Coppergate Elementary School

My children have been going to Coppergate since the school opened. My son started in 3rd grade and my daughter in 1st grade. My son is now in Jr High and my daughter in 5th grade. My Daughter is doing great at Coppergate. She is involved in many school activities. Like Run/walk, Art Club, and Chorus. My son went to Jr High in regular classes and was moved into Advanced classes. I believe was because of the way he was taught how to study and learn at Coppergate. My children have attended two other schools in Clay County before this and Coppergate is by far the best Elementary school my children have attended. The Teachers and Administration are wonderful. I am a parent who is involved in the school. I help out as much as I can. The more a parent is involved in the school the more they understand the school.  

No school is with out it's problems. Funding is a big issue. We all hate the fundraisers that come home, but the school really does make money for additional supplies. We all wish our children could have one on one time with the teachers but that just will not happen, there are just to many children. I spend an hour a night helping my kids with their homework. I even know a few parents who come in for Math tutoring to understand what the teacher is teaching.  

We need to work with the school and not against it. The Teachers and Administrators are doing a great job. I could not do it. I try to help and see how frustrating it can be to get 20 kids to listen.  When you have a child that is disruptive that child must be take out of the situation so the other 19 can learn. The children are there to learn not to be disruptive. I think parents need to be proactive with their children and encourage them to be the best student they can be and to take pride in their school.

Cynthia Milam: I have a granddaughter that goes to Coppergate and she is in the IEP program. She is supposed to recieve extra help, and one on one time if necessary to make sure that she is successful in her classes. "No child is to be left behind;" I thought that this is the motto of public schools. My granddaughter has been doing poorly since attending Coopergate. When her mother and I confronted the IEP director she said that "due to budget cuts they did not have the resources or manpower to accomidate her." They also said that they do not have a fifth grade ESE teacher, even though the position has been posted online for several months. I also observed that there are no minority teachers employed by Coopergate.

I think that just because this school is fairly new it should not be overlooked. Teachers come from other schools with many years of experience to teach at this school. The school is nice and the curicumlum is set at a higher learner standard which I feel is good for children of today. However I don't agree with the dicipline in this school nor do I believe in the way the teachers are allowed to conduct themselves with our children and are allowed to get away with it. I have two children that have and still attend this school One of which attended his last year which was the first year the school opened. Since I have a kid whom is extreamly quit but does very well in class, I was told by one of his teacher he would never be successful that he would only be a high school drop out because he never talked in class. Now is that an approprioate thing to say from a teacher. I don't think so. And now I have another child that attends this school and this one gets verbally abused by the teacher told to entertain the class room door taken out of the class room group totally. And was recently not allowed at all to get up and go to the bathroom which caused  my child to get UTI that put this child in the ER twice within  in a two week period.  Now I tell you, If a child gives no discipline problems, is terrified of the teacher because the teacher always yells, kicks the desk that the child sits in by the door and does not let the child go to the bathroom. Now is this such a wonderful school, I could see it if my child was disrespectful, disruptive or had behavior problems. But that's not the case this is a sweet polite child that is a nervous wreck from attending this school. And it is only the 2nd grade. Now how wonderful of a school do think this is? I am working on getting this issue solved but is seems that noone wants to listen and that everyone is is a liar ... I did however get my child recently moved to anohter class. But this teacher is still there and she gets to be mean to others and I don't think it is fair for my child or the next one that comes along.

Rose Frietze: I think Copperagate is one of the best schools in Middleburg. I have 2 children that attend this school and I would never think about changing schools. My child's needs are met at all levels and the combined experience of the staff is phenominal.