Parent Newsletter 9/14 - 9/18
Cooper Elementary
Welcome Back to Campus Case & PreK - 2nd Grade Students!
*Virtual learning is and will continue to be an option, the timeline below is intended for parents who are choosing to send their children to campus.
Required Attestation Form For Students Returning To Campus:
Riding the bus? Find Your Stop, and Learn about Key Safety Information.
As we prepare to bring back our Safety-First In-Person students in phases, we’ve updated our bus routes so parents can figure out their child’s stop.
Just visit our website and type in your address, school and/or grade to get the details. Spring ISD Transportation recommends all students arrive at their designated stop at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time of the bus. It’s important that students maintain social distancing as they wait for their bus and then follow all driver directions once they board.
Students will be asked to wear their masks while riding the bus and to use hand sanitizer upon entering the vehicle. To maintain physical distancing, we will transport only one student per seat while we are operating in condition “Orange.”
Please check out our videos on all of our health and safety protocols here: www.springisd.org/reopen
Tips for the First Day Back On Campus:
As some parents across the district prepare for a return to in-person learning for their students in the upcoming weeks, we know that you and your children are probably feeling a combination of excitement and nervousness. Here are a few tips to help ease the transition:
Stay calm and positive when talking to your child about their first days back at school. Remember that children, especially younger ones, are affected by their parents’ emotions.
Talk with your child about safe physical distancing and why it's important – both for their safety and to protect and respect the health and safety of their classmates and teachers.
Make sure your child has their mask and knows how to put it on and take it off.
Rehearse what to do if they have to cough or sneeze – how to raise their elbow to cover their mouth – and what to do if they feel unwell or sick.
Encourage them to follow directions from teachers and other school staff carefully. Let them know that instructions about how to line up, how to walk through the hallway, or how to leave when it’s time for dismissal, are for everyone’s safety.
When they get home, ask them about their day. Give them a chance to talk about their experience and their feelings, and to ask any questions they may have.
Consider a virtual study group or meet-up after school for your child, as a time for them to interact more casually with friends and classmates, especially with close friends who are still learning from home.
Make sure students understand that this school year is going to look a little different. Younger students, especially, need to be prepared for the fact that their classroom and school building may seem strange and even a little bit scary. Make sure they know how much you love them, and that their teachers are excited to see them and to work with them to keep school safe for everyone.
We are excited to welcome those students back to campus who have selected to return to in-person learning, and we are committed to doing our best to ensure a healthy, happy, productive school year!
New Spring ISD Help Desk Hours...
Spring ISD’s Help Desk currently has new hours to better support our parents and community. The Help Desk will now be open from 5-8 p.m. Monday-Friday for additional support. Parents also have the option to contact their student's campus for help during school hours.
Contact the Help Desk at (281)891-6249.
Student Code of Conduct Updated to Reflect Changes Related to Pandemic
The district’s 2020-21 Student Code of Conduct has been updated to reflect revisions and additions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, the handbook now includes guidance around how students are expected to behave to promote safety when health conditions permit in-person learning on the campuses, including maintaining social distancing procedures, handwashing, wearing masks and keeping mouth and nose covered while sneezing and/or coughing.
Students could face disciplinary action for purposefully trying to cough or sneeze on another person, refusing to adhere to social distancing standards, and removing personal protective equipment like a mask with the goal of trying to harm or threaten another person with bodily fluids.
Students who show up to school without a mask or refuse to wear one during the school day may also face a dress code violation. The expectation is that all students come to school wearing a face covering, just as they would adhere to dress code. The goal is to keep everyone in our school safe, including students and staff.
To view the entire Code of Conduct, please click here. Parents without ability to download the Code of Conduct may request one in print by emailing Thomas Graham, the director of Student Affairs at tgraham@springisd.org.
Virtual Open House is on September 22, 2020.
Spending Time Outside is a Great Option for Families.
Many activities and places are opening to the public with rules to wear masks and practice social distancing. Some families may be comfortable going to the mall or exploring the local playground at the park but others may still be cautious of such outings. Here are some ideas to get your young child outside while practicing good safety:
Take a nice walk or bike ride around your neighborhood.
Grab a blanket, find a spot under a tree and have storytime.
Get artistic and make nature sculptures using twigs, leaves, cones with a play dough base.
Choose a book and have a scavenger hunt looking for items from the story.
Play catch with a ball but avoid sharing equipment with others outside your household.
As always,make sure to wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer during and after being outdoors. According to healthychildren.org, getting outdoors, being in nature, and moving our bodies is good for everyone.
Interested in becoming a Girl Scout?
Counselor's Corner:
Are you ready to vote on Nov. 3? There’s still time to register!
Our Board of Trustees has approved making Tuesday, Nov. 3 a day off for all students and most staff to accommodate the projected Election Day turnout at our campuses. Many of our Spring ISD campuses will be used as polling sites this year, and this decision will help ease traffic congestion and help us ensure the health and safety of students and staff.
We also want to remind everyone there is still time to register to vote ahead of the Harris County deadline of Oct. 5. If you haven’t already done so, please consider registering before then. Some of our seniors may also be eligible to cast a ballot on Nov. 3 if they are at least 17 years and 10 months old at the time they register.
The process to register is simple. Just visit this Harris County website for detailed information on registering to vote and to download an application. They are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. Remember, voting is an essential part of our democratic system and a great way to make sure your voice is heard.
Spring ISD Meal Service Distribution for September:
Schoology
Parent Central - Spring ISD
Principal - Mayra Garcia
Assistant Principal - Na'Carol Dixon
Contact Cooper Elementary
Website: springisd.org/cooper2
Location: 180655 Imperial Valley Drive, Houston, TX 77073
Phone: 281-891-8660
Twitter: @CooperElem