Page 9 - 2020 March E-issue

RES News - Tutoring Team

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/Ms) 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.

res news - tutoring res news - tutoring MARCH2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 9