Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray, Harlem Charter School OCS Applauds The Class of 2021

Harlem’s Opportunity Charter School (OCS) this month celebrated the graduation of its high school senior class.

The Harlem charter school’s mission includes serving a majority of students who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, 92 percent of seniors graduated on time this year.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, 92 percent of seniors graduated on time this year.

At the event, City Council Member Vanessa Gibson gave an inspirational speech to the graduates.

The class valedictorian Emmanuel Salvador and salutatorian Thakura Pryce also had inspirational words for their classmates.

“I want to thank the graduates of Opportunity Charter School for accomplishing a huge milestone and overcoming great adversity during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said New York City Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson. “We know it was a challenging time for you, your friends, families, faculty, and staff, but despite it all, you are now ready to embark on a new chapter in your life. The world is ready for your leadership now more than ever, and I look forward to seeing the impact that you will have on our city. Congratulations, Class of `21!”

“We are so proud of our amazing Class of 2021. Throughout the pandemic, they showed bravery and resilience and continued to work hard in spite of this crisis,” said OCS CEO and Founder Leonard Goldberg. “While this may be goodbye, we know they will take the memories and lessons learned from the last four years with them to college and beyond.”

OCS bestowed the New York City’s Comptroller Student Achievement Award to Thakura Pryce and Yunior Rufino-Santos, two students who made outstanding contributions both within and outside their school communities.

These students demonstrated leadership among their peers, a commitment to public service, and a desire to create real change.

Five of OCS’s students were also honored with the Triple C award, given each year by the Attorney General in recognition of their courage, commitment and character.

OCS is a Harlem charter school that serves students with disabilities and low-income students from communities of color in grades 6 through 12.

More than 50 percent of OCS’s student population have moderate to severe learning disabilities and many suffer from a wide range of complex social and emotional challenges.

Since its founding, OCS has provided a comprehensive set of clinical programs and services administered by a team of learning specialists, counselors, and social workers designed to meet the needs of its students.

Opportunity Charter School’s mission is to provide youth who struggle in traditional learning environments, including students with disabilities, with the tools needed to excel academically, emotionally and socially in all aspects of life.

For more information visit www.ocsny.org.