Honoring a Teacher’s Legacy of Storytelling, Scholarship, and Care

On November 24, the Campus School welcomed back Ms. Elizabeth Cooney, a beloved former teacher whose deep commitment to learning and community still echoes through our halls. Known for her extraordinary storytelling and her rich personal archives, Ms. Cooney brought with her not only memories but the spirit of a time when teaching was crafted with meticulous care, creativity, and profound attention to children’s humanity.

The Medieval Banquet: A Lesson in Authenticity and Commitment

Perhaps the highlight of Ms. Cooney’s visit was her reflection on the legendary Medieval Banquet, a beloved tradition she led for years. With her characteristic dedication, every detail was historically accurate:

• No tomatoes, potatoes, or foods from the New World—only ingredients found in medieval Europe.
• Families contributed authentic serving pieces, including silver platters.
• Students worked with the music teacher to design authentic medieval costumes, chosen with care and purpose.

The heart of the banquet, however, was not the food or the costumes—it was the students’ vows. Each child made a serious, personal commitment aloud before their peers, families, and reading buddies. Some vowed to tell the truth. Others vowed to treat one another with kindness or to persevere through challenges. Ms. Cooney described these moments as deeply moving: a ceremony of accountability, community, and personal growth.

Teaching the Whole Child

Throughout her career, Ms. Cooney wove together high expectations with empathy. During her visit, she reflected on the small-group conversations she would hold when students were unkind to one another. She approached these moments not as discipline, but as opportunities for reflection, repair, and relational learning—a practice that continues to resonate with our school’s values today.

She also shared pieces of her carefully preserved student archives. Among them were letters students wrote to their future selves at the end of the year, reflecting on their learning, challenges, and triumphs. Ms. Cooney wrote back to each child, creating a dialogue across time—an early and powerful form of student-centered feedback.

Journals as Windows Into Student Lives

One of the most cherished tools in her classroom was the student journal. These journals allowed children to write openly about their fears, hopes, frustrations, and joys—things they might never choose to share aloud. For Ms. Cooney, journaling was a way to understand students more deeply and to respond to them as whole people, not just learners in a curriculum.

A Lasting Legacy

As she spoke, it was clear that Ms. Cooney’s work lives on—not only in the traditions she shaped, but in the ways we continue to honor student voice, reflection, and authentic learning at the Campus School.

Her visit reminded us that great teaching is both art and archive, both rigor and relationship. We are grateful she shared her time, her stories, and her wisdom with us once again.