FCPS

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Schools and school offices will be closed Monday, April 3, to Friday, April 7. Students will return to school on Monday, April 10.

Need to Know:

• Food Delivery Services
• Reusable Water Bottles

Food Deliveries 

Students should not be ordering food from food delivery services during school hours.  This is a safety concern that also disrupts the educational process within our building.  Outside food is in direct competition with FCPS food services. Furthermore, these delivery drivers are often directed to use entrances that are not authorized for use during the school day. Please help us to support a safe and secure building by not allowing students food deliveries during the day. 

There has been a steady increase in the number fast food deliveries dropped off by families during the school day.   We would like to encourage students to utilize the healthy food choices available in our school cafeteria rather than receive fast food.   

FCPS Regulation 5003.4: Food Sales and Services: No food or beverages shall be offered for sale to students from midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the instructional day on the school premises by a provider other than the individual school food service department.

No school or organization shall contract for, or offer on its own at other times, any sale or service of food or beverage to students in competition with an established school food services program.

Please help us keep our hallways dry! 😊  Students are encouraged to use a refillable water bottle at school but please leave at home the athletic water bottles with spray tops (water bottles that can be squeezed). 

Information to Support Parents:

• Replacement Chargers
• No-cost teletherapy for students
• Proposed updates to SR&R
• Summer VIP Camp
• Langley Football Camp

Replacement charger

If your student has lost/misplaced the charger for their FCPS issued device, if they have searched high and low and still can’t find their charger, plesae go to MySchoolBucks to purchase a replacement charger for $28. Once the replacement fee has been paid Mr. Dabbondanza will contact your student and provide them with a replacement charger. Once your student has received the replacement charger please ensure that it is labeled with their name. 

No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for Students Starting April 10 

FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to begin offering virtual mental health services to high school students via live video sessions. Starting Monday, April 10, parents/caregivers who have been struggling to find a therapist for their child or who notice changes in their child’s behavior will be able to connect them virtually with a licensed therapist. 

Teletherapy services for students are short-term, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive. Teletherapy is available on any device, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Therapists will be locally-licensed clinicians; 50% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC); and 40% of whom are bilingual. More than 15 languages are available.

Hazel Health’s licensed therapists can help students who are experiencing:

• Mood/behavior changes, lack of motivation, grief/loss.
• Anxiety, worry, fears.
• Bullying, sexual identity challenges, challenging peer and family relationships.
• Academic stress.

The first step for parents is to provide information through an opt-in form. Visit FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for details.

Proposed Updates to Student Rights and Responsibilities

The Department of Special Services will be hosting two virtual meetings for the FCPS community regarding proposed updates to the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) Regulation. Please join one of the meetings below via Zoom (click the date to register):

• Tuesday, March 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Monday, March 27, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the suggested updates and ask questions via Zoom Chat. Language interpretation will be available in Spanish. A certified deaf interpreter will be available as well. 

Beginning Monday, March 20, families and staff will also be able to provide feedback on proposed updates to the SR&R via a short survey. Please stay tuned for details. Visit FCPS’ website for more information.  

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.

Need to Know:

• Reusable Water Bottles
• Project for the Arts

Please help us keep our hallways dry! 😊  Students are encouraged to use a refillable water bottle at school but please leave at home the athletic water bottles with spray tops (water bottles that can be squeezed). 

McLean Project for the Arts March 16-23 Celebrations:

• McLean STEM Essay Contest
• Science Bowl at State
• Quiz Bowl
• YAM State Winners

McLean AAUW STEM Essay Contest

2023 STEM Essay Contest for 7th and 8th grade students in McLean schools that was sponsored by the McLean Area Branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women). We are proud to announce that Kylie Rudinsky won 2nd place for their essay about Alice Ball.

Science Bowl Teams Won 2nd and 4th Place at VA State

Cooper Science Bowl participated in the Middle School Science Bowl VA Regional on March 4th and both teams are in the Top 4! The team has been working hard over the past 6 months and I am really proud of the students who devoted time and energy and worked hard toward our goal.

Cooper Team 2 (Ray Zhao, Ethan Shan, Haughton Neppl, Alice Guo) won 2nd place among 17 teams! They earned a trophy and $500 to spend towards Cooper's STEM activities.

Cooper Team 1 (Eshaan Sombhatta, Hridhann Banerjee, Ryan Guo, Nathan Liang, Edward Guo) won 4th place and earned a trophy for the school.  Jefferson Lab News Release

Cooper Quiz Bowl Team

the Cooper Quiz Bowl Team had a successful weekend!  On Saturday, A Cooper team (Orin Das, Nathan Liang, Ryan Minton and Haughton Neppl) competed in the Thomas Jefferson Invitational Academic Tournament, a high school quiz bowl tournament held at TJHSST.  As the only middle school team, Cooper placed 4th and Haughton Neppl was the second-highest individual scorer.

On Sunday, Cooper placed 1st in the middle school National Mirror online tournament.  Congratulations to team members Amelia Duan, Haughton Neppl, Eshaan Sombhatta and Ray Zhao who won all 10 of their rounds.  Haughton Neppl and Eshaan Sambhatta were also the 4th and 5th highest individual scorers respectively.

Youth Art Month

Three Cooper students were awarded 1st, 2nd, and 4th place in a state-wide Youth Art Month contest creating flags for the State of Virginia with the theme of "Your Art Your Voice".

1st place Josephine O'Malley

2nd place Temi Han

4th place Adam Villaruz

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.

Need to Know:

• Sport Water Bottles
• Movie Fundraiser
• Project for the Arts
• SEL Screener
• Intention Forms

Water Bottles

Students are encouraged to use a refillable water bottle at school.  There are water-filling stations in our addition and in the cafeteria.  We ask that all water bottles have sealed lids.  Athletic water bottles with spray tops (water bottles that can be squeezed) should not be brought to school.  

SCA movie days Turkey Fundraiser

March 9th after school

March 10th in the 5:30-7:30 for families (not a drop-off event)

The Cooper SCA is hosting two movie times on March 9th and March 10th with all proceeds being donated to help with disaster relief to victims in Turkey. 

Thursday March 9th from 2:30-4:30 Showing Paddington, only selling individual tickets for $1 each. Students who stay to watch will be able to take the late buses home at 4:30 pm. On 

Friday March 10th from 5:30-7:30 The showing will be for  families (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc) to join us for an evening showing of a 90s Classic: The Parent Trap. Doors will open at 5:00 pm. Students must be accompanied by an adult for Friday’s showing. Tickets will be sold at the door (and at lunch) for $3 per family or $1 per student. 

If you can’t make it but would still like to help out, please donate concessions to be sold at the event. Items to sign up for can be found in this signup genius and they can be dropped off in the front office the day of the movie. The more we raise, the bigger our impact. Let’s work together to make a difference in the lives of our allied countries!

If you or your students have any questions, please reach out to the SCA sponsors, Gabriella McNulty at [email protected] or Christopher Lane at [email protected].

McLean Project for the Arts March 16-23 SEL Screener March 13th

Cooper will be administering the Spring SEL Screener on Monday, March 13th during block 4 Advisory.  All students will participate in the SEL Screener unless they have been opted-out by a parent/guardian or enrolled after January 25th.  Parents/guardians can check their child’s opt-out status in SIS ParentVUE.  Please direct any questions to Cooper’s School Test Coordinator, Courtney Derr at [email protected]

Student Intention Forms:

Moving this summer? Changing schools? If your family plans include leaving FCPS for the 2023-24 school year, please notify us by completing this Student Intention Form and emailing it to Ms. Annie Eisman at [email protected]

Celebrations:

• DIVERSEartLangley
• Model UN 
• MathCounts

Congratulations to Cooper’s DIVERSEartLANGLEY 2nd Place Finisher!

A hearty congratulations to talented Cooper student Katherine Chen who placed SECOND at the DIVERSEartLANGLEY art show this week!  Katherine’s piece, Swirl, was chosen by exhibit attendees, who viewed and discussed over 80 submissions.  This is the first year that Cooper students were invited to submit, and Katherine did our Cooper Community so proud!  Congratulations!

Cooper's Model UN Team

We’d like to congratulate our Cooper students who participated in last weekend’s Model UN conference at the College of William & Mary! 27 Model UN club members and their families made the trip to Williamsburg, where our students were excellent representatives of Cooper values. They collaborated with students from schools up and down the east coast to work on issues like climate change, human genome editing, the 1968 Philippine presidential election, and palace intrigue surrounding Catherine the Great. Thanks to all who participated and our PTO for supporting this program!

MathCounts 

Congratulations to Bennett Huang for placing 2nd in the State in the MathCounts competition this past weekend. Bennett also qualified to represent the State of Virginia at the National MathCounts tournament.

Information to Support Parents

• Mental health conversations
• Summer Learning
• Connector Bus Pass

Talk to your student about mental health

Talking with your child about emotional topics, such as their mental health, can feel uncomfortable. This can be due to the stigma involved, lack of information or even fears of possible blame. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers helpful tips on reducing the stigma and how to have a healthy dialog on mental health.

FCPS Summer Learning

The FCPS Online Campus summer course registration is now open for eligible middle school students who meet prerequisites and technical requirements.  Students may take one online course for first time or repeat credit.  Middle school students may not take a mathematics course during the summer as their first high school level mathematics course.  Courses are rigorous; therefore, students should consult their counselor prior to registering.  Program information is available at Summer Learning. 

Career and Technical Education (CTE) 

CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 7-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Visit the CSA website for more information and registration.

Institute for the Arts Camps (IFTA)

IFTA is a two- or four-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, self-directed economics and personal finance, and theater. Visit the IFTA website for more information and registration. 

Connector Bus Pass

Students can request a free Connector pass by speaking with Mrs. Midgley in the Main Office. 

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.

Students have an early release on Thursday, March 2. There is no school for students on Friday, March 3, due to a school planning day (186, 188, and 191 personnel do not report). See the complete 2022-23 School Year Calendar and the Employee Calendar.

Need to Know:

• Intention Forms
• SEL Screener
• Sport Water Bottles
• Movie Fundraiser
• Project for the Arts

SCA movie days Turkey Fundraiser

March 9th after school

March 10th in the 5:30-7:30 for families

The Cooper SCA is hosting two movie times on March 9th and March 10th with all proceeds being donated to help with disaster relief to victims in Turkey. 

Thursday March 9th from 2:30-4:30 Showing Paddington, only selling individual tickets for $1 each. Students who stay to watch will be able to take the late buses home at 4:30 pm. On 

Friday March 10th from 5:30-7:30 The showing will be for  families (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc) to join us for an evening showing of a 90s Classic: The Parent Trap. Doors will open at 5:00 pm. Students must be accompanied by an adult for Friday’s showing. Tickets will be sold at the door (and at lunch) for $3 per family or $1 per student. 

If you can’t make it but would still like to help out, please donate concessions to be sold at the event. Items to sign up for can be found in this signup genius and they can be dropped off in the front office the day of the movie. The more we raise, the bigger our impact. Let’s work together to make a difference in the lives of our allied countries!

If you or your students have any questions, please reach out to the SCA sponsors, Gabriella McNulty at [email protected] or Christopher Lane at [email protected].

McLean Project for the Arts March 16-23 Student Intention Forms:

Moving this summer? Changing schools? If your family plans include leaving FCPS for the 2023-24 school year, please notify us by completing this Student Intention Form and emailing it to Ms. Annie Eisman at [email protected]

SEL Screener March 13th

Cooper will be administering the Spring SEL Screener on Monday, March 13th during block 4 Advisory.  All students will participate in the SEL Screener unless they have been opted-out by a parent/guardian or enrolled after January 25th.  Parents/guardians can check their child’s opt-out status in SIS ParentVUE.  Please direct any questions to Cooper’s School Test Coordinator, Courtney Derr at [email protected]

Water Bottles

Students are encouraged to use a refillable water bottle at school.  There are water-filling stations in our addition and in the cafeteria.  We ask that all water bottles have sealed lids.  Athletic water bottles with spray tops (water bottles that can be squeezed) should not be brought to school.  

Celebrations:

• Science Olympiad
• Donations for Turkey

Science Olympiad

Congratulations and a Big Shout out to the two Cooper Science Olympiad teams on their performance at Regionals competition held last weekend at University of Mary Washington and on winning overall 1st place against competitive teams. Cooper Science Olympiad team will be progressing to State level tournament to be held at UVA on 3/25. GO COUGARS!

Awards were earned for top 6 placements in every event. The following students placed in their events:

1st Place:

Aliana Yee, Jason Wu in Bridge

Arianne Almeida, Neethi Verma in Can't Judge a Powder

Jason Pan, Nathan Liang, Hridhaan Banerjee in Codebusters 

Hridhaan Banerjee, Krish Seonie in Crave the Wave 

Jason Wu, Sidh Jaddu in Disease Detectives

Jack Gao, Krish Seonie in Dynamic Planet

Aliana Yee, Jason Pan, Nathan Liang in Experiment and Data Analysis

Eshaan Sombhatta, Ramkumar Babu in Green Generation

Eshaan Sombhatta, Ethan Shan in Road Scholar

Jason Pan, Sidh Jaddu in Sounds of Music

2nd Place: 

Luke Chuang, Alexander Rozsa, Kylie Rudinsky in Experiment and Data Analysis

Ellie Wen, Mythili Sudhir in Forestry

Alexander Rozsa, Abhay Nemani in Fast Facts

Abhay Nemani, Preenaka Dutt in Rocks and Minerals

Ethan Shan, Jack Gao in Solar System

Anirudh Chadalavada, Ethan Shan in Wheeled Vehicle

Aliana Yee, Ellie Wen in Write It, Do It

3rd Place:

Eric Zeng, Kylie Rudinsky in Anatomy & Physiology

Harun Hartojo, Arianne Almeida in Disease Detectives

4th Place:

Sebastian Zurich, Sidh Jaddu in Crime Busters

Preenaka Dutt, Luke Chuang in Dynamic Planet

Jason Wu, Ramkumar Babu in Rocks and Minerals

Neethi Verma, Abhay Nemani in Solar System

5th Place:

Anirudh Chadalavada, Mythili Sudhir in Anatomy & Physiology

Eric Zeng, Kylie Rudinsky in Green Generation

6th Place:

Dorsa Motaharinezhad, Ronen Mishulovich in Crave the Wave

Thank you!

Students from Langley, Cooper, and Great Falls Elementary schools prepared a shipment of supplies to deliver to the Turkish Embassy. 

We will continue to collect donations at Cooper. Please reference the Turkey Embassy Twitter page for the most up to date humanitarian need. 

If you happen to have items to donate, please complete this form for home pick-up.  Items can be purchased online from Amazon or Wal-Mart and sent directly to the Turkey Embassy at: 2525 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Information to Support Parents

• College Partnership Program
• Summer Learning
• Connector Bus Pass

College Partnership Program

Do you have an 8th grade student who wants to go to college?  Do they fall into one or more of these categories?

• Students who are the first in their family to attend college in the U.S
• Black or African American students
• Hispanic students, of one or more race
• Students with disabilities
• English learners
• Economically disadvantaged students

If so, please apply for Fairfax County’s College Partnership Program.  Additional information as well as the application can be found HERE.  The deadline for this application is March 10th.

FCPS Summer Learning

The FCPS Online Campus summer course registration is now open for eligible middle school students who meet prerequisites and technical requirements.  Students may take one online course for first time or repeat credit.  Middle school students may not take a mathematics course during the summer as their first high school level mathematics course.  Courses are rigorous; therefore, students should consult their counselor prior to registering.  Program information is available at Summer Learning. 

Career and Technical Education (CTE) 

CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 7-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Visit the CSA website for more information and registration.

Institute for the Arts Camps (IFTA)

IFTA is a two- or four-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, self-directed economics and personal finance, and theater. Visit the IFTA website for more information and registration. 

Connector Bus Pass

Students can request a free Connector pass by speaking with Mrs. Midgley in the Main Office. 

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.

Students have an early release on Thursday, March 2. There is no school for students on Friday, March 3, due to a school planning day (186, 188, and 191 personnel do not report). See the complete 2022-23 School Year Calendar and the Employee Calendar.

Need to Know:

• SEL Screener
• Intention Forms
• Donations for Turkey
• Sport Water Bottles

SEL Screener March 13th

Cooper will be administering the Spring SEL Screener on Monday, March 13th during block 4 Advisory.  All students will participate in the SEL Screener unless they have been opted-out by a parent/guardian or enrolled after January 25th.  Parents/guardians can check their child’s opt-out status in SIS ParentVUE.  Please direct any questions to Cooper’s School Test Coordinator, Courtney Derr at [email protected]

Student Intention Forms:

Moving this summer? Changing schools? If your family plans include leaving FCPS for the 2023-24 school year, please notify us by completing this Student Intention Form and emailing it to Ms. Annie Eisman at [email protected]

Donations for Turkey

A powerful earthquake wreaked widespread devastation across Turkey and neighboring states. It is one of the deadliest natural disasters in the region. The death toll is quickly rising. Thousands were killed or became homeless in an instant and the winter conditions are very harsh for the survivors.

 To help the victims, please visit the Turkish Embassy Twitter account for most up to date items in need.

 A collection bin will be available at Cooper until March 1st for smaller items (blankets, sleeping bags, etc.)

If you happen to have larger items to donate, please complete this form for home pick-up.  Items can be purchased online from Amazon or Wal-Mart and sent directly to the Turkey Embassy at: 2525 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Water Bottles

Students are encouraged to use a refillable water bottle at school.  There are water-filling stations in our addition and in the cafeteria.  We ask that all water bottles have sealed lids.  Athletic water bottles with spray tops (water bottles that can be squeezed) should not be brought to school.  

Celebrations:

• Quiz Lit Team

Quiz Lit USA National Final 2023 

Many congratulations to Cooper Middle School, Virginia, on winning the 2023 USA Final.

Evelyn Volovar, Lachlan Thomas, Kylie Rudinsky, and Carmen Appel

Information to Support Parents

• College Partnership Program
• Tutor.com
• Safe Community Collation 
• Attendance Matters
• Parent Talk
• View IEPs
• Summer Learning
• Yearbooks

College Partnership Program

Do you have an 8th grade student who wants to go to college?  Do they fall into one or more of these categories?

• Students who are the first in their family to attend college in the U.S
• Black or African American students
• Hispanic students, of one or more race
• Students with disabilities
• English learners
• Economically disadvantaged students

If so, please apply for Fairfax County’s College Partnership Program.  Additional information as well as the application can be found HERE.  The deadline for this application is March 10th.

Tutor.com - Extra Help for Students at No Cost to Families 

With Tutor.com through Schoology, FCPS students are able to get learning help at any time, even from bilingual tutors! Students in FCPS meet with tutors thousands of times each week to practice reading, prepare for an upcoming math test, write computer programs, study for the SAT, or to get feedback on essays–all at no cost to their families! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take just a few minutes to connect with a tutor with your child. More info about Tutor.com in FCPS is available here. 

Safe Community Coalition March 15th, 7-9pm

If a student will be absent or arriving late to school, parents or guardians should always report the details of the absence to the Cooper MS Attendance Office. Teachers do not have access to mark a student excused for an absence, which is why it is imperative that parents contact the attendance office (instead of, or in addition to, the teacher) when their child is absent so we can mark them correctly. 

To report an absence, parents have these options:

1. Use the link to our online attendance form (preferred) from the main page of the CMS website:
2. Send an email with full details to: [email protected] or,
3. Call the attendance line at 703-442-5858 being sure to include the spelling of your student’s last name and reason for the absence.

If your student will be picked up early for an appointment: Please send them to the front office in the morning with a note stating the time of the dismissal. Students will be given a pass to leave class and meet parents in the office. Parents should come to entrance #1, to the main office, with a photo ID to pick up their student for early dismissals.

For more information on the attendance policies, please visit the CMS Attendance page.

Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and IEP Progress Reports in ParentVue

Parents are now able to view their students’ individualized education program (IEP) and IEP Progress Report in the Student Information System (SIS) ParentVue web app. To set up your ParentVue account, visit the SIS ParentVue information page. Please use a strong, unique password to protect your child’s information. IEP documents are not delivered via the SIS ParentVue mobile phone app. Once logged into SIS ParentVue, click on the “IEP Documents” tab to view your child’s current IEP and the most recent IEP Progress Report.

Parent Talk

McLean High School Student Services and McLean PTSA presents:

Helping Your Kids Build a Life They Want: Parent Talk with Authors Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson

Thursday, March 30, 2023 6:30 – 7:30 PM

McLean High School Auditorium No registration needed!

We all want our kids to be happy and successful in life.  Too often, many parents feel that if kids aren’t pushed harder, they won’t be successful.   But this can result in anxiety and depression, chronic stress, and a negative parent-child relationship.

Instead, let’s help our kids build a life they want – a life where success is defined by happiness, strong relationships, and overall wellness, and not simply by academic and career achievement.  Bill and Ned will share strategies parents can use to help our kids achieve this life!

We welcome all Dranesville District FCPS parents to attend this informative session.  If you are interested in learning about Bill and Ned’s work, please check out this podcast on achievement culture, as well as their books, linked below.

https://www.steventshapiro.com/experiencematters/thisisyourbrainonachievementculture

https://theselfdrivenchild.com/

FCPS Summer Learning

The FCPS Online Campus summer course registration is now open for eligible middle school students who meet prerequisites and technical requirements.  Students may take one online course for first time or repeat credit.  Middle school students may not take a mathematics course during the summer as their first high school level mathematics course.  Courses are rigorous; therefore, students should consult their counselor prior to registering.  Program information is available at Summer Learning. 

Career and Technical Education (CTE) 

CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 7-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Visit the CSA website for more information and registration.

Institute for the Arts Camps (IFTA)

IFTA is a two- or four-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, self-directed economics and personal finance, and theater. Visit the IFTA website for more information and registration. 

Attention parents! The yearbook staff needs photos of your student outside of school!

Here is a list of photos are we looking for:

Summer photos

Your student playing sports

Any fun fall or winter activities

Family or friends photos

First day of school photos

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.

Exciting news to share!

We want to welcome Kyle Laspe as our next Assistant Principal at Cooper Middle School!  Kyle is a current AP at Westfield High School, where he was also a Dean of Students.  His leadership experience is vast as he has spent time as the Principal for Summer Credit Recovery and as an administrator for Summer Enrichment programs.  Kyle is not new to the Langley Pyramid, he spent six years as a Special Education Teacher at Langley High School and prior to that he was a Special Education Teacher in High Point, North Carolina.  His experience as a current administrator, deep knowledge of special education and MTSS, along with his focus on relationships will serve Cooper well.  Kyle is solution focused, efficient, and a collaborator.

In his free time, he loves to travel, ski and explore new cities and restaurants.  He is an avid sport fan!  He loves all Philadelphia sports teams and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Need to Know:

• President’s Day
• Thank a Cougar
• Donations for Turkey
• Water Bottles

As a reminder, all schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 20, for the Presidents Day holiday. Learn more about Presidents Day in Britannica.com. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 21. See the complete 2022-23 School Year Calendar.

Thank a Cougar

In the week of Valentine’s Day, we would like to share our gratitude with the faculty.  Has a staff member at Cooper MS impacted you in a positive way?  Please share!  Complete this short form to thank a Cougar’rific staff member.

Donations for Turkey

A powerful earthquake wreaked widespread devastation across Turkey and neighboring states. It is one of the deadliest natural disasters in the region. The death toll is quickly rising. Thousands were killed or became homeless in an instant and the winter conditions are very harsh for the survivors.

 To help the victims, please visit the Turkish Embassy Twitter account for most up to date items in need.

 A collection bin will be available at Cooper until March 1st for smaller items (blankets, sleeping bags, etc.)

If you happen to have larger items to donate, please complete this form for home pick-up.  Items can be purchased online from Amazon or Wal-Mart and sent directly to the Turkey Embassy at: 2525 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Water Bottles

Students are encouraged to use a refillable water bottle at school.  There are water-filling stations in our addition and in the cafeteria.  We ask that all water bottles have sealed lids.  Athletic water bottles with spray tops (water bottles that can be squeezed) should not be brought to school.  

Celebrations:

• Quiz Bowl
• SRO Day

Student Celebration: Quiz Bowl

On Saturday, February 11th,  a team competed at Longfellow (Alexander Frey, Shaurya Kumar, Prthika Lanka, Andy Li, Anoushka Sarathy and Ray Zhao).  They did a great job, finishing 5th out of 18 teams.  Cooper player Ray Zhao (7th grade) was the highest scorer of the tournament, placing 1st out of 74 individual players! Haughton Neppl also traveled to Richmond on Saturday and placed 1st in both the International Academic Competition's (IAC) 8th-grade history and geography bees.

On Sunday, February 12th, Cooper's A team (Ryan Minton, Haughton Neppl, Eshaan Sombhatta and Ray Zhao) competed in the IAC's high school winter History Bowl and placed second out of ten teams!  They lost in finals in a nail-biter game 230-250.  Because of their stellar performance, the team also qualified for high school Nationals, which will be held in late April.

National School Resource Officer Day

The National Association of School Resource Officers encourages schools and communities to recognize the valuable work of their school resource officers during National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day February 15.

Thank you to Officer Hunter for all you do to support Cooper!

Information to Support Parents

• Tutor.com
• Safe Community Coalition
• Attendance Matters
• IEPs in ParentVUe
• Parent Talk
• FCPS Summer Learning

Tutor.com - Extra Help for Students at No Cost to Families 

With Tutor.com through Schoology, FCPS students are able to get learning help at any time, even from bilingual tutors! Students in FCPS meet with tutors thousands of times each week to practice reading, prepare for an upcoming math test, write computer programs, study for the SAT, or to get feedback on essays–all at no cost to their families! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take just a few minutes to connect with a tutor with your child. More info about Tutor.com in FCPS is available here. 

Safe Community Coalition March 15th, 7-9pm

If a student will be absent or arriving late to school, parents or guardians should always report the details of the absence to the Cooper MS Attendance Office. Teachers do not have access to mark a student excused for an absence, which is why it is imperative that parents contact the attendance office (instead of, or in addition to, the teacher) when their child is absent so we can mark them correctly. 

To report an absence, parents have these options:

1. Use the link to our online attendance form (preferred) from the main page of the CMS website:
2. Send an email with full details to: [email protected] or,
3. Call the attendance line at 703-442-5858 being sure to include the spelling of your student’s last name and reason for the absence.

If your student will be picked up early for an appointment: Please send them to the front office in the morning with a note stating the time of the dismissal. Students will be given a pass to leave class and meet parents in the office. Parents should come to entrance #1, to the main office, with a photo ID to pick up their student for early dismissals.

For more information on the attendance policies, please visit the CMS Attendance page.

Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and IEP Progress Reports in ParentVue

Parents are now able to view their students’ individualized education program (IEP) and IEP Progress Report in the Student Information System (SIS) ParentVue web app. To set up your ParentVue account, visit the SIS ParentVue information page. Please use a strong, unique password to protect your child’s information. IEP documents are not delivered via the SIS ParentVue mobile phone app. Once logged into SIS ParentVue, click on the “IEP Documents” tab to view your child’s current IEP and the most recent IEP Progress Report.

Parent Talk

McLean High School Student Services and McLean PTSA presents:

Helping Your Kids Build a Life They Want: Parent Talk with Authors Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson

Thursday, March 30, 2023 6:30 – 7:30 PM

McLean High School Auditorium No registration needed!

We all want our kids to be happy and successful in life.  Too often, many parents feel that if kids aren’t pushed harder, they won’t be successful.   But this can result in anxiety and depression, chronic stress, and a negative parent-child relationship.

Instead, let’s help our kids build a life they want – a life where success is defined by happiness, strong relationships, and overall wellness, and not simply by academic and career achievement.  Bill and Ned will share strategies parents can use to help our kids achieve this life!

We welcome all Dranesville District FCPS parents to attend this informative session.  If you are interested in learning about Bill and Ned’s work, please check out this podcast on achievement culture, as well as their books, linked below.

https://www.steventshapiro.com/experiencematters/thisisyourbrainonachievementculture

https://theselfdrivenchild.com/

FCPS Summer Learning

The FCPS Online Campus summer course registration is now open for eligible middle school students who meet prerequisites and technical requirements.  Students may take one online course for first time or repeat credit.  Middle school students may not take a mathematics course during the summer as their first high school level mathematics course.  Courses are rigorous; therefore, students should consult their counselor prior to registering.  Program information is available at Summer Learning. 

Career and Technical Education (CTE) 

CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 7-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Visit the CSA website for more information and registration.

Institute for the Arts Camps (IFTA)

IFTA is a two- or four-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, self-directed economics and personal finance, and theater. Visit the IFTA website for more information and registration. 

Attention parents! The yearbook staff needs photos of your student outside of school!

Here is a list of photos are we looking for:

Summer photos

Your student playing sports

Any fun fall or winter activities

Family or friends photos

First day of school photos

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.

PTO meeting  Thursday, February 9th, 9:00am, Cooper cafeteria

Featured Speaker will be Kelly Rankin, the Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist for the Langley Pyramid. Join us to learn about the effects of vaping, and synthetic opioids on our teenagers and the impact at Cooper. Hear from the administrative team about steps we can take to partner together and keep our kids safe. 

Submit any specific questions you have for Ms. Rankin on this topic.

PTO Dine Out Fundraiser Tonight Basic Burger:  Feb 8

Basic Burger (Tyson’s West location, next to Walmart) will donate 25% of sales to the PTO on Wednesday, 2/8, between 4 and 9PM.  For online orders, please enter “Cooper PTO” in the notes section.  In-store and to-go orders must write “Cooper PTO” on their receipt, and give it to a store employee.  Treat yourself to a night off from cooking mid-week and support the PTO at the same time.  Please spread the word!  Thank you to Basic Burger for their support!

Thank a Cougar

As we head into the week of Valentine’s Day, we would like to share our gratitude with our faculty.  Has a staff member at Cooper MS impacted you in a positive way?  Please share!  Complete this short form to thank a Cougar’rific staff member.

2nd Quarter Report Cards

As of February 6, 2nd Quarter Report cards are be visible in SIS StudentVue and ParentVue. A copy of your child’s report card will also be provided to them on Friday, February 10th during 7th block to bring home.

8th grade Langley HS Activities Fair Thursday, March 30th.

All 8th graders are invited to the Langley HS Activities Fair on Thursday, March 30th during the school day.  This will be an opportunity for students to visit Langley HS, hear from current high school students, and learn more about what sports, clubs, and activities are offered.  8th graders received permission slips through their English classes this week and should return signed permission slips to their English teacher no later than Friday, February 17th.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Courtney Derr at [email protected]. 

Debate Team Tournament Celebration 

Six Cooper teams participated in a debate tournament at Norwood School on Saturday, February 6th. All teams performed well and Ingrid Logan received the award for 2nd place speaker. 

MathCounts Celebration 

Congratulations to Cooper’s MathCounts team.  We had a very strong showing in a competitive field, placing 3rd in the Northern Virginia Chapter.  Bennett Huang individually placed 2nd in the Chapter and will represent Cooper in the State Competition in March.  Ethan Shan finished 7th in the Chapter and Edward Guo finished 9th, giving Cooper 3 of the top 10 spots in the individual competition.  Ryan Guo, Nathan Liang and Shveta Sunkar all finished in the top 25%!  Congrats to our entire team selected to represent Cooper including Felix Xu, Ray Zhao, Hridhaan Banerjee, Luke Kwon, Kylie Rudinsky and Dhivij Bhooma.  You should all be very proud!  You represented Cooper well!!!

Tutor.com - Extra Help for Students at No Cost to Families 

With Tutor.com through Schoology, FCPS students are able to get learning help at any time, even from bilingual tutors! Students in FCPS meet with tutors thousands of times each week to practice reading, prepare for an upcoming math test, write computer programs, study for the SAT, or to get feedback on essays–all at no cost to their families! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take just a few minutes to connect with a tutor with your child. More info about Tutor.com in FCPS is available here. 

Parent Talk

McLean High School Student Services and McLean PTSA presents:

Helping Your Kids Build a Life They Want: Parent Talk with Authors Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson

Thursday, March 30, 2023 6:30 – 7:30 PM

McLean High School Auditorium No registration needed!

We all want our kids to be happy and successful in life.  Too often, many parents feel that if kids aren’t pushed harder, they won’t be successful.   But this can result in anxiety and depression, chronic stress, and a negative parent-child relationship.

Instead, let’s help our kids build a life they want – a life where success is defined by happiness, strong relationships, and overall wellness, and not simply by academic and career achievement.  Bill and Ned will share strategies parents can use to help our kids achieve this life!

We welcome all Dranesville District FCPS parents to attend this informative session.  If you are interested in learning about Bill and Ned’s work, please check out this podcast on achievement culture, as well as their books, linked below.

https://www.steventshapiro.com/experiencematters/thisisyourbrainonachievementculture

https://theselfdrivenchild.com/

FCPS Summer Learning

The FCPS Online Campus summer course registration is now open for eligible middle school students who meet prerequisites and technical requirements.  Students may take one online course for first time or repeat credit.  Middle school students may not take a mathematics course during the summer as their first high school level mathematics course.  Courses are rigorous; therefore, students should consult their counselor prior to registering.  Program information is available at Summer Learning. 

Career and Technical Education (CTE) 

CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 7-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Visit the CSA website for more information and registration.

Institute for the Arts Camps (IFTA)

IFTA is a two- or four-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, self-directed economics and personal finance, and theater. Visit the IFTA website for more information and registration. 

Rising 8th grade course registration timeline for SY2023-2024: Rising 9th grade course registration timeline for Langley SY2023-2024

Attention parents! The yearbook staff needs photos of your student outside of school!

Here is a list of photos are we looking for:

Summer photos

Your student playing sports

Any fun fall or winter activities

Family or friends photos

First day of school photos

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.

Safe Kiss and Ride Procedures 

Cooper’s Kiss and Ride is designed to help keep students safe, as well as maintain traffic flow during arrival/dismissal times. Kiss and Ride drop-off and pick-up occurs in the back parking lot.  

It is important to understand, follow, and adhere to the following procedures:

• Kiss and Ride drop-off is located at the back of the school beginning at 7:00AM

• Dead Run Drive is closed during arrival and departures.

• Cars will be permitted at the front of the school for drop-offs, after the buses have cleared the loop..

• If your student is arriving after 7:30, use Door 1.

• We all are responsible to guarantee the safety of all students.  Therefore, students should never be dropped off at the following locations:

• Dead Run

• Balls Hill Rd

• Georgetown Pike cross streets

• Parking lots and intersections that lead into the school

• Masonic Temple next door

8th grade Langley HS Activities Fair

All 8th graders are invited to the Langley HS Activities Fair on Thursday, March 30th during the school day.  This will be an opportunity for students to visit Langley HS, hear from current high school students, and learn more about what sports, clubs, and activities are offered.  8th graders received permission slips through their English classes this week and should return signed permission slips to their English teacher no later than Friday, February 17th.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Courtney Derr at [email protected]. 

FCPS Summer Learning

The FCPS Online Campus summer course registration is now open for eligible middle school students who meet prerequisites and technical requirements.  Students may take one online course for first time or repeat credit.  Middle school students may not take a mathematics course during the summer as their first high school level mathematics course.  Courses are rigorous; therefore, students should consult their counselor prior to registering.  Program information is available at Summer Learning.

School Counseling Team

Dana Scabis, Director of Student Services

Annie Eisman, Registrar/Student Services Assistant

Keyosha Lewis, 7th Grade Counselor (A-K)

Michele Saint Germain, 7th Grade Counselor (L-Z)

Laura Wiley, 8th Grade Counselor (A-K)

Jill Donnelly, 8th Grade Counselor (L-Z)

Dranesville Strategic Planning Community Forum February 4, 9:00-10:30

Adults only-childcare provided with registration

Please join Elaine Tholen for the Dranesville District in-person Strategic Planning Community Forum. Help shape the division’s future for the next few years!

WHEN: Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 9- 10:30a.m.

WHERE: Spring Hill Elementary School Cafeteria- 

Please register here. Child care and language interpretation will be provided at this event, and sign up is through the registration link.

These Community Forums  provide families, students, staff, and community members with an opportunity to participate in and influence the direction of FCPS’ new Strategic Plan. The goal is to have the final strategic plan by June 2023. Learn more about our strategic planning process here. If you can’t join the Dranesville Forum, please check out the schedule of Community Forums, including several virtual options, and register for one that is most convenient for you.

What Happens at a Strategic Planning Community Forum?

• Community Forums will provide families, students, staff, and community members with an opportunity to review student achievement, access, and perception data and identify both strengths and challenges within the data.
• Working in small groups, participants will use research-based goals as a framework to transition their observations into recommended goals for the strategic plan that are focused on our desired future state for students.
• As a culminating activity, participants will identify the one guarantee they would like FCPS to make regarding our students’ education.
• The data from the Community Forums will be synthesized and that information will be shared with the Core Planning Team to incorporate those recommendations into finalized strategic plan goals.

What Can I Do to Prepare?

It's not necessary to do anything in advance. We want you to bring your thoughts and experiences to the discussion. If you'd like to review in advance, the data reports shared at the Community Forums are available on the Strategic Planning website.

STEM Essay Contest

Deadline for entries February 10th.

The McLean AAUW (American Association of University Women) is hosting an Essay Contest. The STEM Essay Contest challenges 7th and 8th students to discover and publicize women including women of color who made a difference in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields, but who received little or no recognition for their contributions while they were alive. Strong preference is given to essays about women who are not well known even today. Each student is asked to write an essay of no more than 500 words to describe one woman's contribution to STEM, discuss the impact, and clearly state why he or she picked that woman. We will award four prizes: First Place ($100), Second Place ($50), and Honorable Mention (2 Prizes, each $25). MOre information is available on the McLean AAUW website.

Free After School Program Old Firehouse Center

The Old Firehouse offers members FREE programs during after-school hours. To become a member or to renew a membership, see Membership and Policies.

Mondays-Fridays, 2:30-6 p.m., when Fairfax County Public Schools are in session.

Come when you can to hang out after school with your friends at a place that offers experiences you'll remember for a lifetime. The Old Firehouse is a safe, friendly alternative to staying home alone.

The After School Program includes:

1. Snack and drink
2. Crafts and Games
3. Computer Lab
4. Various Clubs
5. Sports
6. Homework Assistance
7. Trips to: laser tag, mini golf, paintball, go-carting, and much more!

If you are interested in this program, Cooper requires a permission form to be signed by parent and student. The Old Firehouse Center requires a Participant Contract. 

Rising 8th grade course registration timeline for SY2023-2024: Rising 9th grade course registration timeline for Langley SY2023-2024

Attention parents! The yearbook staff needs photos of your student outside of school!

Here is a list of photos are we looking for:

Summer photos

Your student playing sports

Any fun fall or winter activities

Family or friends photos

First day of school photos

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 Reminder

Thursday, January 26th and Friday, January 27th  - Professional Development Days - No School for Students

The complete FCPS calendar is available.

2nd Quarter Report Cards

SIS ParentVue and SIS StudentVue Gradebook and Report Card Modules will be unavailable Wednesday, January 25 at 4:00 PM until Monday, February 6 at 6:00 AM in order for teachers to finalize second quarter grades. After February 6, 2nd Quarter Report cards will be visible in SIS StudentVue and ParentVue. A copy of your child’s report card will also be provided to them on Friday, February 10th during 7th block .

Second Semester Schedules

Second semester student schedules will be distributed on Monday, January 30th, during Block 2. Students will receive an email on Friday, January  27th with their block 2 course and room number (in case it has changed). Also, schedules are available to review online through SIS. There will be no changes for yearlong courses. Only semester-long courses will change depending on students' elective course requests and alternates. If students see an error in their schedule, please have your student email their counselor as soon as possible. An example of an error is a missing class or 2 classes in the same period. 

For those of you who would like to request a schedule change, there will be a link to a Google Form on the paper copy of your schedule you will receive on January 30th.

FCPS Summer Learning

The FCPS Online Campus summer course registration is now open for eligible middle school students who meet prerequisites and technical requirements.  Students may take one online course for first time or repeat credit.  Middle school students may not take a mathematics course during the summer as their first high school level mathematics course.  Courses are rigorous; therefore, students should consult their counselor prior to registering.  Program information is available at Summer Learning.

School Counseling Team

Dana Scabis, Director of Student Services

Annie Eisman, Registrar/Student Services Assistant

Keyosha Lewis, 7th Grade Counselor (A-K)

Michele Saint Germain, 7th Grade Counselor (L-Z)

Laura Wiley, 8th Grade Counselor (A-K)

Jill Donnelly, 8th Grade Counselor (L-Z)

Scholastic Art Awards

Three Cooper students have earned recognition in the Scholastic Art Recognition Program. 

Silver and Gold Key will be exhibited at Norther Virginia Community College. Gold Key earners will be sent to compete at the national level. 

Kristen Han

Racing For A Better Future

Drawing & Illustration Honorable Mention 

Krish Seonie

The Solitude

Mixed Media Silver Key 

Krish Seonie

Grundy

Mixed Media Honorable Mention

Renee Shi

American Dream

Film & Animation Gold Key

Renee Shi

Weeping In Hijab

Digital Art Silver Key

Dranesville Strategic Planning Community Forum February 4, 9:00-10:30

Adults only-childcare provided with registration

Please join Elaine Tholen for the Dranesville District in-person Strategic Planning Community Forum. Help shape the division’s future for the next few years!

WHEN: Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 9- 10:30a.m.

WHERE: Spring Hill Elementary School Cafeteria- 

Please register here. Child care and language interpretation will be provided at this event, and sign up is through the registration link.

These Community Forums  provide families, students, staff, and community members with an opportunity to participate in and influence the direction of FCPS’ new Strategic Plan. The goal is to have the final strategic plan by June 2023. Learn more about our strategic planning process here. If you can’t join the Dranesville Forum, please check out the schedule of Community Forums, including several virtual options, and register for one that is most convenient for you.

What Happens at a Strategic Planning Community Forum?

• Community Forums will provide families, students, staff, and community members with an opportunity to review student achievement, access, and perception data and identify both strengths and challenges within the data.
• Working in small groups, participants will use research-based goals as a framework to transition their observations into recommended goals for the strategic plan that are focused on our desired future state for students.
• As a culminating activity, participants will identify the one guarantee they would like FCPS to make regarding our students’ education.
• The data from the Community Forums will be synthesized and that information will be shared with the Core Planning Team to incorporate those recommendations into finalized strategic plan goals.

What Can I Do to Prepare?

It's not necessary to do anything in advance. We want you to bring your thoughts and experiences to the discussion. If you'd like to review in advance, the data reports shared at the Community Forums are available on the Strategic Planning website.

STEM Essay Contest

Deadline for entries February 10th.

The McLean AAUW (American Association of University Women) is hosting an Essay Contest. The STEM Essay Contest challenges 7th and 8th students to discover and publicize women including women of color who made a difference in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields, but who received little or no recognition for their contributions while they were alive. Strong preference is given to essays about women who are not well known even today. Each student is asked to write an essay of no more than 500 words to describe one woman's contribution to STEM, discuss the impact, and clearly state why he or she picked that woman. We will award four prizes: First Place ($100), Second Place ($50), and Honorable Mention (2 Prizes, each $25). MOre information is available on the McLean AAUW website.

Free After School Program Old Firehouse Center

The Old Firehouse offers members FREE programs during after-school hours. To become a member or to renew a membership, see Membership and Policies.

Mondays-Fridays, 2:30-6 p.m., when Fairfax County Public Schools are in session.

Come when you can to hang out after school with your friends at a place that offers experiences you'll remember for a lifetime. The Old Firehouse is a safe, friendly alternative to staying home alone.

The After School Program includes:

1. Snack and drink
2. Crafts and Games
3. Computer Lab
4. Various Clubs
5. Sports
6. Homework Assistance
7. Trips to: laser tag, mini golf, paintball, go-carting, and much more!

If you are interested in this program, Cooper requires a permission form to be signed by parent and student. The Old Firehouse Center requires a Participant Contract. 

Rising 8th grade course registration timeline for SY2023-2024: Rising 9th grade course registration timeline for Langley SY2023-2024

Attention parents! The yearbook staff needs photos of your student outside of school!

Here is a list of photos are we looking for:

Summer photos

Your student playing sports

Any fun fall or winter activities

Family or friends photos

First day of school photos

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.

STEM Essay Contest

Deadline for entries February 10th.

The McLean AAUW (American Association of University Women) is hosting an Essay Contest. The STEM Essay Contest challenges 7th and 8th students to discover and publicize women including women of color who made a difference in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields, but who received little or no recognition for their contributions while they were alive. Strong preference is given to essays about women who are not well known even today. Each student is asked to write an essay of no more than 500 words to describe one woman's contribution to STEM, discuss the impact, and clearly state why he or she picked that woman. We will award four prizes: First Place ($100), Second Place ($50), and Honorable Mention (2 Prizes, each $25). MOre information is available on the McLean AAUW website.

Free After School Program Old Firehouse Center

The Old Firehouse offers members FREE programs during after-school hours. To become a member or to renew a membership, see Membership and Policies.

Mondays-Fridays, 2:30-6 p.m., when Fairfax County Public Schools are in session.

Come when you can to hang out after school with your friends at a place that offers experiences you'll remember for a lifetime. The Old Firehouse is a safe, friendly alternative to staying home alone.

The After School Program includes:

1. Snack and drink
2. Crafts and Games
3. Computer Lab
4. Various Clubs
5. Sports
6. Homework Assistance
7. Trips to: laser tag, mini golf, paintball, go-carting, and much more!

If you are interested in this program, Cooper requires a permission form to be signed by parent and student. The Old Firehouse Center requires a Participant Contract. 

SCA is hosting a Bake Sale on January 18th and 19th during A and B Session in Gym-1. All proceeds are going to the Ukraine Red Cross. Anyone interested in providing treats for the bake sale is welcome to bring in their goods to the front office no earlier than January 17th. Please tape an ingredients list to your goods so we can showcase allergen information. We'd appreciate it if you'd sign up using our Sign Up Genius, which you can click on here. We encourage students to swing by and purchase snacks for a great cause! Prices will range around $1. Thank you for your involvement!

Rising 8th grade course registration timeline for SY2023-2024: Rising 9th grade course registration timeline for Langley SY2023-2024

Attention parents! The yearbook staff needs photos of your student outside of school!

Here is a list of photos are we looking for:

Summer photos

Your student playing sports

Any fun fall or winter activities

Family or friends photos

First day of school photos

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.

Cooper Families,

Please join me in congratulating our Assistant Principal, Mike Rath.  He has been promoted to Assistant Principal at Madison High School in FCPS, returning to the high school where he started his career!  Mr. Rath’s contributions to Cooper are vast and he will be greatly missed.  Mr. Rath’s last day is Friday, January 20 and we will welcome back Marti Jo Jackson as the Interim Assistant Principal until a new AP is hired.   Mrs. Jackson filled in at Cooper last year intermittently and is excited to return to support our community for a short time.  As a retired FCPS principal, Mrs. Jackson brings a wealth of experience and knowledge.

Schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 16, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. All calendars are available on the FCPS website.

Registration is open from February 1 to June 9, 2023.

Students can register online by visiting the CTE Summer Academy website and clicking on the register button.

Rising 8th grade course registration timeline for SY2023-2024: Rising 9th grade course registration timeline for Langley SY2023-2024

SCA is hosting a Bake Sale on January 18th and 19th during A and B Session in Gym-1. All proceeds are going to the Ukraine Red Cross. Anyone interested in providing treats for the bake sale is welcome to bring in their goods to the front office no earlier than January 17th. Please tape an ingredients list to your goods so we can showcase allergen information. We'd appreciate it if you'd sign up using our Sign Up Genius, which you can click on here. We encourage students to swing by and purchase snacks for a great cause! Prices will range around $1. Thank you for your involvement!

Attention parents! The yearbook staff needs photos of your student outside of school!

Here is a list of photos are we looking for:

Summer photos

Your student playing sports

Any fun fall or winter activities

Family or friends photos

First day of school photos

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.

2023-24 School Year Course Selections

Cooper PTO meeting discussing the Langley HS course selection process with Principal Greer and DSS Braden Peterson will be held in the Cooper Cafeteria on Tuesday, January 10th at 9:00AM.

New Parent Series Word Masters Highest Honors achieved 

A team representing Cooper Middle School achieved Highest Honors in the recent WordMasters Challenge™—a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 125,000 students annually. The eighth grade team scored an impressive 173 points out of a possible 200 in the first of three meets this year, placing eighth in the nation.

Competing in the very difficult Gold Division of the WordMasters Challenge™, students from Cooper Middle School who achieved outstanding results in the meet include Shveta Sunkar.  Competing in the Blue Division, eighth grader Sivani Vemur also achieved outstanding results. The students were coached in preparation for the WordMasters Challenge™ by the grade 8 English teachers. 

SCA is hosting a Bake Sale on January 18th and 19th during A and B Session in Gym-1. All proceeds are going to the Ukraine Red Cross. Anyone interested in providing treats for the bake sale is welcome to bring in their goods to the front office no earlier than January 17th. Please tape an ingredients list to your goods so we can showcase allergen information. We'd appreciate it if you'd sign up using our Sign Up Genius, which you can click on here. We encourage students to swing by and purchase snacks for a great cause! Prices will range around $1. Thank you for your involvement!

Attention parents! The yearbook staff needs photos of your student outside of school!

Here is a list of photos are we looking for:

Summer photos

Your student playing sports

Any fun fall or winter activities

Family or friends photos

First day of school photos

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.

Please use the updated donation links. 

Dear Cooper MS School Families,

You are encouraged to sign up to volunteer and donate for our annual Langley Pyramid Rise Against Hunger event. This is a wonderful Langley pyramid tradition, and we would like to ensure our families participate. You remember, we held our last Rise Against Hunger event in February 2020. This event was a huge success and provide a wonderful service learning opportunity for children and adults of all ages.

On Saturday, February 4, 2023, families in the Langley Pyramid are joining together to help children in need. In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, the Langley pyramid elementary, middle, and high schools have a group goal to prepare 83,000 meal packages for schools and orphanages around the world.

Donate and help raise money for the event:

Elementary and Middle School students may donate in school January 3-20. High school students should donate directly online. Our goal will be reached if every child donated $5.00.

Each meal costs only 42 cents to make. For just $15, you can donate over 35 meals; $30 will make over 70 meals and $100 will make nearly 280 meals. You may make your tax-deductible donation today at: https://rah.secure.force.com/events/homepage?id=7013Z000002KxzLQAS. When rehydrated, each meal package feeds 5-6 people.  Throughout our efforts, our students will understand how their family’s contribution will help impact nearly 500,000 people.

In order to reach our goal of 83,000 meals, the Langley Pyramid needs to raise $35,000 by January 27th.  If your company makes matching contributions, please consider having them join you in making a tax-deductible donation today at: https://rah.secure.force.com/events/homepage?id=7013Z000002KxzLQAS and help us Rise Against Hunger. 

Volunteer for the event: (Sign up opens January 3rd)

• Register to volunteer for the event at:
• Cooper MS:   www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0C45ABA62FA1FC1-cooper

Enter your Last Name and Enter "Quantity" as the number of volunteers attending.  If for any reason you need to cancel, please cancel through the Sign-up Genius to make those slots available to other Langley pyramid families. Being a popular Langley pyramid event, please sign up as volunteer slots will fill up quickly.  Children ages 4-12 must be accompanied by an adult. On the day of the event, volunteers package meals based on the amount of money raised, so it is recommended that if you wish to volunteer for the event, please make a monetary donation.   

We package meals based on the amount of money raised and our Langley pyramid goal is $35,000 which provides 83,000 meals.  With each meal feeding 5-6 people, this is a wonderful event that impacts over 400,000 individuals around the world and broadens the perspective of our students and families.

Sincerely,

Lisa Barrow

 

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.

Dear Cooper MS School families,

You are encouraged to sign up to volunteer and donate for our annual Langley Pyramid Rise Against Hunger event. This is a wonderful Langley pyramid tradition, and we would like to ensure our families participate. You remember, we held our last Rise Against Hunger event in February 2020. This event was a huge success and provide a wonderful service learning opportunity for children and adults of all ages.

On Saturday, February 4, 2023, families in the Langley Pyramid are joining together to help children in need. In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, the Langley pyramid elementary, middle, and high schools have a group goal to prepare 83,000 meal packages for schools and orphanages around the world.

Donate and help raise money for the event:

Elementary and Middle School students may donate in school January 3-20. High school students should donate directly online. Our goal will be reached if every child donated $5.00.

Each meal costs only 42 cents to make. For just $15, you can donate over 35 meals; $30 will make over 70 meals and $100 will make nearly 280 meals. You may make your tax-deductible donation today at: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/LangleyPyramid2023. When rehydrated, each meal package feeds 5-6 people.  Throughout our efforts, our students will understand how their family’s contribution will help impact nearly 500,000 people.

In order to reach our goal of 83,000 meals, the Langley Pyramid needs to raise $35,000 by January 27th.  If your company makes matching contributions, please consider having them join you in making a tax-deductible donation today at: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/LangleyPyramid2023 and help us Rise Against Hunger. 

Volunteer for the event: (Sign up opens January 3rd)

• Register to volunteer for the event at:
• Cooper MS:   www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0C45ABA62FA1FC1-cooper

Enter your Last Name and Enter "Quantity" as the number of volunteers attending.  If for any reason you need to cancel, please cancel through the Sign-up Genius to make those slots available to other Langley pyramid families. Being a popular Langley pyramid event, please sign up as volunteer slots will fill up quickly.  Children ages 4-12 must be accompanied by an adult. On the day of the event, volunteers package meals based on the amount of money raised, so it is recommended that if you wish to volunteer for the event, please make a monetary donation.   

We package meals based on the amount of money raised and our Langley pyramid goal is $35,000 which provides 83,000 meals.  With each meal feeding 5-6 people, this is a wonderful event that impacts over 400,000 individuals around the world and broadens the perspective of our students and families.

Sincerely,

Lisa Barrow

 

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.

We are excited to kick off 2023 and welcome back our students tomorrow!  Our renovation crews have been hard at work over break and we hope to occupy a few new classroom spaces in the coming months! 

Tuesday is an Even Day. Please remind your student to charge their laptop and pack their power cord.  

7th Grade Families! 

Help your student glow in PE!

Preview the Glow. The gym has never looked so cool. 

SCA is hosting a Bake Sale on January 18th and 19th during A and B Session in Gym-1. All proceeds are going to the Ukraine Red Cross. Anyone interested in providing treats for the bake sale is welcome to bring in their goods to the front office no earlier than January 17th. Please tape an ingredients list to your goods so we can showcase allergen information. We'd appreciate it if you'd sign up using our Sign Up Genius, which you can click on here. We encourage students to swing by and purchase snacks for a great cause! Prices will range around $1. Thank you for your involvement!

Thank you! Pine Spring Toy Drive

Attention parents! The yearbook staff needs photos of your student outside of school!

Here is a list of photos are we looking for:

Summer photos

Your student playing sports

Any fun fall or winter activities

Family or friends photos

First day of school photos

Rise Against Hunger

Dear Cooper Middle School families, 

You are encouraged to sign up to donate and volunteer for our annual Langley Pyramid Rise Against Hunger event! This is a wonderful Langley pyramid tradition, and we want to ensure that all our families can participate. Our last in-person Rise Against Hunger event was held in February 2020. It was a huge success and provided a wonderful service learning opportunity for all family members.  

On Saturday, February 4, 2023, families in the Langley Pyramid will join together to help children in need. In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, the Langley pyramid (elementary, middle, and high schools) have a shared goal to prepare 83,000 meal packages for schools and orphanages around the world.  

Donate and help raise money for the event: 

Each student is encouraged to donate loose change or money that they earn and wish to donate to Rise Against Hunger. Grade level jugs will be in the cafeteria for students to drop their change and make a donation. The collection period is January 3rd-January 20th.  

Each meal costs 42 cents to make. For just $15, you can donate over 35 meals; $30 will make over 70 meals and $100 will make nearly 280 meals. Families may want to make an End of Year tax deductible donation. You may make your tax-deductible donation today at: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/LangleyPyramid2023 

In order to reach our goal of 83,000 meals, the Langley Pyramid needs to raise $35,000 by January 27th.  If your company makes matching contributions, please consider having them join you in making a tax-deductible donation today at: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/LangleyPyramid2023 and help us Rise Against Hunger.  

 Volunteer for the event: (Sign up opens January 3rd!!!) 

About Rise Against Hunger 

Rise Against Hunger is a 4-star rated organization that sends nutrient-rich, dehydrated meal packages to developing countries around the world.  In those countries, the meal packages are delivered to families through the schools.  In developing countries, children may not attend school to receive a formal education, so in part to this program, more children are being encouraged to attend school to receive a hot meal at school and additional meal packages for their families.  As an additional benefit, more children are also receiving a formal education. Click here to learn more about Rise Against Hunger.   

This is a great event for the whole family! Don't miss out.  Please email [email protected] if you have any questions. 

COVID Diagnostic Testing in January

Mark your calendars! COVID diagnostic testing will be available for FCPS teachers, staff, and students at five locations across the county January 3-5 from 5 to 8 p.m. This testing is for those who are either experiencing COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID. Appointments are not required, but registration must be completed before testing. Visit the COVID Testing webpage for more information. 

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.

Two hour delay schedule

In the event we have increment weather, causing a two hour delay, the bell schedule will be as stated below.

Winter Break Office Hours

December 19-January 2nd

The school office will be closed during winter break. We wish everyone a restful break and look forward to welcoming you back on January 3rd. 

Should you require immediate assistance, please email Administrative Assistant, Aubrey Midgley at, [email protected] or leave a message at, 703-442-5802. 

Please see the 2022-23 FCPS school year calendar for more information. 

P.S. Please bring or send a holiday card to Cooper!  We will display your holiday card on our bulletin board in the main office!  Have a wonderful Winter Break.

Parent Series Part 2

As we approach winter break we would like to provide you with the second parent series video. This video will walk you through how Schoology courses are structured at Cooper and will provide you with a helpful overview of your Schoology parent account. 

There is also a helpful overview of your SIS ParentVue account and an explanation of our school-wide grading comments and a brief review of the after school program. To help you better understand your parent accounts and how you can use them to support your child watch this short video.

7th Grade Families! 

Help your student glow in PE!

Cooper Quiz Bowl Team

The team participated in the online National History Bowl Tournament (Middle School Division) today and won first place!  As the first place team, each member qualified for the International History Olympiad ("IHO") as well.  The IHO will be held in Rome, Italy this summer.  Very exciting!

Attention parents! The yearbook staff needs photos of your student outside of school!

Here is a list of photos are we looking for:

Summer photos

Your student playing sports

Any fun fall or winter activities

Family or friends photos

First day of school photos

Rise Against Hunger

Dear Cooper Middle School families, 

You are encouraged to sign up to donate and volunteer for our annual Langley Pyramid Rise Against Hunger event! This is a wonderful Langley pyramid tradition, and we want to ensure that all our families can participate. Our last in-person Rise Against Hunger event was held in February 2020. It was a huge success and provided a wonderful service learning opportunity for all family members.  

On Saturday, February 4, 2023, families in the Langley Pyramid will join together to help children in need. In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, the Langley pyramid (elementary, middle, and high schools) have a shared goal to prepare 83,000 meal packages for schools and orphanages around the world.  

Donate and help raise money for the event: 

Each student is encouraged to donate loose change or money that they earn and wish to donate to Rise Against Hunger. Grade level jugs will be in the cafeteria for students to drop their change and make a donation. The collection period is January 3rd-January 20th.  

Each meal costs 42 cents to make. For just $15, you can donate over 35 meals; $30 will make over 70 meals and $100 will make nearly 280 meals. Families may want to make an End of Year tax deductible donation. You may make your tax-deductible donation today at: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/LangleyPyramid2023 

In order to reach our goal of 83,000 meals, the Langley Pyramid needs to raise $35,000 by January 27th.  If your company makes matching contributions, please consider having them join you in making a tax-deductible donation today at: http://events.riseagainsthunger.org/LangleyPyramid2023 and help us Rise Against Hunger.  

 Volunteer for the event: (Sign up opens January 3rd!!!) 

About Rise Against Hunger 

Rise Against Hunger is a 4-star rated organization that sends nutrient-rich, dehydrated meal packages to developing countries around the world.  In those countries, the meal packages are delivered to families through the schools.  In developing countries, children may not attend school to receive a formal education, so in part to this program, more children are being encouraged to attend school to receive a hot meal at school and additional meal packages for their families.  As an additional benefit, more children are also receiving a formal education. Click here to learn more about Rise Against Hunger.   

This is a great event for the whole family! Don't miss out.  Please email [email protected] if you have any questions. 

COVID Diagnostic Testing in January

Mark your calendars! COVID diagnostic testing will be available for FCPS teachers, staff, and students at five locations across the county January 3-5 from 5 to 8 p.m. This testing is for those who are either experiencing COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID. Appointments are not required, but registration must be completed before testing. Visit the COVID Testing webpage for more information. 

SEL Screener - Score Results

Students took the SEL Screener in October and families will be receiving score reports in early January.   There are resources available on the FCPS SEL Screener website that can be accessed here.  If you have any questions about the results of the Screener, please contact your child’s counselor.

AAP Level IV Parent Referrals (7th grade only)

Parents/guardians of students in Grade 7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time advanced academic programs (level IV AAP services) for 2023-2024 may submit the AAP Level IV Referral Form to their Cooper school counselor no later than December 15, 2022. 

Forms for AAP Level IV referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for AAP Level IV services can be accepted. 

Submitting a referral form for AAP Level IV will initiate a process that begins at Cooper and is then completed at the central office level. Cooper will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of professionals from various schools review materials to determine eligibility for level IV placement. 

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.

Book Discussion at Langley High School Friday December 9th at 12pm

LHS Psychologist Anna Davis Brown will lead a book discussion on That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week: Helping Disorganized and Distracted Boys Succeed in School and Life by Ana Homayoun.

Cooper parents are invited to join this book talk highlighting how to help our boys - and girls - get organized and study efficiently so they can visualize, embrace and meet their own goals. Join us at Langley in the Lecture Hall at 12 pm on Fri, Dec 9.

Cooper Book Fair

It's time for the Cooper Book Fair.  We need volunteers for setting up, manning cash registers, and packing up.  Many hands make light work. Thank you for sharing your time with us!

AAP Level IV Parent Referrals (7th grade only)

Parents/guardians of students in Grade 7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time advanced academic programs (level IV AAP services) for 2023-2024 may submit the AAP Level IV Referral Form to their Cooper school counselor no later than December 15, 2022. 

Forms for AAP Level IV referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for AAP Level IV services can be accepted. 

Submitting a referral form for AAP Level IV will initiate a process that begins at Cooper and is then completed at the central office level. Cooper will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of professionals from various schools review materials to determine eligibility for level IV placement. 

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