Cook Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School
2217 7th Street North, Columbus, MS 39705
Phone: (662) 241-7180 Fax: (662) 241-7182
Principal: Lois Kappler Asst. Principal: Kimberly Gardner
webmaster: Tina Morgan
About
Cook 
Welcome to Cook Elementary Fine Arts Magnet School. We are the largest elementary school in the district with a current enrollment of 866 students. We have four-year-old Pre-K classes and students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. All our students learn through rigorous instruction and through the infusion and the integration of Fine Arts. Our school is unique in that we have fine arts specialists in art, vocal music, strings, movement, and drama. Learning takes place all over the building through many different mediums and experiences. We are proud of the support from our parents and the community, through the PTO, Partners in Progress, and volunteers. At Cook we strive to get better each day and work hard to be "Learning Today and Leading Tomorrow."
The school has various programs including Accelerated Reader, Spanish lessons in K-5th grades, Basketball Skills Team, and an outstanding fine arts program. We even have our own closed circuit television station (WCCK) for morning announcements with student news anchors! Our character development program is the "Cook Cool Kid." This is a program that encourages the development of character traits such as honesty, respect, manners, compassion, empathy, social responsibility, personal responsibility, and academic responsibility.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide all students a safe and nurturing learning environment in which they have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.Our Vision
The vision of Cook Elementary is to create a community of well-rounded learners where academic achievement is enhanced by creating successful individuals through the infusion of visual and performing arts.Our Beliefs
We believe ...
- Student learning is the chief priority for the school.
- Students learning needs should be the primary focus of all decisions impacting the work of the school.
- All students can learn.
- Students need to not only demonstrate their understanding of essential knowledge and skills but also need to be actively involved in solving problems and producing quality work.
- Students learn in different ways and should be provided with a variety of instructional approaches to support their learning.
- Students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process.
- Curriculum and instructional practices should incorporate a variety of learning activities to accomodate differences in learning styles.
- Each student is a valued individual with unique physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs.
- A student's self-esteem is enhanced by positive relationships and mutual respect among and between students and staff.
- Teachers, administrators, parents, and the community share the responsibility for advancing the school's mission.
Why Fine Arts?
- The Fine Arts are fundamental components of all cultures and time periods.
- The Fine Arts teach us that all we think and feel cannot be reduced to words.
- The Fine Arts develop a value of perseverance and hard work.
- The Fine Arts teach children to make good judgments about qualitative relationships.
- The Fine Arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution.
- The Fine Arts celebrate multiple perspectives.
- The Fine Arts teach students that small differences can have large effects.
- The Fine Arts help children learn to say what cannot be said.
- The Fine Arts help teach students to think through and within the material.
- There is a strong positive relationship between the Fine Arts and academic success.
