Last night, we celebrated the 8th graders heading off to high school with the most beautiful and sweet graduation ceremony. I don’t think I could sum up my feelings about this special school any better than one of our 8th graders did in her poem “These Past Three Years” that she shared last night, so here are some bits and pieces of that magical piece:
These past three years
bring me to tears,
not of sadness but of joy.
I wish I could stay at least one more day.
I won’t ever let the memories fade away.
The Cooper School, my healing place
The past years better than elementary
No one to make fun of me
Don’t feel like I’m all alone
This place really feels like home
Dodgeball isn’t my favorite
I can dodge but not throw nor catch
I am the last standing and I hate it
Because I lose the game for everyone
And it felt like the mean words were never done
Though at The Cooper School it is different.
It’s only support and “you tried your best.”
I don’t feel down.
This school makes me proud.
Thank you, Cooper.
- A Cooper School 8th Grader, 2025
