Our Approach
From preschool (age 3) through 8th grade, student inquiry guides the learning experience at Catherine Cook.
Our curriculum encourages exploration of big ideas, essential questions, and interdisciplinary connections through reading, writing, math, science, research, and collaboration. These customized experiences regularly include engaging, hands-on activities that incorporate problem solving, design thinking, and incredible technology resources.
Students are empowered with choice and voice to explore a topic within the curricular unit, incorporating the inquiry process:
1. Immersion into a topic
2. Research
3. Synthesize
4. Take learning public
Additionally, an emphasis on social-emotional learning encourages students to fully understand and embrace themselves, appreciate and respect the identities of others, and become compassionate leaders. Most importantly, our students have fun while developing a lifelong love of learning!
Learning Together
At Cook, we know that strong relationships and community connections are vital to a successful education. Teachers truly know and care about their students and work closely with families to help them succeed. Additionally, students regularly share their learning with the community through our weekly Friday Assemblies, cross-grade level and family events in classrooms, and special opportunities outside of Catherine Cook. These events also promote creative presentation skills and proficiency in public speaking.
Our Whole-Child Approach
Academic Highlight:
Catherine Cook Book Awards
In this annual tradition, the whole school comes together to celebrate reading during our Catherine Cook Book Awards assembly. Students in 1st-6th Grades work with our Cook librarians to read, analyze, and vote on their favorite books competing for real-world and Cook-created literary awards that prioritize diversity of topics, experiences, and author/illustrator identity.
To share their process and results, students use the 3rd Floor Tech Lab to record a short excerpt from each book, which is then edited and released as a beautiful video during a weekly Friday Assembly with thunderous applause as the award winners are announced. In some cases, students receive special video responses from the authors and illustrators of their favorite books who thank them for their awards, share special insights about their books, and encourage students to keep reading.
When you approach curriculum with an inquiry lens, you let curiosity lead the way, and become empowered to take that learning public - we know this to be the best way learning sticks!Sara Ahmed
Director of Curriculum Integration and Innovation
Student Support Services
The mission of Student Support Services (SSS) is to provide temporary academic and other support services that assist students in reaching their academic and developmental potential. Catherine Cook strives to promote a nurturing community for students to become independent learners, to become self-aware, and to maximize their unique talents.
Your Student's Journey
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