Page 11 - 2020 May E-issue

RES News - Tutoring Team

Dr. Walter Cooper Academy 2020 Science Fair

Postponed due to RCSD Lay-Offs & COVID-19 Shut-Down

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. This, and
the current COVID-19 Crisis shut-down of the RCSD, has validated our earlier decision to
postpone, and “regroup” in our effort to develop and present the 2020 First Annual Dr.

Walter Cooper Academy Science Fair.

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 became necessary 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, especially with the subsequent COVID-19 Crisis and

RCSD shut-down.

At an early January 2020, meeting with the School Leadership, we began discussing options

for moving forward in this effort. We are still hoping, this Summer, to begin planning for a Fall
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 MAY 2020 The ROCHESTER ENGINEER | 11