Welcome Back to Cochran

Dear Cochran Elementary Families,

As the calendar turns to December, I want to wish everyone a warm and joyful start to the holiday season! This is a wonderful time of year filled with excitement, learning, and memorable school events. Our students and staff are working hard, and we're looking forward to a strong finish to the first semester.

📅 Important: Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Diagnostic Review

In the upcoming months of January and February, Cochran Elementary will be undergoing a Diagnostic Review conducted by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). This is an essential process where an external team reviews our school's performance, practices, and progress across various areas. The goal is to provide us with valuable feedback and resources to help us continue to improve and ensure every student is receiving the best possible education.

📝 Your Voice Matters: Parent Survey

A crucial part of this review process is gathering input from our entire school community—and that includes you!

We are asking all Cochran Elementary parents and guardians to complete a confidential Parent Survey  liked here, for the KDE Diagnostic Review team.

What is it? A survey designed to gather your perspective on our school's environment, communication, academics, and overall effectiveness.

Why is it important? Your honest feedback provides the review team with a comprehensive view of our school and helps us identify our strengths and areas for growth.

Accessing the Survey: The survey link can be found here and will be emailed weekly. Until it closes on December 18th. 

Staff and students will also be asked to complete a similar survey to ensure we have input from all key stakeholders. We appreciate you taking the time to share your insights; your participation is vital to this review.

🎁 December Highlights and Events

Winter Program: Season of Giving- Don't miss our fantastic student performers on December 19th @ 10 AM.

Holiday Spirit Week: Details on themed days can be found below.

Colder Weather Gear: Please ensure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for the winter weather, including coats, hats, and gloves, as we try to get outside for recess when possible. If something comes up missing, check the office lost and found.

NTI Plan- Please see below regarding our NTI plan. Please complete this form to let us know your Chromebook needs. We need this form completed by each family.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We are proud of the work we are doing together to help our students succeed. I look forward to seeing many of you at our school events this month!

Sincerely,

Melissa Cheatham

 Principal, Cochran Elementary School

Link to Cochran Google Classrooms here.

Link to Cochran Website here.

Dear Cochran Families,

In the event of future inclement weather, we plan to use Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) whenever possible rather than canceling school for the day. To prepare, we want to ensure that your JCPS student has everything they need to continue learning at home if needed. Chromebooks will be sent home daily starting on November 24th for 2nd-5th grade students to ensure students have access to instruction if an NTI day is used. Kindergarten-1st grade students will not be coming home with Chromebooks at this time.

What do we need from you?

Please review the NTI Chromebook Expectations on yellow paper with your students and return it signed by Friday November 21st. 

Please review the JCPS Student Acceptable Use Policy attached to the NTI Chromebook Expectations.

Please remind your student to bring their Chromebooks back daily. If a student does not have their Chromebook, it greatly disrupts their instructional day.

Please help us keep our Chromebooks in good condition. We have a limited supply and funding for Chromebooks. Students will not be given replacements. Chromebooks should remain in their backpack for safekeeping unless an NTI day is called. 

Please help us ensure Cochran Chromebooks are only used for instructional purposes.

Instruction During NTI

Kindergarten & 1st Grade:

Students will receive printed NTI packets attached to this letter.

K-1 will begin with paper packets while we continue practicing Chromebook skills needed for NTI. We will notify you when we send home Chromebooks with Kindergarten and first grade students

2nd–5th Grade:

Main Instructional Platform: Google Classroom.

Students will log in to Google Classroom each NTI day to complete:

One reading assignment, one math assignment, and one special area assignment.

2nd-5th grade students will be responsible for their Chromebook. They will be transporting them to and from school each day starting Nov 24th. Student Chromebooks need to return fully charged and in good condition so their instructional day is not interrupted.

Choice Board (Alternative Option)

Included with this letter is a Chromebook Expectations sheet and an NTI Choice Board for 2nd-5th Grade. (K-1st have NTI packets to complete attached to this letter)

The Choice Board should only be used if Google Classroom is not accessible.

The packet should remain in your child’s folder so it is available whenever needed.

The Choice Board contains enough activities for at least three NTI days.

Support & Materials

School office hours for phone calls will change to 8:30-3:30. 

Teachers will be available from 10:45-11:45 and 12:45-2:00 on your students' Google Classroom on each NTI day.

Teachers and school staff will be available to support students through digital platforms or email. Additional communication methods may be shared in the school-specific NTI plan.

It is critical that students only use their Chromebooks for educational purposes and take care of them while transporting to and from school. Students should bring all materials and/or their device and charger back to school on the next in-person school day.

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Thank You,

Melissa Cheatham

Principal

Fifth grade students presented their Human Right's projects to parents, staff and other students.

December:

19th-Winter Program @10:00 in gym (Parents invited)

19th-End of 2nd grading period

Dec 22-Jan 2--Winter Break NO SCHOOL

January:

Jan 5--Return from Winter Break

Jan 13--Report Cards go home

Jan 19-No School MLK, Jr. Day

Fall Application Period

The fall application window for families to apply for the 2026-2027 school year is November 3 - December 19, 2025. All applications received during the application window receive the same consideration regardless of the date submitted. 

Who needs to apply?

• Students who will be 5 on or before August 1, 2026

• Incoming kindergarten, 6th, and 9th grade students living in the Choice Zone will be required to 

make a close-to-home or far-away selection. There will be no default assignment.

• Students who want to explore magnet schools/programs or the Academies of Louisville options 

• Elementary students who have moved may need to submit an application for next year.  You can utilize the address audit report in IC to identify students who have moved and need an application.

 Early Entry to Kindergarten

The Early Entry to Kindergarten application window is open until April 1, 2026. The deadline for fall testing is Nov 1, 2025, at 3 pm. Applications received beyond that date will be tested in April and May 2026. Students who turn 5 between August 2nd and October 31, 2026, can petition for early entry to kindergarten. 

This is the time of year kids wear jackets in the morning and then forget them in the afternoon or throughout the day. We have a lost and found in the office. If your student is missing an item, please remind them to check the lost and found. Mr. Matt is always happy to help. You can also call the office at 502-485-8230 and we will try to reunite items with their owners.We usually keep items for 2-3 weeks, all unclaimed items are boxed up and sent to the JCPS clothing assistance program to be recycled.

Thank you for reading our Monthly Newsletter, we appreciate you and your student(s). ~Ms. Fernandez