Parent & Community Newsletter

What an amazing end to our first semester! Our students continue to inspire us through their academic achievements and professional skill development. With an intentional focus on expanding access and opportunities, we successfully launched our internship program in partnership with Roper Hospital, welcoming our first cohort of students preparing to become Certified Medical Assistants.

This semester alone, our students earned 197 OSHA-10 General Certifications and more than 250 industry-specific certifications—an incredible accomplishment that reflects their dedication and hard work.

We are also excited to share that enrollment has increased by nearly 100 students this semester. Due to our continued growth, our annual Showcase will now expand into a two-night celebration. Looking ahead, we will continue strengthening partnerships with local industry leaders to provide students with meaningful real-world experiences, mentorship opportunities, and direct pathways to employment after graduation.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Mrs. Charlene Phillips, Resource Pool Supervisor at Roper Hospital, for her commitment to supporting our students through internship opportunities. We also thank The Bootjack for their generous donation of safety boots, helping ensure our students are equipped for success.

Mrs. Vanessa Brown, Principal

We are excited to welcome back our returning students this semester. Our current enrollment is 272 students, an increase of 79 students from last spring. Of these, 126 are returning students.

We are also pleased to welcome several nursing students from Charleston Southern University who will serve as mentors for students in the Cooper River Center for Advanced Studies Health Science Program. They will share their knowledge and real-world experiences to inspire and guide our future health professionals.

Health Science 2 and 3 students will spend Tuesdays and Thursdays at Roper St. Francis Hospital participating in internships. The experiences students had last semester at Roper were outstanding, and we look forward to the same high-quality opportunities this semester.

BootJack Boots & Clothing Company will be donating one hundred pairs of boots to our Mechatronics, Auto Collision, and Carpentry classes. We are grateful for our partnership with BootJack.

We will also continue our partnership with MUSC and expand opportunities for our Health Science students. Through this partnership, students were able to tour MUSC, meet with academic departments, and speak directly with MUSC students about their journeys, campus life, and future goals—providing valuable real-world insight.

Highlights from last semester

• 197 students earned OSHA 10 certification

• 424 total certifications were earned in the fall

• 25 students completed their programs

We look forward to growing our business partnerships and expanding student experiences throughout the Spring 2026 semester.

I am excited to serve as Cooper River’s Career Specialist. In this role, I help students find and apply for work-based learning opportunities such as job shadowing, internships, and apprenticeships. I also enjoy presenting to classes on résumé writing and career exploration within the industries we serve. In addition, I work to bring employers and industry professionals into our classrooms and to build clear pathways for work-based learning. I am also available to help students assess their career interests and assist with individualized career planning.

Students and parents can review current work-based learning opportunities at:

https://charlestonempowered.com/career-opportunities/

Internship Opportunities:

Volvo Accelerator Program
Application Deadline: Friday, January 23
Requirements: Two letters of recommendation and a video interview
Students must be 17 or older at program start and 18 by July 1, 2026
Information Sessions:
January 13 and January 15 at Volvo Car University in Ridgeville (270 Three Point Dr, Ridgeville, SC 29472)
Program Dates:
Cohort 1: Feb 21, Mar 14, Apr 18, May 9
Cohort 2: Feb 28, Mar 21, Apr 25, May 16
VAP Graduation: Saturday, July 18

Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship Program Information Session

For students and families, Saturday, February 7, 2026

Doors open at 8:30 am. Presentations begin at 9 am and 10:30 am.

Trident Technical College

Thornley Campus, Building 920

7000 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston

The MUSC Student Youth Employment Program (SYEP) offers invaluable hands-on health care work experience through departmental placements and professional development webinars. Applications are due by February 25, 2026. This paid summer internship is open to students ages 16-22. The program runs from June 9, 2026 to July 31, 2026.

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VISIT US AT:

1088 EAST MONTAGUE AVENUE

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC 29405

CALL US AT 843-953-3231

https://cooperrivercas.ccsdschools.com/