Dr. Walter Cooper Academy “2020 Science Fair”    

Postponed due to RCSD Lay-Offs

The recent lay-offs, by the Rochester City School District (RCSD), have resulted in the mid-year departure of as many as five elementary school teachers from our School. It has made it necessary for us to postpone, and “regroup” in our effort to develop and present the “2020 First Annual Dr. Walter Cooper Academy Science Fair”.

The Rochester Engineering Society (RES) was invited to help establish new tradition, back in the late 2018-19 school year. The School-Based Planning Team, and the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), including parents, teachers and administrators, requested the support of the RES in developing a Winter 2020 science fair at #10 School.

In response, we recruited a small team of Volunteer/ Mentors (V/M’s) to work with nine identified Cooper Scholars (Grades 4 – 6), to prepare them for a Science Fair. We were prepared to begin this effort in December 2019.

However, with these sudden mid-year staff reductions, it will be necessary “let things settle out”, and to give the Administration and Faculty some time to determine if, and how, we might still be able to proceed with plans for such an event.

At an early January 2020, meeting with the School Leadership, we began discussing options for moving forward in this effort. We are now in the planning stages for a Spring 2020, science fair.

Please bear with us (Grrrr…), as we continue to seek ways to expose our Cooper Scholars to the many fascinating aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) in their futures.

If you think you might be able to make room in your schedule to help with this effort, please reach out to RES Directors, Lee Loomis (leeloomis46@gmail.com) or (585) 738-3079 (mobile & text) or Jon Kriegel (jkriegel@rochester.rr.com) or (585) 281-5216, for more information, and to volunteer for this important, potentially life-changing opportunity.