📅Save the Dates

March 2-8, 2026 -  National School Social Work Week. 

March 2 - 6, 2026 - National School Breakfast Week

March 6, 2026 - Cooper Middle School Dance at 7:00PM doors open 6:45PM

March 8, 2026 - Daylight Savings Time Begins at 2:00AM

March 19, 2026 - CMS YAM Art Show @ McClean Community Center

March 20, 2026 -  Holiday - Eid al-Fitr & Nowruz

March 23, 2026 - PTO GM Meeting @ 9:00AM

March 27, 2026 - End of Quarter 3 - 2-Hour Early Release

March 30 - April 3, 2026 - Spring Break

COOPER CALENDAR

2025-2026 School Year Calendar

2025-2026 Cooper MS Calendar

Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward)⏰🌞

Sunday, March 8, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour!

Cooper Debate Team

Congratulations to the four Cooper teams selected for NCFL Nationals Debate Tournament - March 27-28. Ennis E and Ferwa M Brandon K and Tommy L Lily S and Olivia H Laily H and Layla W All four teams have done well on the middle school AND high school levels.  They have been selected to compete at  Nationals to represent the Cooper Debate Team.  They were selected based on their debate records out of 90 Cooper debaters!

MATHCOUNTS 

On February 28, Cooper Quiz Bowl proudly hosted a 42-team quiz bowl tournament featuring schools from DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Connecticut. It was a tremendous success and one of the largest quiz bowl tournaments in the DMV region.

Middlesex A who traveled from CT, went 10-0 and won the tournament. Our own Cooper A team (Ian C., Luke L., Bryan W., Ethan C.) finished 2nd place in the competitive field. Cooper C (Dhruv R., Thomas G., Henry L., Matteo A.) placed 10th and Cooper B (A.J. G., Sohum D., Andrew L., Allison S.) 11th. 

Individually, Luke placed 9th, Ian 17th, and A.J. 20th in the preliminary rounds among over 180 participants.

Thank you to our sponsor Mr. Grimmelbein, our volunteers and families who helped make the day run so smoothly!

Cooper Science Olympiad

Cooper Science Olympiad competed in the TJHSST SO Invitational on 1/10/26 and had great results all around!

Congratulations to our Cooper students who medaled (up to 6th place) at TJSO!

Boomilever - 6th place, Christopher K./ Angela W.

Circuit Lab - 5th place, Christopher K. / Nora S.

Codebusters - 1st place, Akshay N./ Mila V. / Zachary Y

Disease Detectives - 6th place, Francesca N./ Katrina X./ Hebe Z.

Dynamic Planet - 3rd place, Akshay N./ Alicia N.

                             4th place, Aarik K./ Hebe Z.

Experimental Design - 5th place, Aiden F. / Leo W. / Zachary Y.

Helicopter - 1st place, Ishaan N. / Zachary Y. 

Heredity - 4th place, Katrina X./ Hebe Z.

Hovercraft - 2nd place, Aiden L. / Oliver S.

Machines - 5th place, Aiden F. / Zachary Y.

                   6th place, Ray D. / Nolan L.

Metric Mastery - 6th place, Aarik K./ Jeffrey D.

Remote Sensing - 3rd place, Ronin M. / Aarav J.

Rocks and Minerals - 6th place, Avani M. / Alicia N.

Solar System - 1st place, Christopher K./ Kasra T.

Write It, Do It - 3rd place, Christopher K. / Angela W.

Pokeman PSET - 1st place, Alex P. 

---------------------------------------------

Cooper Science Olympiad competed in the High Desert SO Invitational on 1/31/26 and had great results all around!

Congratulations to our Cooper students who medaled (up to 6th place) at HDSO!

Codebusters - 2nd place, Akshay N./ Mila V. / Zachary Y

Disease Detectives - 4th place, Francesca N./ Katrina X.

Experimental Design - 6th place, Aiden F. / Leo W. / Zachary Y.

Rocks and Minerals - 2nd place, Aarik K/Francesca N. 

Solar System - 2nd place, Christopher K./ Kasra T.

Write It, Do It - 6th place, Christopher K. / Angela W.

Way to go Cooper SO!

FCPS Silent Meditation and Reflection Spaces for Students

Cooper provides quiet spaces for students and staff to pray, meditate, or sit quietly. Students may use the space during instructional time only if they have an approved accommodation, provided by the parent.  If a student needs to miss class regularly to use the space, a parent or caregiver must give written permission. Requests should be made to your child’s counselor. 

National School Breakfast Week🎒🥛🍎✨

From March 2 to March 6, 2026, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) is celebrating National School Breakfast Week (NSBW). NSBW is an annual celebration dedicated to recognizing the vital role that school breakfast plays in nourishing students nationwide. The theme this year is “The Quest for School Breakfast” to transform breakfast from a daily routine into a shared adventure.

How to Participate

• Eat Breakfast: Students can "slay their hunger" by eating breakfast at school during the week.
• Look for Stickers: To win, students need to find a hidden sticker on their juice box.

Prizes

• Winners: A total of 3 students will win.
• The Reward: Winners receive a special prize that includes one à la carte item of their choice.

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.

Under the Stars Dance! Friday, March 6 Doors open at 6:45pm 7:00 to 9:00pm Only Cooper students! No outside guests! Dance is free!

The PTO will be selling candy bags for $1 at the dance.

If you would like to volunteer to help please click the following link:

2026 Youth Art Show🏫🎨🖼️✨

The 2026 Youth Art Show at the McLean Project for the Arts features a collection of work from students across the FCPS McLean Pyramid, spanning from elementary to high school.

Below are the key details for the Langley Pyramid showcase:

Event Schedule

• Exhibition Dates: March 19 through April 6.
• Opening Reception: Thursday, March 19, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM.

Gallery Location & Hours

• Address: 1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, VA 22101.
• Standard Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Special Hours: The gallery will offer extra hours on Sundays specifically for this show.

Sponsorship and Contact

• Sponsors: The event is sponsored by Transurban (495/95/395 Express Lanes) and the Prendergast Team.
• Contact Number: 703-790-1953.

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an FCPS CARES! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on fcps.edu. Additionally, each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!

💜🎖️April is the Month of the Military Child

Celebrate Purple Up! Day💜

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child, and on Purple Up! Day! 

This year, Virginia will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Purple Up! Day is a special day for communities to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military. 

FCPS Purple Up! T-shirts and other items are available for purchase now through Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in our Custom Ink online store. These items highlight our gratitude and appreciation for our 14,500 military-connected students and their families. #PurpleUpFCPS! 

For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email us at militaryfamilies@fcps.edu. 

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️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

22nd Annual Techstravaganza🔬🏗️📊

The leadership of Tomorrow’s Women in Science and Technology (TWIST), is a student organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). Each year, they promote STEM through their annual flagship outreach event, Techstravaganza, and they would like to invite our school’s students to attend!

Techstravaganza is a free, public, hands-on STEM activity fair for elementary and middle school students in Northern Virginia. In previous years, they have hosted more than 4,500 students and 70 labs presenting STEM activities. Exhibitors range from TJHSST clubs and their own TWIST volunteers to organizations like NASA SCaN, Art of Problem Solving, George Mason University, American Society of Naval Engineers, and the National Air and Space Museum.  This year, the event will take place  on Saturday, May 16, 2026 from 10 AM to 4 PM at TJHSST.

Admission is free!  Click on the registration link: https://tinyurl.com/Techstravaganza26

More information about the event can be found on our website at https://techstrav.org/index.html or tjpartnershipfund.org/techstravaganza/. 

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. 

TEENS IN ACTION SUMMER CAMP 2026

In Person Registration Begins Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

RISING GRADES 9 – 12: June 22 – August 21, 2026 (Closed July 3, 2026)

RISING MIDDLE SCHOOL: July 1 – July 30, 2026 (Closed July 3, 2026)

Program Information:

• Program hours are Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Enrollment is free.
• Lunch and morning and afternoon snacks provided.

Teens in Action offers a variety of hands-on experiences in a safe and fun environment. Each camp provides exciting opportunities for self-discovery and skill building, with an emphasis on team building, leadership and workforce development.

Featuring Exciting Opportunities in:

• Job, Education & Career Readiness
• Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Exploration
• Sports, Recreation, Health, Fitness & Nutrition
• Music & Art
• Field Trips & much more!

Locations: Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate Gum Springs Community Center • Huntington Community Center Hybla Valley Community Center • James Lee Community Center Jim Scott Community Center • Lorton Community Center Minnie H. Peyton Community Center At Bailey’s Mott Community Center • Pin Community Center Reston Teen Center • Sully Community Center Willston Multicultural Center

Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations made upon request; call 703-324-4600. TTY 711. A Fairfax County, Virginia publication, Feb 2026

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

• Purple Up! Store Now Open (Orders due March 9)- Fairfax County Public Schools will celebrate Purple Up! Day on April 15, 2026 in honor of the Month of the Military Child.  Purple Up! spirit wear is now available through our Custom Ink pop-up store. Items include T-shirts, hoodies, pajama pants, key chains, and yard signs. Order at https://www.customink.com/s/fcps-purple-up-spirit-wear-store
• Mark your calendars: Military Family Field Day Saturday April 18, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m., at the Annandale High School football stadium. Families can participate in various field day activities and enjoy fun crafts. Snacks and treats will also be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting FCPS High School student clubs and organizations.
• Neighborhood and Community Services is hosting Stuff the Bus on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents may donate non-perishable food items at participating grocery locations to support local food pantries across the county. This one-day food drive helps restock shelves and support families experiencing food insecurity in our community. For additional information visit the website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/NCS (Search: Stuff the Bus) or to request information in an alternate format, call 703-222-9764 (TTY 711).
• Tuesday, March 10, 2026  Department of Family Services Parenting Classes    Topic: The Role of Values and Morals in Shaping Positive Discipline - Families will explore how core beliefs can guide positive and consistent discipline practices that build self-control, empathy, and respect. Open to Fairfax County parents and guardians with children ages 0 to 18. Register: https://bit.ly/DFS-Parent-Cafe-2026 For questions: DFSParentCafe@fairfaxcounty.gov or  703-324-7720.
• Adult ESOL learning opportunities: Join DCPS ACE for in-person adult classes from April 6 – June 11, in multiple locations across northern Virginia. For more details and registration, please visit  fcpsace.org, email adultesol@fcps.edu, or call 703-658-2777.

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

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) office is once again planning engaging summer enrichment programs for students! For current 6th to 11th grade students, we have CTE Summer Academy. All information can be found at bit.ly/FCPS_CSA. Register today!

💙 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.

THE COOPER CONNECTION MAGAZINE

GET YOUR WORK PUBLISHED!

Parents, please encourage your students to submit any writing, artwork, photography, that they have created this year. This could be something they worked on in school or outside of school. Entries can be emailed to: Lmbovenzi@fcps.edu Or Cooperyearbook@gmail.com Or upload to the link below.

https://forms.gle/M19vcqzFRwrwk3PLA

📚 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! Families who want their students to be featured in the yearbook are invited to submit photos. Submission Method: Photos should be emailed to cooperyearbook@gmail.com. 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