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 (lswalsh1@fcps.edu) 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 (lswalsh1@fcps.edu) 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 (sareeser@fcps.edu) 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 (sareeser@fcps.edu)
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 (msbailey@fcps.edu) with any questions.
Student Celebrations
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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.
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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.
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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 Cooperyearbook@gmail.com ASAP. THANK YOU!
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