Cooper Elementary

September 3rd ... 1st day of school for students with the letters M-Z

September 4th ... 1st day of school for ALL hybrid students

September 7th ... NO SCHOOL LABOR DAY

September 14th ... PTA Meeting via Hangouts @ 6PM

October 12th & 19th ... Parent/Teacher Virtual Conference Dates

October 26th & 27th ... School Pictures

Cooper Families,

We were all excited and anxious to start school and after the first day, we are all feeling great about the planning and time put in to start off safely! I'm sure parents and families were feeling anxious as well. Greeting students outside their designated entrance was a huge success and it really seemed to ease the anxiety of the first day of school. The staggered start is a great way to begin the year and we are just as excited to see students with last names beginning with M thru Z on Thursday.

I want to thank our families for being supportive and positive as we transition back to school. I also want to thank our staff for pitching in where needed to ensure a safe return to school. I really do appreciate everything that went into planning and preparing our school year.

Thank you!

Aaron Lieberz, Principal

We are excited to announce that a new position has been added at Cooper! Jill Stempihar will be joining our staff as our new Family Engagement Coordinator!

Jill is a former Middle School Mathematics teacher turned stay-at-home-mom, but she loves and has missed being a part of the school community so she is excited to serve as a resource for parents and act as a liaison between school and families in this new role. In addition to working on our school newsletter and keeping families updated through our Facebook page, Jill will also be hosting weekly virtual forums to meet with families to listen in and find out what is working well and what might need some improvement for our Cooper families. This will be a positive space to share feedback and ideas! Be on the lookout for her "Talk With Me Tuesdays" invitations!

It was so wonderful to see our Cooper kids again on Tuesday! I missed seeing those smiling faces (even if they were covered with a mask) in our halls and classrooms. I can't wait to see the other half of our students on Thursday! The kids were so excited to meet their new teacher, connect with friends, and see who was in their class this year. We will be continuing with making these connections and building relationships with teachers and peers throughout the next several weeks. One way we will focus on this is by introducing our character trait of the month, Friendship. Students will be learning more about each other, thinking about what is important in a friend, and reflecting on what kind of friend they are to others. A key component in being a friend, classmate, and learner is focusing attention and listening. We will also be learning the skills of how to be a good listener and practicing focusing attention both on people who are speaking and tasks to complete.

Arrival:

Reminder that families are able to use both lots. The lot by playgrounds is open from 9:00 AM to 3:15 PM. It is closed for recess beginning at 9:00 AM. The main lot off of Wyoming is open throughout the day. Drop-off can begin as early as 8:00 AM.

Dismissal:

Please use both lots for the end of the day pick-ups as well. Teachers will be outside at the end of the day with students in their designated spots near the grade level exits. Please leave the walkway by the exits open so all classes can safely exit the building. Teachers will begin dismissals at 3:27 PM.

Our students will be outside several times each day. Please send the appropriate clothing each day as we will be outside as long as it is safe to do so. If you need assistance, we do have a limited supply of outdoor clothing to borrow. Just let your teacher or the counselor know what is needed. Being outside provides a safe environment for students to learn, take breaks, and get some fresh air.

The first Tuesday of every month from 5-6 pm, the Mentor Superior program is hosting a free virtual trivia for families and youth. Some of the themes included have been Twin Ports trivia of local facts and history, Disney, books, dinosaurs, etc. The October theme will be cartoons. "We simply want to offer a fun activity for families in the area and wanted to make sure any families who would enjoy attending would be informed about it."

For families who use Facebook, you can follow along on the Mentor Superior or Mentor Duluth pages. Or, the following link is for the next trivia night:

October: ahaslides.com/toon

Families won't have to download anything to access this, you simply need to follow the link. A short "how-to" video was created in case folks want it or for anyone who has further questions. People can also reach out with any questions they have. http://mentornorth.org/ or tday@mentorsuperior.org