FCPS

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Calendar Reminders 

Monday, December 23 - Friday, January 3 (Winter Break) - No school for students/staff

Monday, January 20 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday) - No school for students/staff

Tuesday, January 28 - 2nd Quarter Ends

Wednesday, January 29 (Teacher Workday) - No school for students

See the complete school year calendar.

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

⏰ Update on Potential Changes to Middle School Start Times

At Tuesday’s School Board work session, staff from Prismatic Services, Inc., presented options for adjusting start times at FCPS middle schools. As a reminder, Prismatic is charged with developing an action plan to help the School Board reach its goal of starting middle school at or after 8 a.m.

The presentation includes five options for adjusting middle school start times based on the consultant’s analysis from community forums, surveys, and interviews with staff, parents, associations, and other groups. The School Board will provide next steps to the superintendent.

Watch a video of the work session. Visit the Middle School Start Times webpage for more information on the project.

Boundary Meetings

Boundary Review Community Meeting

Community meetings regarding FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review will take place in each of the division's six regions. You are encouraged to attend the meeting in our region, which will take place today, Wednesday, December 18, 6:30-8 p.m., at Madison High School (Cafeteria). If you are unable to attend on this date, please view the full list of meetings on the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage.

Please register in advance by clicking on the date. Language interpretation will be available. 

American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 8

Cooper MS will again host the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) AMC 8 test.  The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40 minute multiple choice exam in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development of problem solving skills.  Additional information can be found on the MAA website.

This optional competition will be offered after school on Wednesday, January 22nd from 2:30 - 4:00 PM.  Students can be picked up at Cooper at 4 PM, students can take a late bus home at 4:30, or any student that typically is a walker can walk home.  

If your child is interested in taking the AMC 8, please complete this Google Form no later than Monday, January 13th; late registrations will not be accepted. 

Please contact Lisa Walsh ([email protected])  with any questions.

Office of Student Testing

Fall Student Testing Results - Available in SIS ParentVUE

Each fall, FCPS students take part in screening assessments for reading and mathematics to identify strengths and areas for support. Score reports for families are posted in ParentVUE in the “Documents” section, generally about one month after testing has been completed.

• iReady reports in grades 1-8 are available in ParentVUE now. 
• Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth reports for grades 6-12 will be available by Friday, December 13, following an extension to the fall testing window. 

Visit FCPS’ website for additional information about student tests at each grade level, including what each test is for and when each test takes place. Caregivers may follow up with their children’s teachers for more information about how they use test results to support student success.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Results

Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of October, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.

For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.

Rising 9th Grade Open House

On Sunday, January 26th, from 2-4pm, Langley High School is hosting an Open House.  Eighth-grade students and their families are invited to attend the information session presented by administrators, tour the building with student ambassadors, and chat with experienced parents and faculty. Interested families should RSVP to Assistant Principal Jim Robertson using this link by January 10th, 2025:

Who: Current 8th-grade students and their families in the Langley Pyramid

What: Langley High School Open House

Where: Langley HS Auditorium, park in the main lot and enter through door #14

When: Sunday, January 26th 2025, 2-4pm

Private School Application Process

If your student is planning to apply to a private school for the 2025-2026 school year, please find the required forms and timelines here.

Please ensure to submit all forms at least 10 school days prior to the application deadline.

FCPS Family Resource Center Opportunities Webinars

The Family Resource Center offers a variety of free webinars to help children and families succeed.  Speakers are invited from academic fields and from within FCPS experts.  Check out the link for sign up and more details. https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/family-resource-center/free-webinars-and-family-events

12/20  Youth Mental Health First Aid for Families

1/10      Help! My Kids Won’t Go to School

1/17      A Series on Supporting Your Child’s Executive Function Skills

1/24      Depression in Teens

 

Cohort Opportunity

“From Caregiver to Breadwinner: Empowering Underserved Women with the Skills to Move into the Technology Workforce” at Marymount University’s Center for the Innovative Workforce is a no-cost 12-week training program designed to help women gain new skills and find higher-paying, more flexible jobs in Virginia’s technology industry as help-desk technicians. The program focuses on minority populations who are in caregiver roles and is currently recruiting participants for its spring cohort. You can learn more by reviewing this flier and access the application at https://fromcaregivertobreadwinner.wordpress.com

 

Please contact our Family Liaison, Ms. Amy Bailey ([email protected]) with any questions. 

Student Celebrations Yearbook

The Cooper MS yearbook, Pathfinder, earned a finalist position for the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) Awards.  Crown Awards are the highest recognition given by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association to a student print or digital medium for overall excellence. Finalists will be awarded either a Silver or Gold Crown at the CSPA 101st Annual Spring Convention on March 21, 2025, on the Columbia University campus in New York City.   Additional information about his recognition can be found here.

Congratulations to Ms. Bovenzi and her yearbook team for achieving this honor.

Cooper Quiz Bowl

Cooper QB pulled off another win at the Katherine Johnson MS Invitational in Fairfax, VA on 12/14. Cooper A (Ian C., Andrew D., Richard D.) went 8-0 and won the tournament. Cooper C (Sohum D., A.J. G., Dhruv R., Mihir J.) placed 5th, Cooper B (Sophie J., Oliver Y., Ananda A., Keshavan N.) placed 9th out of a field of 24 local schools.  Individually Sohum and Andrew medaled with 4th and 5th finish respectively.  Congratulations to the team!

Model UN

Cooper's Model UN team scooped up an impressive number of awards at the GW conference:

Verbal Commendations went to Mark T., Ahaana S.R., Andrew L., Nader T., Tyler P. and Arya I.  Honorable Mention went to Bella W. and Benjamin M. and Outstanding Delegate went to Ezgi G.

Congratulations to our award winners and everyone on the team that did an amazing job!  Please view our website for a few pictures. 

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Calendar Reminders 

Monday, December 23 - Friday, January 3 (Winter Break) - No school for students/staff

Monday, January 20 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday) - No school for students/staff

Tuesday, January 28 - 2nd Quarter Ends

Wednesday, January 29 (Teacher Workday) - No school for students

See the complete school year calendar.

⏰ Update on Potential Changes to Middle School Start Times

At Tuesday’s School Board work session, staff from Prismatic Services, Inc., presented options for adjusting start times at FCPS middle schools. As a reminder, Prismatic is charged with developing an action plan to help the School Board reach its goal of starting middle school at or after 8 a.m.

The presentation includes five options for adjusting middle school start times based on the consultant’s analysis from community forums, surveys, and interviews with staff, parents, associations, and other groups. The School Board will provide next steps to the superintendent.

Watch a video of the work session. Visit the Middle School Start Times webpage for more information on the project.

Boundary Meetings

Boundary Review Community Meeting

Community meetings regarding FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review will take place in each of the division's six regions. You are encouraged to attend the meeting in our region, which will take place on Wednesday, December 18, 6:30-8 p.m., at Madison High School (Cafeteria). If you are unable to attend on this date, please view the full list of meetings on the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage.

Please register in advance by clicking on the date. Language interpretation will be available. 

American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 8

Cooper MS will again host the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) AMC 8 test.  The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40 minute multiple choice exam in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development of problem solving skills.  Additional information can be found on the MAA website.

This optional competition will be offered after school on Wednesday, January 22nd from 2:30 - 4:00 PM.  Students can be picked up at Cooper at 4 PM, students can take a late bus home at 4:30, or any student that typically is a walker can walk home.  

If your child is interested in taking the AMC 8, please complete this Google Form no later than Monday, January 13th; late registrations will not be accepted. 

Please contact Lisa Walsh ([email protected])  with any questions.

American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 8

Cooper MS will again host the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) AMC 8 test.  The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40 minute multiple choice exam in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development of problem solving skills.  Additional information can be found on the MAA website.

This optional competition will be offered after school on Wednesday, January 22nd from 2:30 - 4:00 PM.  Students can be picked up at Cooper at 4 PM, students can take a late bus home at 4:30, or any student that typically is a walker can walk home.  

If your child is interested in taking the AMC 8, please complete this Google Form no later than Monday, January 13th; late registrations will not be accepted. 

Please contact Lisa Walsh ([email protected])  with any questions.

AAP Referrals

Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Sarah Reeser ([email protected]) no later than December 15, 2024. 

 

The window for families to submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually.  Forms for Full-Time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted. 

 

Submitting a referral form for Full-Time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time placement.  Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Sarah Reeser ([email protected])

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

Office of Student Testing

Fall Student Testing Results - Available in SIS ParentVUE

Each fall, FCPS students take part in screening assessments for reading and mathematics to identify strengths and areas for support. Score reports for families are posted in ParentVUE in the “Documents” section, generally about one month after testing has been completed.

• iReady reports in grades 1-8 are available in ParentVUE now. 
• Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth reports for grades 6-12 will be available by Friday, December 13, following an extension to the fall testing window. 

Visit FCPS’ website for additional information about student tests at each grade level, including what each test is for and when each test takes place. Caregivers may follow up with their children’s teachers for more information about how they use test results to support student success.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Results

Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of October, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.

For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.

PTO Spiritwear Pop-Up Shop at the Bookfair

The PTO will have a pop-up shop at the bookfair for one day only. They have warm winter hoodies, beanies, and socks to help students show their Cooper flair even when it’s cold outside. These also make great gifts for siblings who are up and coming Cooper students! The popup shop will be available only one day this week: TOMORROW: THURSDAY, December 12. Cash only—bring enough for your books, candy canes, and Cooper swag.

 

Students can visit the book fair, during designated times, through Friday, December 13.

Rising 9th Grade Open House

On Sunday, January 26th, from 2-4pm, Langley High School is hosting an Open House.  Eighth-grade students and their families are invited to attend the information session presented by administrators, tour the building with student ambassadors, and chat with experienced parents and faculty. Interested families should RSVP to Assistant Principal Jim Robertson using this link by January 10th, 2025:

Who: Current 8th-grade students and their families in the Langley Pyramid

What: Langley High School Open House

Where: Langley HS Auditorium, park in the main lot and enter through door #14

When: Sunday, January 26th 2025, 2-4pm

Private School Application Process

If your student is planning to apply to a private school for the 2025-2026 school year, please find the required forms and timelines here.

Please ensure to submit all forms at least 10 school days prior to the application deadline.

FCPS Family Resource Center Opportunities Webinars

The Family Resource Center offers a variety of free webinars to help children and families succeed.  Speakers are invited from academic fields and from within FCPS experts.  Check out the link for sign up and more details. https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/family-resource-center/free-webinars-and-family-events

12/13  Protecting Kids Against Digital Exploitation: Keeping Kids Safe Online

12/20  Youth Mental Health First Aid for Families

1/10      Help! My Kids Won’t Go to School

1/17      A Series on Supporting Your Child’s Executive Function Skills

1/24      Depression in Teens

 

Cohort Opportunity

“From Caregiver to Breadwinner: Empowering Underserved Women with the Skills to Move into the Technology Workforce” at Marymount University’s Center for the Innovative Workforce is a no-cost 12-week training program designed to help women gain new skills and find higher-paying, more flexible jobs in Virginia’s technology industry as help-desk technicians. The program focuses on minority populations who are in caregiver roles and is currently recruiting participants for its spring cohort. You can learn more by reviewing this flier and access the application at https://fromcaregivertobreadwinner.wordpress.com

 

Please contact our Family Liaison, Ms. Amy Bailey ([email protected]) with any questions. 

Student Celebrations Quiz Bowl

The National Academic Quiz Tournament (NAQT), the organization that hosts the quiz bowl nationals, featured Cooper MS A Team as NAQT Middle School Team of the Week, due to our great performance in recent tournaments. Cooper A is currently ranked at 4th place nationally, Cooper B 29th place!  Congratulations to our Quiz Bowl team.

Chess Club

Congratulations to Zohran V., Andrew D., and Bryan T. on the Cooper MS Chess Club for their 7th place finish in the 2024 National K-12 Grades Championship by the US Chess Federation.

  Model UN

Cooper's Model UN team scooped up an impressive number of awards at the GW conference this past weekend:

Verbal Commendations went to Mark T., Ahaana S.R., Andrew L., Nader T., Tyler P. and Arya I.  Honorable Mention went to Bella W. and Benjamin M. and Outstanding Delegate went to Ezgi G.

Congratulations to our award winners and everyone on the team that did an amazing job!

  Model UN

Cooper's Model UN team scooped up an impressive number of awards at the GW conference this past weekend:

Verbal Commendations went to Mark T., Ahaana S.R., Andrew L., Nader T., Tyler P. and Arya I.  Honorable Mention went to Bella W. and Benjamin M. and Outstanding Delegate went to Ezgi G.

Congratulations to our award winners and everyone on the team that did an amazing job!

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Calendar Reminders 

Monday, December 23 - Friday, January 3 (Winter Break) - No school for students/staff

Monday, January 20 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday) - No school for students/staff

Tuesday, January 28 - 2nd Quarter Ends

Wednesday, January 29 (Teacher Workday) - No school for students

See the complete school year calendar.

Pine Spring ES Gift Collection

We have partnered with Pine Spring ES this season to fulfill gift wishes for their kindergarten class. This is our 10th annual gift drive to partner with our sister school! Thank you to those who have already generously donated.  We have a few more available slots.  

Should you be interested in sponsoring a student, you may sign up HERE. 

Please drop off wrapped and labeled gifts by Friday, December 6th to the collection box in the main office at Cooper MS,

Rising 9th Grade Open House

On Sunday, January 26th, from 2-4pm, Langley High School is hosting an Open House.  Eighth-grade students and their families are invited to attend the information session presented by administrators, tour the building with student ambassadors, and chat with experienced parents and faculty. Interested families should RSVP to Assistant Principal Jim Robertson using this link by January 10th, 2025:

Who: Current 8th-grade students and their families in the Langley Pyramid

What: Langley High School Open House

Where: Langley HS Auditorium, park in the main lot and enter through door #14

When: Sunday, January 26th 2025, 2-4pm

Private School Application Process

If your student is planning to apply to a private school for the 2025-2026 school year, please find the required forms and timelines here.

Please ensure to submit all forms at least 10 school days prior to the application deadline.

Boundary Meetings

Boundary Review Community Meeting

Community meetings regarding FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review will take place in each of the division's six regions. You are encouraged to attend the meeting in our region, which will take place on Wednesday, December 18, 6:30-8 p.m., at Madison High School (Cafeteria). If you are unable to attend on this date, please view the full list of meetings on the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage.

Please register in advance by clicking on the date. Language interpretation will be available. 

Integirls DC Math Competition

The DC Chapter of Integirls will be holding their Math Competition on Saturday, December 14th at the Montgomery College Germantown Campus.  This competition is open to any girls who would like to participate – no previous experience necessary! 

The event runs from 10 am – 3 pm – Lunch and Prizes are provided!!  We have to register the team by this Friday, 12/6 so please respond right away if you are interested in participating.  Please email Lisa Walsh at [email protected] with the name of the participant and an email.

Cooper participated in this event last year – it was fun and a great opportunity for the students who participated!! 

❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated. 

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

FCPS Family Resources Center Opportunity

The Family Resource Center offers a variety of free webinars to help children and families succeed.  Speakers are invited from academic fields and from within FCPS experts.  Check out the link for sign up and more details. https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/family-resource-center/free-webinars-and-family-events

12/6  Stress Less, Enjoy More! Reducing Stress and Increasing Happiness

12/13  Protecting Kids Against Digital Exploitation: Keeping Kids Safe Online

12/20  Youth Mental Health First Aid for Families

1/10      Help! My Kids Won’t Go to School

1/17      A Series on Supporting Your Child’s Executive Function Skills

1/24      Depression in Teens

Please contact our Family Liaison, Ms. Amy Bailey ([email protected]) with any questions. 

FCPS Office of Family & School Partnerships

FCPS is offering a 10-week course designed to empower families and transform teens in Arabic. In taking this course, you will walk away with tools to learn (1) how to build a positive relationship with their child, (2) ways to prevent or intervene in alcohol and drug use, disruptive behavior at home and gang affiliation, and (3) ways to explore concrete solutions for active supervision. Classes are free, once a week and 2 hours each class.  Please sign up using this link OR the QR code on this flier.  The translated document can be found here on the 2nd page.

Cooper Families on the Go

Thanks to all of the military families that were able to make it out to our Veteran's Day event and coffee on November 8th.  In addition to these events, we plan to create an unofficial "Cooper Families on the Go" WhatsApp Group to include our military families and other families that move frequently.  We'd like to be inclusive of families of the State Department, FBI, diplomats, and others that move frequently. We plan to share information about upcoming "Cooper Families on the Go" events, best practices, and serve as a support network for one another.  If you would like to be a part of the WhatApp group and / or receive emails for this group, please fill out this google form. 

Cooper Quiz Bowl

Cooper Quiz Bowl Won TJ High School Novice Tournament!

Cooper Quiz Bowl competed in the TJ High School Novice Tournament held at TJHSST on 11/23. The tournament attracted 12 local high school novice teams, 9 middle school teams and 3 elementary school teams.

Cooper A (Leo W., Ian C., Ananda A.) went 10-0 and won the tournament!

Cooper B (Andrew D., Richard D., Andrew L., Isaac L.) went 9-1 and placed 2nd!

Cooper C (Sohum D., Ethan C., Dhruv R., Mihir J.) went 8-2 and placed 7th!

Cooper D (Oliver Y., Sophie J., Justin L., A.J. G.) went 7-3 and placed 9th!

 

Individually Leo was the highest scorer of the field in the preliminary rounds. Andrew D., Sohum, Ian placed 7th, 8th and 10th respectively.

Congratulations to the team for another great performance! We'd also like to thank our coaches Mr. Grimmelbein, Mrs. Xi and all the parent volunteers / chaperones!

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving.  As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed Wednesday, November 27 – Friday, November 29.

Calendar Reminders 

Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29 (Thanksgiving) - No school for student/staff.  School offices closed

Monday, December 23 - Friday, January 3 (Winter Break) - No school for students/staff

See the complete school year calendar.

Pine Spring ES Gift Collection

We have partnered with Pine Spring ES this season to fulfill gift wishes for their kindergarten class. This is our 10th annual gift drive to partner with our sister school! For many of their Kindergarten students, this will be the only gift they will receive this year.

Should you be interested in sponsoring a student, you may sign up HERE. 

Please drop off gifts by Friday, December 6th to the collection box in the main office at Cooper MS,

Federal Impact Aid Survey

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, Cooper will provide paper forms starting Thursday, November 21. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Need to Register for ParentVUE? 

Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. 

Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).

Rising 9th Grade Open House

On Sunday, January 26th, from 2-4pm, Langley High School is hosting an Open House.  Eighth-grade students and their families are invited to attend the information session presented by administrators, tour the building with student ambassadors, and chat with experienced parents and faculty. Interested families should RSVP to Assistant Principal Jim Robertson using this link by January 10th, 2025:

Who: Current 8th-grade students and their families in the Langley Pyramid

What: Langley High School Open House

Where: Langley HS Auditorium, park in the main lot and enter through door #14

When: Sunday, January 26th 2025, 2-4pm

Private School Application Process

If your student is planning to apply to a private school for the 2025-2026 school year, please find the required forms and timelines here.

Please ensure to submit all forms at least 10 school days prior to the application deadline.

Boundary Meetings

Boundary Review Community Meeting

Community meetings regarding FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review will take place in each of the division's six regions. You are encouraged to attend the meeting in our region, which will take place on Wednesday, December 18, 6:30-8 p.m., at Madison High School (Cafeteria). If you are unable to attend on this date, please view the full list of meetings on the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage.

Please register in advance by clicking on the date. Language interpretation will be available. 

❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated. 

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

Family Resource Center

The Family Resource Center offers a variety of free webinars to help children and families succeed.  Speakers are invited from academic fields and from within FCPS experts.  Check out the link for sign up and more details. https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/family-resource-center/free-webinars-and-family-events

11/22  Starting the Conversation about Drugs

12/6  Stress Less, Enjoy More! Reducing Stress and Increasing Happiness

12/13  Protecting Kids Against Digital Exploitation: Keeping Kids Safe Online

12/20  Youth Mental Health First Aid for Families

 

Please contact our Family Liaison, Ms. Amy Bailey ([email protected]) with any questions. 

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

Order a Yearbook

Deadline to order a yearbook is November 30, 2024 at the cost of $40.00.  Please enter order #5267 at www.yearbookordercenter.com

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

AM Drop Off Reminder

As a friendly reminder, please use the designated Kiss and Ride area when dropping off students in the morning. Students need to use designated sidewalks and have a safe route into Cooper.  Please do not park in the faculty parking lot and drop your student. This area will be coned off for staff only parking.  We appreciate your cooperation in supporting our students with a safe entry into Cooper each day.

Calendar Reminders 

Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29 (Thanksgiving) - No school for student/staff.  School offices closed

Monday, December 23 - Friday, January 3 (Winter Break) - No school for students/staff

See the complete school year calendar.

Welcome Back Mr. Laspe

Huge thanks to Mr. Davies, who served as interim AP.  Mr. Laspe has returned to Cooper this week, please reach out to him with any 8th grade administrator needs.  He can be reached at [email protected] or 703-442-5800.

Federal Impact Aid Survey

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.

For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, Cooper will provide paper forms starting Thursday, November 21. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Need to Register for ParentVUE? 

Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. 

Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).

Cooper Families on the Go

Thanks to all of the military families that were able to make it out to our Veteran's Day event and coffee on November 8th.  In addition to these events, we plan to create an unofficial "Cooper Families on the Go" WhatsApp Group to include our military families and other families that move frequently.  We'd like to be inclusive of families of the State Department, FBI, diplomats, and others that move frequently. We plan to share information about upcoming "Cooper Families on the Go" events, best practices, and serve as a support network for one another.  If you would like to be a part of the WhatApp group and / or receive emails for this group, please fill out this google form. 

Purple Star Recognition

Cooper Middle School, along with 38 other FCPS schools, were recognized at the 11/14/24 School Board Meeting for their new Purple Star School designation.

Pine Spring ES Gift Collection

We have partnered with Pine Spring ES this season to fulfill gift wishes for their kindergarten class. This is our 10th annual gift drive to partner with our sister school! For many of their Kindergarten students, this will be the only gift they will receive this year.

Should you be interested in sponsoring a student, you may sign up HERE. 

Please drop off gifts by Friday, December 6th to the collection box in the main office at Cooper MS,

Rising 9th Grade Open House

On Sunday, January 26th, from 2-4pm, Langley High School is hosting an Open House.  Eighth-grade students and their families are invited to attend the information session presented by administrators, tour the building with student ambassadors, and chat with experienced parents and faculty. Interested families should RSVP to Assistant Principal Jim Robertson using this link by January 10th, 2025:

Who: Current 8th-grade students and their families in the Langley Pyramid

What: Langley High School Open House

Where: Langley HS Auditorium, park in the main lot and enter through door #14

When: Sunday, January 26th 2025, 2-4pm

Private School Application Process

If your student is planning to apply to a private school for the 2025-2026 school year, please find the required forms and timelines here.

Please ensure to submit all forms at least 10 school days prior to the application deadline.

Family Resource Center

The Family Resource Center offers a variety of free webinars to help children and families succeed.  Speakers are invited from academic fields and from within FCPS experts.  Check out the link for sign up and more details. https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/family-resource-center/free-webinars-and-family-events

11/22  Starting the Conversation about Drugs

12/6  Stress Less, Enjoy More! Reducing Stress and Increasing Happiness

12/13  Protecting Kids Against Digital Exploitation: Keeping Kids Safe Online

12/20  Youth Mental Health First Aid for Families

 

Please contact our Family Liaison, Ms. Amy Bailey ([email protected]) with any questions. 

Cooper Student Celebrations Cross Country

Congratulations to Abigail P. who came in 1st place with a time of 11:26.4 in the Middle School XC Girls Championships on October 26th.  Pictured here with FCPS Superintendent, Dr. Michelle Reid.

 

 

 

Cooper Cross Country finished up the season at Liberty Middle School for the FCPS cross country championships. The athletes throughout the year ran faster times each meet. Our fastest boy this year was Dennis W. Dennis showed up to practice everyday and quickly became a leader on the team! The girls team also placed 7th out of all the middle schools in FCPS showing how strong of a team they are! The boys also did great! Dennis finished first on our team placing 56th out of 120 runners! The boys team finished middle of the pack out of all FCPS middle schools! Congratulations to our entire XC team.

  Quiz Bowl

Cooper Quiz Bowl Won Burleigh Manor MS Invitational

Burleigh Manor Quiz Bowl Middle School invitational is the largest regional tournament in the DMV area with 48 teams in the field. Cooper sent three teams on 11/17. Cooper A (Leo W., Ian C., Richard D., Ananda A., Keshavan N.) went 10-0 and won the tournament! Cooper B (Andew D., Andrew L., Isacc L., Sophie J., Orion Q.) won 4th place. Cooper C (Ethan C., Sohum D., A.J. G., Dhruv R., Mihir J.) placed 10th! Both A & B qualified for the Middle School National Championship through this tournament.

Individually Leo placed 2nd, Andrew D. 4th, Ian 9th and Ethan 19th and got individual awards.

Congratulations to the team for a great showing! 

 

Debate Team

Congratulations to Nia S.B. won #3 Top Speaker out of 90+ middle school debaters in Public Forum!

Of the 45+ teams competing:

• Olivia H. and Lily S. placed #3 with an undefeated 3-0 record (their first tournament EVER was three weeks earlier)
• Hannah G. & Sofia L. placed #5 with an undefeated 3-0 record (their first tournament EVER was two weeks earlier)
• Aashna U. & Nia S.B. placed #7 with a 2-1 record
• Five additional Cooper MS teams earned top placements with 2-1 records: Chelsea Z. and Ahaana S. R., Kaya O. and Brant P., Jessica X. and Sophie L., Meera B. and Nirosha R., and Saeeun J. and Alina S.M.
• Strong debates all around, including Zohran V. and Edwin P., Isaac J. and Arjan D., Bohan J. and Mihir J., and Dana P. and Aanya P.

Thanks to Cooper MS Debate Coach Pam Konde and volunteer parent judges, Gaurav Bansal, Benjamin Li, Hong Xi, and Julia Patterson. Thank you also to our awesome Langley HS Debate Team mentors, who have been supporting our kids during our Wednesday practices. 

 

Model UN

Model UN conference was held at Cooper on Oct 19th. We brought in Cooper Model UN alumni to give a short workshop on parliamentary procedure, and then students debated a series of issues from the Status of Women to the International Olympic Committee regulation. Students did amazing work leading and participating in the conference. We are gearing up to represent Cooper with pride at George Washington University on Dec 7th, and we can’t wait!

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

Order a Yearbook

Deadline to order a yearbook is November 30, 2024 at the cost of $40.00.  Please enter order #5267 at www.yearbookordercenter.com

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Calendar Reminders 

Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29 (Thanksgiving) - No school for student/staff.  School offices closed

Monday, December 23 - Friday, January 3 (Winter Break) - No school for students/staff

See the complete school year calendar.

School Photos & Retakes

Picture Re-take/Make-Ups are scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, November 14th during lunches. 

Families should have received an E-proof of your student's photo via email.  Please remember to check your spam.

For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: [email protected]

Student Screeners & Surveys

Parents/Caregivers of our 7th graders, please refer to the Cooper email sent to you on October 15th with important details about our upcoming Signs Of Suicide (SOS) screening on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. 

 

Parents/Caregivers of our 8th graders, please refer to the Cooper email sent to you on October 30th with important details about our upcoming Fairfax County Youth Survey on Tuesday, November 19th, 2024.

 

Parents/Caregivers of our 7th AND 8th graders, please refer to the Cooper email sent to you on October 29th with important details about our upcoming Student Experience Survey in December. 

TJHSST Applications

Applications Open October 21 for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Middle school students who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are encouraged to apply for admission to the Class of 2029 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). 

The application will be available on the TJHSST Admissions Office webpage starting Monday, October 21, at 4 p.m. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, with a deadline to submit the application by Friday, November 15, at 4 p.m. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information.

Rising 9th Grade Open House

On Sunday, January 26th, from 2-4pm, Langley High School is hosting an Open House.  Eighth-grade students and their families are invited to attend the information session presented by administrators, tour the building with student ambassadors, and chat with experienced parents and faculty. Interested families should RSVP to Assistant Principal Jim Robertson using this link by January 10th, 2025:

Who: Current 8th-grade students and their families in the Langley Pyramid

What: Langley High School Open House

Where: Langley HS Auditorium, park in the main lot and enter through door #14

When: Sunday, January 26th 2025, 2-4pm

Private School Application Process

If your student is planning to apply to a private school for the 2025-2026 school year, please find the required forms and timelines here.

Please ensure to submit all forms at least 10 school days prior to the application deadline.

Outstanding Employee Award Nominations

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Cooper MS Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this  Nomination Form. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below and on the FCPS website: https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/employees/recognition-programs/outstanding-employee-awards 

Outstanding Teacher 

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Teacher

Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category.

Outstanding Leader 

Common positions in this category: Assistant Principals and Director of Student Services (not the building principal)

Outstanding Professional Employee 

Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor.

Outstanding Operational Employee

Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, Parent Liaison

The deadline to submit a nomination is at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2023

If you have any questions, please contact Scott Davies (Interim Assistant Principal) at [email protected]. 

SCA Hurricane Helene Fundraisers

The SCA has coordinated multiple ways to support the relief efforts from Hurricane Helene.

• Donation to the Asheville Humane Society: your donation will be made through MySchoolBucks, once the fundraiser is closed, we will contribute all funds to the Asheville Humane Society.
• Donation to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina :your donation will be made through MySchoolBucks, once the fundraiser is closed, we will contribute all funds to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

Please contact our SCA sponsors, Ms. Harris ([email protected]) or Ms. Garrett ([email protected]) with any questions. 

Day of Service for Secondary Students 

When: Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 9-11:30 a.m.

Where: Edison High School

Sign up: Register FCPS Secondary Students 

Attend and earn service learning credit Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners’ Day of Service is being offered to FCPS secondary students as an opportunity to explore multilingualism as a strength in developing leadership and advocacy skills.  Students will plan for future success through their strengths and interests.  Attendees will be able to network and learn with other FCPS students and staff.  This event will also feature special guest Dr. José Luis Zelaya from the Multilingual Learners’ Summit.  “Language is an opportunity,” says Dr. Zelaya, “believe in the power of education!”  Secondary students should register through the link above and bring their FCPS laptop to the workshop.   

Event will also feature a table fair promoting college and career readiness. 

Language interpretation services will be available. 

To help with planning, please register if you can attend. 

Flyer: English  I  Spanish  I Arabic  I  Chinese  I  Korean  I  Urdu  I  Vietnamese

Safe Community Coalition

The Safe Community Coalition is pleased to welcome back Ned Johnson, best-selling co-author of The Self-Driven Child.  Learn what connects teen mental health and the motivational impacts of technology and social media, competitive schools and college pressure, and growing up in an unsettled and rapidly changing environment. Ned will provide tools for fostering close connections, navigating tough conversations, and helping teens feel grounded, understood, and resilient.

When: Wednesday, November 20 at 7pm
Where: McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre

Tickets on sale now at McLeanSCC.org

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

Order a Yearbook

Deadline to order a yearbook is November 30, 2024 at the cost of $40.00.  Please enter order #5267 at www.yearbookordercenter.com

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Calendar Reminders 

Monday, November 11 (Veteran's Day) - No school for student/staff.  School offices closed

Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29 (Thanksgiving) - No school for student/staff.  School offices closed

Monday, December 23 - Friday, January 3 (Winter Break) - No school for students/staff

See the complete school year calendar.

Student Screeners & Surveys

Parents/Caregivers of our 7th graders, please refer to the Cooper email sent to you on October 15th with important details about our upcoming Signs Of Suicide (SOS) screening on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.  *This is a date correction from last week's News you Choose. 

 

Parents/Caregivers of our 8th graders, please refer to the Cooper email sent to you on October 30th with important details about our upcoming Fairfax County Youth Survey on Tuesday, November 19th, 2024.

 

Parents/Caregivers of our 7th AND 8th graders, please refer to the Cooper email sent to you on October 29th with important details about our upcoming Student Experience Survey in December. 

Veteran’s Day Recognition & Military-Connected Family Appreciation

Friday, November 8th, students will recognize the contributions of our veterans to our community and the role they plan in the defense of our nation. Cooper will hold a Veterans’ Day assembly followed by a military-connected family appreciation coffee in our cafeteria.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP by November 6th to help us prepare for the event and coordinate with our staff.

•  Location: Cooper MS Cafeteria
• Veterans' Day Assembly: 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
• Military-Connected Family Appreciation Coffee: 9:30 AM - 10:20 AM

We look forward to celebrating and connecting with our military families on this special day. Thank you for your service and dedication.

TJHSST Applications

Applications Open October 21 for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Middle school students who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are encouraged to apply for admission to the Class of 2029 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). 

The application will be available on the TJHSST Admissions Office webpage starting Monday, October 21, at 4 p.m. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, with a deadline to submit the application by Friday, November 15, at 4 p.m. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information.

Report Cards

The Gradebook Module in SIS ParentVue and StudentVue will be unavailable Monday, Oct 28, 2024 at 4:00 PM until Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024 at 6:00 AM for teachers to prepare first quarter grades. Paper copies of first quarter report cards will be distributed through Block 8 on Tuesday, November 13, 2024.  Additionally, a PDF will be posted in ParentVue after November 13.

School Photos & Retakes

Families should have received an E-proof via email.  Please remember to check your spam.

For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: [email protected]

Picture Re-take/Make-Ups are scheduled for Thursday, November 14th during lunches. 

Outstanding Employee Award Nominations

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Cooper MS Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this  Nomination Form. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below and on the FCPS website: https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/employees/recognition-programs/outstanding-employee-awards 

Outstanding Teacher 

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Teacher

Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category.

Outstanding Leader 

Common positions in this category: Assistant Principals and Director of Student Services (not the building principal)

Outstanding Professional Employee 

Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor.

Outstanding Operational Employee

Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, Parent Liaison

The deadline to submit a nomination is at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2023

If you have any questions, please contact Scott Davies (Interim Assistant Principal) at [email protected]. 

SCA Hurricane Helene Fundraisers

The SCA has coordinated multiple ways to support the relief efforts from Hurricane Helene.

• Donation to the Asheville Humane Society: your donation will be made through MySchoolBucks, once the fundraiser is closed, we will contribute all funds to the Asheville Humane Society.
• Donation to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina :your donation will be made through MySchoolBucks, once the fundraiser is closed, we will contribute all funds to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

Please contact our SCA sponsors, Ms. Harris ([email protected]) or Ms. Garrett ([email protected]) with any questions. 

Day of Service for Secondary Students 

When: Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 9-11:30 a.m.

Where: Edison High School

Sign up: Register FCPS Secondary Students 

Attend and earn service learning credit Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners’ Day of Service is being offered to FCPS secondary students as an opportunity to explore multilingualism as a strength in developing leadership and advocacy skills.  Students will plan for future success through their strengths and interests.  Attendees will be able to network and learn with other FCPS students and staff.  This event will also feature special guest Dr. José Luis Zelaya from the Multilingual Learners’ Summit.  “Language is an opportunity,” says Dr. Zelaya, “believe in the power of education!”  Secondary students should register through the link above and bring their FCPS laptop to the workshop.   

Event will also feature a table fair promoting college and career readiness. 

Language interpretation services will be available. 

To help with planning, please register if you can attend. 

Flyer: English  I  Spanish  I Arabic  I  Chinese  I  Korean  I  Urdu  I  Vietnamese

Safe Community Coalition

The Safe Community Coalition is pleased to welcome back Ned Johnson, best-selling co-author of The Self-Driven Child.  Learn what connects teen mental health and the motivational impacts of technology and social media, competitive schools and college pressure, and growing up in an unsettled and rapidly changing environment. Ned will provide tools for fostering close connections, navigating tough conversations, and helping teens feel grounded, understood, and resilient.

When: Wednesday, November 20 at 7pm
Where: McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre

Tickets on sale now at McLeanSCC.org

Congrats to Cooper's Quiz Bowl Team

Cooper Quiz Bowl Won 1st Place at Centennial High Invitational Standard Division Cooper Quiz Bowl competed in the first tournament of the season, Centennial High School Invitational Standard Division in Ellicott City, MD on 10/13. Cooper A (Leo W., Ian C., Richard D., and Andrew D.) went 9-1 and won first place in the division which consisted of 30 high school novice and middle school teams. Cooper A got an invitation from NAQT to compete in the May 2025 Middle School National Championship Tournament (MSNCT).  Congratulations to the team and everyone who competed! We look forward to a strong season!

Cooper Quiz Bowl sent three teams to the Georgetown Day School Invitational on 11/2. Cooper C (Sohum D., A.J. G., Dhruv R., Ethan C., Orion Q.) finished 5th in the middle school division and qualified for the MSNCT to be held in Chicago in May 2025. This is the second team that Cooper qualified for this season!

Individually Leo W. placed 3rd and Oliver Y. placed 15th in the middle school division.

 

Congratulations to all players for a stellar performance!

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

Order a Yearbook

Deadline to order a yearbook is November 30, 2024 at the cost of $40.00.  Please enter order #5267 at www.yearbookordercenter.com

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Calendar Reminders 

Thursday, October 31st, is the end of the 1st quarter with a 2-hr early release.

Friday, November 1st, is a holiday for students and staff.  The school office will be closed.

Monday, November 4th, School Planning Day.  No school for students.

Tuesday, November 5th, Teacher Work Day.  No school for students. 

See the complete school year calendar.

Student Screeners & Surveys

Parents/Caregivers of our 7th graders, please refer to the Cooper email sent to you on October 15th with important details about our upcoming Signs Of Suicide (SOS) screening on Tuesday, November 14th, 2024. 

 

Parents/Caregivers of our 8th graders, please refer to the Cooper email sent to you on October 30th with important details about our upcoming Fairfax County Youth Survey on Tuesday, November 19th, 2024.

 

Parents/Caregivers of our 7th AND 8th graders, please refer to the Cooper email sent to you on October 29th with important details about our upcoming Student Experience Survey in December. 

Veteran’s Day Recognition & Military-Connected Family Appreciation

Friday, November 8th, students will recognize the contributions of our veterans to our community and the role they plan in the defense of our nation. Cooper will hold a Veterans’ Day assembly followed by a military-connected family appreciation coffee in our cafeteria.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP by November 6th to help us prepare for the event and coordinate with our staff.

•  Location: Cooper MS Cafeteria
• Veterans' Day Assembly: 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
• Military-Connected Family Appreciation Coffee: 9:30 AM - 10:20 AM

We look forward to celebrating and connecting with our military families on this special day. Thank you for your service and dedication.

TJHSST Applications

Applications Open October 21 for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Middle school students who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are encouraged to apply for admission to the Class of 2029 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). 

The application will be available on the TJHSST Admissions Office webpage starting Monday, October 21, at 4 p.m. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, with a deadline to submit the application by Friday, November 15, at 4 p.m. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information.

Report Cards

The Gradebook Module in SIS ParentVue and StudentVue will be unavailable Monday, Oct 28, 2024 at 4:00 PM until Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024 at 6:00 AM for teachers to prepare first quarter grades. Paper copies of first quarter report cards will be distributed through Block 8 on Tuesday, November 13, 2024.  Additionally, a PDF will be posted in ParentVue after November 13.

Outstanding Employee Award Nominations

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Cooper MS Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this  Nomination Form. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below and on the FCPS website: https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/employees/recognition-programs/outstanding-employee-awards 

Outstanding Teacher 

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Teacher

Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category.

Outstanding Leader 

Common positions in this category: Assistant Principals and Director of Student Services (not the building principal)

Outstanding Professional Employee 

Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor.

Outstanding Operational Employee

Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, Parent Liaison

The deadline to submit a nomination is at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2023

If you have any questions, please contact Scott Davies (Interim Assistant Principal) at [email protected]. 

SCA Hurricane Helene Fundraisers

The SCA has coordinated multiple ways to support the relief efforts from Hurricane Helene.

• The SCA will be selling snacks after school on Mondays, Wednesday & Thursdays to donate to the Hurricane Helene relief efforts.  They are looking for snack donations for their snack cart.  If you are interesting in donating snacks, please sign up here. 
• Donation to the Asheville Humane Society: your donation will be made through MySchoolBucks, once the fundraiser is closed, we will contribute all funds to the Asheville Humane Society.
• Donation to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina :your donation will be made through MySchoolBucks, once the fundraiser is closed, we will contribute all funds to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

Please contact our SCA sponsors, Ms. Harris ([email protected]) or Ms. Garrett ([email protected]) with any questions. 

Day of Service for Secondary Students 

When: Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 9-11:30 a.m.

Where: Edison High School

Sign up: Register FCPS Secondary Students 

Attend and earn service learning credit Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners’ Day of Service is being offered to FCPS secondary students as an opportunity to explore multilingualism as a strength in developing leadership and advocacy skills.  Students will plan for future success through their strengths and interests.  Attendees will be able to network and learn with other FCPS students and staff.  This event will also feature special guest Dr. José Luis Zelaya from the Multilingual Learners’ Summit.  “Language is an opportunity,” says Dr. Zelaya, “believe in the power of education!”  Secondary students should register through the link above and bring their FCPS laptop to the workshop.   

Event will also feature a table fair promoting college and career readiness. 

Language interpretation services will be available. 

To help with planning, please register if you can attend. 

Flyer: English  I  Spanish  I Arabic  I  Chinese  I  Korean  I  Urdu  I  Vietnamese

Debate Team

On Sat, Oct 26th, the Cooper MS Debate team competed in their first “Public Forum” tournament at Woodbridge HS (along with 630 middle school and high school students representing 40 different schools). Cooper fielded 11 teams (22 students), and they all won at least one round of debate on a pretty sophisticated topic – surveillance infrastructure at the Southern border. 

Congratulations to all our debaters! Out of 64 teams competing in Public Forum debate, 

• Zohran Valliani & Bryan Tan came in 3rd with a 4-0 record. 
• First time debaters, Brant Patterson and Kaya Ozakn, came in 10th place with a 3-1 record. Meera Bansal and Chelsea Zeng, Jessica Xi and Sophia Li, and first-time debaters Olivia Herr and Lily Song also earned a strong 3-1 record.

• Special congratulations to Brant Patterson who earned 5th Place in Speaker Awards in his VERY FIRST DEBATE!  He won against over 120 other debaters! 
• Zohran Valliani, Kaya Ozkan, Bryan Tan, Aashna Uppalapati, and Saeeun Jeon, also placed within the top 25 Speakers. 
• Congratulations also to Nia Siguineau Brutus, Yanai Wang, Kai Gu, Annabel Kremin, Kailin Liu, Alina Shah Mohammed, Mihir Jain, Bohan Jin, Aden Annous, Aarav Joseph - they are now skilled Public Forum debaters.

Thank you to our teachers, Pam Konde, Cooper MS Debate Coach, and Rebecca Blake, who helped out with the tournament, as well as the six parent volunteers who served as judges from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on a Saturday!

School Photos are now available online

Families should have received an E-proof via email.  Please remember to check your spam.

For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: [email protected]

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

Order a Yearbook

Deadline to order a yearbook is November 30, 2024 at the cost of $40.00.  Please enter order #5267 at www.yearbookordercenter.com

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Calendar Reminders 

Thursday, October 31st, is the end of the 1st quarter with a 2-hr early release.

Friday, November 1st, is a holiday for students and staff.  The school office will be closed.

Monday, November 4th, School Planning Day.  No school for students.

Tuesday, November 5th, Teacher Work Day.  No school for students. 

See the complete school year calendar.

Purple Star Designation

We are excited to share that Cooper Middle School has been awarded the Virginia Purple Star Designation! The Virginia Purple Star Designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that have demonstrated a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. 

7th Grade Screener

Parents/Caregivers of our 7th graders, please refer to the Cooper email sent to you on October 15th with important details about our upcoming Signs Of Suicide (SOS) screening on Tuesday, November 14th, 2024. 

TJHSST Applications

Applications Open October 21 for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Middle school students who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are encouraged to apply for admission to the Class of 2029 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). 

The application will be available on the TJHSST Admissions Office webpage starting Monday, October 21, at 4 p.m. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, with a deadline to submit the application by Friday, November 15, at 4 p.m. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information.

Report Cards

The Gradebook Module in SIS ParentVue and StudentVue will be unavailable Monday, Oct 28, 2024 at 4:00 PM until Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024 at 6:00 AM for teachers to prepare first quarter grades. Paper copies of first quarter report cards will be distributed through Block 8 on Tuesday, November 13, 2024.  Additionally, a PDF will be posted in ParentVue after November 13.

Outstanding Employee Award Nominations

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Cooper MS Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this  Nomination Form. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

 

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below and on the FCPS website: https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/employees/recognition-programs/outstanding-employee-awards 

Outstanding Teacher 

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Teacher

Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category.

Outstanding Leader 

Common positions in this category: Assistant Principals and Director of Student Services (not the building principal)

Outstanding Professional Employee 

Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor.

Outstanding Operational Employee

Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, Parent Liaison

The deadline to submit a nomination is at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2023

If you have any questions, please contact Scott Davies (Interim Assistant Principal) at [email protected]. 

SCA Hurricane Helene Fundraisers

The SCA has coordinated multiple ways to support the relief efforts from Hurricane Helene.

• The SCA will be selling snacks after school on Mondays, Wednesday & Thursdays to donate to the Hurricane Helene relief efforts.  They are looking for snack donations for their snack cart.  If you are interesting in donating snacks, please sign up here. 
• Donation to the Asheville Humane Society: your donation will be made through MySchoolBucks, once the fundraiser is closed, we will contribute all funds to the Asheville Humane Society.
• Donation to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina :your donation will be made through MySchoolBucks, once the fundraiser is closed, we will contribute all funds to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

Please contact our SCA sponsors, Ms. Harris ([email protected]) or Ms. Garrett ([email protected]) with any questions. 

Spirit Week: October 28-October 31

Cooper’s SCA program is hosting a Spirit Week from October 28th through October 31st! Throughout that week, we will have different fun themes that the students can enjoy and come to school with! Encourage your students to participate in this fun week in October. Thank you!

American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 10

Cooper will be offering the AMC 10A this year on Wednesday, November 6th, after school at 2:30 PM. The AMC 10 is a 25-question, 75-minute multiple-choice examination in high school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. *This test is for students in 10th grade and below and covers the high school curriculum up to 10th grade. 

The AMC 8, which we will be hosting in January, is targeted for middle school students in grade 8 and below. The AMC 10 is NOT required for the AMC 8, and historically, the majority of our Cooper students interested in the AMC competitions take only the AMC 8. Details will follow in the coming weeks on how to register for the AMC 8.

If your student is interested in taking the AMC 10A, please sign up using this Google Form. There will be a $5.00 administrative fee to take the test. The fee can be paid through MySchool Bucks. The deadline to register and pay the fee for AMC 10 is October 25th. As a reminder, the AMC 8 will be offered in January for those who are interested. 

Please contact Lisa Walsh with any questions.

Community Service Learning 

Our 8th grade volunteers recently supported the pumpkin unloading at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

Every wonder what St. Thomas Pumpkin Patch does with their leftover pumpkins? They are donated to Rikki’s Refuge, a non-kill large animal sanctuary in Orange, VA and are fed to the animals throughout the winter!  They are looking for more volunteers to support their pumpkin reload.

Saturday, November 2nd 9:45AM – Noon (reloading begins at 10AM). Rain or shine. 

St. Thomas Episcopal Church 8991 Brook Road, McLean, 22102

2.5 hours of Community Service More information and REGISTER at Pumpkin Reload Registration or on the X2-vol site. Or visit our website PUMPKIN PATCH

For more information contact [email protected], call the Parish Administrator on 703-442-0330 or check our Facebook page.

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Calendar Reminders 

Thursday, October 31st, is the end of the 1st quarter with a 2-hr early release.

Friday, November 1st, is a holiday for students and staff.  The school office will be closed.

See the complete school year calendar.

7th Grade Screener

Parents/Caregivers of our 7th graders, please refer to the Cooper email sent to you on October 15th with important details about our upcoming Signs Of Suicide (SOS) screening on Tuesday, November 14th, 2024. 

Spirit Week: October 28-October 31

Cooper’s SCA program is hosting a Spirit Week from October 28th through October 31st! Throughout that week, we will have different fun themes that the students can enjoy and come to school with! Encourage your students to participate in this fun week in October. Thank you!

American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 10

Cooper will be offering the AMC 10A this year on Wednesday, November 6th, after school at 2:30 PM. The AMC 10 is a 25-question, 75-minute multiple-choice examination in high school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. *This test is for students in 10th grade and below and covers the high school curriculum up to 10th grade. 

The AMC 8, which we will be hosting in January, is targeted for middle school students in grade 8 and below. The AMC 10 is NOT required for the AMC 8, and historically, the majority of our Cooper students interested in the AMC competitions take only the AMC 8. Details will follow in the coming weeks on how to register for the AMC 8.

If your student is interested in taking the AMC 10A, please sign up using this Google Form. There will be a $5.00 administrative fee to take the test. The fee can be paid through MySchool Bucks. The deadline to register and pay the fee for AMC 10 is October 25th. As a reminder, the AMC 8 will be offered in January for those who are interested. 

Please contact Lisa Walsh with any questions.

Community Service Learning 

Our 8th grade volunteers recently supported the pumpkin unloading at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

Every wonder what St. Thomas Pumpkin Patch does with their leftover pumpkins? They are donated to Rikki’s Refuge, a non-kill large animal sanctuary in Orange, VA and are fed to the animals throughout the winter!  They are looking for more volunteers to support their pumpkin reload.

Saturday, November 2nd 9:45AM – Noon (reloading begins at 10AM). Rain or shine. 

St. Thomas Episcopal Church 8991 Brook Road, McLean, 22102

2.5 hours of Community Service More information and REGISTER at Pumpkin Reload Registration or on the X2-vol site. Or visit our website PUMPKIN PATCH

For more information contact [email protected], call the Parish Administrator on 703-442-0330 or check our Facebook page.

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

Welcome Amy Bailey & Colin White

Please join us in welcoming Amy Bailey as our new Family Liaison!

Amy brings a wealth of experience and language skills to this role. Previously a Community Liaison at the U.S. Consulate in China, she has a deep understanding of international relations and cultural nuances. Her fluency in Korean, Spanish, French, and Mandarin will undoubtedly be a valuable asset in connecting with families from diverse backgrounds.

As Amy continues her studies in community health, she is passionate about improving the well-being of families and fostering a supportive environment. We are confident that her dedication and expertise will make a significant impact on our community.

In addition to these accomplishments, Amy is a member of the PTO Executive Board and a proud parent to: Brigham, 7th grade, Gordon, Kindergarten at Spring Hill, Joseph, 11th grade at Langley,  and Jacob, Graduated!

 

Please join us in welcoming Colin White as our interim Safety & Security Assistant!

 Colin White joins us today as the interim Safety and Security Assistant and will transition to support us with a long-term substitute position later this year.  Colin brings teaching experience to Cooper with a bachelor's degree in middle grades education from the College of Charleston and has a lot of interests and passions including being a woodworker, a musician and a poet! 

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Calendar Reminders 

Monday, October 14th, is a staff development day and there will be no school for students. 

Thursday, October 31st, is the end of the 1st quarter with a 2-hr early release.

Friday, November 1st, is a holiday for students and staff.  The school office will be closed.

See the complete school year calendar.

🗓️ Attendance Tip: Scheduling Family Trips or Events

Good attendance is an important life skill that will help students succeed in school and beyond.

When planning trips or family events, refer to the FCPS calendar and try to use weekends and school holidays. Every day of learning is a day toward success. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students absent 10% of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered chronically absent.

When possible, schedule appointments for your child outside of school hours. If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or another reason, you must report the absence. 

Watch this video with tips on understanding our school calendar and visit our Attendance webpage for additional information. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Picture Day Volunteers Needed 

School Picture Day is Coming!

📅 Date: Thursday October 10th (odd day schedule) & Friday October 11th (even day schedule) during PE class

📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day

🛒 Pre-order Online: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001132588#login

📧 Questions About Ordering? Email us at [email protected]

Please sign up to volunteer for a time slot via the SignUp Genius. 

American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 10

Cooper will be offering the AMC 10A this year on Wednesday, November 6th, after school at 2:30 PM. The AMC 10 is a 25-question, 75-minute multiple-choice examination in high school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. *This test is for students in 10th grade and below and covers the high school curriculum up to 10th grade. 

The AMC 8, which we will be hosting in January, is targeted for middle school students in grade 8 and below. The AMC 10 is NOT required for the AMC 8, and historically, the majority of our Cooper students interested in the AMC competitions take only the AMC 8. Details will follow in the coming weeks on how to register for the AMC 8.

If your student is interested in taking the AMC 10A, please sign up using this Google Form. There will be a $5.00 administrative fee to take the test. The fee can be paid through MySchool Bucks. The deadline to register and pay the fee for AMC 10 is October 25th. As a reminder, the AMC 8 will be offered in January for those who are interested. 

Please contact Lisa Walsh with any questions.

Fall Full-Time AAP Referral Window

The fall window for full-time AAP referrals closes on October 15th, 2024. Parents/guardians of students in seventh or eighth grade who meet the below requirements and would like their student considered for full-time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time (Level IV) Referral Form to our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Sarah Reeser, no later than October 15, 2024.

Requirements for Fall Full-Time AAP Screening:

• Students new to FCPS schools as of January 1, 2024 - October 15, 2024
• A family enrolling in one of FCPS schools for the first time
• A family re-enrolling a child in FCPS schools after being gone last school year (regardless of where they lived)
• A child who was enrolled in FCPS in Kindergarten - 3rd grade left and re-enrolled in FCPS schools in 7th grade.

Forms for full-time AAP referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted. 

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Calendar Reminders: Rosh Hashanah/Teacher Workday

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 2. That day is an evening-only observance day and important events will not be held after school. 

Thursday, October 3, is a holiday for all FCPS staff. Schools and offices will be closed for Rosh Hashanah. 

Friday, October 4, is a teacher workday and there will be no school for students. Cooper's main office will be closed.

See the complete school year calendar.

Vision and Hearing Screening Notice

Vision and hearing screening will be held on 10/7 and 10/8 for all 7th graders during their PE class. The purpose of screening is to identify students who need further evaluation due to difficulty seeing the screening chart or hearing the screening tones. If your child wears glasses, please be sure that glasses are at school on screening day. Parents will be notified by letter if screening results indicate that further evaluation is needed. Prompt follow-up with your health care provider is recommended as vision and hearing difficulties can interfere with learning.

If you would like to assist as a volunteer with the screening process, please contact the School Health Aide at 703-442-5810.

🗓️ Attendance Tip: Scheduling Family Trips or Events

Good attendance is an important life skill that will help students succeed in school and beyond.

When planning trips or family events, refer to the FCPS calendar and try to use weekends and school holidays. Every day of learning is a day toward success. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students absent 10% of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered chronically absent.

When possible, schedule appointments for your child outside of school hours. If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or another reason, you must report the absence. 

Watch this video with tips on understanding our school calendar and visit our Attendance webpage for additional information. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

7th Grade Parent Volunteers Needed

The annual FCPS vision screening event  at Cooper runs this year on October 7 and October 8. We need parent volunteers to guide students in and out of those screening sessions. It’s a fun way to see your child for a few brief moments and help the school screen large groups of students smoothly.

Please use this SignUp Genius to sign up for as many slots as you are able.

Picture Day Volunteers Needed 

School Picture Day is Coming!

📅 Date: Thursday October 10th (odd day schedule) & Friday October 11th (even day schedule) during PE class

📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day

🛒 Pre-order Online: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001132588#login

📧 Questions About Ordering? Email us at [email protected]

Please sign up to volunteer for a time slot via the SignUp Genius. 

American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 10

Cooper will be offering the AMC 10A this year on Wednesday, November 6th, after school at 2:30 PM. The AMC 10 is a 25-question, 75-minute multiple-choice examination in high school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. *This test is for students in 10th grade and below and covers the high school curriculum up to 10th grade. 

The AMC 8, which we will be hosting in January, is targeted for middle school students in grade 8 and below. The AMC 10 is NOT required for the AMC 8, and historically, the majority of our Cooper students interested in the AMC competitions take only the AMC 8. Details will follow in the coming weeks on how to register for the AMC 8.

If your student is interested in taking the AMC 10A, please sign up using this Google Form. There will be a $5.00 administrative fee to take the test. The fee can be paid through MySchool Bucks. The deadline to register and pay the fee for AMC 10 is October 25th. As a reminder, the AMC 8 will be offered in January for those who are interested. 

Please contact Lisa Walsh with any questions.

FCPS 2024 World Language Credit Exam (WLCE)

Earn world language credits by demonstrating your proficiency in languages other than English!

• The exam assesses language proficiency in languages other than English
• Students who take the exam can earn up to three foreign language credits for levels one, two, and/or three in the language of the exam.
• The credits can fulfill the foreign language requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma.
• The FCPS World Language Credit Exam is an approved assessment for awarding students the Virginia Department of Education's Seal of Biliteracy.
• The exam is offered once each school year for the languages listed on the FCPS World Language Credit Exam website.
• A student may participate in the exam two times per language, once per year, between grades 7 and 12. In other words, students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam.

Registration: To register for the exam, contact your school counselor. Registration is open, and will close at 4:00 p.m. on October 4, 2024. **Late registrations will not be accepted.

Date of Exam: The exam will be held on November 12, 2024.

SEL Screener 

October 9th, Cooper Middle School will administer the SEL Screener during block 4 Advisory. Please review the E-Notify sent on Friday, September 6th, for details.

Fall Full-Time AAP Referral Window

The fall window for full-time AAP referrals closes on October 15th, 2024. Parents/guardians of students in seventh or eighth grade who meet the below requirements and would like their student considered for full-time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time (Level IV) Referral Form to our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Sarah Reeser, no later than October 15, 2024.

Requirements for Fall Full-Time AAP Screening:

• Students new to FCPS schools as of January 1, 2024 - October 15, 2024
• A family enrolling in one of FCPS schools for the first time
• A family re-enrolling a child in FCPS schools after being gone last school year (regardless of where they lived)
• A child who was enrolled in FCPS in Kindergarten - 3rd grade left and re-enrolled in FCPS schools in 7th grade.

Forms for full-time AAP referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted. 

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

7th Grade Parent Volunteers Needed

The annual FCPS vision screening event  at Cooper runs this year on October 7 and October 8. We need parent volunteers to guide students in and out of those screening sessions. It’s a fun way to see your child for a few brief moments and help the school screen large groups of students smoothly.

Please use this SignUp Genius to sign up for as many slots as you are able.

Picture Day Volunteers Needed 

School Picture Day is Coming!

📅 Date: Thursday October 10th (odd day schedule) & Friday October 11th (even day schedule) during PE class

📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day

🛒 Pre-order Online: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001132588#login

📧 Questions About Ordering? Email us at [email protected]

Please sign up to volunteer for a time slot via the SignUp Genius. 

American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 10

Cooper will be offering the AMC 10A this year on Wednesday, November 6th, after school at 2:30 PM. The AMC 10 is a 25-question, 75-minute multiple-choice examination in high school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. *This test is for students in 10th grade and below and covers the high school curriculum up to 10th grade. 

The AMC 8, which we will be hosting in January, is targeted for middle school students in grade 8 and below. The AMC 10 is NOT required for the AMC 8, and historically, the majority of our Cooper students interested in the AMC competitions take only the AMC 8. Details will follow in the coming weeks on how to register for the AMC 8.

If your student is interested in taking the AMC 10A, please sign up using this Google Form. There will be a $5.00 administrative fee to take the test. The fee can be paid through MySchool Bucks. The deadline to register and pay the fee for AMC 10 is October 25th. As a reminder, the AMC 8 will be offered in January for those who are interested. 

Please contact Lisa Walsh with any questions.

FCPS 2024 World Language Credit Exam (WLCE)

Earn world language credits by demonstrating your proficiency in languages other than English!

• The exam assesses language proficiency in languages other than English
• Students who take the exam can earn up to three foreign language credits for levels one, two, and/or three in the language of the exam.
• The credits can fulfill the foreign language requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma.
• The FCPS World Language Credit Exam is an approved assessment for awarding students the Virginia Department of Education's Seal of Biliteracy.
• The exam is offered once each school year for the languages listed on the FCPS World Language Credit Exam website.
• A student may participate in the exam two times per language, once per year, between grades 7 and 12. In other words, students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam.

Registration: To register for the exam, contact your school counselor. Registration is open, and will close at 4:00 p.m. on October 4, 2024. **Late registrations will not be accepted.

Date of Exam: The exam will be held on November 12, 2024.

SEL Screener 

October 9th, Cooper Middle School will administer the SEL Screener during block 4 Advisory. Please review the E-Notify sent on Friday, September 6th, for details.

Fall Full-Time AAP Referral Window

The fall window for full-time AAP referrals closes on October 15th, 2024. Parents/guardians of students in seventh or eighth grade who meet the below requirements and would like their student considered for full-time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time (Level IV) Referral Form to our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Sarah Reeser, no later than October 15, 2024.

Requirements for Fall Full-Time AAP Screening:

• Students new to FCPS schools as of January 1, 2024 - October 15, 2024
• A family enrolling in one of FCPS schools for the first time
• A family re-enrolling a child in FCPS schools after being gone last school year (regardless of where they lived)
• A child who was enrolled in FCPS in Kindergarten - 3rd grade left and re-enrolled in FCPS schools in 7th grade.

Forms for full-time AAP referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted. 

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Lost and Found

We have over 65 sweatshirts and 36 water bottles in the lost and found. If not claimed by Friday, September 20th, we will need to donate.

FCPS 2024 World Language Credit Exam (WLCE)

Earn world language credits by demonstrating your proficiency in languages other than English!

• The exam assesses language proficiency in languages other than English
• Students who take the exam can earn up to three foreign language credits for levels one, two, and/or three in the language of the exam.
• The credits can fulfill the foreign language requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma.
• The FCPS World Language Credit Exam is an approved assessment for awarding students the Virginia Department of Education's Seal of Biliteracy.
• The exam is offered once each school year for the languages listed on the FCPS World Language Credit Exam website.
• A student may participate in the exam two times per language, once per year, between grades 7 and 12. In other words, students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam.

Registration: To register for the exam, contact your school counselor. Registration is open, and will close at 4:00 p.m. on October 4, 2024. **Late registrations will not be accepted.

Date of Exam: The exam will be held on November 12, 2024.

SEL Screener 

October 9th, Cooper Middle School will administer the SEL Screener during block 4 Advisory. Please review the E-Notify sent on Friday, September 6th, for details.

Fall Full-Time AAP Referral Window

The fall window for full-time AAP referrals closes on October 15th, 2024. Parents/guardians of students in seventh or eighth grade who meet the below requirements and would like their student considered for full-time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time (Level IV) Referral Form to our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Sarah Reeser, no later than October 15, 2024.

Requirements for Fall Full-Time AAP Screening:

• Students new to FCPS schools as of January 1, 2024 - October 15, 2024
• A family enrolling in one of FCPS schools for the first time
• A family re-enrolling a child in FCPS schools after being gone last school year (regardless of where they lived)
• A child who was enrolled in FCPS in Kindergarten - 3rd grade left and re-enrolled in FCPS schools in 7th grade.

Forms for full-time AAP referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted. 

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Chipotle Dining Out - TONIGHT!

The PTO hosts regular “Dine-Out” nights at popular area restaurants—it’s an easy fundraiser! They donate a percentage of the sales to our PTO, and you don’t have to cook dinner—it’s a win-win.  

Please note: Fundraising dollars does not apply to orders placed via doordash or uber eats. When ordering online use ordering code GPZ9E7D. Offer valid at the location in McLean on Old Dominion.

General Membership Meeting Thursday, September 12th - Q&A

Please join the PTO for their first general membership meeting tomorrow: September 12 at 9:30 am in the cafeteria.

You can grab a quick cup of coffee, meet other Cooper parents, and chat with the Assistant Principals in a Q and A session. 

Science Olympiad Kiss and Ride

Thanks for another great week in the kiss and ride line!

The back Kiss and Ride gates will close at 7:27am. Students need time to get into the building and class. Check in at Main Office after 7:30 to get a tardy pass. 

Instructional Spotlight

What is a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)?

A multi-tiered system of supports (MTTS) involves:

• Teachers and schools using student data to plan for instruction
• Schools providing more time and support through intervention
• Students receiving support in academics, wellness, and behavior

Student data may include: progress report grades, quizzes and tests, work samples and projects, conversations, observations, attendance data, and much more.  

What are the tiers of support?

At all tiers, teachers monitor student response to instruction and interventions.  Interventions are defined as additional, meaningful instruction and skill building based on research for your child.

• Tier 1: All children receive: High quality instruction that meets your child’s needs and additional support as needed; Teachers and schools use data to plan for Tier 1 instruction for all children.

• Tier 2: Some children receive: Small group reteaching and intervention in addition to Tier 1; Teachers and schools use data to determine if children need tier 2 instruction.

• Tier 3: Few children receive: Intensive intervention, or intervention on specific area(s) of need based on data in addition to Tier 1, and possibly Tier 2; Teachers and schools use data to determine if children need tier 3 instruction.

Parents/ families received a letter indicating participation in tier 3 academic intervention, and tier 2 and tier 3 wellness and behavior notifications will be emailed in the upcoming weeks.  You can also ask your child’s teacher how they are making progress in their learning.

If you have questions about Cooper’s MTSS process, please contact Courtney Kaden. 

SIS ParentVue account?

If you do not already have a SIS ParentVUE account, sign up now to monitor and support your child’s academic success! Through ParentVUE, you are able to view your student’s attendance, grades, and assignments at any time. You can also access special reports for your student like progress reports and assessment score reports. 

Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. 

Need help creating a SIS ParentVue account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.

If you have previously setup your SIS ParentVUe account and have forgotten your password you will need to go to the SIS ParentVue logon page (https://sisparent.fcps.edu) and click on More Options.  Under the More Options menu you will find the Fogot Password service. 

Family Life Education Pilot

Paper copies of the FLE Pilot opt-out form went home with each student through Health and Physical Education classes last week.  Please ask your child for this form as it explains the Human Growth and Development Pilot.  You ONLY need to complete the form and send it back to your child’s Health and Physical Education teacher if you prefer your child NOT to be part of the FLE Pilot.

Please contact Kristin Sandridge, if you have questions about the FLE Pilot or FLE instruction.

SEL Screener 

October 9th, Cooper Middle School will administer the SEL Screener during block 4 Advisory. Please review the E-Notify sent on Friday, September 6th, for details.

FCPS 2024 World Language Credit Exam (WLCE)

Earn world language credits by demonstrating your proficiency in languages other than English!

• The exam assesses language proficiency in languages other than English
• Students who take the exam can earn up to three foreign language credits for levels one, two, and/or three in the language of the exam.
• The credits can fulfill the foreign language requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma.
• The FCPS World Language Credit Exam is an approved assessment for awarding students the Virginia Department of Education's Seal of Biliteracy.
• The exam is offered once each school year for the languages listed on the FCPS World Language Credit Exam website.
• A student may participate in the exam two times per language, once per year, between grades 7 and 12. In other words, students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam.

Registration: To register for the exam, contact your school counselor. Registration is open, and will close at 4:00 p.m. on October 4, 2024. **Late registrations will not be accepted.

Date of Exam: The exam will be held on November 12, 2024.

Fall Full-Time AAP Referral Window

The fall window for full-time AAP referrals closes on October 15th, 2024. Parents/guardians of students in seventh or eighth grade who meet the below requirements and would like their student considered for full-time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time (Level IV) Referral Form to our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Sarah Reeser, no later than October 15, 2024.

Requirements for Fall Full-Time AAP Screening:

• Students new to FCPS schools as of January 1, 2024 - October 15, 2024
• A family enrolling in one of FCPS schools for the first time
• A family re-enrolling a child in FCPS schools after being gone last school year (regardless of where they lived)
• A child who was enrolled in FCPS in Kindergarten - 3rd grade left and re-enrolled in FCPS schools in 7th grade.

Forms for full-time AAP referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted. 

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

Request for Photos

Attention Parents! We need photos of your students and their Cooper friends for the yearbook. We are specifically looking for photos from last summer, sports, weekends, holidays, first day of school, and students with their families. Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to [email protected] ASAP. THANK YOU!

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter

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Important Events

• Back To School Night will be September 5th, 6:30-8:30pm. This is a Parent/Caregiver event only. The cafeteria will be open at 5:30pm for after school resources, purchase spiritwear, etc. **Important** Your student will bring home their class schedule on a yellow paper Thursday. BRING this document with you as schedules will not be printed night of.
• TJHSST Information Meeting immediately after school, Monday, September 9th, 2:30-3:30pm. Late buses will be available. 8th grade parents and students only.
• After School Clubs begin Wednesday, September 11th. Complete the Parent Consent form for your student to stay after school. 

Family Life Education (FLE) Pilot

For this school year, Cooper Middle School will be part of a pilot that will test a new way to teach the Human Growth and Development unit of Family Life Education (FLE). 

Right now, students in grade seven and eight separate into boys and girls classes for instruction. As part of this pilot program, Cooper Middle School will keep students together in class for some of these lessons. You have the option to opt your student out of this program. As always, you can also opt your student out of any FLE instruction. Your student was provided a form in their PE class Tuesday or Wednesday for you to review and opt-out if desired. 

Emergency Care Form, Health Information Form 

The goal of the health room is to ensure your student experiences a healthy and safe school year. To proactively plan, we ask that parents/guardians complete the Online/Verification Update packet in SIS ParentVUE to include emergency contact information, Health Information Forms, and Emergency Care Forms. The Online Verification Update (OVU) packet allows parents to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations) for students in grades PS/HS and kindergarten through 12th grade. The enrolling parent will be able to access OVU through their SIS ParentVUE account. OVU will be available on July 29th. To assist you, follow this link to the site.

Please update no later than September 6, 2024.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) Admissions Process

• Monday, September 9, 2024: TJ information session will be in the Cooper Middle School cafeteria directly after school from 2:45-3:30 PM. This event is for 8th-grade parents and students only. A TJHSST representative will be speaking about TJ.

• Monday, October 21, 2024: TJ Applications available online at 4 pm
• Friday, November 15, 2024: Application submission deadline no later than 4 pm

FCPS 2024 World Language Credit Exam (WLCE)

Earn world language credits by demonstrating your proficiency in languages other than English!

• The exam assesses language proficiency in languages other than English
• Students who take the exam can earn up to three foreign language credits for levels one, two, and/or three in the language of the exam.
• The credits can fulfill the foreign language requirements for the Advanced Studies Diploma.
• The FCPS World Language Credit Exam is an approved assessment for awarding students the Virginia Department of Education's Seal of Biliteracy.
• The exam is offered once each school year for the languages listed on the FCPS World Language Credit Exam website.
• A student may participate in the exam two times per language, once per year, between grades 7 and 12. In other words, students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam.

Registration: To register for the exam, contact your school counselor. Registration will open at 8:00 a.m. on September 4, 2024, and will close at 4:00 p.m. on October 4, 2024. Late registrations will not be accepted.

Back-to-School Toolkit: Proven Systems for Solving Disorganization, Procrastination, and Missed Deadlines

with Ann Dolin

Unrelenting patterns of disorganization, procrastination, and late assignments wear down and discourage many parents of students (especially those with ADHD and other learning differences) as the school year grinds on. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

In this webinar, Ann will discuss:

• What a system is and why sustainable systems are game changers for kids
• Uncover which type of procrastinator your child is, from crisis-maker to dreamer, and get personalized solutions for each procrastination style
• How your child can effectively use a calendar system to combat procrastination and meet deadlines head-on
• Strategies to help your student maintain order with easy-to-implement organizational routines, like the Clean Sweep and Launching Pad
• Communication starters to develop a relationship of trust at the start of the school year and how to nurture it for a smooth academic journey

Join Educational Connections Founder and President Ann Dolin, M.Ed., an experienced author, educator, and advocate for this important webinar.

September 13, 2024 10-11 a.m.

Register online

After-School Program Registration Parent consent to participate 

FCPS Middle Schools offer a free After-School Program a few days a week. This program is staffed by FCPS staff, NCS staff, and approved contractors and volunteers. After-School Programs include various activities such as homework assistance, clubs, fine arts, leadership, sports, and other activities. 

Students must have parent consent on file to participate. 

Cross Country

Sign up today, Cross Country season is just around the corner!  Cross Country is a great opportunity for any student looking to enhance their overall athletic ability while being part of a team.  Our student athletes will practice two days a week after school.  We will compete in 5 races at various middle schools throughout the county. 

To be eligible to compete in races students must first complete/submit :

• Complete Fall MS Sports Registration Form
• Submit an FCPS Physical Form after May 1st, 2024
• Submit FCPS Emergency Care Form
• Attend at least 3 practices

Physicals and Emergency Care Forms can be sent directly to Coach Kaden or turned in at the front office.  Additional information can be found on the FCPS web page for Middle School Athletics: https://www.fcps.edu/activities/student-athletics#middle-school-athletics

Athletics Registration

FALL 2024 Middle School Sports Participant Registration Form.Families must complete the FCPS MS Athletics Registration Google Form in order for students to participate in FCPS MS Sports. 

977 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA 22101 |  Main Phone: 703.442.5800
Attendance: 703.442.5858 | Student Services: 703.442.5812 | Web | Twitter