“Our mission, philosophy, and goals guide our decisions and
programming to create experiences that support the whole student, from
exceptional academics, campus life, fine arts, athletics, and service to
social and emotional learning, growth, and well-being.”
– Head of School, Dr. Stephen
Popp
Photos
by Karina Eremina of
Joy of the Moment Photography
Parents and their children seek a private,
college preparatory education for many reasons, especially in these changing
times. The answer for a growing number of families in the Greater Woodlands
area is The John Cooper School. Recognized for academic excellence and
preparing students for success, leadership, social and emotional well-being,
and a lifetime of learning, it is not surprising The John Cooper School has
been voted The Best Private School in The Woodlands.
A School
for the Future, Rooted in the Community
George Mitchell, the developer of The
Woodlands, set aside 43 acres of land to build an exceptional independent
school aligned with the mission of the community. Since its inception in
1988, The John Cooper School has embraced Mitchell’s vision while creating a
legacy as the premier independent college preparatory school of The
Woodlands. Today, recognizing its vital role in the community, the school is
busy preparing for the future with a new strategic plan.
“We’re reflective and respectful of the past,
engaged in the present, and actively looking toward the future as we develop
our new strategic plan,” says the Head of School, Dr. Stephen Popp.
Dr. Popp explains that the plan “reaffirms
the school’s mission and our dedication to the community here in The
Woodlands. Our overarching objective is to best prepare students to be
leaders in a dynamic world.”
He further notes that he and his team have
taken a 360-degree approach to plan development. “We sought input from our
faculty and staff, alumni student groups and task forces, and our board of trustees.
We’ve found remarkable synergy and a shared vision and values among
participants throughout the process.”
Blending the past, present, and future with
an eye on innovation and investing in growth, the strategic plan will be
unveiled this August. While he’s not giving too much away right now, Dr. Popp
suggests plans may be in the works for expanded programs and new
facilities.
Caring
Environment, Student-Centered Approach
Challenging academics are expected at a
top-tier college preparatory school like The John Cooper School, but it also
focuses on helping students learn the skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving
and stressful world.
Recognized by the Yale Center for Emotional
Intelligence as a RULER mentor school, The John Cooper School uses a systemic
approach to promote a culture of wellness and well-being through social and
emotional learning. (RULER is an acronym for the five skills of emotional
intelligence — recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and
regulating). Dr. Popp says this adaptable approach aligns with the school’s
core values of care, curiosity, connection, and challenge and helps support
its whole child philosophy.
“We aim to give students tools to help them
navigate challenges when they’re here, in college, and during their future
endeavors. We started with RULER for our faculty and staff by simply taking
time to center ourselves and be mindful before a meeting. As we learned, we
expanded on this and began to include student assemblies and student
government meetings. We also created parent programs for wellness and share a
weekly wellness message,” he explains. Dr. Popp points out that the RULER
approach is not a tacked-on program. Instead, it’s embedded in the Upper
School’s systems and structure in an unimposing way.
Dr. Popp credits The John Cooper School’s
Director of Wellness, Dr. Diego Estrada, for explaining why the RULER approach
is so valuable. “Dr. Estrada describes stress as waves in the ocean, and
while they may never stop, you can learn how to surf. RULER helps us surf,”
he says.
Upper school initiatives to lower stress
include a daily schedule that gives students more time between classes, more
breaks throughout the day, and extra time for lunch, meetings, and clubs.
Middle School enjoys more time for physical activities and advisory
activities centered on well-being, and the Lower School benefits from more
recess and time outdoors, and intentional approaches to social-emotional
learning in the classroom.
From
Curiosity to Wisdom
The John
Cooper School helps create a college-ready student with a well-rounded
experience and solid academics, athletics, fine arts, and service foundation
that instills a lifelong pursuit of learning. Call for more information today
and to obtain an open house schedule.
More About
The John Cooper School
- Independent, college-preparatory, nonsectarian,
coeducational day school Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, approximately
1,300 students - Small
class sizes, 11:1 student-to-teacher ratio - Accredited
by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest
(ISAS) - Member of
The National Association of Independent Schools
(NAIS) - Diverse
student body representing many ethnicities,
backgrounds - Beautiful
43-acre campus designed with intentionality - $30
million in campus updates in the last five years - 100% of
graduates attend college - College
counseling services with four full-time
counselors - Parental
involvement is welcomed and encouraged - Member of
The National Association of Independent Schools
(NAIS) - Strong
STEM program - 21 AP
courses, rich academic curriculum - Robust
athletics and fine arts programs - Engaging
community service opportunities
Mission-Driven
The John
Cooper School is committed to offering a challenging education in a caring
environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become
critical thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders,
and lifetime learners.
1 John
Cooper Drive
The Woodlands, Texas
77381
