Cooper News 9/16

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 09/16/2026 04:30 PM EDT

IMPORTANT DATES

September 21, 2026 -  Yom Kippur schools and offices will be closed

September 28 - October 2, 2026 - Spirit Week

October 12, 2026 - Student Holiday (School Planning Day)

October 30, 2026 - Two Hour Early Release Day - End of First Quarter

 

🗓️Cooper Calendar 

2026-2027 School Year Calendar

Signs of Suicide (SOS Screening)

Parents/Caregivers of our 7th graders

Please refer to the Cooper e-Notify sent to you on September 14th with important details about our upcoming Signs of Suicide (SOS) screening on Wednesday, October 14th, 2026. 

If you are interested in viewing what students will watch/discuss on October 14th during the SOS screening, please join us for an in-person “SOS: Parent Viewing Session”.

Where: Cooper Middle School Lecture Hall

When: Thursday, October 1st from 8-8:30 AM (please plan to arrive about 10 minutes prior; we will start and end promptly)

What: viewing the videos/discussion questions that your 7th grade children will see on October 14th during the SOS screening

RSVP: fill out THIS GOOGLE FORM to indicate that you will attend this viewing session.

parent digital consent

Parent Digital Consent System

Remember to Complete Permission Forms for School Resources

Families can easily grant consent for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account login. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of a variety of resources, including online educational tools, school counseling services, and more.

Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.

Fall Screening Assessment Notification

The Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) require schools to provide reading and mathematics screening tests for all students in grades 3-8. These assessments are used to evaluate student readiness, identify instructional needs, and track progress over time. Test results help families and teachers know how to support each student’s learning and development.

  • Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Math - required for all students who are scheduled to take the spring Standards of Learning (SOL)
  • iReady Reading - required for all students who are scheduled to take the spring SOL
  • Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS) - required for certain students based on other reading performance data

If your student is identified to participate in VALLSS, you will receive additional communication from your student’s school with details about this assessment. Families may also choose to opt-in to VALLSS participation by contacting their student’s teacher. 

Teachers assess grade 3-8 students with MAP Math, iReady Reading, and VALLSS in fall, winter, and spring. The Academic Screening, Growth, and Diagnostic Tests webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/academic-screening-growth-and-diagnostic-tests) provides more information on these tests.

iReady will be delivered during the classroom instructional block. MAP testing will occur during the school day on September 16, 2026. VALLSS may be delivered within classroom instruction or at another time, such as an intervention or advisory period. The division schedule for iReady, MAP, and VALLSS tests can be found on the Grade Level Tests webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/academics/student-tests-assessments/grade-level-tests). Teachers set specific testing schedules for students in their class.

Based on academic screening results, some students may require a reading plan or math intervention plan. Some students may require additional diagnostic tests to help teachers determine specific areas for support. If you have questions about academic screening, growth, or diagnostic tests, please contact your student’s teacher or the school's test coordinator, Rachel Wolfe (rawolfe1@fcps.edu).

Fall Full-Time AAP Screening

Parents and teachers interested in referring students for the fall full-time AAP screening must submit a full-time AAP referral form to the school’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) by October 15. 2026.  Fall 2026 screening is only available to students newly enrolled in FCPS after January 1, 2026, who were not screened in Spring 2026.

For information pertaining to the Fall 2026 screening process, testing and identification timeline or identification and placement, please contact Rachel Wolfe at rawolfe1@fcps.edu.

World Language Credit by Exam (WLCBE)

Students who are proficient in a language other than English can assess language proficiency and earn up to 3 high school world language high school credits by taking the World Language Credit by Exam assessment.  To learn more about the exam and how earned credits work, please visit the FCPS World Languages Credit by Exam website.

If you and your child would like to register for the exam, please fill out this Google Form, and Ms. Lewis (klewis1@fcps.edu) will submit the registration. Expect to receive a registration confirmation email within 1-2 school days of your account being registered.

Please make sure you and your child visit the Avant website to make sure you and your student know what to expect from this test, including sample tests and keyboard, computer, and headphone requirements. For more information on how to prepare for the exam and scoring criteria, you may visit the FCPS WLCBE web page.  

Important: Review and Sign the SR&R by September 30th

Students at Cooper Middle School have met with their assistant principals to review the expectations outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) booklet. Students will also complete SR&R lessons during Advisory.  To reinforce Cooper’s culture and promote appropriate behavior, please review the SR&R materials with your child and complete the SR&R acknowledgment by Wednesday, September 30.

The FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) booklet explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. This year’s SR&R includes new Universal Grade Matrices, which are at-a-glance charts that make it easier for families to see behavior expectations and school responses for grades K-3, 4-8, and 9-12.

We ask that families please review the SR&R and discuss these expectations with your child. Be sure to sign the SR&R acknowledgement form by Wednesday, September 30, either by logging into SIS ParentVUE or signing and returning the Signature Sheet to your child’s school.  

Learn more by watching a short video about the SR&R (available in English and Spanish) or visiting the SR&R webpage.

Cellphones and Personal Devices

Students may only use a personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for students enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software that isn’t available on a standard FCPS-issued device. Learn more about the student device requirement. 

Attendance📅⏰

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! The beginning of the school year is the best time to develop strong attendance habits! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success. Visit the FCPS Attendance web page for tips and strategies. 

Importance of Strong Attendance Habits September is Attendance Awareness Month. Some of the ways parents can help their children create healthy routines and a habit of getting to school on time every day include:

  • Setting a regular bedtime and morning routine. (Need help? Download this checklist in English or Spanish.)
  • Laying out clothes and packing backpacks the night before.
  • Talking to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning, if they seem anxious about going to school.
  • Developing back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
  • Avoiding medical appointments or extended trips when school is in session.

Unexcused Absences

Five (5) Days 

When a student reaches five (5) or more unexcused absences, the Virginia State Code 22.1-254 requires that we reach out to the parent and/or guardian to develop a plan of action for the student.

Ten (10) Days

When a student reaches ten (10) or more unexcused absences, the Code of Virginia, 22.1-254, requires that the parent and/or guardian and the child participate in an attendance conference with designated members from the school’s attendance team.

Fifteen (15) Days

When a student misses fifteen consecutive school days, the student is required to be withdrawn from school.

If you or your family need any kind of support, please reach out to our front office. We are here for you! 

American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) 10

Cooper will be offering the AMC 10A this year on Thursday, November 5th, after school at 2:30 PM. The AMC 10 is a 25-question, 75-minute multiple-choice examination in high school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. This test is for students in 10th grade and below and covers the high school curriculum up to 10th grade. 

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

If your student is interested in taking the AMC 10A, please sign up using this Google Form (https://forms.gle/XNY1KNaezBz6cVqd9). There will be a $5.00 administrative fee to take the test. The fee can be paid through MySchool Bucks. The deadline to register and pay the fee for AMC 10 is September 29th. As a reminder, the AMC 8 will be offered in January for those who are interested. 

Please contact Lisa Walsh lswalsh1@fcps.edu with any questions.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) Admissions Process Meeting for 8th Grade Students

The TJHSST information session will be in the Cooper Middle School Lecture Hall directly after school on Monday, September 28 from 2:30 - 3:30 pm. This event is for 8th grade parents and students only. A TJHSST representative will be speaking about the admissions process. For more information, please visit the TJ admissions website: https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/registration/tjhsst-admissions/freshman-application-process

After School Activity Updates

Calling all Cooper Cougars!

MathCounts

Interested in joining MathCounts?

The tryout test will take place on Tuesday, September 22nd, from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM (A Session) in the 7th and 8th grade Health Rooms. Students report to the cafeteria immediately after dismissal (2:15)

National Science Bowl

Interested in joining National Science Bowl?

The tryout test will take place on Monday, September 28th, from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM (B Session) in the 7th and 8th grade Health Rooms. Students report to the cafeteria immediately after dismissal (2:15)

Science Olympiad

Interested in joining Science Olympiad?

Please be ready to attend the first round of tryouts on Wednesday, September 23rd, after school from 2:30-4:30 (A and B Session).

Round 1- Content Exam: Students will be given a context exam spanning all primary science subjects.

This test will be in a multiple choice and short answer format, and offered only once after-school on Wednesday, September 23rd during A and B session (2:30-4:30).

Students will be notified within a week to let them know if they qualified for round 2, the build test.

sticky fingers

Sticky Fingers Cooking

THYME to TURNIP the BEET on WHAT KIDS EAT®

"COOL"INARY COOKING CLUB

STEAM COOKING

GLOBAL TASTE BUDS

COOPER MIDDLE SCHOOL

  • DAYS: THURSDAYS
  • TIME: 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
  • DATES: 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19

OPEN TO ALL 7th AND 8th GRADE STUDENTS!

Get ready for tasty, hands-on cooking adventures delivered right to your school—no kitchen required! Kids whip up wholesome recipes, explore global flavors, and dive into languages, geography, nutrition, and STEAM. All ages, all abilities, all food allergies welcome. It's THYME to stir up creativity, confidence, and lifelong skills!

SCAN QR CODE TO ENROLL!

sfcnova@stickyfingerscooking.com

HANDS-ON! 🍓 ENGAGING 🍋 100% NUT FREE 🧊 ALLERGY FRIENDLY

Cooper Middle School Sports Update:  Final Forms

Dear Cooper Middle School Families,

Final Forms is now available for parent registration for Middle School Athletics. To get started:

  1. Check your email for an account confirmation message from the FinalForms Mailman and click “Confirm Your Account.”
  2. Create a FinalForms password and select “Confirm Account.”
  3. Visit https://fairfax-va.finalforms.com/ and log in under the Parent icon.
  4. Select “Incomplete Forms” next to your student.
  5. Choose any sports, activities, or clubs in which your student plans to participate, then click “Update.”
  6. Complete and submit each required form, signing your full name in the parent signature field. A “Forms Finished” message will appear when registration is complete.
  7. Families may be asked to provide medical and health information, insurance details, physician contact information, hospital preferences, and emergency contacts.  If required, students will receive an email prompting them to sign applicable forms.  To register additional students, select “My Students.”  You may update information at any time by selecting “Update Forms.”  If you did not receive a confirmation email, please email Mr. Klena and Mr. Kaden for assistance.

Thank you,

Brian Klena

After School Program Specialist 

& Building Use Coordinator 

Cooper Middle School

FCPS and Final Forms Intro – Middle School

https://fcps.click/fcpsandfinalformsintromiddleschool

SFTP Parent Playbook

https://fcps.click/sftpparentplaybook

Final Forms Accounts for Families

https://fcps.click/finalformsaccountsforfamilies

team store

Cooper Middle School Athletics Team Store 🐾

Students planning to participate on a sports team this year—take a second to check out the Cooper Middle School Athletics Team Store and get ready to represent your school in style!

Team Uniforms

The expectation is that Cooper athletes will wear Cooper gear at meets and games. Wearing our school gear helps our teams look united and shows pride in being a Cooper Cougar!

  • Uniform tops will be provided by the school to all athletes.
  • Coaches will communicate a common color for shorts for each sport.
  • Cross Country: All XC athletes are required to wear navy shorts of their choice for meets.
  • Cold-weather gear: Sweatshirts and long-sleeve shirts are available through the team store and are great options for cooler practices, meets, and games.

Visit our Team Store for more information.

Langley HS Football Games

Reminder that if your child is attending a Langley HS Football game, they must be accompanied by an adult. If your students try to attend without at least one adult, they will be turned away at the ticket booth. Also, there are no backpacks/food/drink or athletic equipment allowed in the stadium. We love when Cooper Cougars attend our games and hope they are good representatives of our community. Lastly, at the conclusion of the game, all spectators are expected to leave Langley in a timely fashion.

Click link below to purchase tickets. 

https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/18676/langley-high-school-athletics

 GO SAXONS!!

Community Updates from our Family Liaison

HOW CAN YOUR FAMILY LIAISON HELP?

Think of me as a connector, navigator, and partner.

  • Find the right person, service, or community resource.
  • Navigate ParentVUE, Talking Points, transportation tools, forms, and FCPS processes.
  • Connect early when attendance, transitions, or other barriers affect student success.
  • Find meaningful volunteer, partnership, and family leadership opportunities.

This Week

  • Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools: A Military Family Orientation. Military families who are new to FCPS or moving to Fairfax County soon are invited to this virtual presentation. Families will learn about FCPS programs, digital resources, early enrollment for military families, strategies to support student success, and the Military Interstate Compact.
  • September 18, 2026 at 10:00-11:30 AM. Digital Wellness and Cyber Threat Indicators in K-12:When Online Behavior Becomes a Safety Concern Webinar. This session will provide FCPS Parent/Guardians with a broad understanding of how digital wellness concerns can overlap with cybersecurity, student safety, behavioral risk indicators, and emerging online threats. This session focuses on awareness, early identification, and appropriate escalation pathways. Register at Here.
  • September 19, 2026 1:00-4:00 PM. OFC Block Party.  Entertainment. Great food. Games. Giveaways. Community fun. Join us at OFC for one unforgettable afternoon celebrating the end of summer with friends, family, and neighbors!
  • Free Parent-Child Connect and Youth Emotional Intelligence Workshops: Two concurrent, six-week virtual workshops are available this fall for Asian American families in the DMV area. The Parent-Child Connect Workshop is for parents and caregivers of school-aged children and is offered in English or Chinese. The Emotional Intelligence Workshop is for Asian American youth in grades 3–8 and focuses on emotional awareness, stress management, confidence, friendships, conflict resolution, and healthy self-esteem.
    • Date: Parent workshop: Saturdays, September 19 to October 24, 2026, in Chinese; Sundays, September 20 to October 25, 2026, in English. Youth workshop: Saturdays, September 19 to October 24, 2026.
    • Time: Parent workshop,7:00–8:45 p.m.Youth workshop, 4:00–5:30 p.m.
    • Location: Virtual via Zoom
    • Cost: Free
    • Eligibility: Asian American parents, caregivers, and youth. Youth participants must be in grades 3–8. Maryland residents receive priority.
    • Registration: Scan the QR code on the appropriate flyer to register or on the websites linked below. Space is limited.
    • More Information: Workshop information | Bullying Prevention and Mental Health Promotion Lab
    • Flyers: Emotional Intelligence Workshop flyer | Parent-Child Connect Workshop flyer

Upcoming

  • September 25, 2026 at 10:00-11:30 AM. Navigating the Digital Age: Creating Digital Balance as a Family. This session offers caregivers practical strategies for establishing healthy relationships with technology at home. We will explore how to model balanced digital habits, foster open communication, and work as a family to find a healthy balance. You will leave this session with steps on how to create healthy technology habits for the whole family, and how to keep kids connected without technology. Register here!
  • October 19, 2026 at 6:30 PM at Springhill Elementary School. Superintendent Community Conversations. Families are invited to attend a series of community conversations across the school division. Participants can share their thoughts and ask questions of Superintendent Dr. Reid. 
  • November. Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students.Families, educators, and community members are invited to this free conference focused on partnerships that support student success. The event will include an opening session, breakout sessions, an exhibitor hall, and lunch.

Ongoing

  • Teen Nights. Teens ages 12–18 are invited to enjoy free activities in a safe and supervised environment on Friday and Saturday evenings. Activities include open gym, board and card games, table tennis, parties, talent shows, karaoke, and more.
    • Date: Fridays and Saturdays
    • Time: 6:00–10:00 p.m.
    • Location: Mott Community Center, Lorton Community Center, Sully Community Center, Hybla Valley Community Center, Gum Springs Community Center, Jim Scott Community Center, Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate, James Lee Community Center, Reston Teen Center, and Minnie H. Peyton Community Center at Bailey’s
    • Cost: Free
    • Eligibility: Teens ages 12–18
  • Parenting Programs. Free virtual and in-person parenting classes are available for Fairfax County parents and caregivers of children ages 0–18. Classes cover positive and effective parenting strategies for every age and stage. Dinner and child care are provided.
  • Inova Free or Low-Cost Healthcare for Kids. Inova offers health care services and support for children and families, including help applying for or renewing Medicaid and FAMIS, primary care for children with Medicaid or no insurance, free virtual cooking classes, and care coordination for children with special health care needs.
    • Eligibility: Services and eligibility vary by program.
    • Contact: Partnership for Healthier Communities, PHC@inova.org, 703-698-2550
    • Contact: Inova Cares for Children, 703-531-3100
    • Contact: Care Connection for Children, CareConnectionforChildrenNOVA@inova.org, 703-698-2450
    • See flyers: (English/Spanish)

Superintendent Community Conversations

Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:

Registration is not required, but it helps with planning. 

Message from Cooper’s PTO

PTO Support Information 

Please consider supporting the Cooper Middle School PTO!  Your family membership, tax-deductible donation, sponsorship, and/or volunteer time help fund programs, classroom support, teacher and staff appreciation, campus improvements, and more. 

Visit https://cooperpto.membershiptoolkit.com/support to learn more about joining the PTO, donating, corporate matching, purchasing spirit wear, promoting your business with banner sponsorship opportunities, and special projects to enhance your kids' experiences at Cooper. 

Throughout the school year, the PTO will also sponsor fun Spirit Events (https://cooperpto.membershiptoolkit.com/events), where participating businesses give back a portion of sales to the PTO.  

Questions? Email fundraising@cooperpto.org.

Reporting Discrimination or Harassment

FCPS is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities. Individuals experiencing harassment or discrimination should report the incident as soon as possible. 

Volunteer

Interested in Volunteering with FCPS? Learn more and sign up at https://www.fcps.edu/get-involved/volunteer-fcps.  Cooper will need volunteers throughout the school year to help with afterschool activities, field trips, and educational trips. Become a part of our vibrant community and help shape the future by volunteering today!

yearbook

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!

From the Yearbook Staff.

Do you want your student to be in the yearbook?

Please email photos to cooperyearbook@gmail.com

📎 Quick Links: 

🌐 Cooper MS Website 

🧑‍🏫 Counselor Contact Information

💳 My School Bucks 

🗺️ Transportation Contact 

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