Last night, our middle school’s Spirit Club hosted the annual Cooper Middle Dance – which is my absolute favorite event of the year. I’m sure when you hear the words “middle school dance”, your body instinctively cringes – your mind flooded with memories of awkward dances, hugging the wall, fear of being judged, etc. Mine does, too! But, I can confidently speak for our middle schoolers when I say that was not what they experienced last night. Worries were left at the door, dance moves were electric, and smiles and laughter filled the beautifully transformed library. These kids are so fearlessly themselves, and are also so great at meeting their peers where they are. It’s the magical combination of people in one room that made last night so special. If they can make something as cringey and terrifying as a middle school dance the exact opposite – what can’t they do?!
-Allison Gold
Upcoming Dates:
- February 27 – Trimester 2 Report Cards
- March 2 & 3 – Self Assessment Conferences (½ Days)
- March 14 – Little Big Things Gala
ELA: This week in ELA, 5th grade started their poetry study! This year’s unit is all about poetry and illustration. We read and re-read Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky this week, finding meaning in both the written word and Sir Tenniel’s original illustrations. Poets then wrote their own “nonsense” poem about a fantastical beast, paired with sketch illustrations. The next few weeks of poetry study and writing all look forward to Middle School’s “Spread the Word” event where poets will share their favorite pieces from this time. Be on the lookout for more info around this beloved event! 5th grade took a vocabulary test this Wednesday, as well, and should have brought a grade home.
Next week, 5th graders will study The Walrus & the Carpenter by Lewis Carroll, in addition to surveying the works and illustrations of Shel Silverstein. All the while, we will write many-a-poem in response to these greats! We will also begin a long stretch of grammar studies to hit grammatical checkpoints and reviews in the final trimester of the year!
Science: This week in Science, 5th graders wrapped up their study of systems by exploring the marine ecosystem. Students examined how the different parts of the system interact and depend on one another to maintain balance and sustainability. Through discussion and modeling, they strengthened their understanding of how living and nonliving components work together within a larger system.
Next week, students will begin learning about bacteria in preparation for an exciting cross-curricular project—more information to come!
Social Studies: Fifth grade did a wonderful job this week with the introduction of the continent of Asia. We learned about the different parts of the continent and its geography, as well as started looking into Chinese and Japanese writing styles. For their self assessment they wrote their one word for 2026 in character format! Next week we will continue with Asia looking into a deeper understanding of how geography shapes the people of the continent.
Math: This week in math, 5th graders began exploring the coordinate grid and what it means to plot points on a grid. They also used the grid to create and classify different quadrilaterals and triangles. Next week, we’ll deepen our understanding of these shapes and the coordinate grid to plot relationships and patterns on the grid.
