10.23, Explainer: Wellness Wednesday

The year’s first Wellness Wednesday is Nov 1st!

Wellness Wednesdays comprise a unique component of Washington Latin’s culture. They interrupt our standard programming with an opportunity to be of service to the community that fosters and uplifts our school. While Community Service is part and parcel of earning a high school diploma, it also exemplifies the spirit of the Latin Way. At Cooper, we incorporate community service into our work as early as 5th Grade.

On Nov 1st, students will report to school at the normal time. The day will be split between a service portion, in which they will write letters to community elders or participate in community cleanup, and a standard arts block. They will then be dismissed at noon.

9.19, The Explainer: Initium & Touchstones

Because learning is never limited to a classroom.

Initium, Latin for “from the beginning,” is an opportunity for our faculty to put their greatest passions at the center of their teaching. Teachers without a section of Touchstones instead create introductory lessons to subjects that captivate them outside of their standard content. As a key feature of Wonderful Wednesdays, we use Initium to encourage students to broaden their horizons, discover the broad applicability of their learning, and find that academic content lives outside the classroom.

Touchstones Discussion Project is a model of dialectic development that aligns with the mission and values we hold at Cooper. Its aim is to foster in students the ability to engage in conversations critically and collaboratively. An idea that underpins Touchstones is that if you emerge from a discussion with more questions than when the discussion started, then you’re doing it right. By making Touchstones a part of our Wonderful Wednesday schedules, we are building skills in our students that will reverberate throughout classrooms and well beyond Cooper’s walls.

9.11, The Explainer: Daily Schedule

We admit our schedule can seem complicated. We are going to walk you through how to read it and, importantly, why it looks as it does.

We start and end with Advisory – You have already heard that our advisory system is central to the Latin Way. This is the home base for each student and, by extension, an important connection for our families. Our advisors foster a sense of mutual caring, community and fun for their advisories. This is where our students begin each morning at Cooper, and where they end (almost) every day. And I encourage you to consider your child’s advisor a “go-to” person for both of you, if you have questions, concerns, or challenges of any kind.
You say first period, we say Alpha (or Beta, Gamma, etc.) – These are the names of our periods, and your children’s classes (Math, English, Latin, and so forth) will always be in the same period. A student may have Math during Alpha, for example, so Alpha will be for Math all year.
Alpha is not always first period – Alpha will not always be first period nor will it always be followed by Beta. We shuffle the order of our class periods to keep it fresh and so that students do not come to associate a subject with a particular time of day. For example, if Math were always first period, a student who is not a morning person may come to associate the subject with exhaustion and low energy. To avoid this and to generally keep it fresh, we switch it up.
Every student has Auxillium, Latin for assistance or support – We know that all students can use assistance, especially considering middle school’s greater independence and responsibility. We want to normalize asking for and receiving help right from the start. This can take a variety of forms: social-emotional learning (how do I process conflict with friends?), executive functioning assistance (how do I set goals for myself, and what does this planner have to do with accomplishing them?), and a little later this fall academic support based on the results of our initial benchmark assessments.
Wednesdays are special – In the middle of each week, we have carved out time to focus on important aspects of our model in a different way than we do on other days. We have extended learning blocks for literacy and numeracy, which allows us to explore topics more deeply, take on a project, or engage in the art of dialectic. Wednesdays are also when we have grade-level or all-school community meetings, at which we recenter ourselves around our community values and celebrate merit recipients. Finally, we will have arts programming chosen by the students themselves from over twenty options.

8.27, THE EXPLAINER: PICK UP, DROP OFF

Morning Drop-Off
We will welcome students at the gym door from 7:45 until 8:05 each morning. If you arrive to drop off after 8:05, please drop off your child(ren) in the parking lot, so they can enter through the front door.
For those arriving before 8:05, our team will be outside under the Franklin Bridge at the cross walk, just past our building and the “elbow” where Edgewood turns into 8th Street (now one-way heading north). Drivers pull up under the bridge so that students can safely exit the vehicle. Please do not let your children out of the car anywhere else along Edgewood or 8th Street! It is not safe.
Afternoon Pick-Up
We ask that you please help us tighten up the pick-up process to ensure that it is efficient, convenient, and – above all – SAFE for all students and families at Cooper, our neighboring schools, and the surrounding community.

Please adhere to the guidelines below to help us ensure as smooth a process as possible.
WHEN: The school day ends at 3:15 for students in ALL grades. Cooper staff will bring students outside at 3:20 sharp.
No students will be outside for pick-up before 3:20.
We will not pull students from class early to facilitate pick-ups before 3:20.
If you arrive before 3:20, you will either need to park your car and walk to the gym door to pick up your child(ren) on foot, or circle the block in your car to line up at 3:20 when our process begins.
We will remain outside until 3:40. Please consider timing your arrival closer to 3:40 than 3:20 to space out our flow of cars. This will help us with the process.
If you arrive after we have gone back inside with any students still awaiting pick-up, please come to the door in the parking lot (but we do NOT recommend you drive to park in our lot – we anticipate lots of car and foot traffic on our block. Park elsewhere and walk to our door!)
WHERE: Drivers should line up along Edgewood to pick up children under the Franklin Bridge starting at 3:20. Please note!
Do NOT double park on Edgewood or 8th Street; this negatively impacts thru traffic.
Do NOT stop your vehicle in the middle of the road to get your child; this causes unsafe conditions for them and others.
Do NOT exit your vehicle if you are in the pick-up line; this only slows the entire process down.
Seek the conversation, but not in the pick-up line.
We need make the process happen quickly, especially when there are multiple schools picking up at about the same time. We want our process to move quickly and smoothly, and we need your cooperation to accomplish this.

The daily schedules for each grade level are linked below:

5th Grade Schedule

6th Grade Schedule

7th Grade Schedule

Please complete the form linked below. If you qualify for free or reduced meals, student fees for everything from field trips to bus service and MAGIS (after school program) will be offered at a reduced rate or completely free!

FARMs – English

FARMs – Spanish

Arrival & Dismissal through the gym door

• When school is in session, our parking lot is not used for visitor parking, so that our students have a little outdoor space for recess. With no parking lot available and very limited street parking, we strongly encourage families to avoid turning onto our street, especially at arrival or dismissal times.
• Starting with orientation, Cooper students will arrive and dismiss through the door at the gym, NOT the parking lot. This is on the curve of Edgewood Street near the Franklin Street overpass, where the brick wall is painted with our street number – 711.
• Whether arriving on foot or by car in our drive-thru line, families should plan to meet us outside the building at this gym entrance. We will be testing out a drive-thru line for cars to drop-off and pick-up students on 8th Street.

Drop-off and Pick-up System

• All students, no matter how they will arrive at school or get home, will meet outside the school near the Franklin Street overpass where Edgewood turns into 8th Street.
• Members of our team will be waiting on both sides of 8th Street and at the gym entrance to meet our students and then walk them to the door (ensuring their safety). We will be outside between 8:40-9:05 in the morning and 12:00-12:30 pm OR 2:00-2:30 pm for the later dismissal days.
• Students will have a few minutes of supervised recess inside the gym before heading to the classrooms for a 9:00 am start.
• See this diagram for more details.
• We ask that you complete this form with information about how your child will arrive and depart from campus, so we know that we have your permission for them to walk or Metro home alone, ride with another family, etc.

Uniform During Orientation

Student should wear navy or khaki bottoms and a white/gray/navy polo for orientation. If you do not have the Latin logo polos yet, plain is fine during the orientation period. That uniform includes:

• Khaki or navy blue pants, shorts, or skirts
• Navy, gray or white polo; during orientation only, that may be with or without a Washington Latin logo (the lion and shield) or a navy polo dress
• Close-toed shoes of any color – Sneakers are our favorites, and note that Crocs are not allowed!
• A blue, gray or white sweater, fleece or sweatshirt with the Latin logo

Please review our uniform policy and retail purchasing options. We will have a used uniform sale very soon – please watch for more details in your inboxes!

What to Bring? 

Students do not need to bring ANYTHING except themselves in uniform, an open mind and readiness to learn, and a mask.

• We will provide free breakfast and snacks each day and lunch when we have field trips. Please send a reusable water bottle to refill at the water fountains during the day. 
• 5th graders do not need to bring anything. We will provide all materials for the two weeks of Orientation.
• 6th graders need to bring a 1″ three-ring binder and a pen or pencil.
• Students do not need to bring their summer reading or math – we will review that work at the start of the school year.

Date of Trip: Thursday, July 20th, 2023

Departure Time: 9:40am (Students should arrive to campus at the normal start time)       

Return Time: 11:30 (there will be a normal noon dismissal)

Cost: We ask for a $10 contribution towards the cost of this trip, if you are able. 

Payments can be made online (at Make Payments) or you can send your student with cash.

Purpose of Field Trip

Exposure to the arts is a cornerstone of our community and we believe strongly in the importance of its infusion into any successful academic program. This field trip will help lay the groundwork for our newest community members to begin thinking about what it means to Fall in Love with Enduring Ideas and experience for themselves –in very modern ways– a piece of the beauty that can be the ancient world.

Students should wear their regular uniforms for this field trip.

Transportation: The Van Gogh experience is located just down the bike path at the Rhode Island Center. Our group will walk to the exhibit and back. 

Lunch: Per our regular days, no lunch will be served. Students will of course have breakfast and other snacks available to them before and after the trip

Please feel free to contact Principal Khashiffa Roberts [email protected] if you have any questions.

PDF of field trip information

Friday, July 21st, 2023

Departure Time: 9:15am (Students must arrive to campus at the normal start time)       

Return Time: 12:30pm – 1:00pm (there will be a slightly later dismissal)

Cost: FREE

Purpose of Field Trip

Orienteering; the science of navigation using a map and compass to get from one point to another in usually unfamiliar terrain, is the perfect team-building opportunity for our new students. During this field trip, students will work with their group mates and faculty group leader to find pre-identified markers at the Wheaton Regional Park, using their provided maps and compasses. 

Students should wear comfortable walking shoes. They do not need to be in uniform and should be in comfortable but appropriate dress for outdoor activities (athletic shorts are fine as the terrain is tame).

Transportation: Washington Latin will provide transportation from Cooper Campus to Wheaton Regional Park and back. Buses will depart about 9:15 and return between 12:30 and 1pm. 

Lunch: Students must bring a refillable water bottle. We will have coolers of water as well as some water bottles. We will also provide snacks and a bag lunch for students.

Please feel free to contact Principal Khashiffa Roberts [email protected] if you have any questions.

PDF of field trip information

All students in each grade read three books: one required for their grade and then choose two more from a list of options. Reading should be complete by the first day of school!

2023 Reading Lists

• 5th & 6th Grades
• 7th Grade

Washington Latin provides required reading books at no cost to families. Cooper students enrolled in 2022-23 took home copies of their summer books at the end of the school year. Copies of the books are available for pick-up at the Cooper Campus at 711 Edgewood Street NE, the campus is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm. You can also pick up the books during summer orientation.