The Latin Way – Virtual Family Discussion

Did you miss the family discussion forum about the Latin Way and Character Education (October 7, 2024)? Check out the recording, slide deck, and Atlantic Magazine article, “How America Got Mean”

Missed our first virtual parent forum? Check out the Zoom recording and presentation deck. Questions? Email us!

Latin is transitioning from Schoology to Google Classroom

Find details about how to ACCESS and USE our online platforms via this Quick Start Guide.

For the 24-25 school year, both Cooper and 2nd Street are changing our student progress monitoring systems to serve students, families, and teachers better. Instead of Schoology, we will use Google Classroom for homework and classwork posting.

Our decision was based on feedback from multiple constituent groups in the community – parents, students, teachers, and administrators. Parent feedback noted the need for easier ways to check grades across all classes, view GPA, and see daily homework. We believe Google Classroom and Powerschool, (along with DeansList, which was used in previous school years) are the most accessible responses to this need. 

As of August 20, 2024, parent Schoology accounts were disabled and no new account information will be added to Schoology. Your child’s final grades from previous years can be viewed in PowerSchool.

Here is an overview of how we use our three main platforms to track and communicate your child’s progress:

• Google Classroom – Teachers will post daily classwork and homework to Google Classroom. Parents will be invited automatically to receive daily or weekly email updates containing student work for the week. Parents do not log directly into Google Classroom. 
• PowerSchool – Parents can log in to view student schedules and grades on demand. The login URL is latinpcs.powerschool.com. User name and password information is the same as that was used for enrollment or re-enrollment in Spring and Summer 24.
• DeansList – Parents receive a weekly email containing information re attendance and behavior. Parents do not need to log in to DeansList to receive the email and are automatically signed up.

Check your spam filters!

Many parents, particularly with gmail accounts, have to “retrain” their spam filters to let in our emails each fall. Google considers them spam because they only seem to come from this email – communication@latinpcs.org, when in fact we send them through a system in PowerSchool, the student info database. We recognize that this is inconvenient and greatly appreciate your partnership in resolving the issue. Please follow the steps below:

1. Add communication@latinpcs.org to your contacts
2. Check your spam folder and move any emails from Washington Latin into your inbox. 
3. Check the MailChimp archive here. We know it’s not ideal, but if a communication doesn’t land in your inbox, you should be able to find it here. 

While we work on ensuring everyone is receiving the emails, we will also send each Legenda via text. Please look for it in both places. 

Middle School Sports Registration

Registration now open via ArbiterSports!

Fall competitive sports registration opened this afternoon and will close on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 8:00 PM.  Wellness non-compete classes like Yoga, HIIT, and Conditioning will open in mid-September.  Please stay tuned for an email from me with details about registration.  

Interscholastic sports are only for student-athletes in grades 6-8! Practice days are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 PM. Fall competitive sports offered for middle school students are:

• MS Girls & Boys Soccer (cut-sport)
  • Head Coach: Ms. Amy Brock
  • Location: Latin Field (2nd Street Campus)
  • Tryout dates for 6th grade: Tuesday 9/3 & Thursday 9/5 (6th grade only)
  • Tryout dates for 7th & 8th grade: Monday 9/9
  • Tryout dates for returners & final cut players: Tuesday 9/10

• Coed flag football (cut-sport)
  • Coaches:  Coach K & Coach Smith-Brown 
  • Tryout dates: Tuesday 9/3 and Thursday 9/5

• MS Cross Country (no-cut sport)
  • Head Coach: Mr. Joe Green 
  • Location: Latin Field (2nd Street Campus)
  • Start date: Tuesday 9/3 

• MS Girls Volleyball (cut-sport)
  • Head Coach: Ms. D. Kolb 
  • Location: 2nd Street campus
  • Tryout dates: Tuesday 9/3 & Thursday 9/5

Want to get involved with the Parent Faculty Association?

We are looking for grade level representatives and officers!

• If you (or someone you know!) are interested, review the description of officers and grade level representatives and choose the role that suits you best
• Finally, submit your name and brief bio to familyengagement@latinpcs.org. Include your name, child’s/ren’s grade(s), and why you’d like to support in that particular role
  • This information will be included as we script our election ballot

Our election will begin on Monday 9/2 and will end on Monday 9/6. Results will be announced on Monday 9/9!

• The first meeting of the Executive Committee, (officers and grade representatives) will be held via Zoom on Thursday, September 12th, at 7pm
• If you have any questions, please feel free to email Jennifer Thorpe-Lewis at familyengagement@latinpcs.org

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 want to ensure that the pick-up process is efficient, convenient, and – above all – SAFE for all students and families at Cooper, our neighboring schools, and the surrounding community. 

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; we need your cooperation to accomplish this.

• If you have a question or comment about your child’s classes, homework, or any such matter, please address those questions to us by phone or email, not in line.
• If you have thoughts or feedback on the pick-up process, please do not share this in line. Instead, please send an email to Principal Roberts. We cannot discuss any comments or suggestions at the time of pick-up. This only slows down the process and can result in unsafe conditions for students.

To help you navigate the streets around Cooper during Morning Drop-Off and Afternoon Pick-Up, please consult this 2024-25 Cooper PUDO Roadmap.

Make sure your child has everything they need to start the school year off on the best possible foot by consulting the 2024-2025 Cooper Campus Supply Lists. 

• Note: all 5th graders will receive one FREE Washington Latin planner. Other students can purchase one for $8.00
• We use a color-coded system to help our students develop or refine their ability to organize.