[0:10] - Today is our time to hang out with our avid tutors. [0:15] We have the options for many things. [0:18] If I were coming into Cooper High School, [0:20] I would immediately know that when I came in [0:22] that it is a family [0:23] and that is something that shines through with all [0:25] of the teachers and staff and all of the students as well. [0:28] - When I walk in the building, [0:30] I get smiles every morning and I love it. [0:32] People are speaking to me, asking how I'm doing. [0:34] It makes me feel good. [0:35] It makes me feel welcome like I wanna be here. [0:38] - The diversity is very important, [0:39] especially right now in high school [0:41] 'cause people are trying to figure out themselves [0:43] and feel like they belong here. [0:45] - When I think about Cooper's diversity, [0:48] I feel like it's traveling around the world basically. [0:51] There are so many opportunities at Cooper, [0:53] there's CNA Class, EMT, avid Student Council, spirit. [0:58] We have our Asian American Club, we have Afro Nation. [1:01] There's so much varieties of things that you could do [1:04] to find where you belong and it's awesome [1:06] because I learned things about new cultures [1:08] and people every single day. [1:11] - It's gave them a direction in figuring out who they want [1:13] to be and what they actually want to do in the future [1:17] and I'm very thankful for that. [1:19] - I think as a student at Cooper, our voice matters. [1:23] The admin and staff go out their way to kind of tell us [1:25] and let us know that our voice matters. [1:27] - What I think is the best about Cooper is [1:29] that they offer a lot [1:31] of different programs like the AP course and the IB course. [1:34] They give the kids the opportunity to learn about college [1:37] and to get college credit, which as a parent is fantastic. [1:41] - We are giving them skills [1:43] and knowledge to go out into the world and to be curious, [1:46] but also to have those fundamental organizational skills. [1:49] Note taking skills that will help them be [1:51] successful no matter what they do. [1:52] We work to try to give our kids the best of what we can [1:55] to prepare them for when they leave Cooper to go out [1:58] and be global citizens. [1:59] - Some of our students don't really necessarily like wanna [2:03] go to college, but they wanna do trade school [2:05] and so we have people here for that. [2:06] People can have someone that can help guide them [2:09] into whatever journey [2:10] or path they want to take after school. [2:13] - I think what really makes Cooper feel like a place [2:14] where I can belong is the fact that there's [2:17] so much people here that are like open-minded and kind [2:20] and just willing to listen or be a shoulder you can lean on [2:24] - As a full service community school, we recognize [2:26] that educating the whole child is important [2:29] and that if we can't focus in the classroom [2:31] because we didn't get breakfast [2:33] or if we have something going on at home, we recognize [2:36] that we need to like work with families, partner [2:39] with different organizations [2:40] and just show up for each other. [2:42] And I think that's an area where Cooper shines. [2:44] - Whether it's like social services [2:46] or just if you need extra clothes [2:49] or extra snacks, you know, we are able to provide [2:52] that for our students. [2:53] - The teachers are very much engaged, [2:56] they're very involved and they care. [2:58] We have one teacher who will write her little notes [3:01] and slip it in her computer so that later on [3:04] during the day she can say, Hey, you're doing a great job. [3:06] - I love the staff here [3:07] and everybody at this school, they've just been so helpful [3:11] with anything and everything that we would need. [3:13] - It is a place that people genuinely care about each other. [3:17] I have seen students [3:19] and staff rally around students [3:20] who are going through hard times. [3:22] That is not something that I think you can find everywhere [3:25] and it's what makes Cooper very special, [3:27] - Believe belong and become.