergarten dismissal will be at Door 8 on Greenwood Avenue, 1st Grade at Door 2 on William Street, and 2nd Grade at Door Door 4 on William Street.

Please note: We do not provide before or after care. Timely  drop-off and pick-up are required. Transportation is only available for students with disabilities.

The East Orange School District is a uniform district:  

  • Elementary (PreK–5): Navy blue pants/skirts/jumpers with powder blue shirts/blouses

  • Gym days: Navy blue and/or powder blue gym attire OR school uniform with sneakers

  • Outerwear: Hoodies/sweatshirts should match uniform colors

  • No slides, sandals, or Crocs are permitted.

Uniforms may be purchased at the following locations:

In order to maintain communication between home and Oliver Academy, you must inform our office immediately of any address or phone number changes.  If you have not already done so, please sign up for the FOCUS parent portal via the district website.  There, parents/guardians will have access to their children’s grades, report cards, etc. To download the FOCUS app, simply search for the “EOSD Community Portal” on iTunes or Google Play.  During the last week of August, student classroom assignments will also be available in the FOCUS portal. 

We also communicate through:

I invite you to join me on Tuesday, August 25th for a “Principal’s Meet and Greet” on the GPA playground from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. where we can have the opportunity to meet in person before the first day of school.  Additionally, we will host our annual Back-to-School Night / Open House event on Thursday, September 17, at 5:30 p.m. in order to share more with you about our wonderful school and the exciting year our students have ahead of them, full of learning and growing. The district calendar is accessible via this link for your convenience: 26-27 School Card Calendar.

As we embark on this journey together, I look forward to celebrating our students' accomplishments, supporting them through challenges, and creating meaningful opportunities that help them grow academically, socially, and emotionally. My door is always open, and I encourage you to stay engaged, ask questions, and share your ideas as we continue building a school community where every child can thrive.

Thank you for the warm welcome and for entrusting us with your children each day. It is a privilege to serve as your principal, and I am excited about all that we will accomplish together.

With gratitude,

Dr. Erika D. Cooke

Principal

Gordon Parks Academy