📅Save the Dates

February 16, 2026 - Holiday No School

February 17, 2026 - No School for Students

February 23 - 27, 2026 - School Spirit Week

2025-2026 School Year Calendar

2025-2026 Cooper MS Events Calendar

🏫 2026 - 2027 Course Selection Process

Cooper MS Rising 8th Graders

• Wednesday, Feb 4: Deadlines

If you missed today’s deadline, please have your student turn in their completed Course Request Sheet tomorrow or as soon as possible. Sheets must be signed and requests entered into SIS (StudentVue).

• SIS StudentVue: Online course requests must be submitted.
• Note: Use a web browser (not the app) and search by course code rather than the title.
• Course Request Sheets: Physical copies must be turned in to your CMS Counselor. The Course Request Sheet turn-in boxes will be in:
• Gym 2 in the AM (7:00-7:20) or 
• Student Services Office throughout the day

• Feb 4 – Feb 13: Student/Counselor Meetings Counselors will meet with students individually during Science classes to finalize selections.

https://cooperms.fcps.edu/student-services/course-selection 

A huge THANK YOU from the Cooper Middle School Staff for the Tissue donations provided by so many of our wonderful Cooper families! It may seem like a small thing to you, but we very much appreciate the small and BIG ways you continue to support Cooper Middle School. Fondly, Your grateful Cooper Staff

Cooper MathCounts Dominates Northern Virginia MathCounts!

The Cooper MathCounts team competed in the MathCounts Northern Virginia Chapter competition on Feb 7.

The official team (Ian C., Ethan Z., Jeremy K., Henry L.) won 1st Place Team in the Chapter. They will move on to the MathCounts Virginia State Competition at Virginia Tech on March 28.

Individually, Ethan placed 1st, Ian 4th and Henry 10th. Ian also captured the Countdown Round 1st place title. Additionally, a significant number of students placed in the top 25% of the chapter: Alex J., Aaron L., Jeremy K., William W., Nolan L., Ethan C., Joshua H., Asher K., Zhirun L., and Nora S.

Congratulations to the entire team on a successful competition and for representing Cooper well!

Warm Up FCPS – Divisionwide Spirit Day Tired of all the cold weather? Let’s warm up with a little school spirit across the division! Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid is encouraging all FCPS students, teachers, and staff to shake the wrinkles out of their brightest outfits and tropical wear to help brighten everyone’s moods on Thursday, February 19th.

Report Cards Available Online 🌱💻

As shared earlier this school year, FCPS report cards are paperless and now available in ParentVUE.

Love the Bus Month Love the Bus Month is supported by the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT). February 20: wear yellow to show your appreciation for transportation professionals who safely support students across FCPS

🐝📖Cooper’s 2nd Annual Spelling Bee We’re enrolled in the Bee! This is Cooper’s 2nd year to take part in Scripps National Spelling Bee program. The Spelling Bee Final will be held on March 5th at 2:30pm in the Lecture Hall at Cooper.  Students must first register to participate in the Bee by this Friday,  February 13th. The link to the registration form is https://forms.gle/5dmGXNVWK1nChVwYA and can also be accessed by your child in Schoology.  Additional information will be sent to the parents and students after registration.

Celebrate Spirit Week February 23rd - 27th!

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️Track Season

Track season is right around the corner! We are excited to kick off the spring season and wanted to share some important information.

Practice Schedule

• Practices will begin on Monday, April 7th
• Practices will be held after school on Mondays and Wednesdays

Meet Dates

• 4/25 – Herndon High School
• 5/2 – Thomas Jefferson (TJ)
• 5/9 – West Potomac High School
• 5/16 – Oakton High School
• 5/30 – Robinson High School (County Championship)

Registration & Physical RequirementsAll athletes must be registered using the link below. In addition, all students must have an up to date FCPS sports physical on file dated after 2/7/25. A link to a blank physical form is included below for your convenience.

Completed physicals and updated Emergency Care Cards may be submitted to the front office or emailed directly to Mr. Kaden at jtkaden@fcps.edu.

Track and Field Registration

FCPS MS Sports Physical

Emergency Care Card

Student Fasting Meal Kits

From February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information: 

• Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).

• Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.

• Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.

• Kits are distributed at the end of the school day. Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines:

• February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026

• February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026

• February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026

• March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026

• March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026

Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.

Summer Opportunities

2026 FCPS Career and Technical Education Summer Academy (CSA)

CTE Summer Academy is a weekly enrichment program that allows students to dive deeper into CTE program areas, and encourages skill development and career exploration.

Students choose 4 classes each week they participate and learn new content, discover interests, and build their skills.

Registration opens February 2nd - June 5th

Visit the CTE Summer Academy webpage: bit.ly/FCPS_CSA for more information!

For questions, please contact Beth Mehr at bgmehr@fcps.edu

Fairfax Public Access Television & Radio Summer Camps

Fairfax Public Access (“FPA”), Fairfax County’s community media station, is offering a full range of summer camps in these exciting areas. This summer, they have revamped their Studio Production, Radio Production and Video Editing camp.

Additional summer camp information regarding courses and registration is available online at:https://www.fcac.org/summer-camp-registration-forms

Summer Learning – FCPS Online Campus

Families interested in summer learning should visit FCPS Online Campus to explore available courses and complete enrollment.

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning/online-campus

🏨News from Cooper Clinic

FCPS Illness Exclusion Guidance

Student Illness Guidance: When to Stay Home

This  guidance follows the FCPS attendance policy and reflects CDC guidance on preventing infections in K-12 schools. Guidance may change if a healthcare provider gives your child a specific diagnosis or there is an outbreak of a communicable disease at school. Visit FCPS’s attendance website for additional guidance on when to keep students home during an illness: https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/policies-regulations-and-notices/attendance-policies/attendance-recommendations

Immunization Events for FCPS Students

FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be available throughout the school year. 

Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. View immunization resources on the FCPS website. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are a vital part of Cooper Middle School, and we value their time and dedication. To enhance student safety, FCPS has updated its volunteer process to include sex offender registry checks and, in some cases, background checks.

We invite all who are interested in becoming a volunteer to register through Volunteer FCPS. Click “Learn More,” then “Sign Up” to create a profile, watch the orientation video, and complete the application.

All volunteers — including field trip chaperones, book fair helpers and classroom assistants — must be registered. 

We understand these changes may feel new for long-time volunteers, but they are designed to help ensure every student feels safe and supported.

Reminder: All volunteers and visitors must sign in using the visitor kiosk and scan their ID. For more details, visit the Volunteer FCPS FAQ page.

Community Updates from our Family Liaison

Getting to Know FCPS: A Family Orientation is an interactive seminar that provides information about the school system, the importance of family engagement, school staff and programs, as well as technology supports for families new to FCPS. This presentation is conducted in Arabic, English, Korean, and Spanish several times a month. Newcomers to FCPS can greatly benefit from this offering, and families may register themselves on the Family Academy  

Camp Fairfax Winter and Spring Break Camp registration has started. Click for more details.

💙 Cooper Wear Donations  - Share the Spirit!

Do you have Cooper Wear your student has outgrown or no longer needs?

We’d love to pass it along to new families and our rising 7th graders!

Students can drop off any items you’d like to share. Every piece helps a fellow Cooper family feel right at home!

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Family Liaison, Mollie Cannon, at mcannon@fcps.edu.

📚 There is still time to Order Your Yearbook Today! Cost:  $42.00 🌐 Order Online: YearbookOrderCenter.com 🏫 School Order Number: 5267

Urgent Request from the Yearbook Staff! Last chance to submit any SUMMER, SPORTS, FIRST DAY, OR FALL photos of your student and friends!  Please email any photos you would want to see in the yearbook to Cooperyearbook@gmail.com ASAP. THANK YOU!

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