The Cooper School Daily
April 26, 2024
Time to Boogie
Last weekend, a friend of mine left Charleston. The departure made me think about how weird it is that saying goodbye brings up that pukey feeling. Even if the person is not leaving your life, just the state, just knowing someone you like to hang with isn’t as available as they used to be can feel, well, pukey…
Coincidently, Charleston County also released their School Choice acceptance last weekend. The eighth graders received notice about possible schools they may attend, solidifying that they too are preparing to boogie on from each other. The cocktail of emotions that comes along with saying goodbye to friends and daily routine, for some of these kids since they were in kindergarten…yeah, you guessed it…POSSIBLE PUKE!
Why? Why do we feel physically sick when we have to say goodbye? According to Dr. Josell, from the Cleveland Health Clinic, “anything that feels like a life-altering loss causes us to trigger our grief response.” As humans, loss impacts our physical, emotional, and behavioral well-being. When we experience loss, we have no choice but to accept and adapt, which can feel stressful, causing a physical reaction to the stressful situation. Does that mean we should avoid change? According to Dr. Josell, “loss is part of our lives and recognizing that grief impacts our thoughts, emotions, and body is part of the human experience.” Loving and losing is completely normal. Does it still stink? Yup….Darnit!
As our eighth graders prepare for their final Cooper School goodbye, and other students just to the school year that is coming to a close, they will be feeling various emotions and maybe pukey feelings as they accept the loss of this school year. Us teachers will be here to allow them to feel their feelings, let them know what they are experiencing is what they should be, and that we are here to help them if they need it. We too will be saying goodbye to our eighth graders, which you guessed it…puke!
~LD
Here’s a look at what is happening in each of the classes:
What’s happening in Science?
Seventh graders finished up their big chemistry unit this week. They considered how air particles respond to temperature change and how equilibrium of kinetic energy is researched through time in substances. We will continue to explore the wonderful world of chemistry throughout the last few weeks through food science labs. The seventh graders also browsed through a book about animals that changed history. They chose an animal that they are researching and will present their findings to the class through a creative and entertaining way.
What’s up in Math?
This week, 7th graders took their exponents assessment on Monday, and then began our final unit of study by exploring squares, square roots, and rational vs. irrational numbers. Next week, we’ll apply this knowledge of squares to use the pythagorean theorem to aid us in solving triangle problems and slope concepts.
What’s happening in ELA?
7th grade graphic novelists finished their pages this week! We worked hard to color and outline visually and narratively engaging pieces that you can enjoy at home. We also reviewed grammar concepts from across the school year and prepared for the ERB.
Next week, 7th grade will transition into a novel study of the fantasy series The Emerald Atlas. We’ll study common tropes and elements of this genre together! We will continue our review of the year’s vocabulary and reviewing test taking strategies.
What’s going on in Social Studies?
Seventh graders dove further into the Reconstruction Era! Students were even able to play Jury as they decided whether John Wilkes Booth co-conspirators were to be found guilty or not, based on the arguments from history, before finding out their actual ruling. Students dove into life in the South during Reconstruction and the aftermath of the Reconstruction Era.
Next week, students will assess over the Reconstruction Era! We will finish the week with some mapping practice of the 50 states and geography of our nation.
Important Dates:
April 27: Spring Auction & Gala- 6pm @ Founder’s Hall (tickets available until 4/12)
May 9: 11:30 Dismissal (Pass It On for Elementary School)
Coincidently, Charleston County also released their School Choice acceptance last weekend. The eighth graders received notice about possible schools they may attend, solidifying that they too are preparing to boogie on from each other. The cocktail of emotions that comes along with saying goodbye to friends and daily routine, for some of these kids since they were in kindergarten…yeah, you guessed it…POSSIBLE PUKE!
Why? Why do we feel physically sick when we have to say goodbye? According to Dr. Josell, from the Cleveland Health Clinic, “anything that feels like a life-altering loss causes us to trigger our grief response.” As humans, loss impacts our physical, emotional, and behavioral well-being. When we experience loss, we have no choice but to accept and adapt, which can feel stressful, causing a physical reaction to the stressful situation. Does that mean we should avoid change? According to Dr. Josell, “loss is part of our lives and recognizing that grief impacts our thoughts, emotions, and body is part of the human experience.” Loving and losing is completely normal. Does it still stink? Yup….Darnit!
As our eighth graders prepare for their final Cooper School goodbye, and other students just to the school year that is coming to a close, they will be feeling various emotions and maybe pukey feelings as they accept the loss of this school year. Us teachers will be here to allow them to feel their feelings, let them know what they are experiencing is what they should be, and that we are here to help them if they need it. We too will be saying goodbye to our eighth graders, which you guessed it…puke!
~LD
Here’s a look at what is happening in each of the classes:
What’s happening in Science?
Seventh graders finished up their big chemistry unit this week. They considered how air particles respond to temperature change and how equilibrium of kinetic energy is researched through time in substances. We will continue to explore the wonderful world of chemistry throughout the last few weeks through food science labs. The seventh graders also browsed through a book about animals that changed history. They chose an animal that they are researching and will present their findings to the class through a creative and entertaining way.
What’s up in Math?
This week, 7th graders took their exponents assessment on Monday, and then began our final unit of study by exploring squares, square roots, and rational vs. irrational numbers. Next week, we’ll apply this knowledge of squares to use the pythagorean theorem to aid us in solving triangle problems and slope concepts.
What’s happening in ELA?
7th grade graphic novelists finished their pages this week! We worked hard to color and outline visually and narratively engaging pieces that you can enjoy at home. We also reviewed grammar concepts from across the school year and prepared for the ERB.
Next week, 7th grade will transition into a novel study of the fantasy series The Emerald Atlas. We’ll study common tropes and elements of this genre together! We will continue our review of the year’s vocabulary and reviewing test taking strategies.
What’s going on in Social Studies?
Seventh graders dove further into the Reconstruction Era! Students were even able to play Jury as they decided whether John Wilkes Booth co-conspirators were to be found guilty or not, based on the arguments from history, before finding out their actual ruling. Students dove into life in the South during Reconstruction and the aftermath of the Reconstruction Era.
Next week, students will assess over the Reconstruction Era! We will finish the week with some mapping practice of the 50 states and geography of our nation.
Important Dates:
April 27: Spring Auction & Gala- 6pm @ Founder’s Hall (tickets available until 4/12)
May 9: 11:30 Dismissal (Pass It On for Elementary School)