"Let Nature Be Your Teacher." William Wordsworth

Camp is here!  It's hard to believe that in just a few hours we will be heading to Howell Nature Center.  With such a crazy start to the school year, we almost didn't think we'd pull it off.  A big thank you to all of you: the fifth grade teachers who helped our sixth graders fundraise, the sixth grade teachers for getting everything ready and going on the grand adventure, Julie for organizing health plans and scholarships, Robin for coordinating with Howell Nature Center and helping with meetings and paperwork, and our fabulous secretaries, Colleen and Pam, for taking care of camp money, medications, and parent questions.  Go Team Cooper!

People question why we still go to camp.  Camp instills important leadership skills.  Students have to make their own choices and are empowered to try to new things.  They synergize with others to accomplish different tasks and build confidence through the knowledge that they are capable of amazing things.

Research shows that both children and adults benefit from increased time in nature.  Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder, argues that due to parental fear, less access to the outdoors, and increased screen time, children are spending less time outdoors which has grave effects on their health.  Increased time in nature has been associated with a reduction in ADHD symptoms, depression, anxiety, and stress.  It also has been shown to increase creativity, self esteem , and overall happiness.  Perhaps this is why we often worry less about some of our more challenging students at camp.  We often have less behavior problems and see more students excel in the outdoor camp environment.  Camp helps us live our mission of "Learning and Leading."            

Big Rocks
Fifth grade teachers have a big night ahead of them as well this week.  Fifth grade Open House and Curriculum Night is this Monday, October 13.  Thank you to all of the fifth grade teachers and special teachers for your hard work and preparation for this event.  Sarah will be present, as Terry will be at camp.

Schedule for the Week of October 13, 2014:
Monday: Backiel, Cohan, Daraskavich, McGlinch, Mansour, Kopacko go to camp.
               Sarah and Terry will follow the 6th graders out to camp.
               Fifth Grade Open House/Curriculum Night and Book Fair: 6-8

Tuesday: Terry at camp.  Sarah will be out in the AM due to doctors' appointments and most likely at
                camp in the afternoon.

Wednesday: First sixth grade group returns to Cooper.
                    Erickson, Lietz, Martin, Spence, Webster, and Kimball go to camp.
                   Terry at camp.  Sarah at Cooper.

Thursday: Title I Meeting at CO with Dr. Spybrook: 8:30-3:45 (Terry, Sarah, Robin, Kathy)
                  PTA Meeting: 6:00 Board, 6:30 All Members
                  No Staff Meeting

Friday: Sixth graders return from camp.  Sarah at Cooper.  Terry at camp.